Card Games on Ponies

“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.”