Card Games on Ponies

Chapters

Biting Gale
Magic Hand
Holy Lightning
Ice Maiden
Galaxy-Eyes
Divide
Conquer
Payback
Tag Team
Apprentice
Burning Knuckler
Penalty Game

Biting Gale

“Burning Knuckler Rareza!”

The voice coming from above was quickly followed by a rainbow blur landing right next to the baby dragon and the white unicorn, making them jump on their toes and hooves respectively. Rainbow “Danger” “Professionalism” “Maylene” “I Swear You Tell Anypony And I’ll Dump Your Head Inside A Thundercloud” Dash, weather team captain and member of the Wonderbolts reserve team, approached them with her characteristically cocky smile.

“Ha! I can’t believe you of all ponies would turn out to be the fourth--”

Rarity put a hoof over the cerulean mare’s mouth and glanced towards the crowd. After the defeat of Blueblood, the mood had improved substantially and everypony was back to enjoying the game; Mulligan, for his part, was too busy dispensing advice to the younger duelists.

“I would appreciate if you could keep your voice down, Rainbow Dash. Not everypony is looking to bring attention to their dueling careers.”

Rainbow Dash removed her friend’s hoof from her mouth and spat. “Yeah? Maybe you should have thought about that before doing a one-turn-kill on the Blue-Eyes Buffon back there,” she pointed her hoof behind her.

“I CAN’T FEEL MY LEGS!”

“Oh, pish posh. He’s ranked number twenty; anypony with decent skills could have done that,” said Rarity while waving a hoof.

Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Eh, guess you have a point there. Still, I almost didn’t recognize you without your dueling ensemble,” she accompained the last two words with a roguish grin that made Rarity’s cheeks turn pink.

“Girls, girls,” said Spike while waving his tiny claws over his head. “Is anypony going to tell me what’s going on?”

“Heh, sorry Spike,” said Rainbow Dash with a chuckle. “See, turns out our friend here,” she nodded her head towards Rarity. “Is the number four best duelist in all of Equestria; going by the nickname Burning Knuckler Rareza, dying her mane and tail black, using hazel colored contact lenses and wearing a long red coat to take part in tournaments.”

Spike blinked twice and looked at the flustered Rarity. He made a mental note to get pictures. Lots and lots of pictures.

“Yes, well,” said Rarity before clearing her throat. “I am a lady first and foremost, and while having a hobby is nothing to be ashamed of, I’m afraid it wouldn’t be fitting of moi to openly play with cards depicting brawlers that solve every problem by striking it into oblivion,” she finished by lifting her nose up and adjusting her mane.

Spike smiled awkwardly and looked at Rainbow Dash who merely rolled her eyes.

“Say,” the baby dragon began. “Have you played in tournaments too, Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow Dash grinned. “That’s Biting Gale Dash for you, chump.”

Spike’s mouth fell. “Wait, don’t tell me--”

“Yep,” she casually polished her right hoof on her chest and looked at it. “I’m ranked number two in all of Equestria.”

“For now.”

Rainbow Dash ears perked up and she looked at Rarity, who was gazing somewhere in the sky, but with a barely disguised smirk across her lips.

“Is that a challenge?” asked the cerulean pegasus.

“Of course not, darling,” said the white unicorn casually. “Just a simple observation.”

“Oh?” Rainbow Dash approached Rarity until they were face to face. “In that case, I’m sure you wouldn’t mind backing that up with a little duel right here, right now, will you?”

Rarity tilted her head to look at the busy crowd of ponies.

“Forget about them,” said Rainbow Dash as she used her right hoof to move Rarity’s head to face her alone again. “They already saw your skills and I bet you and I could come up with a much better show than that guy lying out there.”

“THE PAIN! THE PAIN!”

“I-It was the heat of the moment--”

“Come on, Rares,” continued Rainbow Dash while poking Rarity on the chest. “You gotta loose up and live a little, open the lid and let the steam come out; that’s why you got into this game, didn’t you? I saw your whole duel; you haven’t smiled like that since we faced that army of Changelings back on Canterlot.”

Rarity’s eyes widened.

“Yeah, I can be observant when I want, you know,” chuckled Rainbow Dash “So, what do you say?”

Rarity bit her lips for a second before composing herself. “Very well, we shall duel.”

“That’s the spirit!” cheered Rainbow Dash. “Hey Mulligan!”

The green unicorn lifted his head from among the crowd. “Yeah?”

“We’re gonna use the arena for a while, okay?!”

“Sure!” he waved his hoof and went back to explaining how Mystical Space Typhoon doesn’t negate spell and traps.

Spike quickly took his spot outside the arena as both mares set themselves up. Rainbow Dash unfolded her wings, revealing a jet black duel disk which she adjusted around her neck. For her part, Rarity did a quick tilt of her head so that her mane went back to cover her right eye.

“You know,” said Rainbow Dash with a smile and a slight nod. “I really like when you do that.”

Rarity smiled coyly.

“DUEL!”

The monument glowed, this time with a fierce purple light, once again filling the arena with thick clouds of miasma.

“I’ll go first,” declared Rarity. “I summon Battlin’ Boxer Headgeared!” The mechanized pugilist materialized on the field and threw a few punches, followed by Rarity taking a card from her deck and placing it on her graveyard (1000/1800). “Next, I special summon Battlin’ Boxer Sparrer!” A humanoid automaton, much like the previous, appeared adopting a fighting stance. It was colored grey, with glowing cerulean eyes and wore a red strike shield on each arm (1200/1400).

“Not bad,” commented Mulligan as he sat down next to Spike, followed by several of the ponies present. “Since she cannot attack on her first turn, the Sparrer won’t cost her anything.”

Spike nodded.

“Now I build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” The miasma engulfed the two boxers. “Answer the call of your empress to crush those who dare to oppose her! Battlin’ Boxer Lead Yoke!” The bound barbarian appeared taking firm steps despite the monumental weight over its shoulders (2200/2000). Rarity smirked. “Your turn, darling.”

Rainbow Dash’s grin was almost feral. “Draw!” she shouted, pulling the top card from her deck with such strenght it whipped a gust of wind. “I summon Hammer Shark!” A large blue shark, with a literal head of a hammer for a head, leaped from the miasma as it was the very sea (1700/1500). “That’s not all! I can lower its level by one to special summon a level three or lower water monster from my hand!” Rainbow Dash took a card from her hand and slammed it over her duel disk. “Big Jaws!” Another shark jumped out; its jaws, coated in steel, had fangs so large it had to remain open (1800/300).

Rarity quirked an eyebrow. “I take this is why they call you “Biting Gale”?”

Rainbow Dash did a playful biting motion. “Watch as I build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” The sharks leaped back into the miasma. “Rise from the depths and swallow my enemies whole! Number 47: Nightmare Shark!” The new monster was undoubtely a shark, but its back fins were so disproportionately large they had become wings, same with the frontal ones, which looked more like arms with blades (2000/2000). “By detaching an XYZ material from it I can make a water monster of mine attack directly,” she chuckled. “I hope you don’t mind I take a shortcut! DEPTH HUNTING!”

Rarity watched in disbelief as the Nightmare Shark dove into the miasma and charged towards her, with only its dorsal fin, displaying a number forty seven in bold red, visible. Right before clashing with her monster, it disappeared completely, and a mere second later its long, whip-like tail surfaced and slapped her, sending her body tumbling back and reducing her life points to two thousand.

“She went around Lead Yoke’s defense to attack directly!” cried Mulligan.

“We know, dude; we can see it,” drily said a stallion from the crowd.

Spike merely continued to watch in awed silence.

“I set a card face-down and done,” declared Rainbow Dash. “Need a hoof there, Rares?”

Lying on her back, Rarity raised her hind legs and flipped forwards, standing on two legs for a moment before going back on her fours. She cracked her neck loudly and glared at Rainbow Dash. “My burning hooves will break your bones!” she shouted.

Rainbow Dash laughed. “Try it, filly!”

“Draw!” shouted Rarity as her magic pulled out a card from her deck with such intensity her horn produced a blinding flash. “Break free, my bound barbarian! Oni Gami Combo!” The Lead Yoke roared and shattered its bounds with a single swing of its might arms (3800/2000). “Still not enough! I remove Counterpunch from my graveyard!” The barbarian’s muscles stiffened and Rarity pointed her right hoof forward (4800/2000). “Go! DEMON GOD BARRAGE!”

“P-Ponyfeathers,” muttered Rainbow Dash and hurriedly pressed a button on her duel disk.”Trap card open! Poseidon Wave!”

A wall of water erupted between the two monsters and blocked the bound barbarian’s attack. From the sides, two streams emerged, taking the shape of giant hands, and launched themselves towards Rarity, leaving her completely drenched and taking away eight hundred of her life points, with only one thousand two hundred remaining.

“I’m not done yet!” roared Rarity. “Lead Yoke, charge and destroy her monster! LIGHTNING FAST!” The barbarian teared through the wall of water as if it was made of tissue and punched the giant shark right on the mid-section. It let out a howl of pain as the fist drilled into its flesh before exploding into a cloud of miasma that sent its master, Rainbow Dash, flying backwards and slamming onto one of the duel arena stones. Her life points lowered to one thousand two hundred.

The ponies in the crowd were stunned; a few of the adults even having covered the foals’ eyes. Mulligan gulped and shifted in place while Spike had both eyes wide like dinner plates and his jaw metaphorically on the floor.

“Not bad,” muttered Rainbow Dash as she stood up. Her mane, tail and feather were completely messed up, yet her grin did not falter a bit. “Anything else?”

“Just a face-down card,” said Rarity as she slid her trap card, Numbers Overlay Boost, into her disk. Would Rainbow Dash try to get rid of her Lead Yoke, be it by battle or effects, she would activate it and attach the Battlin’ Boxer Rib Gardna and Battlin’ Boxer Rabbit Puncher from her hand to her Lead Yoke to use its effect again. “I end my turn.”

“Draw!” Rainbow Dash looked at her newest card. “I’m sorry, Rares, but I’m going to end this right now,” she declared firmly.

Rarity laughed softly. “Bluffing does not suit you, darling.”

“Oh, I know,” said Rainbow Dash with a smirk. “I play the Surface spell! It allows me to bring back a level three fish monster from my graveyard in defense position! Come back, Big Jaws!” The shark with oversized jaws leaped from out the miasma and curled itself. “Now I summon Spear Shark!” The newest monster was a crimson shark with golden fins. True to the name, its snout ended on a wicked looking, golden blade (1600/1400). “When my Spear Shark is summoned I can increase the level of all my level three fish monsters by one. You know what this means?” she asked, spreading her wings like a hawk dive bombing its prey. “I build an overlay network!” Both of her sharks jumped into the cloud of miasma. “XYZ summon! The king and scourge of the seas! Bahamut Shark!” The miasma spout like a geyser, revealing a monstrous shark with actual arms and legs, ending in long, black claws. It stood taller than Carousel Boutique, the six long fins on its back spreading like wings (2600/2100). “By detaching one XYZ material from it I can special summon a rank three or lower water xyz monster from my deck! GOD SOUL!” The Bahamut Shark’s eyes glowed with an eerie light and from the miasma emerged none other than Number 47: Nightmare Shark. “You didn’t think I had only one, did you?” Rainbow Dash teased.

Rarity did not reply.

“When my Nightmare Shark is special summoned I can attach one level three water monster from my hand to it as an XYZ material,” Rainbow Dash said as she took the Shark Stickers card and placed it on her duel disk. “Now I’ll detach it for a direct attack! Go Nightmare Shark! FINAL DEPTH HUNTING!”

Rarity’s eyes narrowed as the Nightmare Shark dove under the miasma, becoming completely invisible. A couple of seconds later its tail erupted under her, sending her crashing right against the stone behind her. Her life points went down to zero. The stones stopped glowing and the miasma dissipated, taking the monsters away with it.

“R-Rainbow Dash is the winner,” declared Mulligan.

“Rarity!” called Spike. The white unicorn stood up, shook herself and glared at Rainbow Dash. Then, both mares marched towards each other, fire in their eyes. One with a grin that threatened to split her face in two and the other baring her teeth like a Diamond Dog ready to strike. Both of their manes and tails gave the impression they had been galloping on the middle of a storm.

“D-Don’t you think you should do something?” asked a yellow coated mare.

Mulligan glanced at the arena, then at the mare. “I-I would like to keep living for a while longer, y-you know.”

Spike ran inside the arena but stopped as soon as Rainbow Dash and Rarity came face to face. There was a long moment of silence that not even the wind dared to break before both mares took a breath and composed themselves.

“Good game,” said Rarity as she daintly extended her right hoof.

Rainbow Dash softly slapped her friend’s hoof away. “Come here you,” she said as she hugged her. Rarity blinked in surprise but quickly returned the gesture.

There was a cheer from one of the fillies in the crowd. Soon everypony else followed with their own cheers, whistles and stomps. Rainbow Dash basked in the attention, hovering over the arena, while Rarity tried to maintain an air of sophistication despite her disheveled state.

“Ah,” Spike let out a breath and fell down on his rear. His tiny claws trembled and his whole body felt like if he had been carrying piles and piles of books all day. “I think…I’ll stick to tables and chairs.”

Ponyville bathed on an orange light as Princess Celestia slowly set the sun over the horizon. Two ponies and a baby dragon followed the dirt path towards the center of the town, exhausted but content.

“I can’t believe you guys never told me about this,” said Spike while spreading his short arms.

“I’m sorry, Spike,” said Rarity. “We didn’t mean to leave you in the dark, but Ponyville is such a small, quaint town that very little information regarding the competitive world of Duel Monsters reaches the ears and eyes of its inhabitants.”

“That and you didn’t ask,” added Rainbow Dash.

Spike crossed both arms over his chest and frowned. “Yeah, but now you have to promise to teach me one or two tricks, okay?”

“Of course.”

“Sure thing.”

Their steps came to an end right before the Town Hall.

“It’s been a delightful day, but I’m afraid this is where I take my leave,” said Rarity. “I have to go home, sort out my groceries and take care of this,” she gestured to her mane which had become flat and stringy. “…disaster.”

Rainbow Dash snorted.

“You know, Rainbow Dash,” said Rarity with a tone reminiscencing of a mother dealing with a stubborn filly. “A visit to the spa would do wonders for your appearance and, by extension, your dueling career.”

Rainbow Dash smirked. “Maybe if you defeat me I’ll think about it.”

“Is that a challenge?”

“You bet.”

Rarity smiled coyly, winked at Spike and walked away into the sunset.

“That mare never changes,” said Rainbow Dash with a chuckle. “By the way,” she searched between her wings and pulled out a pamphlet with her teeth. “I’ve gosh dish fo yu, Spik.”

Spike had his back turned around; both eyes firmly planted on the direction a certain white unicorn disappeared a minute ago until a hoof slap on the back of the head brought him back. “What?! ” he turned around to face a frowning Rainbow Dash. “Oh, heh, sorry,” he mumbled as he took the pamphlet on his tiny claws. “What’s this?”

“It’s an updated list of the top twenty duelists in Equestria,” replied Rainbow Dash.

Spike nodded and began reading. “Blue-Eyes Blueblood,” he snorted. “Sky Captain Fancy, Raging Flower Cherry, Black Feather Gi—what’s with these names?”

“Everypony earns sort of a title based on their play style or the cards they use,” explained Rainbow Dash. “They can also choose to use their real names or just a nickname; it’s kind of customary or something.”

“That’s why you didn’t know Rarity was number four, right?”

“Yeah, I know a few of the ponies on that list, but most escape me,” Rainbow Dash scratched her head. “It’s not that it bothers me that much, I mean, it wouldn’t surprise me if we get to gather at some point, so it’s kind of a waste of time to worry.”

Spike thought about today’s duels multiplied by twenty and shivered a bit. It was scary, albeit exciting. He went straight to the top names. “Ice Maiden Papillon, Magic Hand Diane, Burning Knuckler Rareza, Holy Lightning Jacqueline—wait a minute, it says here the duelist ranked number two is Biting Gale Maylene,” he glanced at Rainbow Dash questioningly.

The cerulean mare’s expression turned sour. “Yeah, ignore that, will you? It’s like, some kind of paperwork issue I’m still trying to solve, okay?”

Spike decided to leave it at that. “Galaxy Eyes Josephine…these are the top six,” he mumbled.

“And one day I’ll stand at the top,” declared Rainbow Dash. “Best Flyer and Duelist! Yeah, I can get used to that,” she giggled. “You should try polishing your skills, Spike. Who knows, you may end up becoming my number two.”

The baby dragon gave a hopeful smile.

“Well, gotta go fast now! See you around, Spike!” and with those words, Rainbow Dash took to the sky with a mighty beat of her wings.

Spike looked at the pamphlet one last time before folding it and hurrying back home.

The sun had long set and now the sky was fully covered with Princess Luna’s beautiful canopy of stars. The Millennium Mausoleum was closed for today and Mulligan was taking care of the last steps in his daily routine. He sweeped the floor, after telling a certain white stallion to stand up and go home, checked the registers, counted the bits and locked the front door. As he went to the back one, he took a minute to gaze pensively at the Dueling Arena. The monument stood in silence, the black stones that composed it would have been practically invisible if not for the light of the moon. “I swear you’re going to increase my sales or send me to the hospital,” he said and closed the door, failing to see the arena glowing red.

“HELLO? ANYPONY THERE? I’M IN EXTREME PAIN AND NEED HELP! YOUR HEAR ME, PEASANTS?! YOU PRINCE DEMANDS ASSISTANCE! AUNTIE LUNA? AUTIE LUNA ARE YOU THERE? PONYFEATHERS…”

Magic Hand

“Wake up,” his body kept saying over and over again. He knew it was true, that it was time to “rise and shine”, but everytime he opened his eyes he saw only darkness. The howl of the wind didn’t help either, not when it sounded more like a manticore growling in the distance.

“Twilight,” called Spike tentatively. No answer. Of course. He wasn’t living on a library built inside a large oak, sleeping on a basket next to her bed anymore. No, his home was now a large crystal castle with his own bedroom separate from her’s.

Spike sighed. He hadn’t seen Twilight since yesterday’s afternoon; the purple unicorn was busy conducting, in her own words, “a little magical experiment”, meaning he had to keep all the events that transpired on the Millennium Mausoleum, and his enthusiasm, to himself.

The wind howled again, louder. He hugged his small Rarity plushie. “No,” he told himself. He was a dragon, one of the most powerful races in all of the Equestria. Moreover, he was the Princess of Friendship’s number one assistant. Last but not least, he had a mission: to prepare breakfast; and no seemingly endless darkness or unnatural sounding wind would stop him.

Spike gently set his plushie aside, jumped out his bed and ventured outside his bedroom. Two rows of magically charged crystals flickered with white light, doing their best to combat the darkness that enveloped the hallways. “Twilight,” he called again; at this point it was more of an attempt to calm himself than anything. The door to his bedroom dissappeared behind him as he kept walking, the wind having calmed down leaving only the sound of his footsteps…until he heard a hoof striking the crystal floor. “Twilight?”

It stroke again and again. Spike went from walking to running towards the source of the noise. “Twilight, what are--” the words choke on his mouth when he saw the pony emerging from the darkness in front of him. That long crimson horn, those predatory eyes, those wicked fangs and that mane swirling like a mass of tendrils. “K-King Sombra?!”

The shadow regent snarled and Spike, calling forth all the might of his ancestral race, ran as fast as he could in the opposite direction. There was no sounds of hooves striking the floor, but the growling and snarling made it clear Sombra was right behind him. The baby dragon reached his bedroom and slammed the door close. “Okay, okay, there has to be—whoa!” A wave of black smoke burst the door open and sent Spike flying and slamming against his bed; he shook his head with a moan and saw King Sombra standing right under the doorway.

“Duel,” he snarled.

Spike blinked. “W-What?”

“Duel.”

“B-But we don’t even have a Dueling Arena--”

“DUEL!” roared Sombra. His horn glowed red and a duel disk materialized around his neck. It was colored grey, with protrusions like spikes around the edges that gave the impression one could easily use it to bash an enemy in the head.

Spike looked around and spotted his backpack. He quickly launched himself towards it, retrieved his duel disk and hastily strapped it around his left arm. He had no idea why the tyrant that once slaved an entire race of ponies was challenging him to a card game, inside his home of all places, but he wasn’t going to complain, not when this gave him better chances of holding his own.

Both drew their five cards and stood ready. “I-I’ll go first,” declared Spike and placed a card on his disk. “I summon Troop Dragon!” A bipedal, green winged dragon materialized in front of Spike, much to his surprise. It wore a leather armor and held a sharp looking spear in its claws (700/800). “Alright, how about this? The spell Dragon’s Gunfire!” The dragon took a deep breath and spit a fireball that hit Sombra right on his chest, sending him backwards and lowering his life points by eight hundred (4000-3200).

“Whoa,” mumbled Spike. Not only he was seeing a life points counter right above Sombra’s head, but he also managed a sweet opening move. “I end my turn.”

Sombra’s nose flared. “Draw,” he said and picked up a card with a flash of his horn. “Phantom King Hydride!” A humanoid monster clad in a silver armor and riding a large black horse appeared carrying a curved bladed sword (1500/300). “Attack! PHANTOM BLADE!” The knight charged forward and, with a swift slash, beheaded Spike’s dragon, taking out eight hundred of his life points (4000-3200).

“I was waiting for that!” declared Spike. “When my Troop Dragon is destroyed by battle I can special summon another one from my deck!” A second dragon emerged, this one wielding a sword and a shield (700/800).

Sombra growled under his breath. “Turn end.”

“Draw,” said Spike and smiled upon seeing his newest card. “This is what I’m talking about! Monster Reborn!” The first Troop Dragon returned to the field with a joyous cry. “Now I tribute these two to summon my Red Eyes B. Dragon!” Both of Spike’s monsters glowed and fused into a ball of fire from which emerged his favorite dragon (2400/2000). “Attack! BLACK FIRE BULLET!” The black dragon reared back and breathed a projectile of dark fire that vaporized Sombra’s knight, complete with its steed, in the blink of an eye, costing him nine hundred life points (3200-2300).

“I can do this,” thought Spike. “I end my turn!”

“Draw!” Sombra immediately placed a card on his disk. “Monster Reborn! Return my Phantom King Hydride!” The knight reappared at the command of its master. “I summon Gash the Dust Lord!” A humanoid figure appeared, it wore a ragged brown and grey robe which concealed most of its body save for both hands, tightly holding a black sword, and part of its face, a pair of glowing red eyes and a devilish smirk (1000/1200).

Spike’s eyes widened as Sombra raised his head and started to chant with a deep, guttural voice. “The star of death that shines at the zenith of the heavens! Descend to the earth and make judgment upon the living! Synchro summon! King of Divine Punishment! Dark Highlander!” Both of Sombra’s monsters disolved into particles of light and ascended upwards, making the ceiling shine like a starry sky. Then, the stars swirled, forming a portal from which a large figured dropped, shaking the whole room in the process. It was humanoid in appearance, like the previous two, tall as a minotaur and clad in a black and golden armor; it set its red eyes on Spike and lifted a gigantic scythe that looked sharp enough to cut an apple cart in two with a single strike (2800/2300). “I play these,” said Sombra. “Mist Body and Darkworld Shackles!” A chain erupted from the ground and tied itself around the Red-Eyes Black Dragon’s neck. The dragon roared and pulled, but its effort only served to reveal the large, black spiked ball with a grinning demonic face attached to the other end of the chain (100/100). Sombra licked his lips. “Attack! DEATH POLAR SLAY!” The Dark Highlander swinged its scythe towards the black dragon, which turned into a cloud of mist as soon as the edge grazed its scales. Still, it did not stop the shockwave that took out two thousand seven hundred of Spike’s life points and sent his body rolling backwards (3200-500).

“I-I don’t get it,” muttered Spike as he struggled to stand up. “Why did he use those spells…?”

Sombra laughed thunderously. “Finish him! DEATH SEVERING!” The Dark Highlander raised its scythe and brought it down, destroying both of Sombra’s equip spell cards and creating an eruption of dark energy that dealt eight hundred points of damage to Spike (500-0).

“I lost,” thought Spike as he lay on the floor. He looked at Sombra, whom did not move but kept laughing. “Duel Monsters is not that fun when you play with guys like him,” he thought bitterly. As he contemplated his fate, a high pitched voice interrupted the villanous laugh.

“Not so fast, King Spooky Smokey!”

Spike blinked twice. “P-Pinkie Pie?!

Pinkie jumped from the hallway, right over King Sombra and made three perfectly executed spins on mid-air before flawlessly landing on her hind legs, right next to Spike. “Hi, Spike!” she greeted casually. “I’ll handle this so don’t worry!”

With some effort, Spike sat and looked at Pinkie. A dark blue jacket hung around her neck like a cape and she wore a bright red duel disk around her left foreleg; all while still standing on her hinds.

Sombra gritted his teeth and growled. “Duel!”

“Lady duelists first!” said Pinkie with a grin. “I summon Fire Hand!” A strange mechanized monster in the shape of a glowing, red hot clawed hand appeared on the field (1600/1000). Pinkie extended her right hoof towards it and the monster responded by closing its fingers and giving her a thumbs up. “I also play two copies of Supply Squad and finish my turn!”

Sombra looked at Pinkie’s side of the field and sneered. “Draw! Graceful Charity!” he drew three more cards and discarded two. Afterwards, he immediately played Monster Reborn to bring back his Phantom King Hydride and summoned Gash the Dust Lord. “Synchro Summon!”

Spike eyes widened as the Dark Highlander materialized once again, menacingly towering over Pinkie Pie. Her smile merely got wider. “You’re going to need more than that to get the upper hand!”

Sombra snarled. “DEATH POLAR SLAY!” The Dark Highlander raised its giant scythe and charged forward.

“Counterattack!” yelled Pinkie as she pointed her right hoof forward. “Secret Pressure Point Technique Number One! Fatal Heatstroke Finger!” The Fire Hand launched itself and stroke the Dark Highlander right on the neck with its index finger, causing both monsters to immediately explode and vanish. A second hand, glowing blue and covered with frost, immediately took the place of the destroyed one as Pinkie drew two cards from her deck (1400/1600). Her life points went down by one thousand two hundred (4000-2800).

Sombra growled like an angry dog and placed two face down cards. “Turn end!”

“Alright!” cheered Pinkie. “Now I draw one card and--”

“Wait!” cried Spike.

“Uh? What is it, Spike?”

“What was all that you did now?!”

Pinkie blinked. “You mean my plays?”

“Yes!”

“You mean you don’t know?”

“No!”

Pinkie giggled. “That’s okay, Spike. You don’t have to feel bad for not having firsthand knowledge of every single card; not when I’m here to give you a guiding hand!”

Spike rolled his eyes.

“When my Fire Hand is destroyed and sent to the graveyard I can destroy one of my opponent’s monsters and special summon an Ice Hand from my deck,” cheerfully explained Pinkie as she pointed her hoof towards her monster, which raised its thumb in response. “And when one of my monsters is destroyed my Supply Squad continuous spells allow me to draw a card from my deck. Pretty handy, huh?”

“That’s…pretty cool, actually,” admitted Spike. “But couldn’t you have—you know, explained it like that from the go?”

Pinkie rolled her eyes and blew a raspberry. “Where’s the fun in that?”

Just as Spike was about to reply, a voice erupted behind them.

“CALL OF THE HAUNTED!”

They both looked to see the Dark Highlander standing once again next to King Sombra.

“We’ll talk later, Spike,” said Pinkie. “I have to get my hands dirty,” she added. “Attack, Ice Hand! Secret Pressure Point Technique Number Two! Fatal Frostbite Finger!” Her monster launched itself forward and stroke the Dark Highlander in the solar plexus with its middle and index finger, causing both monsters to vanish and Pinkie to lose one thousand four hundred points (2800/1400). “When my Ice Hand is destroyed I can pick and destroy a spell or trap card my opponent controls,” Pinkie explained unprompted. “Plus I get to summon a Fire Hand from my deck and draw two cards thanks to my Supply Squad!” A second Fire Hand appeared next to her.

Spike stood dumbfounded. “She’s got the upper hand…”

“I heard that!” said Pinkie with a giggle.

Spike slapped himself on the forehead.

“Now,” said Pinkie with a smirk as she looked at the defenseless King Sombra. “Go, Fire Hand! Spicy Slap!” she ordered and her monster responded by slapping Sombra across the face two times in succession, lowering his life points by one thousand six hundred (4000-2400). “I’m not done yet! I play Magical Mallet!” she shuffled the six cards in her hand and drew the same amount. “Now that I control a Fire Hand I can special summon a Prominence Hand from my hand!” The monster was a golden mechanical hand, almost skeletal in appearance; it turned to its master and closed its fingers before lifting both, the index and middle ones, to form a letter V. “All hands on deck as I build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” Pinkie lifted her right hoof upwards and both of her monsters turned into balls of light, fusing themselves in a blinding flash. “Nothing will escape your grasp! Number 106: Giant Hand!”

Spike gaped as he saw the huge hand completely made of black rocks appearing above Pinkie Pie. Each one of it’s fingers was encased in metal, ending on a sphere which opened to reveal a glowing rune that made it look like an eye (2000/2000). “I set two cards and end my turn.”

Sombra howled, drew a card and immediately activated his face down trap. “Powerful Rebirth!” The Phantom King Hydride returned to the field with an extra one hundred attack points and its level increased by one (1600/400). Sombra normal summoned a second Gash the Dust Lord and started chanting again. “Rend the obsidian darkness! Scorch Heaven and Earth! Isolated absolute king!” The two fiends were engulfed by a tornado of flames. “Synchro summon! Hot Red Dragon Archfiend!”

The first thing Spike saw coming out were a pair of arms with large claws, followed by two huge leathery wings and, finally, a red and black dragon shattering the flames with a mighty roar. It was the first time after meeting with Tirek that Spike had seeing such a demonic looking creature, with the three curved horns adorning the top and sides of its head, and those piercing yellow eyes (3000/2000).

“Destroy it!” commanded Sombra. “CRIMSON HELL FLAME!” The demonic dragon reared back and breathed a stream of fire towards the Giant Hand.

“Pinkie!” shouted a terrified Spike.

But Pinkie Pie merely grinned as her monster spread its fingers and easily blocked the flames with its palm, sending a shockwave that made the dragon flinch. “I can detach two XYZ materials to negate the effect of a monster on my opponent side of the field! It’s my Fatally Paralyzing Pressure Point Technique!” she declared loudly.

Sombra screamed in frustration. “Attack! CRIMSON HELL CLAW!” The demonic dragon spread its wings and charged forward, only for Sombra to watch in horror how it started to get smaller until it became half its original size (1500/2000). “It can’t be!”

With a flick of its middle finger the Giant Hand made the Hot Red Dragon Archfiend vanish like a dust bunny and lowered Sombra’s life points by five hundred (2400-1900).

“How do you like my Shrink spell, King Spooky Smokey?” asked Pinkie cheerfully. “I gotta hand it to you, you’re not half bad. On the other hand, you’re so focused on attacking you ended up overplaying your hand!”

“Pinkie Pie!” protested Spike while raising both arms over his head.

“Sorry,” she said sheepishly, then turned to King Sombra. “Are you done there?”

Sombra growled.

“I take that as a yes,” chirped Pinkie. “Draw,” she pointed her right hoof forward. “Go Giant Hand! Secret Pressure Point Technique Number Three! Five-Point-Iron-Palm-Descending-From-Heaven-Strike!”

The giant hand raised itself…and promptly squashed King Sombra (1900-0). The darkness that enveloped the room disappeared immediately, revealing the pleasant crystal architecture and leaving no trace of the confrontations that had just taken place.

“Well, I hope that wasn’t too heavy handed!” said Pinkie with glee. She removed the duel disk from her left foreleg, carefully placing it on her back and went back to standing on her four legs. “Are you okay, Spike?”

The baby dragon ran and tightly hugged Pinkie with his tiny arms.

“Aww, there, there--”

“Wait!” cried Spike as he suddenly broke the hug. “Twilight! We-we have to find her and tell her King Sombra is back and trying to take over Equestria with a card games and--” his words were cut short when Pinkie jammed her special “calm down” cupcake on his mouth, with extra chocolate for additional endorphins release.

“There’s nothing to be afraid of, you silly!”

Spike swallowed and licked his lips. “But--”

“She’s right, Spike.”

Both of them turned around to see a slightly dishveled Twilight, followed closely by Applejack.

“Twilight,” said Spike with a smile. “But what do you--” he stopped and frowned. “Is this about that “little experiment” you were talking about yesterday?”

Twilight smiled proudly. “An holographic projection of an artificial intelligence taking the form of known figures, pre-programmed with behavioral patterns extracted from our previous encounters with them and strategies suited for their personalities and approaches to conflicts.”

Spike stood dumbfounded.

“She means a dummy that plays card games, sugarcube.”

Twilight frowned at Applejack, whom merely shrugged and smiled in response.

Twilight rolled her eyes and cleared her throat. “Yes, it was part of my magical experiment for the purpose of improving the world of dueling. Can you imagine it?” she beamed. “No longer you will be limited to seeking arenas or other ponies to play with! You could do it all from the comfort of your home and play with whoever you wanted!”

“Like a black magic wielding, power hungry tyrant?” asked Spike drily.

Twilight blushed. “It’s a work in progress,” she confessed and smiled. “Which is the reason I called the number five best duelist in Equestria to test it.”

Spike looked at Pinkie Pie. “Magic Hand Diane!”

Pinkie adjusted the jacket around her neck and turned her nose up. Suddenly, her eyes opened wide. “Oh no!” she gasped. “I just realized I went all the duel without once telling him to talk to the hand!”

Twilight rubbed the back of her neck. “Yes--going on, the artificial intelligence activated before she arrived and went around the castle looking for an opponent until it found you,” she pointed her hoof at Spike. “But, rest assured, I’ve already taken care of that little issue.”

“Right,” said Spike with no amusement on his face. “And what about you, Applejack?”

“Me?” asked Applejack. “Ah’ just here to visit Twilight and look at her dummy thingy.”

Twilight cleared her throat and looked at Applejack with a frown.

Applejack quirked an eyebrow.

Twilight raised both eyebrows.

Applejack lowered her chin.

Twilight lowered her’s.

Applejack sighed. “I’m here to assist Professor Twilight in her personal dueling project.”

Twilight gave a a toothy smile which prompted Applejack to cover her face with her hat.

Spike sighed. “I swear there are not enough gems in the world,” he mumbled and began his journey to the kitchen.

Holy Lightning

“And that’s how it went,” finished Spike as he took a small emerald from the once full plate in front of him, flicked it upwards with his tiny thumb and opened his mouth; the gem fell right on target and the baby dragon chewed contently, the memories of today’s terrifying start washed away by a fulfilling breakfast.

To his right, Applejack slowly chewed a piece of her pancake, filled with apple slices and honey, with a prominent smile across her face as she made a mental note to bring up Rarity’s dueling fashion choices, as well as Rainbow Dash’s middle name, the next time they meet. And the next. And the one after that too.

To his left, Pinkie Pie stood on her hind legs, brandishing a fork holding a pancake covered with cream and strawberries like it was some kind of legendary sword, her eyes wide open. “Can you imagine that, guys? A tournament for the best duelists in Equestria?” she asked, her body brimming with anticipation. “The twenty of us dueling on top of a blimp, above a volcano on a hidden island!” she stabbed the air to her right with her fork. “Revealing our identities one by one!” she made a slashing motion to her left, dropping a bit of cream over the table. “Our motivations and beliefs in masterfully worded speeches!” she raised the fork upwards. “Then Princess Celestia will come flying from the direction of the sun and be all like “who said the twenty best duelists in Equestria go from one to twenty? They go from zero to nineteen!” and she’ll put on her duel disk and reveal these super awesome invincible cards that--” she kept talking and swinging her fork, but by that point everypony had zoned out her voice.

“So,” said Twilight as she took a small bite from her fruity pancake. “It seems they had a very intense duel.”

“Yeah,” said Spike, spreading his tiny arms. “I don’t think I’ve seen anything like that before.”

Twilight nodded. “I see,” she mumbled and stared at her plate like it was some kind of ancient stone table filled with hyeroglyphics. “Maybe I should check out the duel--”

“GOD HAND CRUSHER!” Pinkie Pie’s yell was accompained by her right hoof slamming the dinner table and drawing all of the present’s eyes towards her. “Oops,” she said with a sheepish smile. “Sorry.”

Twilight sighed. “Where were we?”

“Well,” said Spike while pointing a finger towards Twilight. “I was hoping you could explain me about that whole “Professor Twilight” thing.”

“Oh that,” said Twilight with an airily laugh. “It’s just the way Applejack refers to me when we gather for our duelling lessons.”

Spike looked at Applejack and the faint blush on her cheeks as she slowly sled her hat down.

“Duelling lessons?” he asked.

“That’s right,” said Twilight, puffing her chest up. “I taught her everything about Duel Monsters. And I must say I’m quite proud of my student’s achievments. Who knows? One day she may surpass even her teacher,” she giggled and patted Applejack on the back.

Even with her hat fully covering her face, Spike could swear he saw Applejack’s face turning as red as her best apples. He smiled awkwardly. “So, I guess you’re the number three, Holy Lightning Jacqueline?”

“Eeyup,” replied Applejack as she put her hat back on its usual position with a deep breath. Her cheeks returned to her natural orange color. “Granny Smith came up with that one and we all agreed it sounded neat.”

“It does,” said Spike. He scratched the back of his head. “Still, it’s kind of surprising—I mean, I didn’t think you would have time or patience for this stuff. So why--”

“Money, sugarcube. No more no less,” interjected Applejack. “Got mah’ apple cart on one of those fancy tournies and sold mah’ stuff like there was no tomorrow,” she pointed her hoof at Pinkie, who was happily munching on the leftovers of her pancake. “And when Pinkie gave me the idea I could grab more attention by playin’ mah’self, I got to the smartest pony I could think of,” she looked at Twilight, who blushed slightly. “I learned everythin’ there is and made mah’ way the Apple Family way: thru hard work and honesty,” she leaned back on her chair and crossed both forelegs over her chest. “It ain’t deep or anything, sure, but it works for me and mah’ kin,” she declared proudly.

“Cool,” mumbled Spike. “And what about you, Pinkie?”

Pinkie swallowed the last mouthful of pancake. “Are you kidding me, Spike? I get to summon a giant rock hand to fight another pony!” she said while spreading her hoofs over her head. “I can cast spells! And then the other guy is all like “you just activated my trap card!” and I’m like “NO U!” and I attack his life points directly and he goes all “Waah!” and then--”

Spike watched as Pinkie bounced, rolled and dived her way around the table, dramatically doing all these sounds while facing multiple invisible opponents, before taking her seat again. “And money helps too.”

Spike nodded slowly and turned to Twilight, who looked at him expectantly.

“Just so you know,” she said with a smile. “Fluttershy is number five.”

Spike’s eyes widened. “Really? That’s quite something coming from her.”

“Yes, yes it is,” said Twilight, and she locked her eyes on Spike again.

There was moment of silence in which Spike looked at Applejack and Pinkie Pie, whom looked at each other with barely supressed smiles, then back at Twilight.

“Don’t you want to know who the number one is?” asked Twilight while raising both eyebrows.

Spike frowned, deep in thought. “Are you telling me,” he began as Twilight grin grew wider. “That your middle name is Josephine?”

Twilight’s face fell. “Really, Spike?” she asked. “Is that the first question that comes to your mind upon finding out I am the best duelist in all of Equestria?”

Spike shrugged. “Well, it’s not that surprising if you think about it,” he pointed an accusing little claw. “Unlike your middle name, which you have never told me before.”

Twilight groaned. “It was Shining Armor’s fault, okay? He registered me behind my back.”

“Did you really went ahead and used my middle name?!”

“It’s a nice name, Twilight. You shouldn’t have to hide it.”

“That’s rich coming from you, Eugene.”

“He didn’t find it so funny after I kicked him out in the very first round, though,” added Twilight with a chuckle.

The throne room was the chosen location for the second test duel. Twilight, Pinkie Pie and Spike took their respective seats while Applejack stood under the doorway, facing towards the hallway.

“You better come up with somethin’ good, Twilight,” said Applejack as she adjusted her duel disk, a basic model colored silver, around her neck. “After lil’ Spike’s awesome breakfast I feel I can take on a whole army of changelings!”

Spike smiled and puffed out his chest.

“Funny you should say that,” said Twilight with a smirk. Her horn flared and the light in the room dimmed. The crystal walls glowed in patterns of blue, purple and red with arcane runes. A cloud of purple miasma covered the floor of the throne room and the hallway. “Here we go.”

Applejack squinted and saw a figure coming straight from the wall of miasma. Lean and tall, moving with royal grace. She soon recognized the black carapace-like coat, traslucent wings and sickly-green mane belonging to Chrysalis, the queen of the changeling race.

“Well now,” said Chrysalis as she seized Applejack with a smug smile across her face. “I came here for a princess and find myself facing a mere farmer.”

Applejack grinned. “This farmer is goin’ to buck you right back to your mud hole, queenie. Get your game on!”

“Applejack!” yelled Pinkie from behind. “You’re supposed to say “it’s time to duel”!”

“I-It’s almost like she’s really there,” mumbled Spike, his tiny claws trembling.

“It’s okay,” said Twilight as she placed a comforting hoof over his shoulder. “It’s just a projection, an illusion; it can’t hurt anypony or even focus on anything beyond dueling, and I can dispell it in the blink of an eye.”

Spike nodded silently.

“Let’s duel,” said Chrysalis as she materialized a duel disk around her neck. It was black like her coat, with uneven protuberances across the edges and a few small holes. All in all, it looked more like an extension of her own body.

“Ah’ll go first,” declared Applejack. “Star Seraph Scout!” a winged mechanized creature appeared on the field (1200/1800). “With it’s effect ah’ can special summon Star Seraph Sage!” the newest monster resembled some kind of ancient tome; it glowed with a golden light (1600/1400). “Finally,” she placed Sargasso Lighthouse from her hand into her graveyard. “Ah’ discard a spell card to special summon Star Seraph Sword!” the last one had an appearance as undecipherable as the previous ones, with its frame filled with golden blades (1400/1000).

“She’s going to summon it! She’s going to summon it!” cheered Pinkie while clapping her hooves.

“Summon what?” asked Spike.

“Her best monster,” replied Twilight with a smile.

“Ah’ build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” Applejack tipped her hat and her three monsters turned into small balls of light, swirling around the arena before converging on the center. “Clad in light to ward off the darkness!” a pillar of light erupted from between the two duelists and a golden mechanized humanoid figure emerged from it. It shone so brightly the presents had to shield their eyes. “Number 102: Star Seraph Sentry!” the monster spread its bladed wings and tensed a bow with an arrow made of pure light (2500/2000).

“Oh my, aren’t you quite the showmare?” said Chrysalis while rubbing he reyes.

Applejack snorted. “Ah’ end mah’ turn.”

“Finally,” said Chrysalis with a roll of her eyes as she drew a card with her magic. “I summon Twilight Rose Knight,” a small human clad in a black armor and wearing a white cape materialized on the field. It turned around and kneeled before Chrysalis, who daintly touched its shoulders with her right hoof. The knight stood up, turned around and pointed its sword towards Applejack with a glare (1000/1000). “Isn’t it cute?” said Chrysalis. “Its effect allows me to special summon a level four plant monster from my hand, Botanical Lion,” she placed a card on her duel disk and a large lion with a body made of roots and a red flower for a mane appeared next to her (1600/2000). It bared its teeth at Applejack (1900/2000). “This game is filled with so many interesting creatures,” she said while patting her lion on the head. “But let’s not stop here. I mean, you showed me your best; it’s only fair I show you mine,” her horn glowed with a sickly-green light as she started to chant. “Chilling flames that engulf the entire world! Black flower, bloom!” her two monsters turned into small clusters of stars that disappeared below the miasma. “Synchro summon! Come, my Black Rose Dragon!” a red flower emerged from below the miasma and, with a gale that made Applejack hold her hat, its petals spread into a pair of wings, revealing the pitch-black, serpentine head of a dragon (2400/1800). It roared loudly. “Beautiful,” said Chrysalis with a smile. “Just like its master.”

Applejack tapped her hoof. “Are you done there?”

Chrysalis gave a smile that flashed her fangs in all their glory. “You won’t be so hasty once I equip it with my Thorn of Malice,” the dragon snarled as half a dozen black tendrils erupted from its back, each one covered in thorns (3000/1800). “Punish her!” commanded Chrysalis. “HATE ROSE WHIP!” with a roar, the dragon launched its tendrils towards Applejack’s seraph, enveloping it and slamming it hard against the floor, where they kept it firmly secured, reducing its attack and defense by six hundred points (1900/1400).

Applejack blinked twice.

“I take you’re surprised,” said Chrysalis with a smug smile. “My Thorn of Malice doesn’t destroy; it hurts, slowly and surely, until your monster ends up defenseless as a kitten,” she then added casually. “Of course you also lose the difference in life points.”

Applejack turned around and saw in horror how her back legs were wrapped with the same thorny vines as her monster. She screamed in pain as the vines squeezed and her life points went down (4000/3500). “T-Twilight, what the hay is this?!” she cried.

“I-I don’t know,” muttered Twilight. “That’s not supposed to happen!”

“Turn it off! Turn it off!” cried Spike.

Twilight immediately leapt to her hooves and flared her horn. The runes on the walls glowed red and the miasma swirled wildly, but nothing else changed. “I can’t,” cried Twilight. “My magic! Something is disrupting the flow of my magic!”

“Spike!” called Pinkie. The baby dragon turned around to see her holding a cupcake with a large candle on top. She nodded. He shrugged and breathed fire over the candle; it lit with an impressive green flame.

“Combined technique!” yelled Pinkie as she stood on her hind legs. “Dragon Cupcake Bomb!” with those words she threw the flaming cupcake straight at Chrysalis face. It flew with alarming speed and…went right through her head. It kept flying until it disappeared into the darkness, followed by the sound of glass breaking.

Pinkie chuckled awkwardly. “I’ll pay for that one later.”

Spike looked at Applejack as she tried in vain to free herself. “What if she just stands there without playing while we go get Princess Celestia?” he asked.

Twilight shook her head. “N-No, the artificial intelligence is designed to keep on dueling even if the opponent doesn’t do anything…”

“But that means the only thing she has to do is win, right?” asked Pinkie.

“W-Well, yes, but--”

“Go, Applejack!” yelled Pinkie.

Spike looked at Pinkie. “I-I think she’s right, Twilight,” he said firmly. “You can do it, Applejack!”

Twilight bit her lower lip then frowned. “Applejack, listen to me!” she called, getting the attention of her friend. “You have to keep playing, okay? I’ll keep trying to deactivate the spell!”

Applejack looked at Twilight struggling with her magic, at Pinkie Pie and Spike cheering and, finally, at Chrysalis setting a card and ending her turn. Her nose flared. “It ain’t goin’ to end like this,” she thought. “Draw!” she pulled her card with such strenght it made the seats in the room shake. “Ah’ll detach an XYZ material to use mah’ Star Seraph Sentry’s effect! HOLY SEALING!” her monster slowly stood up despite the crushing pressure of the vines and shoot an arrow of light that hit the Black Rose Dragon right on the neck; it roared and squirmed (1500/1800). “Mah’ Star Seraph Sentry can lock your monster’s effect and cut its attack points in half!” she declared. “Now ah’ gonna turn that lizard of yours into compost! HOLY ARROW!” the Star Seraph Sentry tensed its bow once again.

“You fool!” said Chrysalis. “Trap card open! Half Counter!” the Black Rose Dragon snarled and tensed the vines around its angelic foe, sending it down once again (1300/800).

“What the hay?” cried Applejack as her life points went down again (3500-2650).

“Half Counter gives my dragon half of the original attack points of your monster until the end of turn,” calmly informed Chrysalis. “And let’s not forget the best part…”

Applejack screamed as the vines squeezed her hind legs. The voices of her friends felt like a distant echo as she gasped for air.

“Any other useless attempt of your part?” asked Chrysalis.

Applejack did not reply.

“Figures,” sneered Chrysalis. She drew a card from her deck. “Let’s not waste any time, shall we? HATE ROSE WHIP!” her dragon’s vines lifted the seraph and slammed it headfirst on the floor (700/200), reducing its master’s life points by two hundred (2650-2450).

Spike watched horrified as Applejack’s screams grew weaker.

Pinkie launched herself towards the arena but was caught by a tendril of miasma and threw to the back of the room.

“S-Stop it,” muttered Twilight. “STOP IT!” she spread her wings and gritted her teeth, her horn shining like a beacon. The runes glowed hot red, the miasma clouds twisted and contorted, and the very walls of the castle started to shake. It was like a boiling pot of water about to burst. “I won’t let you!” she screamed, her legs shaking. “I WON’T LET--”

“STOP IT, TWILIGHT!”

Twilight jumped and immediately cut the flow of her magic. The walls stopped shaking and the room returned to its previous dark atmosphere. She, along with Pinkie and Spike, looked at Applejack, who was smiling despite her labored breaths, the cascade of sweat that dripped over her muzzle and the vines that fully covered her back legs.

“It’s okay, sugarcube,” said Applejack. “Ah’ can…handle this. Ah’ was taught by the very best…remember?” she grinned and winked.

Twilight smiled and nodded tearfully as Spike quickly went to her side and hugged her left foreleg with his tiny arms.

“YOU CAN DO IT, APPLEJACK!” yelled Pinkie with tears flowing from her eyes like a fountain. “WHAT IS SOMETHING YOU CAN SEE, BUT CAN’T SEE? FRIENDSHIP! BELIEVE IN THE HEART OF THE CARDS, APPLEJACK!”

Twilight and Spike looked at Pinkie. “You know, I’m not even going to comment on that,” he said drily.

Applejack blinked twice. “Ah’ll make sure to keep that in mind, Pinkie.”

Chrysalis snickered. “You sure are confident despite your sorry state. Go ahead, I end my turn.”

“Me?” asked Applejack as she drew a card. “Ah’ detach another xyz material to play the effect of mah’ Seraph Sentry,” her monster stood up to its knees and fired a second arrow of light to the Black Rose Dragon, hitting it on the chest. It let out a pitiful growl as its attack went down further (750/1800). “You should look at yourself,” she said while pointing with her right hoof. “Your lizard is weaker tan mah’ granny’s knees on winter. As soon as ah’ get another monster, it’s goin’ down.”

Chrysalis gritted her teeth. She looked at her monster: it’s head bobbled back and fort, it’s long black tongue hanged from the side of its jaws. “Draw,” she snarled. “De-Synchro!” her dragon vanished in a whirlwind of petals, revealing the Twilight Rose Knight and Botanical Lion, which she immediately combined to summon her Black Rose Dragon again (2400/1800). “It’s been fun, but I’ll finish you right now,” she declared as she slid a spell card on her duel disk. “Wonder Clover! By discarding my Lord Poison I can make my Black Rose Dragon attack twice,” she informed with a flick of her mane. “Disappear already, BLACK ROSE FLARE!” the Black Rose Dragon reared its head and breathed a stream of black flames. It turned the Star Seraph Sentry to ashes and engulfed Applejack, sending her hat flying away.

Pinkie gasped, Spike covered his eyes and Twilight put her hooves to her mouth. But when the miasma cloud moved, Applejack was still standing there; teeth clenched and hooves firmly planted on the floor (2450-400).

“What?!” cried Chrysalis. “How?!”

Applejack took a deep breath. “When mah’ Seraph Sentry is goin’ to be destroyed, I can detach all of its xyz materials to cut all the battle damage in half,” she informed with a smirk. “Sorry to disappoint you.”

Chrysalis let out a growl of frustration and set down a card. “Turn end,” she hissed. “It doesn’t matter what you do. Try to defend and my dragon will tear you up. Try to attack and you will crash against my Wall of Thorns!” she thought triumphantly.

Applejack exhaled. “Here goes something,” she said as she calmly pulled out a card. “Yee-Haw! Now this is what ah’ talking about!” she slammed a card on her duel disk. “I summon Star Seraph Scepter!” a mechanized monster in the shape of a golden scepter appeared on the field (1800/400). “Now ah’ can add my Star Seraph Sovereignty from mah’ deck and summon it thanks to its effect!” a richly ornate, golden throne appeared next to the scepter (800/2000). “I ain’t over yet! Ah’ draw a card and if it’s a Star Seraph monster I can special summon it,” she declared as she drew her card. “Lookie here, it’s mah’ Star Seraph Scales!” a golden scale appeared in front of her, glowing brightly (1500/900). “Now ah’ can special summon a star seraph monster from mah’ hand,” she informed as she played a second copy of Star Seraph Sword (1400/1000). “Plus ah’ can put a light monster from mah’ graveyard on top of mah’ deck,” she picked her Star Seraph Sage and swiftly slid it on top of her deck slot.

Chrysalis looked at the line of angelic artifacts in front of Applejack and snorted. “I can’t tell if you’re trying to duel or hosting an auction.”

Applejack smirked. “XYZ summon! Number 102: Star Seraph Sentry!” the Scepter, Sovereignty and Scales combined into a vortex of light from which emerged her best monster (2500/2000). “And thanks to mah’ Scepter I can destroy a card on the field and draw one from mah’ deck!”

Chrysalis' eyes widened as her trap card vanished. “W-What?”

“HOLY SEALING!”

Before her mind could process it, the Seraph Sentry had shoot an arrow to her Black Rose Dragon that cut it’s attack in half (1200/1800). “N-No,” she muttered.

“Eeyup! Mah’ Star Seraph Sword has an effect too! Ah’ll send a star seraph from mah' hand to the graveyard to increase its attack points by the same number of the discarded monster!” she slid her Star Seraph Sage back into the graveyard (3000/1000). “It’s over for you, queenie! HOLY LIGHTNING SUBLIMATION”

Spike, Pinkie and Twilight shielded their eyes as a blinding flash of light engulfed the place. A moment of silence later, they opened them to see the throne room back to its previous state, and an exhausted Applejack lying on her haunches right below the doorway.

“That’s game,” she said right before she was tackle hugged by two ponies and a baby dragon.

“You silly filly!” yelled Pinkie with tears in her eyes. “ You were supposed to say “gotcha”!”

“I’m sorry,” sobbed Twilight while pressing her head against Applejack’s chest. “I didn’t know…”

“There, there,” said Applejack as she hugged them both. “It ain’t nopony’s fault.”

“Applejack?” called Spike. “I think this is yours,” he held a hat in his tiny claws.

“Thanks, sugarcube,” she put her hat on and patted Spike on the head. “Ah’ feel like I have been bucking trees nonstop since--”

“Applejack!” cried Spike. “Your legs!”

“What’s with mah’—whoa!”

Applejack looked at her hind legs: they were completely unscathed. She patted them, moved them and, with a little effort, stood up again. “Well ah’ll be! Not that ah’ was hopin’ for scars, but this is kinda surprisin’.”

Pinkie narrowed her eyes. “Does this mean you were playing make believe all this time?”

Applejack frowned. “What? No! It really hurt like hay, Pinkie!”

“Alright, that’s enough,” said Twilight. She took a deep breath to compose herself. “I do not fully understand what happened here, but I will make sure to find out,” she declared. “Spike, take a letter.”

Spike quickly took out a scroll and a quill from below his seat. Truly having stashed those all over the castle had been one of his best ideas.

Twilight cleared her throat. “Dear Princess Celestia: A magical incident of possibly dark nature has ocurred on the Friendship Castle. I believe this is a matter we should discuss personally. I await your response as soon as possible. Always your faithful student, Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

“Done,” said Spike. “I’ll send it right away!”

Twilight sighed, and turned to Pinkie and Applejack. “Hopefully we can solve--”

“TWILIGHT!”

The three ponies turned and ran towards Spike’s voice, only to find him staring thru one of the castle windows, the letter scroll dropped at his feet.

“Spike! What happen--”

Twilight, Pinkie and Applejack gasped as they saw the columns of purple miasma in the distance.

One in the middle of Ponyville, the other in the direction of Fluttershy’s cottage.

Ice Maiden

“DUEL!” screamed the terrifying, legion-like voice; over and over again, each time louder than the previous one. It came from everywhere and nowhere at the same time, and with each iteration the very foundations of the house seemed to shake.

A curled up Fluttershy stood on the middle of the living room, with both hooves over her eyes and shaking like a dried leaf. A group of animals, composed of six mice, two squirrels, four birds and a racoon, led by Angel Bunny himself, formed a protective circle around her.

“DUEL!”

Fluttershy squeaked and covered her face with her mane. The animals around her tensed; Angel Bunny swinged a large carrot over his head and pointed it forwards like a broadsword.

A long moment of silence went on, barely interrupted by the sound of the wind and some distant chirping, before Fluttershy dared to ask. “Is it over?” she slowly opened her eyes and looked around. Then, she tentavely stood up; first keeping her haunches on the floor, next fully on her four hooves. The critters around her relaxed as well; Angel Bunny rested the carrot over his shoulder. “That was scary,” she mumbled and took a deep breath.

There was a gentle knock at the door.

“Eep!” Fluttershy jumped back, her animals immediately forming a wall in front of her with Angel Bunny at the head, the tip of his carrot pointed towards the door.

Silence. Another gentle knock, this time followed by a soft voice. “Miss Fluttershy?”

Fluttershy blinked. She made her way thru the living room, slowly but steadily, followed closely by her furry praetorians, until she reached the door and softly placed her right hoof over the doorknob. Her animals readied themselves for attack; Angel Bunny lifted his carrot.

Fluttershy gulped. “Here we go,” she whispered and opened the door, only to be met with three smiling fillies. “Oh, hi girls,” she greeted before taking a quick peek around over their heads. “What can I help you with?”

“We were wondering if you could let us use your duel arena,” timidly asked Sweetie Belle. Next to her, Scootaloo and Applebloom smiled pleadingly.

“Oh, of course!” replied Fluttershy with a smile. “Please come in,” she stepped aside to let the fillies inside; her animals scattering. “By the way,” she continued while closing the door. “Did any of you, um, heard a voice around here?”

The three fillies immediately turned around. “No,” they replied in unison.

Fluttershy exhaled a breath of relief. “I guess I must have been hearing things. Well, come along, girls,” she said cheerfully as she took the lead.

“I told you we should have asked her,” whispered Sweetie Belle.

Scootaloo rolled her eyes and blew a raspberry.

“But there’s no fun in that!” protested Applebloom.

Angel Bunny glared at them while menacingly patting his carrot.

Befitting her role as an animal caretaker, and ocassional ranger, Fluttershy’s property was the largest one in Ponyville, next to Sweet Apple Acres. Which is the reason Twilight asked her for, in her own words, a “tiny favor”; installing a dueling arena in her backyard for research.

Fluttershy would be lying if she said those black stones, the way they glowed and the clouds that came out of them did not make her afraid. But then, she had to admit there were so many cute animals among the monster cards; and the projections all looked so real…

Fluttershy glanced at the large demonic creature in front of her, then back at her hand. She frowned and curled her lower lip.

Not too far away, a black stallion tapped his right hoof on the ground. “Well?”

“I think,” said Fluttershy as she picked a card from her hand. “I’ll play this one,” she placed it on her duel disk and a small opossum-like creature materialized in front of her. “Oh my,” she exclaimed with a smile. “It’s an opossum,” she extended her right hoof towards it. “Here boy, here--”

“Enough!” yelled the stallion, making her jump on her hoves. “If you’re going to play, play!”

“S-Sorry!” said Fluttershy. She quickly looked at her duel disk. “It says here Playing Possum has an effect,” she informed. The opossum turned its tiny black eyes towards the demon, let out a screech and dropped to the ground. “It’s playing dead,” she noted enthusiastically. “Did you know it’s not a conscious act but a physiological involuntary reaction--”

The stallion stomped the ground. “Shut up! Shut up! Shut up!”

Fluttershy squeaked and covered her face with the cards in her hand. “I-I think I can play this one,” she placed another card on her duel disk. A large green baboon, easily twice the size of the demon, appeared next to her, carrying a big wooden club. It snarled at her opponent. “Now I can attack, right?” she asked with a smile.

The green baboon roared, raised its wooden club and slammed the demon right on the head, turning it into dust.

Fluttershy gasped. “You didn’t have to be so rough!” she cried while pointing a hoof at her monster. “Bad monkey! Bad!”

The stallion’s mouth fell.

“Alright, girls, here you go,” she said while turning around. “If you need anything just call--”

“Fluttershy of Ponyville!” yelled Scootaloo, making the yellow pegasus jump in her hooves.

“We challenge you to a duel!” yelled Applebloom while pointing with her right hoof.

“Do you accept?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Duel?” Fluttershy glanced around her then smiled awkwardly. “The three of you against me?”

“Yeah!” said Scootaloo.

“Isn’t that a bit, um, unfair?”

The three fillies looked at each other. “What if…uh, we share four thousand life points between the three of us?” asked Applebloom.

Fluttershy felt a pull on her mane. She looked down to see Angel Bunny nodding vigorously.

“Well, I suppose that’s okay…”

The three fillies cheered and went straight towards the arena.

Fluttershy sighed and went inside, followed closely by Angel Bunny. She picked up her duel disk, a basic model colored cyan, from a drawer and adjusted it around her neck. “Let’s see,” she mumbled while looking between several piles of cards.

Angel Bunny jumped on her head and pointed towards a blue deck case.

Fluttershy shook her head. “Oh no, Angel; that one is not for them,” she said and picked one of the piles, carefully placing it on the deck slot of her disk. Angel Bunny rolled his eyes and jumped on her back. Satisfied, she went to the arena, where the fillies were already waiting for her.

“Alright, girls, who’s go--”

“The Diamond Sword! Sweetie Belle!”

“The Unbreakable Shield! Applebloom!”

“The Strongest Crusader! Scootaloo!”

“Really?” drily asked Applebloom.

“It’s my title and I’m sticking to it!” replied Scootaloo as she lifted her nose.

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. “Forget about it.”

The three fillies struck a pose. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADER ELITE TAG TEAM DUELISTS!”

“Um…that’s nice,” said Fluttershy. She smiled. “Do you want to go first?”

The crusaders nooded. “DUEL!”

“I’ll go first!” declared Scootaloo. “I summon Zubaba Knight!” a humanoid monster, clad in a yellow and red armor, and wielding a pair of serrated swords, appeared next to her (1600/900). “I end my turn.”

“Mah’ turn!” yelled Applebloom. “Ah’ summon Achacha Archer!” a humanoid archer appeared next to her (1200/900). It immediately took out an arrow from its quiver and tensed it on its bow; the arrowhead burst on fire, catching the archer by surprise and making it shoot prematurely. The arrow flew straight to Fluttershy, grazing her right cheek and lowering her life points by five hundred (4000-3500).

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle cheered.

Applebloom smiled proudly and declared. “Ah’ end mah’ turn.”

“It’s my turn!” said Sweetie Belle enthusiastically. “Now I,” she trailed off. “I…uh…pass,” she finished with an embarrased smile.

Fluttershy smiled sympathetically. “I play Swords of Revealing Light,” she slid a card on her duel disk and several blades of pure light rained from above to form a wall between her and the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “I’m done.”

“Draw!” said Scootaloo. “I summon Zubaba Buster!” a second humanoid knight, covered in black and orange armor, appeared next to her, wielding a dual morning star (1800/600). “I build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” she declared at the top of her lungs. “Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction!” her two monsters were engulfed by a cloud of miasma and quickly replaced by a large, purple automaton with a terrifying skull-like face. Acidic vapors leaked incessantly from its fingers and joints (3000/3000).

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle stood with their mouths open.

Fluttershy gulped as the golem’s piercing yellow eyes glared at her.

“Turn end,” said Scootaloo as she puffed her chest out.

“Draw!” said Applebloom. She did a little hop and placed a card on her duel disk. “Ah’ summon Rai Rider!” a human riding a motorcycle, its long red hair blowing dramatically behind it, appeared on the field (1200/1400). “Ah’ build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” her two monsters vanished and, with a flash of fire, emerged a bipedal crimson dinosaur, its body covered by ornate metal plaques. “Grenosaurus!” it bared its large fangs as flames erupted from the back of its neck (2000/1900).

Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle stomped their little hooves on the ground.

Fluttershy shifted uncomfortably in place.

Applebloom grinned. “Ah’am done here.”

“Draw!” said Sweetie Belle. Her smile vanished as soon as she looked at her newly drawn card. “I’ll…pass,” she mumbled.

Fluttershy saw a few of the swords of light disappearing. “Turn count one,” she thought, drew a card from her deck and immediately ended her turn.

“Draw!” Scootaloo swiftly drew a card from her deck. She looked at her duel disk: the slot under her Acid Golem was glowing. She detached an xyz unit and it stopped. “Whatever,” she mumbled. “I end my turn!”

Applebloom quickly drew a card and ended her turn. She shook her tail in anticipation.

Sweetie Belle slowly drew her card and peeked at it. “Pot of Greed!” she said with a wide grin. She quickly played it, allowing herself to draw two more cards. “I summon Saambell the Summoner,” a cute female monster with long brown hair styled in two ponytails, and wearing a light blue dress covered with a brown jacket appeared next to her (600/400). “With her effect I special summon Flelf,” a blonde elf monster clad in a silver armor and wearing a long blue cape materialized on the field (800/1300). “Now I can build an overlay network!” she declared cheerfully. “XYZ summon!” her Saambell vanished in a cloud of sparkles which enveloped her Flelf, making it grow taller. Its blue cape transformed into a beautiful golden armor, with a rich purple scarf to conceal the lower half of its face. “Shining Elf!” the monster drew a curved sword and adopted a fighting stance (1600/1000).

Scootaloo and Applebloom oohed simultaneously.

Sweetie Belle inserted a spell card on her duel disk. “I’ll also equip it with my XYZ Unit!” a golden halo surrounded the Shining Elf (2000/1000). “Turn end!”

The three fillies looked at each other then nodded. “CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS ULTIMATE TAG TEAM DUELISTS!”

More of the swords of light disappeared. “Turn count two,” thought Fluttershy. She drew again and ended her turn.

Scootaloo drew a card and absentmindedly detached the last xyz unit from her Acid Golem. “Turn end!”

Applebloom and Sweetie Belle followed by drawing and passing.

The swords of light all vanished. “Three,” mumbled Fluttershy. She set a monster card. “I end my turn.”

“Cutie Mark Crusaders Counterattack!” yelled Scootaloo as she drew her card. “Go Acid Golem of Destruction! ACID SPRAY!” she pointed her tiny hoof forward, but her monster did not move; instead, it released a stream of acidic vapor towards the crusaders. The three fillies coughed and watched in confusion as their life points went down by half (4000-2000).

“What’s with your monster, Scootaloo?!” asked Sweetie Belle.

Scootaloo rapidly shook her head. “I-I don’t know!”

Applebloom frowned. “What do you mean you don’t know?!”

Fluttershy cleared her throat, getting their attention. “Your Acid Golem of Destruction cannot attack without xyz materials,” she informed solemnly. “Also you lose two thousand life points every turn in which you cannot detach one.”

Scootaloo’s pupils shrank.

Applebloom’s jaw fell.

Sweetie Belle slapped her forehead.

Angel Bunny had a laughing fit.

“This ain’t over yet!” fiercely declared Applebloom. “End your turn, Scootaloo!”

Scootaloo discarded a card and passed.

“Draw! Go Grenosaurus! FIRE RUSH!” at Applebloom’s command, the crimson dinosaur charged forward, shaking the ground with each step. It stopped before Fluttershy’s set monster, revealing it as a small flying squirrel, swallowed it whole and roared again, the shockwave lowering Fluttershy’s life points by one thousand (3500-2500). “When mah’ Grenosaurus destroys one of your monsters ah’ can detach one xyz material so you lose a thousand life points!” informed Applebloom with a grin, which soon faltered as she saw Fluttershy’s life points go up by one thousand (2500-3500).

“When my Nimble Momonga is destroyed by battle I gain a thousand life points life points,” said Fluttershy with an awkward smile. “And I can special summon two more from my deck face down,” two more squirrels appeared on her side of the field before turning face down.

Applebloom fell on her haunches and wordlessly discarded a card from her hand.

Sweetie Belle glanced sideways. “I…guess it’s my turn,” she said and drew a card. “Go, Shining Elf! Attack-uh-the one on the left! SHINING SLASH!” the elf twirled its blade elegantly and sliced one of Fluttershy’s set monsters clean; it vanished from the field, raising its master’s life points by one thousand (3500-4500). “I…end my turn,” said Sweetie Belle before discarding a card.

Fluttershy shook her head slightly, drew a card and passed.

“Draw,” said Scootaloo dejectedly as she took a card. The Acid Golem growled and unleashed a cloud of acidic vapor that lowered the fillies’ life points to zero (2000-0). The monsters vanished, the miasma dissipated and the stones stopped glowing.

Fluttershy put her best comforting smile. “Well, girls, that wasn’t too--”

“You dummy!”

“You didn’t read the card effects!”

“I didn’t have to! Rainbow Dash gave it to me!”

“We lost because your dumb golem!”

“Don’t call my golem dumb! It’s much better than your ugly elf and that lame dinosaur!”

“What did you say?!”

A dozen of trading cards flew into the air as the three fillies immediately engaged into a brawl.

“Girls, stop!” cried Fluttershy a she went around trying to put an end to the ball of shrieks, violence and dirt in front of her. “Oh goodness! Oh goodness!”

With an exhasperated sigh, Angel Bunny jumped down her master’s back, took a deep breath and unleashed an ear-piercing shriek that brought all the presents to a halt.

“Thank you, Angel,” said Fluttershy. She turned to the Cutie Mark Crusaders with a frown. “Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, stop pulling Scootaloo’s mane and tail; and you stop biting their legs, Scootaloo.”

The three fillies immediately compelled, forming a line in front of her with their heads down in shame.

“Do you think this is how friends should behave?” sternly asked Fluttershy.

“No,” replied the fillies in unison.

For a moment Fluttershy wondered how many times they got asked that question. She decided to change her approach. “Do you think this is how a group of tag team duelists should play?”

The fillies lifted their heads, ears perked up.

“Gotcha,” thought Fluttershy. “Scootaloo should have read the effects of that card better, yes, but you two, Applebloom and Sweetie Belle, should have assisted her,” she said with her best “teacher” tone. “Friends should support each other, whether in school, dueling or crusading for Cutie Marks; moreso when times are difficult.”

The fillies looked at each other.

“I’m sorry I ruined our duel, girls,” said Scootaloo.

“Ah’m sorry I called you dummy,” said Applebloom.

“And I’m sorry I—uh—called your monster dumb,” added Sweetie Belle.

They put their right hooves together and raised them. “Cutie Mark Crusaders Best Tag Team Duelists!”

Fluttershy smiled. “Alright, girls, I want you to pick up all these cards while I go fetch something to eat. After all, one cannot duel with an empty stomach,” she added with a wink.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders cheered and went to do as she said.

Fluttershy calmly went back inside her house with Angel Bunny in tow. “I think I’ll go the safer route and bring them cookies and milk,” she said as she placed her deck back on the drawer. But just as she was about to take off her duel disk, a chorus of screams caught her attention. She quickly made her way to the backdoor and what she saw there made her heart skip a beat: the stones of the dueling arena glowed hot red, the clouds of miasma swirled upwards like a tornado and, in the middle of all, making the cowering Cutie Mark Crusaders look like baby mice, was a black and red centaur the size of a house.

Fluttershy gasped. “T-Tirek!”

Tirek leaned forward to look at the fillies and, as if somepony had flipped a switch, all traces of fear disappeared from Fluttershy’s mind and she launched herself towards the arena with a level of speed that would make Rainbow Dash proud; effectively placing herself between the fillies and the demonic centaur. “Don’t you dare touch a single hair on their heads!” she said through gritted teeth.

“Oh,” said Tirek with a chuckle. “So you will duel me?”

Fluttershy bravery was momentarily replaced with confusion. “What?”

“Are you going to duel me?!” roared Tirek, clearly losing what little patience he had.

Fluttershy looked at the trembling fillies behind her. “Girls, go inside the house and don’t come out, you heard me?” she whispered. The fillies complied and she glared at Tirek. “I will duel you!”

“Excellent,” said Tirek with a smirk. He raised his muscular left arm and a golden ornate duel disk materialized around it.

“He’s really challenging me to a card game,” thought Fluttershy. She glanced towards her house, at the fillies fearfully watching her from inside. “I have to do this,” she muttered and placed a hoof over her disk, only to find there was no deck on the corresponding slot. “Oh no, I left my cards inside the--”

Just then, a screech echoed from above. Fluttershy looked upwards to see Angel Bunny holding a blue deck case while being carried by four birds by the ears. He lifted his tiny arms, threw the case with all of his strenght…and promptly hit his master in the head. Fluttershy squeaked. “T-Thank you,” she said while rubbing her forehead. She quickly picked up her deck and placed it on her disk. “Okay, I’m ready!”

Tirek roared. “DUEL!”

“I’ll go first,” declared Fluttershy. “I summon Blizzard Falcon,” a blue bird of prey, with a body crystalized like a snowflake, appeared in front of her with a mighty screech (1500/1500). “Now I play the spell Blustering Winds,” the falcon flapped its traslucent wings, whipping up a freezing gust that sent Tirek staggering backwards (2500/2500). “When my falcon gains attack points it can deal one thousand five hundred points of damage to your life points,” she informed (4000-2500). “I end my turn.”

“Ah’ can’t believe Fluttershy is dueling that giant ugly cow!” said Applebloom.

“And she already took nearly half of his life points! On her first turn!” added Scootaloo.

“Wait,” said Sweetie Belle. “Does this mean she wasn’t playing seriously against us?”

The three fillies frowned.

“Ah’ don’t know if ah’ should feel happy or offended at that.”

Angel Bunny rolled his eyes.

Tirek chuckled and stepped forward. “Draw!” he pulled a card from his deck and immediately sent it to the graveyard. “By discarding my Skull Conductor I can special summon two Burning Skull Heads from my hand!” two flaming human skulls materialized on the field, their empty eye sockets glowing with an eerie light (1000/800). “Now you lose a thousand life points for each one of them! HELL CURSE!” the skulls let out a bone-chilling shriek and quickly encircled Fluttershy. She screamed in pain as the flames engulfed her body (4000-2000). “Save your breath, we’re not over yet! I sacrifice my monsters to summon Skull Flame!” the two skulls exploded and were replaced with a large, demonic-looking skeleton wearing tattered blue robes and a red cape. It cackled madly as the back of its neck burst on fire (2600/2000). “It’s effect allows me to summon a Burning Skull Flame from my hand! HELL CALLING!” the skeleton pointed a finger and a third flaming skull emerged from the miasma, immediately lauching its attack on Fluttershy (2000-1000). “You’re lucky I cannot attack this turn,” said Tirek as he crossed both arms over his massive chest. “Turn end.”

“Fluttershy!” desperately cried the cutie mark crusaders. Angel Bunny let out a cry and charged towards the arena with a team of mice and a racoon, but they were swiftly swatted away by a dozen tendrils of miasma.

Fluttershy stumbled. “It’s real, it’s too real,” she thought. She looked at the fillies, screaming and waving their hoves. Her animals frantically ran around the arena, fruitlessly trying to find an opening. “No, I can’t abandon them,” she stood up to face Tirek again; somehow the centaur looked bigger and more intimidating tan before. Fluttershy felt her legs shake. “No, no,” she muttered and shook her head.

“I don’t think I can do this, Pinkie,” said Fluttershy as she peeked towards the crowd. “There are so many ponies out there, and they will all be watching us play…”

“Just imagine they are a bunch of puppies, kittens and baby chicks!” cheerfully said Pinkie.

Fluttershy gave it a thought. “But what about him,” she pointed towards a grey stallion, with a mane of the same color styled in a mohawk, already waiting inside the duel arena. “He looks really strong.”

“I’ve got a super duper secret spell for that!” said Pinkie. She looked at both sides and approached Fluttershy with a conspiratory look on her face. “You just have to yell it really loud…”

Fluttershy gritted her teeth and roared towards the sky. “I CAN FREEZE EVEN THE FIRES OF A DRAGON! I AM THE ICE MAIDEN, FLUTTERSHY!”

The animals immediately stopped in their tracks while the crusaders looked at each other with wide eyes.

“That…was cheesy,” said Applebloom.

“But kind of cool,” added Scootaloo.

“Wait,” said Sweetie Belle. “Was that a pun?”

Fluttershy drew a card from her deck so hard it whipped up a gust. “I summon Nimble Sunfish!” a small, cute fish jumpted out from the miasma (1000/100). “Now that I control a fish and a winged beast I can special summon Sirenorca!” a beautiful winged mermaid materialized on the field. Her blue scales shone like the surface of the ocean, her bright green feathered wings like a meadow on a sunny afternoon (2200/1000). “My Sirenorca can increase the levels of all my monsters! I choose level five!” she overlayed her two winged beasts monsters. “I build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” her monsters were enveloped by a blizzard, leaving only a large ice cristal which shattered to reveal a winged humanoid creature. Its lithe body was covered with plates shaped like crystals and it held a golden scythe with both hands (2500/2100). “My sub-zero bird! Ice Princess Zereort!”

Tirek snorted. “You’re still short on attack points.”

“I can fix that,” said Fluttershy with a rare smug smile. “By detaching an xyz unit my Ice Princess can lower the attack of one of your monsters to zero! FREEZING ARM!” her monster daintly pointer a finger towards the Skull Flame and a circle of ice materialized around it (0-2000). “This ends now! FREEZING COFFIN!” the Ice Princess raised its scythe and stroke the Skull Flame right on the chest, instantly freezing and shattering it into a million bits. The shockwave was such that it pushed Tirek backwards; he tried to resist, but his body stiffened and soon he followed the same end as his monster (2500-0).

Fluttershy exhaled as she saw the towering miasma disappearing and the monument stopped glowing. She dropped on her haunches and was immediately swarmed by a bunch of small critters. “There, there,” she said as they nuzzled her; Angel Bunny firmly hugged her neck.

“Fluttershy!”

The cutie mark crusaders came up to her side.

“That was awesome!” said Scootaloo.

“You totally bucked that guy!” added Applebloom.

“Are you okay?” asked Sweetie Belle.

Fluttershy smiled. “Yes I am,” she looked at her arms and wings, there wasn’t a single burn mark or even a scratch. “Did I dream that?” she thought. “Girls, I think we should--” she looked up and saw a tower of miasma coming right from the direction of Ponyville. “Go see Twilight.”

Galaxy-Eyes

“Mr. Mulligan? Can we please use your duel arena?”

Mulligan bit his lower lip and looked at the monument: the stones glowed like hot coals and the miasma swirled upwards like a dozen of chimneys working simultaneously. He looked back at the two fillies. “No—I mean—right now I’m working on—uh, improving it so the monsters will—um, look even cooler,” he said with a toothy smile. “I’ll tell you what, go back inside the store and, as soon as I’m finished, I’ll call you so you get to play first, okay?”

The fillies looked at each other with uncertainty. “Okay,” one of them said and they both did as told.

Mulligan sighed. This was the fifth time he had to decline a request for using the arena. “Bad for bussiness,” he mumbled to himself. He closed his eyes and focused; his horn glowed with a blue aura and the miasma agitated like an angry animal, but beyond that, nothing. “It’s like trying to put out a big fire by blowing at it,” he thought bitterly.

“Mulligan?”

Mulligan jumped on his hooves. “Y-Yes!” he turned around to face a pretty pink mare followed by a blue stallion and a group of fillies and colts. “J-Just a few more minutes, my friends,” he excused himself preemptively. “I’ll have this one back even better than before!”

The mare raised her left hoof. “That’s okay, we’re not in a hurry,” she said in a placating tone. “It’s just that this little display,” she gestured towards the arena. “Is scaring my coltfriend--”

“The foals! The foals!”

The mare rolled her eyes. “Right. The foals. That and, well,” she grimaced. “It’s kind of giving me the chills too.”

Mulligan blinked. “Oh,” he swallowed hard. “Y-Yes, I suppose it’s a bit frightening with the pulsating glow and ominous looking clouds and whooo,” he stood up on his hind legs, waving his front hooves and laughed.

The mare lifted an eyebrow, unamusedly.

Mulligan got back on his four legs and smiled awkwardly. “B-But you know how these newfangled artifacts are—confusing the hay out of everypony and—and—I assure you there’s absolutely nothing to be afraid--”

“What’s that?” asked a colt while pointing at the sky, causing all the presents to look upward.

Mulligan squinted. “It looks like--”

In a blur, Twilight Sparkle landed in front of them, whipping up a gust of wind that made the presents shield their eyes. A dizzy Spike came tumbling down her back. “This…is the last time I get a hold of your tail…before you take off,” he said while trying not to fall face first on the ground.

“Princess!” exclaimed the pink mare. She quickly bowed along with the stallions and the foals.

Twilight acknowledged them with a nod before setting her eyes on the arena.

“Thank Heavens you came, Princess,” said Mulligan with a breath of relief. He lowered his head and whispered. “I think the duel arena is not working properly.”

Spike raised an eyebrow.

“Don’t worry, I’ll take care of it,” said Twilight dimissively. She walked towards the arena, closely followed by Spike.

“Are you going to enter?” fearfully asked Spike.

“Yes,” firmly replied Twilight.

“B-But how do you know playing will turn it off?”

“Look behind you, Spike.”

Spike looked around and shrugged. “I don’t see anything.”

“Precisely,” said Twilight. “The miasma coming from Fluttershy’s house disappearing a moment ago. So, unless she, Pinkie Pie or Applejack have some kind of magic I’m not aware of, it means they dueled and won.”

“I guess you’re right,” said Spike. He pointed a tiny thumb behind him. “But what about them? Don’t you think they may get scared if they see you dueling whatever comes out from there?”

Twilight stopped. “I’m sure you will come up with something,” she said and, with a mighty flap of her wings, jumped inside the duel arena.

Spike sighed. “Sure, why not?”

With the miasma raising like a column of smoke and the monument glowing red one would think the arena would be like the inside of an oven, but, on the contrary, it was quite cold. “You can come out!” called Twilight as she adjusted a dark blue duel disk around her neck. “I will duel you!” she declared loudly.

A tall and lean figure emerged from the miasma. Her black coat protected by an armor, her mane and tail were like pieces of the night sky and swirled around her like a gente breeze. She chuckled and spread her wings. “Prepare yourself, my little pony.”

“T-That’s Nightmare Moon!” cried a stallion.

Spike quickly stood in front of the crowd waving his tiny arms. “No, no, she’s not!”

“Then’s who’s that!?”

“It’s Nightmare Moon,” replied Spike. The crowd gasped. “I mean—she is, but she’s not!”

“What does that even mean!?”

Spike shifted awkwardly. “It’s okay, it’s okay, I’ve got this,” he thought. “You!” he pointed a finger towards a brown stallion. “Yes, you with the—is that a cake airbrush Cutie Mark? Whatever--how many times have you fantasized about facing the most terrifying villains in the history of Equestria on an epic match of Duel Monsters?”

The stallion glanced around him awkwardly. “Never?”

“That’s right!” yelled Spike. “But now, thanks to Princess Twilight Sparkle, you can too be a hero and save the world with the power of your deck!” he raised his tiny arms upwards. “I’m proud to present you with the—the—uh,” he trailed off. “How was it? Arti-something-projection? Rats, I’m sorry, Twilight,” he cleared his throat. “Dueling Dummy!”

The ponies in the crowd looked at each other.

“So, you’re saying,” began Mulligan. “That Nightmare Moon is not real?”

“Correct!” said Spike with a quick nod. “It’s an illusion created to play the game, complete with her own deck! It cannot leave the arena, hurt you or do anything beyond dueling!” he smiled as he saw the nods of approval among the crowd. “And Princess Twilight is here to give us all a demonstration! Come closer everypony!”

The fillies and colts were the first ones, closely followed by the adults. Laughs, cheers and excited whispers filled the air as they all sat to watch the confrontation.

Spike let himself fall on his rear and exhaled a deep breath of exhaustion.

“That’s pretty cool, actually,” said Mulligan. “I only wish you told me before.”

Spike scratched the back of his head. “Y-Yeah, sorry, we’ve been kind of busy lately,” he looked towards the arena. “I’ve done my part, Twilight,” he thought.“Good luck.”

Inside the duel arena, Twilight flared her horn and her normally straight mane shoot upwards, dividing itself into five large spikes that gave it the appearance of a crown. Her fringe separated into three crooked pointy locks; two pointed towards her left and one towards her right.

Mulligan blinked. “I can’t tell if that’s stupidly awesome or awesomely stupid.”

Spike shook his head. “No comments.”

“It’s time to duel!” declared Twilight.

Nightmare Moon chuckled. “This is more than just a duel, my little pony,” she bared her fangs. “This is a Game of Darkness!”

For the first time Twilight felt her resolve falter. “A Game of Darkness?” she thought. “No, not now,” she mumbled and shook her head. “I’ll take the first turn!” she declared. “I summon Masked Dragon!” a white and red dragon materialized on the field, its head covered by an unsettling white mask (1400/1100). “I end my turn,” said Twilight after placing a face-down card.

Nightmare Moon’s mane waved like a tendril and drew a card from her deck. “I summon Tristan, Knight of the Underworld,” an undead knight, his robes thorn and tattered from countless battles, appeared riding a large brown horse. He let out a pitiful moan and lifted a sword over his head (1800/0). “When Tristan is on my side of the field,” informed Nightmare Moon. “I can special summon Isolde, Belle of the Underworld!” a demonic woman appeared on the field. True to her name she had a beautiful face, with short violet hair and pupiless amethyst colored eyes that shone like two jewels. A pair of red horns adorned her head like a crown. Her lower half was covered by a long, tattered purple skirt; she also wore sleeved gloves of the same color and a black crop top which revealed plenty of her lithe body (1000/0). “Isolde allows me to change her level and that of Tristan to eight,” she said as she spread her wings. “Behold as I build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” the two monsters melted into a black whirlwind from which emerged an skeleton knight wearing a long purple scarf around his neck and holding a rapier. His automaton-like body shone like a piece of platinum. “My champion! Number 23: Lancelot, Dark Knight of the Underworld!” her words were followed by Lancelot twirling his sword in a salute and the crowd of ponies cheering (2000/1500).

“Phantom Dragon!” called Twilight. A winged dragon with a long serpentine body, seemingly made out of smoke, suddenly appeared in front of her (2300/2200). “When my opponent special summons a monster I can do the same with it from my hand!”

Nightmare Moon smirked. “Is that so?” Lancelot pointed his sword forward and the Phantom Dragon let out a pitiful roar before disappearing in a puff of smoke. “My Lancelot can negate the activation of your cards merely by detaching an overlay unit,” calmly informed Nightmare Moon. “And as long as he has an overlay unit, he can also attack you directly,” She reared up. “Punish her, Lancelot! DEATH PIERCE!” the skeleton knight did a bow of acknowledgement before facing Twilight. In the blink of an eye, he disappeared and reappeared right in front of the purple alicorn, sword held high, and performed two slashes in quick succession across her back.

Twilight closed her eyes and clenched her teeth. Her legs wobbled as she struggled to stay firm (4000/2000).

“Whoa!” cried a stallion from the crowd. “The Princess knows how to act! That really looked like it hurt!”

Spike gulped. “Y-Yeah,” he said with a fake laugh. “Those classes surely paid off.”

Nightmare Moon licked her lips. “When Lancelot inflicts battle damage I can choose and destroy one of your face-up monsters,” the skeleton knight pointed with his sword once again and Twilight’s Masked Dragon burst up in a ball of blue flames, leaving not even ashes.

“Oh come on!” protested Spike with both arms raised. “How many effects does that guy have?!”

Nightmare Moon set a card. “Turn end,” she declared with a satisfied smile.

Twilight took a couple of breaths and straightened herself. “Draw!” she pulled a card with a flash of her magic and immediately played it. “Monster Reborn!” a projection of the spell card materialized on the field, but it turned completely black and vanished.

“You foal,” said Nightmare Moon. “Did you forget about Lancelot’s effect?”

Twilight smirked. “No, I didn’t. I just wanted to make sure he was out of xyz materials to detach.”

Nightmare Moon snorted. “You only have two cards in your hand.”

“That’s all I need!” growled Twilight with sudden ferocity. “When my opponent controls an xyz monster I can special summon Radius, the Half-Moon Dragon and make its level eight!” a metallic crescent moon appeared on the field. With a loud rumble it spread open, revealing a purple bipedal dragon; each of the metal pieces attached to its body like an armor (1400/1200). Twilight continued. “Now that I control a level eight monster I can summon Parsec, the Interestellar Dragon without tributing,” a second purple dragon appeared, it’s thin frame and long appendages gave it an insect-like appearance (800/800). “I build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” shouted Twilight to the sky. “Roar throughout the entire universe. Revive, from the source of all galaxies, that flows from far back in time! Manifest yourself, and lead me to victory! Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon!” the two dragons transformed into streams of light, shooting upwards and opening a portal of light from which descended a triangle-shaped, black metal structure.

The crowd of ponies, plus Spike, looked in confusion at the strange monster.

“That doesn’t look like a dragon,” commented a colt wearing a white cap.

“This is it?” asked Nightmare Moon. “Is this your trumph card?”

Twilight smirked and looked upwards. The triangle-shaped structure spread open, revealing a pair of legs, followed by a long tail, a pair of wings and a draconic head. Purple energy pulsed across every inch of the mechanized monster like veins on a beating heart. Its eyes glowed to life and it let out a roar that made the presents cover their ears (3000/2500).

“There’s your dragon,” said a filly while pointing towards the monster the size of a two-story house.

The cap wearing colt gulped and nodded.

“Not bad,” said Nightmare Moon with a slight nod. “Come to me, my little pony.”

“I will,” said Twilight. “But first, I detach an xyz unit from my dragon to negate the effects of all other monsters on the field,” the Tachyon Dragon reverted to its sealed state and irradiated a light that made Lancelot fall on his knees.

“Trap card open!” yelled Nightmare Moon. “Nightmare Wheel!” half a dozen chains erupted from the ground below and tied themselves around Twilight’s dragon. “Now your monster won’t be able to attack or--”

“Trap Stun!” yelled Twilight as she revealed her own trap card.

Nightmare Moon watched in horror as the Tachyon Dragon returned to its true form, breaking the chains that bound it in the process. The purple veins around its body glowed stronger and a second pair of wings made out of pure energy appeared on its back (4000/2500).

“You shouldn’t have done that,” chided Twilight. “During the turn I activate my dragon’s effect, each time my opponent’s card effect resolves, it gains an extra one thousand attack points as well as a second attack on the battle phase of that same turn.”

“No,” muttered Nightmare Moon as she took a step back.

“You hurt Applejack,” hissed Twilight. She pointed her right hoof forward. “TACHYON SPIRAL OF DESTRUCTION!” the dragon reared its head back and fired a stream of energy from its mouth. It vaporized Lancelot on contact and hit Nightmare Moon fully, pushing her body against the stones of the dueling arena. The resulting explosion instantly dissipated the clouds of miasma and every trace of the duel that had taken place.

Twilight exhaled. Her mane went back to its usual straight fashion. She looked around the arena, at the now quiet monument. “No traces of magic at all,” she thought. A sudden chorus of cheers and whistles brought her back.

“Twilight!” cried Spike as he ran next to her. “You did it! It was--” he put both of his hands over his mouth; a second later, he burped out a stream of green flames from which materialized a scroll.

Twilight quickly caught the scroll with her magic and proceeded to read it.

“Spike, we have to go.”

It didn’t take Twilight much to convince Mulligan of keeping the arena off limits for an undetermined amount of time, the excuse of upgrades to incorporate the Dueling Dummy system seemed to work well enough.

Just in case, though, she also cast a barrier spell around the area.

After repeating the process for the arena near Fluttershy’s cottage, with some extra strenght, and assuring a couple of worrywart ponies that there was absolutely nothing to be concerned about, she quickly gathered her friends in the throne room of her castle for a briefing.

Twilight sighed and looked at the ponies, and baby dragon, sitting around her. “I’m sorry,” she said dejectedly.

Applejack chuckled sympathetically. “Twilight, sugarcube, ah’ pretty sure we’ve lost count of all the times you’ve said that.”

“And we’ve already forgiven you for each and every one,” softly chimed in Fluttershy.

“They are both evenly matched at thirty-two,” informed Pinkie with a smile. “Well, it’s more like thirty-six to thirty-two since you said “sorry, sorry” two times but I counted those as one each--”

“Pinkie, darling, I believe we all understand your point,” said Rarity as she gently placed a hoof over her friend’s nose. “Now seriously, I have to agree with them, Twilight; you do not need to apologize further. Nopony was hurt, at least not permanently, and even the fillies seemed to have found the experience exhilarating.”

Twilight smiled. “Thank you, girls.”

“Well,” said Rainbow Dash while scratching her head. “I’m kinda offended you did not call me to test this duel dummy thing of yours.”

“Ah’ pretty sure she would have if she knew about your rankin’, Maylene,” said Applejack with particular emphasis on the last word.

Rainbow Dash snorted. “That’s rich coming from you, Jacqueline.”

Applejack crossed both forelegs over her chest. “Mine’s not on mah’ birth certificate.”

Rainbow Dash’s mouth opened then closed. “Touché,” she mumbled.

A chorus of giggles filled the room for a moment.

Twilight sighed. “I guess the only thing we can do now is to wait for the Princess to arrive.”

“And for that we apologize,” came a regal voice from the hallway.

“Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!” cried Twilight.

The girls, and Spike, bowed respectfully. Both, Celestia and Luna, returned the gesture. Even if the royal protocol called for only Twilight to receive such gesture, they deemed her friends to be as deserving as her.

“Thank you for coming on such short notice,” said Twilight. “I hope it wasn’t--”

“I believe that would be enough pleasantries,” said Luna. “What is this “magical incident of dark nature” you wanted to inform us about, Twilight Sparkle?”

“Y-Yes,” said Twilight, somewhat taken aback by Luna’s serious demeanor. She proceeded to tell them everything regarding her experiments, the strage ocurrences around the dueling arenas and the effects they had on the duels.

Luna looked at Celestia, who had her eyes closed with a thoughtful expression. “It does sound like the work of dark magic, sister.”

“Indeed it does, Luna.”

“There’s one more thing,” said Twilight. “During my duel, my opponent told me,” she gulped. “This is a Game of Darkness.”

Celestia opened her eyes wide. “Did you say a Game of Darkness?”

Twilight nodded.

“Ah’ beg pardon, your Highness, but, uh, what’s this Game of Darkness thingy?” asked Applejack.

“The ponies of Saddle Arabia used to delve in dark magic,” said Celestia grimly. “Apparently, they employed it to settle conflicts by means of games…”

Pinkie’s ears perked up. “Ooohhh.”

“With dire consequences for the losers.”

“Oh.”

“Apparently?” asked Fluttershy.

“The Saddle Arabians are not proud of that dark chapter in the history of their kingdom,” informed Celestia. “And for the sake of our relationship we haven’t attempted to inquire further.”

“That’s understandable,” said Rarity, looking somewhat downcast.

“Do you know anything else, Princess?” asked Twilight.

Celestia shook her head. “I’m afraid I don’t, but,” she looked at Fluttershy. “There may be somebody who does.”

Fluttershy shifted on her seat as all the eyes were draw to her. “Um…okay,” she pulled out a hand mirror and looked at her reflection. “Discord…Discord… Discord… Discord… Discord…”

Rainbow Dash quirked an eyebrow. “Really now?”

Fluttershy shrugged.

“Hello there, everypony,” came the familiar voice of a certain draconequus as he…walked in through the doorway. “I came as soon as I received your message!”

Spike blinked. “That was kind of disappointing.”

Discord smirked. “Spirit of Chaos remember? Now, what can I--” he sniffed and retched. “Heavens!” he pulled an air freshener out of nowhere and sprayed it all around him. “Who has been dabbling in dark magic around here?”

Twilight got Discord’s attention by clearing her throat. He raised his eyebrows higher and higher as she filled him about everything that had happened in the last hours.

“Game of Darkness?!” exclaimed Discord with a gasp before turning his head around. “I can’t believe you would attempt to enact such ancient ritual!”

“Excuse me,” asked Rarity indignantly. “Is there any particular reason you’re glaring at me?”

Discord shrugged with a small smile. “Sorry, it’s always the most fashionable ones,” he snapped his fingers and materialized a black top hat on Rarity’s head, which she quickly swatted away.

“Now seriously,” Discord threw himself at Twilight’s hooves, holding them tightly. “Don’t do it, Twilight! As great as the temptation may be, remember you have our friendship--” he was cut short when Twilight used her magic to close his mouth.

“I didn’t do it on purpose,” protested Twilight.

“We called you in hopes you could tell us more about these Games of Darkness,” said Celestia.

“Oh,” said Discord as he stood up and straightened himself. “Is that so?” he asked dejectedly. “The Spirit of Chaos and Disharmony reduced to a mere infodump device,” he materialized a stack of papers on his left claw. “And here I had a whole speech prepared in case one of you succumbed to evil,” he set the papers on fire, threw the ashes on a bin and made it disappear. “Ahem, the Games of Darkness—why do we put such emphasis on the words anyway—were basically a bunch of old geezers using dark magic to fight each other until not a single one of them remained,” he informed with a bored tone.

“That’s it?” asked Pinkie.

Discord shrugged. “Do you want me to explain it with drawings?

Pinkie thought for a second. “Nah, those don’t fit on a written medium.”

Twilight stroke her chin. “It is possible there could have been some remnants of their magic which our dueling arenas absorbed and manifested into something akin to the Games of Darkness of old.”

“Sounds plausible enough,” said Celestia. “Still doesn’t explain how such influx of dark magic arrived here…”

“Fair enough,” said Luna sharply. “The important question here is: how do we vanquish this dark influence?”

“Play the game,” said Discord in a matter of fact tone.

“Play the game?” asked Applejack incredulously.

“Correct,” said Discord. “A Game of Darkness doesn’t end until one side wins.”

The ponies looked at each other with worried faces.

“Now hold on a minute!” said Rainbow Dash as she flew until she was face-to-face with Discord. “How do we know you aren’t responsible for this stuff?”

“Me?!” asked Discord placing both, claw and paw, over his chest.

“Yeah, you!” said Rainbow Dash. “All this stuff smells of chaos and disharmony!”

“Rainbow Dash please,” said Discord as he sprayed some deodorant under his armpits. “I know you all have reasons to distrust me, but this is beyond my doing. As chaotic as my nature may be, I don’t like dark magic; it’s simply too uptight and negative,” he trailed off. “Besides, I have once experienced a Game of Darkness myself.”

There was a flash of light and Fluttershy suddenly found herself with her mane tied into a bun, wearing black rimmed glasses and sitting on a wooden chair, right in front of a large couch on which lay Discord, with fingers crossed over his chest and a melancholic look on his face.

Fluttershy glanced around awkwardly. “Do you…want to talk about it?”

Discord sighed. “It was a long time ago. I challenged one of those royals to a game and…lost.”

“You lost?” asked Spike incredulously.

“I agree with Spike,” said Rarity. “That sounds difficult to believe.”

“Why thank you,” said Discord with a smile. “But yes, I lost. You see, I love games, but I’m not too keen on rules and those old geezers were all about them,” he waved his paw and claw around. “You try to sneak a card here and there, maybe use a two-sided coin or alter reality in your favor then,” he clapped loudly. “They were right on you, shouting PENALTY GAME and inflicting a punishment with their magic.”

Applejack gulped. “What kind of punishment are we talkin’ ‘bout?”

“Well, I did not always look like this,” said Discord while gesturing towards himself.

Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “You’re not going to tell us how you used to be this handsome Alicorn or something, do you?”

Discord crossed both arms over his chest and turned his head around with a “hmph”. “For your information, I have always been a handsome draconequus!”

Fluttershy patted him on the head. “There, there…”

Discord softened. “The punishment cost me,” he paused and swallowed. “My other fang.”

“Your other fang?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Why yes,” said Discord. “You did not think I had only one, do you?”

Rainbow Dash slapped her forehead with her hoof. “I give up.”

Twilight cleared her throat. “I take from this you cannot dispell the dark magic with your powers.”

“Nope,” said Discord flatly.

“Can you at least help us by playing?” asked Fluttershy tentatively.

Discord shook his head. “As I said, I like games but dislike rules. Duel Monsters is fun, but the players…”

“Now I use my Catapult Turtle to launch my Gaia, the Dragon Champion and destroy your Castle of Dark Illusions! It falls over your monsters and you lose all of your remaining life points!”

“That’s not how this works! That’s not how any of this works!”

“Boring,” he said drily. “Anyway, does anypony here need me for anything else?”

Silence.

“Very well, if you excuse me, I don’t want to lose my other fang. Arrivederci!” said Discord as he materialized a pair of wooden oars. He waved to Fluttershy, rowed energetically and both, he and the couch he was lying on, disappeared in a flash of light.

Silence again.

“Play the game,” muttered Applejack.

Divide

“And how long I will have to wait until these upgrades are complete, Princess?”

Twilight waved her right hoof casually. “A couple of days, at most. In the meantime,” she pointed her horn towards the arena and fired a beam that manifested a pink, dome-shaped barrier around it. “Just in case,” she said with a smile.

Mulligan looked at the magical barrier surrounding the duel arena. He closed his eyes and sighed. “Bad for business,” he thought.

“Mail!” came a cute voice from above him.

Mulligan looked up and saw a grey pegasus mare with a yellow mane and tail dropping a small stack of letters. He quickly caught them with his magic. “T-Thank you!” he said. “What was her name again?”

The mare saluted and flew away.

“Oh well,” he muttered and proceeded to examine the letters. “Bill, bill, I’m comfortable with the size of my horn thank you very much, bill,” he opened the last one and pulled out a pitch-black card. “Oh my, already? And I was having so much fun!”

“Excuse me!”

Mulligan turned around to see a pair of fillies.

“We’re looking for your best cards,” said the one with a pink coat and striking blue eyes.

“Ones that can be used in tag-duels,” added the one with a grey coat and wearing glasses.

“Money is not a problem,” assured the pink one with a confident smile.

Mulligan gave a toothy smile. “Well, ladies, you’re in luck. I’ve got exactly what you need!”

“Unit forty-seven, under the command of Lieutenant Fizzy Pop, was stationed at--”

Princess Celestia closed her eyes and let her thoughts wander.

“I…want to believe this is most likely an isolated incident,” said Celestia.

“We shouldn’t take chances, Sister,” said Luna with a frown. “Not when dark magic is involved.”

Celestia nodded slowly. “You’re right, Luna. I will order the Royal Guard to close all the dueling arenas in Canterlot, Manehattan and Cloudsdale, followed by assembling a cordon around them to prevent the access to anypony without our explicit authorization,” she took a breath. “I’m sure we will have no problems with the citizens if we act calmly and employ the excuse of repairs and upgrades.”

Luna nodded in satisfaction.

“What about us Princess? Is there something we can do to help?” asked Twilight. She looked at her friends, whom all nodded.

Celestia smiled warmly. “Thank you, my little ponies. I know this is sudden, but I want you to inspect the duel arenas in those three locations. Not all of them, of course, just the ones with the largest number of attendance.”

“You can count on us, Princess,” firmly declared Twilight.

“Once again thank you,” said Celestia. “Oh, and before I forget,” she smirked. “Consider all of your expenses on these trips fully paid by the Royal House of Canterlot.”

Even Luna smiled in amusement at the chorus of gasps, cheers and giggles.

“And that concludes my report, Your Highness.”

Celestia looked at the white stallion clad in golden armor and smiled. “Thank you, Snow Coat. Please keep us informed.”

“Yes, Your Highness!” saluted Snow Coat before taking his leave.

Celestia sighed and leaned back on her throne.

“I don’t know how you do it, Tia,” said Luna with a bemused smile.

“Do what, Luna?”

“Let your mind fly away while still keeping track of the conversation.”

Celestia chuckled. “Nothing you cannot achieve with practice and patience, Lulu.”

Luna rolled her eyes. “The last of which I often find myself lacking, much to my displeasure.”

Celestia giggled and exhaled a long breath.

“I think it’s time for you to retire for the day, Tia,” said Luna with a slight frown. “You are already setting the sun and I’m sure nopony would mind if you go to bed a few minutes early.”

“Thank you, Lulu,” said Celestia with a smile. “But I would like to finish my turn. It’s the least I can do after keeping you awake all day.”

Luna snorted. “This is nothing for me, Sister,” she smiled mischievously. “Althought I fear the lack of rest may be detrimental for somepony of your age.”

Celestia’s left eye twitched. “Are you calling your sister old, Luna?”

“I am merely concerned for your health, Celestia,” flatly replied Luna.

“Is that so?” asked Celestia. She grinned. “Well, I am concerned by your dueling skills. Perhaps I should give you a lesson, Sister.”

Luna smirked. “You will try.”

“Your, Highnesses!”

Both sisters jumped on their hooves, but quickly managed to compose themselves as a grey coated unicorn Royal Guard came into the throne room.

“Your, Highnesses,” he called. “Mister Fancy Pants and Miss Fleur Dis Lee are here requesting an audience with you,” he informed dutifully. “Should I let them pass?”

Celestia nodded. “Yes, please.”

The guard saluted and left.

“Do you want me to deal with them, Sister?” asked Luna.

“No,” replied Celestia. “I think this would be a good opportunity. Duel Monsters is quite popular with the nobles of Canterlot, so if we can properly convince Fleur and Fancy that there’s no reason to worry, they will surely do the same with their fellows.”

Luna nodded. “Very well, I shall leave them in your care, Sister.”

Celestia took a breath as her sister left the throne room. A mere moment later, a lovely mare with a pure white coat and a long pink mane and tail came accompained by a distinguished white stallion with a blue mane and tail, wearing a tux and sporting a monocle. Both unicorns approached the throne and bowed before the Princess of the Sun.

“Princess Celestia,” said Fancy Pants. “We apologize for this sudden visit.”

“There’s no need to,” said Celestia with a slight shook of her head. “I presume you are here to inquire about the dueling arenas?”

“Indeed,” said Fancy Pants.

“We were quite surprised by the sudden intervention of the Royal Guard,” said Fleur.

Celestia nodded. “I apologize for the inconvenience. The dueling arenas were due for a proper maintenance and upgrade, and I decided it would be preferable to have a minor nuisance for a couple of days now than during tournament seasons.”

“Oh, but of course,” said Fancy Pants. He chuckled. “How silly of us! We should have known better!”

Fleur giggled. “To think we were worried since you’re such an scaredy-cat, Celestia!”

“I know, I—what?”

“Oh, you know,” said Fleur as she waved her right hoof dimissively. “Always hiding inside your castle, behind your guards and even your prized student!”

Celestia frowned. “What are you—“

Fancy Pants chuckled. “Yes, indeed! Always quaking on her hooves at the prospect of dark magic!”

Celestia stood up and flared her wings. “I don’t know what’s gotten into you two but I will--”

“Of course you don’t,” hissed Fleur. She smiled sweetly. “That’s why we are here, aren’t we?”

Fancy Pants nodded.

Celestia watched in shock as both unicorn’s eyes glowed sickly green. Their horns unleashed a black aura that engulfed the whole room before she even had time to react, blinding her to her surroundings. Just as she was preparing to break free from the spell, the darkness dissipated, revealing the familiar sight of the Royal Gardens bathing under the light of the moon. Sounds of flapping wings and chirpings could be heard as several critters scattered away.

“Shall we proceed, Celestia?” asked Fancy Pants, a white duel disk adjusted around his neck. Next to him, Fleur twirled her mane while displaying her own cherry pink duel disk.

Celestia watched them intently. “Very well,” she said as her horn flared and a golden duel disk materialized around her neck. “I don’t know who or what is exerting this influence over you, but I will make sure to find out.”

Fancy Pants grinned. “I am the number nineteen best duelist in Equestria! Sky Captain Fancy!”

“Number eighteen best duelist in Equestria!” said Fleur while striking a pose. “Raging Flower Cherry!”

“Let us Duel!”

“YES, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A DELIGHTFUL IDEA,” echoed the thunderous voice of Princess Luna as she descended from the night sky like a shooting star. She had a silver duel disk around her neck.

Fleur quickly turned around to face Luna.

“Be careful, Luna!” shouted Celestia. “There’s something wrong with them!”

Luna nodded. “Shall we resolve this matter with a tag-duel then?”

Fleur glanced at Fancy Pants. “What was that saying, Fancy? Divide and conquer?”

“Indeed,” said Fancy Pants with a sneer. “The Princess are nearly unbeatable when fighting together.”

Luna snorted. “As you wish.”

“DUEL!”

“I’ll go first,” declared Fleur. “I summon Barrel Lily,” a beautiful orange flower sprout from the ground, its petals spreading to reveal the barrel of a gun (1100/600). “Next I play Graceful Charity,” she quickly drew three cards and followed by discarding two. “Soul Release,” she took out two cards from her graveyard and placed them on a different slot. “Finally, Dimension Fusion, by paying two thousand life points I can special summon all of my banished monsters,” her life points went down and two more Barrel Lily appeared at the sides of the first one (4000-2000). “I use my three monsters to build and overlay network! XYZ summon!” she declared while dramatically raising her right hoof upwards. “Raging flower that sails through the cosmos! Battlecruiser Dianthus!” her three monsters turned intro streams of light, twisting and turning before forming a pillar from which emerged a pitch-black, mechanical object.

Luna watched transfixed as the five antennae spreading on the artificial monster’s front glowed with an intense yellow-pink light that gave it the appearance of a giant flower (2100/1800).

“Isn’t it beautiful?” asked Fleur. “Let me show you what else it can do,” a loud humming sound came from the Dianthus. “By detaching an overlay unit I can inflict you two hundred points of damage for each card in your hand,” she twirled her mane with an exaggerated motion. “BIG CANNON!”

Luna’s eyes opened wide as the Dianthus suddenly fired a bolt that impacted on the ground right in front of her and produced a shockwave that sent her body flying several feet away (4000-3000).

“Luna!” cried Celestia.

Fancy Pants chuckled. “I believe you have more pressing concerns, Princess,” he said as he motioned to his two set cards. “I end my turn.”

Celestia gritted her teeth. “Draw! I summon Gagaga Magician!” a tall human male materialized in front of her. He wore a blue uniform under a long coat of the same color with orange trims. Leather pads covered his shoulders and left shin, a long red scarf went around his neck and a conical hat, doubling also as a mask, concealed the entirety of his head and face, save for his left eye and a flock of silver hair covering the right one. Finally, a long metal chain went around his body; enveloping his right leg, going around his neck and torso, both ends connected on a gold plate at his waist (1500/1000). “Once per turn I can change the level of my Gagaga Magician! Level eight!” the monster adjusted his belt nonchalantly. “Now I equip him with Bound Wand!” a black rod with an ornate craving of a skull, topped with a beautiful ruby appeared on the field. The Gagaga Magician swiftly got a hold of it, twirled it once and pointed it at Fancy Pants (2300/1000). “Go, my Gagaga Magician!” commanded Celestia and, with a slight nod, her monster charged forward, only to come to a sudden halt as two swirling geysers of quicksilver stood before him (0/3000).

“You did not think it would be that easy, did you?” asked Fancy Pants with a smirk.

Luna stood up, cracked her neck and ruffled her wings. “You will need more tan that to strike me down!”

“As expected from our Princess!” cheered Fleur. “But I’m not done yet,” she set a card down and placed a spell card on her disk with a wide grin across her face. “Rank-Up Magic!” she shouted towards the sky. “Barian’s Force!”

Luna’s eyes opened wide. “That card!”

Black clouds gathered on the sky, blocking the visage of Princess Luna’s beloved night. They swirled furiously with cackling lightning and echoing thunder. There was a moment of silence before a crimson thundebolt fell and strike Fleur’s Battlecruiser Dianthus, completely enveloping it. “This card,” began Fleur. “Allows me to take one of my XYZ monsters and evolve it! Come forth my furious-flower and rain destruction over my enemies! CXyz Battleship Cherry Blossom!” the new monster was twice the size the previous one; its pure-white, circular frame hovered above them, pulsating with purple energy and with pointing its dozen cannons straight at Luna (2400/2000). “Turn end,” declared Fleur with a daintly wave of her right hoof.

“Luna,” muttered Celestia.

“Oh my, already?” said Fancy Paints while twirling his thin, blue moustache. “I better make haste, then!” he drew a card with his magic. “I use my two Metal Reflect Slime to build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” the two metallic slimes shoot to the sky and fused into a sphere that grew larger and larger, taking an impressive form. “Jewel of the sky and sea! Skypalace Gangaridai!” the gigantic wine-red vessel was large enough to flatten Ponyville whole, yet had a rich ornamental design that made it worthy of being called a “palace” (3400/3000). “Breathtaking, isn’t?” asked Fancy Pants while beaming at his monster. “It can carry the entire population of Canterlot,” he shook his head. “But now it’s not the time for that! Rank-Up Magic Barian’s Force!” The Gangaridai shone and enveloped itself on a cocoon of light. “The supercolossal aerial fortress! CXyz Skypalace Babylon!” the pleasant visage of the Gangaridai was replaced by a much more threatening look, one clearly designed for battle. A grey vessel with sharp angles filled to the brim with weaponry and glowing with purple energy (3800/4000). “Let’s not waste any time, shall we? Fancy Pants pointed with his right hoof. “DESTINY BUSTER!”

Celestia narrowed her eyes as the Babylon positioned itself above her. In the blink of an eye, countless beams of light fell on both, her and Gagaga Magician.

“Tia!” cried Luna.

The cloud of dirt dissipated, revealing a large patch of burned grass with Princess Celestia on the middle, her majestic wings shielding her head (4000-1750). “S-So much damage with a single attack,” she mumbled through gritted teeth.

Fancy Pants chuckled. “Do you like it, Princess? This is the true beauty of a Game of Darkness: equality. Here, it doesn’t matter if you’re a king or a slave; the shadows make no distinction between us.”

“Equality?” asked an outraged Celestia. “You dare to speak to me about equality when you would rather use one of my subjects instead of facing me yourself?!”

Fancy Pants put a hoof over his chest. “My Princess, I have no idea what are you talking about! I am Fancy Pants! Why look at me, I like boats and all!” he laughed loudly. “Speaking about that, my Babylon deals damage to your life points equal to half the original attack of the monster it destroys, and when it destroys a monster,” he looked upwards. “I can detach an xyz unit to make it can attack again.”

Celestia’s eyes widened. “When the monster equipped with Bound Wand is destroyed I can special summon it!” she informed. “Gagaga Magician!” her monster appeared before her, adopting a defensive stance.

“It’s useless! MULTIPLE LAUNCHER!” shouted Fancy Pants as the Babylon launched its attack.

“SISTER!” shouted Luna.

As the cloud of dirt dissipated once again, Celestia stood her ground, her normally pristine coat was covered in dirt and scorch marks (1750-1000).

“I believe that would be enough,” calmly said Fancy Pants as he set a card. “I end my turn.”

“DRAW!” growled Luna in a voice that shook the trees around her. “Double Summon! Hammer Bounzer! Phantom Bounzer!” two beast-men appeared at Luna’s sides. The first with a long grey mane, its body covered in skin-tight, red leather clothes and with hammer heads for hands (2300/2000). The second had blue fur and large fangs; it wore a black mail and had two large crimson blades sprouting at the sides of its arms (1800/1400). They both snarled ferociously at Fleur. “Turn end,” said Luna after placing a face-down card.

Fleur huffed. “How repulsive and unbeffiting of a Princess,” she shook her head and drew a card from her deck. “Are you perhaps baiting me into attacking?” she placed a card on her disk and a beautiful, blue-skinned fairy appeared on the field. She had long red hair and a pair of traslucent wings. “Once per turn I can detach an xyz unit from my Cherry Blossom to inflict you three hundred points of damage for each card on the field,” she smirked. “Sorry to disappoint!”

Celestia watched in impotent horror as the Battleship Cherry Blossom bombarded the area, reducing grass and bushes to ash, blowing trees to pieces and marble benches to pebbles.

Luna staggered and breathed heavily (3000-1200).

“I end my turn,” cheerily declared Fleur.

“Your, Highnesses!”

The four duelists turned their heads to see half a dozen Royal Guards coming out from the palace.

“Royal Guards!” called a grey unicorn among them. “Protect your Princesses!”

“Foals,” hissed Fleur and, with a mere wave of her horn, knocked down the charging guards.

“S-Stand up, guards! We must--”

“Enough!” shouted Celestia. “Stand back, Grey Ward!”

Grey Ward stammered. “B-But, Princess!”

“That’s an order,” firmly said Celestia. “Luna and I will handle this. I want you to secure the area, nopony gets inside,” she glanced at Fancy Pants and Fleur. “And have a team of nurses and doctors at standby.”

The Royal Guards immediately retreated.

“Did you hear that, Fancy?” asked Fleur with a giggle. “A team of nurses and doctors!”

“Let’s not be cruel, Fleur,” said Fancy Pants with a chuckle. “I’m sure even a Princess needs medical attention.”

Both Royal Sisters stood tall and looked at each other, then to their respective opponents.

“Whoever you are,” said Celestia. “It ends this turn,” with those words she drew a card with a flash of her horn. “I activate Gagagarevenge!” the Gagaga Magician returned to the field, arms crossed over his chest. “I summon Gagaga Girl!” a cute blonde girl wearing a blue uniform similar to her male counterpart, complete with conical hat, appeared on the field. Instead of a robe, she wore a pink skirt over her uniform and a long ribbon of the same color around her neck and torso (1000/800). “Gagaga Girl can match the level of Gagaga Magician on the field,” informed Celestia as both her monsters looked at each other and nodded. “Now that they are both level four, I can build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” both of her monsters jumped upwards, their bodies turning into dots of light that fused together and revealed a new warrior. He was humanoid in appearance, his whole body covered in a white and golden armor; two segmented wings sprouted from his back and a pair of curved swords were firmly attached to his waist (2500/2000). “Warrior of hope! Number 39: Utopia!” her monster spread his arms and let out a mighty battle cry (2800/2000). “When the monster I brought back with Gagagarevenge is used for an xyz summon, all my xyz monsters gain three hundred attack points,” she informed. “And since I used my Gagaga Girl too,” she looked at the Babylon. “I can make the attack of one of your special summoned monsters zero.”

Fancy Pants’ left eye twitched as he saw all the energy fading from his Skypalace Babylon (0/4000). “Hmph, nevermind. I have my XYZ Reborn trap ready,” he thought.

“Go, Utopia!” commanded Celestia. The glowing warrior drew his swords and flew upwards, but then, he came to a halt, both of his swords vanishing. “I can detach an overlay unit from Utopia to negate the attack of any monster on the field,” calmly informed Celestia. “Even himself.”

Fancy Pants frowned. “Why in the world you would do that?”

“To play this,” said Celestia as she revealed a spell card. “Double or Nothing! When the attack of a monster is negated, I can double its attack points and allow it to battle again!” Utopia’s swords reappeared on his hands, twice the size they had before. “HOPE SWORD SLASH!”

Fancy Pants’ monocle fell from his face as he watched Utopia launch himself like a meteor and pierce the Skypalace Babylon. The aerial fortress did not even explode, but crumbled like a sand castle. “No,” he mumbled before fainting (4000-0).

“A one-turn-kill,” said Luna with a chuckle. “I hope you’re ready to follow him.”

Fleur narrowed her eyes.

Luna swiftly drew a card from her deck. “I sacrifice Blade Bounzer to summon Phantom Bounzer!” the blue beast-man was quickly replaced with a larger one, its whole body covered by metal plates that gave it a very mechanical appearance (2400/1200). “Behold as I build an overlay network with my two monsters! XYZ summon!” both of her monsters burst into flames, merging into a large pyre. A stream of light shoot from the fire, followed by another and another. The pyre broke to reveal a beast-man twice the size of the previous ones, its body fully covered on a sharp, black and red armor, save for its abdomen and groin, which glowed intensely. “Shatter my enemies with your fists of light! Photon Strike Bounzer!”

“Trap card open!” shouted Fleur. “Safe Zone!” a circle of light enveloped the Battleship Cherry Blossom. “Now my monster cannot be destroyed by battle or card effects!”

Luna snorted. “Go Photon Strike Bounzer! Your target is her sprite! PHOTON KNUCKLE BUSTER!”

Fleur laughed. “My Dreamsprite can change the target of opponent’s monster attack!” the blue fairy spread her arms, but flinched when the beast-man roared at her. “What happened?!” asked Fleur in shock as her life points went down (2000-1000).

“My Photon Strike Bounzer can negate the effects of my opponent’s monster by detaching an overlay unit,” calmly informed Luna. “And inflict a thousand points of damage to you,” she didn’t even bother looking as her monster pulverized the Dreamsprite with a single punch and took down Fleur’s life points to zero (1000-0).

Celestia quickly approached the two fainted unicorns and gently wrapped them with her magic.

“Princess!” called Grey Ward as he approached with four mares and one other stallion, all of them wearing medical garbs.

“Grey Ward, I want you to take these two ponies to the infirmary and ensure they receive the appropiate care.”

“B-But, Princess; didn’t they attack--”

“They were under external influence,” firmly said Celestia. “I also want you to check for any traces of dark magic on their bodies. Understood?”

“Yes, Princess!”

It wasn’t until they left that Celestia allowed herself to fall on her haunches. “I can’t believe it,” she mumbled as she looked around at the devastated gardens. “On our very home.”

“Sister,” called Luna as she placed a comforting hoof on Celestia’s shoulder. “Now it’s not the time to be discouraged. Just like Twilight and her friends, we should be ready to do our part too…”

“Luna…”

“In your case, a good night of sleep.”

Celestia sighed and stood up. “Be careful, Luna,” she said with a frown. “I fear that this was only a message and things will only get more difficult from now on…”

Luna smiled. “I will have my best deck ready, if that’s what you’re asking.”

Celestia giggled. “That would be a good start.”

Both sisters nuzzled affectionately and parted ways. One towards the royal chambers and the other towards the night sky.

“I believe it’s time for me to send a message too,” thought Luna.

Mulligan looked at the magical barrier surrounding the duel arena. He closed his eyes and tapped it with his horn. A second later, the barrier shattered into a million pieces. “Well, that does it,” he said contently. “Better go to bed. Tomorrow’s going to be a long day.”

Conquer

The sun was setting behind Canterlot, covering the beautiful white spires and buildings in the city with a pleasant orange hue, as the last train quickly made its way through the mountains.

Twilight looked through the window with half-closed eyes.

“Alright, everypony, here’s the plan: we will split in three teams of two and scout each location,” said Twilight firmly. “There’s a chance nothing will happen, but I still want all of you to be prepared with your best decks.”

“Um, Twilight,” called Spike while raising a tiny claw. “What about me?”

“You’re staying here, Spike,” said Twilight. “And that’s final,” she added sharply.

Twilight exhaled and cracked her neck.

“Ah’ can’t believe we’re goin’ to face some old evil with the power of a card game,” said Applejack with amusement. “Still,” her smile faltered slightly as she rubbed her right hind leg. “I gotta reckon’ it’s kind of scary.”

Twilight gulped and lowered her gaze. “I’m sorry,” she mumbled.

Appejack sighed. “Twilight, sugarcube, you don’t have--”

“I’m sorry, okay?!” cried Twilight.

Applejack raised an unamused eyebrow and Twilight quickly averted her gaze. The orange Earth Pony stood up from her seat, trotted a few steps and sat next to the purple Alicorn.

“Ah’ listening.”

Twilight did not respond.

“Look here, Twilight, ah’ ain’t blind, okay? Ever since the mess at the castle you’ve been lookin’ like carryin’ half a dozen bales of hay by yourself and ah’ know some mess with a card game ain’t enough to put you in this mood,” she crossed her front hooves over her chest. “So, how ‘bout you tell me what’s eatin’ you?”

Twilight sighed. “Remember the battle with Tirek?”

Applejack chuckled. “That one ain’t goin’ anywhere soon.”

“I have been thinking,” said Twilight as she rubbed her left foreleg. “Back then he used you, the girls and Spike as leverage to make me give him the Alicorn magic,” she suddenly turned to Applejack. “What if he had not uphold his promise? He could have hurt you all. Because I made a mistake,” she looked down. “Just like today...”

Applejack took off her hat and put it on Twilight’s head. “Back when mah’ family and ah’ started to make apple cider, Applebloom found a leak on one of the hoses. Had she not, the cornsarned thing would have cost us nearly half of our produce,” she said somberly. “But it didn’t happen. We fixed it and got our bussiness right on track,” she lifted her hat slightly to see Twilight looking at her attentively. “We didn’t focus on “oh boy, that coulda turned out bad”, instead we learned from it and went to do better.”

Twilight frowned unsurely. “But--”

“Nopony is gonna hate you for what happened there or back at the castle, Twilight,” said Applejack as she patted her over the hat. “Not me or Dashie or Rares or Pinkie or Fluttershy or Spike or the Princesses or anypony. And if they do,” she gave a toothy smile. “Well, it ain’t nothin’ we can’t solve with a nice, warm slice of Granny’s chocolate apple pie.”

Twilight giggled. “Thank you, Applejack,” she said with a smile. “I think…I needed that.”

“Happy to serve, sugarcube.”

Befitting its status as the capital of Equestria, Canterlot had over a dozen of card game shops, more tan half of them with their own dueling arenas, plus a whole stadium dedicated to Duel Monsters tournaments.

“This place sure looks creepy at night,” commented Applejack as she glanced at the black stones that walled the stadium and the multiple flags depicting creatures from the game, barely indentifiable even with the light of the moon.

“Weird,” mumbled Twilight. “I thought Princess Celestia was going to instruct the Royal Guard to watch this place, but I don’t see anypony around…”

They trotted inside. Rows and rows of empty seats surrounded them and, in the middle of all, stood an inactive dueling arena, yet nopony in sight.

Applejack shrugged. “Ah’ think maybe we should--”

“Princess Twilight!”

Both mares jumped on their hooves, but quickly turned around.

“P-Prince Blueblood!” cried Twilight. “What are you doing here?”

The very dishveled looking Blueblood sneered. “I was waiting for you.”

“For me?”

“Yes, it’s time to reclaim what should have been rightfully mine!”

Twilight and Applejack looked at each other. “What are you talking about?” asked Twilight.

Blueblood gritted his teeth. “You know very well what I’m talking about,” he hissed. “I should have been the one granted the power and title of Princess!”

Twilight raised both eyebrows.

Applejack nodded slowly. “Right,” she said flatly. “Didn’t they teach you the difference between fillies and colts back at school, pardner?”

“Silence, you peasant!” growled Blueblood, his eyes glowing with a sickly green color, before he adjusted his duel disk around his neck.

Applejack quickly brought out her own disk. “Ah’ll take care of him, Twilight. Gotta teach this prince ‘bout not disrespecting mah’ apples,” she said as she remembered the way Blueblood called her apple friters “common carnival fare” back on her first time at the Grand Galloping Galla.

“I don’t think he’s being himself, Applejack,” said Twilight warily.

Applejack shook her head. “Whatever salt he’s been licking ain’t gonna help him.”

Blueblood smirked and shouted. “Royal Guards!”

Immediately four armored white pegasi descended from the sky, each one sporting a white duel disk, and surrounded both mares; their eyes glowing with the same threatening light as Blueblood.

Twilight quickly adjusted her own disk and stood back to back with Applejack.

“Better now?” asked Blueblood with a tilt of his head.

Applejack gritted her teeth. “Okay, ah’ admit you may have a point here, Twilight.”

“FEAR NOT!”

The wind howled and the moon shined brighter as Princess Luna descended into the stadium and one of the Royal Guards quickly turned around to face her.

“You again?!” barked Blueblood. “Do you enjoy doing these kinds of entrances or what?!”

Luna narrowed her eyes. “So my Sister was right…”

“Princess Luna?” called Twilight.

“Twilight Sparkle, Applejack,” said Luna as she adjusted her duel disk. “It seems my decision to perform my own scout was the right one.”

“Ah’ don’t wanna sound ungrateful, Princess,” said Applejack drily. “But could you tell us what in the hay is goin’ on”?

“Both the Prince and these guards are under the influence of somepony’s dark magic,” informed Luna.

Twilight gasped. “Dark magic? So it wasn’t just a malfunction of my artificial inte—I mean Dueling Dummy?”

Luna nodded. “We will have to duel and win in order to release them.”

Applejack frowned and adjusted her hat. “Better get your game on, everypony.”

“Draw!” said Twilight. “I summon Heliosphere Dragon!” a strange looking purple and black dragon with a long serpentine-like neck and wings that composed its entire body materialized with a loud shriek (0/1900). “Incredible,” thought Twilight. “We’re not even inside the arena and the monsters still appear,” she set a card and finished her turn.

“My turn,” declared the first of the Royal Guards facing Twilight. “I summon Command Knight,” a beautiful, blonde woman appeared on the field. She was clad in a rich crimson armor, with a brown helmet adorned with four golden feathered wings protecting her head. Her long purple cape fluttered as she drew a sword from the scabbard on her waist (1200/1900). “Command Knight grants all warrior type monsters under our control an extra four hundred attack points,” duly informed the guard (1600/1900). “I also activate the A. Forces, this gives our warriors two hundred attack points for each other warrior or spellcaster on the field,” he placed the spell card on his duel disk and the attack of his Command Knight immediately increased (1800/1900). “I end my turn.”

Twilight watched in awe as the other two guards played exactly the same cards. “Three monsters with over four thousand attack points!?” she thought. “What coordination,” she glanced upwards and saw their life points projected. “Twelve thousand, I see… they’re truly dueling as one.”

Behind her, Applejack overlay her Star Seraph Scout, Sage and Sword to summon Number 102: Star Seraph Sentry. The mechanized angel spread its wings, illuminating nearly every corner of the stadium. “It ain’t enough,” said Applejack as she looked at the last card in her hand. “Rank-Up Magic Barian’s Force!” the Star Seraph Sentry’s shine faded, its golden frame turning dark blue. It let out an eerie growl as purple energy coursed from its torso to its limbs and the bow in its hands transformed into a wicked looking black spear (2900/2400). “Unholy Lightnin’! Noble Demon! Number C102: Archfiend Seraph!”

“Draw!” shouted Blueblood. “I play The Melody of Awakening Dragon by discarding The White Stone of Legend!” he retrieved his three copies of the Blue-Eyes White Dragon from his deck with a wide grin. “Polymerization! Descend, my Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!” the mighty three-headed dragon appeared above Blueblood with a deafening roar (4500/3800). “Next! Fusion Recovery!” he took out Polymerization and one copy of his Blue-Eyes White Dragon from his graveyard and added them to his hand. “Let me introduce you to the monster with the same capabilities as my legendary dragons!” shouted Blueblood dramatically. “Black Luster Ritual!” a pyre erupted from the ground, flickering and dancing wildly. Blueblood picked a card from his hand and threw it into the fire. “Come, Black Luster Soldier!” a lean knight clad in a pitch-black armor with ornate golden frames emerged from between the flames wielding a shield and a curved sword (3000/2500). “Finally, I fuse my two monsters to create the invincible Dragon Master Knight!” the Black Luster Soldier jumped on the back of the Ultimate Dragon, it’s three heads roared in acceptance of the knight’s presence (5000/5000).

“Whoa, Nelly,” mumbled Applejack.

Blueblood took a deep breath and adjusted his mane. “I know, I know…”

“Lieutenant Cottage Cheese,” called Luna.

The guard in front of her did not reply.

Luna nodded. “Very well,” she slid a card on her duel disk. “Photon Sanctuary,” two small orbs of light appeared floating at her sides (2000/0). Luna spread her wings and flared her horn, the very stars in the sky seemed to shine brighter as in response. “Behold the true power of the Princess of the Night! The galaxy that lurks in the darkness! Become the light of hope and my servant!” the orbs of light shoot upwards and exploded into a million dots of light which soon fused into a new form. “Appear! Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!” the bipedal winged dragon had a body that looked like it was made of solidified light and shone like a star, drawing the attention of all the ponies present. It’s tail, torso and back of the neck were covered by violet plates of armor (3000/2500).

“Princess Luna uses Galaxy-Eyes too,” thought Twilight.

Applejack whistled.

“Show-off,” muttered Blueblood.

“I end my turn,” declared Luna. Under different circumstances she would have praised Cottage Cheese’s stoicism in the presence of her dragon.

“Draw,” said Cottage Cheese flatly. “Graceful Charity,” he drew three cards and discarded two. “Double Summon, The Trojan Horse,” a large, mechanical wooden horse appeared on the field (1600/1200). “I sacrifice it to summon Gilford the Legend,” the horse exploded in a cloud of smithereens, revealing a tall human warrior with rippling muscles. His body was protected by a black armor with large, spiked shoulder pads. A tattered brown cape fluttered behind him as he glared at Luna; most of his face concealed behind a horned mask. He lifted a broadsword, large enough to cut half a dozen of Timberwolves with a single strike, with both hands and pointed it forward (2600/2000). “When Gilford is summoned I can take any number of equip spell cards from my graveyard and equip them to him,” informed Cottage Cheese. He took Assault Armor and Fusion Sword Murasame Blade and equipped them to his monster. “Next, I equip him with Lightning Blade and Magnum Shield from my hand,” for every spell played Gilford’s sword grew larger and larger, until it became three times the size its wielder (6500/2000). “Finally, I send Assault Armor to the graveyard to allow Gilford to attack twice this turn!” declared Cottage Cheese, his voice finally raising over the monotone (6200/2000). “DRAGON BEHEADING DOWNWARD SLASH!”

Luna closed her eyes. She did not need to see her dragon vanishing in a flash of light alongside her opponent’s monster.

“What is--”

“When my Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon battles, I can banish it and my opponent’s monster until the end of the battle phase,” calmly informed Luna.

Cottage Cheese watched as both monsters returned to the field; his Gilford having been deprived of his equip spell cards (2600/2000). “I set a card and end my turn.”

“Draw,” said Luna. “I play Magical Stone Excavation!” she discarded two cards and took back her Photon Sanctuary, which she immediately played to special summon two Photon Tokens to her side of the field. “I sacrifice my tokens to summon the emperor of light! Photon Caesar!” a humanoid warrior appeared on the field with his body fully covered by a sharp-looking blue and golden armor, a long cape over his back. On his left hand he held a large shield, on the right one he wielded a curved sword (2800/2000). “And when my Photon Caesar is summoned I can special summon another one from my deck!” a second Caesar appeared next to the first one (2800/2000). “Go my dragon!” commanded Luna. “Attack his monster!” her dragon charged forward with a mighty roar.

“Trap card! Sakuretsu Armor!” shouted Cottage Cheese. “This card destroys one of--” his words faltered when he saw the Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon dissapearing together with his Gilford the Legend.

“My dragon’s effect can also protect him from your traps,” said Luna. “It’s over, TWIN KAISER SLASH!” both knights surrounded her opponent and delivered a simultaneous strike that lowered his life points to zero (4000-0).

“Fires of Doomsday!” called Twilight. Two vaguely humanoid shapes made of black fire appeared on the field, each one sporting a single demonic eye (0/0). “Draw!” she looked at the cards on her hand. “I have to finish this with on this very turn,” she thought. “I summon Parsec, the Interestellar Dragon! And with both of these level eight monsters I build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” both of her monsters vanished in a torrent of energy. “Number 107: Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon!” the mechanized black dragon apppeared with a roar (3000/2500). “Now I--” but her sentence was cut short when she saw both, her Tachyon Dragon and Luna’s Photon Dragon, fiercely growling at each other. “What the hay?” she mumbled. It wasn’t until Luna’s dragon dissapeared that her’s calmed down. “I’ll make a mental note to investigate this,” she thought. “Rank-Up Magic Barian’s Force!” without warning, the Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon burst on fire. The flames twisted wildly as the shape inside them changed. “Pierce through the raging torrent of galaxies, and revive from the time before they ever existed! The draconic star from beyond eternity!” chanted Twilight. “Number C107: Neo Galaxy-Eyes Tachyon Dragon!” the dragon’s once black frame now shone golden, with four long tails on its behind and two gigantic wings on its sides. Three pairs of pure gold energy wings sprout from its back, and where the previous form had one head, this one had three snake-like ones (4500/3000).

“It’s bigger than my Ultimate Dragon!” protested Blueblood.

“Once per turn, I can detach an xyz material from my dragon to negate the effect of every other face-up card on the field,” explained Twilight. She closed her eyes and commanded. “Time Tyrant,” her dragon roared and the trio of Command Knights in front of her fell to their knees, their attack points back to their original values (1200/1900). “And by tributing two other monsters, I can give my dragon the power to make up to three attacks on monsters this turn,” as the dragon’s three heads reared back to attack, an angelic silhouette appeared behind them. “Honest gives my dragon attack equal to that of your monsters,” she shook her head. “I’m sorry, guys.”

Applejack didn’t bother to glance over her shoulder; the shockwave that nearly blew her hat away and Blueblood’s expression told her everything she needed to know. “Ah’ guess it’s just you and me now.”

Blueblood gritted his teeth. “Yes,” he raised his right hoof. “Go! DRAGON MASTER SWORD!” the dark knight raised his sword and pointed it towards Applejack. In response, the three dragon heads opened their jaws and fired a combined stream of lightning towards the Archfiend Seraph.

Applejack clenched her teeth and dug her hooves on the ground. Even when it was her monster who took the blunt of the attack, the shockwave was strong enough to force her to close her eyes and sent her hat flying away (4000-1900). A few seconds later, the impact subsided and Applejack straightened herself. “Well, ah’ll be,” she said before shaking her head. “That dragon of yours hits like a herd of buffalos.”

Blueblood stood in silence, his left eye twitching.

Applejack grinned. “Ah’ sorry ‘bout that,” she said looking at her Archfiend Seraph. “Ah’ should’ve mentioned how ah’ can detach two xyz materials from mah’ monster to prevent its destruction,” she drew a card from her deck. “Now, ah’ll detach another xyz material to bring the attack of your dragon to zero,” the demonic seraph spread its wings, producing a low humming sound and causing the Ultimate Dragon to fall on the ground, its three heads gasping for breath as the Black Luster Soldier tried in vain to get it to stand up. “Finish ‘em off,” commanded Applejack. The Archfiend Seraph twirled its black lance and threw it, impaling both, dragon and rider, simultaneously, their bodies turning into a pile of dust, quickly scattered away by the breeze.

Blueblood’s chest heaved (4000-1100). “I AM NOT DONE HERE, YOU RANCID SWINE!”

Applejack shook her head. “Yes, yes you are. When I detach the last overlay unit from mah’ Seraph, it deals one thousand five hundred damage to you.”

“YOU JUST CAN’T DETACH AN OVERLAY UNIT LIKE THAT, YOU UNCULTURED BARBARIAN!”

“Ah’ know, that’s what Space Cyclone is for,” she slid the spell card into her duel disk. The Archfiend Seraph pointed a finger towards Blueblood.

“Oh, ponyfeathers.”

Applejack watched Blueblood being hurled away and sighed.

“Are you okay?” asked Twilight as she levitated Applejack’s hat and put it back over her friend’s head.

“Yep. Thanks, sugarcube.”

“Twilight!”

Both mares turned around to see Princess Celestia entering the stadium accompained by a dozen Royal Guards.

“Cotton Breeze,” called Celestia. “Please take care of the guards and my nephew immediately.”

A white pegasus mare saluted and instructed her fellow guards to follow her.

“Princess Celestia!” called Twilight.

“Twilight, Applejack; I’m glad to see you’re okay,” said Celestia with a smile.

“Is it true, Princess?” asked Twilight. “What Princess Luna told us about the dark magic?”

Celestia looked at the approaching Luna, then back at Twilight and Applejack. She nodded grimly and told them everything that had transpired at the castle.

“Ah’ll be,” muttered Applejack.

“I can’t believe it,” said Twilight. “Dark magic to control minds and manifest the card game to life…”

Applejack watched as two Royal Guards carried an unconscious Blueblood on a stretcher, his tongue unceremoniously dangling from the side of his mouth. “Will they be okay, Princess?”

“I believe so,” replied Celestia. “Fleur and Fancy pants sustained no injuries and we found no traces of dark magic on them,” she paused for a moment. “They still remain asleep, though.”

“We should keep checking the rest of the arenas then,” said Twilight.

“Yes,” said Celestia. “But this time I will assign a unit of Royal Guards to escort you two.”

“Thank you, Princess.”

Applejack adjusted her hat. “Alright, we better get goin’ now.”

“Sister.”

It wasn’t until Celestia saw both, Twilight and Applejack, leave the stadium surrounded by half a dozen Royal Guards that she turned towards Luna. “I’m sorry, Luna. I simply couldn’t bring myself to sleep.”

Luna chuckled. “I should have expected much from you, Sister.”

Celestia gave a slight smile. “Yes,” she looked away into the sky. “Now that we have reasons to believe this was somepony’s work and not an accident, I doubt I will be able to rest until we put an end to it,” she bit her lower lip. “I’m concerned about the state of Ponyville too. That’s where everything started, after all.”

“Do not fret, Sister,” said Luna confidently. “I have already sent my apprentice there.”

“Good job, Luna. I expected nothing less of—wait a minute, did you say apprentice?”

“Well, yes,” said Luna with a huff. “I don’t see what’s so farfetched about it.”

Celestia blinked twice. “You have an apprentice.”

“An apprentice in Duel Monsters, but yes,” said Luna, her voice faltering slightly.

Celestia nodded slowly. “A dueling apprentice.”

Luna blushed. “I was hoping we could challenge Twilight and you to a tag-team duel,” she confessed timidly.

Celestia raised both eyebrows. “My little sister has a dueling apprentice,” she said slowly.

“Tia!” cried Luna, her face red as an apple.

Celestia turned around and slowly walked away. “A dueling apprentice,” she mumbled over and over again.

“Stop it!”

Payback

Rainbow Dash looked up at the night sky above Manehattan. Between the lights blocking out the stars and the tall buildings surrounding them she felt like a tiny squirrel trapped inside a barrel. It made her want to spread her wings and shoot upwards.

“Beautiful, isn’t?” asked Rarity.

“Yeah,” muttered Rainbow Dash as she quickly took a step aside to avoid bumping a hasty mare. “A bit crowded for me,” she said drily.

Rarity glanced at her pegasus friend ruffling her wings. “Did you know the Royal Tomb was the place where I took part on a tournament for first time?” she asked quickly.

“Let me guess,” said Rainbow Dash with a grin. “First place?”

Rarity shook her head with a bemused smile. “I lost on the first round.”

Rainbow Dash raised both eyebrows.

“I tried to duel in a fabulous manner,” said Rarity while dramatically waving her right hoof. “One that would charm the audience with its beauty and grace,” she dropped her hoof with a heavy sigh. “I was utterly and completely devastated.”

Rainbow Dash smiled sympathetically. “That’s rough.”

“Indeed it was,” said Rarity with a solemn nod. “But it also taught me that, at that level of playing, Duel Monsters is a battle. And if I wanted to succeed, I would have to approach dueling in the same way I would approach a real life battle.”

“With mixed martial arts?”

Rarity nodded firmly. “With mixed martial--” her words were cut short as her sapphire eyes opened wide and her white cheeks turned a shade of red that could probably win a couple of apple harvest contests. “H-How did…?”

Rainbow Dash’s grin went from ear to ear. “Didn’t I tell you? I can be observant when I want.”

“Y-Yes,” said Rarity, regaining her composture. She could still feel her cheeks burning. “I can tell.”

“So,” said Rainbow Dash casually. “Where do you practice? The old South Paw’s gym?”

“Yes.”

Rainbow Dash laughed. “Really? I never imagined you would be okay with training inside an old, dusty warehouse.”

“I wasn’t,” said Rarity with a smile. “But once you start moving it’s like the outside world disappears,” she turned her head up and closed her eyes. “And, sometimes, that’s exactly what I need.”

“Oh?”

“My choice of career comes with a considerable amount of stress, Rainbow Dash,” said Rarity as she looked at her pegasus friend. “Normally it’s nothing a visit to the spa cannot solve, but there are times when you need to let your emotions out,” she curled her lower lip. “Deadlines, lack of supplies, flickle customers…keeping with the standards puts a heavy burden on your back and, sometimes, the only way to deal with the weight is to strike it with your hooves until it starts leaking sand,” she daintly extended her left hind leg. “It also helps me keep my figure.”

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “I get what you’re saying; when I’m stressed I like to fly really, really high, until my body gets covered in frost, then spread my wings and shatter it all with a loud scream!”

Rarity blinked. “Well, I suppose that’s one—oh my, look we’re here!”

The large, two-story building wasn’t too different from the others in the city, with its brick front and a row of three windows on the first and second floor. Still, it managed to stand out thanks to the main entrance, which was fashioned to resemble that of an acient ruin, with a doorway made of cracked grey stones with the carving of an eye on top.

“So this is Manehattan largest card game store, uh?” asked Rainbow Dash as she looked at the entrance. “The Royal Tomb?”

“You will get used to the crude entrance eventually,” said Rarity airily. “In the meantime, why don’t we go inside?”

They opened the doors and were greeted by the howling of the wind. The light from street revealed a couple of table rows and a few of the posters on the wall, but beyond that it was only darkness and silence.

“I wasn’t expecting a welcome party but dang,” said Rainbow Dash as they trotted inside.

Rarity glanced around. “Hello? Anypony here? We came from Ponyville by request of Princess Celestia.”

“ANYPONY?!”

Rarity flinched and glared at Rainbow Dash.

“What?” asked Rainbow Dash. “I’m just trying to save us time.”

Rarity shook her head. Her ears suddenly perked up. “Did you hear that?”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Somepony is coming.”

Rarity narrowed her eyes as she saw the mare coming in front of them. She had a light pink coat, her purple tail and mane fashionably stylized, with a blue scarf crossed around her neck, over which rested a small golden pendant in the shape of an eye.

“Suri,” said Rarity incredulously.

“Hello, Rarity,” said Suri sweetly. “Long time no see.”

Rainbow Dash approached Rarity and whispered. “Who’s that?”

“Suri Polomare,” said Rarity. “She stole my designs, remember?”

Rainbow blinked.

“The Fashion Week, here in Manehattan?”

Silence.

Rarity sighed. “Hinny of the Hills?”

“Oh yeah!” said Rainbow Dash with a laugh.

Rarity fought the urge to roll her eyes. “What are you doing here, Suri?”

“Why, I wanted to see you,” said Suri with a toothy smile. “We have so much to talk about.”

“On the middle of the night, inside an empty card game shop?” asked Rainbow Dash with a quirked eyebrow.

Suri looked at Rainbow with disgust. “Do you mind? This is a private conversation,” she glanced behind her. “Frosty Rain?”

A blur suddenly rushed from the darkness, crashing with Rainbow Dash and dragging her outside and upwards with such speed that the doors to the shop closed with a loud slam.

“Rainbow Dash!” cried Rarity.

“Forget about her,” hissed Suri. “This is between you and me.”

Rarity glared at Suri. “What do you want?”

“What do you think?” asked Suri mockingly. She gritted her teeth. “Payback!”

“Payback?”

“Yes,” hissed Suri. “Do you have any idea how much did that little circus of yours during the Fashion Week cost me? How much did I have to work to recover? You left me in shambles!”

Rarity gave a soft hmph. “You brought that yourself.”

“The hay do you know!” grolwed Suri. “You’re nothing but a rube! Born on some backwater town! Ignorant of the complexities of the world of fashion! Yet you somehow clawed your way to Canterlot!”

Rarity smiled. “Thank you.”

“What? Why are you thanking me?!”

“I was born in quaint little Ponyville, my upbringing certainly more rustic than sophisticated, yet I still managed to make myself a name in the highest stratum of Canterlot by means of hard work and talent,” said Rarity with a smile and a tilt of her head. “How can I not be proud of that?”

Suri snarled.

“You need to work on your insults, darling.”

Suri took a deep breath and composed herself. “There is only one way to solve this.”

“I agree,” said Rarity. She flipped her head so her mane covered her right eye and adjusted her duel disk.

Suri smirked. “Oh Coco,” she called in a singsong voice. “Could you please come here?”

Rarity gasped as she saw a mare with an off-white coat and two-tone blue mane and tail, a lavender sailor collar with a red tie around her neck and hair clip of the same color on the back of her mane, walk next to Suri. “C-Coco?!”

“Be a dear and take care of Rarity for me, yes?” asked Suri sweetly.

“Yes, Miss Polomare,” replied Coco as she prepared her own duel disk. Her kind blue eyes looked dull and lifeless.

“What have you done to her?!” cried Rarity.

“Me?” asked Suri while placing her right hoof over her chest. “I did nothing. Coco here realized how much of a silly filly she was and came back begging to be taken under my wing once more,” she patted Coco on the head. “Naturally, being the generous mare I am, I immediately welcomed her back with open arms.”

Rarity narrowed her eyes.

“Now, how was it?” asked Suri with the tip of her right hoof under her chin. “Ah yes! It’s time to duel!”

Rainbow Dash wasn’t used to flying backwards. Or without moving her wings. Or while being tightly held by a Royal Guard from her midsection for that matter.

“Knock it off!” she yelled while struggling to break free. Seeing it was in vain, she muttered “Fine,” and placed her front hooves firmly around Frosty Rain’s head pressing against her chest, leaned forward then backwards with all her strenght, her hind legs pushing from below and flipped over, throwing Frosty Rain away from her.

Rainbow Dash hovered in place, eyeing the recovered Royal Guard warily. She had a white coat, with an indigo mane and tail. “The hay is with you, sister?!”

Frosty Rain glared with eyes glowing a sickly green and wordlessly charged forward.

Rainbow Dash shoot upwards and evaded the first tackle, but Frosty Rain somersaulted and quickly gave chase. Soon, both mares had become little more tan blurs to the untrained eyes of the passersby below, up and down, left and right, zipping and zooming around the buildings of city.

“Ponyfeathers,” muttered Rainbow Dash. “Will I get in trouble if I knock a Royal Guard?” she tought. With a sharp turn, she went behind a particularly tall building and lay in wait. “Come on, sister; I don’t have all--” a loud noise caught her attention, she looked upwards and saw a black motorcycle, with a golden frame in the shape of a demonic face on the front, riding down the wall of the building towards her. “What the hay?!” cried Rainbow Dash as she took her distance.

The rider, a humanoid clad in a skin tight black suit and with a pair of horns sprouting from the sides of his head, lifted the front wheel and accelerated, a burst of flames came out from the exhaust pipes as the motorcyle jumped from the building and landed on the empty space in front of Rainbow Dash, stading on the thin air as if it was the road.

“Stygian Street Patrol!” exclaimed Rainbow Dash.

The demonic rider laughed in acknowledgment (1600/1200) as Frosty Rain appeared behind him with a duel disk around her neck.

“Now we’re talking,” said Rainbow Dash as she set her own duel disk. “Draw,” she said and immediately summoned Big Jaws from her hand. The shark with oversized fangs appeared from a torrent of water and let out a fierce roar (1800/300). “Aqua Jet!” she said as she slid the spell card on her disk. “This gives my shark an extra thousand attack points!” (2800/300) “Go, BIG MOUTH!” the shark jumped and bit the Stygian Street Patrol, complete with motorcycle, crushing it between its sword-like fangs, before dissapearing in a cloud of bubbles (4000-2800). “Yeah, my shark is banished at the end of the battle phase,” informed Rainbow Dash with slight annoyance. “But that’s why I’ve got this guy for!” she said with a grin. “When one of my fish monsters is banished I can special summon Wingtortoise!” a large bipedal tortoise appeared on the field. Between its wings, long tail and neck it looked more akin to a dragon (1500/1400). It let out a cry and adopted a defensive position. “Cool, huh? Let’s see what you got!”

Frosty Rain narrowed her eyes and drew a card. “Monster Reborn! Stygian Street Patrol!” the demon biker reappeared on the field with a howl (1600/1200). “Stygian Security!” a small, mechanical blue imp with big bat-like wings appeared next to the biker. It cackled madly as the siren on top of its head glowed red (100/600). “Synchro summon!” declared Frosty Rain as her monsters turned into clusters of glowing dots. “Let the roar of your engine strike fear in the hearts of those who dare to break the law! Hell twin cop! Stygian Sergeants!” the nearby windows shook as a tall, muscled two-headed demon appeared riding a dark blue motorcycle. It spread its wings and growled as the sirens attached to the front wheel of its ride blared incessantly (2200/1800). “HELL WHEELIE!” the twin-headed demon charged forward, front wheel of its motorcyle held high, and crushed the Wingtortoise.

Rainbow Dash watched in bewilderment as the Stygian Sergeant turned around but remained in front of her.

“When my Stygian Sergeants destroys a monster in battle it gets an additional eight hundred attack points and can make a second attack,” explained Frosty Rain (3000/1800). “EXHAUST FLAME!”

Rainbow Dash shielded herself with her wings. Still, the explosion sent her flying a couple of blocks away, through an open balcony window and crashing against a wall adorned with several old-time photos.

“Good gracious!”

Rainbow Dash opened her eyes to see an elder unicorn mare with a beige coat and a grey mane and tail looking at her in shock. “Are you okay, dear?” she asked while adjusting her glasses. “I think part of your mane is burned.”

Rainbow Dash clenched her teeth and slowly stood up. She took a few breaths. “Oh yeah,” she said with a sheepish smile. “Sorry about--uh, the whole crashing thing, Granny.”

“Oh, nonsense,” said the elderly mare while waving a hoof. “Here,” she picked up a small tray from a nearby table with her magic. “Have a carrot brownie,” she said with a smile. “I made them myself.”

Frosty Rain narrowed her eyes at the rainbow streak that approached at full speed before stopping a few meters away.

“Sorry about the wait,” said Rainbow Dash. She took the last bite from her carrot brownie, swallowed and licked her lips. “Let’s do this,” she said with a smirk (4000-1000).

Even in the darkness of the room Rarity could see the monster in front of her perfectly. The lower half of her body was that of a snake with vibrant blue scales. Her upper half was that of a rail thin human female with green skin. She wore a frilly purple dress and long sleeved gloves, her long blue hair spread wildly to the sides and upwards, partially covering the three cobra heads that sprouted from her head (1400/1400).

Rarity curled her lower lip at the snake woman baring her large fangs at her.

“Turn end.”

Rarity shook her head. “Draw,” she pulled a card from her deck, looked at the two mares in front of her then at her hand. “Alright,” she mumbled before summoning Battlin’ Boxer Headgeared, sending a monster card from her deck to her graveyard and special summoning Battlin’ Boxer Sparrer. “XYZ summon!” she declared as she overlay her two monsters to summon Battlin’ Boxer Lead Yoke. The rustling of the barbarian’s chains echoed across the entire place, along with his heavy breathing. “The effect of my Sparrer prevents me from attacking,” she informed. “So I end my turn.”

Suri smiled smugly.

“Draw,” said Coco. “I summon Reptilianne Scylla,” the newest monster had the upper body of a thin, dark-skinned woman with fiery red hair, wearing a black dress with long sleeved gloves. Her savage smile was intimidating enough, but the worst part was her lower half. Instead of legs she had a large, grey-skinned quadruped beast with no eyes and a big mouth filled with teeths, both in front and at the sides (1800/1200). “For my Reptilianne Gorgon,” said Coco as she slid a spell card on her disk. “Molting Escape,” she pointed her right hoof forward, her voice never going above the monotone. “Attack.”

Reptilianne Gorgon hissed and jumped at the Lead Yoke. Unfazed, the bound barbarian stopped the gorgon with a punch to her midsection, lowering Coco’s life points (4000-3200). But it didn’t end there; the gorgon’s whole body turned grey as she squirmed and jumped backwards, leaving only a pile of dried skin on the floor (1700/1400).

Rarity covered her mouth with her hoof in disgust.

“Molten Escape prevents the destruction of my monster once per turn and gives it an extra three hundred attack points after every battle,” explained Coco. “Reptilianne Gorgon, use your Stone Gaze,” the gorgon glared at the Lead Yoke and, in the blink of an eye, the barbarian was turned to Stone (0/2000).

Rarity gasped.

“Now your monster cannot change positions,” said Coco. “Go, Scylla,” her monster barked and charged forward. “When Scylla destroys a monster with zero attacks points, I can take control of it.”

Rarity quickly detached an xyz material from her Lead Yoke as the Scylla took a bite of his shoulder. The monster turned statue didn’t even bulge, but Rarity still felt the pain of the bite on her right shoulder (4000-2200).

Suri laughed as she saw her foe breathing heavily. “This Game of Darkness is truly fascinating.”

Rarity’s eyes widened. “Game of Darkness?!” she thought. “What in the name of Celestia are you trying to accomplish, Suri?!”

“What part of “payback” do you not understand, darling?” asked Suri mockingly. “Coco, dear, finish your turn,” she ordered and turned to Rarity with a smirk. “I would like to see her squirm a bit more.”

Rarity gritted her teeth. “Draw!” she pulled a card with a flash of her magic. “Foolish Burial!” she sent Battlin’ Boxer Glassjaw from her deck to her graveyard to recover Battlin’ Boxer Switchhitter, which she immediately summoned. The humanoid automaton wore a brownish training suit, complete with a hoodie, its arms and left leg were fortified with mechanical implants (1500/1400). “By its effect I can special summon Battlin’ Boxer Glassjaw from my graveyard,” a second boxer, this one a large musclebound humanoid with green skin, wearing white shorts, black boots and gloves, appeared next to the first. Fittingly enough, its chin was made of glass (2000/0). “I build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” declared Rarity as her monsters fused into a whirlpool of light. “Break my foes with your explosive fists! Number 79: Battlin’ Boxer Nova Kaiser!” the final boxer was clad in a rich red and golden armor with two four tipped wing-like structures on its back. Its blue eyes glowed as he punched the air, each strike releasing sparks (2300/1600). “My monster obtains an additional hundred attack points for each xyz material attached to it,” explained Rarity (2500/1600). “I’m sorry, Coco,” she whispered. “Go! Take down Reptilianne Scylla with your SUPER NOVA STRIKE!” the Nova Kaiser punched Scylla in the midsection; it let out a shriek as her body burst up in flames (3200-2500).

Rarity bit her lower lip as she saw Coco flinch.

“Look who’s finally got a backbone,” said Suri cheerfully; Rarity’s glare only made her laugh.

“I end my turn.”

Suri nodded. “Mmhmm, go ahead, Coco.”

Coco drew a card and immediately ordered her Reptilianne Gorgon to attack Nova Kaiser. Once again the snake woman evaded destruction and increased her attack points thanks to Molten Escape (2000/1400) and at the cost of some of her master’s life points (2500-1700), while petrifying her foe. “Special summon Reptilianne Vaskii,” both of Rarity’s petrified monsters crumbled to dust and from the darkness emerged a new Reptilianne monster, easily twice the size of the previous ones. Her lower half was that of a snake with pitch-black scales, while the upper one was that of a pale woman with four arms and long, flowing red hair. She wore a dark blue dress with ornate golden decorations and an elegant headdress with the same color pattern and the shape of a cobra on the front (2600/0).

Rarity couldn’t help but stare in awe at Vaskii’s delicate features and beautiful face.

“I set down a card and end my turn,” declared Coco.

“Hmm, how was it?” pondered Suri for a moment. “Ah yes, draw your last pathetic card so I can end this, Rarity!”

Rarity took a breath and calmly drew her card. “Battlin’ Boxer Spirits,” she declared. “By sending the top card of my deck to the graveyard I can bring back a Battlin’ Boxer to my side of the field,” the discarded card was a second Battlin’ Boxer Glassjaw, which allowed Rarity to recover Battlin’ Boxer Switchhitter from her graveyard. She brought back Battlin’ Boxer Headgeared, followed by normal summoning Switchhitter and special summoning Sparrer with the former’s effect.

Suri yawned while Coco remained stoic.

“I overlay my three monsters! XYZ summon!” dramatically declared Rarity. The three monsters vanished in a pillar of light to reveal a new warrior, covered with a blue armor with golden plates. His massive shoulder pads were more akin to a pair of shields (2500/1600). “Shatter the stars with your punches! Number 105: Battlin’ Boxer Star Cestus!”

Suri quirked an eyebrow.

Rarity held up a card with her magic. “Rank-Up Magic Barian’s Force!” a whirlwind of darkness enveloped the Star Cestus. His armor became sharper and turned a dark shade of purple while his shoulder pads lenghtened and divided into four claw-like appendages on its back. “Truly my greatest champion! Number C105: Battlin’ Boxer Comet Cestus!” the monster clashed his fists together and let out a battle cry (2800/2000). “It’s over, Suri,” coolly said Rarity.

Suri smirked. “Is that so?”

“Trap card open,“ said Coco. “Shadow Spell,” multiple black chains erupted from the ground and tied themselves around Star Cestus’ arms, neck and waist (2100/2000).

Rarity remained unfazed. “Cestus’ effect allows me to detach an xyz material to destroy a monster on my opponent’s side of the field and deal damage equal to that monster’s attack points.”

Suri’s eyes widened. “What?!”

“I told you it was over,” said Rarity. “Give up, Suri.”

Suri narrowed her eyes and gritted her teeth. There was a long moment of silence before she managed to cool off. “Fine,” she spat and walked towards the door. “This is what I get for employing an incompetent mare as an assistant.”

“Wait a minute!” yelled Rarity. “Where do you think you’re going? Release Coco this instant!”

Suri turned around, a wide smile across her face. “Oh, I’m sorry; I’m afraid that’s beyond my means.”

“Don’t lie to me, Suri,” growled Rarity.

“It’s true,” said Suri while placing her right hoof over her chest, a look of hurt on her face. “And even if I could, this is a Game of Darkness, remember? It doesn’t end until one side loses.”

Rarity’s mouth fell. The words of Discord echoed in the back of her mind.

“Enjoy your victory, Rarity,” said Suri. “I think I’ll make a visit to Ponyville; I feel like having a bit of fresh air.”

Rarity watched Suri leave. She tried to charge, but a wall of shadows emerged in front of her and pushed her back, no matter how hard she tried. Even her magic had no effect. She turned around and looked at Coco, who remained motionless and expressionless like a doll.

Rainbow Dash drew a card from her deck and grinned. “Water Hazard! When I control no monsters I can special summon a level four or lower water monster from my hand! Double Shark!” a giant wave manifested behind Raibow Dash and from it jumped a large blue shark. It had both, an extra dorsal fin on its underside and a second pair of eyes on its lower jaw (1200/1600). “Inferno Reckless Summon!” two more sharks appeared on the field; the three fish monsters swam in circles around Rainbow Dash. “Don’t give me that look, sister,” she said with a smirk. “You can pick one of your monsters and do the same!”

Frosty Rain narrowed her eyes.

“Oh yeah, silly me!” said Rainbow Dash with a laugh. “You can’t!” her demeanor suddenly turned serious. “Sorry, but I’m finishing this now,” she declared. “I build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” the three Double Shark swam faster and faster, creating a whirlwind. “Come, marine biting dragon!” the wind subsided and a large, crimson shark appeared on the field. Its fins had growth into wings, legs and arms respectively; even its neck elongated, giving it an apparance more akin to that of a dragon (2800/2100). “Number 32: Shark Drake!”

Frosty Rain matched the monster’s glare.

“Chaos Xyz change!” shouted Rainbow Dash. The Shark Drake glowed as its body grew in size. “By using my Number 32 as a material I can summon the strongest shark!” when the light subsided the Shark Drake’s crimson body had turned white, its fins became sleeker and sharper like armor, its claws were now swords and pure energy pulsated all around its body with a purple light (2800/2100). “Marine biting dragon! Number C32: Shark Drake Veiss!” the monster gave an earth-shaking roar and the engine of the Stygian Sergeants’ motorcycle suddenly died down (0/0). “When my life points are one thousand or less,” explained Rainbow Dash. “I can detach an xyz material from my Shark Drake to make the attack and defense points of one of your monsters zero.”

Fort he first time, Frosty Rain’s expression turned into one of shock.

“Go!” commanded Rainbow Dash. “CHAOS DEPTH DIVE!” the Shark Drake Veiss charged forward like a torpedo, shredding the Stygian Sergeants to pieces and hitting Frosty Rain (2800-0). Her helmet shattered, letting her long, straight mane sprawl, and her body was launched backwards.

“Yeah!” cheered Rainbow Dash with a pump of her hoof. “Who’s da mare?! Who’s da mare!?" she spun around and shook her tail. "Rainbow Dash eh! Rainbow Dash uh! Rainbow—uh oh,” her celebration was cut short when she saw Frosty Rain kept falling down. “Ponyfeathers!” she spread her wings and flew like an arrow, catching Frosty Rain just as she was about to collide with a nearby roof. “Come on, I didn’t hit you that hard, sister!” said Rainbow Dash as she shook the mare on her back. “Dang, she’s out cold,” she thought and quickly made her way back to the Royal Tomb, where she found Rarity standing on the entrance and carrying an unconscious white mare on her back.

“Rainbow Dash! Are you alright? Why are you carrying a Royal Guard on your back?”

“Rarity! Are you okay? Who’s that on your back?”

There was a moment of silence in which both mares looked at each other.

“Okay,” said Rainbow Dash. “Ladies first.”

“We need to find a hospital,” said Rarity with urgency. “And we need to go back to Ponyville.”

Tag Team

Get up, stretch a bit and make the bed. Take a shower, have a breakfast of oatmeal, milk and apples with honey. Brush your teeth, comb your mane and put on a shirt. Open the store and get ready for the arrival of clients. For Mulligan this had been, more or less, his morning routine ever since he arrived to Ponyville. Until today. He closed the shop’s door softly and looked around him. The quaint little town assumed a completely different facade during the night. The darkness dulled the vibrant colors and a graveyard-like silence gave the empty streets and corners a unsettling feel, with only the light of the moon and the stars providing some kind of comfort. “Perfect,” he thought. The sound of hoofsteps approaching behind him caught his attention. “Ah, about time,” he said as he turned around. “Are you ready, gentlecolts?”

“Eeyup.”

“Yeah!”

“Uh-huh, sure!”

“You got it!”

Mulligan nodded. Mind control magic was incredibly useful, but had its limits too. For one, he couldn’t go around trying to control everypony, or just anypony for that matter, not when subterfuge was his biggest advantage. Also, the level of autonomy of the victim depended on how much magic he used. With enough power he could make a fine spy, but it would leave him exhausted; so drones were often more convenient. “We have some time before our beloved Princess and her friends return,” he said while adjusting his saddlebags. “So, I want you to come with me and you three to prepare a welcome party for them.”

“Yeah!”

“Sure thing, boss! Do we—uh, get snacks or just fruits?”

“I like snacks!”

Mulligan sighed and closed his eyes.

“Feast your eyes on these, ladies.”

Silver Spoon adjusted her glassed with an unamused expression.

Diamond Tiara quirked an eyebrow. “These are dinosaurs,” she said flatly.

“Yep,” said Mulligan with a toothy smile. “They have great synergy with each--”

“You’re trying to sell us dinosaurs,” said Silver Spoon drily.

Mulligan’s smile faltered. “Well, yes, but--”

“You’re trying to sell two refined ladies a pair of oversized, brutish, drooling reptiles,” said Diamond Tiara coolly.

Mulligan gulped. “Actually reptiles are a different archetype and—uhhh.”

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon looked at each other, then at Mulligan, before turning their noses upwards and marching out the store in perfect unison.

“That was a fragment of speech,” said Mulligan drily. He looked at the two colts’ glazed, glowing eyes. That was the thing with drones, they would retain their most basic traits; whether it was stoicism, enthusiasm or being dumber than a box of rocks. “Look, just…make sure to duel anypony who comes into town, okay?”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders steadily made their way through the streets of Ponyville. After the troubles with the duel arenas, Twilight, Applejack and Rarity arrived to the conclusion it would be safer if the three fillies spent the night on Sweet Apple Acres together.

Sweetie Belle covered her mouth with her right hoof as she yawned. “Remind me why we’re here again?”

“Because mah’ brother ain’t the kind of pony who leaves the house on the middle of the night, walkin’ like a zompony and with both eyes glowin’ like one of dem fancy color bulbs,” said Applebloom firmly as she recalled the way Big Mac ignored her, no matter how loud she called him or how hard she tried to pull his tail.

“Hey!” cried Scootaloo. “Watch where you’re going you,” she narrowed her eyes. “Mailbox…”

“Fine,” said Sweetie Belle. “But why do we have to take our duel disks with us?”

“Because we’re elite tag duelists and elite tag duelists must be ready to duel anytime, anywhere!”

“Even on the middle of the night on the deserted streets of Ponyville?” drily asked Scootaloo.

Mulligan scratched his chin as he gazed at the doors of the Friendship Castle. “What kind of magical defenses would I use if I were a princess?” he mused as he approached. “Evidently not a mere barrier,” he said as he stood next to the doorway. “An enchanted lock? An illusion charm? A teleportation trap?” he raised his hoof and gently pushed the door, which opened with zero resistance. He shook his head. “Rural ponies.”

“Stop right there, you criminal scum!”

“Yeah! You shall not pass!”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at each other then at Snips and Snails, both having a white duel disk strapped around their necks.

“What are you doing here, guys?” asked Scootaloo.

“The boss told us to duel anypony who came around here,” said Snails.

“That and getting snacks for the welcome party,” added Snips.

Sweetie Belle quirked an eyebrow. “What are you two talking about?”

“So, uh, do we take them on?” asked Scootaloo.

“Ah’ not sure,” said Applebloom as she scratched her chin. “Ah’ mean, they seem different…”

Scootaloo shrugged. “They’re as dumb as they are in class.”

Sweetie Belle pointed with her right hoof. “Look, their eyes!”

Scootaloo squinted. “Whoa,” she mumbled as she saw the two colts’ eyes glowing green.

“Just like mah’ brother,” mumbled Applebloom.

“Girls!” cried Sweetie Belle. “Look!”

A cloud of black miasma swiftly engulfed the area around them, forming a perfect dome around the five little ponies. The Cutie Mark Crusaders huddled together while Snips and Snails remained completely unfazed.

“It’s time to duel!” yelled Snails.

“Yeah! We’re gonna hi-hoof the sky!” yelled Snips.

“I don’t think I like this,” said Sweetie Belle as she looked around her. The miasma did not fully obscure their sight of their surroundings, but the way it swirled made they feel like they were surrounded by a pack of monsters from the Everfree Forest.

“I-I second t-that,” said Scootaloo.

Applebloom gulped and stepped forward; she took a breath and shouted. “T-The Unbreakable Shield! Applebloom!”

Both Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle’s ears perked up.

“She’s…” muttered Scootaloo.

Sweetie Belle walked next to Applebloom. “The Diamond Sword!” she shouted. “Sweetie Belle!”

Both fillies looked at Scootaloo. The orange pegasus nodded, spread her tiny wings and jumped forward. “The Invincible Crusader! Scootaloo!”

Sweetie Belle frowned. “I thought you were the Strongest Crusader.”

“Can we leave that for another time?” protested Scootaloo.

Applebloom rolled her eyes.

“Isn’t he cute?” asked Mulligan as he looked at Spike. The baby dragon had fallen asleep on his seat, inside the throne room, with his duel disk attached to his arm. A bunch of cards were scattered all over the table in front of him.

“Eeyup.”

“Can you believe I feel kinda bad for what I’m about to do?”

“Eenope.”

Mulligan chuckled. “You’re right,” he said and lightly poked Spike on the cheek with his right hoof.

Spike giggled.

Mulligan chuckled and slapped Spike on the back of the head. The baby dragon woke up with a scream and waving his arms.

“W-What the hay?! Who did—Mulligan?” asked Spike after several blinks. “How did you get in? What are you doing here?”

“Through the door,” said Mulligan with a smile. “As for your second question, I’m here to use this castle as a conductor to unleash a wave of dark magic all over Equestria.”

Spike looked at the green stallion in front of him and nodded slowly. “Right. You know, I’m pretty sure you’re supposed to lick the salt not--”

Before Spike could say another word Mulligan flared his horn and, in the blink of an eye, the walls of the room were covered with arcane runes glowing with a fierce purple light.

Spike nearly fell off his chair. “I-I can’t believe—you--”

Mulligan rolled his eyes. “Yeah, yeah, it’s always the ones you least expect and stuff,” he said dimissively. “Why don’t you go take a walk outside? The cold air feels nice.”

“No,” said Spike firmly.

“I’m sorry?”

“I said no,” repeated Spike as he jumped in front of Mulligan. “I am Princess Twilight Sparkle’s personal assistant and the guardian of this castle when she’s not in,” he declared. “Whatever evil deed you’re plotting, I won’t let it happen!”

Mulligan chuckled in amusement. “And how do you plan to stop me?”

“I’m a dragon, genius,” said Spike drily. “My scales are magic-resistant, my claws can tear through anything and my fire breath can—whoa!” he cried as he got picked up by the scruff of his neck. “Put me down! Put me down, you-Big Mac?!”

“Can you please dump him outside?” asked Mulligan. “And make sure he doesn’t get back inside.”

Spike protested, kicked and flailed in vain as he was carried outside.

“DUEL!”

“We’ll go first!” declared Snips.

“Yeah!” added Snails.

Both colts set one monster face-down each, giggled and bumped their right hooves.

“That was somethin’,” said Applebloom, somewhat bewildered by Snips and Snails’ subdued plays. She looked at her hand and smiled. “Achacha Archer!” the humanoid archer materialized on the field and quickly shoot an arrow at Snips. The colt yelped as the arrow grazed his horn and lowered his life points (4000-3500). “When mah’ opponent takes damage I can special summon Achacha Chanbara!” a humanoid monster, clad in a red and black samurai-style armor, appeared wielding a pair of swords. His face was concealed by a white and red mask (1400/400). The swordsman raised his blades and swung them in an arc, releasing a wave of fire that made Snails jump and stand on his hind hooves (4000-3600). “XYZ summon!” she declared. Her two monsters were engulfed by a wall of fire from which emerged a fierce crimson dinosaur (2000/1900). “Grenosaurus!” she nodded, satisfied. “I end mah’ turn.”

“My turn!” cheerfully declared Sweetie Belle. She immediately played Saambell the Summoner and used her effect to special summon Flelf, overlaying the two of them to summon Shining Elf in attack position (1600/1000). The dashing elf knight stood protectively in front of his master, sword in hand. “Your turn, Scootaloo!” said Sweetie Belle with a wide smile.

Scootaloo nodded. “I summon Zubaba Buster!” the robust humanoid knight, wearing a blue armor and wielding a dual morning star, appeared in front of her (1800/600). “I’m done.”

“Let’s do this!” yelled Snips. “Draw! Evoltile Westlo!” the set monster revealed itself to be a green lizard with black, horn-like protuberances on its back; its tail curiously traslucent (700/1900). “When Westlo is flipped face-up I can special summon an Evolsaur from my deck!” informed Snips as he searched for a card. “This one! Evolsaur Darwino!” a winged green dinosaur appeared with a loud shriek. Its large head was protected by armor-like protusions going from between its eyes to the end of its snout (2200/700). “When Darwino is special summoned I can up the level of one of my monsters by two! I pick Westlo!”

“He’s got two level five monsters!” exclaimed Sweetie Belle.

“Time to build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” the two monsters fused into a whirlwind of fire which dissipated to reveal a large hot red boulder. “I’m bringing the heat!” the boulder shattered into a million pieces, revealing a bipedal dinosaur the size of a house. Its whole body was covered in black and red plates, with both arms ending in a large claw each. It had a pair of three horn segments on its back and one on each knee (2500/1000). “Number 61: Volcasaurus!” the monster roared at the declaration of its name.

Snips and Snails bumped their hooves once more while the Crusaders stood in awe.

“Sweetie Belle!” hurriedly called Applebloom.

“R-Right! Shining Elf!” the elf warrior raised his sword and released a flash of light that blinded the Volcasaurus. “When my opponent summons a monster I can detach a xyz material to lower its attack points by five hundred!” the crimson dinosaur shook its head with a growl as its power diminished (2000/1000).

“You’re gonna need more than that to stop the burn!” said Snips as he detached an xyz material from his monster. “Once per turn Volcasaurus can destroy a face-up monster and you take its attack points as damage! MAGMAX!” the Volcasaurus reared its head and breathed a stream of fire that turned Grenosaurus into a cloud of ash and sent Applebloom flying backwards.

“Applebloom!” cried both, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo.

Applebloom coughed and slowly stood up (4000/2000). “That hurt,” she thought. “It’s okay, girls,” she said with a confident smile. “They’ll need more than that to take me down!”

“Oh yeah? My Volcasaurus can still attack!” said Snips.

“But not her, dude,” said Snails.

“Oh right,” said Snips with an embarrased laugh. “Uh, go ahead and chomp that dorky elf,” he ordered casually. The Volcasaurus roared and charged forward, every step shaking the ground below them.

“Block it, Zubaba Buster!” commanded Scootaloo. Her monster stepped in front of the Volcasaurus, deftly swinging his dual morning star, but was still crushed by the mighty dinosaur’s charge (4000/3800). Scootaloo winced at the loss of life points.

“A-Are you okay, Scootaloo?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Y-Yeah,” replied Scootaloo with a smile. “Don’t sweat it.”

“It’s my turn!” cheerfully declared Snails. “Draw!”

The Crusaders watched in shock as he played the same combo with Evoltile Westlo and Evolsaur Darwino as his partner.

“XYZ summon!” both monsters turned into streams of light, fusing and transforming into a large boulder of ice. “Alright everypony! Chill!” the boulder shattered and from the cloud of crystals emerged a second bipedal dinosaur, even taller than the Volcasaurus. Its body was protected by blue plates, horns of ice covered its arms, shoulders and the sides of its head. Its golden eyes shined as it let out a low growl (2000/2500). “Number 19: Freezardon!”

Sweetie Belle did not waste any time in activating her Shining Elf’s effect to lower Freezardon’s attack points (1500/2500).

“Lend me your power, Bro!” said Snails.

“You got it, Bro!” said Snips.

“MAGMAX!” declared Snails. The Volcasaurus launched another stream of fire, this one targeted towards Shining Elf. The brave elf knight dropped his sword and stood up in front of Sweetie Belle with both arms spread open, but it was instantly vaporized and the flames reached his master (4000-2400).

“Sweetie Belle!” cried Scootaloo.

“Are you alright?” asked Applebloom.

Sweetie Belle coughed. “Y-Yes…”

“Why do they always yell each other’s names when they’re hit?” asked Snails.

Snips shrugged. “I dunno, maybe because it’s dramatic or something?”

“Do you think they will yell if I attack one of them?”

“Try it, Bro!”

Snails nodded enthusiastically. “Go, Frostosaurus!” the ice dinosaur inhaled and breathed a stream of icy air right over Applebloom, leaving the poor filly shivering (2000/500).

“They didn’t say anything,” noted Snails.

“Don’t worry, Bro,” said Snips. “We’ll try again on our next turn!”

Spike screamed as he sailed through the night sky and fell several feet away from the entrance of the castle. He coughed some dirt, but quickly stood up and glared at Big Mac, who stood firmly under the doorway.

“Dude! The hay is wrong with you?!”

Big Mac did not reply.

Spike blinked when he saw the green light in both of the stallion’s eyes. “Ookay, I’ve read enough comics to know that can’t be good,” he thought. “You’re not going to let me pass, do you?”

“Eenope.”

Spike gulped. “Seems I have no choice,” he thought and muttered “I’m sorry, Mac,” before taking a couple of steps back then charging forward at full speed…only to bounce off Big Mac’s chest.

“Ouch,” muttered Spike as he rubbed his head. “Okay, time for plan B,” he pointed a tiny finger on a random direction. “Look! Somepony is trying to sell oranges on your turf!”

Big Mac did not move.

Spike snapped his fingers. “What do I do,” he thought. “I could try setting his mane on fire a little bit,” he shook his head; the idea of not tasting a single apple for the rest of his life wasn’t a enthralling one. Just then, he saw the duel disk Big Mac was carrying. “That’s it!” he thought triumphantly. “I challenge you to a duel, Mac!”

Big Mac’s ears perked up. “Eeyup!” he exclaimed and adjusted a white duel disk around his neck.

“Gotcha,” thought Spike with a smirk. “Alright, let’s go to the duel arena on--”

“Ah’ summon Dancing Fairy!”

“Were they this good back at school?” asked a bewildered Sweetie Belle.

Scootaloo scratched her chin.

“I’m telling you, guys, Shapesnatch is the best monster ever!”

“Yeah, look, it says his bowtie has horrible power!”

“I’m pretty sure they weren’t,” said Scootaloo drily.

“What do we do now?” asked Sweetie Belle. “They wiped out our side of the field…”

“It ain’t over till it’s over!” said Applebloom as she rubbed her legs together to warm herself up. “What we got to do is play like Fluttershy told us! Like a team!”

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo looked at each other.

“Our monsters aren’t better than theirs,” said Scootaloo. “But we got our spells and traps.”

“And Volcasaurus cannot target face-down monsters,” added Sweetie Belle.

The three filles faced their opponents. “Cutie Mark Crusaders…”

“ELITE TAG TEAM DUELISTS!”

“Draw!” said Applebloom. She placed one monster face-down and set one card. “Ah’ end mah turn.”

“Draw,” said Sweetie Belle. She played a monster face-down and set two cards. “I’m done.”

“Draw!” said Scootaloo. She too played a monster face-down and set two cards. “Do your worst!”

Snips drew a card and snickered. “Dark Piercing Light!” a flash of light illuminated the field, immediately revealing all of the face-down monsters. “Now you’re going to feel the burn!”

“But your Volcasaurus ain’t got any xyz materials!” protested Applebloom.

“I got your back, Bro!” said Snails. “You can use Freezardon’s xyz materials for your monster’s effect!”

“Thanks, Bro!” said Snips. “Alright, Volcasaurus! Destroy the Feedback Warrior!” he commanded while pointing a hoof towards a humanoid monster clad in a silver armor adorned with loudspeakers on his shoulder and joints (800/700). “MAGMAX!”

Applebloom gritted her teeth and braced herself.

“Damage Diet!” called Sweetie Belle. “This trap will halve all the damage Applebloom takes this turn!”

Applebloom watched as the stream of flames that engulfed her monster split in half, only grazing her sides (500-100). “Thanks, Sweetie Belle!”

“You’re no fun!” protested Snips. “Volcasaurus! Destroy Sweetie Belle’s monster!” the crimson dinosaur roared and charged towards a humanoid knight wearing a black and golden armor filled with key shaped holes. He carried a shield on his left hand and wielded a key-shaped sword on his right (1000/500).

“Gamushara!” called Scootaloo. “This will turn Key Man the Key Warrior into attack position! And if your monster is destroyed you’ll take damage equal to its original attack points!”

Snips laughed. “My Volcasaurus is stronger!”

“Mirror Mail!” said Sweetie Belle with a smile. “This trap matches the attack of our monsters!”

Snips blinked twice. “Oh.”

The Key Man dashed and pierced the Volcasaurus on the neck, cracking its scales and creating an explosion that vaporized both monsters and sent Snips tumbling back (3500-1000).

“Bro!” called out Snails.

“I’m not done yet,” said Snips. “I’ll get you--”

“Nah, you ain’t.”

Both colts turned around to see Applebloom with a pair of colorful barrels at her sides. “Mah Secret Barrel does two hundred points of damage for each card in your hand and field,” she informed coolly.

Snips and Snails looked at each other. “Oh.”

The barrels opened fire and, in the blink of an eye, both colts were covered by a cloud of dust. When it dissipated, Snips was lying on the ground (1000-0) while Snails crawled next to him (3600-2400).

“Snips,” said Snails. “Answer me, Bro…”

“Snails,” said Snips. He coughed. “I’m done for, Bro…”

“Don’t say that, Bro…”

“Bro…”

“Bro…?”

“Bro…”

And with that, Snips closed his eyes.

“SNIPS!” cried Snails. He glared at the fillies with tears in his eyes. “You will pay for this, Cutie Mark Crusaders!” he said shaking his right hoof. “You will pay for taking away the life of my best friend!”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at each other.

“Ah’ can see him breathin’ from here,” said Applebloom.

“I’m pretty sure he’s only passed out,” added Sweetie Belle.

“That and you guys challenged us,” said Scootaloo.

Snails looked at Snips, breathing steadily while lying on the ground, and then at the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “Well…it’s the—uh, principle of the thing! My turn!” he swiftly drew a card. “Monster Reborn! Come back, Volcasaurus!” the crimson dinosaur returned to the field on a blaze with its full power (2500/1000). “Let’s see,” he scratched his chin as he looked at the Cutie Mark Crusaders one by one.

Applebloom gritted her teeth, Sweetie Belle gulped and Scootaloo…stood there, tiny wings spread open with a confident smile across her face.

Snails looked at Scootaloo’s face-down card, then at her, then at the card again. He shifted in place. “I…put Freezardon in defense position and use its effect for my Volcasaurus,” he pointed his right hoof forward. “MAGMAX!” the Volcasaurus opened its jaws wide and launched a fireball, destroying Scootaloo’s Zubaba Knight and taking one thousand six hundred of her life points (3800/2200). “Your move!”

Applebloom silently drew a card and played it face-down. “Ah’ end mah’ turn.”

“Draw,” said Sweetie Belle. She examined her hand and played a face-down card.

Scootaloo folded her wings and let out a small breath. “He bought it,” she thought. “I play Premature Burial!” a hand emerged from the ground, followed by another and then the Zubaba Knight pulling his whole body from the grave (2200/1400). “Now I activate my face-down card! Monster Slots!”

“What?!” cried Snails.

“I banish Zubaba Buster on my graveyard and draw a card, then if it is a monster of the same level I can special summon it!” she placed her tiny hoof over her deck, the image of Rainbow Dash with her characteristically cocky smile came to her mind. “Draw!” she pulled the card and held it high.

Applebloom gulped.

Sweetie Belle bit her right hoof.

Snails’ eyes were wide as plates.

Scootaloo glanced at the card and shouted. “SHINE KNIGHT!” the humanoid knight, his whole body covered by a light blue armor, appeared on the field wielding a spear, his pure white cape billowing behind him (400/1900). “I build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” she declared enthusiastically and both of her monsters were engulfed by a purple acid mist. “Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction!” the giant purple automaton emerged taking firm steps, each movement releasing more acidic mist from every joint in its body (3000/3000).

“Whoa, dude,” mumbled Snails.

Scootaloo looked at Sweetie Belle and Applebloom, both of whom gave her a nod. “Go Acid Golem! Attack Volcasaurus!” she ordered.

“I activate Ego Boost!” said Applebloom. “This card--”

“Fiery Fervor!” interrupted Sweetie Belle. “I equip this trap to the Acid Golem and if the monster it fights has more attack points, then it gets its own attack doubled!”

Applebloom’s eyes widened. “I use Ego Boost on Volcasaurus!” she said quickly. The dinosaur roared as its attack points went up by a thousand (3500/1000).

“W-Wait a minute!” cried Snails. He closed his eyes and made a few motions with his right hoof. “By two…and minus—oh.”

“Mom? Mooom?”

“Hmm? What is it, sweetie?”

“There’s a purple giant fighting a dinosaur on the street outside my window.”

“Luna save me—just--go back to sleep, honey. I’ll make you apple fritters for tomorrow school lunch…”

“Okay!”

“We…won,” said Scootaloo as she let herself fall on her haunches.

“I’m exhausted…” said Sweetie Belle as she lay on her belly.

Applebloom took a deep breath. “Ah’ think we should check on them,” she pointed her tiny hoof towards Snips and Snails, lying unconscious several steps away from them.

Scootaloo nodded. “Ye--”

“YEEEAH!”

Before the fillies had time to look upwards, a big burly white stallion with tiny wings and a short cut blonde mane and tail, dropped in front of them. “IT’S TIME TO DUEL!”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at the stallion’s glowing green eyes, then at each other.

“Umm, Mister Bulk Biceps,” meekly said Sweetie Belle. “Could you please give us a few minutes to rest first?”

Bulk Biceps pondered for a second. “No.”

“Oh…”

“OH YEAH!”

Apprentice

“IT’S TIME TO DUEL!” bellowed Bulk Biceps. The veins around his neck popped as he flexed his impressive muscles and adjusted the duel disk around his neck. “OH YEAH!”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders slowly backed away.

Scootaloo gulped. “G-Go, girls, I’ll hold him back.”

Sweetie Belle nodded. “We’ll all remember your brave sacrifice.”

“Ah’ll make sure to send a basket of apples to your parents,” added Applebloom.

Scootaloo frowned and glared at her friends. “Really now? You’re supposed to say no, we’ll stay here with you!”

A cough caught their attention and the three fillies turned to see Bulk Biceps tapping his left hoof on the ground with a bored look. “Duel?” he asked drily.

Scootaloo giggled awkwardly. “Y-Yeah, about that--”

Suddenly, an elegant femenine voice echoed. “How about you pick on somepony your own size?”

Both the Cutie Mark Crusaders and Bulk Biceps looked around in confusion.

“Or at least your age,” added the voice with a small chuckle.

“WHERE ARE YOU?!”

“Look where the stars dwell!”

Bulk Biceps blinked twice.

“Upwards, you doofus,” said the voice with irritation.

Bulk Biceps looked up to see a winged figure descend at full speed. He quickly jumped backwards as the figure landed before him, the wings turning into a long flowing cape. In front of him now stood a mare with an azure coat, a whitish cerulean mane and tail. Her cape was purple, filled with golden stars and moons, just like the conical hat on her head. She had the kind of smile that made other ponies feel she could face and defeat anypony who stood in her way.

“WHO ARE YOU?!” bellowed Bulk Biceps.

“Me?” asked the mare with a chuckle. “I am the one who has returned from the depths of the darkness, nurtured by the light of the moon and the stars, ready to atone for her evil deeds by fighting for justice and the sake of all ponykind! I am the beauty that steals your breath! The magician that bewilders your mind! The performer that captures your heart! The magnificent! The amazing! THE GREAT! AND POWERFUL! TRIXIE!”

Silence. Then the sound of a pair of hooves clapping.

“Thank you, thank you,” said Trixie with a small bow.

Applebloom and Scootaloo looked at Sweetie Belle.

“What?” asked Sweetie Belle. “I thought it was nice.”

“I dunno,” said Scootaloo with a shrug. “I think it needs fireworks or something.”

“Trixie is respectful of other ponies’ sleeping hours,” said Trixie.

“Now wait a minute,” said Applebloom with a frown. “You’re the showmare that brough the Ursa Minor here and later came back with that evil Alicorn thingy on your neck to do mean stuff,” she pointed an accusing little hoof.

Trixie took off her hat and placed it over her chest. “Trixie won’t deny your accusations, my little pony,” she said solemnly. “But Trixie has been given a new chance, by none other than Princess Luna, to forget her shameful past and live up to a new legend.”

Applebloom blinked. “Oh.”

“So you’re friends with Princess Luna?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“You could say so,” said Trixie with a fond smile. “She sent me here because she felt there could be trouble.”

“Like a secret agent!” said Scootaloo excitedly.

Trixie smiled proudly while putting her hat back on. “And it seems I arrived just in time,” she turned around to see Bulk Biceps doing push-ups.

The musclebound pegasus hurriedly stood up. “Duel now?” he asked with irritation.

Trixie grinned. “You’re going to regret that, big boy,” she stood up on her hind legs, retrieving a duel disk and adjusting it around her left foreleg in a spectacular fashion. The disk was dark blue, but filled with dozens of white dots, making it look like a starry sky. “Stand back, my little ponies,” she said. “But don’t stop watching.”

Spike stared at the cute little fairy fluttering in front of him on her small feathery wings. She had long reddish hair and big round green eyes, with most of her body covered by a pure white dress (1700/1000). She looked at the baby dragon’s bewildered expression and giggled.

“Ah’ place a face-down and end mah’ turn,” declared Big Mac.

“This is definitely not what I had in mind,” thought Spike. “Now wait a minute,” he shook his head and narrowed his eyes. “Big Mac is oficially the worst player at the Millennium Mausoleum,” a confident smile formed across his face. “Yeah, I bet I can beat him in no time and get that jerk Mulligan by surprise!” he swiftly drew six cards from his deck and examined them. “Super Rejuvenation, Cave Dragon, Gray Wing, Lizard Soldier, A Wingbeat of a Giant Dragon, Spirit Ryu…I’ve had better starting hands,” he sighed. “I summon Cave Dragon!” a big, bulky green dragon appeared on the field. Its whole back was covered on shell-like scales. It watched the Dancing Fairy attentively with its crimson eyes while occasionally flicking its long, spiked tail (2000/100). “I’m done here,” declared Spike.

Big Mac silently drew a card. “Ah’ summon Shining Friendship!” a tiny, ball-shaped angel with golden wings and blue eyes appeared with a loud pop (1300/1100). It smiled at the Dancing Fairy, who smiled back, and both giggled before starting to chase each other while Big Mac watched them with a goofy smile on his face.

Spike cleared his throat, making both angels stop fluttering around and snapping Big Mac out of his trance.

“Eeyup,” muttered Big Mac, somewhat awkwardly. “Ah’ build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” he declared. Both angels cheered as they turned into spheres of light, fusing with each other in a flash. “Cheer for mah’ victory!” the light faded to reveal a thin fairy with short, messy blue hair. She wore a light green dress with a short skirt and boots of the same color. Both, her torso and boots, were fancily wrapped with a dark blue ribbon. “Fairy Cheer Girl!” the fairy flapped her butterfly-like wings once and traced an arc with the orange poms on her hands before striking a pose (1900/1500).

Spike rolled his eyes. “And this is why your record is fifty-two loses to one win, Mac.”

“Behold as The Great and Powerful Trixie summons a bewitching creature to do her bidding! Morpho Butterspy!” the wind blew, making Trixie’s cape flap dramatically, and an uncanny yet elegant monster appeared in front of her. The lower part of her body was that of an insect’s abdomen, contrasting with the upper part which was that of a human woman. She was clad and in a black and blue armor, the color pattern extending to her large butterfly wings. I each hand she held a curved blade (1200/1600). Trixie set a card. “Turn end,” she declared with a flip of her mane.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders watched attentively.

“DRAAAW! Feast of the Wild LV5!” two beast-men appeared at the sides of Bulk Biceps. Both had ripping muscles, large curved horns and patches of brownish fur on their forearms, chest and head. The first one, the Swamp Battleguard, was twice the size of a large Diamond Dog, with yellow skin and red eyes (1800/1500). The second one, the Lava Battleguard, was smaller, yet it looked like it could easily lift half a dozen stallions with one arm alone. It had red skin and golden eyes (1550/1800). The two bared their fangs at Trixie while tightly gripping their wooden clubs.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders were shocked at the summon of two higher level monsters with a single card, but Trixie remained unfazed.

“Tribute summon!” declared Bulk Biceps. Both of his monsters lifted their clubs to the sky and were enveloped by a whirlwind. “We’ll break you! Go, Battleguard King!” the ground shook as a third horned beast-man, which made the previous two look like dwarves, materialized on the field. A thick purple armor covered most of its torso, leaving its incredibly muscled arms and legs exposed. Its skin was red, giving the impression it was scalding to the touch. It focused its yellow eyes on Trixie and lifted its massive metal club (3000/1100).

The Cutie Mark Crusaders instinctively took a few steps backwards.

“Well now, that’s much better,” said Trixie with a grin.

“BARBARIAN BASH!” at the command of its master the Battleguard King raised its club and charged forward. “YEEEA-uh?” Bulk Biceps watched in confusion as his monster stopped mid-charge and was now looking transfixed at a small cluster of golden butterflies in front of it. “What the hay?” the Battleguard King set down its club and hunched over.

“How do you like Trixie’s Butterflyoke? It negates your attack and changes your monster to defense,” informed Trixie. She pointed her right hoof at her monster. “Now, my beautiful assistant, do your part!” the Morpho Butterspy flapped her wings, releasing a cloud of shinning pollen right on the Battleguard King’s face. It let out a yawn (2000/100). “Trixie’s Morpho Butterspy can lower the attack and defense of one of your monsters by a thousand when it changes battle positions,” she quirked an eyebrow. “Any other plays you would like Trixie to deal with effortlessly?”

“Ah’ gotta reckon she’s not bad,” said Applebloom.

Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo nodded.

Bulk Bicep’s nose flared. He set two face-down cards. “TURN END!”

“Trixie can hear you fine,” said Trixie with annoyance as she drew a card. “Now, for the second effect of Butterflyoke, Trixie’s going to need a volunteer! How about Battleguard King?” the beast-man stood up, wobbling as the Morpho Butterspy launched another cloud of pollen over it (1000/0). “Thank you! As you probably noticed, Trixie’s Butterlyoke got equipped to the Battleguard King! Allowing Trixie to change its battle position once per turn!” she picked a card from her hand and made a show of placing it on her duel disk. “Please give a warm welcome to Trixie’s newest assistant! Swallowtail Butterspy!” a second half-woman, half-insect monster appeared, her vibrant golden wings contrasting heavily with that of her kin, as she held a sword in each hand (1800/1200). “Time for a disappearing act! Go, Swallowtail Butterspy!”

Bulk Biceps grinned. “BATTLEGUARD HOWLING!” with renewed energy, the Battleguard King howled towards the sky, releasing a shockwave so strong that not only made the Swallowtail Butterspy return to the hand, but also forced Trixie back on her four legs to hold her ground (4000-2200). “BATTLEGUARD RAGE!” the Battleguard King’s muscles tensed and it snarled like a rabid Timberwolf as its power increased (2000/0).

Trixie stood back on her hind legs. “Hmph, it seems he knows how to use trap cards too,” she thought. “Trixie will switch Morpho Butterfly to defense position and end her turn.”

“Do you think she’ll be okay?” asked Sweetie Belle.

Applebloom gulped. “Ah’ sure we can duel him if she loses.”

Scootaloo looked at the Battleguard King’s mouth, filled with sharp teeth, and the large drops of drool coming out from its sides. “Y-Yeah…”

“DRAW!” growled Bulk Biceps. “Pot of Greed!” he swiftly drew two cards. “Battle Warrior!” a human fighter wearing a blue skin-tight uniform, his eyes concealed by a visor, appeared taking a boxing stance (700/1000). “Mystical Space Typhoon!” the sudden gust of wind blew away the golden butterflies around the Battleguard King. “I tribute Battle Warrior for Battleguard King’s effect!” the Battle Warrior vanished as the Battleguard King raised its metal club over its head. “DOUBLE PUMMEL! YEAH!” with a mighty horizontal swing, the beast-man sent the Morpho Butterfly back to the hand, traced a whole arc over its head, then repeated the attack, launching a shockwave at Trixie.

But Trixie did not even try to shield herself. Instead, she flared up her cape with her magic, absorbing the shock and soaring into the sky. She circled the area a couple of times before landing gracefully on her hind legs (2200-200).

“Cool,” said Scootaloo.

“She flew like a pegasus,” said Applebloom.

“But without wings!” added Sweetie Belle.

Trixie held her nose upwards with a satisfied smile.

Bulk Biceps gritted his teeth, his face looking like that of an angry bull. “TURN END!”

Trixie raised her right hoof. “This will be Trixie’s final turn!” she declared. “Draw! Swallowtail Butterspy! Blue Mountain Butterspy!” the third and final Butterspy was of a beautiful turquoise color, holding a spear on each hand (0/1700).

Bulk Biceps’ eyes widened. “Two monsters?!”

“Trixie can special summon Blue Mountain Butterspy after summoning a warrior type monster,” she informed coolly.

“She’s got two level four monsters!” said Sweetie Belle.

“An XYZ summon!?” said Scootaloo.

Trixie smirked. “Mini-Guts!” her two monsters glowed intensely, then launched themselves like arrows of light. The Blue Mountain Butterspy hit the Battleguard King right on its torso, shattering its armor and vanishing in a flash; the Swallowtail Butterspy pierced the beast-man and kept going forward. “By tributing a monster, Trixie can make the attack points of one of yours zero, and when its destroyed you will take damage equal to its original attack points!”

Bulk Biceps’ jaw fell. “OH NO!”

“Oh yeah,” mouthed Trixie right before her monster hit the muscled stallion and sent him rolling backwards, stopping uncounscious right next to Snips and Snails.

“A one turn kill!” said Applebloom

“That was amazing!” said Sweetie Belle.

“Yeah!” added Scootaloo. “It looked like you were going to lose, but then you totally turned the desk!”

“Table,” said Sweetie Belle.

Scootaloo rolled her eyes. “Whatever.”

“Was there ever any doubt?” said Trixie with a smile and flip of her mane. “Now, Trixie believes she felt a surge of magic coming from that castle at the edge of the town,” she pointed her right hoof dramatically.

“You mean Twilight’s castle?” asked Applebloom.

“That’s corre—wait a minute, did you say Twilight? As in Twilight Sparkle?”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at each other.

“Uh, yes?” said Scootaloo. “She’s a princess. The Princess of Friendship.”

“And that’s her castle,” added Sweetie Belle. “The Friendship Castle.”

Trixie’s left eye twitched. “A Princess? As in an Alicorn? Complete with wings?”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders nodded simultaneously.

“Excuse me for a minute, girls,” said Trixie before turning around, walking a few steps away and pressing her hat firmly over her face. It did not fully muffle her screams, sure, but at least it protected the fillies’ ears from some of the less than appropiate words. Ten seconds later, Trixie took a deep breath, put her hat on and went back to the fillies. “Very well, the Friendship Castle will be Trixie’s next destination,” she declared firmly. “You should go back to your homes.”

“We can’t!” said Applebloom. “Mah’ brother is out there with funny eyes too and we got to find him!”

Trixie looked at Applebloom’s pleading eyes and sighed. “Very well, but you will stay behind Trixie all the time, okay?”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders nodded simultaneously.

Trixie pointed her hoof. “Let’s go!”

“Wait a minute!” cried Sweetie Belle. “What about them?” she asked while pointing a tiny hoof towards the passed out Bulk Biceps, Snips and Snails.

“She’s right,” said Applebloom. “Ah’ don’t think it was their fault they acted funny.”

Trixie scratched her chin. “Trixie supposes you’re right,” she enveloped the three ponies with her magic, gently lifting them off the ground, before neatly placing them on a pile over the doormat of a nearby house. “There,” she said satisfied. “Trixie is sure somepony will be bound to find them. Now, let’s go!”

The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked at each other.

Scootaloo scratched the back of her head. “It’s better than nothing, I guess…”

“Rank-Up Magic Barian’s Force!”

Spike blinked. “Wait what?”

The Fairy Cheer Girl put her hands together and closed her eyes, almost as she was about to pray, when a torrent of purple energy enveloped her whole. “Cheer for mah’ enemies’ defeat!” the energy dissapeared and where once was a thin, young girl now stood a tall, voluptuous woman. Her dress had turned pitch black, her boots changed to high-heels and pure white feathers adorned her waist like a skirt, both ankles and wrists, and the back of her head like a crown. Her once wild blue hair, now purple, was stylized into an elegant curled form. Four pairs of black feathers extended from her back like wings (2500/1900). “CXyz Dark Fairy Cheer Girl!”

Spike felt his heart skip a bit as the Dark Fairy Cheer Girl looked at him; as cold as her crimson eyes were, he had to admit she was still very beautiful.

“Go for it!” commanded Big Mac. The Dark Fairy Cheer Girl extended her right hand and snapped her delicate fingers, causing the Cave Dragon to vanish in a burst of black flames. “When mah’ Dark Fairy Cheer Girl destroys a monster ah’ can detach an xyz material to deal four hundred points of damage for each card in mah’ hand,” calmly informed Big Mac. The Dark Fairy flicked her index finger and fired a shockwave that sent Spike rolling backwards (4000-2700). “Ah’ done here.”

Spike stood up with some effort, cracked his neck and took a deep breath. “You want me to get serious? You got it! Draw! I summon Spirit Ryu!” a serpentine, winged blue dragon appeared with a sharp cry. Its whole body flickered like if it was some kind of mirage (1000/1000). “Battle! I can discard a dragon type monster from my hand to give Spirit Ryu an extra thousand attack and defense points!” Spike sent Gray Wing and Lizard Soldier to the graveyard, making Spirit Ryu spread its wings and grow twice its original size (3000/3000). “Go! SPIRIT SONIC!” the strenghtened spirit dragon lauched itself like an arrow towards the Dark Fairy Cheer Girl only to come to a sudden stop. “What’s the matter, dude?” asked a confused Spike. “Why are you--oh” the answer came in the form of a wall of solid light stading between the two opposing monsters. “That’s the Wall of Revealing Light,” muttered Spike. “I can’t attack while that trap is working,” he looked at his hand. “Super Rejuvenation, A Wingbeat of a Giant Dragon and Burst Breath…” after a long moment of silence, he placed a card face-down with a gulp. “I play Super Rejuvenation. This spell allows me to draw a card for each dragon I discarded this turn,” he quickly did so. “Turn end,” the Spirit Ryu went back to its original size (1000/1000).

Big Mac did not waste any time drawing a card and ordering his monster to attack.

“Now,” thought Spike. “I activate Burst Breath! By sacrificing a dragon I can destroy all monsters on the field with a defense equal or lower than its attack!” the Spirit Ryu let out a loud cry, its body dissolving into a whirlwind that sent a shockwave all over the field.

Big Mac looked at his Dark Fairy Cheer Girl, unfazed by the effects of the trap card, and snorted. “Eenope! Direct attack!” the Dark Fairy raised her arm and released a black gale that sent Spike’s body flying backwards like a ball (2700-200). “Ah’ done here.”

“Um, Miss Trixie?” asked Sweetie Belle.

“Yes?”

“I would like to know how you met Princess Luna.”

“Me too,” said Applebloom.

“Me three,” added Scootaloo.

Trixie puffed out her chest. “It was a couple of months ago. Trixie decided it was time to grace the world of competitive Duel Monsters with her presence and entered a Tuesday night tournament where she ended up facing the Princess of the Night on the very first round…”

“Fake cards?” asked Celestia in bewilderment.

Luna nodded. “Every single one of them,” she gave a faint smile. “Unless there’s a God in Five-Pointed Star Seal Exodia we haven’t hear about…”

“Every one of our duels was a sight to behold,” said Trixie dramatically. “Trixie fought valiantly, cornering the Princess on several occasions, but was ultimately defeated…”

“One turn kill.”

Celestia smiled in amusement. “Every single one of them?”

“Yes,” replied Luna. “Althought, I must say things got slightly trickier when she used that Metal Human Psychic Lord Jinzo…”

“Trixie accepted her loss with dignity…”

“I found her crying her eyes out behind the store…”

“And the Princess was so impressed with Trixie’s performance that she wanted Trixie as her apprentice!”

“Her growling stomach told me everything I needed to know about her situation.”

“Whoa,” said Sweetie Belle.

“Cool,” said Applebloom.

“Yeah,” added Scootaloo. “You’re almost as awesome as Rainbow Dash!”

Celestia chuckled. “And I here I was wondering how could you ask for double portions of everything without being afraid of gaining weight.”

Luna averted her gaze with a blush across her cheeks.

Spike stood up again. His tiny legs wobbled, yet he still smiled. “That worked,” he mumbled satisfied. Had the Dark Fairy Cheer Girl destroyed the Spirit Ryu, her effect would have got his life points to zero. “Draw!” he looked at his newest card and chuckled. “Red-Eyes B. Chick!” a small, black dragon with big red eyes appeared from a puff of smoke. It let out a squeak (800/500).

Big Mac quirked an eyebrow, a gesture even his Dark Fairy Cheer Girl imitated.

“I know, I know…he’s not really impressive,” said Spike. “But that’s why I’ve got this!” he revealed a pair of spell cards from his hand: Stamping Destruction and Dragon’s Gunfire. “I bet you paid three thousand life points to use your Wall of Revealing Light, didn’t you?”

Big Mac gulped and shook his head rapidly. “E-Eenope!”

“Eeyup!” said Spike. “Go for it, Black Chick!” the Red-Eyes Chick inhaled deeply, its body inflating like a ballon, before spitting a black fireball that broke the wall of light, flew past the Dark Fairy Cheer Girl and fully hit Big Mac, kicking up a cloud of dust.

Spike pumped his tiny fist. He walked forwards with his chest puffed out, patting the Red-Eyes B. Chick on the head and winking at the Dark Fairy Cheer Girl, whom gave him a faint smile, much to his surprise, as they vanished, before reaching the doorway of the Friendship Castle, where Big Mac lay motionless with his four legs in the air. “I bet you thought you could win, uh?” said Spike with a smug smile. “You better think twice before messing with--” he stopped when he saw Big Mac’s tongue fell down the side of his mouth. “Oh…right,” he cringed. “You weren’t doing this on purpose, didn’t you?” Spike held Big Mac’s tongue with the tip of his fingers, placed it back inside his mouth, then closed it shut. “That’s much be--” his words were cut short when he saw Big Mac’s mouth open and his tongue dropping again. “Come on, dude!” protested Spike with both arms raised. “You’re making me look bad!”

“Brother!”

The high-pitched voice made Spike jump and turn around. “A-Applebloom! Sweetie Belle! Scootaloo! Trixie!” he shook his head. “Trixie?!”

Applebloom rushed next to her brother. “Big Mac!” she called as she shook him. “Wake up! Wake up!”

“Spike,” called Sweetie Belle. “What happened here?”

Spike gulped and told them everything that took part on the castle.

“Mulligan?” asked Scootaloo. “The guy from the card store?”

Spike nodded. “Yeah, I think he’s the one who did this to Big Mac and is doing something with dark magic inside the castle,” he turned to Trixie, who had her gaze fixated on the castle. “What are you doing here, Trixie?”

“The Great and Powerful Trixie is here to duel for love, justice and punish evildoers in the name of the moon,” she stated as a matter of fact.

Spike blinked twice. “Sure, why not?” he threw his tiny arms upwards. “I got kicked out of my home by the black magic wielding owner of a card game shop, I think I can accept whatever you’re doing here.”

“Good,” said Trixie. “Now wait here while Trixie goes in.”

“Let us go with you!” cried Sweetie Belle.

“Yeah!” said Scootaloo. “We’ll kick his flank together!”

Trixie smiled warmly. “No, my little ponies. This may be dangerous and Trixie doesn’t want you to get hurt,” she turned to Applebloom, who was tightly hugging her unconscious brother. “Don’t worry,” she patted the filly’s head softly. “Trixie will solve this.”

Applebloom nodded.

Trixie adjusted her hat. “You stay here and make sure to take care of them, Smaug.”

“It’s Spike,” said Spike drily. “And you can bet on it.”

Trixie smiled and ventured inside.

“I must admit you took me by surprise,” said Mulligan with a smug smile.

“Woo.”

“Oh, no need to be humble,” he waved his hoof dimissively. “Even I can recognize an opponent’s prowess.”

“Woo.”

“Hmph, at least you could admit your defeat.”

“Woo.”

“Don’t think your little mind games will--”

“Ahem.”

Mulligan quickly turned around to see Trixie standing below the doorway of the throne room. “And who might you be?” he asked with a quirked eyebrow.

Trixie turned her nose up. “You don’t deserve to hear Trixie’s name, but Trixie is too benevolent to let you taste the bitterness of defeat without knowing Trixie’s name, so Trixie will tell you!” she stood on her hind legs, once again adjusting her duel disk over her left foreleg with great flourish. “I am the Great! And Powerful! Trixie!” she pointed with her right hoof. “And Trixie is here to put a stop to your evil plans!”

Mulligan blinked, then nodded slowly. “Right,” he looked at Owlowiscious, the owl’s body immobilized mid-air by an enchantment. “We’ll finish this conversation later,” he said while pointing with his right hoof.

“Woo.”

Mulligan took out a black duel disk, as well as a deck, from his saddlebags and adjusted it around his neck. “I was hoping for Princess Twilight, but you will make a fine warm-up.”

Trixie’s left eye twitched. “Big talk for the pony arguing with an owl.”

“DUEL!”

“I’ll go first,” declared Mulligan. He set a monster and ended his turn.

Trixie immediately drew a card and summoned Swallowtail Butterspy, followed by Blue Mountain Butterspy thanks to her effect. “Trixie will now build and overlay network! XYZ summon!” her two monsters fused into a whirlwind of light. “Strike my enemies from the darkness with your blades of light! Photon Papilloperative!” the emerging creature was female, with a lithe frame, wearing a black skin-tight suit with a bright orange plate covering her chest. Her skirt and shoulder pads extended pointedly, downwards and upwards respectively, at her sides. A black helmet, from which sprout a pair a butterfly-like wings, concealed most of her face save for her striking blue eyes. She held a crescent blade in each hand (2100/1800). “Once per turn Trixie can detach an xyz material from Photon Papilloperative to switch your monster to face-up attack position! PHOTON FLASH!” the Papilloperative extended her arms and they glowed brightly, revealing the face-down monster: a beautiful woman with long blonde hair. She wore a light green top, skirt and boots; a ragged brown cape covered her back and a hat of the same color her head (1100/1200). She unsheated her sword and held it firmly, but her legs wobbled (500/1200). “Trixie should mention Papilloperative’s effect also lowers your monster’s attack by six hundred points! PHOTON SLICE!”

Mulligan gritted his teeth as his monster was destroyed (4000-2400). “When my Warrior Lady of the Wasteland is destroyed I can special summon a earth warrior with one thousand five hundred or less attack points from my deck! Command Knight!”

Trixie gave a soft humph. “Turn end.”

“Draw! The Warrior Returning Alive!” Mulligan quickly took back the Warrior Lady of the Wasteland from his graveyard and summoned her (1100/1200). “Now is my turn to build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” the two female warriors crossed swords, creating a flash of light. “Cleave those who would oppose me! Comics Hero King Arthur!” from the light appeared a tall humanoid figure, completely covered in a white and golden armor, with only his long blonde hair visible. He held a broadsword with both hands (2400/1200). “Squash that bug! HOLY BLADE!” with a quick motion, King Arthur sliced the Papilloperative in half. “Your turn, oh Great and Powerful,” said Mulligan mockingly.

Trixie narrowed her eyes (4000-3700). “Trixie has just started!” she drew a card and set a monster. “Turn end!”

Mulligan shook his head. “So much for all the talk,” he drew a card, looked at it and smiled. “Oldie but goldie, Stop Defense!” the face-down monster revealed itself to be a large blue butterfly with a mark in the shape of an red eye on the middle of its body (1200/1600). “Destroy it,” commanded Mulligan nonchalantly and King Arthur complied swiftly.

Trixie smirked (3700-2500). “When Moonlit Papillon is destroyed Trixie can special summon a level four or lower Butterspy from her deck! Morpho Butterspy!”

Mulligan snorted. “I’m done here.”

Trixie drew a card and summoned a second copy of Swallowtail Butterspy, then a second of Blue Mountain Butterspy. “XYZ summon!” she declared. “Dance in the darkness, beautiful incarnation of death! Night Papilloperative!” the female monster wore a skin-tight, blue suit with golden plates covering her tights, shoulders and forearms. A gold crown adorned the helmet that fully concealed her face. She spread her gigantic butterfly wings (2600/2000). “Once per turn Trixie can detach an xyz material from Night Papilloperative to give it three hundred attack points for each xyz material attached to a monster on the field! Trixie chooses Night Papilloperative!” her monster extended a blade over each of her forearms (3200/2000). “Go! DUAL DIVE SLICE!” the Night Papilloperative flew upwards and launched herself towards the enemy. “Ego Boost!” shouted Trixie. “This spell gives Trixie’s monster an extra thousand attack points!”

King Arthur raised his sword to block, the clash of metal echoed in the whole castle as he fell to his knees, yet stood still. Mulligan coughed (2400-600). “Okay, I admit…you’re better than I thought,” he took a deep breath. “But you won’t win this one,” his monster stood up and with a might swing of his broadsword, repelled his opponent. “Once per turn I can prevent King Arthur’s destruction in battle by detaching an xyz material,” he informed with a grin. “Plus, he gains five hundred attack points and you lose that same amount.”

Trixie gritted her teeth (2500-2000). “Trixie ends her turn!”

Mulligan chuckled. “Draw! Rank-Up Magic Barian’s Force!” a torrent of darkness engulfed King Arthur, turning his armor black and increasing his size until his head nearly touched the ceiling of the throne room. “Fiendish knight protected by a castle of darkness! CXyz Comics Hero Legend Arthur!” the black knight lifted his broadsword with one hand and pointed it at Trixie (3000/2400).

Trixie gulped, but stood firm.

“Stop Defense,” said Mulligan with a smile and a shrug. “What can I say? I like the classics.”

The Night Papilloperative descended and covered her torso with her arms.

Mulligan raised his right hoof upwards with a wide grin across his face. “UNHOLY SLASH!” the Legend Arthur executed an upward slash, slicing through the Night Papilloperative as if she didn’t even exist, and stood completely still with his sword over his head.

Trixie instinctively stepped backwards. The unmoving giant reminded her of a guillotine about to be released.

“Maybe I shoud mention that when my Legend Arthur destroys a monster I can detach an xyz material to banish that monster and you take damage equal to its original attack points…”

The Legend Arthur immediately discharged his sword right in front of Trixie; the shockwave powerful enough to send her body flying backwards into the hallway, ripping her hat and cape to shreds.

Mulligan watched in amusement as Trixie’s body bounced a few times before lying on the middle of the hallway. He walked leisurely and stood next to her. “If it makes you feel better, I picked this deck from my saddlebag without looking,” he said with a snicker.

Trixie gritted her teeth and tried to stand up, but it was in vain. “Trixie…is not done yet,” she coughed. “I will not--”

“Penalty Game!”

In the blink of an eye, several tendrils of black miasma shoot towards Trixie like a pack of Timberwolves jumping on their prey, enveloping her body in a cocoon of darkness. A mere second later it dissipated, leaving only a card on the floor which Mulligan picked and examined briefly.

“You’re definitely going into the discount binder.”

Burning Knuckler

Spike looked at the building in front of him: a two-story house with timber frames and a thatched roof. It would have been practically indistinguishable from most other buildings on Ponyville, save for a large, golden frame in the shape of an eye right above the front door. For a lot of ponies it was slightly unsettling; for Spike it was the definition of awesome.

Inside he was greeted with a rather modest setting: a dozen of square tables separated in two rows of six, leaving a path between them, and each with two chairs. Richly detailed posters depicting all sorts of creatures, from beasts and automatons to angels and demons, including those mythical humans, adorned nearly every inch of the walls. Finally, a registry on the back left corner, behind it a large shelf occupied with books, pamphlets and, most importantly, boxes filled with trading cards; for this was Ponyville’s one and only card shop: the Millennium Mausoleum.

“Pity the name is not showing on the front,” thought Spike.“It would make this place look even more awesome. Or get the Royal Guard called. Whatever”

When not assisting Twilight, Rarity or anypony else, this was the baby dragon’s favorite place. A place where everypony could gather to play “Duel Monsters” regardless of their age, gender or race. A place filled with laughs, cheers and joy. Or at least until today, were it stood completely empty, save for a white unicorn stallion lying on the ground, eyes closed.

“Whoa,” cried Spike as he quickly approached the seemingly passed out pony, placed a tiny claw on his shoulder and gave him a light shook. “Are you okay, dude? What happened?”

“Strong…” muttered the stallion.

“What?”

“He’s…too strong…”

“Who are you talking about? Hey! Open your eyes,” said Spike as he shook the stallion harder. There was a moment of silence before he opened his eyes and frowned.

“Look, kid, are you going to the back or not? I can’t lie on the floor all day!”

Spike raised his hands, slowly backed away from the stern looking stallion, still lying on the floor, and headed towards the back door. He quickly threw a glance behind him and saw the stallion closing his eyes and start muttering “strong” again.

“The back”, as it was known among the shop’s clientele, was an open grassy area behind the building surrounded by a small wooden fence forming a square shape. Inside there was a circle made of uniform, polished black stones, each carved with different kinds of arcane runes. This was the main reason of the game’s popularity: a Dueling Arena. These monuments absorbed the magical energy on the atmosphere and focused it to project an illusion of every card played inside them, effectively “bringing the game to life”. In urbanized areas like Canterlot and Manehattan, they had to be strategically placed over leylines, but in rural areas like Ponyville, with a near source of abundant untamed magic like the Everfree Forest, they could be set anywhere.

As the baby dragon took a step outside he was greeted by an even more bewildering sight: trading cards scattered everywhere, colts hunched over and barely holding back their tears, fillies crying in the embrace of mares, mares crying in the embrace of fillies, stallions lying on the ground, trembling like dried leaves with eyes wide open like if they had been witnesses of a third coming of Nightmare Moon. Their collective sobs, moans and mutterings filled the air in a cacophony of despair.

“Invincible…”

“…Such power…”

“Legendary…”

“…So scared…”

“…He’s not human…”

“Of course not, he’s a pony”

“It was a fragment of speech, jackass”

Spike blinked twice and slowly made his way, careful to avoid stepping on cards, manes, tails and a few puddles here and there, towards the only seemingly calm pony: a green coated unicorn stallion with a darker mane and a cutie mark of a notebook, wearing a black shirt with the logo of the shop on it.

“Hey Mulligan,” said Spike while waving his tiny claw.

“Spike,” replied the stallion without taking his eyes away from the horizon. “You should not have come here…”

“Uh, well, there was this guy at the door--”

“He’s simply too strong for us…”

“Oookay…I don’t--”

“His deck is far beyond what we, Ponyvillians, could ever hope to assemble…”

“Now wait a minute,” said Spike, irritation evident in his voice. “Is this because you all lost in a card game?”

Mulligan suddenly turned around. “Card games are serious business, Spike”

The baby dragon raised an eyebrow.

“W-Well, they are for me,” said Mulligan sheepishly. “I mean, it’s my main mean of living.”

“Right,” said Spike with a sigh. “Now where’s this “so strong” duelist you all keep muttering about?”

Mulligan raised a hoof and pointed towards the center of the Dueling Arena. And for the first time since arriving here today, Spike felt all of his confusion, bewilderment and annoyance being replaced by a single, clear emotion: anger. That expensive looking suit, that long blonde mane, those clear blue eyes and that insufferable smile. Dragons were known for keeping grudges, and while Spike considered himself above the more feral members of his race, this was a pony he simply could not forgive or forget. Not until he saw him stripped bare of his meaningless titles and worldly possessions, and dragged through mud, rocks and thorns while begging to be forgiven for the transgression of besmirching the honor of—

“Spike!”

The baby dragon shook his head. “What?!”

Mulligan gave a small smile. “Just wanted to check in you were still with us”

“Uh, yeah,” muttered Spike before composing himself. “I am. And I will take him on.”

“Don’t do it,” said Mulligan, returning to his previous grim demeanor. “You have no idea who you’re dealing with.”

Spike waved his claw. “Pfft, he’s just a pompous jerk.”

Mulligan shook his head. “No—well, yes, but that’s not what i’m talking about. He’s—“

“Is there anypony else here who wishes to face Prince Blueblood of the Blue Eyes?!”

The commanding voice was like the crack of a whip that brought everypony to silence. Blueblood looked around him, satisfied by his previous opponents averting their gaze or simply leaving the premises with their heads nearly touching the ground. “And here I was hoping for a challenge! How naive of me to expect--”

“I’ll duel you!”

Blueblood quickly turned towards the source of the voice. “Ah-ha! A brave one! Or should I say a foolish one?! Reveal yourself so I can crush you!”

“I’m here!”

“Where?! Stop hiding!”

“Down here.”

Blueblood looked down to see Spike, barely reaching his chest, glaring at him. There was a moment of silence before the prince raised his head and looked at the crowd. “Has anypony lost a pet here?!”

“Very funny,” said Spike through gritted teeth. “Do you accept?”

“Of course,” said Blueblood with a smirk.

Both duelists stepped away from each other. Spike set down his backpack and took out his Duel Disk, a small, white artifact shaped like half a circle, engraved with the same runes as the Dueling Arena and with slots for his deck, graveyard and individual cards, and strapped it to his left arm. In front of him, Blueblood did the same with his custom-ordered, gold-plated, jewel-encrusted, imported-from-Saddle Arabia-perfume-releasing-every-thiry-seconds-mechanism Duel Disk, adjusting it around his neck.

“DUEL!”

At their declaration, the stones around them glowed with a blue light, the two behind each player displaying the four thousand life points each one had, and a faint purple miasma spread across the field.

“I’ll go first,“ said Spike. He looked at the five cards in his hand, picked one and placed it on the disk. “Summon Red-Eyes Black Chick!” The miasma gathered in front of him and formed a cloud from which emerged a small, fragile looking, black baby dragon (800/500). “Special summon! Red-Eyes B. Dragon!” Spike continued and, in the blink of an eye, the black chick was engulfed in a pyre from which emerged its adult form: a ferocious looking, large winged dragon with scales sharp as blades and black as the night sky; it looked at Blueblood with its crimson eyes and let out a earth-shaking roar (2400/2000). “Turn end”

Blueblood yawned. “My turn. Draw,” he said as he took a card from his deck using his magic and looked at it. “Well now, I almost feel bad for doing this,” he said with a smirk. “Almost.”

Rarity, propietor of the prestigious Carousel Boutique, Canterlot’s rising fashion entrepeneur and ten years practitioner of mixed martial arts (not that she would ever make this last little fact public), had a feeling. It was like a distant sound, the kind that makes you turn your head and stand still while trying to figure it out. She had this feeling before, when Opal was about to spit a hairball on her sofa, when Sweetie Belle was about to use the oven and when a button was about to fall from one of her dresses. Just as she was considering the possibilities, a pillar of light erupted from a few houses away. She decided it was enough of a sign, quickly picked up her shopping bags and ran out of Ponyville’s Market, towards the sudden phenomenon.

“So strong,” muttered Spike as he stood with both claws and knees on the ground, his cards scattered around him.

“Yes, I often get told that,” said Blueblood as he idly checked his right hoof for imperfections.

Mulligan sighed as he approached Spike and placed a hoof on his shoulder “That’s what I wanted to tell you: he’s Blueblood of the Blue Eyes, one of the best twenty duelists in Equestria.”

“And that’s why there’s no shame in losing with me,” said Blueblood. “In fact, you should be happy you’ve got something to boast about to your friends. Think about it,” he waved a hoof in front of him like if he was admiring a large glowing sign. “I got my little lizard rear kicked by the Prince of the Blue Eyes! I’ll tell you what: I’ll even sign you an autograph!”

Spike could feel the tears swelling on his eyes as Blueblood laughed. Just then, a voice cut through the laughter like a diamond through glass. “Enough.” And he saw her: standing tall and proud, her immaculate white coat shimmering under the sun, purple mane curling like a cascade on a warm spring afternoon and eyes glistening like sapphires. Those eyes filled with mercy and love that told him “everything is going to be okay” as her magic picked up his cards, neatly piling them and putting them back on his duel disk. Truly she may not have had wings, but no other pony embodied the very concept of royal—

“You’re the witch that ruined my mane!”

Rarity swiftly turned around to face Blueblood. “And you are that prototype of a prince who wouldn’t know “royal” if the entire palace fell on top of him!”

“Guys…”

“How dare you, you uncultured barbarian!”

“Guys”

“Better than a spoiled brat!”

“Guys!”

“WHAT?!” yelled both, Rarity and Prince Blueblood, simultaneously.

“I-In this store we have rules,” informed Mulligan, while shielding himself behind an awkward looking Spike, before pointing towards a sign nailed on the wooden fence.

“But I don’t have any black magical ancient artifacts with me,” protested Rarity.

“I think he’s talking about the next one on the list,” softly said Spike.

Rarity turned her head.

“No conflicts whatsoever beyond dueling.”

“Oh”

“It’s settled then,” said Blueblood with a smirk. “We’ll resolve this by means of a duel like civilized equines,” his expression turned sour. “Unless you’ve got some cake with you to throw”

Rarity gave a loud “hmph” and both ponies went to take their place of the arena.

“Rarity, don’t do it,” cried Spike as she placed both of his tiny claws over her chest. “He’s one of the twenty best duelists in all of Equestria and one-turn-killed me and-and it’s just words—the stream takes them away—or was it the wind? Look, the important thing is that it’s not worth it!”

Rarity softly placed a hoof over Spike’s head. “Ponies like him thrive because nopony else puts them in their place, Spike. I’m not going to let him insult me and much less you, okay?” she smiled. “Now be a dear and take my shopping bags outside the arena, yes?”

With just a nod, Spike did as he was told and took his place next to Mulligan. The crowd of defeated ponies gathered around them, quietly observing the two unicorns facing each other.

“So,” started Mulligan. “Is your friend any good?”

Spike scratched the back of his head. “Well…”

“Then you can use Polymerization to fuse Gem-Knight Obsidian and Gem-Knight Tourmaline to summon Gem-Knight Topaz!”

“Heavens, Spike! Tourmalines and obsidians on the same ensemble? That’s positively dreadful!”

“But…they’re just cards”

“Tut-tut, perfection is not an act but an habit, Spike”

“She…knows the rules, alright”

The monument glowed intensely as both players drew their five cards.

“Ladies,” began Blueblood. “And creatures masquerading as ones, first”

Rarity did not reply, but merely twirled her head, causing her mane to move and cover her right eye. She picked a card with her magic from her hand and placed it on the duel disk around her neck, one with a standard design but in a beautiful turquoise color. “I summon Battlin’ Boxer Headgeared,” with her words a humanoid automaton appeared before her: it was pitch black and wore red boots, boxing gloves and a headgear; its eyes glowed crimson as it threw a couple of swift jabs to the air. (1000/1800) “By it’s effect I can send one Battlin’ Boxer from my deck to my graveyard,” she took a card out of her deck and placed it on the graveyard slot, the auto-shuffle function of the duel disk taking care of the rest. “I end my turn”

Spike stared in confusion. “That’s…”

Blueblood cringed as if he had seen a cockroach. “Draw,” he swiftly took a card from his deck. “I summon Lord of D.” A dark skinned man, clad in an armor made of dragon bones and wearing a long, dark blue cape materialized on the field (1200/1100). “Activate White Dragon Ritual!” It raised both hands in the air and let out a scream as a pilar of light engulfed him from below, leaving a young knight in his place, wearing a golden armor and riding a beautiful white dragon (1900/1200). “My Paladin of White Dragon,” said Blueblood. “I can sacrifice him to special summon the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon directly from my deck!” The miasma on the arena swirled, crackling with lightning and enveloped the paladin before exploding to reveal a new form. “Behold the monster that gave me my title!” The majestic winged dragon shined under the sun like a sword destined to be wielded only by a king and let out a roar that made the crowd tremble (3000/2500). “But it’s not over yet! I play Polymerization to fuse it with the dragons on my hand!” The monument glowed and the miasma swirled to form a tornado which swallowed both, monsters and duelists. “This is it! The strongest! The Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon!” The miasma dissipated and Blueblood looked at the dragon like a proud parent to his child. It was larger than Sugarcube Corner and its three heads looked like they could devour half of Ponyville’s population in one swoop (4500/3800).

Rarity looked impassively.

“Oh, but where are my manners,” said Blueblood with a chuckle. “My dear dragon, could you please vaporize that vermin?” He raised a hoof then suddenly brought it down. “With your ULTIMATE BURST STREAM!” At the command of his master the dragon’s three heads opened their jaws, energy accumulating inside their mouths like an upcoming thunderstorm, and fired a torrent of pure energy at Rarity’s monster, the resulting explosion kicking up a cloud of dust that obscured the view inside the arena.

“Rarity!” screamed Spike as the memories of his own defeat came back.

But, as the view cleared, they all watched in surprise how not only Rarity’s monster was unharmed, a second one, a crimson humanoid automaton holding a golden shield, stood next to it (0/1800).

“Once per turn my Headgeared in attack position cannot be destroyed in battle,” calmly informed Rarity. “And since I took battle damage I can special summon Battlin’ Boxer Veil and immediately recover all the life points I lost.” Her counter automatically went from five hundred back to four thousand life points.

There was a collective “ooohh” among the ponies in the crowd, a few of them even cheered and whistled.

“Hey! Your friend seems she knows what’s she’s doing,” said Mulligan with a smile.

“Yes,” mumbled Spike. “Yes, she is! Go Rarity!”

Blueblood gritted his teeth. “I swear they’re like cockroaches. Fine! Go ahead and play,” he said waving his hoof dismissively. “I’ll finish this on my next turn”

“There won’t be a next turn!” declared Rarity with a sudden fierceness that made Blueblood, Spike and several other ponies in the audience jump. “Draw!” The card was practically rocketed out of her deck by her magic. “I use my two monsters to build an Overlay Network!” The miasma swirled into the shape of a whirlpool and both of her creatures glowed, their bodies turning into streams of light, before being absorbed. “XYZ Summon! Come forth my bound barbarian! Battlin’ Boxer Lead Yoke!” The monster that emerged was easily twice the size of her previous ones, much more human in appearance, with muscles that gave the impression it could rip apart an apple tree with its bare hands. It wore black leather sandals and a skirt of the same color and material, its face concealed by a metal helmet, save for its glowing red eyes. But the most impressive thing was the huge wooden beam secured around his back, neck and arms by means of large black steel chains (2200/2000).

Blueblood put a hoof to his mouth, as if trying not to puke. “I must say if you’re trying to disgust me into submission, then you’re doing a remarkable effort!”

Spike watched hypnotized as Rarity picked up a card from her hand. If he had to judge from the look on her eyes alone, he could swear she was in the middle of an actual fight. “Next, the spell card Oni-Gami Combo!” The bound barbarian’s muscles tensed, there was a cracking noise and, with a single movement, he broke free of his chains and snapped the yoke on his back in two, standing on his full height (3800/2000). It wasn’t as impressive as the Blue-eyes Ultimate Dragon, sure, but it certainly wasn’t a creature any of the ponies in the crowd would’ve liked to meet alone on a dark alley. “By removing two materials from one of my xyz monsters it can make a second attack,” she informed. “And whenever a material is removed from my Lead Yoke it gains an extra eight hundred attack points!” Rarity stood up on her hind legs and pointed her right hoof forward. “Go my bound barbarian! Take down that dragon with your DEMON GOD BARRAGE!” At her words the Lead Yoke charged towards the Blue-Eyes Ultimate Dragon and punched the beast right on the middle of its chest.

“You fool!” said Blueblood. “Do you honestly believe that will accomplish--”

A loud craking noise echoed.

“…something?”

Blueblood watched in horror as the bound barbarian kept attacking, each punch breaking more and more of the dragon’s scales. Its three heads contorted, hacking and coughing with their tongues out, before letting out a pitiful cry and vanishing like smoke. “My dragon,” muttered Blueblood as his life points went down to three thousand seven hundred. “How…?”

Rarity gave a toothy smile. “Battlin’ Boxer Counterpuch,” she said as she held up a monster card. “By removing it from the graveyard I can increase the attack points of one of my Battlin’ Boxers by a thousand points until the end of the turn”

“Your graveyard?!” cried Blueblood. “But when did,” his voice fell as his eyes widened in realization.

“Precisely,” whispered Rarity and pointed her right hoof forward towards the prince. “Finish him off! LIGHTNING FAST!”

Time seemed to slow down as the Lead Yoke threw a punch straight to Blueblood’s face. It connected with his muzzle, sending his head back, his legs above the ground and then his whole body flying out the arena, way past over the wooden fence and landing over a pile of leaves.

“OW! MY BACK!”

The miasma that covered the arena disappeared as the stones stopped glowing.

Silence.

“She won!” cried Spike while throwing his arms up.

The crowd of ponies immediately exploded in a chorus of cheers, whistles and stomps.

“I can’t believe it,” muttered Mulligan.

Rarity exhaled and adjusted her mane to its usual position.

“Rarity!” called Spike as he ran next to her. “T-That was—that was--”

“Crude, darling, I know. But, sometimes, a lady has to get her hoves dirty”

“No—yes—I mean—it was awesome! You totally trounced him! One of the best twenty duelists in Equestria! It’s almost incredible—not saying I didn’t believe you couldn’t do it—even if I asked you don’t—because I know you’re amazing and--”

Rarity lightly booped Spike on the nose. “Thank you, Spike”

A noticeable blush appeared across the baby dragon’s cheeks. “Heh, it was nothing—say, how did you get so good?”

Rarity giggled. “Ah, remember my trip to Manehattan six months ago? When I assisted that seminar hosted by the House of Outrageous and Opulent Fashion?”

“Uhh…”

“It’s over, Twilight! She’s not coming back!”

“Heavens, Spike! She said she was going for two weeks! And it’s been only two hours!”

“Y-yes, yes I do.”

“Well, during my spare time I took the opportunity to do some shopping, of course, and I found out the city is filled to the brim with card shops which periodically hold tournaments with prize money,” Rarity explained enthusiastically. “You know how difficult being an independent businessmare can be sometimes, and since having some extra bits never hurts, I decided to buy some new cards, learn a few strategies, and try my hoof at playing professionally,” a sheepish smile formed across her face. “Let’s just say I was too focused on the monetary gain to pay attention to rankings and, before I realized, I had become--”

“Burning Knuckler Rareza!”

Penalty Game

“Are you okay, Pinkie?” asked Fluttershy.

Pinkie’s posture was rigid, her legs stiff, as she walked with large steps. Still, she nodded firmly.

“Okay,” said Fluttershy with uncertainty. A earth pony travelling from Ponyville to Cloudsdale on a flying contraption that required constant pedalling without taking a single break was something unheard of.

Then again, this was Pinkie Pie.

The pair made their way through the city, a cloud walking spell courtesy of Twilight made sure Pinkie would have no issues walking around the place, as several pegasi flew next to them, chatting and laughing among themselves; the setting sun having signaled the end of today’s work journey.

“I think we should head for The Obelisk first,” said Fluttershy. She turned her head to see Pinkie several steps behind her. “Pinkie?”

Pinkie had her nose high, sniffing the air with a look of deep concentration. “This smell,” she whispered as she looked around her. Without warning, she reared back and charged in a seemingly random direction, the stiffness of the trip having disappeared.

“Pinkie Pie?” called Fluttershy before quickly giving chase. “Oh my,” she mumbled, having trouble to keep with her friend’s constant turns and abrupt stops to sniff the air once again, despite her ability to fly. “Pinkie, where are you--”

“I found you!” shouted Pinkie Pie as she pounced on an unsuspecting winged figure, wrapping her hooves around her neck and squeezing mercilessly.

Her victim squaked in surprise and tried to break free, but every effort was in vain. Deciding it couldn’t end like this, she threw her head back and cried. “P-Pinkie, I can’t breathe!”

“Oops!” said Pinkie as she quickly pulled her hooves back. “Sorry! It’s just that I was walking around all super stiff from the pedaling when I smelled scones and thought “who do I know that flies and bakes scones” and started running around until I found you and yelled “I found you” and wrapped my hooves around your neck in a suprise re-encounter hug!”

Gilda took a deep breath and cracked her neck. “Yeah,” she said with a chuckle. “Nice to see you too, Pinkie.”

“How have you been?” asked Pinkie as she bounced on place.

Gilda smiled. She put her claw inside the brown bag around her neck and pulled out a scone which she handed to Pinkie.

Pinkie smiled eagerly and extended her hoof, but then stopped, rummaged inside her mane for a second and pulled out two bits which she offered to Gilda.

Gilda shook her head and pushed Pinkie’s hoof back. “This one’s on the house,” she said with a wink.

Pinkie quickly gulped the scone on a single motion. She chewed contently with both forelegs wrapped around her body while rocking back and forth. “Mmmm,” she mumbled before swallowing and licking her lips.

“Well?” asked Gilda.

Pinkie cleared her throat. “Yes,” she said with a raspy voice. “You have been well trained, my young apprentice. They will be no match for you.”

They both laughed.

“Say,” began Gilda. “What are you doing here, Pinkie? I mean, earth ponies don’t often come to Cloudsdale,” she ruffled her wings as if to make her point.

“I came here with Fluttershy to check on the dueling arenas,” casually said Pinkie while pointing with her right hoof behind her.

Gilda blinked and tilted her head slightly. “I…suppose that’s her?”

Pinkie turned around to see a long, shaking pink tail coming out from behind a column not too far away. She smiled sheepishly. “She’s kind of shy, but don’t worry, I’ll go get--” her words were cut short as she felt a claw on her shoulder.

“Why...don’t you let me take care of this?” asked Gilda softly.

Pinkie blinked. “Okey dokey,” she said with a smile.

Gilda took a breath and approached the column. “Fluttershy was it?”

A soft “eep” and the tail pulling behind the column answered her question.

“The name’s Gilda, you—uh, probably knew that and—well, I know our last meeting wasn’t exactly—what’s the word? Pleasant, yeah,” she scratched the back of her head. “Look, I was in a bad mood, okay? That’s no excuse for having lashed at you, sure, and that’s why I want to say I’m sorry,” she looked firmly at the column. “I learned that just because a friend of mine has other friends doesn’t mean she won’t be my friend anymore or that I can’t be friends with those friends,” she paused for a second. “Dang, that was wordy,” she thought. “What I want to say is: I would like to be your friend too…if that’s okay with you,” she pulled out another scone from her bag and extended her arm forwards.

There was a long moment of silence before Fluttershy slowly, cautiously emerged from behind the column. She looked at Gilda in the eyes and smiled softly.

“Yes, I would like to.”

Behind them, Pinkie threw a bunch of confetti into the air.

“So you came here to sell your scones?” asked Fluttershy as she walked next to Gilda.

Pinkie walked a few steps behind them with a content smile on her face.

“Yeah,” said Gilda. “Things have gotten better at Griffonstone, but money is still needed, you know.”

Fluttershy nodded.

“I have been practicing my baking a lot, even taught some of the fledglings,” said Gilda with a chuckle. “When Duel Monsters came out, most griffons started playing and many saw it as an opportunity to leave. I thought about it too,” she admitted shamefully. “But instead I decided to use the game to spread friendship along with my scones. I got good at it, played in tournaments and earned my place as the seventeen best duelist in Equestria: Black Feather Gilda,” she puffed her chest out, but deflated slightly when she saw Fluttershy and Pinkie looking at her with wide smiles. “What?”

“Didn’t I tell you she was great?” asked Pinkie.

Fluttershy nodded. “Oh yes, I can see that.”

Gilda’s cheeks turned a nice shade of pink. “W-What are you talking about! I-It’s just—I mean, weren’t you here to check duel arenas? Here you are!” she pointed a claw towards a tall tower in front of them. It was pure white, built in the shape of an ancient obelisk with the carving of an eye right on the middle.

“Ohhh,” said Pinkie. “This is the Obelisk?”

“Yep,” said Gilda. “Six floors and a flat top where the duel arena is located, with strong winds and cold air to put duelists’ stamina and strenght to test,” she informed with both arms crossed over her chest. “Heh, that came out great,” she thought.

“I want to play there!” excitedly declared Pinkie.

“Be sure to hold your cards tightly,” said Fluttershy as she remembered her first duel there.

Gilda blinked. “You play too, Fluttershy?”

“Yes, I do.”

“Really?” asked Gilda incredulously. “I mean, you look more like the kind of pony that surrenders so as to make her opponent not feel bad,” she raised a claw. “No offense.”

“None taken,” said Fluttershy with a smile. “And I’ve done that a few times, but Pinkie told me it does no good, both for me and my opponent, since the true prize, whether you win or lose, is the experience, and nopony will improve if we don’t do our best.”

Gilda raised an eyebrow and looked at Pinkie, who gave her a toothy smile.

Just then, the doors of the Obelisk spread open, a fierce gust of wind kicking up, and a familiar pegasus came from inside. She had a mint green coat, a yellow and orange mane and tail with a small golden pendant in the shape of an eye around her neck. “You took your sweet time!” she said with a smirk.

“Lightning Dust,” whispered Fluttershy.

“A friend of yours?” asked Gilda.

“No,” replied Pinkie. “She’s a meanie-pants who only cares about herself.”

Lightning Dust smirk vanished as she looked around. “Where’s Rainbow Dash?”

“What do you want with her?” asked Fluttershy.

“She and I have unfinished business, you klutz!”

Gilda immediately leapt in front of Lightning Dust. “Listen, I don’t know who you are, but if you have a problem with Dash or those two, then you have a problem with me!”

Lightning Dust narrowed her eyes. “You’re Black Feather Gilda…”

“You bet your tail I am!”

Lightning Dust’s grin went from ear to ear. “Seems this isn’t going to be a total waste of time after all!” she adjusted a black duel disk around her neck. “What do you say, sister? You and me, up there!”

Gilda quickly took out a white, somewhat worn-out, duel disk from her bag and adjusted it around her left forearm. “Bring it on!”

“Gilda!” called Pinkie.

“Don’t worry, girls; I’m going to take care of this flip-flop!”

Both, griffon and pegasus, shoot upwards with amazing speed.

“We should follow her,” said Fluttershy, but as they took a step forward, their path was blocked by a pair of white pegasi Royal Guards, each wearing a duel disk. Their eyes shone with a green light.

“Umm…could you please let us pass?” timidly asked Fluttershy.

The guards sharply spread their wings and a black miasma encircled the whole area around the four ponies.

Fluttershy jumped backwards and hurriedly placed her duel disk around her neck.

For her part, Pinkie stood on her hind legs, took her duel disk and dramatically adjusted it around her left foreleg.

“Alright! It’s time to d-d-d-d-d-d-d-”

“Pinkie?”

Pinkie coughed. “I think a fly got in my mouth…”

The sun had set and now a sea of stars twinked above Cloudsdale. Gilda and Lightning Dust glared at each other as they stood inside the duel arena on top of the Obelisk.

“You don’t know who I am, do you?” smugly asked Lightning Dust.

“Another mark on my winning count,” said Gilda.

Lightning Dust laughed. “I am the sixth best duelist in Equestria! The Black Lightning!”

Gilda’s eyes widened.

“Surprised? I’m not going to accept any other duelist using the same deck as me! Come, let’s settle this!”

Gilda looked in surprise as Lightning Dust flew way higher. She quickly gave chase. “Wait! How are you going to play outside the arena?!”

“Like this!” said Lightning Dust as she placed a card on her disk. “Blackwing - Zephyros the Elite!” a humanoid bird-man with large black wings materialized out of thin air. His arms, legs and chest were protected by crimson pieces of armor; his face concealed by a bird-like mask (1600/1000).

“W-What the--?!”

“This will be a duel like you’ve never played before, sister!”

“I think there’s something wrong with them, Pinkie,” said Fluttershy as she nervously looked at the guards’ glowing, unblinking eyes.

Pinkie scratched her chin thoughtfully. “Yeah, it’s like if they were hypnotized,” she said. “But not in the good birthday-party-magician way.”

“I set a monster and end my turn!”

Both mares looked at the silent guard, then at each other.

“Guess it’s a tag-duel!” said Pinkie. “You go first, Fluttershy!”

Fluttershy nodded. “Aurora Wing,” a beautiful white bird materialized on the field. Its large feathers, colored different shades of green and blue, were undulated and shined like the very phenomenon that gave it its name (1200/1600). “I end my turn.”

The second guard silently played four face-down cards.

“Grumpy alert!” said Pinkie with a giggle. “I summon Fire Hand!” a hot-red, mechanical clawed hand appeared on a burst of flame (1600/1000). Pinkie bumped her hoof against the monster fist with a smile, but soon cried “Hot!” and put her hoof inside the cloud they were standing on, which released a small puff of steam. “I…end…my turn,” she said with a sigh of relief.

“Scapegoat!” shouted the second guard. Four small, round sheep-like monsters appeared on the field, next to the face-down monster card.

“They’re sharing their field,” said Fluttershy. “This is a tag-duel with a shared field.”

“Ohh! I never played one of those!” said Pinkie with a clap of her hooves.

The first guard drew a card and tributed his face-down monster to summon Machine King. The skeletal-like robot towered over the ponies, silently watching Fluttershy and Pinkie with its metallic fists firmly clenched (2200/2000). “Machine King gets an extra hundred attack points for every machine type monster on the field,” informed the guard.

“The joke’s on you!” said Pinkie while pointing her right hoof forward. “We don’t use ma--”

“DNA Surgery!”

Both mares watched in shock as every other monster on the field turned silver, as if they had been coated with liquid metal. The Machine King’s red visor glowed intensely, a loud humming sound coming from its body (2900/2000).

Pinkie looked at Fluttershy and smiled sheepishly.

“ROCKET KNUCKLE STRIKE!”

The Machine King raised its right arm, steam coming of its elbow, and fired its fist, complete with forearm, towards Aurora Wing. The missile-appendage turned the beautiful bird into dust upon contact and flew between Fluttershy and Pinkie, the shockwave sending them tumbling, before doing and arc and reattaching itself back into the Machine King’s body (8000-6300).

“Aurora Wing!” shouted Fluttershy. The bird monster appeared again on the field, its vibrant colors quickly turning a metallic silver (1200/1600). “When it’s destroyed in battle I can special summon it back to the field.”

“Ouchie,” mumbled Pinkie as she stood up.

“Turn end,” declared the guard.

Fluttershy took a deep breath and drew a card. “I summon a second Aurora Wing and use both to build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” her monsters exploded into a cloud of ice crystals, swirling rapidly before converging into the shape of a lithe, pale skinned female monster with eyes like rubies. A regal long dress, colored in white, crimson, gold and black, covered most of her body, while a black and golden ornamental mask did the same for her face. Several blades of ice sprout from her back like wings, while she herself held two curved swords, one in each hand (2400/1200). “May your whispers turn my enemies into ice! My funerary sub-zero maiden! Number 103: Ragnazero!”

“Way to go, Fluttershy!” cheered Pinkie. Her Fire Hand gave a thumbs up.

Fluttershy nodded. “By detaching an xyz material my Ragnazero can destroy one of your monsters with attack points that are different from their original number!” she pointed her right hoof forward. “FUNERAL GUIDANCE!” the crystal maiden spread her wings, unleashing a cold wind that covered Machine King in frost. The large automaton tried to resist, but was quickly rendered immobile. Suddenly, four black chains shoot out from the wall of miasma around them. They twisted and turned, forming a circular cage around Ragnazero.

“Fiendish Chain,” declared the first guard. “Now your monster is sealed.”

With a loud metallic roar, the Machine King shattered the frost around him.

Fluttershy gulped and set a card. “I-I end my turn,” she said and looked at Pinkie. “Sorry.”

Pinkie smiled. “It’s okay.”

The second guard drew a card and immediately played Pot of Greed, bringing his hand count to three. “Machine King, attack the Fire Hand,” he commanded.

Fluttershy blinked. “What?”

Pinkie smirked. “When my Fire Hand is destroyed I can destroy one of your monsters! Fire Hand, Pressure Point Counterattack!” the Fire Hand closed itself into a fist and rocketed forwards.

“Limiter Removal.”

Pinkie’s eyes widened. “Uh-oh.”

The humming coming from the Machine King’s body grew to deafening levels (5800/2000). Its metal fist clashed with that of the Fire Hand, causing an explosion that destroyed both monsters and sent Pinkie and Fluttershy crashing against the walls of miasma behind them (6300-2100).

“When my Fire Hand is destroyed, I can special summon Ice Hand from my deck,” informed Pinkie while laying on her back. A large mechanical claw coated in frost appeared on the field (1400/1600). Pinkie made a gesture with her hoof, the Ice Hand floated and gently lifted Fluttershy.

“Umm…thank you,” said Fluttershy, somewhat bewildered.

The Ice Hand gave a thumbs up in response.

Pinkie sat, then stood back up on two legs. “Whoa, I did not see that coming!”

The second guard played Monster Reborn, bringing back Machine King, before setting his last card.

“They did not want to risk with my face-down card,” thought Fluttershy. “Are you okay, Pinkie?”

Pinkie cracked her neck. “Leave it to me!”

Gilda looked at Lightning Dust. The pegasus had nothing but Zephyros the Elite to protect her and yet stood with a confident smile on her face. “I’ll teach you a lesson,” she thought. “Draw! Blackwing – Pinaki the Waxing Moon!” a small humanoid black bird appeared next to Gilda. It wore a white turban and held a small bow. It smiled cockily as it took a crimson feather from its turban and tensed it on its bow (1200/1000). “When I control a different Blackwing I can special summon Blackwing – Kris the Crack of Dawn!” a larger humanoid black bird appeared, wearing and red and gold vest and wielding a large knife, with part of its face concealed by a golden mask (1900/300). “Synchro summon,” declared Gilda. Her monsters turned into clusters of shinning stars, fusing and revealing a new form. “Tame the wild skies with your jet black wings!” a dark skinned, human male emerged from the light. He wore white pants, an ornate golden armor covered his muscled chest and a headdress made of crimson feathers adorned his head. A pair of black wings on his back allowed him to stay airborne. Last but not least, instead of a normal human right hand he had a large claw like that of a bird of prey (2600/2000). “Blackwing Tamer – Obsidian Hawk Joe!”

Lightning Dust chuckled. “I take that’s your best monster?”

Gilda growled. “Go for it, Joe! ASSAULT CLAW!” in the blink of an eye, the Blackwing Tamer flew and slashed Zephyros across the chest, making it disappear in a cloud of black mist.

Lightning Dust winced as her life points went down (4000-3000).

Gilda set four face down cards. “Turn end!”

“I’ll show you how it’s done!” said Lightning Dust with a feral grin. “Draw! Black Whirlwind!” she placed a spell card on her disk. “Since you control a monster and I don’t I can summon Blackwing - Sirocco the Dawn without a tribute!” a tall, winged bird-man, his body covered with black feathers, appeared on the field. His face was concealed by a mask in the shape of a blue feathered bird’s head (2000/900). “When I normal summon a Blackwing, my Black Whirlwind allows me to search for a Blackwing in my deck and add it to my hand! I pick Blackwing – Gale the Whirlwind!” she quickly took the card from her deck, the auto-shuffling function of the disk taking care of the rest. “This little one can be special summoned if I already control a Blackwing! And guess what? I’ve got two!” a pair small humanoid birds appeared. Their heads were covered with green feathers, unlike their bodies which were covered by black ones. They both glared at Gilda with piercing red eyes (1300/400). “But before I forget! Trap card! Delta Crow – Anti Reverse!”

Gilda watched in shock as Lightning Dust’s monsters flapped their wings, creating a gust and breaking her four set cards into pieces.

“Don’t tell me you didn’t know I could play that one from my hand when I control three Blackwings, what a joke,” said Lightning Dust, his grin seemingly becoming bigger with each play. “Gale the Whirlwind’s effect! RENDING GALE!” both monsters circled Obsidian Hawk Joe, faster and faster, until they completely enveloped him in a tornado.

Gilda shielded her eyes from the wind. A moment later, she opened them and her mouth fell. “N-No…” her Blackwing Tamer was a mess. His clothes and armor were thorn, his wings broken and he had multiple cuts all over his body. His right arm dangled limply at his side as he gritted his teeth (650/500).

“If that guy’s a Blackwing Tamer then I’m a princess,” said Lightning Dust with a chuckle. “Anyway, I return Black Whirlwind to my hand to bring back Zephyros from the graveyard,” her monster returned to the field with a triumphant cry (1600/1000). Lightning Dust gritted her teeth (3000-2600). “It costs me four hundred life points, but you know what they say: no pain no gain!”

Gilda did not talk. She just stood there, trembling and clenching her claws.

“Sirocco the Dawn’s effect allows me to choose one Blackwing monster and give it the attack of all other Blackwings on the field,” informed Lightning Dust. “I think Zephyros will do. Bet he’s got a bone to pick with Joe, don’t you think?” her monster spread its wings as its attack skyrocketed (6200/1000). “This is the difference between somepony who’s got it and those who don’t. The difference between you and me,” she shook her head.

“Goodbye, Gilda.”

“It’s my turn!” declared Pinkie with a pump of her right hoof. “Now I dra--”

“Are you still here?”

Pinkie and Fluttershy looked upwards to see Lightning Dust hovering above them with a smug expression.

“Maybe you need some help?”

Before the two friends could say a word, the cocky pegasus swiftly threw a card which Pinkie quickly caught with her right hoof.

“Ohhh, it’s a Gilda card!” exclaimed Pinkie with a smile. “I didn’t know you could get one of these!”

Fluttershy frowned. “Pinkie, I don’t think…”

“But she doesn’t have any effects,” said Pinkie with her lower lip curled upwards. “No attack or defense points,” she examined the card closely. “And she’s got this terrified expression on her face, not the kind of pose I would have picked up for a--”

Lightning Dust slapped her forehead. “It’s a Penalty Game, you doofus!” she shouted. “That’s what happens when you lose a Game of Darkness!”

Fluttershy gasped, covering her mouth with her right hoof.

Pinkie’s pupils shrank. The words of Princess Celestia echoed in her mind. “Y-You turned her into a card…?”

Lightning Dust rolled her eyes. “Bingo.”

“B-But if she’s card then how is she going to bake her scones,” said Pinkie. Her whole body trembled like a dried leaf. “H-How is she going to play with us? How is she going to smile and laugh and cry and—WHY WOULD YOU DO THIS, YOU MEANIE PANTS?!”

Lightning Dust laughed. “Tell Rainbow Dash I’ll be waiting for her in Ponyville!” and with those words, she flew away like an arrow.

Pinkie growled and charged, but the wall of miasma twisted and flickered, pushing her back, over and over again.

“S-Stop it, Pinkie!” cried Fluttershy. “Remember what Discord said—we have to finish this duel!”

Pinkie glared at Fluttershy, making the yellow pegasus flinch, then at the Royal Guards in front of them. “DRAW!” she pulled her card with such strenght it shook the cloud they were standing on. “Rank-Up Magic Barian’s Force!” a geyser of lava erupted right on the middle of the field, completely engulfing Ragnazero and going as tall as the Obelisk. “The fist that can crush the earth! The fingers that can tear the skies!” the magma cooled down in the shape of a large, crimson clawed hand, pulsing with purple energy and with two sharp, black protuberances coming out from its wrist (2600/2000). “LAVA PALM! NUMBER C106: GIANT RED HAND!”

Fluttershy gulped. “P-Pinkie…”

“I’m not done yet!” declared Pinkie. She summoned a second Fire Hand. “I build an overlay network! XYZ summon!” she raised her forelegs and clashed her hooves. Both of her monsters mimicked her movements and fused into a ball of light. “Set this duel on fire! FLAME PRESSURE DEMON! NUMBER 58: BURNER VISOR!” the light subsided to reveal a monster in the shape of a red and purple sphere enveloped in flames (1000/1000). “I play XYZ Gift,” said Pinkie. She detached two xyz materials from her Burner Visor and drew two cards, bringing her hand count to four. “Seize it!” at her command the Giant Red Hand grabbed the Burner Visor and held it tightly.

“Fiendish Chain!” shouted the second guard as he activated his face down card.

“Scarlet Desert Negation!” shouted Pinkie. The Giant Red Hand swinged and broke the chains that tried to bind it. “I can detach an xyz material to negate the effects of all face-up cards on the field until the end of turn!”

“All cards?!” thought Fluttershy. “Pinkie, the Machine King! Destroy their Machine King!”

Pinkie pointed her right hoof forward. “Direct attack! CRIMSON PALM OF CERTAIN DEATH!” her monster raised upwards and slammed the field, creating a shockwave that sent the Royal Guards flying against the wall of miasma. Pinkie quickly discarded her entire hand. “When I inflict battle damage,” she explained. “My Burner Visor gives you five hundred points of damage for each card I discard from my hand!”

Fluttershy felt her knees wobble. “Pinkie stop…”

Pinkie watched the two Royal Guards stand up, their faces betraying no emotion (8000-3400). Her chest heaved as she breathed heavily. “I…end my turn.”

The first guard silently drew a card and activated the last face-down card. “Cost Down,” he discarded a card from his hand. “I tribute Machine King to summon Perfect Machine King,” the new monster was twice the size of its previous form, fully covered on gleaming white armor (2700/1500). “Perfect Machine King gets an extra five hundred attack points for every other machine monster on the field,” informed the guard (5200/1500).

Pinkie looked at the face-up DNA Surgery and the four goat tokens on the field. “Uh-oh…”

“PERFECT GUIDED MISSILE STRIKE!”

The Perfect Machine King extended its arms and two compartments on its shoulders opened. In the blink of an eye, it fired dozens of projectiles, covering the opposing side of the field and creating a shockwave so strong it dissipated the smaller clouds around them.

Pinkie opened her eyes (2100/800). “We’re still here,” she muttered. “H-How?”

“Half Unbreak,” replied Fluttershy. “It protects one monster in battle and halves all damage we take from attacks involving it,” she informed with a smile.

“Fluttershy,” mumbled Pinkie. She fell on her four hooves. “I-I’m sorry…”

“It’s okay,” said Fluttershy with a smile.

“Turn end,” coolly declared the guard.

Fluttershy placed her right hoof over her deck. “I have to end this now,” she thought. “Draw,” she looked at her card and gave a satisfied nod. “Rank-Up Magic The Seventh One! With this card I can bring back a hundred number monster from my graveyard and immediately rank it up!” the Ragnazero appeared back on the field. She raised her swords and whipped up a hail storm that covered her whole body. “The infinite power that freezes time and space!” the hail subsided and, where once was a regal snow queen, now stood a fearsome grim reaper. Her dress turned deep purple, the crystals on her body pitch-black and she now held a fearsome looking black scythe (2800/2400). “Funerary sub-zero maiden! Number C103: Ragnafinity!”

The Perfect Machine King’s eyes flashed as its attack points went up even further (5700/1500).

“By detaching an overlay unit my Ragnafinity can destroy a monster and inflict damage equal to the diference between its original attack points and its actual ones,” explained Fluttershy. “Go! GUIDANCE TO PURGATORY!” the dark Maiden twirled her scythe elegantly and sliced the Perfect Machine King vertically with a single clean stroke (3600-600). “Now you are defenseless against the direct attack of the Giant Red Hand,” said Fluttershy. “Direct attack,” she closed her eyes, sighed deeply and fell on her haunches. It was over. The miasma vanished and the Royal Guard were lying motionless on the ground. “We need to help them,” said Fluttershy. “Pinkie?”

Pinkie was on her haunches and holding a single card; her eyes brimming with tears and sobbing very quietly, like a filly who did not want to be seen.

With some effort, Fluttershy stood up, walked a few steps and embraced Pinkie.

“There, there…”