Card Games on Ponies

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!”