Card Games on Ponies

“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.”