Yugioh Spiez: Opperation Duel: Final Season

Chapters

Prologue
The Lights in the Sky
Fashion Freak
Blue Sky VS Clear Water
Trouble in the hills
Bujin Banishing
(Part 1) Passing the Pacifist
(Part 2:) Boldness and Blindness
Painful plans
(Part 1) Party Time
(Part 2) Party animal
(Part 1) Dinos VS Dragons
(Part 2) Two Ways of Trouble
(Part 3) Turning the tables
Race to the Chase
(Part 1) Lover's Lame
(Part 2) Tough Love
Showdown with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
(Part 1) Non-Intimidation
(Part 2) Rotten Revealations
(Part 1) Crooked Cards
(Part 2) Impossible Possibilities
(Final Part) Mighty Magic
(Part 1) The Grad Match
(Final Part) End it with a BOOM

Prologue

PROLOGUE

It was a fine day in United Equestria, sometime before the war of King Sombra, and the tragic death of Twilight Sparkle.

For now, she was alive, and enjoying a day off of her Starfleet Duties with Spike, and their friends Krysta the fairy, and their commanding officer, Admiral Lightning Dawn.

They were playing a fun game, called “Magic Card Creatures” It was a game invented on Equestria of old, several years ago. Enchanted cards with paintings of unusual creatures on them; the cards were placed on what resembled a chessboard, and then the creatures on the cards would magically come to life, as tiny magical illusions. The object of the game was to call forth monsters, battle out with your opponent and attempt to diminish the opposing army.

There were also other types of cards besides monsters: items, weapons, spells, traps, and various other things that could work with or be used against monsters or manipulate the playing field in any way.

Twilight has just dominated most of Lightning’s forces with a single monster “The Mutated Ogre of the Swamp…” Twilight said “He washes all soldiers on the ground with his sludge spew.”

Surely enough, her monster did just that-- spewed out a whole wave of goo from his huge mouth, and most of Lightning’s ground forces were wiped out in the surge.

“Okay… that’s a wee bit gross.” groaned Spike “Cool… but gross.”

Twilight felt confident that her victory was assured. “She’s got us now, Lightning.” said Krysta “I don’t see any way out of this one.”

“Oh, but there is…” Lightning said with a cheeky smirk on his face, and he placed a simple card on the field “…The Swarm of Sporelings.”

Twilight gasped in shock, but Spike was confused “How can they beat a huge ogre like that?” he asked “While he could just swat them all and…”

“Actually…” Lightning cut in “…The Sporelings carry with them an endless supply of burning pollen, which the Ogre of the Swamp is deathly allergic to.”

Twilight’s monster indeed acted deathly ill to Lightning’s insects, and the reaction was so deathly, the monster just disintegrated in a burning flare. “Ah!” cried Twilight.

“...And that takes your life-force to zero.” Lightning gloated.

Twilight sighed irritably “…Yes, it does.”

“Yay!” cried Krysta. Twilight and Spike gave her a look. “Sorry, can’t help it.”

Lightning added up the total sum on paper. “I make it… seven-hundred gold pieces you owe me.”

Twilight cheekily rolled her eyes. “It is just one paper, you know.”

Lightning chuckled. “Still, this is a great game. We never had anything like this on Unicornicopia.”

“Well, it’s only several years old.” said Twilight “Besides, it was inspired by something…” she stopped.

“Something…?” asked Lightning “Something what…?”

Twilight began to seem strange, and was stammering, and Spike was nervously shaking his head at her telling her “No, don’t.”

“What’s going on?” asked Krysta.

“If there’s something vital you two aren’t telling us, you should probably say it anyway.” added Lightning “Look, I’m not making this an order, but tell us what it is.”

Twilight and Spike knew it would help clear the air a bit, and it would help if their friends knew. Twilight fluttered her wings, heading up to her bedroom, and she came down with a very small locked box, sealed with one of her spells. She uncast the magic, and opened the safe, and dumped out a whole bunch of badly conditioned, but very visible cards from another game.

Lightning and Krysta examined the cards, and couldn’t figure out much of them, except the inscription on the cards, and the country they were printed and distributed in. “These come from Earth.” Lightning said “…The human world, in the alternate universe.” added Krysta.

Twilight informed her friends that her friends, Cadance and Shining Armor, even Princess Luna and Celestia-- they had cards as well that came from the human world. “We all just woke up one day, and these cards were just here…”

Lightning blinked once. Cards from the human world didn’t just appear so suddenly without notice or reason. “What happened…?”

“We didn’t remember…” Spike said. “Like we said, we just woke up one day. We didn’t remember anything.”

Twilight nodded “But… we did see…” she explained how her curiosity of the cards led her to ask Zecora one day, but Zecora was just as baffled herself as what happened. Luckily, they were able to contact the spirits, and they were shown exactly what happened… every single step.

“I think I can recreate the images…” Twilight said, and she quickly retreated to her lab, and conjured up a special potion in a cauldron.

“Sounds like we’re about to see a show.” said Krysta, and she made herself comfortable with a small bag of popcorn by her side. The others looked at her awkwardly. “What…?”

“Ready…?” Twilight asked. The others nodded, and she then zapped the potion with a magic beam from her horn, and instantly, the magical images began to appear.

***

It was a simple time in Equestria of old, before Starfleet came and United Equestria was formed. Twilight was still just a normal Unicorn, and not princess yet. It was just a simple day, a very beautiful day. The one year anniversary of the marriage of Princess Cadance and Shining Armor, and the mane six, and Spike were all personally invited out to a lovely picnic celebration, organized by Princess Celestia and Luna.

It was a wonderful time…

Twilight played a lot with her brother, wand with her sister-in-law, re-enacting old fun times, and memories.

Pinkie Pie was being a little crazy, even snatching Celestia’s cupcakes before she could eat them…

…which Celestia took in humor.

“Oh, really Pinkie Pie, of all the imprudence.” groaned Rarity, but then she looked down to notice her own cupcake was gone-- Pinkie had just snatched it as well. “Ah!”

“Um… you can have mine if you want, Rarity.” said Spike as he shyly held out his sapphire cupcake to her. Rarity of course didn’t eat gems, but she thanks Spike nicely, and gave it a small lick with her tongue “Uh… eh… very… unique.”

Fluttershy and Applejack were relaxing on the soft cool grass. “Ah… yes ma’am, this is the life.” said Applejack. Fluttershy felt too comfortable and relaxed to say anything.

Suddenly, Rainbow Dash wooshed right past them… making them both jump, thought Fluttershy was panting heavily and her heart was pounding in fright.

“Yeah, a new record…!!” Rainbow hollered.

“Dag nabit, can’t a girl enjoy some relaxation without getting near missed.” groaned Applejack.

Fluttershy could only slowly sag down again, still shivering.

“Fine, be that way…” Rainbow muttered, and she continued to fly about.

While Twilight was still having loads of fun with her family, both she and the others were playing sneaky tag, hiding around the trees and shrubs, and then jumping out and surprising one another. Cadance and Twilight jumped on Shining Armor and began to tickle him to no mercy. “No… No…!!” he laughed and squeaked.

“Did you hear that, Twilight?”

“Yeah, he said he wants more.”

“Aaaaah…!!” cried Shining Armor as he continued giggle and laugh at the mercy of his wife and sister.

Meanwhile, the two royal sisters were in the flower fields, picking flowers for the palace dining room table. It was an old favorite pastime of theirs when they were both fillies. Sadly, it reminded Celestia of how much she missed her fiancé, Celesto, whom she hadn’t seen in a-thousand years since Luna, as Nightmare Moon cast him out into Dimensional Space, where he was teleported away to unknown regions.

Though it filled them both with high levels of grief, and Luna with shame for what she had done. They knew they couldn’t let their problems ruin this special day.

Suddenly, a bright light flashed in the sky. Everyone looked up. “What is that?” asked Twilight.

“I don’t know…” asked Celestia.

Before anyone could make any guess, the bright flash emitted a large glow that shot at Celestia. “Sister!” cried Luna. Celestia lay flat on the ground, and then suddenly, her eyes snapped opened, and she bolted upright fiercely. “Princess?” cried Twilight “Are you alright…?” added Cadance.

Celestia smirked, rather sinisterly. “I feel very fine…” and with that, her eyes gave a bright glow of light that seemed to envelope everyone, and spread all across the planet.

YUGIOH-SPIEZ
OPERATION DUEL: FINAL SEASON

The Lights in the Sky

Author's Note

Professor Mykan Jaden is just one of many characters I like to create and give my pen-name too, but I am not him at all.

The Lights in the Sky

CHAPTER ONE

One year ago…

Lee, Megan, Marc and Tony Clark…

They were senior Obelisk Blue students, now nearing the end of their third and final year at Duel Academy. They were only a few credits away now, but well on their way to getting them. They aced all their exams, won many submission duels, and participated in prestigious tournaments. This they all owed to their wonderful teachers, friends, and fellow WOOHP agents; Clover, Alex, Sam, and even myself, Chancellor Mykan Jaden, and my wife, Princess Sabrina.

Strangely though, even Tami was close to graduating as well. She had a major turnaround, and was also in Senior Obelisk Blue, much to the Clark’s annoyance, especially Lee’s, as Tami attended all their classes together, and would often struggle to sit near Lee, and constantly try and flirt with him again, or even ask him to the senior’s graduation prom.

“I’m sorry Tami, but I just don’t feel that way…” he would continuously tell her, but Tami was just too stubborn. “Rest assured My Little Lee, you will, and then you’ll wonder how you ever got on without Me.” she blew him a kiss and wandered off. Many of the students laughed at Lee, even his own siblings. “Ah, come on guys…” he groaned.

“You gotta admit, Lee. It is cute how persistent she is.” said Marc.

“Yeah, and imagine if you did fall for her… Little Lee.” Tony teased. His brother’s eyes flared with flames.

Megan went off teasing Lee with the old “Love, Marriage, baby carriage” poem, visualizing everything. Only Lee seemed to be more of a slave than an equal, and all the kids were miniature Tami’s “Uh… on second thought. Perish it.”

As the four walked back to their shared dorm room, and they took a good long look around, knowing that soon they would be leaving, for good. “I’m sure gonna miss this place.” said Tony.

Megan hopped onto her bed “We had a lot of good times at this school, as well as some wild adventures.”

“Yeah, all those evil creeps we kicked around, and saved the world.” added Lee.

Marc sat down at his special drawing table. “Yeah… I’ll never forget all the new cards I designed right here either.”

Recently, and in the past year, Marc had developed ideas and designs for special new cards to add to the game; preferably, the Xyz portion of it. Not only did he come up with new cards to make Xyz summoning easier, but his ideas sparked me, and our team of card experts to design a whole new level of Xyz monsters, considerably stronger than normal ones….

…Chaos Xyz Monsters!

With these new cards, the Clarks as well as many students had restacked their decks, and trained a lot. It was practically as if Xyz monsters were the best way to play the game. Still, others like the Clarks weren’t overly obsessed and still liked other parts of the game.

Lee has his dinos. Marc had his Synchrons and Synchros. Megan had her Cybers, and Tony still used his old Destiny Heroes.

“What are we going to do once we leave here?” Tony wondered.

None of his siblings had a single word to say about that. Marc then said “Don’t you think maybe we should worry about passing our final exams first? We can’t graduate without those.”

“Oh, snap!” cried Lee.

“We better hit the books then.” added Megan.

A while later the spies were all collapsed on their beds, tired from all their studying and some of them were snoring…

…unaware that danger was erupting!

Hundreds of miles away from Duel Academy Island, was a very small, and rocky island, about fifty square feet. A bright flash of light emitted from the center of the island, and a band of unusual creatures appeared; Ponies, they were, and they were all under the lead of their Princess, Celestia!

She gazed all around her, and while all she could see were the waters of the sea, she knew what lay out there. “So, this is that other world…?” she sneered softly to herself. She then turned to face all the others “I don’t have to remind you why we are all here…”

“No Princess…” said one of the ponies “We all the same goal in common.”

Another pony stepped forth “We’ll rinse all the filth from this here rust-shackle, and make these so-called humans learn some decency.”

Everyone else agreed, and at the same time, everyone’s eyes glowed with an eerie flash of white light, along with a mysterious marking on their foreheads.

Celestia snickered sinisterly and then hissed softly “Now it… begins!”

…

Lee opened his eyes, and groaned softly. He noticed light peeking through the edge of the curtains on the window. “Ugh, it can’t be morning already…” he groaned, and when he checked the clock, it was only just after Ten in the night. This made Lee wonder in shock, and he dashed over to the window and yanked the curtains open.

This woke up his siblings. “Hey, turn down the lights!” groaned Marc.

“Can’t a girl get her beauty sleep anymore?” Megan whined.

“Five more hours.” complained Tony.

“Guys, get up now!” cried Lee. He sounded worried, and the others got up and joined him at the window, and were they ever surprised…!!

It was still night time, but the sky seemed, divided into patterns, with colored streaks across the sky. Many different colors…

Lilac, Orange, Pink, Light Blue, Yellow, Purple…

There were even a couple or strips with odd designs on them, like wallpaper. One had shadowy image, another had crystal heart shapes all over it, and even one with a fire flame design.

“I’ve heard or Aurora Borealis, but this is… I don’t know what it is!” cried Marc.

Megan thought it was somewhat cool, but she knew this was anything but a trick of nature. “We’ve got to tell someone about this.”

The Spies bolted out the door, only to suddenly see a whole bunch of students up, and out of bed and their rooms after hours, but something seemed strange about them. They all were glaring sternly at the spies, and their eyes seemed… strange, and glittering, while at the same time filled with a sort of emptiness, and on their foreheads was a strange marking.

“Okay… what’s going on?” asked Megan.

At that, more and more students turned their attention to the spies. “Look, they haven’t got the mark.” snapped one of the girls.

“We shall fix that.” said a boy.

“Hail to Harmony! Hail to the Light!” many of the students chanted as they began to march forth like zombies under a spell… getting closer, and closer.

“Uh, is this the part where we panic?” cried Lee.

“Let’s get out of here.” cried Marc.

“There’s nowhere to run!” shouted Megan.

The army of students were closing in, and getting closer still, chanting “Hail to Harmony! Hail to the Light!”

Suddenly, at the last second, the spies got sucked up through the ceiling, and were WOOHPED to Jerry’s office. “Good Evening, Spies. Sorry if I disturbed your sleep.”

“Jerry, you Woohped us not a moment too soon.” said Tony.

“Something really strange is going on at our school.” added Megan.

“I’m afraid it’s not just at Duel Academy, Megan…” said Jerry. He too was well aware of the lights in the skies, and showed the spies images that they could be seen all over the world, even in broad daylight. “Do we know what’s causing it?” asked Marc.

“I’m afraid not…” said Jerry “However, there is more…” and he showed the spies images of how half the people in the world were acting strange and abnormally, like the students at the academy. They were even chanting the same phrase about Harmony and Light. There was no doubt, they were defiantly brainwashed by something.

These brainwashed people were going after others, in attempting to force them to join their little society… by engaging in duels. They seemed to crush the normal people so easily with powerful cards, even some not seen before. The spies watched as a normal person was defeated by someone brainwashed, and the marking on their forehead zapped them, brainwashing that person.

“That mark…” said Marc “I know I’ve seen it before.”

He got out his mini-pocket-computer and searched through his dueling data, and came up with the mark from an old sketch for a card called “Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force”

This only made things more confusing. “How can a mark from a duel monster card be doing all this?” Tony wondered aloud.

Megan searched through her deck and found several other cards like the Astral Force card, but all of them were different in many ways. “Maybe we should ask Chancellor Mykan.” Lee suggested, but at that very moment, I walked into Jerry’s office with my wife, Sabrina.

“It’s all right, Lee, we already know.” I said to him.

“When did you guys get here?” asked Marc.

“We were working late and we saw the lights in the skies.” Sabrina answered.

“We knew there had to be a problem, especially when we saw the students acting strange, and Jerry contacted us…” I added.

The spies sat down as I began to explain to them what was going on and it all began when my team of card makers designed the chaos Xyz monsters…

Special spell cards were designed to make the summoning possible as were per the new rules of the game, Rank up cards, they were called. Three had already been created without much difficulty…

-Rank-Up-Magic Numeron Force
-Rank-Up-Magic Barian’s Force
-Rank-Up-Magic Limited Barian’s Force

However, when creating the fourth card, Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force, something mysterious occurred; the card began to glow with a mysterious light, and it began to cause extreme problems. Our workers began to feel their energy being drained, and others had collapsed with illness. I myself was among them, and Sabrina and her team of doctors nursed us all back to health, but it became that the Astral card was danger to use all.

We tried to destroy the one and only card we had created of it, but the card actually began to hurt others who dared to get near it, and absorbed more energy and light. It was almost like trying to stave off an army. Finally, we managed to isolate the card in a protective casing, but this card was so dangerous we just had to destroy it, and there was only one sure-fire way we could think of…!

Being honorary members and business partners of WOOHP, we contacted Jerry and told him of our problem, so we put the case with the card in it onboard a WOOHP rocket. Our plan was to send it out into space and then steer it straight into the sun. That we felt would surely destroy the card without trouble… except… something went mysteriously wrong…

As the rocket got closer and closer to the sun… it just vanished… without any explanation at all.

The spies were very confused and concerned with all this. “How could an entire rocket simply vanish like that?” Marc wondered aloud.

“Wait a second…” said Megan “You think that this whole mess might have something to do with that card you made?”

I nodded, and everyone agreed that it had to be or why else would the astral mark be appearing on people’s heads? “What does everyone mean though when they say “Hail to Harmony? Hail to the light”?” asked Lee.

“We’re not sure of that either.” said Sabrina “The first student I found acting this way; I felt something was wrong so I took her to the med-room and gave her an exam. She was perfectly healthy, and all her vital signs were normal, but then it got scary. She attacked me and tried to force me to “bow to the light of harmony”. I barely managed to escape and seal her in quarantine.”

This worried the spies, having seen what the world was becoming, and slowly but surely more and more innocent people were becoming brainwashed by this light of harmony, and then those people were going after others and brainwashing them too.

“We’ve got to find out who’s doing this and stop them.” snapped Tony.

“Yeah, otherwise the whole world will be turned into groups of walking zombies.” added Megan.

“Exactly right Super Spies.” said Jerry “However, this time it seems you will need many hands for this job… therefore…” he then pressed a button on his desk, and a large door slid open, and there stood Clover Sam and Alex, the Spies tutors. “Yo, what up kids?” cried Alex.

The Clarks were very happy to see the girls, especially seeing as they weren’t affected. Tony was really happy to see Clover, still having his silly crush on her. “Whoa, with you girls by our side, this mission will be a snap.” he said with excitement, but Jerry cleared his throat snapping Tony back into reality “I’m afraid you won’t exactly be side-by-side, Tony. You’ll all be splitting up to cover every inch of assigned places across the world; we’re going to be sending you all each to a place where the sources of the brainwashing seemed to occur.”

Tony felt a little down, but Clover approached him and lifted his head up “Aw, come on Tony.” She said sweetly “You guys are like totally pros and going solo, and we believe in you.”

Tony blushed and giggled.

“We know we can trust you kids on this one, but if you’re in danger we can contact each other.” said Sam.

“Now what’d’ya say we get out there and bust whatever’s causing this?” cried Alex.

The spies all agreed, and transformed into their spy-gear, and knowing that they’d be dueling, they armed themselves with their decks.

“Sabrina and I will head back and try to protect remaining students who haven’t been brainwashed yet.” I said “Good luck to all of you.” added Sabrina.

The spies all nodded at us, and then Sabrina and I headed home. Jerry then gave the spies some simple gadgets to use on the mission, and then he wished them good luck and sent them all on their way, across different corners of the globe.

After everyone was gone, Jerry opened a drawer in his desk where his own deck stood. As tempting as it was to go out there and help the spies deal with the current situation, as well as get back into the game, he ultimately decided to close the drawer back up and get back to monitoring things.

Meanwhile, in a secret lair Princess Celestia was in a lighted roomed, which seemed to become more illuminate by the minute as she used her magic to observe the many loyal followers she was getting. “Look at it, Princess Luna…” she said to her sister “A whole other world where the light and harmony will shine and humanity will pay for their initial insolence.”

Luna agreed but informed her sister that “There are still many who reject and refuse us. They try and rebel…”

Celestia didn’t seem worried “Try as they may, they’ll soon understand their errors. All ways lead to the light of harmony, and all ways lead us… to the perfection we shall rule.” she snickered softly and wickedly.

Fashion Freak

Author's Note

-The ponies will be given decks and strategies “THAT I” feel suits their “So-called” personas best (No complaining or mocking about it)

-All Card names will be displayed in Capital-Bold-Italic text (This does not necessarily indicate shouting)

-Names that are UNDERLINED indicates the card is in fact real (Can be found in our world) but I am using its anime effect (This helps the duels to progress easier)

-Names that have a STRIKE-THROUGH means the card is only found in the anime/manga.

-Rarity's deck was inspired by her own vanity, and the fact she can very scattered-brained that she doesn't think things through before acting

Fashion Freak

CHAPTER TWO

Megan was up first and she got to stop off in Paris. Normally she was psyched about getting to visit and check out all the coolest fashions and artworks, and maybe get courted by a lucky-in-love Frenchman, but upon her arrival, things did not look pretty…

The stream of purple light in the sky seemed to radiating the strongest overhead, and on top of that, the city seemed to be overrun with brainwashed people still chanting to the light of harmony, while others were roaming the streets and seeking out all those who weren’t among them yet to be part of the heard.

“This is so, not cool.” Megan said to herself, and then she noticed down in the streets, three brainwashed people were ganging up on a helpless French-boy. He cried out for someone to help him, but the others insisted…

“We do not wish to ‘arm you.”

“Oui… we only wish to ‘elp you see zee light.”

“It’ll all be over soon.”

They got out dueling cards ready to make their moves, until Megan came swooping down and kicked the cards out of their hands. “Didn’t anyone ever teach you about fair play?” she scolded at them. The French-boy seemed to be taken in by her heroism, but the other three people saw her as another trouble maker. “Perhaps you should come with us and learn a few manners yourself about ‘armony.”

“You will see zee light. You shall be one of us.”

They all moved in closer, but Megan was ready for them, and got out one of her gadgets “Have a taste of the WOOHP Stun Spray!” It was an aerosol can that spayed a substance that would paralyze any being dead in their tracks. More and more of the brainwashed people came at her, but Megan stunned them in their tracks as well. Then she switched to her next gadget “Now let’s use… the WOOHP Super Strong String.” It only appeared to be an ordinary long rope, but this rope could extend extremely long, and it was, as said, super strong, made of a diamond filament which Megan used to round up gaggles of the infected people and tie them up.

Still, as many of the people she managed to overcome, many more seemed to come at her. “This isn’t going the way I hoped.” Megan said. She suddenly found herself surrounded, but she escaped with the help of her rocket-boots. “This is nuts!” Megan groaned, and she flew off over the town hoping to find the source of the purple light.

Suddenly, she was shrouded in a mystical, sparkling blue light. “Hey, what’s happening?” Megan cried as she felt herself being pulled away and through the window of a large building. She found herself then in a big square room, surrounded by wall-to-wall mirrors, but none of the brainwashed people we’re anywhere to be scene, all Megan could really see was just her many reflections from so many angles. “Hmm, cool…” she said as she posed her body in many ways, but her enjoyment was interrupted by the sound of someone snickering and saying “It appears we have a troublemaker.”

“Who’s there?” snapped Megan.

The voice snickered again “You’re not like others, especially with your distasteful fashion sense.”

“Hey, what do you mean distasteful?! Where are you?”

Megan slowly turned round and saw a figure standing in the shadows, and she slowly walked out into the light, and Megan was just stunned with astonishment “No way, you’re a… you’re a… unicorn?!”

The beautiful creature shimmered in the light coming through the windows, and she shook her mane loose, but this revealed the astral mark on her head. “I am Rarity; Mistress of fashion, and a highly sophisticated lady of standards sociality. I also serve the light of harmony.”

Megan didn’t need any more proof after what she just heard “So you’re the one responsible for all this. You’re brainwashing everyone into mindless zombies.”

“Brainwashing…?” Rarity chuckled “That’s such a strong word. Nobody’s been brainwashed.”

Rarity explained, about how she and her friends come from Equestria, a magical planet located in another dimension, and how she and her kind, the My Little Ponies, they believed in the powers of friendship, harmony, love and light. They came to the human world hoping to share the light and harmony with all the people, “And it seems we were right to do so. You humans are indeed a sorry lot. Well, we’re here to help you fix yourselves and better your lives.”

Megan wasn’t sure if she could truly believe all this--the idea of magical ponies from another world and all that jazz-- nevertheless “Brainwashing is still brainwashing no matter how you try and say it.”

“Temper-Temper…” Rarity snickered “You ought to take a good look around at yourself.” Megan peeks all over at her many reflections and Rarity continued to badger her about how grumpy she looked “I can see now that you need to be administrated with a little enforcement.” Rarity said “When I get through with you, you’ll be wishing you just came willingly.”

“Don’t think so!” snarled Megan, and she whipped out the stun spray and fired it straight at Rarity, which did stun her on the spot. “All right!” cried Megan, but then, much to her horror, Rarity’s horn glowed, and she neutralized the effects of the spray with magic.

“Ugh! How dare you spray me with such stuff, not to mention very horrid in odor!” Rarity whined.

Megan was really starting to lose her cool.

Rarity’s horn glowed again, and she raised Megan up high using telekinesis. “Hey! Put me down!” she growled.

“You will discover now who you truly stand before.” snapped Rarity “You will see the light, you will feel the harmony!”

Megan suddenly remembered something about magic and unicorns and how magic as this could only be conducted through maintaining eye-contact. So she flashed her eye-com flashlight right at Rarity’s eyes, stunning her again and breaking her grip, causing Megan to hit the floor. “Note to self: bring soft pillows.” she groaned.

Rarity moaned and wailed as she fussed about. “Now look what you’ve done to me. I am blind! BLIND!!”

“Your eyes are closed.” grumbled Megan.

She opened her eyes, and felt both silly and enraged. “It appears I’ve underestimated you. You are obviously desperate.”

Megan growled at the pony.

“Well then… we’ll just have to settle this in a more civilized manner.”

“If you mean a duel, now you’re talkin’ my language” said Megan. She always carried her duel disk with her, and loaded it up. “Ha! Let’s do this.”

Rarity snickered and then the mark on her head glowed brightly, and a special dueling base appeared before her. Since she didn’t have opposable fingers to hold her cards, her cards would magically be moved from the top of the deck to a base in front of her, to simulate drawing, and the cards would move to their respective places on the platter when played.

“That has got to be the weirdest duel setup I’ve ever seen.” said Megan.

“Ha! Your insults won’t get you very far with me.”

“Yeah…? Well, neither will your attitude.” growled Megan “Now, let’s get moving.”

They drew their cards, and life points were set “DUEL!!”

SCORE:

Megan: 8000 VS Rarity: 8000

“I’ll go first…” said Megan “And I’ll start by playing the spell POLYMERIZATION. I’ll use it to fuse Etoile Cyber and Blade Skater from my hand, and Fusion-Summon CYBER BLADER!”

(Atk: 2100)

Rarity gazed at Megan’s monster, and seemed impressed with her outfit. “Oh, my stars!” she cried “Why that outfit is simply divine. Why I could make a whole line of casual and formal-wear, and…”

“Will you just move already!” snarled Megan.

Rarity grunted “How rude. Well, I’ll show you…” she drew her card, and her eye shimmered."First I shall play the spell, POT OF GREED, so I shall now draw two new cards. Then, I shall summon the REFLECT BOUNDER in defense mode.”

(Def: 1000)

“Now, I shall place two cards face down, and conclude my turn.”

Megan stared down Rarity’s field. She knew Reflect bounder’s ability would deal her damage if she tried to attack it, but then again, Rarity did have two face-down cards as well, which made her wonder if Rarity was up to something else.

“Well, come now. It’s not polite to keep a lady in waiting.” said Rarity.

“Why don’t you hold your horses?” Megan grunted, and drew her next card. Rarity took that as a bit of an insult, but Megan liked what she drew “Let’s see you try this on for size. I activate FISSURE!”

Rarity gasped as she saw her only monster get shattered to dust.

“Guess that’s seven years bad luck.” Megan gloated “Now, Cyber Blader, attack her directly!”

“Not so fast!” snapped Rarity “I activate the trap MIRROR FORCE!”

“Ah!”

Rarity snickered “Now your own attack shall be repelled, and your own monster shall be vanquished!”

“Don’t think so, from my hand, I activate DE-FUSION! It’ll split Cyber Bladder back up into the two monsters she’s made of.”

(Def: 1600)

(Def: 1500)

“And since they were brought back in defense-mode, they don’t get destroyed.”

Rarity growled fiercely, and Megan laid one card facedown, ending her turn, but after which, Rarity grinned sinisterly. “Now I have you…”

“Huh?”

Rarity drew her card and grinned even winder “Oh, how simply marvelous. Remarkable, this is exactly what I needed.”

“What is it?” snapped Megan.

“A card that I shall now place facedown.” said Rarity. Megan really didn’t like the sound of that, and Rarity continued her turn. “And now I call on THE AGENT OF CREATION- VENUS!”

(Atk: 1600)

“Isn’t she beautiful? Well, now observe as I invoke her special ability. First, I must pay up 1500 of my life points.”

SCORE:

Megan: 8000 VS Rarity: 6500

After her points were paid, Rarity’s deck glowed brightly, and three beams of light shot out on the field. “Behold, three MYSTICAL SHINE BALL(s)!”

(Atk: 500)x3

The shiny balls shimmered as the light shone on them, and the mirrors all around the room reflected the light, making them seem brighter than ever. Rarity gazed at it all with sparkles in her eyes, and her mouth hanging open.

“Give me a break!” groaned Megan and then she shouted “Are you going to duel or just drool!”

Rarity snapped back into reality, and her features hardened. “How rude…! I can’t help it if I have such a fine taste in fashion and glamour, unlike some…”

Megan gritted her teeth and growled.

“Well then…” snapped Rarity “If I may continue, I activate two of the same spell card; HARMONIC WAVES!”

Megan knew that card, it was one of the fresh cards just released a few months ago, which could actually change the level of one monster to four, and since Rarity played two, she manged to form a group of two level 4 monsters,and two level two monsters. Rarity then overlaid the two groups. “With these combinations, I build what you call the Overlay Network, twice, and I Xyz Summon two creatures…”

“SHINING ELF…” (Atk: 1600)

“And…

EVIGISHKI MERROWGEIST!” (Atk: 2100)

The first monster was a rather handsome and dashing young elf. To Rarity he resembled that of a handsome prince, and the second was a heavily armed mermaid warrior. Her facial features seemed attractive, but she looked dressed more like a nightmare.

“If there’s one thing every fashion-expert knows, it’s how to beautify things.” said Rarity. She gazed at one of her two remaining cards, and her eyes shimmered at the sight of it. “Now, witness the power of RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!”

Megan gasped in shock “But… how?! How is that card still around?” She then shielded her eyes as the mark on Rarity’s head glowed brightly along with her card. “With the aid of this card, and my Merrowgeist, I’ll give it an extreme makeover, but rebuilding the Overlay Network, so that I may call on a monster two ranks higher.”

Megan then watched as the formation began.

“Behold!” shouted Rarity “I Xyz Summon NUMBER 21: FROZEN LADY JUSTICE!”

(Atk: 500)

“Success…!” Rarity sang “Once again, a marvelous ensemble for a fair monster of such class.”

Megan was not only tired of all this, but she was confused. “Why would you summon that? I don’t see how it’s a threat to me. I mean it hardly has any attack points.”

Rarity felt insulted “Apparently you are far more ignorant than I anticipated. My new monster not only has better physique and clothing, but also a few new tricks, and one of which is, each of her overlay units grants her an additional thousand attack points.”

(Atk: 500) ---> (Atk: 3500)

“Thirty-five hundred?!” cried Megan.

Rarity snickered softly and teased “What, is it too much for you? Well, I’ll lower it then, but using one of those units. It may drop my Lady’s attack to 2500; however, your defending monsters will now leave!”

“Ah!” gasped Megan as she watched both her monsters explode before her eyes. “Now, that you are defenseless. Go my Lady, and attack her directly!”

The monster lunged straight at Megan…

“Don’t think so, I activate the trap SAKURETSU ARMOR! It destroys any monster that’s trying to attack me. So your lady’s going down.”

“Not so fast!” snapped Rarity and she activated a counter-trap “Go, XYZ REFLECT!”

Megan yelped! She knew that card only too well. It negated the effects of any card targeting an Xyz monster. Megan’s trap card was destroyed, and then she took 800 points of damage!

SCORE:

Megan: 7200 VS Rarity: 6500

“Now let’s try this again…” said Rarity “Attack her directly!”

Both the monsters lunged forth, and struck Megan hard, knocking her off her feet and dealing her a combined total of 4100 points of damage!

SCORE:

Megan: 3100 VS Rarity: 6500

By this point, Megan was furious, and she pounded the floor angrily. Then she got back onto her feet, but Rarity simply flicked her mane “You see what happens when you show disrespect. Why not make it easier and give in to the light and harmony? It isn’t even painful to join.”

“As if…!” snapped Megan “I wouldn’t join your little club even I was promised a million dollars.”

Rarity scoffed at such a thought “I guess I’ll have to wipe you out then. After I get through with you, you’ll really wish you chose the easy way.”

Megan scoffed “Forget it you overgrown mule! You’ll never crush me!”

Rarity’s features completely hardened, her head began to throb, and her eyes flared with fury. “What… did… you just CALL ME?!?!” She growled, and screeched angrily, unleashing a wave of magic, shattering many of the mirrors in the room.

Megan was wide-eyed with shock, as Rarity stood there panting. “I could handle the ignorance, the insolence… but no one… I mean NO ONE CALLS ME A MULE AND GETS AWAY WITH IT!!”

She huffed and puffed and panted like a bull ready to charge, but it was Megan’s turn. “You seriously need to chill.” Megan said as she drew her card. “I play POT OF GREED. Now I can draw two more cards.”

She drew her cards, and then thought quietly. Against two Xyz Monsters, she had her work cut out for her. She would have to play something strong and fast, but also to keep Rarity at bay.

“It’s risky, but I’ve got to try it.” Megan said “I activate TRADE-IN. Now by discarding eight-star monster, I can draw two more cards.”

“Draw all the cards you wish, nothing can save you now.” said Rarity.

“Oh yeah, well watch this!” snapped Megan “Now I play MONSTER REBORN!”

“You what…?!”

“You heard me, and I bet you can guess which card I’m gonna revive. The one I just ditched. Say hello to one of my newest monsters; WHITE KNIGHT DRAGON!”

(Atk: 3000)

Rarity gawked in worry at the dragon, but Megan felt proud to have it out. Cyber girls would always number one with her, but along the way she knew she had to open up and expand her horizons, and that meant trying new cards now and then.

“Very impressive…” Rarity said “But I’m afraid I’m about to cut that monster of yours down to size. You see, my Shining Elf lets me use one of his precious Overlay Units, and in exchange, I may weaken your monster’s attack by 500 points.”

(Atk: 3000) ---> (Atk: 2500)

“Hmm…!” Megan grunted “I’m not letting that slow me down. I can still wipe your little boy toy. Attack White Dragon…!”

“Sorry, but no…” snapped Rarity, and before Megan knew it, her dragon crashed right into a large mirror “NIGHTMARE MIRROR?! No, not that card!” cried Megan.

“I’m afraid so…” hissed Rarity “And it’s very bad luck to break a mirror. So bad, that it costs you 1000 life points.”

SCORE:

Megan: 2100 VS Rarity: 6500

“And it only cost me to discard one card, and that was for calling me a mule!”

Rarity’s hand, or rather her holder was totally empty now.

Megan put one card facedown--one she was counting on to help her end the duel—and ended her turn.

Now it was Rarity’s turn, and grinned sinisterly, but didn’t bother to draw a card.

Instead, a small light glowed from her graveyard, and a single card zapped into the holder. “Hey, what are you doing?” snapped Megan “You can’t just take a card like that.”

“Oh… can’t I?” hissed Rarity “Well, for your information, I can, and I did, just as I can and will play it; RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!”

“Oh, no, not again?!” cried Megan as the brightness began to shine forth. “Prepare to face the most beautiful monster in my entire fleet.” shouted Rarity “With the power of my Lady Justice, I rebuild the Overlay Network, so I may call a monster one rank higher!”

In big flash of bright light, the monster appeared! “Behold… OREA, THE SYLVAN HIGH ARBITER!”

(Atk: 2800)

Rarity gazed more deeply at her new monster than any other she had summoned. “Oh, boy, she has gone fully nuts.” Megan muttered to herself. She was very dismayed by Rarity’s entire strategy and deck construction-- nothing but beautiful and fashionable creatures, and a whole lot of mirrors, and now she summoned forth a monster, while beautiful, with an effect that wouldn’t help her much at all.

Rarity, still acting as vain and as blinded by her misguidedness, didn’t seem to care much that her monster’s ability wouldn’t help her. Then she turned to face Megan “And now my beauty, attack! Destroy that dragon!”

(Atk: 2800) (VS) (Atk: 2500)

SCORE:

Megan: 1800 VS Rarity: 6500

“Now, Shining Elf, go!”

Megan was knocked off her feet again by the attack, and lost a good 1600 points.

SCORE:

Megan: 200 VS Rarity: 6500

Rather than be outraged, Megan smiled softly, and activated her disk.

“Well, what say you now my dear?” hissed Rarity, but as she gazed on ahead she could see the White Dragon had returned and was staring her down. “What?! But, I just destroyed that awful creature.”

“Yeah, you did, and then I brought him back.” Megan gloated as she motioned at her Call of the Haunted card next to her. “You know, if you spent less time whining, complaining and ogling about fashion, maybe you’d actually get somewhere with yourself.”

“I’ll have you know I’ve gotten extremely far!” snarled Rarity.

Megan scoffed, “It doesn’t look like you did to Me.” she drew her next card. “Now I play XYZ TREASURE! Now I get to draw one card for every Xyz monster in play.” She drew two cards, and her eyes glistened with joy.

She now had four cards in her hand, exactly what she needed to end the duel.
“Why would you give me something as this?”

“You’ll see.” Megan said “In the meantime, I summon CYBER TUTU!”

(Atk: 1000)

“And while I’m at it, I’ll throw in this; LEVEL AWARD! It lets me make Cyber Tutu’s level the same as my Dragon’s.”

Rarity gazed in worry as the two monsters were now Level Eight, and as expected, Megan overlaid them both. “Now I build the Overlay Network. I Xyz Summon NUMBER 40: GIMMICK PUPPET OF STRINGS!”

(Atk: 3000)

Rarity gawked at the new monster, and felt disgusted. “What sort of monster is that, and with such an awful appearance and ensemble?”

Megan grinned cheekily “It’s just part of my plan to take you down.”

“That, I very much doubt!” sneered Rarity.

Megan sighed “You see this is your problem; you’re so wrapped up with all this fashion and good looks that you’ve stacked your deck improperly. Looks aren’t everything to a good strategy ya know. You need a combination of strategy, strength and skill, and I’ll prove it by using my puppet’s special ability, by using an overlay unit, I can put one String Counter on both your monsters.”

Megan’s monster shot out two large strings straight at both of Rarity’s monsters. Rarity didn’t like how they looked one bit “What are you doing?!” she snarled “Those awful strings are clashing with my monster’s priceless outfits.”

“Oh, they’re going to do more than just clash…” Megan said as she held up a card “I activate the spell RANK-UP-MAGIC BARRIAN’S FORCE!”

“What?!” snapped Rarity.

“Go, Chaos Xyz Evolution!”

Dark waves of energy enveloped Megan’s monster. “Now I do exactly what you did, and summon a monsters stronger than what I had. I rebuild the Overlay Network and now I summon NUMBER C40: GIMMICK PUPPET OF DARK STRINGS!”

(Atk: 3300)

When the monster appeared, a holographic image of the Barrian mark on the Rank Up card appeared on Megan’s forehead. Rarity shuddered at both it and the sight of the wicked monster. “Don’t forget about my Shining Elf, now I can weaken your monster down to size.”

“No you can’t…” Megan hissed, and she snapped her fingers, and the last Overlay Unit on the Shining Elf went over to Megan’s monster, much to Rarity’s horror “Just another one of my Rank Up card’s tricks.” Megan gloated “Now your monster can’t weaken me, and besides, when my Dark Strings summoned, she destroys all monsters that have String Counters on them! Then I get to draw one card, while you take damage equal your strongest monster’s original attack points.”

Rarity gasped and then watched in horror as her two monsters shattered into nothing and her score dropped by 2800.

SCORE:

Megan: 200 VS Rarity: 3700

“This… this cannot be!” Rarity whined “After all I spent beautifying and perfecting them to every last detail.” She was acting like a very over-dramatic drama queen.

“Yeah, a drag, I know…” said Megan “Too bad for you it’s all over, because look at the card I just drew; XYZ UNIT! So my monster now gain’s 200 attack-points times the number of her rank and that makes her get 1800!”

(Atk: 3300) ---> (Atk: 5100)

“No!” cried Rarity.

Megan nodded and she gazed all around at the shattered mirrors, she could still see the reflection from so many more angles than before, and how scared Rarity looked.

“Mirrors, Mirrors on the wall,
Guess who is about to fall!”

Then she ordered her monster to attack Rarity directly.

Rarity screamed as the monster struck her hard, and she collapsed to the ground.

FINAL-SCORE:

Megan: 200 VS Rarity: “0000”

“Yeah…!” Megan cheered “Score one for Megan!”

The mark on Rarity’s head stopped glowing, and the stream of purple light in the skies vanished.

At the same time, Twilight Sparkle had to report to the princess. “Your majesty, I regret to inform you, Rarity’s magical bond has been broken.”

Celestia didn’t seem angry at all, but she did have a queer look on her face. “As I feared, we face defiance. Someone is trying to bind out the light and the harmony.” She got off her throne and walked over to one of the large crystals on the wall, Rarity’s crystal, which was still glowing. “No matter… They will soon discover the error of their ways.”

Twilight agreed, and informed her of the little scheme she and her faithful assistant had prepared for such an emergency.

Rarity continued to lie where she was, barely moving. The purple light had completely vanished, and Megan truly thought she had outdone herself, yet when she looked outside, she noticed all the people were still brainwashed and still chanting for the Light of Harmony. “Hey, what gives…?” Megan groaned.

While continued to contemplate, someone else in the room was watching her through the shadows with a pair of nasty green eyes.

Megan suddenly had that feeling she wasn’t alone. “Who’s there?” she shouted, and before she knew it… it jumped out at her… she screamed… and before long a big flash of light erupted from the place, and Megan blacked out.

Blue Sky VS Clear Water

CHAPTER THREE

The purple light was gone, and that immediately told everyone that Megan was successful in locating the source of the trouble. Her duel disk data was even relayed some of the captured data back to Jerry at WOOHP, and relayed it back to all of us.

It was very strange to hear about the ponies, the Light of Harmony, and all that other stuff that went with it. Regardless of what Megan’s report had said about the ponies only wanting to help humanity, by showing them all the harmony and light anyone could ask for…

…already, the spies, Jerry, even I myself was convinced they didn’t realize what they were doing, and they had to be stopped.

Only now, things were not really improving all that well, for Megan wasn’t responding to any calls, and her duel disk signal had gone out. Even WOOHP wasn’t able to track her down with their equipment.

Everyone was really worried, and things got more intense when Jerry sent out a WOOHP team to check out Megan’s last known whereabouts in Paris. They found Megan’s duel disk busted, and all her cards were scattered about the floor. That wasn’t like her at all. She’d never just up and leave her cards like that.

As if that weren’t bad enough, the agents reported that the people in the city still seemed to be chanting to the light of harmony, despite the purple light being gone. The agents were barely able to escape and avoid being brainwashed themselves.

Megan’s duel disk was now at WOOHP trying to be repaired, or at least recover any data that could tell everyone what happened. In the meantime, despite everyone’s concern, Jerry ordered the spies continue on their own missions.

Sam was in Cleveland, where the blue light seemed to be emitting from, and upon her arrival, the view was just breathtaking. The sky was loaded with rainbows all over, but this was very abnormal. Sam checked the weather reports on her powder-com, and the readout showed it hadn’t rained for at least two days. If it had, it couldn’t cause all those rainbows at once, nor would they be so bright or so clear.

Just then, she could see another rainbow appearing instantly in the distance, and then another one, and another...

“How can that happen?” she wondered and she got out her com and actually recorded the rainbows as they formed with her camera. The she played back the recording at a slower speed. “Wait… what’s that?” She zoomed in at what appeared to be a small cloud that seemed to be moving at incredible speed, too fast for her to get a proper fix on.

Suddenly, something zoomed straight past her, sending her crashing down hard. She was barely able to re-fire her jetpack to land safely. “Whew…! That was way to close.” she cried, but she wasn’t safe yet. All the people in the street had turned to face her, and they all had the astral marks on their heads, and look of emptiness in their eyes… each pair staring at her.

“Look!”

“She doesn’t have the mark.”

“We can’t have this.”

“Let’s get her!”

“FOR THE LIGHT…!!”

“FOR HARMONY…!!”

…and the mob began to rush at Sam. “Whoa, I’m outta here!” and she fired her jet pack and flew back up high to safety.

Just then, that same strange thing zoomed past her again, creating another rainbow. Sam tried to chase after the thing, but it was moving much to fast even for her jetpack to keep up with. So, she decided to outsmart the thing, and aim for where it would be rather than where it was.

She waited until it seemed ready to pass by her again, by following the creations of the rainbows. Finally, she saw her chance as the thing came towards her, and she latched onto it with her bungee-belt. “Got'cha… WHOA!!” and she ended up taking one heck of a wild ride. Upwards, downwards, in circular motions…!! “I think I’m gonna be sick!” cried Sam.

She reached onto her belt and pulled out a small pistol, and fired a stun blast at the small cloud. “Hey!!” snapped a voice from within the cloud, and Sam suddenly found herself crashing down below and landing on top of a high-rise, really hard.

Sam wasn’t hurt, but she gazed ahead and saw a light-blue pony with wings, and a rainbow colored mane. She had no horn, but she too had the astral mark on her head.

…above all, she looked pretty angry too! “Hey, what’s the big idea?!” she snarled “You lookin’ to get fixed or somethin’, chump?”

Sam stood and clenched her fists “I’m now chump, whoever you are.”

“The name is Rainbow Dash, and you messed up my work, and my world speed record!”

“What, creating a-hundred rainbows?” Sam asked, but then she quickly felt ridiculous “What am I talking about?”

Rainbow then noticed Sam’s forehead didn’t bear the mark. “So, you’re one of those troublemakers who beat Rarity. I thought one of you would show up.”

“Really?” snapped Sam.

Rainbow nodded “We’ve got our orders…” she held up her deck and a duel setup formed “I’m gonna clean your clocks, double for messing up my fun.”

Sam scoffed and armed her own deck and duel disk. “If your idea of bringing so-called harmony and light into our world means brainwashing people, you’ve got another thing coming. Let’s duel.”

The scores were set as they drew their first cards…

SCORE:

Rainbow: 8000 VS Sam: 8000

Rainbow decided to go first. “First up, I’ll play POT OF GREED so I draw two more cards, and since we’re pretty high up, it’s only fair I start out with this; The continuous spell SUMMON CLOUD!”

“Summon Cloud?!” Sam thought “This can only only mean one thing…” and she was correct; Rainbow Dash was using a deck full of Cloudains as she demonstrated with her next move.

“Thanks to my spell, since I have no monsters, I can summon this guy; CLOUDIAN- CIRROSTRATUS!”

(Atk: 900)

“Like most Cloudians, it can’t be destroyed in battle, but it can’t go into defense-mode or it’s gets destroyed. But why have just one? I can also summon a second one.”

(Atk: 900)

“And when this dude’s out, I can put a Fog counter on him for each cloudian on the field. So, he gets two.”

(Fog Counter: 2)

“Now I’ll place one card facedown, and play the spell LUCKY CLOUD! Since I summoned two identical Cloudians, I get to draw two cards.”

She drew her cards, but was forced to end her turn. “No go ahead, chump. Make your move.”

Sam was growing really irritated with Rainbow’s macho attitude, but didn’t let it interfere with her concentration. “Time to see how your clouds fair against my ocean. I play POT OF GREED also so I get to draw twice. Then I summon EAGLE SHARK!”

(Atk: 1000)

Rainbow gawked at the monster. “Hey, that’s level five! How could you summon it like that?”

Sam snickered and answered. “Simple, I can normal summon this card if you have at least two monsters in play. Oh, and by the way, Eagle Shark also lets me special summon this from my hand; PATHNER SHARK!”

(Atk: 1100)

“Now I’m going to overlay both my sharks. I build the overlay network, and Xyz Summon NUMBER 73: ABYSS SPLASH!”

(Atk: 2400)

Rainbow hated ot admit deep down, but she felt Sam didn’t do so bad for her opening move, which lead to believe that she was up to something move than the eye could see.

Sam stared Rainbow down trying to contemplate what she was up to. “What are you lookin’ at?” snarled Rainbow “Just make your move already!”

Sam scoffed “Fine, but you’ll regret saying that, because I’m going to use my monster’s special ability. By using an overlay unit, I can double his attack points.

(Atk: 2400) ---> (Atk: 4800)

Rainbow growled as she stood strong, and before Sam attacked, she equipped a RAINBOW VEIL onto the Cloudian that had the fog counters on it. this negated its effects meaning it could be destroyed in battle “Abyss, attack now!” shouted Sam

Rainbow braced herself as the shock-waves sped past her.

(Atk: 4800) VS (Atk: 900)

However, Sam’s monster’s effect did come with a price, Rainbow only received half the damage she would have taken, but it still totaled a good 1950, which was more than she would have taken if the attacks were normal.

SCORE:

Rainbow: 6050 VS Sam: 8000

“Lucky shot!” snorted Rainbow, but Sam wasn’t so sure if her attack really was lucky. Being a smart girl, she knew never to under estimate her opponents. “My monster gets to keep its attack doubled until your next turn ends.” She said “So, I’ll set a card facedown and end my turn.”

Then, she quietly thought about her facedown card “My Torrential Tribute trap-- If Rainbow tries to summon any monsters; this card will wipe the field clean.” She then gazed at the cards in her hand.

Rainbow drew her next card, and grinned at it. “Ah, yeah, that’s it baby. This’ll put a speed up on the game for sure.”

Sam stood and groaned softly.

“First up, I play HAND DESTRUCTION!”

Sam thought that was an unusual card to play, all it did was force both players to discard two cards, then draw two cards. Sam was pretty sure Rainbow was up to something big, and was now more hopeful her trap card would help.

“Now I’ll play and now…” Rainbow said, and she leapt up high, dramatically showing off, and slammed her next card down. “Take this… ha; HEAVY STORM!”

“Ah!” Sam cried in shock and outrage, and in a swift and heavy blast, all spells and trap cards were destroyed, including Rainbow’s facedown spell card, which Sam recognized. “Hey, that’s a Z-ONE card.”

Rainbow nodded. “You bet, and when it gets destroyed, I can take a special spell card in my graveyard and put it right in my hand.” She grabbed her card and then explained to Sam how she was a Pegasi, a born flyer “And since I feel more at home in the skies, let’s go just there now. I play the field spell THE SANCTUARY IN THE SKY!”

“Ah… No!” cried Sam as the entire area around the high-rise roof morphed into a beautiful sky palace surrounded by clouds and rainbows. To Rainbow, this reminded her of her homeland, Cloudsdale, but to Sam it was bad news. She remembered that field spell too well. Since Rainbow’s monsters were fairy types, even if her monsters got beaten in battle, which they couldn't be, Rainbow wouldn't receive any damage.

“She was setting me up that last round, and I walked right into it.” Sam thought quietly “So much for being prepared.”

“Now, step back…” snapped Rainbow “I summon, CLOUDIAN- TURBULANCE!”

(Atk: 800)

“Not only does he get two Fog Counters, but I get to use them so I can use his ability. Now I get to summon not one but two CLOUDIAN- SMOKE BALL(s)!”

(Atk: 200) x2

Even though not a single one of those monsters was strong enough to take on her big monster, Sam wasn’t fooled an instant, and could already guess what was coming next. Her theory was right when Rainbow played a spell card. “Go FOG CONTROL! Now, I can remove one of my Smoke Balls, and in exchange I can now put three Fog Counters on Cirrostratus!

(Fog Counter: 3)

“Oh, but then again; I can use two of those counters, and you can say bye-bye to your monster.”

Sam growled as she watched her only monster bite the dust instantly, leaving her completely and totally wide open, and Rainbow still wasn’t through yet. “My last card will be the spell RESONANCE DEVICE!” It allowed her to take her other Cloudian- Smoke Ball, since it was a Water and Fairy type creature, like the other two, and change its level to theirs. Now Rainbow had three level-four monsters which she overlaid immediately.

“I build the overlay network, and Xyz Summon NUMBER 16: SHOCK MASTER!”

(Atk: 2300)

“Nothing like a little lighting to shake the skies up, eh…?”

Sam clenched her empty fist fiercely, and then braced herself for what came next as Rainbow ordered her monster zap Sam with all it had, hitting her full force!

SCORE:

Rainbow: 6050 VS Sam: 5700

Poor Sam, her hair was stiff with static from the shockwaves of the holographic lightning, and Rainbow couldn’t help but laugh at how funny she looked. “You should know by now, chump, you’re dealing with best Pegasi from all of Equestria. I never fail at anything I do, which is why I take such pride in what I do.”

Sam straightened out her hair and scoffed at her. “Pride?! All you’ve done is play recklessly, and cause trouble to us humans.”

“Ha! Save your breath.”

“No, I won’t!” snapped Sam “Look what’s you've done. You just recklessly played all your cards and emptied your hand, but that’s not even close compared to what you and your kind are doing to humanity. You’re causing us our world to become imbalanced.”

“Huh?” Rainbow felt most confused “Like there was anything balanced about your world to begin with. That’s why we came here, we’re trying to help you humans see the light and feel the harmony, but no… that’s not good enough for you, is it.”

“Maybe it would be better if you didn’t resort to all this brainwashing and takeover.” protested Sam.

Rainbow was really getting irritated with all this backtalk and insult, and she reminded Sam that it was still her turn. “Once I beat you, you’ll be sorry you said those things, chump!”

“I’m no chump, but bring it on.” snarled Sam. Rainbow finished her turn by using her Shock Master’s effect. “By using an overlay unit, I declare one card type, and I choose Monster. Now anything you play can’t use any effects for your next turn.”

This really put a damper on Sam, but at least it was her turn, and she drew her next card. “My first card will be MONSTER REBORN So I can summon this creature that you made me discard, SPIRAL SERPENT!”

(Atk: 2900)

A normal monster, and a vintage card Sam kept with her in case of emergencies. This meant Rainbow’s Shock Master power wouldn't really hurt her. “Nice monster.” Rainbow said, acting so cocky. “But you forget, with the sanctuary in play, your monster won’t be able to cause me any damage.”

Sam’s lips curled into a cheeky smirk. “I know, that’s why I’m calling for backup.”

“Say What?!”

“Now I summon MOTHER GRIZZLY!”

(Atk: 1400)

Rainbow didn't seem too amused. “Pretty slick.” she merely said.

Sam nodded “Now that the cavalry’s here. Serpent, attack Shock Master!”

The attack was successful, but just as Rainbow promised, her sanctuary card protected her from receiving damage. “And now that you’re wide open… Grizzly, attack!”

Her monster dashed straight at Rainbow. The attack seemed assured, when suddenly something popped out in front of Rainbow. “Huh?!” Sam gasped. Rainbow snickered, and the little monster intercepted the attack, saving her completely. “You didn't think I had only Cloudians and Light monsters, did you?”

Sam could hardly believe she fell for such a strategy.

When Rainbow played her Hand Destruction card, the second card she threw out was RAINBOW KURIBOH. A cute little fella that she could summon out when Sam attacked. Now the little guy was banished, but Rainbow was still safe. “That’s what happens when you mix water and light, as well as swift movement.” she said.

Sam was real close to bursting out in a fit, but she decided against it and placed her last card face down. Now both of them had no cards in their hand.

“My move now…” said Rainbow, and she drew exactly the card needed. “I play CARD OF SANCTITY. Now we both can draw a fresh hand of six cards. Looks like I’m not as reckless as you think!”

Sam said nothing as they both drew their cards, but Rainbow continued to speak her mind, explaining how where she came from, Equestria, she longed to be part of the Wonderbolts “And if there’s one thing they taught me, it’s you never give up, even when things seem hopeless.”

Sam couldn’t help but comment that “That is actually a good saying, sadly… what you’re fighting for isn’t exactly idealistic.”

Rainbow felt insulted “I’ll show you idealistic! I activate an old familiar spell; Summon Cloud!”

“Not this again!” groaned Sam, and just like that, Rainbow summoned two Cloudians. “I play two CLOUDIAN- ACID CLOUD(s)!”

(Atk: 800) x2

With the apperance of the second monster, it got two Fog Counters on it, and Rainbow used them to activate its special ability, destroying Sam’s facedown card, a second good trap she could have used. “So much for that.” Rainbow sneered.

Sam’s face turned red with outrage.

“Now that that’s settled…” hissed Rainbow “I overlay both my Cloudians. With them, I build the overlay network, and I Xyz Summon NUMBER 103: RAGNAZERO!”

(Atk: 2400)

The mark on Rainbow’s head glowed brightly as she grabbed her next card, the same one that Rarity used in her duel with Megan. “I play RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!”

Sam braced herself, wondering what was about to appear now, as Rainbow rebuilt the overlay network. “I now summon

NUMBER C103: RAGNAFINITY!”

(Atk: 2800)

Despite the monster only having 2800 attack points, Sam was very concerned. She had studied the Chaos Numbers well, and knew very well what Rainbow was up to with this one. Especially when Rainbow gave Sam’s Serpent a SWORD OF DEEP SEATED equip card, and while it did give the Serpent 500 extra attack and defense points, it allowed Rainbow to put her plan into action. “Now I can use my Number’s ability. I ditch one overlay unit, and since your monster’s attack is different. I can banish it right now, and the difference in their attacks comes out of your score.”

SCORE:

Rainbow: 6050 VS Sam: 5200

Sam’s monster was gone, and worse, when the sword got destroyed, it went straight back to top of Rainbow’s deck so she would use it again, and again each time. “And don’t forget, I still haven’t attack yet.” So she ordered her monster to attack Sam’s Grizzly.

(Atk: 2800) VS (Atk: 1400)

SCORE:

Rainbow: 6050 VS Sam: 3800

Sam shook herself clean of the shock waves. “I activate Grizzly’s effect.” she shouted “When she’s destroyed, I get to summon another Grizzly in her place.”

(Atk: 1400)

“Big deal, that won’t help you much.” said Rainbow “I’ll place one card facedown, and call it a turn, but now that my ace player is here, it won’t belong before you get crushed, and then maybe you’ll start to show respect for what I fight for!”

Sam was still insistant that while her idea of world peace wasn’t wrong, the way she was going about it was bogus. She drew her seventh card, and stared down at them all considering her options. She felt she had a posible move in mind, and hoped it would work.

“First I activate the effect of my GAZER SHARK in the graveyard.”

It was sent there earlier when Rainbow played her Hand Destruction card, now Sam could use it to revive two level-five water monsters that were also in the graveyard. She chose her first two monsters, Eagle Shark and Panther Shark. Then she required to immediately Xyz Summon using both those monsters. “I overlay both my sharks. With this, I build the overlay network, and I Xyz Summon NUMBER 94: CRYSTALZERO!”

(Atk: 2200)

“Now have a taste of her effect! I use overlay unit, and with that, I can cut your monster’s attack power in half!”

(Atk: 2800) ---> (Atk: 1400)

Rainbow scoffed, and Sam wasn’t thorugh yet. “Next, since I already control a water monster, I can summon this without tributing, CYBER SHARK!”

(Atk: 2100)

With three water monsters in play, Sam was feeling pretty confident that she could out Rainbow’s monster, and then direct attack her several times. “Here goes…” and she ordered her Mother Grizzly to attack. With their attacks equal, they would both be destroyed, however…

“Hold on!” snapped Rainbow “I activate the trap, POWER BALANCE!”

Sam winced in shock. That card forced her to discard half the cards she was holding, leaving her with only three cards, but it meant that Rainbow got to draw three cards.

The two monsters did attack and deatroy each other, but Sam got to summon another Grizzly insantly. “You’re still wide open…” said Sam, and she ordered her newly summoned monster to strike, and Rainbow got hit hard and lost 1400 points.

SCORE:

Rainbow: 4650 VS Sam: 3800

Rainbow growled softly, and that’s when Sam ordered her other monsters to strike her, but as the monsters prepared to move, two more Rainbow Kuriboh popped up onto their backs. “What… hey! What’s going on?” snapped Sam.

Rainbow laughed wickedly “I’ll tell you what’s not going on, your attack, that’s what.” She explained how she drew the two Rainbow Kuriboh thanks to Power Balance, and when Sam sent her monsters to attack, Rainbow used their other special abilities, allowing her to equip them from her hand and onto the monsters, preventing them from attacking.

Rainbow blew a raspberry as Sam and sneered “Sorry, thems the breaks.”

Sam could hardly believe she had been outsmarted again. Now she had no other option but to end her turn. So Rainbow got to draw a new card. “Now then, something you should know about my monster, is I can summon it right back from the graveyard.”

In a bright flash, Ragnafinity returned, but now it had no overlay units, which didn’t really bother her. “Now I get to activate this super card I just got… RAGEKI!”

“Ah!” Sam, shrieked as thunder bolts came crashed down from the skies ready to destroy all her monsters. Thinking quickly, Sam quickly used her Crystalzero’s last overlya unit and cut Rainbow’s monster attack in half again.

“So what if you did that…” said Rainbow “Remember this card, Sword of Deep Seated?”

Sam grunted softly, and Rainbow used her spell to grant her monster 500 additional attack. “Now that we've got that settled… Attack!” shouted Rainbow, and her monster slashed at Sam, knocking her off her feet.

SCORE:

Rainbow: 4650 VS Sam: 1900

“It’s the end of the line for you now, chump.” sneered Rainbow “Just one more attack and you’re history, and don’t forget, I got two Rainbow Kuriboh in my graveyard now, and the sanctuary still guards me.”

“She’s right…” Sam thought to herself “Even if I manage to get a monster on the field, how can I possibly get at her life points, and at the end of my turn, her monster’s attack goes back to normal. What can I do?”

“Hey, don’t sweat it, chump.” said Rainbow “When it comes to Pegasi, I’m the best, so you’re losing to the best. Once you join our heard and cherish the light and harmony you’ll know I was right.”

Sam glared softly but angrily and Rainbow, and ever so slowly drew her next card. “Huh…?” then she compared to what she had in her hand, and what was on the field. Then she smirked and said “...I’m not going to lose.”

“Hmm?”

“…You are.”

“Yeah, right… whatever floats your bubble.”

Sam only grinned wider. “Then I’ll just have to show you, and it’s starts with this. I activate, MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE!”

“Huh?!” snapped Rainbow. The card allowed Sam to revive three different monsters of different levels from her graveyard, but their attacks would be zero, and their effects would be negated, but it was all part of her plan, and she knew just which monsters to play. “Stand back as I summon… MERMAIL ABYSSDINE… MERMAIL ABYSSTURGE… and MERMAIL ABYSSBALAEN.”

Rainbow was surprised, having not seen these monsters before. “Where did all these guys come from?” she asked “I never destroyed them once… unless…” then it hit her, those were the three cards Sam was forced to discard with the Power Balance.

“Like I kept tell you, that’s what happens when you play so recklessly.” said Sam “Well, now you can watch this. I sacrifice Abyssdine and Abyssturge, so I can summon an old friend of mine; GREEN SPY GIRL!”

(Atk: 2300)

The very card I made for Sam, and her friends, which also resembled her greatly, and had a very special power. “Now I pay half my life points, and I can destroy every spell and trap you have!”

“Ah!” Rainbow shouted as the score dropped…

SCORE:

Rainbow: 4650 VS Sam: 950

And in a blazing flash of light, all her spells and traps shattered into nothing including the sanctuary card. “No sanctuary? But that means…!”

Sam nodded “Sure as rain, and speaking of rain, I give my spy girl this card; SCROLL OF BEWITCHMENT!” That card allowed Sam to change her Spy Girl’s attribute from Light to Water, which she needed desperatly for what she was about to do next. “Now I overlay both my level seven water monsters. I build the overlay network, and I Xyz Summon MERMAIL ABYSSGAIOS!”

(Atk: 2800)

Sam then ordered her monster to attack Ragnafinity. “No!” shouted Rainbow, as she watched her monster go down in a big splash.

(Atk: 2800) VS (Atk: 1400)

SCORE:

Rainbow: 3250 VS Sam: 950

Without the sanctuary active, Rainbow couldn’t shield herself anymore, and worse… the only card she drew was her Sword of Deep Seated, which went to the top of her deck when it got beaten. So she had to pass and trust the Rainbow Kuribohs in her graveyard to bail her out.

“This is where it all ends.” Sam said as she drew her next card. “Perfect! Go, ONI-GAMI COMBO!” That spell allowed Sam to use all the overlay units on her monster, so it could attack twice in one turn. “Yeah, so what?!” snarled Rainbow “My two Rainbow Kurbioh will protect me anyway!”

“Not if I do this…” snapped Sam and she played the last card in her hand “I equip my monster with BIG BANG SHOT!”

“You what?!” cried Rainbow.

“It increases my monster’s attack to 3200, but also, if he attacks a monster that’s it defense mode, the difference between the attack and defense go straight to your score.”

“No!” cried Rainbow. It was totally hopeless for her. Sam attacked once, striking one Kuriboh…

(Atk: 3200) VS (Def: 100)

SCORE:

Rainbow: 150 VS Sam: 950

The force of the blast knocked Rainbow back to the edge of the high rise. Then Sam ordered the second attack, wiping out the rest of Rainbow’s life points.

FINAL-SCORE:

Rainbow: “0000” VS Sam: 950

The force of the attack was so strong, Rainbow felt herself losing balance on the edge, and she fell clear off, screaming as she plunged down, down, down…

Sam rushed to the edge, ready to leap over, to try and save the falling pony, but strangely, there was no sign of Rainbow anywhere. She just vanished, and it wasn’t likely she flew off, or she would had been seen.

Wherever she was, Sam was just relieved to have won the duel, and she saw the blue light vanishing from the sky, however she could see down below that none of the people had returned to normal. They all still had the astral mark and were chanting to the light of harmony.

“This is not good…” she said to herself “I better call WOOHP.”

She was about to call in, when suddenly something leapt out from behind and lunged at her. She screamed, and everything went black.

Author's Note

Rainbow was given a Cloudian Deck because I never used one before, and as she IS a Pegasus, and they DO deal with weather, and her name does mean RAINBOW. Cloudians are the better choice

Trouble in the hills

CHAPTER FOUR

Despite Rainbow’s defeat, Celestia still remained confident that nothing was lost. “The fools.” She sneered, and then snickered “It really amazes how they continue to fight a losing war.”

Princess Luna agreed with her sister “They will lose, and then the light and harmony shall gain more power as our empire grows.”

Celestia smiled wickedly.

…

“Sam, come in. Sam, are you there?”

Jerry couldn’t get a peep, and Sam’s duel disk signal had gone out, just like Megan’s did. He sent more agents to investigate, and they found the same thing; her duel disk was busted and her cards were scattered about, but no sign of Sam anywhere, and the situation of the brainwashed people had not improved. The blue light was gone, but the people were not back to normal.

“It’s the same pattern.” Jerry said to himself.

Back and Duel Academy…

More than eighty percent of all the staff and students were affected. Sabrina and I gathered security, and managed to detain those who were affected in the large dueling arena in the main building, sealing off all the doors and windows so they couldn’t get out and spread the brainwashing.

The remaining staff and students who weren’t affected were restricted to their dorms for safety until further notice, but we would tend to all their needs as best we could.

There was no point in evacuating the island. With the whole world under the ponies’ spell, there pretty much was no safe place to go.

Sabrina had been making medical reports on all the affected people on the island ever since this all started, but every single one of her reports read the same. “Vital signs, brainwaves, blood flow, all check out perfectly fine. Whatever’s infecting them, it can’t be treated, at least not by medical science.”

She then looked up and saw standing by the window and gazing outside. I looked rather strange, and downhearted. Jerry had contacted me earlier and told me about Megan and Sam, and I was very worried about them, and the fact that dueling the ponies and defeating them didn’t seem to be doing the trick, plus, it did break me up inside that I was isolating our students and staff, though there was no alternative.

My wife came over to me, she softly placed her hand on my shoulder, and I gazed at her. “What’s going on, Sabrina?” I asked “We’ve been through a lot of tough times, but none as ever like this before.”

“We’ll find the girls, I know we will.” Sabrina said. I knew she was right, but I was still worried about their safety, as well as the others, and the world.

Still, something else began to baffle me, and that was the astral card itself. We had confiscated the cards from duelists we defeated, and analyzed them, it turned that they were just ordinary cards, and there was no magic or power emitting from them. We even tested them out in practice duels, and they were perfectly safe.

Whatever was causing this infection, it wasn’t the card itself, but exactly what it was we had clue.

I messaged Jerry and told him to inform the spies.

The spies messaged each other back and forth, and were glad to hear the card was safe, but it still didn’t solve what the ponies were really using and how to stop. The only chance they had of getting answers was to keep dueling.

Tony even had the idea that, “Maybe we have to defeat all the ponies and get rid of all the lights in the sky.”

Everyone agreed, but had also received warning to be on the lookout for anything else suspicious, which was believed to be the source of Megan and Sam’s disappearances.

Tony could hardly wait to find those ponies and wring their miserable necks for kidnapping his sister and Sam, his friend and one of his mentors at school.

He was following the orange light, which lead him to the foothills of Kansas. The sun was nearly set, and Tony was feeling exhausted, and a wee bit starved having missed his midnight snack.

He wasn’t used to the time zones, and it was early morning hours on the island. He’d usually be in bed and asleep in his dorm, but the mission had been keeping him awake, and very much awake.

Luckily he was passing over a large field of apple trees. Just the sight of those ripe, juicy apples made his eyes sparkle and his mouth water. “Cone to papa…”

He was about to pick a couple of apples, when he had that sneaky feeling he was being watched. Then he heard the sound of a gun being cocked, and a voice calling to him “Ya so much as breathe funny, it’ll be your last.”

Tony slowly raised his hands and turned around, and saw a very pretty teenage farm girl, standing next to her mother who was pointing a shot gun at him. Tony thought the girl was very cute, and then he noticed neither one of them had the astral mark. “Look Ma…” said the girl “He ain’t got the mark.”

The monster saw this, but she wasn’t so sure “Lots’a weird stuff’s been happenin’, how we know for sure you’re not one of them?”

“Um, hello… I’m on your side here.” said Tony.

The two ladies felt that was proof enough, and they also noticed Tony looked hungry and tired. They apologized for their actions, and invited him back to their farmhouse for a piece of apple pie.

“Name’s Adeline, and this here’s my daughter, Kitten.”

Kitten winked at Tony, and he blushed softly.

The pie was really good, and Tony felt a little better. “Sorry again about earlier…” said Kitten “But even since them lights appeared in the skies, things have been really going loopy around here. Our orchard’s been in danger.”

“Danger, how?” asked Tony.

Aldine explained how people in town had the astral mark on their heads, and just came and went as they pleased picking apples for themselves, and trying to get them join their little society. “My husband got drafted in…” said Adeline “He just went into town to get some supplies and the next time we saw him, he was one of them.”

“Whoa, that’s awful.” said Tony.

Kitten nodded and tried to fight her sadness from showing too much. “He kept on coming back with others, taking more apples and telling us to join ‘em all and praise the harmony. We ain’t fooled an instant. We barely managed to keep everyone off our land, but they just keep on comin’, especially when the sun goes down. That’s when they come in a huge gaggle.”

Tony felt really bad for the ladies, and decided to stick around and help them, having a feeling that maybe he’d find the pony that was controlling the area if he did. “Aw, shuck… you’re so sweet little guy.” Kitten said, and she pecked him on the cheek, causing Tony to blush and faint in a dopey daze.

The sun had finally set, and the stars could be seen through the gaps between the lights in the sky. The ladies and Tony were scattered about the field prepared for any ambush. The trio flashed flashlights to keep each other on the alert.

Tony had always wanted to do this-- traps were set up all around the orchard, and he and the ladies would be setting them off, one-after-another.

Suddenly, they could all hear something, it sounded like the wind off in the distance, but as the noise got louder, they could tell it wasn’t the wind, but rather an entire gang of brainwashed people making their way towards the orchard. “All right… get ready.” said Adeline.

The brainwashed people stopped at the edge of the orchard. Kitten recognized the ring-leader as her father. “All right, y’all know what the boss said. Strip this here field clean of all them apples, and if ya find those two betties here, y’all know what to do.”

The others all agreed, and began to march in to take the apples, but one of them tripped over a wire by the ground, which caused several tree limbs to swing and bash them all back hard.

Other tried to come in from the side, but Adeline, aiming carefully with her gun, shot down a very large hornet’s nest from a tree, which crashed near the people, and the angry bugs frightened them off.

Others decided to break into the barn to try and steal the animals, but Kitten stood there and blew her whistle, signaling some of the cows to stampede out and scare the people away.

The rest of the people fell victim to Tony’s WOOHP gadgets. His stun spray, his super-rope, and even a spare gadget, the laser net blaster; One shot fired a small, harmless beam of energy that formed into a net, trapping the people in the strings of light. “Ye-haw…! This is my kind of fun.” Tony hollered.

With the people all tied up or beaten down, Tony and the ladies stood before them. Kitten’s father glared angrily at them. “Release us at once, or else!” he demanded.

“Or else what?” snapped Tony.

“…Or you’ll be dealin’ with Me.” hissed a voice from within the shadows. Out from the shadows crept an orange pony with a yellow mane, and wearing a cowgirl hat. She tilted her hat up revealing her sinister eyes, and the astral mark on her forehead.

Tony narrowed his eyes at her, and the pony glared back at him, like cowboys ready to draw. “So, you’re the one behind all this.” said Tony.

“Eeyup.” said the pony “The name’s Applejack, and I’ve got my orders; to spread the harmony and the light, by word of Princess Celestia.”

“Princess Celestia…?” Tony felt he had hit on some vital information.

“Anyone who dares defy the light of harmony needs to be taught a lesson.” said Applejack.

“Why you yella-belly critter…” snarled Kitten “You’re the one makin’ my dad act all loopy?!”

Adeline cocked her gun. “Say your prayers.” And she took aim, but Applejack merely scoffed, and fired a small beam from her astral mark, splitting the gun in two. The ladies and Tony gasped in shock.

“It ain’t polite to be pointin’ guns at folks, is it?” sneered Applejack. Then she turned back to face Tony. “First I’ll deal with you and them next.”

Tony glared and clenched his firsts. “You two get inside where it’s safe.” he said to the ladies “I’ll handle this myself. It’s what I came here for in the first place.”

The ladies saw no choice but to comply, and headed for the house, but watched from the window as Tony and Applejack prepared to duel. “Boy, ya don’t know what you what you’re in for.” Applejack teased “Me and my deck of animals is gonna wipe you clean like the hogs in the springtime.”

“Ooh, I’m shaking in my spy boots.” Tony mocked “All I’m interested in is what you’ve done with Sam and Megan.”

Applejack snickered softly “Ya wanna know…?”

“You bet I wanna know…”

“Ya really wanna know…?”

“Yeah… I really wanna know.”

A soft silence passed as a soft cool wind blew, but ultimately Applejack refused to tell. “Ya wanna get your friends back, just beat me, but even then it won’t matter much.”

“Ha!” Tony scoffed “When I beat you, you and your pony friends will be sorry you ever came here.”

Applejack shook her head “Ya just don’t get it do ya. We know what’cha all are doin’, but it don’t make much a difference. Even if ya beat us, we still get what we want.”

“Seriously...?”

“Eeyup; Truth be told, you’re just puttin’ a big fuss all for nothin’.”

“We’ll just see about that.” said Tony. It was time to duel!

Bujin Banishing

CHAPTER FIVE

At WOOHP, Jerry’s crew was still working hard to repair the broken duel disks and hopefully recover any information about Megan or Sam. Jerry had never been so worried his spies in a long time, but even more worried for what would happen to the world is this magic and light of harmony continued.

Just then, one of the WOOHP meteorologists came in. “Boss, I think you might want to see this, it’s not good.”

“Honestly, what could be worse than the situation at hand already? Jerry mumbled, yet when he looked at the results, it turned out that strange climate patters were beginning to occur, and that tropical storms were due to hit the eastern coast lines of America, and many tropical islands at sea.

“This can’t be right.” Jerry said to himself, and he and his WOOHP team began to scramble with all this new information.

…

The scores were set…

SCORE:

Tony: 8000 VS Applejack: 8000

“Draw!” hissed Applejack.

“With pleasure.” said Tony as he drew his first six cards. He really wasn’t sure what to expect when Applejack said her deck was full of animals, and decided to play his first move safe.

“I summon DESTINY HERO- CAPTAIN TENACIOUS in defense mode!”

(Def: 800)

“Now I’ll throw down a facedown and end my turn.”

Applejack just stood where she was grinning. “That’s all ya got? Frankly, I’m disappointed.” Then she drew her card. “First up, I’m playin’ CARD DESTRUCTION!”

“What?!” snapped Tony.

“Eeyup! Now we both toss out all our cards to pasture, and then pick us some fresh new ones.”

Tony discarded and drew four cards, and Applejack got five, but Tony couldn’t help but wonder why she did that on her opening move.

“Now let’s really get rustlin’. I summon BUJIN YAMATO!”

(Atk: 1800)

“A Bujin monster!” cried Tony. He had heard of these cards being made at Duel Academy, and were shipped out, but were not in stores yet, so there was no information on them, and the school never taught about the cards. Now he really didn’t know what to expect, but just hoped he could stand up to whatever it would be.

“Now, watch this…” snapped Applejack “I banish BUJINGI IBIS and BUJINGI SWALLOW from the grave to activate their effects.”

“Huh?!” snapped Tony, and he watched as Yamato began to glow brightly in two toned colors. Then Applejack ordered him to attack Tony’s Malicious…

(Atk: 1800) Vs (Def: 800)

“By the way…” said Applejack “…Thanks to Ibis, even though your monster was defendin’, you still take damage in the difference of my attack!”

Tony gasped, and his life points indeed dropped down by a-thousand!

SCORE:

Tony: 7000 VS Applejack: 8000

“Cheap shot…” said Tony “But now I activate DESTINY SIGNAL! Now I can summon a Destiny Hero right from my deck, and I choose DIAMOND DUDE!”

(Atk: 1400)

“Just you wait until he gets through with you.”

Applejack, again, smiled and snickered.

“What now…?” snapped Tony. “What’s now is my attack, that’s what.” replied Applejack.

“Huh?”

“Eeyup; banishin’ the Swallow gave my big boy here a second attack, and here it comes; Ye-haw...!” With that, her Yamato headed straight for Diamond Dude. “Hold on!” snapped Tony “From my hand, I discard BLADE MASTER, and he gives my Diamond Dude a big 800 point boost!”

(Atk: 1400) ---> (Atk: 2200)

Applejack gasped, and Tony ordered his monster to counter the attack, and Yamato was destroyed. “So there!” snapped Tony, but when he looked at the score…

SCORE:

Tony: 7000 VS Applejack: 8000

“Hey! How come you didn’t lose any life points?”

“Simple; I dug into my graveyard and banished this little guy; BUJINGI FOX, and I threw out a second Yamato from I’m holdin’ so I don’t take any damage this turn.”

Tony could not believe this was happening.

“But wait, there’s more.” Said Applejack “Since you beat my Yamato, I get to summon this helper; BUJIN MIKAZUKI!”

(Atk: 1900)

“And it’s still my battle phase, ya hear!” She then ordered her monster to attack Diamond Dude, and as expected “Now I’m gonna banish BUJINGI SINYOU out of the grave, and it lets Mikazuki gain half the attack power of your monster.”

(Atk: 1900) ---> (Atk: 3000)

“YOU GOTTA BE KIDDING ME?!” shouted Tony, but it was no joke, and his Diamond Dude got destroyed, but Tony only took half the damage as part of the card’s effect. So he only lost 400 points.

SCORE:

Tony: 6600 VS Applejack: 8000

Still, Tony could not believe this at all. He was getting pummeled, and now he understood what made Applejack’s monsters so good.

Applejack explained that in Equestria, she and her family worked on the farm, and like all farms, everyone pulled together and always lent a helping hand, or rather a helping hoof. Her deck was like that in every other way, beasts that helped one another even from beyond the grave. “You can try all you like, son, but you ain’t got a chance against me and my boys.”

For now, she played two cards facedown and ended her turn.

Tony could barely bring himself to start his next turn, but he drew his card and thought very hard and deeply. So far, he knew that Applejack’s monsters could only gain power like this form the monster’s in the graveyard, but four monsters were banished in the last turn, which meant it was possible he was in the clear, but he had to play cautiously.

“I play the spell DOCTOR D! It lets me remove Diamond Dude from the graveyard, and then I get to special summon one Destiny Hero in the grave; DISK COMMANDER!”

(Def: 300)

“He got sent to my graveyard when you played Card Destruction, and now that he’s back, I get to draw two cards.”

He drew his cards, and liked what he saw. “Ah, yeah, we’re cookin’ now. Since Malicious is in the graveyard, thanks to your Card Destruction, I can banish him to summon another Malicious from my deck.”

(Atk: 800)

“And what’s more, I can summon DUNKER!”

(Atk: 1200)

Applejack gazed forth with interest, and then Tony overlaid his two Dunkers. “With these two boys, I build the overlay network. I Xyz Summon NUMBER 39: UTOPIA!”

(Atk: 2500)

Applejack growled softly at the sight of the new monster, and then Tony ordered it to attack. “Hold your horses…” snapped Applejack “From my hand I discard my last card, BUJINGI CROW!”

“Ah!” Tony gasped, and Applejack explained it that it negated Utopia’s attack, and inflicted half the amount of its attack power straight at his life points; 1250

SCORE:

Tony: 5350 VS Applejack: 8000

“I can’t… take this!” Tony growled. He struggled all he could to keep himself together, and then set one card facedown, ending his turn.

From their farmhouse, Kitten and Adeline were watching Tony get creamed in horror and worry. “I don’t think he last much longer, Ma.” said Kitten.

“Stay strong, honey.” Said her mother “Game’s not over ‘till it is.”

For now, it was Applejack’s turn, and she drew her next card “Well, lookie here, it’s CARD OF SANCTITY, now we both get to harvest a full set of six cards.” She and Tony drew their cards, and Applejack really loved what she saw “Well now, this oughta be I’ me somewhere. I summon BUJIN ARASUDA!”

(Atk: 1600)

“And now I play the spell DIMENSION FUSION!”

Tony remembered that card too well, as Applejack explained it…

“First I have to pay up 2000 points.”

SCORE:

Tony: 5350 VS Applejack: 6000

“Then we both summon as many banished boys as we need to. So let’s Harvest!”

The only monster Tony could summon was his Malicious, and he summoned it in defense mode, but Applejack summoned 3 Bujingis she banished; Ibis, Fox and Sinyou. “But these boys won’t be hangin’ out for long, I’m overlayin’ all of ‘em. I build that there overlay network, and I Xyz Summon BUKINKI AMATERASU!”

(Atk: 2600)

“Whoa!” cried Tony “Get a load’a that guy!”

“But wait, I’m not through yet…” said Applejack “Now I overlay Arasuda and Mikazuki! I build the overlay network again, and I summon out

BUJINTEI KAGUTSUCHI!”

(Atk: 2500)

“And when this boy comes outta’ the barn, I can send five cards on top’a my deck to the grave.”

Tony didn’t like the sound of that. Who knew what other cards she sent to the graveyard and who knew what they could do, and still Applejack wasn’t through yet. “Now I’ll banish from the grave my Yamato, so I can summon out this; BUJIN HIRUME!”

(Atk: 2000)

“How many monsters can you possibly summon?!” cried Tony.

Applejack snickered “Just you watch. Now see my Amaterasu? Well, since it’s my turn, I can use an overlay unit there, and summon a monster that’s been banished, so come on back, Yamato.”

(Atk: 1800)

As if Tony didn’t need that, Applejack preformed another Xyz Summon with her newly summoned monsters. “There ya have it, BUJINTEI SUSANOWO!”

(Atk: 2400)

Tony could hardly believe what he had just witnessed. “Three Xyz summons in one turn; that’s nuts!”

“Eeyup, nuts… which is exactly what I’m about to do to you, son. Susanowo here can attack every monster you got.”

“What?!” snapped Tony. First he watched his Disk Commander get crushed, and then his Utopia was next. “I play a trap…” shouted Applejack “Take a gander at BUJIN REGALIA- THE JEWEL! It attaches itself to my Susanowo, and then he gets a big 300 point boost for every one of them overlay units he’s got.”

This raised his attack power straight to 3000, and Applejack ordered the attack. “Not so fast.” snapped Tony. “I activate Utopia’s special ability; by using up an overlay unit, I can negate your attack.”

The effect was successful. “Not bad sprout…” said Applejack “But you forget; I got me two other monsters.”

Tony realized she was right, and with only overlay unit left, Utopia could only shield himself once more. That’s when Applejack ordered Amaterasu to attack, and Tony blocked it, but now Applejack had one monster left, and Tony couldn’t block it this time, worse, When Utopia was targeted for an attack and had no overlay units, he was destroyed, leaving Tony wide open “Time to put you out to pasture, boy. Let him have it Kagutsuchi!”

The monster headed straight for Tony. “Hold it!” he shouted “I play A HERO EMERGES!”

“Huh?!” snapped Applejack.

“You heard me. Now you have to pick one of the cards in my hand, and if you pick a monster, I summon it to block your attack.” He then held up all six of his cards. Applejack chose the card on the far left, and much to her dismay, “You chose DEFENDER!”

(Def: 2700)

Applejack grunted softly, and Tony blew a raspberry at her “Too bad, now you won’t be able to strike at me.” but Applejack laughed hard. “I must’ve missed the joke.” said Tony.

“Boy, you are as sharp as a sack of wet mice. I’ll continue my attack!”

“Huh?!” snapped tony and he watched in dismay as his Defender got struck hard, and was instantly destroyed. “What…?! How is that possible? Your monster’s attack wasn’t high enough.”

“Sure it was…” said Applejack, and she explained that when she used Kagutsuchi’s effect, three Bujin monsters were among the five cards she discarded, and each powered up her monster’s attack by 100 points, giving him a full attack of 2800.

Tony smacked his head in disbelief and outrage “This cannot be happening!”

“Sorry, but thems the breaks.” said Applejack. “Speakin’ of breaks, now I activate HIGH FIVE THE SKY! Now my boy gets to attack you once more.”

“AH!” cried Tony, and before he knew it, he got struck really hard, and lost a full 2800 points.

SCORE:

Tony: 2550 VS Applejack: 6000

Tony was knocked over by the attack and skidded a little along the ground.

“No, Tony!” Kitten cried from the window. She practically wanted to leap through the window and run out to help him, but her mom held her back. “No, it’s too dangerous out there.” She cried, but she was just as concerned for Tony as her daughter was.

Tony got to his feet and brushed the dirt off his spy suit. Applejack chuckled softly “Should’ve stayed down while you were, boy. There’s no way ya can pull yourself outta this one. Like a centipede stuck in a vat o’ molasses.”

Tony’s ears were practically steaming with anger “I don’t care how many times you hit me. So help me, I’ll find a way to beat you!”

Applejack narrowed her eyes, and placed a card facedown, ending her turn.

Now it was Tony’s turn, but really he had no idea what else to try. Every time he thought he had a strategy against those monsters, it always backfired on him, and it all kept happening from the graveyard.

“Wait a minute…” he thought silently, and he finally realized one possibly opening he could take. “The cards in her graveyard only work on her own monsters.” Now he was grinning hard, especially when he drew his next card. “Yeah, that’s what I’m talkin’ about.”

Applejack blinked once in concern and interest.

“Stand back now; cuz I play XYZ-REVENGE and it lets me bring back Utopia!”

(Atk: 2500)

“And what’s more, I can snatch off one overlay unit from any of your monster’s and attach it to him, and I choose Susanowo.”

Applejack growled, as it meant her monster lost 300 attack points dropping it to 2700.

“And now, the real fun begins.” said Tony “I activate RANK-UP-MAGIC NUMERON FORCE!”

“Say what?” snapped Applejack.

Utopia began to glow, and a symbol appeared on Tony’s head. “It’s time to rank things up a bit. I rebuild the overlay network with Utopia! Go Chaos Xyz Evolution! I summon NUMBER C39: UTOPIA RAY VICTORY!”

(Atk: 2800)

With the arrival of Tony’s new monster, Applejack’s monsters started glow along the mark on Tony’s forehead. “Hey! What in the hotel bill is happenin’?” cried Applejack.

Tony smirked “My Rank up card has cast a spell on the field; it negates the effects of all face up cards other than Utopia.”

Applejack winced and grunted in shock. It meant that all her Xyz monsters lost their effects for the duration of the turn, and even the Jewel card lost its power, returning Susanowo to its original 2400 attack.

“And while I’m at it, I’ll play this card too, POLYMERIZATION! Now I can fuse PLASMA and DOGMA in my hand, to create DESTINY END DRAGOON!”

(Atk: 3000)

With two strong monsters in play, Tony felt ready to roll. Applejack began to feel a little nervous. “And while I’m at it, I’ll give him this HEAVY STORM! It’ll blow all the spells and traps away.”

After the card’s effect had resolved, he felt really ready to strike, and first ordered Utopia to destroy Susanowo!

(Atk: 2800) VS (Atk: 2400)

SCORE:

Tony: 2550 VS Applejack: 5600

Applejack wasn’t able to activate any spells or traps thanks to Utopia’s primary ability. “And now…” snapped Tony “Go Dragoon, destroy Kagutsuchi!”

(Atk: 3000) VS (Atk: 2500)

SCORE:

Tony: 2550 VS Applejack: 5100

Applejack had to hold onto her hat as the shockwaves sped past her. “And what’s more!” snarled Tony “When my monster attacks, Cyclone Blade lets me destroy one spell or trap card.”

He chose to destroy Applejack’s facedown.

Feeling overconfident, tony placed the last card in his hand facedown, ending his turn. “I gotta say, that was some fancy moves ya pulled, kid.” Said Applejack “But now, it’s time to turn up the heat.” Instead of drawing, she got a card form her graveyard, and Tony didn’t have to guess what it was. “Go RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!”

The mark her forehead glowed brightly along with her monster “Now I rebuild the overlay Network. I summon NUMBER 72: SHOGI ROOK!”

(Atk: 2500)

Tony was surprised to see a monster that wasn’t a Bujin type, but he knew he was in big trouble, as Applejack used her monster’s power; by dethatching two overlay units and she could destroy Tony’s Dragoon and his facedown card. “No!” cried Tony.

“Eeyup…” said Applejack “And also, see what I got here…?” she held up a card and revealed it to Tony “What, another Rank Up card?!” he shouted.

“Eeyup, and here we go again; RANK UP MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!” It was the only card she could use to special-summon, and she had the perfect monster in mind. “Now I overlay my Rook, and I rebuild the overlay network once again. I summon HIERATIC SUN DRAGON OVERLORD OF HELIOPOLIS!”

(Atk: 3000)

The great dragon roared at the skies as its light shined brightly. Tony braced himself from the brightness.

Applejack basked in the glow of her dragon’s light. “Yes sir, on the farm, the sun does it all. Wakes us up, makes the plants grow, and when harnessed just right, it can do plenty more. I use one overlay unit, and then ditch one monster form my hand. Now I can get rid of your Utopia!”

“Ah!” cried Tony as he watched Utopia roast to a crisp. “And that ain’t all.” Said Applejack “Remember that facedown card you destroyed last turn. It’s called SKILL SUCCESSOR! Now that it’s my turn, I can banish it out of the graveyard, and now my monster gains 800 extra attack points.”

(Atk: 3000) ---> (Atk: 3800)

“Ah, man this is not good!” cried Tony.

Applejack snickered and then ordered her monster to strike Tony directly, and with a totally empty field, and no cards in his hand even, Tony couldn’t block the dragon’s blazing force!”

The blaze was so bright, even the ladies in their farmhouse ducked down.

When the light had clear, Tony was practically smoking and his suit and face seemed a little scorched from the hot shockwaves, and yet he only took 1900 points damage.

SCORE:

Tony: 450 VS Applejack: 5100

He was very lucky when Applejack used Shogi Rook’s effect, it meant that all the damage he took was halved, but still, here was now. No cards in his hand and no cards in play. Applejack placed the last two cards in her hand facedown to end her turn.

She thought sinisterly how glorious it would be to crush Tony on her next turn. Her facedown cards were Threatening Roar and Xyz Reborn.

Either way, she felt her victory was assured. “It’s all over for ya now sprout.” Said Applejack “Those who defy Princess Celestia, the light, and the harmony always end up getting’ their just desserts.”

Tony got back up onto his feet, but he didn’t seem a bit ready to throw in the towel, much to Applejack’s confusion. “What are you so smug about?” she asked.

Tony smirked “Just that you’re acting so incredibly ridiculous.”

“What?”

“I mean think about it; you preach about bringing harmony and light into our world, when really you’re just brainwashing us all into mindless zombies. Then you go around terrorizing other people and force them into your little herd against their will, but what’s really dumb is the fact you think this is all over.”

Applejack was starting to lose her patience, but before she could even speak, Tony drew his card and informed her “Well you’re slightly right. It is over, except I win. Since it’s my standby phase, all I do is banish one Destiny Hero from my graveyard, and Dragoon returns.”

(Atk: 3000)

“Big deal, I activate THREATENING ROAR!” shouted Applejack, and the second her card was activated, it let out a mighty big roar at Tony. He had to cover his ears from the immense noise. Applejack smiled smugly. Her trap forced it so Tony could declare no attacks that turn.

“Ya know… I don’t actually need to attack.” Tony said. “I can easily use Dragoon’s special ability. Now I can target your monster, and destroy it.”

Applejack’s dragon exploded instantly.

“And what’s more, you take damage equal to your monster’s attack power.”

SCORE:

Tony: 450 VS Applejack: 2100

Applejack growled softly, but then her scowl curled into a wicked grin. “Good thing I came prepared for this as well. I activate XYZ REBORN!”

“Gotcha…” Tony muttered softly as he watched as the dragon returned, and the trap card was equipped onto him as an overlay unit. “Like I said boy, it’s all over for ya.”

Tony just grinned “You’re right, it’s over… for you.”

“Huh?”

“I figured your cards would try and block me, and then revive your monster. That’s all you’ve been doing all game long; blocking my attacks, and shielding yourself, only your biggest mistake is reviving your monster too quickly.”

Applejack still didn’t understand “What are you preachin’ about.”

“You’ll see…” said Tony “I play POT OF GREED, so I can draw two cards.” Tony secretly hoped he got just the cards he needed. “Cool! I play MONSTER REBORN! Revive Utopia.”

(Atk: 2500)

“For all the good that boy’s gonna do ya.” said Applejack, but suddenly she realized “Unless… you’re thinkin’…?

“Not thinkin’, but doin’.” replied Tony “I activate RANK-UP-MAGIC BARRIAN'S FORCE!”

Applejack winced in shock, and watched as the mark appeared on Tony’s head as Utopia began to glow. “I rebuild the overlay network.” shouted Tony “Go, Chaos Xyz Evolution! I summoned NUMBER C39: UTOPIA RAY V!”

(Atk: 2600)

“And thanks to the Barrian card, I can snatch the overlay unit you’ve got on your own monster and put it on mine.”

Applejack felt her stomach churn when she finally realized what Tony was about to do, and she was right. Since Utopia Ray V had Utopia attached to it, Tony could use the other overlay unit he just snatched, and destroy Applejack’s monster, and deal her the total damage from its attack again. “Wait, but that means…!”

Tony grinned “You… are… outta here!”

“No!”

Tony snapped his fingers ordering his monster to use his power, and Applejack’s dragon exploded again, and took out the rest of her life points with it.

FINAL-SCORE:

Tony: 450 VS Applejack: “0000”

The force of the blast sent Applejack’s hat flying high as she got knocked over hard onto her side.

Kitten glared with joy from the window “He did it! Ma, he won!”

“He sure did! Ye-haw!”

The Orange light in the sky had ceased.

Applejack felt like a stampede of cows had trampled over her as she barely had enough strength to get up. “I… I don’t get it. How could I lose?”

Tony approached her and looked down at her and said “You played a good duel, but you duel for the wrong reasons. Harmony is a fine thing, but not the way you’re doing it. Now, tell me where Megan and Sam are?”

Applejack weakly, yet sinisterly snickered, prompting Tony to grab her and demand she tell him. That’s when in a soft glow of light, she just disappeared. “Hey, what the…!” Tony looked up, down, and all around, but the pony had vanished completely.

“Tony…” said a familiar voice. Tony turned round and saw none other than his big sister, and next to her was Sam. “All right, you guys are okay.” He cried, and he dashed over to hug them, but the astral mark appeared on the girls’ heads. Tony skidded to a dead halt. “What? No way…?”

“What’s wrong, Tony?” asked Sam “Aren’t you glad to see us?”

Tony could still not believe his eyes, and so shocked that he could barely speak. “You guys… you got… you’re…!”

The girls gazed at him “You better come with us, little bro.” said Megan “We’ll make you feel all better once you see the light and feel the harmony.”

“Keep away! Keep away from me!” cried Tony.

“It’s all right, it doesn’t hurt.” said Sam “You’ll feel a whole lot better.”

Tony continued inch away from the girls, and then he heard a voice from behind him. “I’ll handle this.”

Tony turned round…

Adeline and Kitten could see what was happening from their window, and Kitten took a few snaps with her cellphone camera, but before anyone knew what happened next, Tony screamed, and everything went white. Even the ladies got knocked out by the suddenness of the blast…

…and Kitten dropped her phone.

As for Tony, he lay unconscious on the ground, and all his cards were scattered about, as if he had just been in a duel and lost! The mysterious stranger snickered softly, and then he instructed Sam and Megan to take him away and help free the captives.

The girls nodded and began to drag Tony’s unconscious body away.

…

Twilight Sparkle reported to the Princess. “The boy called Tony has been apprehended, but sadly not before Applejack was beaten.”

Celestia narrowed her eyes and pondered “They’re slicker than we thought. Perhaps it’s time we tried a different approach. It may even save us from having to use these extra measures.”

She got off her throne and walked along the chamber.

“Sister, what do you intend to do?” asked Princess Luna as she watched her sister begin to conjure a spell, and she answered “Perhaps there is a better way to get what we want. I’m positive we can convince the remaining humans to come over to our way of thinking.”

Twilight thought the idea was brilliant, “But what if it doesn’t work? I have read the reports on these humans; they are shown to have high levels of stubbornness.”

Celestia snickered softly “It can’t hurt to try. Besides, even if it doesn’t work, we have nothing to worry about, do we?”

Twilight and Luna nodded in agreement, and were super sure nothing could stop them in their plans and that nothing could go wrong either.

…

In Jerry’s office, he and the meteorologists had been tracking down more issues in the climate as tropical storms seemed to be forming in large groups over the ocean and heading for the main lands, and finally, they had an inkling why and when they fed the data to the computer, were they ever surprised.

“It can’t be!” cried Jerry “It’s impossible! It goes against all rules of logic and natural physics!”

Author's Note

[bApplejack was given a Bujin Deck because those animals represent several of the kind you could see on a farm, even the pest critters, and they all pull and work together just like farmers do]

(Part 1) Passing the Pacifist

CHAPTER SIX

The second the orange light had ceased, WOOHP agents rushed to the scene, but arrived more than too late. It was the same thing-- Tony’s duel disk was busted and his cards lay scattered about.

The entire farm seemed deserted, all the animals had run off, and all the apple trees were stripped of apples. Even Adeline and Kitten were nowhere to be seen, meaning they, too, had been abducted. However, while searching for evidence, the men found Kitten’s cell-phone, when they saw the picture that was on it.

There was no doubt about it, Sam and Megan had been brainwashed too, and were now on the loose somewhere. As for Tony, it was assured that he was defeated in a duel. The pictures even showed him getting defeated, but the shock-waves and flashes from the resulting duel made it hard to see his opponent, but they were able to see what monster attacked Tony…

…A Five-Headed Dragon; one of the fiercest creatures in duel monsters. It was no surprise that he lost.

The agents brought the evidence to Jerry, and he called me up on this. Once I arrived at WOOHP I went over all the data. “Well, it looks like we’re getting somewhere.” I said “Apparently, whoever this mystery opponent is only appears whenever the spies win a duel, then challenges them and defeats them.”

Jerry felt very concerned about the spies and their safety. He had sent them warnings immediately after finding this out; that they were to beware of this mystery duelist and be prepared to face at least a Five-Headed Dragon.

“Oh, if only we could fix the duel disks, they could provide us with more information.” I said. My voice sounded loud and frustrated. “I’m sorry…” I said “I’m just very worried. I have a great fondness for the spies, both teams. We’ve been through so much together.”

“I understand how you feel. I too have many fond memories with girls and the Clarks.” said Jerry. He secretly felt a bit more worried about something other than the spies, but he didn’t think it best to worry me about.

In the meantime there was something else bothering me. Three of the lights in the sky were gone, but six more remained, and with three of the spies kidnapped and, defiantly, brainwashed, the ponies and their forces were beginning to outnumber us, and with this mystery duelist at large, it was only bound to get worse.

Jerry and I both happened upon the same thought “If things get any worse…?” Jerry asked.

“Yes, we won’t have a choice.” I said.

Suddenly, the computer detected unusual wavelengths. “Oh dear, what now…?” grumbled Jerry. As he tried to compute the source of the waves, his computer screen began to fade with static and white light began to shine from it. “What’s going on?” I asked.

Jerry hadn’t the foggiest, and then we could see her; a white pony with a horn, wings, a golden tiara, and a voluminous multicolored mane sparkling and fluttering magically. She was so incredibly beautiful that Jerry and I almost would have been taken in by her charm, except we both saw the astral mark on her head, and this gave us the idea that she was the leader and brains behind this mess!

Her face also appeared on every electronic screen, and her voice could be heard on every radio station all over the world. All the brainwashed people gazed up at her, and shouted their chant, and those who were not infected gazed forth in confusion, but kept well out of sight not wishing to be seen.

“Greetings humans, I am Princess Celestia.”

Those who already knew her cheered for joy while all the rest were still confused.

“For those of you who do not know me, fear not for me and my kind are not your enemy, we wish you no harm. We merely wish to help; help you solve all your problems.”

Jerry and I gawked at each other in confusion, and then we listened as Celestia explained she and the ponies were well aware of all the problems on Earth-- War, disease, people not trusting one another, and morality having hardly much of a voice. “That is why I beseech you all; join us! Be one with the light. Embrace the harmony, and cast any and all worries and darkness behind you.”

As unbelievable as it was, many of the uninfected people were taken in by her words, and were actually considering joining with the society, but everyone else still not infected remained unmoved and were now more than convinced that Celestia was not acting very level-headed.

True, a world full of peace and no woe would be nice, but not the way she was doing it. It almost even seemed like she had an ulterior motive.

“I submit to you all; help us cleanse the world; make it a better place. Together, with the light of harmony, there will be order to all things.”

The millions of brainwashed people cheered and chanted to Celestia and the light of harmony, and Celestia felt she had done her deed, and uncast her contact spell.

Luna and Twilight applauded her for her moving words. “Well said, sister.” said Luna.

“The humans cannot resist us now.” added Twilight “And even if they try, they will soon be one of us.”

Celestia nodded “Especially thanks to you and your helper, Twilight. I’m most impressed by the progress you’ve made.”

Twilight bowed graciously, and then she and Luna were dismissed, leaving Celestia alone to think sinisterly “Soon every human on Earth will bask in the light, and harmony will spread all over. Finally, everything will be mine.”

Meanwhile, Alex was flying over Central Africa, and she had already seen the local cities and villages with all the people becoming brainwashed by the light. She, too, had heard everything from Celestia’s broadcast, but she wasn’t very moved at all. “Gosh, as much as I still like ponies, I think this goes beyond anything I’ve seen and didn’t like.” she said

She followed the source of the yellow light, which seemed to lead her into the jungle. Down below she could see all kinds of animals; Lions, elephants, zebras, and even antelope. None of which seemed to have the astral mark on their heads.

“Weird…” Alex said to her “I guess it means that animal life isn’t affected by the lights.”

Suddenly, she could see a hungry lion chasing after a lone zebra. Despite Alex being a meat-lover herself, and having and understating of the animal survival instincts, she just couldn’t permit this.

The lion continued to chase his runaway meal, and then the poor zebra tripped on a log and fell on its side. The lion saw his chance and leapt up ready to pounce on his prey, when Alex swooped in and snared the lion in her laser-net. “Sorry, but dinner’s canceled.” She sneered as she held the carnivore down, but suddenly, a beam of light struck her net, disarming it and freeing the lion and he ran off all scared.

“Hey!” snapped Alex, then she turned to face the zebra, and saw a pale yellow pegasi with a long pink mane and tail. She also had the astral mark on her head, but at the moment she was tending to the fallen zebra. “There, there…” she said in a soft spoken voice. “You’ll be just fine, there’s nothing broken or sprained.”

She used the magic from her astral mark to help nurse the zebra, heal its wounds, and the zebra got up onto its feet, and then trotted off.

Alex was hardly able to bring herself to believe what she had just seen, but the pony spun around and glared fiercely at her and snarled “YOU!!”

Alex felt as if the lion had just returned and was roaring right at her.

“How could you do such a thing?!” snarled the pony. Alex insisted she did nothing to the zebra, but the pony was referring to the lion. “How could you just rough him up like that?”

“What?!” snapped Alex “I didn’t rough him up, I just stopped him form hurting that zebra.”

“You could have used other methods than for you know.”

Alex could barely believe that she was arguing with a pony over something ridiculous. “Look, I don’t know what obsession you have with animals, but I’m here on a mission to stop you.”

The pony smiled sinisterly “Okay then…”

Alex blinked once.

“It’s been a while, but I could use a good challenge to keep my new boldness going, and when I’m through with you, the whole world will realize the true and full power of Fluttershy!”

“Fluttershy…?” Alex muttered, thinking that was a very oddball name. She then shrugged it off and the two prepared to duel, but then Alex realized “Hey, I thought you didn’t like all this enforcement and roughhousing.”

Fluttershy gave Alex a stare, which nearly stunned her.

“Whoa!” cried Alex, and Fluttershy replied “I won’t need to use any roughhousing in this match, you’ll see. A perfect way to show you disbelievers how much better our way of things are.”

Alex felt her blood boiling “I am getting really sick and fed up with hearing that phrase. You guys couldn’t be more wrong with your ways.”

“QUIET!!!” shouted Fluttershy. Shout seemed to make the entire jungle vibrate, and birds flew off in flocks. Now she looked angry enough to stampede right through all the trees, but quickly shook herself calm. “The only way to settle this is through a duel. So let’s just do this calmly.”

Alex still couldn’t get all this; peace and calm… in a duel? It was making her brain ache. “Let’s just get going.” she sneered, and the duel was on.

SCORE:

Alex: 8000 VS Fluttershy: 8000

“I’ll go first.” Alex said as she drew her cards. “Nice, this duel may be over quicker than I thought. I Summon RED EYES BLACK CHICK!”

(Atk: 800)

“Aw, it’s so cute.” said Fluttershy.

Alex smirked “You haven’t seen anything yet. Thanks to my chick’s special ability, I can sacrifice it, and it lets me call out my favorite ace in the whole game; RED EYES BLACK DRAGON!”

(Atk: 2400)

Fluttershy quivered softly at the sight of Alex’s dragon, but she quickly shook off her field and kept telling herself to stay focused, while Alex gazed at her Red Eyes as if it were a superhot celebrity. She barely was able to shake herself back into reality. “I’ll place card facedown, and end my turn. So, how are you going to handle this rough-houser now, huh? I doubt even your supposed calmness can break through.”

Fluttershy didn’t answer and just drew her card, and all she did was place a single monster in facedown defense-mode, without even saying at thing, much to Alex’s confusion.

“What’s with this pony?” she thought silently “All she plays is that simple facedown monster. She must be off her rocker, or maybe she actually wants me to attack it.”

“Well, come on. It’s your turn.” Fluttershy teased.

Alex felt she was being taunted, and drew her next card, and said in thought “I guess I’m just going to have to go in for it.”

“Sorry to do this to you Red Eyes, but I need to kick it up a bit. So I’ll sacrifice you in order to summon RED EYES DARKNESS DRAGON!”

(Atk: 2400)

Fluttershy quivered again, but still managed to maintain control of herself.

“Oh, don’t stop.” Alex teased “I’d be quivering too if I were on the other side of Red Eyes, especially seeing as he gets 300 extra attack points for every dragon in my graveyard, and I count two.”

(Atk: 2400) ---> (Atk: 3000)

“And as if that weren’t enough, I activate my facedown continuous trap, DRAGON’S RAGE! Now whenever a dragon monster of mine attacks your monster, even if it’s in defense-mode, you’ll still take damage in the difference of their points.”

Fluttershy gasped!

“Go Red Eyes! Blow her monster to a crisp!” shouted Alex. Her dragon complied and attacked, but when Alex checked the score, was she ever surprised…!

SCORE:

Alex: 11,000 VS Fluttershy: 8000

“Hey, is this thing even working right? How did I just gain life points?” Then she looked forward as the dust from the attack cleared, and she saw the monster was a KURIBON! “No way!” cried Alex.

“Oh, yes…” said Fluttershy “When you attack it, I don’t take any damage from the attack. Instead, you gain life points, and Kuribon comes back to my holder.” She took her card back, and practically smothered it soothingly as if it were a live animal that had just been hurt “Oh, don’t worry, I’m here now. I won’t let her hurt you like again.”

Alex couldn’t take much more of this, but she ended her turn, letting Fluttershy draw a seventh card. “Now I get to activate GRACEFUL CHARITY. I can draw three cards, as long as I kindly discard two.”

After all that, she now had a total of eight cards in her hand, and she really liked what they were.

“Now it’s time for your dragon to take a time out, so I play MESSENGER OF PEACE!”

“What?!” snapped Alex. She remembered that continuous spell all too good. As long as it remained in play, only monsters with less than 1500 attack points could attack. “I told you, we need to approach this calmly.” said Fluttershy “Next I play DOUBLE SUMMON, and it lets me summon two monsters this turn. So, I’ll play WHITE MAGICIAN PIKERU and FIRE PRINCESS.”

(Def: 0)

(Def: 1500)

Alex grumbled softly. The Magician would increase Fluttershy’s life points every turn, and the Fire Princess would drain Alex’s life points by 500 every time Fluttershy gained life points. “I bet this is her plan.” Alex thought silently “She’s trying to hold me back so she can take out my life points by card effects.”

Fluttershy then ended her turn with two cards facedown. “Go ahead now, it’s your turn.” she said “But it won’t be too long. Victory will be mine! MINE!”

She laughed loud and evilly… and then slipped off from her duel platform and plopped onto the ground. Alex palmed her head in disdain.

Fluttershy brushed the dirt off her and retook her post. “Well, move!” she snarled at Alex, giving her that same stare. Alex winced and nearly dropped her cards. “Okay, take a pill already. Here goes…” she drew her card, but much to her disdain, it wasn’t very helpful. She couldn’t attack with her Red Eyes either and nothing else she had would help her, so she had to her turn, and the first thing she did was pay 100 life points to keep her Messenger card in play.

SCORE:

Alex: 11,000 VS Fluttershy: 7900

“But now my trap card activates; CALL OF THE HAUNTED! Now I can use to revive a monster I just discarded. Come on out, EBON MAGICIAN CURRAN.”

(Atk: 1200)

“Oh, no, not that too!” cried Alex.

“I take it you know what happens now…” said Fluttershy “While it is still my standby phase, my two magicians do their work. Pikeru grants me 200 life points thanks to the other monster I discarded; MARIE THE FALLEN ONE! This also means my Fire Princess makes you lose 500 life points.”

The scores changed…

SCORE:

Alex: 10,500 VS Fluttershy: 8100

Despite Alex was still way up front, she didn’t seem to appreciate it, because now the other monsters would get to work their stuff on her. White Magician raised Fluttershy’s life points by 400 for every monster she had in play. That gave her 1200 points, which made Alex lose another 500.

SCORE:

Alex: 10,000 VS Fluttershy: 9300

Then the Ebon Magician gave Alex another 300 points of damage for every monster on her field. All she had was her Red Eyes, and that wasn’t too bad.

SCORE:

Alex: 9,700 VS Fluttershy: 9300

“I’m catching up to you.” Fluttershy teased, and then she cackled softly, which really annoyed Alex.

“Now I’m going to play something new; a good animal friend of mine called BURNING LAND!”

“Ah!” cried Alex.

“I take it from your gasp, you know what this does.”

Alex was very aware. At the start of either player’s turn, that continuous spell would drain 500 life points, and it also meant that Field Spell cards couldn’t be used either.

Fluttershy ended her turn without doing anything else. So Alex drew her next card hoping for something to help her, but she took her 500 points of damage.

SCORE:

Alex: 9,200 VS Fluttershy: 9300

Still, she gazed at her card and thought “Hey! This could help.”

“BABY DRAGON, come on out!”

(Atk: 1200)

This time, Fluttershy wasn’t so scared at the sight of the cute dragon.

Her wings fluttered with excitement “A Baby Dragon…!

…He’s so cute.”

Strangely enough, even the holographic image blushed and acted kind of shy, much to Alex’s frustration. Still, she had a feeling her dragon would be very useful, seeing as its attack was low enough. “Baby Dragon, Go now and attack White Pikeru!”

Baby Dragon snapped to his senses and dove straight for the monster, and its zero defense-points. “Oh, no, you don’t!” snapped Fluttershy “Go MAGIC CYLINDER!”

“Ah!” Alex gasped, and Fluttershy smirked. “This trap absorbs your attack, and sends it right back at your life points.”

Alex watched as her dragon’s attack went into one cylinder, and shot out the other one, hitting her square on.

SCORE:

Alex: 8,000 VS Fluttershy: 9300

“I told you before. Roughhousing will get you nowhere.” said Fluttershy. Alex was outraged, but there wasn’t anything else she could do. “I’ll just end my turn.”

Fluttershy snickered softly as she drew her next card, and then the calculations went into effect.

She paid 100 points for the Messenger card, and then took 500 damage from the Burning Land card. Marie the Fallen one then gave her 200 life points, and Pikeru gave her another 1200.

As for Alex, she took 1000 points of damage from the Fire Princess, and an additional 600 from Ebon.

SCORE:

Alex: 6400 VS Fluttershy: 10,100

The scores had changed dramatically, and now Fluttershy was in the lead. “Now, to keep my monsters well, I’ll turn Pikeru into attack mode.”

(Atk: 1200)

“This way, you can’t try to attack it again, even with your cute baby dragon.”

Alex scowled angrily.

“Next I play POT OF GREED.So I draw two more cards. Then I place one facedown, and that ends my turn.”

“It’s… my draw!” snapped Alex, and she drew and took her damage.

SCORE:

Alex: 5900 VS Fluttershy: 10,100

But she did like what she drew, and formed an idea as she thought “Ah, yeah, Alex is jumpin’ back.”

“Sorry Baby Dragon, but it’s time for you to go bye-bye.”

Fluttershy was sad to see the poor little baby go. “Oh, why did you go and do that for? He was just a baby.”

Alex smirked “I banished him so I could bring out this big bad boy. RED EYES DARKNESS METAL DRAGON!”

(Atk: 2800)

Fluttershy hated the sight of this new dragon. “You got rid of an innocent baby to summon a big horrible monster?!” she growled “Oh, I am so frustrated I could just scream!”

She drew in a huge breathe a let out what had to be… the most pathetic attempt at screaming Alex had ever seen or heard.

Fluttershy hardly made any sound at all; like a rag running softly against a glass sheet. “If you’re about done being silly, I’d like to finish my move.” said Alex “Anyway, thanks to my new Red Eyes, I get to summon one dragon out form my graveyard, and I know just who to pick; Red Eyes Black Dragon, welcome back!”

(Atk: 2400)

It was an incredible lineup for Alex; three super Red Eyes Dragons, but of course with a dragon out of the graveyard, Darkness dragon lost 300 points reducing him to 2700.

Still, Fluttershy didn’t seem to care much, believing her messenger card would shield her. “Sorry to break it to you, but it won’t any longer.” said Alex “I activate this spell, STAMPING DESTRUCTION!”

Fluttershy gasped; knowing that card could destroy one spell or trap card, and so, the messenger was destroyed, and she took 500 points of damage.

SCORE:

Alex: 5900 VS Fluttershy: 9600

Fluttershy whimpered nervously…

“Yeah, you ought to be whimpering now, because heeeeeeeeere we come!” shouted Alex, and all her dragons stood ready to brawl.

“No, you can’t!” cried Fluttershy.

“Just watch me. Go for it boys!”

As the dragons headed straight for Fluttershy’s helpless monsters, “I said… NO!!” shouted Fluttershy

“I activate the continuous-trap GRAVITY BIND!”

“D’ah…?!” Alex watched in horror as her dragons stopped dead in the tracks. The Gravity Bind prevented all monsters higher than level 3 from attacking, and so Alex was stuck once again. “What is with you?!” she snapped “Don’t you realize that you’re going to have to attack sometime in this match?”

Fluttershy stood where she was with her eyes shut tight and said “I… can’t. I just don’t believe in attacking all that much.”

She sounded so serious that even Alex was taken in by her emotions.

Fluttershy explained, and showed images using her astral power, her name fitted her well. Back in Equestria she was timid, meek, and often easily frightened by her own shadow.

Even her most exciting moments and cheering were weak and pitiful.

Only rarely did she ever show assertiveness, or boldness…

And even more rarely would she go completely crazy…

But no matter what, in the end, she was Fluttershy. Timid, meek, and often the weakest of the lot

A queer look came over Alex’s face. She almost seemed ready to cry herself, just like the images she saw of Fluttershy crying in those flashbacks.

Fluttershy wiped the oncoming tears from her eyes, and then broke out laughing wickedly “But all that’s in the past. The old Fluttershy is gone, and I hope soon forgotten. Ever since I saw the light, I’ve never felt such confidence, such power. Already all of Equestria feels this same thing I do, and soon all the human world will as well.”

Alex’s features quickly hardened. “Okay, I can totally understand the whole wanting to be different bit, but if you think this is right way to go about things, you’re even crazier than I thought. Look at you! You’re letting all this light stuff go to your head.”

Fluttershy snuffed and drew her card. “I’ll show you what’s what around here.” She grumbled softly, but first the score had to change up.

Fluttershy lost 500 points, and then she gained 1400, while Alex lost 1000 from the fire princess, and now that she had three monsters in play, Ebon cost her to lose 900 more.

SCORE:

Alex: 4000 VS Fluttershy: 10,500

“But I’m not through yet…” said Fluttershy “While it’s still my standby phase, I’ll reveal this to you; GOLDEN LADYBUG!”

A card that allowed Fluttershy to gain another 500 life points, provided the card would stay revealed until the end of her turn.

SCORE:

Alex: 4000 VS Fluttershy: 11,000

“But there’s more where this came from.” Fluttershy sneered “I summon Kuribon again!”

(Atk: 300)

“Not that little fuzzball again?” groaned Alex.

“That’s right, and now I get to use this spell card, LEVEL LIFTER! Now I get to discard my ladybug, and what’s more Pikeru and Ebon both get their levels changed to that of my ladybug.”

Alex felt her nerves lurch softly. She had a bad feeling something awful was coming.

“Now, I overlay all three of my level one monsters. With these, I build the overlay network, and Xyz Summon NUMBER 54: LION HEART!”

(Atk: 100)

Alex gasped “No, not Lion Heart?!”

Even though its attack was extremely low, Alex had tutored many students at Duel academy about the card, and she knew it had one devastating effect, and further, Xyz Monsters didn’t have levels at all, so the Gravity Bind would have no effect either.

“Normally, I don’t like to attack…” said Fluttershy “But sometimes, you have to be bold about things, and besides, taming animals is another one of my specialties. Go Lion Heart, attack.”

Her target was the Dark Metal Dragon, and thanks to Lion Heart’s natural ability, it couldn’t be destroyed in battle while it was in attack mode, but that wasn’t all. “Now I can use my Lion’s other special ability.” said Fluttershy “By using one overlay unit, you take all the battle damage I would have taken, and that’s 2700.”

Alex growled as her life points sank really low.

SCORE:

Alex: 1300 VS Fluttershy: 11,000

Fluttershy felt the boundless boldness coursing through her, and she laughed manically “I love this feeling!” she shouted “And I’m going to love my next turn, when I finish you off once and for all!”

“What am I going to do?” Alex thought fearfully “I still can’t even try to attack her monsters, and she’s still got that Fire Princess out. If I don’t turn this around and fast, she’s going to wipe me out for sure!”

To Be Continued…!

Author's Note

The deck really suits Fluttershy due to her meekness and ducking down in shyness. So a stall deck is good for her, plus furry animals she looks after.

(Part 2:) Boldness and Blindness

CHAPTER SEVEN

At WOOHP, Jerry was still tracking the climate conditions, and they were steadily growing worse. More tropical storms were hitting major countries, one was even heading straight for Duel Academy Island, and monsoon season was about to come very early in Africa, where Alex was now.

All this plus newer readings ultimately confirmed Jerry’s big fear.

At Duel Academy, we all knew the storm was coming, as it could be seen form plain sight, but it seemed no big deal to us, we got storms all the time.

I decided to watch Alex’s duel from start to finish, and this time I wouldn't turn the signal off, wondering if that mystery duelist would show up, but I was still very worried. She wasn’t in good shape already with her current duel.

Sabrina came in, after tending to her duties with the unaffected students “Most of them are sleeping in their dorms.” she said “The rest are all behaving normally.”

It amazed me how they were acting so brave at a time like this.

“How’s Alex doing?”

“Not very good…” I said showing her the results.

The score stood…

SCORE:

Alex: 1300 VS Fluttershy: 11,000

If Alex didn’t turn the duel around on her next turn, she’d be history, but Sabrina and I both had faith in her. I taught her well, just as she now taught others at the school as well.

Alex had to stay strong. She never gave up once before, and she wasn’t about to now. She gently placed her hand over her next card saying, “Come on now, show me some love!” and plucked out her card.

She then took 500 points of damage from the Burning Land card which was still in play.

SCORE:

Alex: 800 VS Fluttershy: 11,000

But she gazed at the card she just drew, and saw another card she was holding, and then gazed at Fluttershy wickedly.

“Hmm?” said Fluttershy.

“You like light, harmony, and all that stuff?” Alex sneered “Well, how about this; I activate the spell YU-JO FRIENDSHIP!”

“Huh?” cried Fluttershy as she saw Alex softly walking up to her, and then she extended her hand to her, but Fluttershy wasn’t stupid. “I know what you’re trying to do. If I put my hoof in your hand, then both our scores become half the combined total of us both.”

“That’s right…” Alex said.

Fluttershy scoffed “Well, I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I decline your handshake.”

Alex only snickered and showed her another spell card she was holding called UNITY. “Sorry to disappoint you…” she said “But if I play Yu-Jo Friendship while I’ve got this baby on hand, you can’t refuse me.” and with that, she grabbed Fluttershy’s hoof, and shook it softly much to Fluttershy’s chagrin!

The scores now stood…

SCORE:

Alex: 5900 VS Fluttershy: 5900

Alex cheered as she casually went back to her spot. “Ah, yeah…! Alex is back, baby! This oughta’ keep me going for a while, but for now I’ll place one card facedown and I’ll switch all of my dragons to defense mode.”

(Def: 2000) x2

(Def: 2400)

Fluttershy felt her boldness turning to anger, and she drew her next card. She lost 500 points, but then gained 200, while Alex lost 500 too.

SCORE:

Alex: 5400 VS Fluttershy: 5600

“I can’t let her make a comeback like this.” Fluttershy thought quietly “I’ll bet she just threw her Unity card facedown. I know when it’s played on a monster in defense-mode it gains the defense points of all other monsters she controls.”

Fluttershy suddenly realized that would help herself a great deal, and would severely lower Alex’s life points close to zero. “I have to be bold. Have to be assertive!” she muttered softly, and she ordered her Lion Heart to attack Metal Dark Red Eyes again.

“Not so fast, activate the trap; KUNAI WITH CHAIN!”

“What…?!” Fluttershy cried in shock, and then watched as the chain ensnared her lion, tied him down hard, and changed him to defense-mode.

(Def: 100)

“Ha! You walked right into it…” snapped Alex “See, by turning my monsters into defense mode, I figured you’d think I played my Unity card, so I set a trap for you instead, and you’ve forgotten something important too; it may be alright to be a little assertive, but overconfidence can lead to blindness.”

Fluttershy growled and stomped her feet angrily, but she had no choice but to end her turn. So Alex drew her next card. She still took 500 points of damage…

SCORE:

Alex: 4900 VS Fluttershy: 5600

…but she really like what she drew. “Stand Back, Alex is in the house! I sacrifice my Red-Eyes Black Dragon, so I can play JINZO!”

(Atk: 2400)

“Ah… Jinzo?!” Fluttershy screamed!

“That’s right…” replied Alex “And you know what that means, all your trap cards are worthless now, and that includes your Gravity Bind!”

“Oh, no! Oh, no!” cried Fluttershy

Alex gazed up at her Jinzo, and the hologram gazed back at her and actually gave her a thumb-up.

Alex never forgot the many times Jinzo had saved her. Even though she loved her Red Eyes dragons to pieces, she remembered that every card she ever played had its meanings.

Fluttershy was really in a tough spot now, and Alex turned her Dragon’s back into attack mode. “And by the way my Red Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon lets me use his special ability to get my Red-Eyes right back from the graveyard.”

Red Eyes returned, giving Alex a fully forced army, much to Fluttershy’s horror. First Alex ordered Jinzo to destroy Fire Princess, and it succeeded, but since Jinzo was negating traps, Alex’s Dragon Rage didn’t work, but that didn’t matter to her. Next, she ordered her Red Eyes to destroy Lion Heart, and since it was in defense-mode it exploded, and Fluttershy couldn’t retaliate with its ability because she took no battle damage.

She gazed at the remaining ashes of her fallen lion and felt tears coming to her eyes.

As pitiful as Alex could have felt, keeping well focused she informed Fluttershy that she was wide open. Fluttershy gazed all around and realized there was no escape, and Alex ordered her other two dragons to the frontline. “Go Red Eyes Darkness! Go Red Eyes Dark Metal! Attack her directly!”

The two dragons roared and soared straight at Fluttershy, Darkness Metal attacked in a swift blaze, they blasted her hard, but as Red Eyes Darkness attacked. "No!" shouted Fluttershy "I discard KURIBOH!"

"Ah!" cried Alex "That stops my dragon from damaging you. Oh, well, you still take 2800 points of damage form my first attack"

SCORE:

Alex: 4900 VS Fluttershy: 2800

Poor Fluttershy looked charred like a well-done steak.

Fluttershy lay on the ground, quivering and with tears of fear in her eyes.

"What's the matter?" Alex taunted "Ready to give up yet?"

Fluttershy could hardly believe what just happened, but she quickly reminded herself “Be bold, be assertive! The light and harmony are on your side!” and she bolted upright at her post and her rage began to spike again.

“Whoa! She’s got more guts than I thought.” Alex said to herself.

“I’m not going to be afraid, never again!” Fluttershy sneered, and she drew her next card. She still took damage from the Burning Land and then gained 200 from Marie

SCORE:

Alex: 4900 VS Fluttershy: 2500

“I activate ONE DAY OF PEACE!”

“What the?” snapped Alex. That card allowed both players to draw a card, and until the end of Alex’s turn, neither player took any damage of any kind. This frustrated Alex immensely, but at least she got to draw.

“Now I’ll play this; POT OF DITCHOTOMY!” That card allowed her to take three monsters of different types in her graveyard, shuffle them into her deck and then draw two cards. Her battle phase couldn’t be conducted, but she ended her turn anyway knowing Alex couldn’t hurt her.

Alex drew her next card, but she felt frustrated as she thought “I got all these super bad-boys on my field and even if I attack her I can’t do anything.”

“I’ll play POT OF GREED, so I get to draw two cards. Then I’ll just place one card facedown and end my turn.”

Now that her turn was over, Fluttershy drew her next card. She then took her 500 damage and then gained 200.

SCORE:

Alex: 4900 VS Fluttershy: 2200

As for the card, she really liked what it was. “It’s time to avenge my fallen friends.”

Alex blinked once.

“I activate the spell CHANGE OF HEART, and it lets me take control of one of your monsters.”

“Hey!” snapped Alex as she watched her Jinzo get snagged. “Give him back!”

“Now why would I want to do that?” hissed Fluttershy “But you know, since he looks so lonely, I guess I’ll play this to go with him; MAJESTIC MECH- OHKA!”

(Atk: 2400)

It was a card Fluttershy was able to summon without tributing, and it was a very pretty card for her to look at. It’s glowing reminded her of what she was fighting for, the light of harmony, and helped her to gain more boundless courage.

“Now I overlay these two level six monsters!”

Alex growled as she watched her Jinzo leave the field.

“With these monsters…” Fluttershy went on “I build the overlay network, and I Xyz Summon INZEKTOR EXA-BEETLE!”

(Atk: 1000)

“Huh…?” snapped Alex “It’s only got 1000 attack points. How’s that supposed to help you?”

Fluttershy snickered “For one thing, it helped me get rid of your Jinzo, which lets me play this trap XYZ EFFECT!”

“Ah!” gasped Alex. She knew that could activate when a monster was Xyz Summoned. Now Fluttershy was able to destroy one card on the field, and she chose Dark Metal Red Eyes. “Not him?!” cried alex.

“Yes!” hissed Fluttershy “And I’m not through. I use my monster’s special ability; by using one overlay unit, and then destroy one face-up card each of us control!”

Alex gasped and watched as both the Burning Land card and her Dark Red Eyes dragon exploded, leaving Alex with only her normal Red Eyes.

Fluttershy’s grin widened “Now that that’s done, it’s time for a little change in ranks.”

Alex’s eyes widened “You mean…?”

Fluttershy nodded and played her card “Go, RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!”

As the card was played, her astral mark and monster glowed wildly and Fluttershy let out a huge and real roar of bravery. “Now, I overlay my Beetle, and I rebuild the overlay network, I summon NUMBER 23: LANCELOT, GHOST NIGHT OF THE UNDERWORLD!”

(Atk: 2000)

It was a Zombie type monster, the only one that Fluttershy actually had in her entire deck. “Zombies really freaked me out.” She explained “Well, pretty much everything did, but with all this boundless confidence I have, I can handle it now, especiall since my monster can attack you directly!"

Alex gasped, and Fluttershy sent her monster right in. “I don’t think so…!” snapped Alex “Now that Jinzo’s gone, I can play my trap CHASM OF SPIKES!”

“I don’t think so either…” said Fluttershy “I activate Lancelot’s ability; by using an overlay unit, I can negate your card’s effect.”

“Say what?!” snarled Alex, and sure enough, her trap failed allowing Fluttershy’s monster to strike her directly and give her a full 2000 points of damage, and pushing her off her feet.

SCORE:

Alex: 2900 VS Fluttershy: 2200

“Talk about a cheap shot.” she groaned, and as she got back up to her feet, a terrible sight met her eyes as her prized possession “My Red Eyes Black Dragon!” exploded in a ball of flames.

Fluttershy snickered “Oh, I forgot to mention; whenever Lancelot attacks you successfully, I can destroy one monster you control.”

Alex growled softly, but now Fluttershy had to end her turn, not that it mattered, because Alex wasn’t faring too well. She couldn’t use a single one of the four cards she was holding. “Come on deck, I need you to pull through for me!” she cried in her thoughts, but what she got didn’t please her...

...until she thought deeply of what she could do. “Maybe… it could work…”

“I’ll place two cards facedown and I'll place this monster in defense-mode. That’ll do it for me.”

“My turn then…” said Fluttershy, gained 200 life points.

SCORE:

Alex: 2900 VS Fluttershy: 2400

And now I get to attack again! Go Lancelot!"

"Hold it!" snapped Alex "I activate my ENCHANTED JAVELIN trap card, and it lets me gain life points equal to your monster's attack"

Fluttershy couldn't allow this. "I use Lancelot's ability to negate your trap."

The trap was stoped and destroyed.

"Ha!" scoffed Alex "You just used your monster's last Overlay unit, that means he can't hit my directly anymore."

"Fine then, I'll attack your monster instead."

Alex's Facedown monster was a RED EYES WYVERN! and it got destroyed.

This was it, Alex seemed really stuck now. “You only have one turn left before I completely wipe you out.” sneered Fluttershy “And once I beat you, I can finally prove that I’ve changed, all thanks to the light of harmony.”

“Ever heard the expression, don’t count your chickens before they hatch?” Alex said as she got back up again. “I can still turn this around.” she drew her next card. “I’ll place two cards facedown and end my turn, and now, I'll activate Red-Eyes Wyvern's effects. When I end my turn, and if I didn't summon a monster. I can remove Wyvern from the graveyard, and that let's me summon my Red Eyes Black Dragon back to the field.”

(Def: 2000)

Fluttershy couldn;t understand why Alex summoned her dragon in defense-mode, but she wasn't about to let it get to her, now that she was only one move away from victory.

Now Fluttershy’s monster had no overlay units on it. Fluttershy drew her card and took another 200 points.

SCORE:

Alex: 2900 VS Fluttershy: 2600

“This is where it all ends now!” Fluttershy sneered “I activate OVERLAY REGEN, which attaches itself to my monster as an overlay unit to shield me, and now… say goodbye! Lancelot, attack…!”

“Hold on!” snapped Alex “I activate my face down; NEGATE ATTACK!”

“Nice try…!” hissed Fluttershy “But I can activate my monster’s ability now and prevent that.”

Alex’s trap card was negated instantly, and Alex grinned and said “Got’cha!”

“Huh?!”

“I was hoping you’d use your monster’s effect like that, now there’s nothing to stop me from using my other card. Activate DOUBLE DRAGON DECENT!”

Fluttershy gawked in shock.

“This trap works whenever you use an Xyz monster to attack me directly. Now I can Xyz Summon a monster of my own, as long as it a Dragon and a Light attribute, and I negate its effects.”

The overlay network appeared, and out came Alex’s monster “Ladies and gentlemen, introducing NUMBER 91: THUNDER SPARK DRAGON!”

Her new dragon roared and sparked with electrical currents.

“Fluttershy felt her legs give a little quiver as her nerves started to pick up.

“And what’s more…” Alex said “My dragon now gets to intercept your monster’s attack, and his attack power becomes equal to that of yours. That’s 2000 attack points.”

Fluttershy gasped, and just as she feared, the two monsters collided and destroyed each other. Alex sighed heavily in relief. “That was way too close.”

As for Fluttershy, she felt all her boundless confidence starting to fade as she gazed at the shattered remains of her best monster.

“And now that your turn’s over, here I come!” Alex sneered as she drew her next card. “Nice!” she said “I play DOUBLE SPELL! It lets me ditch my Unity card, and I can help myself to any spell card that you used, like POT OF GREED.”

Fluttershy watched as her Pot of Greed popped magically out from her graveyard zone, and activated on Alex’s field, letting her draw two cards. “Draw all the cards you like, you still can’t stop me!”

“Well, maybe I ought to change that, by wiping you out!"

"What?!"

"I activate STAR BLAST This card let's me shave one leve of this monster I have for every 500 points I pay, and I think I'll pay 1000 points."

SCORE:

Alex: 1900 VS Fluttershy: 2600

"So now, instead of this monster being level seven, it's now level five. That means all I gotta do now is sacrifice my Red Eyes so I can summon my main girl; YELLOW SPY GIRL!”

(Atk: 2300)

It was another card she truly treasured as much as her beloved Red Eyes; the very card I made for her and it resembled her too.

Fluttershy gazed up at it, and felt tears of fear coming back to her eyes, and Alex spoke gently to her. “I thought I’d end this gently for you, so I’ll use her ability. I can pay one half of my life points…”

SCORE:

Alex: 950 VS Fluttershy: 2600

“And you take 500 points of damage for each card you have on the field and the ones your holding, like your Gravity Bind!"

"What?!" cried Fluttershy. With her Gravity Bind still in play, and two cards she held, that cost her 1500 direct points of damage.

SCORE:

Alex: 50 VS Fluttershy: “1100”

Fluttershy sagged down hard embarrassed, and ashamed. Her spirit had been shattered, and she felt there was nothing she could do at all to make any comebacks. "I give up!" she cried, and with her surrender the yellow light vanished from the sky.

Back at my terminal, I leapt for joy and shouted “YES!! SHE DID IT!!”

Sabrina and I hugged each other feeling very happy and relieved, but the happiness was soon interrupted when we remembered what we had to watch out for now.

Any second it was going to come…!

Painful plans

CHAPTER EIGHT

Alex took at a minute to gaze at her two favorite cards; her Red Eyes and her Spy Girl. She smiled at them and felt as if they were winking at her. “Thanks, you guys. You really pulled through for me.”

Then she looked up and saw dark storm clouds heading their way; a dreaded monsoon, which Alex thought was weird since it was nowhere near that season at this time of year. She then gazed at the shaken little pony, and felt her sympathy growing as she approached her.

Poor Fluttershy was on the verge of weeping. “How I could lose?” she cried “I was so bold, so assertive.”

“You let it blind you, remember?” said Alex “Just like you’re letting that mark on your head blind you.”

Fluttershy didn’t even look up at her, and just continued to glance sadly at the ground.

“Hey, come on…” Alex said “It’s just a game, and you still played a good one.”

“You just don’t get it, do you.” hissed a voice. Alex turned round and saw Tony, Megan and Sam staring her down like zombies, and they all had the astral mark on their heads. “Okay, this is not cool.” Alex muttered, and she tried to reason with her friends, but in vain, they just wouldn’t listen.

“Can’t you guys see you’ve been brainwashed?” Alex said “Look, I just want to help you.”

“We don’t need help.” said Tony “We’ve heard the word of Princess Celestia, and we were foolish to ever resist her.”

“We’ve been reborn; basked in the light of harmony.” said Megan “And everyone else should stop resisting it.”

“Don’t you get it, Alex?” snapped Sam “You need to wake and realize you’re fighting a losing battle, and we’re here to show you the true path.”

Alex couldn’t believe what she was hearing. “Talk about super-duper brainwashing.”

“We just said no one’s been brainwashed.” said Sam.

“Now you have a choice…” added Tony.

“Either come willingly, or we do this the hard way.” said Megan.

Alex clenched her fists nervously, unsure of what to do.

“Hold it!” shouted a voice “I’ll handle this.”

The three spies stopped and bowed softly saying “Yes, Master Spike.”

Alex slowly turned round and saw what had to be, the strangest creature she had ever seen. “A purple and green lizard the size of a beach-ball?” she asked in confusion.

The creatures glared furiously at her, and little puffs of smoke shot through his nostrils, but instead of answering back, he crossed over to Fluttershy.

“Spike, I lost. I’m sorry, I really tried.” she cried, but Spike hushed her softly and told her not to worry. “We are not angry with you, you have done well, but you’re weary. You need to return to the princess. It’s okay. She is more than understanding.”

Fluttershy sniffed softly, and nodded slowly. Then, her astral mark glowed brightly, and she vanished in a sparkling stream of light, and was gone.

Alex rubbed her eyes in disbelief “Where’d she go?”

“Never mind that.” said Spike “I have my orders, from Twilight Sparkle. I will settle any and all disputes from those who dare to defy our Princess, Celestia, and get in the way of our glorious vision of a perfect world.”

Alex felt her anger boiling again “If you think I’m going to let some pint-sized lizard talk that way to me, you’ve got another thing coming.”

Spike angrily narrowed his eyes at her “First of all; I’m a dragon, not lizard, and second; by the time I’m finished with you, you’ll begin to show better respect for us and what we strive for.”

A duel terminal appeared for Spike. Despite that he was more anthropomorphic than the ponies, he was too little to wear a big duel disk on his arm, but at least he was able to hold and play his cards normally. “Prepare yourself…”

Alex smirked cheekily “So, I get to kick two baddies in one day? Cool.” She prepared her duel disk and drew her cards, but Spike glared at her and snickered softly, and the three spies grinned sinisterly. “Uh, I think I missed the joke.” said Alex.

“The joke is you.” said Megan.

“Master Spike is unmatchable.” added Tony.

“We faced him and he defeated us easily.” said Sam “Thank Celestia he forgave us.”

Alex was growing sick and tired of hearing all this nonsense about Celestia, the light and harmony and all that. “Let’s do this…!” she snarled.

The data came through on my terminal. “This is it.” I said “It’s what we’ve been waiting for.”

Slowly but surely I could see Spike’s picture, and was about to see just what type of strategy he had up his tiny little sleeve, even if he wasn’t wearing any clothes. “Be careful, Alex.” I muttered softly.

The score was set…

SCORE:

Alex: 8000 VS Spike: 8000

“Feel free to make the first move, and play as many cards as you wish.” said Spike “In the end, it won’t matter to me a bit.”

“Fine then!” snarled Alex, and she drew her first cards “I activate GRACEFUL CHARITY. So I draw three cards, and ditch out two.” After the resolve, Alex what she believed to be the best seven cards she could ask for.

“First, I summon my RED EYES BLACK CHICK!”

(Atk: 800)

“But he won’t be hanging for long, because all I do is sacrifice him, and I can summon my main guy; RED EYES BLACK DRAGON!”

(Atk: 2400)

“But wait, there’s more. Now I sacrifice him, for something even bigger; RED EYES DARKNESS DRAGON!”

(Atk: 2400) ---> (Atk: 3600)

His attack power increased because Alex had four dragons in her graveyard, one of which was Baby Dragon “Still, I’m not cool with that, so I’ll play MONSTER REBORN and revive a monster chilling in the grave; RED EYES DARKNESS METAL DRAGON!”

(Atk: 2800)

“And thanks to him, I get to bring my Red Eyes back too.”

(Atk: 2400)

“Now that he’s here, I can use this card, INFERNO FIRE BLAST!”

Spike growled softly, knowing fully well what he was in for, and he was suddenly blasted hard and dealt 2400 points of damage.

SCORE:

Alex: 8000 VS Spike: 5600

The other three spies were upset and concerned for Spike, but he assured them he was alright and there was nothing to fear. Alex then placed the last two cards in her hand facedown and ended her turn.

She felt really confident she couldn’t lose. Her face downs were BOTTOMLESS TRAP HOLE; which would destroy any monsters Spike would special summon if they had over 1500 attack points, and the second was TRAP STUN. If Spike tried to play any trap cards, she could stun them, and then, with three super dragons ready for attack, she didn’t see a way she could lose.

Spike, however, was sniggering.

“Now what…?” Alex sneered.

“If that’s the best you’ve got, I’m disappointed.” Spike said, making Alex feel insulted, but Spike drew his cards and grinned wickedly. “This will be over faster than I thought. I play FUTURE FUSION! All I have to do is send the required monsters from my deck to the graveyard, and I choose these five dragons.”

Alex figured he would do this, remembering what she was warned to watch out for. Spike was the one with the Five-Headed Dragon. Now in two turns it would appear, and even if it did, she felt her Bottomless Trap Hole card would save her…

…but Spike was far from finished.

“Next I’ll activate the spell GIANT TRUNADE!”

“Ah!” Alex gasped, having that card in her deck herself, she knew that it sent all spells and traps on the field back to the players’ hands, and in a blinding blast of winds, so it was done. Alex was not thrilled that her traps were off the field.

“Now then…” said Spike “Since my Future Fusion is back in my hand, I can play it again; so now I send another five dragons to the graveyard.” he picked his dragons and tossed them away. “Now that that’s completed, I can play two DRAGON’S MIRROR(s)!”

Alex practically screamed “What… Two…?!” She knew the Dragon’s Mirror allowed Spike to banish from his graveyard monsters for a Dragon Fusion. So he banished all ten of his monsters, and suddenly, they appeared. “Behold, not one, but two FIVE-HEADED DRAGON(s)!”

(Atk: 5000) x2

The two colossal beasts glared at Alex and roared loudly, sending a wave of wind right at her.
“This so is not good.” she cried.

Spike snickered wickedly “And I’m still not finished. Now I discard one card from my hand to play SUPER POLYMERIZATION!”

“What?!” cried Alex.

“This lets me fusion summon, but I get to use your monsters as well as mine!” and right then, he snatched all three of Alex’s dragons and fused them with both his, and summoned a third Five-Headed Dragon.

“And last but not least, the spell card MEGAMORPH!”

“No! Not Megamorph!” screamed Alex “That doubles your monster’s attack power!”

(Atk: 5000) ---> (Atk: 10,000)

She screamed in panic, and Spike smirked at her and then quietly told his monster “Go get her.”

The dragon attacked… Alex screamed… a big holographic explosion erupted and could be seen for miles.

I saw the entire duel play out, and the screen suddenly went blank “No, Alex!” I cried.

A complete and total One-Turn-Kill! Alex lay on the ground, completely conked out from such a force. Her cards lay scattered all around her and her Duel Disk had overloaded a bit and powered down.

Now that she was down, Twilight Sparkle appeared. “Good job, Spike, as usual.”

Spike grinned and blew on his claw triumphantly. Twilight then gazed down pitifully at Alex. “They always want to do it the hard way.” She said grimly.

The other spies then moved in and lifted Alex up, and Twilight teleported them all away.

No sooner had they gone did a heavy rain begin to fall. The weather was really getting out of control.

I was really down hard on Alex’s defeat. I pounded my desk again in frustration “Alex…! I can’t believe it. I just can’t!”

Sabrina was just as upset as I was. “We’ll get her back and the others too. I know we will.” She said to me, but really she was starting to have a small amount of doubt. However, her words did help me find a bit of strength, but I was really worried for the safety of the others.

Suddenly, Jerry called in telling us to come to WOOHP at once, or rather standby to be WOOHPED. That’s when we both got sucked through the air vents, and suddenly wound up in Jerry’s office. “Thanks for the warning…” I grumbled as I rubbed my sore behind.

“I’m starting to see why the spies complain.” grumbled Sabrina.

“So sorry, but it is the fastest and easiest way to get here.” Jerry said “But now, onto more pressing matters…”

He told us that the busted duel disks had been repaired, and the data was retrieved. First he showed us Megan’s last duel before her disk shorted out. It was against Spike, and he defeated her in a OTK using the Five-Headed Dragon. Sam and Tony met the same fate too; they were defeated in one blast.

“Incredible.” I said “He’s dueling like a complete master.”

It all made sense to us now. Whenever the spies defeated the ponies, Spike was sent in as a backup; to re-duel the victor while they were already worn out, and having just seen their entire strategy, making it easy for him to counter.

“I think I know how we can put an end to this.” said Sabrina. We all huddled together and listened to her idea. “Honey, that’s wonderful. It just may work.”

“I’ll contact the spies.” said Jerry.

Lee, Marc and Clover were the only spies left not to be affected by the lights. We told them of our idea, and they all agreed to it, and decided to all head to the next destination together, Southdale, the Clarks hometown where the Pink light seemed to be emitting from the strongest.

“Do you really think this will work?” asked Lee.

“If you play your cards, it should work, Lee.” I said “I’m even going to transfer the data we got from the duel disks to your coms.”

I did so, and Marc received the data. “Cool, now we’ll be able to know at least some of Spike’s cards, and we can figure out how to work against him. After all, the best way to beat a trickster is to use trickery.”

Lee was a bit lost, and Clover explained how this sort of cheating was actually sensible. Since Spike was very powerful, they needed to know as about his strategy as they could to help work against it.

“We are like so going to trounce these creeps for what they did to Sam and Alex.” said Clover.

“Don’t forget Tony and Megan.” said Lee “We’ll make these guys sorry they ever messed with us.”

“Good luck super spies.” Jerry said, and then he logged off. Then he mumbled softly “I just hope they hurry before it’s too late.”

“What was that?” I asked.

“Oh... oh, why, er… nothing... I didn’t say anything.”

“You said “before it’s too late.” said Sabrina “We heard you?”

Jerry tried to come up with an excuse, but all he did was convince us more something was up. “Jerry, what’s going on?” I asked “Tell us!”

Jerry had no choice but to come clean. “You’d better brace yourselves though…” he said as he typed on his computer and showed us a simple image of the moon. “What’s that got to do with anything?” Sabrina asked.

Jerry explained how WOOHP had been working hard, and discovered that the lights in the sky were apparently a combination of the ponies’ magic and solar energy from the sun, this combined with the forces of the astral power the ponies were unleashed was generating a force so incredibly powerful, that it seemed to be acting as the equivalent of an electro-magnetic force around the moon.

The worried my wife and I. “Are you saying these lights in the sky are powerful enough to change the moon’s orbit?” I asked.

“They already have.” replied Jerry.

“This is crazy!” cried Sabrina “Don’t the ponies realize this?”

“Apparently not…” said Jerry “Mind you, it is rather difficult to see with the lights covering the sky; it appears to be their one blind spot. Something they hadn’t planned for. They are so obsessed with turning our world into a land of worshipers, that they don’t realize what they are about to do to the Earth.”

“And… what’s that?” I asked.

“The moon is slowly being pulled closer and closer towards us.” Jerry said, and he showed us images of how the Earth was being affected; all the different climates, and sudden storms and savage typhoons, some flooding in other countries due to abnormal lunar activity.

“Oh my god!” cried Sabrina “We can’t let this happen.”

Jerry nodded and explained that WOOHP had dealt with things like this before, and had developed a sort of anti-magnetic force powerful enough that could restore the moon to its proper place. “Unfortunately, the lights in the sky are far too powerful for our anti-magnet to function, and must be completely dispelled.”

“So we’ve got to defeat the remaining ponies before we can act.” I said.

“That is correct…” said Jerry “But we have very little time. As I said, the moon is steadily moving towards us. If it reaches the Point-Of-No-Return before we can activate the anti-magnet…” he zoomed in closer and closer to the moon to emphasise his point “…it will crash into us… and, quite literally, end the world.”

A long and considerably frightful silence followed!

Meanwhile, in Celestia’s lair, Alex had just been converted, or rather brainwashed, and she bowed to Celestia “Your highness, do forgive me. I have acted very foolish. I now live only to serve you and to bask in the light of harmony.”

“Mmm… very good. You are most forgiven.” Celestia said.

Alex smiled, and stood with her friends.

“Now, listen… I have a new plan.” said Celestia “I have recently located the main source of those who oppose us, in two separate locations.” Her horn glowed magically and she showed everyone images from Earth.

“That’s WOOHP.” said Tony.

“And there’s Duel Academy.” added Megan.

Celestia nodded and instructed that they would split into groups, to perform a two-way takeover plot. “Twilight Sparkle will accompany two of you to WOOHP, and I will arrange for others in our clan to assist with the capture of Duel Academy. We cannot allow them to continue their defiance.”

The spies nodded. “But what of our other friends?” asked Sam “Surely they will join us too?”

“They will join us…” said Princess Luna “Our plan has not failed yet, nor should it. Now you were all given your orders.”

The team bowed and left the chamber, and the two sisters faced one another, grinning sinisterly, and Celestia gave a small snigger.

(Part 1) Party Time

CHAPTER NINE

It was well after 1 A.M in Southdale…

Lee and Marc met up with Clover, and all three of them had been informed of the big emergency. “That’s not even remotely funny!” cried Lee “How long do we have again?”

“Jerry said the Moon will reach the Point-of-No-Return by dawn, standard Pacific Time, which is less than six hours away.” said Marc. Then he looked up in the sky “We’ve got less than that to get rid of the last of those lights.”

“And we will…” said Clover “Alex Sam and I did way tougher things like this… of course I can’t think of any right now, but we can do this.”

“Right, because if we don’t we’re dead.” Lee said, but he said it quietly to himself.

As they continued to fly over the town, everything sure seemed quiet, almost too quiet. Then again it was the midnight hours, and most people were at home and in bed.

Still, Lee and Marc could hardly believe their beloved hometown was the sight of the pink light. Who knew what sort of things had happened since the lights appeared, and what of their parents?

The boys felt really worried now, and Clover didn’t know what to say. Still, they continued on their way, following the path of the pink light.

Suddenly, the trio could see the Southdale theme park, open at extremely late hours and seemed very lively with many people; little kids, teenagers and even adults, and they all had the astral mark on their heads.

“I think we may have found what we’re looking for.” Clover said. The Boys agreed, but they continued to fly over the park instead of landing smack in the middle of all those brainwashed people; two of which the boys recognized riding the Ferris wheel…

“Mom and Dad…!” they both cried.

Karen and Cal heard them and waved to their sons. “Hey there sports.” said Cal. “Come, join the light and harmony. It’s a lot of fun…!” added Karen.

The boys felt a mixture of emotions, worry, anger, but mostly determined; determined to save their parents from the brainwashing.

“Whichever of the ponies did this has got to be somewhere around in the park.” said Marc.

“Yeah, but where exactly do we start looking, there’s like a-thousand people here.” said Lee.

Suddenly, a big pink balloon floated up near Clover with an arrow pointing west. Marc then saw another balloon float up with another arrow on it, pointing in the same direction. “You think we should follow them?” asked Lee.

“Well it’s better than just floating around here like this.” said Clover “Come on, boys.”

More balloons with arrows seemed to pop up, and the spies continued to follow them all leading right up to the funhouse at the edge of the park, and a final balloon with the word “Enter” written on it; hinting the funhouse.

“Okay, I smell a major trap here.” said Lee.

“Clover and I will check inside.” said Marc “Lee, you better stay out here and keep your eyes open for You-know-who.”

Lee nodded and couldn’t wait for You-know-who to show up. “Be careful, you guys.”

Clover and Marc nodded and headed for the door down below, while Lee took refuge round the other side of the house, hiding in the shrubs.

Clover and Marc walked up to the door but noticed “There’s like, no door handle.” said Clover. “Well, we could always try knocking.” suggested Marc, and he walked right up to the door and knocked softly, and the second he did, the “Welcome” mat he and Clover stood on launched, on a spring, sending them both up, up, and up, and right through two of the windows on opposite sides of the house.

“Ow, like rude much!” groaned Clover. Then the window shutters slammed shut tight, and she couldn’t get them open…

…Marc had the same problem, and he realized his only chance of finding Clover or anyone else was to leave the room and head through the funhouse. The first room he was in seemed to be basic with giant punch-bags all around, only they were all pink, and had goofy smiles on them, and Marc was certain he could hear a faint giggling in the air. “Who’s there?” he called out, but no one answered.

Clover was fighting her way through thick rubber wire jungle, and she kept tripping and getting stuck every step she took. “Ugh! That does it!” she growled, and used her wrist-laser to zap all the wires apart. “Easy peasy…” Clover said, but when she walked down the next hallway…

It was dark, and a little hard to see, and she could hear the faint sound of the same giggling. A chill ran down Clover’s spine. Suddenly, dummies of clowns and big bears seemed up out from the walls, and while they were usually cute, Clover ran down the hall squealing like a baby.

“Clover!” cried Marc and he dashed forth down his hallway, but emerged in a big room of mirrors, all kinds of funny mirrors. All ways he looked, he could see his reflections from so many angles; he could even see his reflection within reflections bounding off the mirrors.

“Okay, I’m feeling a bit dizzy.” he groaned. Suddenly, he thought he could see something unusual in one of the mirrors, but it disappeared before he could get a good look.

He ran up to the mirror, which seemed pretty normal and straight. “Hmm… weird.” He said, and then suddenly, his reflection waved at him when he didn’t wave at all, making him flinch, and step backwards, and he fell through a trap hole and slid down a wacky slide, screaming…!

Clover heard it, and freaked out. She backed up against a wall which whirled round and she fell down another wacky slide. “Great, it’s like being WOOHPED all over again!” she screamed.

She and Marc slid down, down, down… and emerged on a soft cushy mat in a faintly lit room. “You too, huh?” groaned Marc. Clover nodded groggily.

Suddenly, they heard that same giggling sound, only it was louder and clearer than ever in that room. Then, the whole room light up, as confetti and balloons fell from above, and music started to play as playful pink pony bounced around singing…

“Wait for it…”

Clover and Marc blinked once, and then suddenly, big canons popped up and out form a big over, a whole bunch of more confetti was fired, followed by big blobs of cake mix launching from the canons, covering all three of them.

“Eww!” cried Clover

“Gross!” groaned Marc

“Oh, silly Me.” giggled Pinkie “I must’ve put the confetti in the oven and the cake in the confetti cannons… again.” She laughed and giggled, but the spies were not impressed.

“Like, get this stuff off me!” wailed Clover as she brushed her spy suit clean.

“So you’re the one who’s behind all this.” Marc thundered at Pinkie.

“Uh-Uh-Uhn… looks like someone needs a dose of the smiles.” said Pinkie, and she told the spies about who she was in her home world; a regular friendly, fun-loving, super-excited, party-animal…

If anything had to be made into fun or a party, she was pony to call, but the only other thing she loved more than all those things was making people smile. “Allow me to demonstrate…” she squeaked and she blew on a little tooter.

“Oh, no…!” groaned Clover.

“Not another song?!” added Marc, but much to their chagrin, and a little magic form Pinkie’s astral mark, she began to sing...

“Come on and Smile!”

Though the song was slightly catchy, and cheerful, by the time it was over, Clover and Marc were still not impressed and just stood with their arms folded and had sour expressions on their faces.

Pinkie could see the spies needed more persuasive measures “Let’s have a duel then. That’ll be lots of fun.”

“Now you’re talking.” said Marc, but Clover put her hand in front of him “This one’s mine. I’ve been waiting to get my game on.”

“Well, all right, but I’m here if you need me.”

Pinkie leapt for joy boasting how much fun it would be, even if she lost the duel. “It won’t matter anyway; we’ll all have lots of fun.”

Clover couldn’t even begin to think how anyone could think about fun when the Earth was on the verge of total destruction. Obviously Pinkie was not aware of this, seeing as no one could really see the moon with the lights covering the sky. Nevertheless, she prepared her duel disk while Pinkie set up her duel platform.

“Get your game on!” Clover sneered.

SCORE:

Clover: 8000 VS Pinkie: 8000

“Time to throw down…” Clover said as she drew her first cards. “I summon NEO SPACIAN AQUA DOLPHIN!”

(Def: 800)

“Ooh…” cried Pinkie “I love Aqua shows. But then again, I love all kinds of shows.”

Clover’s lips curled into a wicked grin “Well, let’s see how you like when I use his ability. I’ll discard ELEMENTAL HERO SPARKMAN, and that lets me get a good look at your hand.”

“Huh?” said Pinkie and her cards on the holder magically enlarged and were revealed to Clover, and among them was a MARSHMALLON, along with quite a few cards that would go good in playing it. “Sorry to do this to you, but now that Marshmallon of yours goes bye-bye, and you take 500 points of damage.”

Pinkie’s card immediately went to her graveyard, and she lost the points as promised.

SCORE:

Clover: 8000 VS Pinkie: 7500

“Hmm, nice shot…” Pinkie said.

“Thanks, I guess…” said Clover “Now I’ll throw down a facedown and end my turn.”

Pinkie leapt for joy squealing “Yay, it’s my turn now…” and she drew her next card. “Perfect. I love this game.” she cooed.

“Um, can you just play whatever is it is you’re going to play?” Clover rudely asked.

Now Pinkie was starting to feel her patience run low “Okay, if I have to. I’ll play RELOAD! It lets me send all the cards I have back into my deck, shuffle up, and then draw new cards.”

Clover grunt softly, but silently had to commend Pinkie for changing up her hand after she had just revealed her cards. Now she had four new cards to play, and she leapt for joy. “YAY, just what I was hoping for. I summon DREAM CLOWN.”

(Atk: 1200)

The clown monster waved and stuck out its tongue at Clover, freaking both her and Marc out. Still, they both had a pretty good idea why Pinkie summoned that monster.

“Go, Clown, time to get this show started…” said Pinkie “Attack now!”

“Don’t think so!” snapped Clover “I activate DRAINING SHEILD! Now it stops your monster in its tracks, and boosts my life points by the total amount of its attack power.”

SCORE:

Clover: 9200 VS Pinkie: 7500

“Nice move.” said Pinkie “See, isn’t this fun?”

Clover only gave Pinkie a grumpy stare. Pinkie then set two cards face down ending her turn.

“My move now.” said Clover as she drew her card. Figuring Pinkie had set a trap, she decided to go in easy. “I play WILDHEART!”

(Atk: 1500)

“Now I’ll boost his power with this; CYCLONE BOOMERANG!”

(Atk: 1500) ---> (Atk: 2000)

“Now, Wildheart, wash that clown’s ugly face off; Attack…!”

Wildheart threw his massive boomerang straight at Pinkie’s clown, but Pinkie giggled, or rather squeaked with glee…

“…Now I get to play my trap; ZERO GRAVITY! And it changes the battle positions of all the monsters.”

“Sorry to disappoint you…” said Clover “But my Wildheart isn’t affected by trap cards-- Wait… did you say all the monsters?”

“That’s right…” cooed Pinkie and her Dream Clown changed into defense mode…

(Def: 900)

“And when that happens, its special ability lets me destroy one monster on your field.”

Clover clenched her fist and watched as the clown caught Wildheart’s boomerang and actually flung it back at him, destroying him instantly. “Now she’s in for it.” said Marc.

Clover nodded at him and turned back to Pinkie. “Wildheart may be gone, but thanks to the Cyclone Boomerang he had on him, now every trap and spell card on the field is destroyed.”

Pinkie’s other facedown card bit the dust, but she smirked cheekily “You just hit KOZAKY’S SELF-DESTRUCT BUTTON!”

“Ah!” Clover gasped.

“No way!” cried Marc.

They both knew that when that card was destroyed while facedown, whoever destroyed it took 1000 points of damage.

SCORE:

Clover: 8200 VS Pinkie: 7500

“What can I say? I just love surprises.” Pinkie joked.

“Huh! Yeah? Well I got a surprise for you; my boomerang’s effect also deals you 500 points of damage for destroying your card. How do you like that?”

SCORE:

Clover: 8200 VS Pinkie: 7000

Pinkie didn’t like that much.

Clover then turned her Aqua Dolphin back into defense mode, then placed a card facedown and ended her turn.

Marc was grateful that Clover was in the lead, but he really didn’t know what else Pinkie would unleash. He also hoped that Lee was still maintaining his post outside, if Spike would show up. “I just hope nothing else goes wrong.” he muttered softly.

Jerry and his team had been preparing the anti-magnet for some time. Now it was all set to go and be activated; except the lights in the sky had yet to be fully dispelled.

“That’s all we can do from here.” Jerry said to himself “The rest is up to the team, now.” He gazed at his computer radar, and the moon was still moving in closer, and at the same time climate control was getting worse.

Hurricanes were spreading all over like butter on toast, and many countries were suffering from record-breaking high tides, and yet despite all this, the people still worshipped Princess Celestia and her light of harmony, still completely unaware that certain and total death was approaching.

Suddenly, the alarms sounded “Oh for heaven sakes, what now?!” Jerry groaned.

Images showed a massive army of brainwashed people outside the WOOHP building trying to fight their way inside. The guards held them off as best they good, but the army was so massive they managed to make their way up to the main doors.

“Oh, no you don’t!” Jerry sneered, and with a flick of the switch, all his men were safely WOOHPED inside, while all the entrances and exits were sealed off tight.

Jerry sighed in relief, but then he heard the sound of clapping.

“Smooth move, Jer.”

“Yeah, you haven’t lost your touch.”

It was Alex and Sam, and the stepped out from the shadows.

“How did you girls get in here?” Jerry asked.

“Um, we’re spies, and it’s what we were trained for.” said Sam.

“We know as much about WOOHP as you do.” added Alex “Now, step aside. We’re running the show now.”

“I beg your pardon?” Jerry snapped.

“You heard us…” said Sam.

“WOOHP belongs to Princess Celestia now.” added Alex.

Jerry could understand that the girls weren’t being themselves, but if it meant protecting WOOHP and ensuring the safety of the world, he knew he’d have to stand up to his dearest friends. “Sorry girls, but I can’t let you do this.” and he stood ready to defend himself, but Alex and Same remained unfazed.

“We’re not alone, ya know.” said Alex.

Jerry felt a shiver run down his spine, and before he could ask, another pony appeared before them, out of thin air; a lilac pony with a dark navy-blue mane with pink and purple streaks. “It’s all right, girls. I’ll handle this.”

Jerry narrowed his eyes at the pony, suspecting she was quite different among the others the spies had faced.

He reached into his desk and pulled out his Ancient Gear deck as well as his duel disk. “Have at you!”

The pony glared wickedly at him.

To Be Continued…!

Author's Note

A clown deck is very appropriate for Pinkie, since she's all big-show, happy and clownish and all that.

(Part 2) Party animal

CHAPTER TEN

Clover and Pinkie’s duel was still fresh…

SCORE:

Clover: 8200 VS Pinkie: 7000

“Come on, won’t you guys give a little smile?” Pinkie asked cheekily. Clover and Marc acted just as sour as ever.

“No? Oh, well… I’ll just take my turn.” She drew her next card. “Ah, ha; this will be fun; CARD OF SANCTITY! We draw until we each hold six cards.”

The girls both refreshed their hands, and Pinkie really liked what she got. “First I’ll switch my Dream Clown into attack mode.”

(Atk: 1200)

“Now, I play the continuous spell, STUMBLING!”

Clover and Marc recognized that card. As long as it was out, all monsters that got summoned in attack-mode would instantly go into defense-mode. This was defiantly not a good sign.

“Now for my next trick…” said Pinkie “I’ll pull a rabbit out of my hat; BLADE RABBIT that is.”

(Atk: 400)
(Def: 300)

Because of Pinkie’s spell, the Rabbit immediately went into defense mode. “And that activates his special trick…” said Pinkie “Now I can destroy a monster you have.”

“My Aqua Dolphin…!” Clover cried as her monster shattered, leaving her wide open. Pinkie then ordered her clown to attack Clover directly. “Hold on, I activate the trap, HERO BLAST!”

“Huh?” cried Pinkie and Clover explained that she could take Sparkman and add him straight to her hand, and in addition, since Dream Clown had less attack points than Sparkman, it got destroyed before it could finish its attack.

“Aw, that’s a shame.” Pinkie said, not sounding too upset at all. “I’ll just place one card face down and end my turn.”

“My move now…” said Clover and she drew an eighth card. “Now let’s kick things up a tad. I play POLYMERIZATION! With this, I merge CLAYMAN and BURSTINATRIX, so I can create ELEMENTAL HERO RAMPART BLASTER!”

(Atk: 2000)
(Def: 2500)

“And if you think that’s cool, wait until you see its ability; it can attack you directly, even if it’s in defense-mode, as long as the damage is halved.”

“Ooh, sounds cool.” said Pinkie, and right then she was attacked hard and lost 1000 points.

SCORE:

Clover: 8200 VS Pinkie: 6000

Despite this, she still didn’t seem to be too distraught and acted just as funny and giddy as ever. “This is so much fun; I almost wish it could never end.”

Marc and Clover didn’t know how much more of this they could endure. “I’ll throw down a couple of face-downs and call it a turn.” said Clover.

“Now I’m up…” said Pinkie as she drew her next card “Neat, I summon another Blade Rabbit. You know what that means..; it automatically goes into defense mode, and I can destroy your monster.”

Clover just smirked and said “I figured you’d try that again, and that’s why I came prepared. Go DE-FUSION! It splits up my Blaster, and summons Clayman and Burstinatrix, and you miss your target.”

(Def: 800)

(Def: 2000)

“Pretty clever…” said Pinkie “But now I’ll show you a trick of my own. I overlay both my level two rabbits. With these, I build the overlay network, and Xyz Summon HERALD OF PURE LIGHT.”

(Def: 1000)

Clover gawked at the weak monster, at first feeling it was of little threat. “What can you like hope to do with that little thing?” she asked.

“What else; use its ability.” said Pinkie “I can use one of its overlay units, and take one monster from my graveyard and put it in my hand. Then I have to shuffle one card from my hand into my deck. “That ends my turn.”

Clover thought deeply and assumed that Pinkie had taken back her Dream Clown, but at the moment it was her turn, and she drew a card. “Sweet… I activate R-RIGHTEOUS JUSTICE! Now I get to destroy as many spell and traps for each Elemental Hero I control, and since I’ve got two of ‘em, you can say adios to your two cards.”

Pinkie merely blinked and didn’t even frown as both her Stumbling card went down, but unfortunately, her second card was…

“Kozaky’s Self-Destruct Button, A… Again?!” groaned Clover.

“Yep, and you know what that means…” said Pinkie “You lose another thousand life points.”

SCORE:

Clover: 7200 VS Pinkie: 6000

“Yeah, like whatever, at least you can’t try and stop me now.” Clover said, and she turned both her monsters into attack mode. “Now I’ll play H- HEATED HEART. It powers Clayman’s attack by 500…”

(Atk: 800) ---> (Atk: 1300)

Then she ordered Clayman to attack…

(Atk: 1300) VS (Def: 1000)

“And what’s more…” said Clover “Heated Heart’s got another special ability. When Clayman destroys your defending monster, you get piercing damage.”

SCORE:

Clover: 7200 VS Pinkie: 5700

Pinkie just blinked and kept right on smiling like a goof, which really annoyed Clover. “Burtstinatrix, wipe that smug off her face… Attack her directly!”

Pinkie got struck hard and lost 1200 points…

SCORE:

Clover: 7200 VS Pinkie: 4500

…and still she just smiled and blinked.

“What is with you?!” snapped Clover.

“What’s what with me?” asked Pinkie “I’m just having a lot of fun here, but I don’t see why you aren’t.”

“I already told you, I’m dueling to save the world, this isn’t any time for fun.”

“Save the world? It doesn’t need to be saved. We’re all going to be happy together; just all of us and the light of harmony, and we can have all the fun and joy in the world.”

“The world won’t be here! Can’t you see that?” snarled Marc “If you and your friends don’t stop what you’re doing, you’ll destroy us all.”

Pinkie could only laugh and giggle; still thinking it was all a joke. “Come on, we’d never let that happen to you guys. We’re all going to be friends after all, and friends help friends.”

Rather than waste more valuable time trying to explain Clover decided “Let’s just duel. The sooner this is over, the sooner I can give my brain a rest from all this bizarreness. I end my turn.”

“Okie Dokie Lokie.” said Pinkie, and just before she drew her card, she felt her back give a little twitch, followed by a sudden itching. “Hey, it must be my lucky day…” she said, and then she drew her card. “Whee-Hoo it is…!” She placed one monster in facedown defense-mode and the set a card facedown, ending her turn.

Clover and Marc were both confused at why she said it was her lucky day, and then just play a hidden move like that, and more, Clover was expecting the Dream Clown to come forth.

“Wait!” Clover muttered softly “I bet I know what’s going on…”

First she turned her two monsters in defense-mode. “Now, let’s bring out SPARKMAN!"

(Atk: 1600)

She then ordered her monster to attack, and just as she figured, “…It’s Marshmallon!”

(Def: 500)

“Oopsie... You did a bad thing.” said Pinkie “You just lost 1000 life points, and this cute little guy doesn’t even get scratched.”

SCORE:

Clover: 6200 VS Pinkie: 4500

“Oh man!” Marc groaned in disdain “It was so obvious that it would be.”

Clover was strapped for options at the moment, and had no other choice “I’ll just end my turn.”

“Okay…” Pinkie cooed and she drew her next card “Now I activate the spell, MIND CONTROL! I’m going to invite your Burstinatrix over here to play.”

“What?!” snapped Clover, and sure enough, Burstinatrix left her to join Pinkie’s side of the field, despite that the spell forbade Pinkie from attacking with Burstinatrix, or tributing her, Pinkie had a better plan. “Now I overlay Burstinatrix, with my Marshmallon.”

“Oh, no… not again!” cried Clover.

“I build the overlay network, and I summon forth, MECHQUIPPED ANGINEER!”

(Atk: 1800)

“Now let’s really have some fun. Attack, Sparkman!”

(Atk: 1800) VS (Atk: 1600)

SCORE:

Clover: 6000 VS Pinkie: 4500

Clover braced herself as the shockwaves passed her. “I play HERO SIGNAL. It lets me bring out one Elemental Hero from my deck, and I pick another Sparkman!"

(Atk: 1600)

“Ooh… I love light shows too.” said Pinkie “But I’ll place two cards facedown, and end my turn now.”

“My draw…” Clover said as she took her next card “I Play POT OF GREED, which lets me draw two more cards. And I equip Sparkman with his faithful SPARKBLASTER.”

“And now, I also summon NEO SPACIAN GRAND-MOLE!”

(Atk: 900)

Marc could see that Clover was forming somewhat of a plan that would hopefully get rid of Pinkie’s monster, and despite her being one of his many teachers and personal mentor at Duel Academy; he really hoped she knew what she was doing.

“Now, I’ll use Sparkblaster’s effect.” said Clover “I can take your monster and change him right into defense-mode, just like that.”

(Def: 1000)

Pinkie admired all the lights and flashes from the effect. “Wow! This is so awesome.” she cried.

“You think that’s awesome, wait until Grand Mole attacks. Once he hits you, his ability will let me send both our monsters back to our hands.”

She ordered Grand Mole to go in, but Pinkie was well prepared for this. “I activate Angineer’s ability!”

“Say what?!” snapped Clover.

“Once per turn, I can use one overlay unit, and then change the battle position of any monster.”

Clover sneered angrily as her Grand Mole’s attack ceased. “No matter, I can still take you out with Sparkman. Attack!”

“Don’t think so.” said Pinkie “I activate THE RELIABLE GAURDIAN!”

Clover gasped.

“No, that raises her monster’s defense!” cried Marc.

(Def: 1000) ---> (Def: 1700)

Sparkman slammed right into Pinkie’s monster and bounced right off again.

SCORE:

Clover: 5900 VS Pinkie: 4500

“Whoa! That is like so unfair!” cried Clover.

“No, it’s fair.” Pinkie simply said.

Clover had no choice but to place her last card facedown and end her turn. Now both players were holding no cards, and Marc felt the heat starting to get him “Man, I can hardly stand any of this now.” he groaned softly.

Now it was Pinkie’s turn. She drew a card “First up, I think we’ve been playing a little too roughly here so I’ll discard my card, and play the trap NON AGRESSION AREA!”

“Ah!” cried Clover.

“Oh, no!” added Marc.

“Yep, you can’t play any monsters on your next turn.” said Pinkie.

Clover looked ready to explode with rage.

“See, you needed a time out.” Pinkie said “And speaking of time out, I’ll use Angineer’s ability again.”

With that, she used her last overlay unit, and forced Clover’s Sparkman into defense mode. “Now I get to play this card; the trap TRAGEDY. Since I changed your monster from attack to defense mode, all the defending monsters are instantly destroyed.”

“No!!” squealed Clover, but there was nothing she could do, as all three of her cards bit the dust.

“No, Clover!” cried Marc.

“That’s what you get for not playing nice.” Pinkie teased. Then, she changed her monster into attack mode, and ordered a direct attack on Clover’s life points.

“No!” snapped Clover “Activate FLUTE OF SUMMONING KURIBOH, and it lets me call out my old chum, WINGED KURIBOH!”

(Def: 200)

Clover managed to survive the round as Pinkie’s attack destroyed Clover’s Kuriboh and not hurt her life points. “Oh, well.” said Pinkie “It’s your turn.”

Clover angrily drew her next card, and was dismayed it was one of her best cards, but she couldn’t play it as she wasn’t allowed to summon monsters. So she had to pass her turn.

“Time to take this game to the next level…” said Pinkie and she snatched a card from her graveyard, and the others didn’t have to second guess what it was.

“I activate RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!”

Pinkie’s monster glowed brightly and she rebuilt the overlay network “Make way now, because here he comes; NUMBER 104: MASQUERADE!”

(Atk: 2700)

To Pinkie having a magician to the party was a super-neat, and also a great way to make the grand finale. This really creeped Clover and Marc out-- her obsession with parties and all the giddiness.

“It’s true…” Pinkie cried and acting all dramatic “I do have a problem.”

Then she bolted upright again, smiling as goofy as ever “But then again, we’re only playing a game. We’re all friends here, right?”

Marc and Clover gave awkward sighs of disdain.

“Oh well…” said Pinkie “I guess I’ll just attack.” And she ordered her monster to go in, and Clover got truck really hard, shoving her off her feet, and losing a full 2700 points.

SCORE:

Clover: 3200 VS Pinkie: 4500

“And that’s not all…” said Pinkie “Once per turn, my monster’s natural ability allows me to send the top card on your deck straight to the graveyard.”

“Ah!” cried Clover, and she watched as a card just slipped right into her graveyard; her O-OVERSOUL card.

“Clover!” cried Marc, but Clover managed to get back up, but both she and Marc knew she couldn’t afford to take another hit like that. She had to do something and fast, and kept telling herself that she could do it, just like all the times she did it before.

“Stand back, here goes something…!” and she drew her next card. “I play GRACEFUL CHARITY so no I can draw three cards as long as I ditch two.”

She drew her three, and the two she discard two very handy cards she hoped would help her soon.

She drew her next cards, and one of them she felt would help a bit “I play E-EMERGENCY CALL. Now I get to add one Elemental Hero from my deck to my hand, and I know just who it should be, but rather than keep you in suspense, I’ll summon him; BUBBLEMAN!”

(Def: 800)

“And since I don’t control any other cards, he lets me draw two more.” After she drew, Clover had five cards in her hand, and one of them she really liked. “Sweet…! I activate MIRACLE CONTACT, and here’s how it works, I can shuffle from my hand and my graveyard any monsters listed on a Neos fusion, then I can summon that fusion monster instantly. So, I’ll shuffle in Neos in my hand and my Neo Spacain Grand Mole from the graveyard.”

Clover’s two monsters appeared, and began to merge together as the new monster appeared “Check it out; ELEMENTAL HERO GRAND NEOS!”

(Atk: 2500)

“Wow!” cried Pinkie “That was some move.”

Clover smirked “Don’t compliment yet, at least until you’ve seen his ability. I can take one monster on your field and sent it right back to your hand, so you can say goodbye to your overgrown mask-face over there.”

“Not really…” said Pinkie “Now I’ll use Masquerade’s ability. By using an overlay unit, I can cancel out your monster’s effect, and you take 800 points of damage.”

Clover growled angrily as she watched her Neos stop in his tracks.

SCORE:

Clover: 2400 VS Pinkie: 4500

“Luckily, I have a backup plan.” said Clover “I play MIRACLE FUSION! Now I can Banish Bubbleman off the field and Clayman from the graveyard. I summon ELEMENTAL HERO MUDBALLMAN!”

(Def: 3000)

A smart move Clover had made, because after that she ended her turn, and her Neos monster was forced to return to her Extra Deck.

Then it was Pinkie’s turn. She drew her card, and used her monsters normal effects to send another card off Clover’s deck to the graveyard, her very special card that I made for her.

“Hey, look what I just drew here; POT OF GREED.” It let her draw another two cards as well “Ooh, and here’s one of them; XYZ UNIT!”

Clover and Marc both gasped in shock, knowing that card from previous duels. It served as an overlay unit to Pinkie’s monster, and gave the monster 800 extra attack points-- 200 for each star its rank, for a grand total of 3500 points.

“And also I have another equip spell to play; FAIRY METEOR CRUSH! Now if my monster attacks your monster, even when it’s defending, you take piercing damage.”

Clover clenched her fist angrily, and watched as Pinkie attacked, and Mudballman was vanquished.

SCORE:

Clover: 1900 VS Pinkie: 4500

Now Clover only had one turn; just one turn left to try and stop Pinkie once and for all, or she’d lose the duel for sure.

“Come on, Clover.” Marc muttered softly.

“It’s a shame this game is almost over. I was having so much fun too.” said Pinkie “No matter; we’re all going to have more than ever after I win this.”

Clover drew her next card “Huh? Ah, yeah. That's what I like!"

Pinkie gazed with curiosity, and astonishment that Clover was still fighting, wondering what she could possibly do. Then, she saw Clover grinning wickedly at the three cards she was holding “Sorry to disappoint you, but it looks like I’m wining this match.”

“Huh?” said Pinkie.

Marc gazed forth with interest.

“First off I’ll play HERO FLASH!! To do it, I have to banish H-Heated Heart, E-Emergency Call, R-Righteous Justice, and O-Oversoul out of the graveyard. Now I get to summon on normal Elemental hero straight from my deck, and I choose NEOS!”

(Atk: 2500)

Pinkie was confused why Clover would do that, seeing as Neos was too weak to attack her monster, but Clover still wasn’t finished, and it was time to put the two card she discarded earlier to use.

“Since I have Necroshade chilling in the grave, I’ll use his ability, which lets me summon an Elemental Hero without Tributing; BLADEDGE!”

(Atk: 2600)

“Huh?” cried Pinkie.

“Now, I’ll use MONSTER REBORN, and I’ll use it to get back my home girl; RED SPY GIRL!”

(Atk: 2300)

Pinkie Pie was amazed to see how much Clover’s new monster resembled her, and Clover prepared to show her its ability “All I have to do is halve my life points…”

SCORE:

Clover: 950 VS Pinkie: 4500

“…and I can destroy all the monsters you have in play.”

“Not if I use my monster’s effect again.” said Pinkie, and sure enough, by sacrifice the Xyz Unit card, Clover’s monster was forced to stop and Clover lost another 800 points.

SCORE:

Clover: 150 VS Pinkie: 4500

It also, however reduced Pinkie’s monster back to its original attack-strength of 2700, which was exactly what Clover wanted to have happen. “I’ve never done this before, so let’s see how it goes. I overlay my level seven spy girl, with my level 7 Neos. With these, I build the overlay Network, and Xyz Summon NUMBER 7: LUCKY STRAIGHT!”

(Atk: 700)

Marc could see that Clover going to rely on just a little bit of luck to help her end the duel, and he was hoping for her, big time.

“I activate my Lucky’s Straight’s ability; by using one overlay unit, I get two roll two dice blocks.”

Two giant dice blocks and appeared and rolled along the field. One came up a three, and other came up a four.

“ALL RIGHT…” Clover cheered. Firstly, it meant her monster’s attack would multiply 700 by four, the larger of her rolls, which brought her monster’s attack to 2800 “But that’s not all…” she said “Since I rolled me a lucky seven, I’ll use another one of my monster’s abilities, and special summon one monster from my graveyard, and I choose Neos!”

(Atk: 2500)

“Uh, oh!” cried Pinkie.

Clover glared at Pinkie cheekily and sneered “Party’s over.”

First she ordered her Lucky Straight to attack and destroy Masquerade.

(Atk: 2800) Vs (Atk: 2700)

SCORE:

Clover: 150 VS Pinkie: 4400

“Now that you’re wide open, it’s time to bring it home. Go, Neos! Go, Bladedge!”

Their combined attack totally 5100, and Pinkie was totally wiped out.

FINAL-SCORE:

Clover: 150 VS Pinkie: “0000”

The smoke cleared, and Clover winked triumphantly “That’s game!”

“All right…!” Marc cried as he jumped for joy.

Pinkie just blinked awkwardly and asked “What just happened?”

Outside, the pink light was vanishing from the skies, yet the people in the theme park continued to smile, laugh and all the fun they could, despite that the moon was now closer than ever to the Earth, and moving closer and closer still.

(Part 1) Dinos VS Dragons

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Despite Pinkie’s loss, she actually took defeat well. “That was so much fun!” she cooed “We should do it again sometime.”

Clover and Marc could not believe their ears, but before either of them could say anything, Pinkie began to glow in a flash of bright light “Oops, gotta go. See ya later.”

Then she was gone.

“Ah, rude much!” groaned Clover.

“Let it go, Clover.” Marc simply said “At least you won.”

Clover nodded, but then she and Marc wondered if their other plan was ready to work out.

Just then, Marc’s wrist-com began to blink and beep in warning. “Amber alarm!” he cried “Something’s going on at WOOHP?”

“Jerry…!” Clover cried softly.

The two spies managed to swiftly make their way to the front door of the funhouse and prepared to take off, when they skidded to a halt just outside the door. Spike was right there, and glaring at them sinisterly.

“Leaving so soon? You’re going to get past me.”

Clover and Marc suddenly realizing that they were much larger than Spike was, tried to run past him, but Spike managed to hold them back with the power from his astral mark.

“I can’t move!” cried Marc.

“This is so not my night!” groaned Clover.

The spies struggled and struggled, but they couldn’t break free, but suddenly, Marc could see a shadowy-- Lee-- figure standing up from the shrubs and aiming a gadget at Spike.

“Now, which of you two wants to go first?” Spike hissed.

Marc grinned cheekily “You do!” and before Spike could even react, Lee leapt out from the shadows and fired his laser-net, trapping Spike. This broke Spike’s concentration, releasing Clover and Marc from his magic.

“Way to go, Lee!” Clover said giving him a thumb-up.

Lee gave the peace-sign in striking pose of triumph, but the WOOHP alert began to blink off again. “You guys go ahead…” said Lee, and then he cast a look at Spike in the net. “I’ll handle this little half-pint.”

Spike used his magic to break the laser net, just in time to see Clover and Marc fly away. He then turned angrily to snarl at Lee.

“So, you’re the little pipsqueak who’s been turning my sibs and friends against us.” Lee sneered.

Spike grew angrier than ever “Ya know, I am getting really tired with all these cracks about my height. I’m the personal and favorite assistant of Twilight Sparkle.”

“Twilight Sparkle…?” asked Lee.

Spike nodded “Speaking of which, our little plan must be nearly complete by now.”

A chill ran down Lee’s spine “What do you mean?”

Clover and Marc took the emergency WOOHP tunnels to help them get back to WOOHP faster. They tried to contact, Jerry, but he wasn’t answering. “I hope we’re not too late!” cried Marc.

“I don’t even want to think about It.” added Clover.

Soon, they emerged on the top of the WOOHP building, and they could already see the danger down below; the large crowd of brainwashed people trying to make their way into the locked down building, but what worried the two spies worst, was the lilac light seemed to be emitting the brightest from inside the building.

Suddenly, the light began to fade a bit, as if whatever was happening had stopped. “We better get inside, now!” cried Marc.

Clover nodded and activated her drill-boots. “Fasted way in; going down!” and she drilled right through the ground, breaking the ceiling, and the two spies landed in Jerry’s office, only to find they were already too late.

“Look at this place?” cried Clover.

The chairs and the sofa were tipped over, broken glass lay all around. The consoles were at half power, obviously from some sort of electrical surge, and it didn’t take much to figure out how and why…

Marc found Jerry’s duel disk on the floor, and his cards scattered all over. “Oh, no!” he murmured.

Clover sat herself down at the console trying to get it going. Finally, she got the security camera tapes going, and played back everything…

Jerry had been dueling against a pony; Twilight Sparkle.

He had summoned his Ancient Gear Golem, and had Twilight down to her last 100 life points, but Twilight then pulled off some fancy move, and summoned a really large Xyz Monster, it was too big and it was too dark in the room to make out what it really was, but it completely overwhelmed Jerry in one thunderous attack, and shorting out some of the systems, including the camera.

“Jerry!” Clover cried softly.

Marc pounded the floor with his fist angrily. “I swear, when I find out where they’ve taken him, they’re gonna be sorry.”

Suddenly, there was a message that appeared on the monitor, it was Twilight Sparkle, or rather a recording she had made just before Marc and Clover arrived.

“This is a recorded message to any of you remaining agents. If you are playing this, means you are already too late. We have your boss; he is now one of us. He has basked in the light of harmony. This gave our other agents the chance to get to every last other one of your agents, and make them see our way of thinking, and soon the rest of you will follow…”

The image faded into an image of Duel Academy Island, and two flashing dots indicating the ponies were heading there to attack next, obviously coming for Sabrina and I, and all the other unaffected students.

“As for the rest of you, there is still time to spare yourselves…” Twilight said “We offer you this one final chance to set yourselves free. If you choose to accept willingly, come to the area you see on the map. I will be waiting. Either way, the light will cleanse all, and the harmony will reign above all. I will say no more.”

That was all, and Clover and Marc gazed at each other with deep concern.

Lee was half in shock and half in outrage. “You guys are just sick!” he thundered at Spike.

Spike only snickered “Well, then… I suppose there’s only way to truly settle this…” naturally he was insisting they duel, which Lee had been waiting for some time; having learned of some, only some of the cards Spike used, and having restacked his deck just a little…

“I hope I’m not gonna regret this.” he said silently to himself as he prepared his disk and ready his deck “Okay, Dinos… time to rumble!”

Spike was ready as well, and the scores were set…

SCORE:

Lee: 8000 VS Spike: 8000

“Feel free to make the first move.” Spike said.

“Thanks, I was hoping you’d say that.” said Lee, and he drew his card.

As for Spike, he gazed down at his first five cards, and saw that he already had his Future Fusion and a Dragon’s Mirror. “Excellent!” he thought silently “Crushing this guy ought to be easier than I thought. On my turn, I’ll summon my Five-Headed Dragon, and crush him down to size.”

Lee liked what his first draw was, having thought of and suspecting what Spike’s move would be. “All right, time to chill out. I activate the spell COLD WAVE!”

“Ah!” Spike gasped, and a big frigid wind seemed to blow across the field, frosting over everything around them, while Lee stood with a cheeky grin on his face. “Thanks to this spell, until my next turn, neither one of us is allowed to play or set any spells or traps.”

“No!” Spike thought in shock and outrage “I was all set to summon my great beast! Well, I’ll have to improvise then.”

“Now for the fun bit, I summon GILASAURUS!”

(Atk: 1400)

“Since he was in my hand, that counts as a special summon, meaning I can bring out another one.”

(Atk: 1400)

“That ends my turn. Now let’s see what you’ve got.”

Spike growled as he drew his card. Since he couldn’t play any spells or traps, he decided to keep low a bit. “I’ll place a monster in defense-mode, and end my turn.”

Lee grinned wickedly, feeling this was a perfect chance for him to take point. He drew his next card. “First, I play CUP OF ACE!” A large holographic coin appeared and begun to spin around, and it turned up “Heads” which let Lee draw two cards, giving him five in his hand.

“Now it’s time for some heavier duty power. I overlay my two Gilasaurus. With these dinos, I build the overlay network. I Xyz Summon GRENOSAURUS!”

(Atk: 2000)

Spike gazed up at the fierce dino and actually felt a little nervous.

Lee then ordered his dino to attack. Spike's facedown monster was a MASKED DRAGON, and it got destroyed. “When you destroy my dragon, its ability activates, letting me summon another dragon in its place. I choose ELEMENT DRAGON!”

(Atk: 1500)

“Not too shabby, but I get to play my monster’s ability. When he destroys a monster in battle, I can use one overlay unit and that deals you 1000 points of damage!”

SCORE:

Lee: 8000 VS Spike: 7000

Spike was not amused, and Lee still wasn’t finished…

“Now, I summon URABY in defense-mode!”

(Def: 800)

“And even though he can’t attack, I can still use this; the spell card DINO BLAST! Now for every level my dino has, you take 300 points of damage.”

“Ah!” Spike groaned as he took a full 1200 point blast…

SCORE:

Lee: 8000 VS Spike: 5800

Lee had almost wiped out half of Spike’s life points, and Spike was impressed, feeling that Lee was not like all the others he had faced. He was playing so perfectly, almost as if he knew what to expect.

“I’ll place two cards facedown and end my turn.” Lee said “Let’s see if you can keep up.”

Spike drew his next card, and liked what it was. “Ya know I have to confess…” he said to Lee “You seem to know your stuff well. You remind me much of myself.”

“What do you mean…?” Lee wondered “No… wait… I take that back…!” but he was too late, as Spike had already begun to explain his own origin.

Being Twilight’s assistant was wonderful, but there were still so many things he couldn’t do that she could. She could actually use magic, yet he was still very small, and not like other dragons that were fierce and frightening and made others fuss in panic.

Even his friends, the ponies would tease him from time to time…

[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=2&v=jfcPwfQscPw]

At times he would feel insecure, unsure of anything he was…

Worse than that, he couldn’t even confess his feelings to Rarity.

This shocked Lee, the fact that Spike was actually crushing on a pony.

Spike then shook himself back into focus “The point is, that was all before I saw the light. Now, at last, I can be so much more. Just look what I’ve done… I’ve stood for my friends. I’ve avenged their losses, and most importantly, I’m really making a difference by getting rid of all the scum on Earth like you so the light and harmony can cleanse you.”

Lee had heard enough, and while he felt sorry for Spike’s self-doubt, he just had to say “The only scum that’s really around here is you guys and what you’re trying to do to us.”

“Ha! Deny it all you want, your world will soon be completely bathed in the light and warmed by harmony.”

“Yeah… and crushed from above if you guys aren’t stopped and soon.”

Spike obviously didn’t believe him about that crack of the moon hitting the Earth. He had a job to do and friends to fight for, and he wasn’t going to let anyone or anything stop him now!

Meanwhile, Clover and Marc managed to snatch a WOOHP jet and were flying over the pacific. It was very difficult to steer due to the strong wind currents. “It’s no good…” cried Marc “The moon is getting closer. Excessive lunar activity is messing the climate even more. There are storms all over the place. LOOK OUT!!”

Clover screamed and pulled hard on the flight-stick, just barely avoiding a huge wind gust. “Okay, starting to feel a little airsick here.” Clover groaned.

“We have to stay focused.” said Marc “We’ve gotta make it back to Duel Academy to help the others.”

Suddenly, the plane began to lose speed and height. Clover pulled on the stick and tried the controls, but nothing was responding. “Something’s pulling us off course!” she cried.

“Look down there.” cried Marc.

Out the viewport they could see a small, flat rocky island, where the lilac light seemed to be emitting the strongest, and a larger white light was there as well; the magic portal connecting the human world to the ponies’ world of Equestria.

The plane was heading for a perfect soft touchdown, and they could see why. “It’s her…!” Marc murmured angrily.

Twilight Sparkle was using her unicorn magic combined with her astral powers to drag the plan down. Then, she made the plane magically disappear, and the spies fell hard onto their bottoms. “Ouch! Hey, I could’ve broken something in there!” Clover groaned as she rubbed her sore bottom.

Marc was more angry than hurt as he gazed furiously at Twilight as he stood up, like a real showdown was about to begin. “You…!”

Twilight could only snicker as she glared at him. “I am Twilight Sparkle; leader of the Mane Six, and personal pupil of Princess Celestia.”

“And kidnapper of our boss!” sneered Clover.

“Where is, Jerry? We know what you’ve done.” added Marc.

“I am here…” said a familiar voice, and Jerry appeared through the white portal, along with the other five ponies, even Pinkie Pie.

“What?!” snapped Clover “I thought we like totally beat you guys.”

Twilight shook her head in dismay going “Tsk, Tsk, Tsk… you only beat them in duels and dispelled their lights. You haven’t beaten anything.”

“Our power is drawn from the princess.” said Rarity.

“Even if you guys knock us down, we’ll just get right back up again.” added Rainbow.

“Yes ma’am” said Applejack. “There ain’t no one powerful enough who can dispel the light of harmony. It’s just too much a job.”

“Now that we’re back, we can continue with what we started.” said Fluttershy.

Pinkie Pie was bouncing with glee and excitement “This is going to be so much fun, I can’t wait to get started.”

Marc and Clover gazed at each other in deep concern “It’s going to start all over!” cried Clover.

“No… it can’t!”

“Spies, just give in already.” Jerry said “It’s so much better this way. Why just now I’ve seen a whole new world, and I’ve never felt so young and chipper in my life.”

Marc was more than convinced Jerry didn’t realize what he was saying. “Jerry, have you forgotten about the moon?” he asked “Remember, it’s going to crash into us and destroy the Earth unless we stop the ponies.”

The ponies and even Jerry laughed, still in disbelief.

It was in vain that Marc tried to show them that the night sky, in the gaps between the remaining lights were, was much too bright as the moon was getting closer, and the tropical storms and abnormal weather patterns across the globe were happening because of all this.

“I don’t believe you.” said Twilight “Princess Celestia would never allow such a thing to happen. We are not monsters, we are peace-loving creatures, and we care for harmony and friendship. Unlike some creatures...”

Clover scoffed “Some friendship. If this is how you treat your friends, I’d hate to see how you treat enemies.”

“Twilight, please… try and understand.” said Marc “What you offer us is not friendship nor harmony, it is non-existence. Well, I don’t actually mean that, but what I’m saying is you can’t enforce your ways into us like this. Now I admit the human race isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be, and we have made many mistakes, but we learn from these, and we try our best to evolve as people. All you’re doing is brainwashing us humans and turning us into thoughtless and mindless creatures with no free will. You’re taking away our freedom!”

“Huh?” peeped Twilight. The other ponies gasped in shock, and even Jerry felt confused, but Twilight then shook her head, still in complete and total disbelief. “Celestia would never allow such a thing to happen. She only wants to bring joy and harmony of your world, and that’s just what we’re going to do.”

The other ponies urged Twilight to “Give it to them” and “Let ‘em have it!”

Not wanting to disappoint her friends, or let Celestia down, Twilight eagerly agreed and prepared her duel platform, and she glared at Marc. “Stand and face me, human!”

Marc clenched his fist and stepped up “Fine then, if that’s how it has to be…”

He prepared his duel disk and his deck.

“Marc, are you sure about this?” Clover asked “They said it wouldn’t do any good.”

Marc didn’t care a bit; he had been waiting to have at these ponies all night long. “Let’s do this!”

Meanwhile…

Spike was ready to continue “I summon DELTA FLYER!”

(Atk: 1500)

“A Tuner monster!” cried Lee.

Spike grinned wickedly “Correct, and what’s more, thanks to his special ability, I can increase my Element Dragon’s level up by one, changing it from four to five stars. Now, I can tune both my monsters together. I Synchro Summon STARDUST DRAGON!”

(Atk: 2500)

The dragon roared as it stretched out its wings.

“Oh, boy; I didn’t see this coming.” Lee muttered.

“Now then…” said Spike “I think it’s now safe enough to play this card; FUTURE FUSION! Now I’ll send five dragons form my deck to the graveyard.”

Spike discarded his dragon cards, and looked forth at Lee, but he did nothing to stop him. Still, Spike wasn’t entirely sure he was in the clear yet. “Since I don’t trust you very well, I’ll activate this card, GIANT TRUNADE! It’ll send all the spells and traps back to our hand.”

“I don’t think so!” snapped Lee “Activate MAGIC DRAIN! Now I can negate your trap’s activation and destroy it.”

Spike snickered “Sure ya can, unless I discard one spell card. So there goes my Dragon’s Mirror, but my Trunade card works fine.”

“Think again!” snapped Lee “I’ll activate my other card first; WABOKU!”

“Ah!” groaned Spike.

“Ha!” snapped Lee “Now you won’t able to destroy my monsters, and I won’t take any damage.”

“Perhaps…” spike sneered “But you won’t stop me this time. After all, I always carry spares.” He showed Lee that he indeed had a second Dragon’s Mirror in his hand.

“Ah! Oh, no!” cried Lee.

Spike snickered and activated his card, and Lee was powerless to stop it now. “I banish five dragons form my graveyard, and now prepare yourself for the big one! I summon FIVE-HEADED DRAGON!”

(Atk: 5000)

The giant dragon appeared and roared very loudly. “Man! How could I let this happen?” groaned Lee, while Spike laughed loud and sinisterly.

To Be Continued...!

Author's Note

Spike... Dragons... it matches

(Part 2) Two Ways of Trouble

CHAPTER TWELVE

The score still stood…

SCORE:

Lee: 8000 VS Spike: 5800

Lee was still gazing up at the fierce dragon and its five heads. “You may have summoned that big brute…” he said to Spike “But my monsters can’t be destroyed this turn, remember?”

“True…” said Spike “But that hardly is any concern to me. For now I’ll re activate my FUTURE FUSION card. You know what that means. Five more dragons get sent to the graveyard, and in two turns another Five-Headed Dragon shows up.”

Lee growled softly.

“Now, I’ll play this; CARD OF DEMISE! It lets me draw five cards, but in five turns I have to discard my entire hand. Of course, I plan to end this duel long before then. For now, I’ll throw three cards face down and end my turn.”

Lee was in a spot. He was also aware that the Five-Headed Dragon could only be destroyed by Light attributed monsters, and the Stardust Dragon could negate any other effects that destroyed cards.

However, Lee did formulate a possible plan to keep him in his feet; if he was able to pull it off.

“My draw…” he said as he drew his card. “I play POT OF GREED, so I draw twice more.”

He liked what he drew “Well, here goes. I activate the spell SMASHING GROUND! It takes one monster you have with the highest defense, and destroys it!”

Spike gasped, and destructive rays began to shroud his Five-Headed Dragon.

“I think not!” Spike sneered “I can send my Stardust Dragon to the graveyard, and then I can negate your card’s effect and destroy it.”

After the effects were resolved, Lee smirked and said “I was hoping you’d do that.”

“What?!” snapped Spike.

“Now that you’ve only got one monster on the field, I think I can go ahead and use this; CREATURE SWAP!”

“AH...!”

“It lets me swap any monster I have for any monster you have, and since you only have one…”

Spike watched in horror as his dragon left him to be with Lee, and he gained control of Lee’s Uraby.

“I thought maybe the best way to fight your power is with your own monster.” said Lee. He was, however, regretful that he was sacrificing one of his dinos to pull his stunt off, but it had to be done for the team and deep down, he felt his card understood that… even if it wasn’t alive.

Spike was far from amused.

“Okay, I hope this works!” cried Lee! “Grenosaurus, attack!” He then shut his eyes tightly, not wanting to witness him attacking his own dinosaur. He could tell it had been destroyed by the sound effects of the holograms.

“Now I activate his ability again. I use an overlay unit, and you take 1000 points of damage.”

SCORE:

Lee: 8000 VS Spike: 4800

Spike growled angrily.

“And now, time to shut you out for what you’ve been doing to me and my chums. Five-Headed Dragon, direct attack!”

“Hold on!” shouted Spike “I activate REVIVAL GIFT!”

“Huh?!”

“It lets me re-summon Delta Flyer to my field, though its effects are negated.”

(Def: 900)

“And then, two Gift Fiend Tokens appear on your side of the field.”

(Def: 1500) x2

Lee was very confused; why would Spike give him more monsters? Nevertheless, he continued his attack, and Delta Flyer was destroyed, but Spike lost no life points.

“I must say, it was rather clever the way you took my dragon from me, but I’m afraid it takes more skill than that to actually control it, which you seem to lack.”

Lee grumbled softly, and placed his last card facedown. This also let Spike recall back his Stardust Dragon from the graveyard.

“Now I draw, and I play POT OF GREED so I may draw twice more.” said Spike, and he really liked what he got after drawing. “Firstly I shall activate the trap, DRAGON’S TRIBE, and it treats all the monsters in play as Dragons for this one turn.”

“Ah!” Lee gasped, and he watched in disgust as the three sheep tokens as well as Grenosaurus seems to morph into dragon-like creatures. Even the two Tokens were affected, which made Lee realize what was about to happen…!

“Now that that’s settled…” said Spike “I’ll discard one card to play SUPER POLYMERIZATION!”

“No!” shouted Lee, and in a flash, Spike took Lee’s Five-Headed Dragon, and Grenosaurus, along with Stardust Dragon and fused them with the two tokens. “I summon forth, a second Five-Headed Dragon!”

(Atk: 5000)

Lee gazed up in horrors. “Ah, man! Not again!”

Meanwhile, Marc’s duel with Twilight had begun.

SCORE:

Marc: 8000 VS Twilight: 8000

“I’ll go first!” said Marc. He drew his first cards. “First off, I discard one card from my hand to play QUICKDRAW SYNCHRON!”

(Atk: 700)

“And that’s not all I’ll play, now I summon JUNK SYNCHRON!”

(Atk: 1300)

“When I summon him, his special ability allows me to call out a monster from my graveyard; QUILLBOLT HEDGEHOG!”

(Def: 800)

“Now I’ll tune Junk Synchron to my Quilbolt. I Synchro summon JUNK WARRIOR!”

(Atk: 2300)

“But it doesn’t end just there; Since I still have a Tuner monster out, I can bring my Quilbolt right back out again. Then I’ll tune him with Quickdraw, and here comes JUNK ARCHER!”

(Atk: 2300)

Clover was amazed, and the other ponies were shocked that Marc managed to Synchro Summon two strong monsters at once. Marc then placed one card facedown ending his turn.

“Really, I was expecting more.” Twilight mocked as she drew her card.

“For my first move, I play GRACEFUL CHARITY. I draw three cards then I discard two.”

When the effect had resolved, Twilight was holding seven cards, and she really liked what she had now.

“I activate the continuous spell; SPELLBOOK STAR HALL!”

“What…?” Marc snapped.

“Huh?” cried Clover.

“And While I’m at it, here comes field spell; THE GRAND SPELLBOOK TOWER!”

The entire field seemed to warp and change as a holographic tower appeared with many magical rings around it, but Marc had never seen this card before. Clover hadn’t either, but she was aware that it was a batch of new cards the duel company was making, but hadn’t released yet.

“So this is how you beat Jerry before; by using new cards.”

“What’s wrong? I thought you were always prepared for anything.” Twilight teased.

Marc and Clover snarled, but the other ponies cheered Twilight on, and Twilight explained to the spies that her specialty of all things was magic, and that was why she picked excellent cards to serve as her arsenal.

“For example... I can play this; SPELLBOOK OF SECRETS!”

A small section of the Star Hall card lit up, and twilight explained that her spell let her take any spell card with “Spellbook” in its name from her deck “And I know just which one to take, and play straight away…” she said with a sinister sneer “I activate SPELLBOOK OF LIFE!”

Another section of the Star Hall lit up, and Twilight explained “First, I must banish one spellcaster out of my graveyard.”

She banished a simple monster she discarded from her Graceful Charity move. Then she had to reveal one other Spellbook spell card in her hand. “Behold…” she said as she revealed her card “This is the SPELLBOOK OF WISDOM!”

Seeing the card didn’t help Marc out a bit, for he still didn’t know what it did, but that was the least of his worries, now Twilight was allowed to special summon one Spellcaster monster. “I call forth GAGAGA GIRL!”

(Atk: 1000) ---> (Atk: 1200)

“And, I’ll also play GAGAGA MAGICIAN!”

(Atk: 1500) ---> (Atk: 1700)

Clover and Marc took a good look at the new monsters, and noted how they resembled odd versions of Dark Magician and Dark Magician Girl. Clover felt that it was I who designed these new cards.

“Wait a minute…” said Marc “Why did its attack points go up?”

Twilight snickered “Because of my Star Hall card. Every time I play a Spellbook spell, it gains a Spell Counter, and then all Spellcasters I control will gain 100 attack points for each one.”

Marc growled softly.

“If you think it looks cool, try this…” snapped Twilight. “Magician’s special ability allows me to make it any level I chose, and I’ll go with six, but that’s not all, my other monster has the power to copy my Magician’s ability. So now they’re both Level six.”

Marc clenched his fists, knowing exactly what was coming next; Twilight overlaid both her monsters and built the overlay network “I now Xyz Summon a more magical creature; MAGI MAGI ☆ MAGICIAN GAL!”

(Atk: 2400) ---> (Atk: 2600)

Marc and Clover gasped. Not only did this new monster look exactly like the Dark Magician Girl, but they also recognized it as the very monster from the video they saw when Jerry was defeated.

“I activate my Magician’s ability.” said Twilight “By using one overlay unit, and banishing a card from I hold, I can take control of a monster on your side of the field.”

Marc gasped and then watched as his Junk Warrior switched sides. “Oh, no!” he cried.

“Oh, yes…” said Twilight “And there’s more, since I used Gagaga Girl to Xyz Summon, I can target one special summoned monster you have and make its attack become zero!”

“You gotta be kidding me!” cried Marc, but it was no Joke. His Junk Archer was virtually powerless.

“Not good. So not good…!” Clover whimpered.

“Magi, attack!” shouted Twilight, and her monster dove straight for Marc.

“I activate my trap; SCRAP-IRON SCARECROW!” shouted Marc “It’ll block your magician from even reaching me!”

Twilight snickered and said “I think not. Remember the spell I showed you? Well, I get to play it; Spellbook of Wisdom, and it lets me shield my Magician form your trap’s effect.”

Marc winced in shock as his trap failed, and since Twilight played another Spellbook, the Star Hall gained another counter, which increased her monster’s attack to 2700, and the attack continued!

(Atk: 2700) VS (Atk: 0)

SCORE:

Marc: 5300 VS Twilight: 8000

“Now that you’re defenseless, let’s have your own monster go at you! Attack…!”

Before Marc knew it, BAM!! He was smacked hard by his own monster, costing him another 2300 points.

SCORE:

Marc: 3000 VS Twilight: 8000

“Marc!” cried Clover.

The ponies were cheering all together “Twilight! Twilight! Twilight…!” Even Jerry cheered along with them, but the ponies stopped and glared awkwardly at him. “What? I can’t cheer too?” Jerry asked.

Marc shook himself awake after the impact, but he really felt in a spot; down to 3000 life points already. “I won’t give up!” he sneered.

“I won’t give up…!” snarled Lee.

SCORE:

Lee: 8000 VS Spike: 4800

“Ha!” snapped Spike “You won’t have to give up, my Five-Headed Dragon is about to blow you up!" he drew his next card. "...Heh! Especially after I equip him with this; MEGAMORPH!”

“Ah!” cried Lee.

Spike’s life points were much, much lower than his, which meant the Dragon now had its attack doubled all the way to Ten-Thousand!

“And next…” hissed Spike “I play MONSTER REBORN, so now I can bring back my Stardust Dragon!”

(Atk: 2500)

Lee shivered nervously and was seating up a storm.

“Farewell!” hissed Spike “Go my great beast; wipe him out!”

The dragon’s five mouths opened really wide, and launched a giant wave of multiple energies at Lee, hitting him full force! Lee screamed, and got throw down hard by the force of the blast. “I activate my trap; DEFENSE DRAW!”

“What?!” snapped Spike.

“It makes it so I don’t take any damage from this attack!” The power faded away, and Lee got back onto his feet “Whew! Way too close!” he muttered “Then, I get to draw one card.”

Spike was practically speechless. “Incredible!” he thought silently “He actually managed to avoid one my most powerful attacks. He’s really not like the others. Look at him; standing there with so much confidence!”

Lee glared right at Spike, and smirked cheekily at him. Spike clenched his claw in anger. “You may have survived that, but I still have my Stardust Dragon! Attack…!”

Lee couldn’t stop it this time, and got blasted hard, losing a full 2500 points.

SCORE:

Lee: 5500 VS Spike: 4800

Lee shook off the shockwaves from the blast. “You’ll have to do better than that.” he said.

Spike gnashed his teeth, but he had no cards left to play, so he ended his turn.

Now it was Lee’s turn. “I better draw something good.” her thought softly “I may have blocked him that time, but I gotta get rid of that overgrown lizard-head.”

He drew his next card. “Well, this might reset my chances, but I’ll take anything. I’ll just place one card facedown, and then I get to play; MONSTER RECOVERY! So I get to call back the card I just played, shuffle if into my deck, and then draw five new cards.”

Spike was not impressed “That seems a rather desperate move to me.”

Lee drew his cards, and smirked wickedly and said “Actually, it helps a great deal.”

“Huh?”

“Just watch! I’ll play STAR BLAST! Now for every 500 life points I pay, I can shave one level off this monster I have, and I think I’ll go ahead and pay 2000 points to shave off four stars.”

“What…?! Two-thousand points?!” cried Spike

SCORE:

Lee: 3500 VS Spike: 4800

“That’s right…” said Lee “Now this eight star monster is a four star monster. That means, I can summon it without tributing; SUPER CONDUCTOR TYRANNO!”

(Atk: 3300)

The new dino appeared and roared loudly as it starred down Spike’s huge dragon, and Spike seemed very worried.

“Yeah, you oughta’ be worried.” said Lee “You see, not only did I summon my dino, but now that your life points are higher than mine, the Megamorph card weakens your dragon to half its original attack power.”

(Atk: 10,000) ---> (Atk: 2500)

“Oh, no!” cried Spike.

“Ah, yeah…!” Lee gloated, and then he sent his Tyranno to attack Five-Headed Dragon. “Oh and also…” Lee cut in “…My dino happens to be a Light monster.”

Spike whimpered nervously as the two monsters collided, and with its huge claws, Lee’s Dino slashed Five-Headed Dragon hard. The dragon’s five heads roared and screeched as the body exploded in a huge bang, and dealt Spike 800 points of damage.

SCORE:

Lee: 3500 VS Spike: 4000

“I can’t believe it!” Spike cried in his thoughts “He actually destroyed my Five-Headed Dragon! Where does this kid get his nerves from?”

Even Lee was sweating in shock and disbelief “I can’t believe I actually did that!” he thought to himself, and reflected on all the duels his friends and siblings had against Spike, but lost miserably. “I’m gonna beat this creep, and I’ll make him pay for everything he’s done. I just hope the others are okay.”

Marc finally got back up on his feet and stared Twilight down saying “I’m not out of this; not by a long shot!”

SCORE:

Marc: 3000 VS Twilight: 8000

Twilight snickered wickedly. “I suppose I should commend you for your bravery, though I hardly call it that. I’ll just place one card facedown and end my turn.”

With the end of her turn, Marc got his Junk Warrior back, but Twilight’s Magi was much too strong for it to beat. Plus the fact he still didn’t know much about Twilight’s cards made it all the more difficult to figure out what to try.

He drew his next card, and felt the best way to learn was to walk right into the danger-zone. “This better work.” he said softly. “Now I summon STRONGHOLD GUARDIAN!”

(Atk: 0)

“And that’s not all; I’ll discard from my hand the SILENT STRIDER! It lets me decrease my Junk Warrior’s level by one. Now I can overlay both these level four monsters to build the Overlay Network. I Xyz Summon COMICS HERO KING ARTHUR!”

(Atk: 2400)

The monster appeared, but Twilight just stood where she was, hardly even moving. She just stood there with an unimpressed look on her face. Marc really didn’t like her attitude, so he placed two cards facedown and ended his turn.

“What’s he doing?” Clover wondered “Why didn’t he attack or activate anything? We taught him better than that.”

The other ponies felt Marc was cracking up, but Twilight wasn’t so sure, as she drew her card, and her Spellbook Tower suddenly glowed brightly.

“What’s that?” asked Marc.

Twilight’s lips curled into a sinister grin “It’s the power of my tower. Since I have a Spellcaster in play, I can take a Spellbook from my graveyard and put it at the bottom of my deck, and then I can draw one extra card.”

Marc remained still as ever, and Twilight liked what she drew. “Now I’ll use POT OF GREED to draw two more cards. Then I’ll use my Magi’s ability again. I use one overlay unit and banish this card from hand. Now, watch…”

Marc and Clover watched, and much to their, Twilight had summoned Junk Archer. “No way!” cried Marc “You were able to summon one of my monsters too?!”

Twilight snickered softly “Yes, and I’m sure you know why I chose your archer!”

Marc growled angrily, remembering Archer’s ability could banish one his only monster from play. “Say goodbye to your so-called king!” snarled Twilight, and she activate Archer’s ability.

“Hold on!” snapped Marc “I activate my trap, XYZ UNIVERSE!”

“What?!” snapped Twilight.

“Now I can take both our Xyz Monsters and send them to the graveyard! Now I get to build the overlay network and summon one monster who’s Rank is equal to the combined Ranks of those monsters I just threw down.”

The overlay network appeared, larger and wilder than ever, and lighting struck all around as the giant monster appeared “And there it is; CXYZ COACH LORD ULTIMATRAINER!”

(Atk: 3800)

“Whoa!” cried Clover.

“Oh, my!” added Jerry.

Many of the other ponies were freaked out at the sight of the giant monster. Fluttershy hide behind Applejack, and Rarity, overdramatically fell onto her back, crying

“Of all the worst things that could happen, this is THE… WORST… POSSIBLE… THING!!”

“Wait!” snapped Rainbow Dash “It’s still Twilight’s turn, remember?”

Twilight, still not even a bit distraught, nodded and faced Marc saying “You’re pretty clever… but so am I. I activate my face down; SPELLBOOK OF MIRACLES!”

“What does that do?” Marc asked.

Twilight snickered and answered “For this spell to work, I must have banished at least two Spellbook cards, which I have. Now watch…!” and there before everyone’s eyes, Magi returned to the field, and the two banished cards became her new overlay units. Plus, the Star Hall card now had four counters on it, boosting the monster’s attack to 2800.

“I know what you’re thinking…” Twilight said “My monster still isn’t strong enough, which is why I intend to use this; RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!”

“I was afraid of that.” Marc said softly as Twilight’s astral mark and her monster glowed brightly, as she rebuilt the overlay network. “Behold; I summon HIEROPHANT OF PROPHECY!”

(Atk: 2800) ---> (Atk: 3100)

The ponies were jumping with glee, and this time they didn’t mind that Jerry was cheering Twilight on either. Twilight nodded thankfully at her friends. “And it’s just the beginning, for thanks to her special ability. By using an overlay unit, I can destroy as many spells you have for as many Spellbooks in my graveyard.”

Marc’s eyes widened and right then, Twilight’s monster’s eyes glowed, and destroyed his Scrap-Iron Scarecrow, and it was just about to strike the other card too. “Hold on!” snapped Marc “I activate my trap; TRI-AND-GUESS!”

“What?!” snapped Twilight.

“By activating this card, I can now declare any type of monster kept in our extra decks, either Fusion, Synchro or Xyz, and whichever of us has more of that type will gain 3000 life points.”

Twilight’s eyes widened, and of course Marc chose Synchro Monsters, since Twilight didn’t have a single one in her Extra Deck, therefore Marc gained 3000 points as promised.

SCORE:

Marc: 6000 VS Twilight: 8000

“Pretty slick…” said Twilight “But I’m afraid that won’t save you! Especially when I activate this; SPELLBOOK OF POWER…!”

“Oh, what now?” groaned Marc.

For one thing; the Star Hall lit up again, and Hierophant gained another 100 attack points, but the Spellbook gave it 1000 more points, bringing it all the way up to 4200 attack points!

“Oh, boy!” cried Marc.

Twilight snickered and then ordered her monster to attack his Coach.

(Atk: 4200) VS (Atk: 3800)

SCORE:

Marc: 5600 VS Twilight: 8000

“And since my monster destroyed yours, the Spellbook I used lets me grab another Spellbook card form my deck.” She grabbed her card, which was called SPELLBOOK OF FATE!

“Great, another card I know nothing about.” Marc grumbled.

Twilight then ordered Junk Archer to attack as well, and Marc got hit really hard, off his feet, and lost 2300 more points.

SCORE:

Marc: 3300 VS Twilight: 8000

Clover wiped her brow, feeling relieved that Marc was still in the game thanks to his power up, but it didn’t mean he was in the clear. Twilight placed her Spellbook of Fate card facedown, ending her turn, and was feeling very confident with herself, and she didn’t mind telling Marc how it worked…

Since she controlled a Spellcaster, the Spellbook of Fate would let her banish up to three Spellbooks from her graveyard, and then apply one effect depending on how many books she banished…

1: Return 1 Set Spell/Trap Card to the hand.
2: Change 1 monster on the field to either face-down Defense Position or face-up Attack Position.
3: Banish 1 card Marc controlled.

This made Marc and Clover gasp hard. Even if Marc was able to play a good move, the odds were he wouldn’t be able to maintain anything.

“No, this can’t be happening!” cried Marc.

“It’s all over for you!” Twilight snarled “You dared to defy the light of harmony, you scoffed at Princess Celestia, and you will endure the consequences for it all!”

She laughed loud and wickedly, while Marc felt virtually helpless. What could he do?

To Be Continued…!

(Part 3) Turning the tables

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

Lee stared Spike down. The score stood…

SCORE:

Lee: 3500 VS Spike: 4000

All Lee needed now was one last good attack. “I’ll place one card facedown, and end my turn.” he said.

“You seem rather confident.” Spike said as he drew his next card.

Lee smirked and said “Why shouldn’t I be?” but suddenly, the Future Fusion card began to glow brightly. “Oh, no; I forgot, it’s been two turns since it was played!”

Spike snickered and there appeared before him, his third and final Five-Headed Dragon.

(Atk: 5000)

“Thought you’d seen the last of him, had you?” Spike teased.

Lee clenched his fist, really getting tired of that big creature. Spike then continued his turn…

“I play POT OF AVARICE. So now I get to put five monsters form my graveyard to the deck, then shuffle up, and draw two new cards.”

He drew his cards, and then got a really nasty idea. “You’ve done well up to now; you’ve stood long and hard against my dragons; much longer than most have. That’s why I’ve decided to give you something new.”

Lee gazed forth in confusion…

“I activate the spell, LEVEL MIRRORING!”

Lee’s Dino and Spike’s Five-Headed dragon glowed brightly. “What are you doing?!” snarled Lee. Spike snickered and explained that the power of his spell allowed him to make the level of his Dragon the same as Lee’s dino; eight.

“Now that that’s settled…” said Spike “I overlay both my Stardust Dragon and my Five-headed Dragon! With these level eight monsters, I build the overlay network, and I Xyz Summon NUMBER 62: GALAXY-EYES PRIME PHOTON DRAGON!”

(Atk: 4000)

“Whoa! 4000 points!” cried Lee.

“Oh, no…” said Spike “It’s going to get even worse, for you. Galaxy eyes, attack!” As his dragon lunged forth, Spike activated it’s epical ability; by using an overlay unit, his monster was able to gain 200 attack points times the rank of all Xyz Monsters in play, including himself, which gave it another 1600 points for a total of 5600 points.

“Oh, boy!” cried Lee, and his dino got hit really hard.

(Atk: 5600) VS (Atk: 3300)

SCORE:

Lee: 1200 VS Spike: 4000

“Man…” Lee groaned in his thoughts “I wasn’t prepared for this, and I thought those Five-headed Dragons were tough enough.”

Spike loved seeing it when his victims were distraught, and seemingly helpless. “And I’ll give you something more to worry of…” he said “I play the spell STARDUST SHIMMER! By banishing the proper monsters form my graveyard, I can summon one Dragon Synchro monster that’s also in the graveyard.”

He removed his Delta Flyer and a level five dragon, and that allowed him to recall his Stardust Dragon, which he had just sent to the graveyard as a former overlay unit.

(Atk: 2500)

“Ah, man… him too?” groaned Lee. This was not good for him at all, with both dragons in play; Spike had a huge advantage, while he was still short on options.

Spike snickered wickedly “Oh, I only wish Twilight was here to watch this, but I’m sure by this points your friends have met her and are feeling her wrath too.”

This made Lee feel worried.

The ocean was getting really rough and the waves were getting bigger as they splashed past the rock.

SCORE:

Marc: 3300 VS Twilight: 8000

The ponies were still cheering for Twilight, and Twilight flicked her mane, and admired the waves as they went by. “The waters… even they can sense your defeat is near.”

“Wrong…” snapped Marc “The waves are doing that because the moon is getting closer to the Earth and is messing up the climate control. Can’t you see that?! Even the skies are getting brighter.”

The ponies, even Jerry, still refused to believe that, still not being able to see the moon, and dismissed the brightness as the lights in the sky radiating to Twilight’s power.

“You know…” Twilight says “I think you’re just afraid; afraid that you’re going to lose it all, and afraid that Princess Celestia will be furious.”

“As if…!” Clover snarled “What we’re afraid of is what you’re about to do to our world.”

“It’s no good, Clover. They don’t believe us.” said Marc “The only way we’re ever going to stop this is to stop them, and that’s just what I intend to do.”

Rainbow Dash laughed hard “Yeah right, chump. In case you forgot, Twilight’s got all the aces, and you haven’t got a single card in play or even in your hand.”

“Eeyup.” Added Applejack “I doubt even a miracle can help ya outta’ this muddy mess.”

Pinkie Pie stuck out her tongue and went “Nya. Nya…”

“Now, that’s enough.” snapped Twilight “He knows what he’s up against, and I know there’s no way he escape this one.”

“She’s right, what can I do?” Marc thought. Twilight’s Hierophant was much too strong, and she still has his Junk Archer which could remove monsters from play for one turn, and Marc hadn’t forgotten about the spellbook card that Twilight played facedown.

Still, despite the incredible odd Marc prepared to draw his card, remembering all Clover and the others taught him and his siblings; never to give up. So he drew his card, and he softly gazed at it.

“What do you know, it’s a card that you played; GRACEFUL CHARITY! Now I get to draw three cards, and then discard two.”

“Big deal…” snapped Twilight “You only get to keep one of those cards, and I doubt it’ll be of any use.”

But when Marc took his cards and resolved the effect…

“Heh-Heh…!”

“Huh?” said Twilight.

The ponies, Clover and Jerry gazed forth with concern and wonder.

“I must say, Twilight….” said Marc “You were playing pretty strongly, almost even smart, but it’s time I showed you what a smart move really can do. I play SOUL CHARGE!”

“What?”

“This card lets me summon as many monsters from my graveyard as I need.”

His graveyard glowed brightly, and he summoned his monsters forth…

JUNK WARRIOR (Atk: 2300)

COMICS HERO KING ARTHUR (Atk: 2400)

JUNK SYNCHRON (Atk: 1300)

STRONGHOLD GUARDIAN (Def: 1500)

QUICKDRAW SYNCHRON (Def: 1400)

Twilight gasped…

Rarity double gasped…

“He… how did… this isn’t…?” she just couldn’t find what she was trying to say, but Marc now had a full field of five monsters, all of which stared Twilight down.

“Of course there is a couple of downsides.” said Marc “I have to pay 500 life points for each of these monsters…

SCORE:

Marc: 800 VS Twilight: 8000

“And also, not one of them may attack this turn, but that’s the least of your worries.”

Twilight was actually twitching in fear, unable to figure out what she should do next; exactly as Marc hoped, and while she was stammering, he continued his move. “Now, I tune Junk Synchron to my Junk Warrior, and I Synchro Summon JUNK DESTROYER!”

(Atk: 2600)

Twilight growled nervously as she gazed at the new monster with fear.

“And here’s the nice thing about it…” said Marc “When this guy is summoned, I can destroy as many cards for every non-tuner monster I used, and I got a pretty good idea you know who that is.”

Twilight gasped when she realized her Hierophant was in danger. Marc ordered his monster to crush it, but Twilight’s quickly used her facedown “Go, SPELLBOOK OF FATE! I banish three spellbooks out of my graveyard, and banish your monster!”

Marc only smirked “Go ahead, you still didn’t stop my Junk Destroyer’s ability.”

In a double flash, both monsters were gone.

“And I’m not through yet…” hissed Marc “I activate the special ability of my LEVEL EATER, which I just discarded. All I do is reduce Quickdraw Synchron’s level by one, and Level Eater comes right out.”

(Def: 0)

“Now then, I’ll go ahead and Tune my Synchron to my Guardian. I Synchron Summon another JUNK DESTROYER!”

(Atk: 2600)

“AAAHH!” screamed Twilight.

“Ha! Now I get to destroy another card you control.” And with that, Marc destroyed Junk Archer. Leaving Twilight wide open…!

“Go get her, Junk Destroyer!” Marc shouted.

Before she knew it, WHAMM!! Twilight got struck really hard and knocked out of her post.

SCORE:

Marc: 800 VS Twilight: 5400

“TWILIGHT!!” the ponies cried.

“Oh, my...!” cried Jerry.

“Yeah…! Way to play, Marc!” Clover cheered.

“Maybe you don’t know as much as you think you do.” He said to Twilight as he watched her get back up again, but Twilight sneered angrily and said “I don’t think, I know…” and she drew her next card. “I activate the effect of my Spellbook Tower. I return one Spellbook card to the bottom of my deck, and draw once again.”

She drew her third card, and grinned wickedly. “I play CARD OF BURIAL MAGIC. Now I can remove three spells from my graveyard, and draw two cards.”

She banished her last three spell books, and drew her cards, and she really liked what she got. “Now I play MYSTICAL SPACE TYPHOON! I’ll use it to destroy my Star Hall.”

“What?” Marc cried in confusion, and just like that, the Star Hall crumpled, but the six spell counters remained behind. “When Star Hall is destroyed, I can use its hidden magic. Now I can I take one Spellcaster from my deck, and I choose GAGAGA SISTER, and I summon her now!"

(Atk: 200)

“When she’s summoned, I get to take one Gagaga Spell from my deck, and I think I’ll go ahead and play it now; GAGAGA WIND! Now I can summon one Gagaga I have as a level four monster, and I choose GAGA CHILD!”

(Atk: 800)

“Not to mention, my Gagaga Sister can now combine her level with my Child’s level, making them both level six cards. So, now I get to overlay them both!”

Marc watched as Twilight rebuilt the overlay network and summoned a very familiar monster. “Oh, no; Not her again…!”

“That’s right; MAGI MAGI ☆ MAGICIAN GAL!”

(Atk: 2400)

Twilight then used her monster’s effect and snatched Marc’s King Arthur “Not this again!” cried Marc.

“I’m afraid so…” said Twilight “And now it’s about to get better. I activate RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!”

“Again…?”

“Again…! Prepare to suffer the power of my newest monster. With my Magi girl, I rebuild the overlay network. I Xyz Summon NUMBER 11: BIG EYE!”

(Atk: 2600)

Clover shuddered at the sight of the new monster “Okay, eww… that is like the nastiest thing I’ve ever seen.”

Twilight snickered and said “If you both think that’s bad, wait until you see it’s ability. By using one overlay unit, I can seize permanent control of one of your monsters!”

“My Junk Destroyer!” cried Marc as his last strong monster left him, leaving him with only his pitiful Level Eater.

“Of course…” Twilight said “My Big Eye is forbidden to attack this turn, but that makes little difference to me. Even with your little defense, there’s no way you can stop me this time! This duel is over, and it begins your initiation into our herd.”

Lee was still pondering over what to do next…

SCORE:

Lee: 1200 VS Spike: 4000

“My dragons are growing impatient.” sneered Spike “Why not make it easier and just give up? It’ll be less painful and humiliating.”

“I won’t give up!” snarled Lee, but then he thought “But if I don’t think of something soon, I just may have to.”

He drew his next card. “I’ll just throw a monster in defense mode, and I’ll place two cards facedown. That’s all.”

“Aw… what’s wrong, out of options?” Spike mocked and snickered. Lee did his best to keep cool and calm.

Spike his next card, and then gazed at Lee with a wicked grin, which made Lee feel uneasy.

“I play RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!”

Lee grunted softly in outrage.

“I use my dragon to rebuild the overlay network!” shouted Spike. His astral mark was glowing birther than ever as the skies went wild with magic. “I summon forth… NUMBER 99: UTOPIC DRAGON!”

(Atk: 4000)

“Whoa!” exclaimed Lee. He had never seen this new card before, nor had his brother Tony.

“Now, I activate Utopic Dragon’s natural ability.” hissed Spike “Watch closely…” then, by magic, Galaxy Eyes reappeared on the field, much to Lee’s horror!

(Def: 3000)

Though it was a slight relief that it was summoned in defense-mode, and its effects were negated, but this didn’t bother Spike a bit. “I can read your strategy perfectly…” he snarled “You’re thinking of finding some way to stall up my dragons and then destroy me on your next turn.”

Lee grunted softly, which gave it away.

“I thought so…” hissed Spike “All the more reason for me to be well-prepared, like I’ve always been. My dragons are ready to wipe out the rest of your life points, and even if by some fluke you survive this round, which I doubt, there’s no way you can escape your fate. You will bow to the light. You will worship the harmony…!”

“I will bore myself to death if you don’t HURRY AND FINISH YOUR MOVE!” shouted Lee.

Spike and Lee were both growling and snarling at each other; Dragon to Dinosaur!

“I’ll teach you better respect!” shouted Spike “Stardust Dragon, attack!”

“Hold on!” snapped Lee “I activate the trap NEEDLE CEILING!” Since there were at least four monsters in play, Lee’s trap would have destroyed all face-up monsters, but Spike just scoffed “You dummy. You forget Stardust’s power? I can send Stardust away and negate your card’s power.”

“Yeah, I know…” said Lee “But that also means you’re attack is canceled out.”

“So it is… but my Utopic dragon can still destroy you!” and Spike then ordered his dragon to crush Lee’s facedown dino, and it was crushed like an egg, leaving Lee totally wide open. Spike had to end his turn, which gave him his Stardust Dragon back he didn’t even bother to quote anything. He was still acting cocky and believed he would wipe Lee clean out on his last turn.

Even Lee knew this was it; the final move was ready to be made. “It’s time…” he said as he drew his next card.

“I activate my trap, JAR OF AVARICE!” It lets me place five cards from the graveyard to my deck, and then I reshuffle and draw one card.”

After his card effect resolved, he got a very lucky draw. “I play POT OF GREED again, so I draw two cards.”

Spike merely scoffed “Draw all the cards you like, there’s nothing that can save you now.”

Lee gazed down at his three cards, and his last facedown card, and then gazed back up at Spike. “I agree…” he said “There’s nothing that can save you now.”

“Huh?”

“First off, I play MONSTER REBORN! So my Grenosaurus returns!”

(Atk: 2000)

Spike was still not impressed. “You’re even more desperate than I thought, making such a lame move.”

“Well it’s just the beginning.” said Lee “Next up I’m going to play this card. Do you recognize it?” He held up his card and revealed it to Spike which made him gasp the biggest gasp he had ever gasped!

“But… that’s… it can’t be!” Spike cried.

Lee sniggered and then slammed his card into play “I play RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!” The astral mark appeared on Lee’s head, and was glowing brightly; however it wasn’t like Spike’s at all, just a hologram, so Lee never got possessed. The mark was glowing very brightly along with Lee’s dino.

“With my dino, I rebuild the overlay network!” shouted Lee “I summon NUMBER 61: VOLCASAURUS!”

(Atk: 2500)

Spike was outraged and confused. “This is wrong!” he snarled “How is it you have that card in your deck? Only those loyal to the light and harmony may possess the Astral Force card.”

“Yeah, that’s how I got it…” Lee said, and he went on explaining how he got a little bored, just sitting in the bushes waiting for Spike to come along. So he decided to slip out and have a brief warmup duel against a person who was brainwashed, knowing he had the card in his deck.

They dueled privately where no one else could see them, and Lee won very easily, and knocked the dude unconscious. This gave him the chance to go through his deck and snatch the Astral Force card to add to his deck, knowing fully-well it was not the card itself that was brainwashing everyone.

“I thought maybe it was time for you guys to have a little taste of your own medicine.”

Spike growled.

“Now then…” snapped Lee “I think I’ll go ahead and activate my dino’s ability. By using up its only overlay unit, I can destroy one monster you control and you’ll take damage equal to that monster’s attack points.”

His monster stared straight at Utopic Dragon, and prepared to destroy it.

“I think not!” snapped Spike “I don’t even have to use stardust this time, but Rather Utopic’s ability. I can use one overlay unit to negate your monster’s effect and destroy it instead!”

Lee’s monster was destroyed instantly, but rather than being shocked, Lee was smiling “So, that’s what you’re monster can do.”

“Huh?”

Lee explained how he wasn’t sure what Utopic Dragon was capable of, until Spike actually did it. Even if Stardust Dragon had done its thing, Lee was prepared for that as well.

“Now I play XYZ REVENGE! Since you have a Xyz monster with an overlay unit on it, I can summon Volcasaurus right back, and take your monster’s unit and give it to mine.”

“You plan to do the same move twice?” snapped Spike, and he couldn’t help but laugh. “It’s only sporting now that I give you this one final chance to surrender. You can’t possibly expect it to work.”

Lee smiled again “It will work, because I still have one card left.”

“Uh…?”

“Take this; the trap card SURVIVAL OF THE FITTEST!”

Spike’s eyes widened.

“This baby lets me increase my dino’s attack by a-thousand!”

(Atk: 2500) ---> (Atk: 3500)

Now Spike was starting to tremble. It was even stronger than his Stardust Dragon.

“Go Volcasaurus!” shouted Lee, and his monster dove straight at Spike’s dragon, roasting it to ashes.

(Atk: 3500) VS (Atk: 2500)

SCORE:

Lee: 1200 VS Spike: 3000

“No!” cried Spike.

“Ha, and what’s more, when it destroys a monster, my dino can attack again!”

Spike then watched in horror as his Galaxy-Eyes was roasted away. Now, everything was set for the final move, for Lee was still able to use his monster’s ability.

“No! This can’t be!” cried Spike “I’ve come so far! I can’t lose! I won’t lose!”

Lee’s eyes blazed with flames of fury, and his Dino Spirit was unleashed all at once. “For what you did to my friends, my sibs, and for what you’re trying to do to the Earth… You’re going down!”

“No!”

Lee clenched his fists. He drew in a deep breath and let out a huge roar, activating his monster’s ability, and Volcasaurus unleashed its wrath on Utopic Dragon. Without its overlay units, it couldn’t shield itself.

KAPOW!! It exploded in a huge burst, and Spike screamed as the holographic flames engulfed him, "NOOOOOOO...!!!"

FINAL-SCORE:

Lee: 1200 VS Spike: “0000”

“YEAH!!” Lee shouted, and he could feel all the dinos he had roaring in cheer for victory behind him. After that, he gazed down at the Astral Force card. “This thing really works out good.” He muttered.

The smoke cleared and little Spike lay on the ground, covered in dirt and looking like he had just been run over by a stampede. “I… lost… I failed.” he groaned, and then he vanished through a portal.

“Wait!” cried Lee, and he rushed right into the portal after him.

Marc and Twilight’s duel was nearing its climax…

SCORE:

Marc: 800 VS Twilight: 5400

Spike’s flaming light in the sky was vanishing.

“He did it!” cried Marc “Lee must’ve beaten Spike!”

The ponies all gazed up in shock, and woe. “No.” Twilight peeped.

“Spikey Wikey… lost?!” cried Rarity.

Then, the magic portal appeared, and Spike and Lee materialized. The ponies all huddled around Spike. “I’m okay…” he groaned “I just need to rest up a bit.”

Lee then ran over to Clover. As proud as Clover was for Lee’s victory, she was still very concerned about Marc, and Lee could see it all too. “Hang in there bro!” he called.

Marc turned back and nodded at him.

Twilight felt absolutely frustrated and outraged that Lee beat Spike, and now she was more determined than ever to wipe Marc out, and make him and his friends pay for deifying the light of harmony, and for thrashing her and friends around.

“Enough is enough!” she growled.

“Prepare for your defeat!” she sneered, and she ordered King Arthur to attack and destroy Level Eater, which it did, leaving Marc wide open.

“No, Marc!” cried Clover.

“And now…” shouted Twilight “Junk Destroyer, end this!”

Junk Destroyer headed straight at Marc.

“Bro!” cried Lee.

The ponies were cheering on for Twilight’s attack to make it… but suddenly, a huge wall of fire came up out of nowhere and shielded Marc from the attack.

“What?!” snapped Twilight “What’s going on?” Then in a blazing flare, Junk Destroyer was vanquished.

“What just happened?” asked Pinkie Pie.

“Twilight’s attack didn’t work?” peeped Fluttershy. “Maybe… but… but… No!”

Clover and Lee couldn’t understand it either, but Marc on the other hand was smiling “Looks like you fell right into my trap.”

“What trap?” asked Twilight “You haven’t any cards in play. I saw you.”

Marc chuckled “You know, for someone who claims to be expert of magic, you neglected the fact; the hand is quicker than the eye.”

When Marc played his Graceful Charity, the two cards he discarded were his Level Eater, and a trap called EXPLOSIVE WALL. When Twilight declared an attack with Junk Destroyer, Marc banished the trap from his graveyard, and thus he banished Junk Destroyer with it.

“Well what do you know?” said Lee.

“He had it planned all along.” added Clover.

Marc spoke severely to Twilight “Maybe you’d know that better if you bothered to actually put any trap cards in your deck. True, your methods did have me in danger a lot, but now your mistakes will be your defeat.”

“Enough!” snarled Twilight “I may have misjudged you, but I won’t be defeated by you.”

She ended her turn, and the effect of her Magi Magic wore off, forcing her to give Marc back his King Arthur.

Marc drew his next card. “Time for me to take this to the max.” he said. “Right, POT OF GREED. So I draw two cards.”

Once he drew his cards, he almost had everything he needed. All he had to do now was play his move right.

“I activate the spell TUNING! It lets me add one Synchron monster from my deck to my hand.” He knew just which one to pick. “Now I have to send the top card on my deck to the graveyard.”

He was most fortunate the card he sent away was DANDYLION, and because it was sent to the graveyard, Marc got two Fluff Tokens, each level one summoned to his field.

(Def: 0) x2

“Now I’ll summon the monster I got; TURBO SNYNCHRON!”

(Atk: 100)

Twilight was not impressed. “How can you possibly expect to do anything with a bunch of weaklings on your field?”

“Just watch.” said Marc “Now I tune Turbo Synchron to one of my Fluff Tokens, and I Synchro Summon FORMULA SYNCHRON!”

(Atk: 200)

“When he’s summoned, I get to draw one card, and it happens to be RANK-UP-MAGIC BARIAN’S FORCE!”

“What?!” snapped Twilight.

The Barian Mark appeared on Marc’s head as his King Arthur glowed. “Now I rebuild the overlay network. Go, Chaos Xyz Evolution!”

Magical explosions and flashes burst all over the place, and in a huge beam of dark light, Marc’s new monster appeared. “There you have it; CXYZ COMICS HERO LEGEND ARTHUR!”

(Atk: 3000)

Twilight shuddered in fear, and not only that, but because the monster was summoned with the Barrian Force card, Twilight’s Big Eye was forced to give it its last overlay unit.

“And finally…” Marc said “The last card in my hand is NOSIY GNAT, and by discarding it, Formula Synchon’s level changes from two to three, just in time for one last tuning. Go Synchron, go Fluff Token, and come on out ARMORY ARM!”

(Atk: 1800)

The ponies didn’t understand at all. All these summons, and all the weak monsters Marc pulled out, but Clover and Lee gazed at each other with cheeky smiles, and knew fully well what Marc had just done.

“You see…” Marc explained “I can equip my Armory Arm to my Hero, and he’ll gain 1000 attack points.”

(Atk: 3000) ---> (Atk: 4000)

Twilight was sweating in extreme fear and worry.

“It’s time to end this… once and for all!” shouted Marc, and he ordered his monster to attack, and in a single slash of its sword, Big Eye was totaled!

(Atk: 4000) VS (Atk: 2600)

SCORE:

Marc: 800 VS Twilight: 4000

“It’s gone!” cried Twilight “My best monster’s gone!”

“And that’s not all…” snarled Marc “Since my monster destroyed yours with Armory Arm, you take damage equal to your monster’s attack power. That’s 2600!”

“Ah!” gasped Twilight, and she got zapped by the Armory Arm’s beams, reducing her points even more.

SCORE:

Marc: 800 VS Twilight: 1400

“And I still have Arthur’s special ability. I can use one overlay unit, so when your monster was destroyed, you take the same damage again!”

“NOOOOOOOO…!!!”

FINAL-SCORE:

Marc: 800 VS Twilight: “0000”

The spellbook tower crumpled on top of Twilight, not hurting her of course, and the field was wiped clean.

“TWILIGHT…!!” The ponies shouted. They could not believe what they had just witnessed, and even Jerry fainted in shock while Lee and Clover cheered for joy as Twilight’s light vanished from the sky.

All Marc could do was stand there and smile proudly.

Author's Note

A Spellbook and Spellcaster deck with no traps fist Twilight well

Race to the Chase

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Now, there were only two lights remaining in the sky; the shadowy one, and the Crystal Heart glow, but the ocean was getting rougher as another tropical storm was approaching. Lightning could be seen in the distance followed by the booming of thunder.

The night sky was also very bright now, almost as bright as pre-dawn due to the moon being ever so much closer towards the Earth now. In just a few more short hours it would reach the Point-Of-No-Return, which would in turn doom the Earth and everyone on it.

Now with many of the lights in the sky gone, it was far easier to see a small portion of the moon as it moved in closer and closer.

Twilight’s friends, and Jerry and huddled around her and helped her up. “You okay, sugar-cube?” asked Applejack.

Twilight didn’t answer, she just sneered angrily at the spies, still outraged both she and Spike had lost to them.

Marc tried one last time to show to them all he was telling the truth about the moon. “Look, you can see it now in plain sight. We are going to get crushed!”

Now the ponies could see the moon, but still, they refused to accept the truth.

“I told you before.” said Twilight “Princess Celestia would never let this world fall into such a horrible fate.”

“Yeah, well, she kinda is...” snapped Clover “How can you work for someone so crooked.”

All at once, Twilight felt her strength return. “No one insults Princess Celestia in front of me and gets away with It.” she snarled. She looked ready for a big brawl, but then she felt her strength give way again, and she nearly collapsed.

“Twilight, you’re too weak from the duel.” cried Fluttershy.

“You’ve done all you can.” added Jerry “Our other forces will take care of things from here.”

The spies felt chills run down their spines “What do you mean “other forces?” asked Lee.

“Wow, are you ever dense.” snapped Rainbow Dash “Remember what we said? Even though you beat us in duels, you haven’t won anything.”

“That’s right…” Pinkie said and then snickered “While you were dueling Twilight, and even as we speak whole herds of ponies and other creatures from our home world have been coming through other portals.”

The spies gasped…

…and indeed, there were still some people unaffected by the light of harmony, and so Princess Celestia had sent whole forces of ponies and other weird and unusual creatures from Equestria to round them all up, and brainwash them without even dueling them; most of the people were not even duelists anyway.

Soon there wouldn’t be a single human left on Earth unaffected, and everyone would be part of the greatest society in that or the ponies’ universe.

The spies couldn’t be more outraged.

“Just when I thought you creeps couldn’t get any sicker!” snarled Lee.

Rarity gasped in outrage and fumed “How dare you insult us!”

“No! Let it go, Rarity.” said Twilight. “We need to head back and regroup.” She then gazed at the spies “As for them, they’ll be dealt with soon enough.”

Even Jerry agreed with them “You should have joined us willingly, Spies.” he said to them. “Soon you’ll be wishing you had.”

The spies said nothing, and watched as their boss and the ponies and Spike disappeared through the main portal, back to Equestria.

Lee was so outraged that he angrily kicked a rock, sending it into the sea. “Man, I can’t stand those ugly mules!”

Rarity poked her head straight through the portal. “I heard that!” she snarled and she gave Lee a soft blast from her astral mark.

“Yeowch…!!”

Rarity then blew him a raspberry and disappeared back through the portal.

As much as Clover and Marc hated the ponies too, they couldn’t help but laugh at how funny Lee was, as he rubbed his sore behind. “You think it’s funny?” he grumbled “Let’s see you like it when someone zaps your can.”

“Can?” Marc muttered, and then he realized “…Mykan!”

Clover gasped “We totally forgot!”

Lee was confused “Did I miss something here.”

The spies bounded for their jet, promising to explain the Lee along the way, but they just hoped they weren’t too late!

…

Meanwhile, Princess Luna reported to Celestia informing her that despite Twilight and her friends’ defeat “We have successfully secured 99.9 Percent of the entire human world’s populace into our herd.”

“Excellent…” Celestia hissed “All that remains now is to seize that tiny Island where our enemies hail from.”

“Um… Sister…” Luna asked “Though I am confident upon our success, our enemies have discovered the entry point into our world. They may try and come for us. They will come for you!”

Celestia’s features hardened “Yes… that is a possibility.”

A long silence followed as she thought deeply, and then she said “Princess Luna… I believe I may have an assignment for you.”

Her sister had a good idea of what the assignment entailed, and smiled wickedly.

…

At Duel Academy Island, things were still rather quiet, with the exception of the many tropical storms that hit the island. Another one had just past, and nothing bad had happened yet. All the infected students were still in containment, while all the unaffected students were still in their quarters under safe lockdown, and behaving very well.

However, by this point, they were well aware of what was going on, with the moon. They could see it through their own eyes that the moon was getting close and would eventually hit the Earth if something wasn’t done fast.

A couple of Ra Yellow students hadn’t been able to sleep a wink all night, and were so restless and stressed from being contained; they felt like they would turn inside out.

Just then, there was a knock at their dorm room door. It was Sabrina.

The boys bowed down to her.

“Princess…?”

“What brings you here?”

Sabrina just stood there smiling at the boys.

Meanwhile, the guard was maintaining his post outside of the arena, where all the infected people on the island had been contained for many hours.

Suddenly, he heard a noise. “Who’s there?”

That’s when I stepped out from the shadows. “At ease, it’s just me.”

“Oh, Chancellor; what brings you here?”

“I came to relieve you of duty.”

The guard’s eyes widened in confusion “Excuse me?”

“You heard me. I will stand guard now.”

“But sir you…”

“That’s an order!” I suddenly snapped. I apologized quickly.

“Yes, sir.” the guard said “Good luck sir.”

The second he back was turned, I silently snatch his key card from his belt without him noticing, and I snickered softly, and then I signaled with my hand, and I was joined by Megan and Tony, whom were still brainwashed.

“You both know what to do?” I asked as I handed them the key card.

“We’ll get them out.” said Tony.

I nodded and warned them “Don’t mess this up.” and then I walked off.

Megan snuffed, and then she inserted the card into the lock on the sealed door. It worked, but unfortunately, they still had to punch in the correct eight-digit code, and neither of them had any idea what the number was, and would have to rely on their WOOHP hacker to figure it out, but even still it would take a bit of time.

…

A bit later, Sabrina had gone back to the med ward, where her team of doctors and nurses were still hard at work.

“Princess?” asked a nurse “I thought you had gone to check on your children.”

“Oh, um… yes I did. They were sleeping like angels.”

The nurse didn’t believe her, that should get to the children’s wing and back that quickly, and before she and the others could say anything else...

Everything went white...

…

Meanwhile, I had already gone to the Obelisk Blue dorm, where it was very quiet. The halls were all light with the night lights, but not a sound was heard. “Hey! You come out now.” I called out hoping the unaffected students would hear me, but still not a sound was heard.

“Hey, it’s all right.” I hollered “The danger’s almost over. There’s nothing to worry about now? Don’t you trust me?”

Still not a sound….

“Come on, your beloved Chancellor is here.”

That’s when a second me – the real one-- stepped out at the end of the hall and sneered “You got that right!”

The first me snarled, and began zapping beams from his eyes right at me, but I dashed across the hall, evading every shot perfectly, and jump kicked the imposter right in the chest, sending out the window.

We were on the ground floor, so he didn’t fall, but he did begin to run off, and I chased after him.

He dashed round the bend, and I rushed after him, nearly running over my wife. “Whoa… Sabrina!” I panted.

“Mykan, what’s happening?” Sabrina asked in concerned.

“It’s happened…” I told her “It’s a good thing Marc warned us in advance about the ponies’ plan.”

Sabrina looked frightened “We’ve got to stop them and fast. I’ll go with you.”

I nodded, and we were about to walk off together. “Wait…!” I suddenly said “Did you file that medical report I asked you to?”

“Um… the medical report. Oh, yes I did.”

“Ah… and you put it on my desk so I can read it later.”

“Yeah, I did.”

“Oh, good…” I said and then I punched her hard in the face, knocking her down.

“Honey!” the imposter of me cried as he dashed over to her. “How dare you strike me!” the fake Sabrina growled “How could you tell?”

“It’s simple…” my real wife said as she walked up to my side “He didn’t ask for any medical report, plus, he knew I was checking on our children.”

I held my wife close and smiled at her, and then I snarled at the imposters “Your game is up. Show us your real forms!”

The two imposters stood side-by-side, and in a flash of bright light, they changed into two more of the ponies. The male was a white unicorn with a dark blue mane with light blue streaks, and his wife was a pink alicorn princess with a multi-colored mane, and a crown atop her head by her horn. Both of them had the astral mark on their foreheads.

Sabrina and I glared at them furiously, but the two ponies snickered at us.

The male spoke first “The name is Armor; Shining Armor; Former Captain of the Royal Canterlot Guard in Equestria, and the elder brother of Twilight Sparkle, whom your students just trounced, and this is my loving wife…”

The princess nodded at us “Princess Mi Amore Cadenza, but most just call me Cadance. I am Princess Celestia’s favorite adopted niece, and the goddess of true love.”

“Goddess of true love…?” Sabrina asked in disbelief.

Cadance sneered “Yeah! You got a problem with that?”

“What we do have a problem with is what you and your clan are doing to our world.” I said severely and I stepped forth in a threatening manner “…And I’ve had just about enough of all this.”

Shining Armor snickered and said “You don’t really think we came here alone…” and that’s when all the brainwashed students huddled behind them like a massive army. Megan and Tony were amongst them “…Did you?”

Sabrina and I were not impressed, and then more students and staff joined the ponies by their side. They had been brainwashed by Cadance’s nasty ability to appeal to their hearts and make them obey her, long enough for them to brainwash them with the astral force.

“Don’t be a fool…” Cadance said, and her eyes began to glow.

“Don’t look!” I cried, and held my wife close. We both shut our eyes really tight.

Cadance snickered wickedly and poured on more power “It’s futile. You cannot resist the power of love.”

The strength of her power was immense, but Sabrina and I continued to resist, much to Cadance’s frustration, but her husband stood by her side to offer her more power. “Let’s do this together, my love.” he said sweetly, and the two combined their powers.

“Mykan, I can’t hold on!” cried Sabrina.

“We… can’t… give up… now!” I shouted, and that’s when the Millennium Symbol appeared on my forehead. It was my Ancient Egyptian heritage and actually repelled the magic right back at the two ponies and their army, knocking them all over like bowling pins.

Sadly, that was all I could do. Even my hidden powers that I rarely used weren’t nearly enough to stop the astral magic of the ponies.

The people were backing away softly in fear, but the two ponies couldn’t understand it. “It’s impossible…!” cried Cadance “No one can defy the power of love!”

“Maybe that’s because what you do isn’t love.” I sneered at them. “Just like what you’re giving us humans isn’t friendship or harmony!”

“You vile beasts!” growled Sabrina “Shame on all of you!”

The ponies were losing patience. “It seems you need a harsher teaching of a lesson of what real is all about.” sneered Shining Armor.

“Really…?” I asked, though I knew where this was going “Just what did you have in mind?”

“As if you didn’t know already…” sneered Cadance “We will face you both, in a tag-team duel.”

“A tag-duel?” asked Sabrina.

“That’s right!” snapped Shining Armor. “We’ll prove which side that love is on.”

I smiled smugly and shook my head “No.”

The students all gasped. Did they just hear right? Was I refusing a challenge to a duel? I was indeed, and Sabrina agreed with me and refused to duel as well.

“You are afraid of us.” said Cadance “You know you cannot win.”

“Actually it’s quite the opposite.” said Sabrina “We’d duel circles around the both of you, because, again, what you’re dueling with is not love.”

“Agreed…” I said “And that’s why I propose you face two substitutes of our choosing. I doubt you’ll very much be able to defeat them even with all the so-called love you preach about.”

The ponies felt their rage growing and ready to tip over. It was bad enough Sabrina and I attacked them, or rather it was I who did, and it was bad enough we insulted their honor and loyalty to Celestia, but after daring to insult their love and their intelligence…

…they reluctantly agreed to our challenge. “Just one thing, who are we dueling?” Cadance asked.

Sabrina and I weren’t exactly too thrilled about whom we chose, but we knew it would be well worth it to show the ponies up, and to give the duelists a fair chance.

When Marc first warned me about the ponies’ oncoming invasion of the island, we quickly began to gather as many of the students and staff, still unaffected by the lights. We managed to get most of them to the safety bunkers, located beneath the island, but weren’t able to save everyone in time.

Among all of the remaining students in the entire academy who weren’t brainwashed, there was only one who had enough experience, as well as my confidence of wining.

As for her partner, that took some serious time and frustration, but I managed to convince her, and flew her over by private jet while we had the chance before she got hit by the ponies’ curse, and she was here too.

Then, the two ladies stepped forth, and ready for action…

…Tami and Mandy!

Author's Note

For those who don't know, Mykan's wife, Sabrina, she's a spoof of the Pokemon Safforn City Gym Leader. So now you know what she looks like.

(Part 1) Lover's Lame

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Persuading Tami to duel was fairly easy, all I did was tell her she’d get extra credit, and she was desperate enough to need more good marks, she jumped right into it. However, there was a problem with choosing her partner… she wanted Lee to be her buddy, personally so she could try and flirt with him.

Of course I couldn’t tell her that Lee was a spy and out there fighting more of the ponies. So I figured, the only other person who could duel alongside her was her own tutor, and my long-time rival and failed-student, Mandy.

How she managed to go so long unaffected was a mystery to me, but convincing her to come to the island was a rough course. She was very rude on the phone, and still hadn’t outgrown her overstuffed ego, not to mention continued to insult me, Clover, Sam and Alex, and that I was relying on her for help “Because for once you admit you can’t do something yourself” she worded it “And you’re the world champ; you’re just pathetic!”

Finally, I lost patience and informed her about the situation with Tami, and how she needed help, and as Tami’s private tutor, she was obligated to agree. This also made her realize about the moon and how it was going to hit us, and even though she still didn’t believe much for magic and all that stuff, it couldn’t be denied anymore.

As cruel and as stuck-up as Mandy was, she didn’t want the Earth to be destroyed. “Even if I survived, I’d never be able to claim my title as the greatest duelist, and I wouldn’t be able to show up you losers anymore.”

“Why don’t we cut out the dramatics? I have a duel to win.” Mandy said aloud.

“You mean we have a duel to win.” said Tami.

The two ponies were not amused.

“You actually think these two can defeat us?” snapped Shining Armor.

“I do…” I snarled “Mandy and Tami may not seem like the ideal duelists, but they can be strong when they need to be.”

“Uh, yeah… try again.” Mandy said “I am strong; stronger than the lot of you losers put together. I may have made a few mistakes in the past, but I never accept defeat.”

Resisting any urges to argue, knowing what a pain Mandy was, and the ponies demanded the get the duel on with; both of them feeling this would be easier than they thought.

“Let’s get it on.” snapped Tami.

Posts were taken and everything was set. The score stood…

SCORE:

Cadance: 4000 & Shining: Armor: 4000

Mandy: 4000 & Tami: 4000

Shining Armor would go first, then Tami, then over to Cadance, and then Mandy, and as usual, neither player could make an attack on the first move.

“Good luck, dear.” Cadance said.

Her husband winked at her “I don’t need luck, not while I’m here with you.”

“Can you quit the lovely-dovey slop and move already?!” snarled Mandy.

Shining Armor sneered and drew his cards. “I summon ROYAL KNIGHT!”

(Atk: 1300)

“Next I’ll place one card facedown and end my turn.”

He then nodded at his wife, and she nodded at him.

Now it was Tami’s turn “My draw…” she took her card “I summon MADOLCHE MEWFEUILLE in defense mode!”

(Def: 300)

Mandy was not very impressed by Tami’s monster, and berated her for it. “That’s the best you’ve got. Why I ever chose you as my private student is beyond me.”

“Hey!” snapped Tami “It’s just my first move, and speaking of my move, when my monster is summoned, I can summon another Maldoche from my hand like MESSENGELATO!”

(Def: 1000)

“And when he’s special summoned, while I have Beast type Madolche in play, I can add one Madolche spell or trap tom my hand from my deck, and I’ll use it right now; MADOLCHE CHATEAU!”

The ground rumbled as out popped a huge doll mansion. It would give Tami’s monsters 500 extra attack and defense points.

(Def: 300) ---> (Def: 800)

(Def: 1000) ---> (Def: 1500)

Mandy was still not impressed “First dolls, and now dollhouses? Lamo…!”

Tami growled annoyingly.

Sabrina and I didn’t like where this was going. Still, Tami placed a card facedown, ending her turn, passing control to Cadance.

“Let the love burn forth.” she hissed as she drew her card “Since you control a monster and I don’t, I summon forth HAPPY LOVER!”

(Atk: 800)

“What…?! What’s going on?” snapped Mandy “You summon a monster that puny and that weak? You’re out of your mind.”

“No I’m not.” said Cadance “Remember, we duel with love on our side, and I thought I’d prove it to you.”

The girls were not amused, but Cadance placed two cards facedown and ended her turn. “Took you long enough!” growled Mandy as she took her card. “For my first superior move, I play POT OF GREED so I can draw two more cards.” She laughed as she drew her cards.

Cadance and Shining Armor gazed forth with concern.

“All right, now I’ll show you how a real master uses her cards.” said Mandy “I activate POLYMERIZATION! With this spell, I fuse all three of my BLUE EYES WHITE DRAGON(s) into an all-powerful beast of destruction; BLUE EYES ULTIMATE DRAGON!”

(Atk: 4500)

The mighty dragon roared loudly, making the two ponies gazed up at it in awe and with a bit of fear. “She played a monster that powerful in one turn!” cried Cadance. “Stay strong, honey.” said her husband.

Tami was impressed, and felt maybe she and Mandy would have a better chance now. Still, Mandy wasn’t allowed to attack, so she set two cards facedown and ended her turn.

This was it. Now that each duelist had moved, it was time for the real duel to begin. Sabrina and I both were rooting for the girls on silently as Shining Armor drew his card. He peeked at it, and then gazed over at his wife, and she nodded back at him.

“I activate a spell, CHANGE OF HEART! It lets me take control of any monster on the field I choose, and I chose my wife’s monster!”

Mandy and Tami gawked in confusion, and wondered why he would do that.

Cadance graciously let him take it from her for what he needed to do, and blew him a kiss. Her husband nodded at her, and then turned back to face the girls…

“I activate the spell LEVEL LIFTER!”

Tami clenched her fist nervously, knowing that card fully well. Shining Armor then discarded a level nine monster from his hand, which made both monsters he controlled level nine. “I now overlay both my monsters and build the overlay network! I call forth NUMBER 9: DYSON SPHERE!”

(Atk: 2800)

Everyone gazed up at the huge creature. It was big enough to house everyone on the island in it. even Mandy was in shock by its large size.

“Good move.” said Cadance.

Her husband nodded thankfully, but Mandy scoffed “You call that thing a threat. It hardly packs much of a punch compared to my Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon.”

“You’re right, it doesn’t…” said Shining Armor “So I’ll use its special ability then. By using an overlay unit, since your monster is stronger than mine I’ll attack you directly!”

“Ah!” Mandy gasped, and then Shining Armor ordered his monster to attack. “How pathetic…” said Mandy “I activate the trap SAKURETSU ARMOR!”

Shining Armor growled, knowing it meant that his monster would be destroyed. However, as Mandy’s trap snared the monster, it suddenly stopped. “What?!” she snapped “Why didn’t my trap pull through!”

That’s when Cadance snickered, immediately telling Mandy “…You!”

“You didn’t think I’d let you harm my husband that easy, did you?” she teased “So I played DESTRUCTION JAMMER! Letting me discard one card I have, so your trap is canceled.”

Mandy growled, and Shining Armor glared at her, ordering his direct attack to continue, but then it was Mandy’s turn to snicker “Sorry, but I’m slicker than I look.” she said “I activate ATTACK GUIDANCE ARMOR!”

The ponies winced in shock, and Mandy’s armor trap attached to Tami’s Mewfeuille. “Hey! What are you doing?!” she snapped.

“What does it look like; I’m saving my life points.” Mandy answered “My Attack Guidance Armor redirects any attack to the monster wearing it.”

As a result, the attack hit Tami’s monster destroying it. Since it was in defense-mode, Tami didn’t lose life points, and her field spell allowed her to put the monster back in her hand, but still, she was not happy the way Mandy just sacrificed her monster like that. “Next time, ask me when you’re about to pull a move like that!” she snarled.

“I don’t ask anyone for anything.” snapped Mandy “Well, maybe my mom. Besides, better your monster than my life points, and you wonder why you fail here.”

The two ponies were amused that the girls were fighting each other rather than working together.

“Ladies…!” I called out to them “Stop bickering with one another. You’ve got to pull together or you can’t win at all.”

“Mind your own business, Mykan.” snapped Mandy “I’m sick of everyone trying to tell me what’s best. So keep your advice to yourself!”

“Mandy!” I growled.

Shining Armor laughed at how silly this looked “As entertaining as this is, I’ll end my turn with one card facedown.”

Now it was Tami’s turn, she drew her card. “I’ll re-summon my Mewfeuille!”

(Def: 300) ---> (Def: 800)

“And of course, that means I can summon another Madolche; and I choose CHOUXVALIER!”

(Atk: 1700) ---> (Atk: 2200)

“More of those dolls, huh?” said Cadance “Sure takes me back to the many times I played with Twilight while foal-sitting her.”

Tami smirked “Really, well let’s see how you like it when I do this; I overlay both Chouxvalier and Messengelato. With these monsters, I build the overlay network, and Xyz Summon MADOLCHE QUEEN TIARAMISU!”

(Atk: 2200) ---> (Atk: 2700)

“I doubt very much that monster will help you crush mine.” said Shining Armor, but Tami smirked “Who said I was going after your monster. I’m going after your pretty wife. She doesn’t have any monsters to protect her, so I’m going straight for her life points.”

Cadance winced nervously, and Tami ordered her monster to attack. “Nice try!” snapped Cadance “But I activate my facedown card; CRYSTAL VEIL!”

“I don’t think so!” snapped Tami “I was saving this for just the right moment; the trap MADOLCHE TEA BREAK!”

“What?” Cadance snapped.

“What are you doing?” added Shining Armor.

Tami smirked and said “Since I haven’t got any monsters in my graveyard right now, I can stop your trap and send it back to your hand.”

Cadance’s card returned to its holster. “May I remind you that I don’t have any hands!” she sneered as she clapped her hooves.

“Big whoop, you also have no protection from my attack anymore!” said Tami, and monster continued to dive at Cadance.

“Oh, really, guess again!” snarled Shining Armor.

“Say what?!” snapped Tami.

“I activate XYZ MOVE! This trap lets me give Cadance control of the Dyson Sphere, and your battle phase automatically ends.”

Tami, even Mandy was shocked. Sabrina and I could hardly believe it either. “They’re dueling better than we thought.” Sabrina said, and I had to agree with her. It seemed that Cadance and Shining Armor had devised a well-made strategy to keep each other protected. If one of their cards failed, the other could back it up.

“Well, looks like you screwed up another one.” Mandy mocked.

“Will, you shut up!” snarled Tami “I tried my best.”

“You mean you tried and you failed.”

Sabrina was starting to think maybe we had made a mistake pairing Tami with Mandy. Their bickering was getting way out of hand already, and even as much as I could see that, deep down I knew I wasn’t wrong when choosing them. I kept saying to myself that they could win, because I was still confident about one thing for sure…!

“Maybe next time you ought to try and like help me when I need it!” snarled Tami. Mandy just scoffed and looked away from her, while the two ponies snickered wickedly as they exchanged cheeky looks.

Tami ended her turn with a facedown card.

Now it was Cadance’s turn, and she drew her card. “Now, then, I think I’ll play GRACEFUL CHARITY. So I draw three cards, and then discard two.”
Cadance drew her cards and then discarded two monsters as part of her strategy.

“Now, since I don’t trust that facedown card I’ll use the MYSTICAL SPACE TYPHOON!"

Tami's card got zapped and was vaporized in the huge blast. Then Cadance eyed at Mandy “Now, let’s try this again, shall we…” and she activated the sphere’s effect and this time, the girls couldn’t stop it. Cadance ordered the attack, and Mandy got blasted super hard, losing 2800 points.

SCORE:

Cadance: 4000 & Shining: Armor: 4000

Mandy: 1200 & Tami: 4000

“No!” shouted Tami.

“Mandy’s lost more than half her life points already!” I cried

Mandy growled angrily.

“Excellent shot, Cadance.” cried Shining Armor. His wife giggled softly, and fluttered her eyes, and then she turned to sneer at the girls “You see, love has always been on our side, and it always will be.”

Her husband nodded, and then scorned at me “And you… what were you thinking? These little twerps couldn’t beat us even if they had a hundred monsters in play. That goes for you and your silly wife as well.”

Sabrina gasped angrily.

I clenched my fist in anger and gnashed my teeth. “You dare insult my wife? I promise, you will suffer for what you’ve said.”

“Ha!” snapped Cadance “The only ones who will suffer is your silly stand-ins. Now I’ll place two cards facedown and end my turn.”

“About time you did…” snarled Mandy. She drew her card, then she glared over at Shining Armor “All right; it’s lights out for you, dweebo. Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, attack his life points and wipe him out!”

Mandy’s Dragon opened its three mouths and charged up brightly, ready to attack.

“I don’t think so...” sneered Cadance “...Remember my CRYSTAL VEIL! Now I can banish the Happy Love from my graveyard, now I can stop your dragon’s attack, and inflict damage to you equal to your monster’s attack points.”

“Ah!” Mandy gasped.

Tami was shocked as well, it meant Mandy’s life points would be all gone if the card’s effect resolved.

“I don’t think so…” snapped Mandy “From my hand I play DE-FUSION! It stops my attack, and it splits my dragon into the three Blue Eyes I fused it with.”

(Atk: 3000) x3

The ponies growled softly, and Tami sighed hard in relief. “I thought she was toast.”

Mandy snickered “And it’s still my battle phase, and I’ve got three fresh dragons to use now.”

The ponies gasped.

Mandy then ordered one of her Blue Eyes to attack Shining Armor directly, but once again he was prepared for this “I activate CALL OF THE EARTHBOUND!”

“What?!” snarled Mandy, and she watched as her dragon began to aim off towards the Dyson Sphere instead. “Thanks to my trap, I can control where your attack goes.”

He cast a look at Cadance, and she nodded at him, and he nodded at her. Then the Blue Eyes attacked the Sphere, and nothing happened at all.

“Hey, what gives?” asked Tami “Why didn’t your monster hit the bricks?”

Cadance snickered “It’s called a special ability; when our Dyson Sphere is attacked while it has no overlay units, I can attach two monsters in my graveyard right onto it, and now that it has overlay units again, once during your battle phase I can negate your one attack.”

Mandy was livid, but then she laughed nastily “So what, you blocked one attack, but I still have two more dragons.”

She ordered her second Blue Eyes to attack Shining Armor directly, but it too began to aim off its target and fired at Mandy’s first Blue Eyes. With both their attacks equal, both dragons were destroyed.

“No, my dragons!” shouted Mandy. Then she saw what happened. “You!!” she thundered at Cadance.

“That’s right…” Cadance laughed “I activated CONFUSION CHAFF! This trap only works when you declare a second direct attack during this battle phase and forced your monsters to attack each other.”

Mandy was so incredibly outraged, that she furiously ordered her final dragon to attack. “Think again…” snapped Shining Armor, and from his hand, or rather his holster, he discarded his only card “By discarding SWIFT SCARECROW when you declare a direct attack your battle phase ends!”

“Ah!” the girls both shrieked.

Sabrina and I could hardly believe it. “What a flawless play.” cried Sabrina “Yes, it was…” I agreed “They played their cards so perfectly, not only sparing themselves from taking damage, but it cost Mandy two of her dragons as well.”

Now Mandy was starting to feel a little distraught, and it didn’t go unnoticed.

“What’s the matter? Are you astounded by our perfection and love?” hissed Shining Armor.

His wife snickered “We told you both. Our love is strong, it’s the one force that conquers all, and nothing you have, nothing you pull can stop us.”

Mandy and Tami gazed at one another, and then felt the ponies laughing at hoot starting to break at them. How could they possibly win against such a strong duo?

To Be Continued…!

Author's Note

Basically Shining Armor and Candace have decks that reflect art of themselves and their love, and it sickens me so

(Part 2) Tough Love

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

The score still stood…

SCORE:

Cadance: 4000 & Shining: Armor 4000

Mandy: 1200 & Tami: 4000

Shining Armor’s holster was empty, and the others each had only one card, but Mandy was still completely frustrated and shaken that her dragons failed her, and the two ponies stood by themselves with glee.

“So, are you going to surrender or what?” asked Shining Armor.

“We promise we’ll be less merciless on you.” said Cadance “After all, it’s your chancellor who started all this.”

I clenched my fists, and Sabrina held my hand helping me maintain my cool. “Ladies, listen to me.” I called out “You can’t let them get to you like this. I realize you may have differences in working together, but if you actually trust in one another you’ll find a way to win. Do you hear me, Mandy?”

Mandy growled, but didn’t bother respond to me. “I’ll place my last card facedown and end my turn.”

Tami gazed at her tutor with concern, while the two ponies snickered. “Very well, it’s not our position to force you to make a fool of yourself.” Shining Armor said, and he drew his next card.

“I play POT OF GREED. So now I get two more cards.” He drew his cards and really liked what they were. Cadance even gave him a nod telling him to “Do it.”

Shining Armor snickered “I play the spell MIND CONTROL!” It let him seize control of the Dyson Sphere once again, but it couldn’t attack or be tributed.

Tami felt worried “Please don’t tell me…!”

“I won’t…” hissed Shining Armor “I’ll show you instead. I play RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!”

Both his and Cadance’s marks began to glow brightly as they combined their light forces with their monster. “I rebuild the overlay network!” shouted Shining Armor “I summon forth NUMBER C9: CHAOS DYSON SPHERE!”

(Atk: 3600)

The girls, Sabrina, even I was astonished and freaked out by the huge monster. It was even larger than the previous one.

“Oh, great… as if the other one wasn’t bad enough.” mumbled Tami.

Mandy was actually sweating, much to the ponies delight. “I’m afraid it gets much worse for you. My new monster has a few tricks.”

“Just move!” snarled Mandy.

“With pleasure.” hissed Shining Armor, and he gazed at Tami’s Madolche, and ordered the Sphere it to attack.

(Atk: 3600) VS (Atk: 2700)

SCORE:

Cadance: 4000 & Shining Armor 4000

Mandy: 1200 & Tami: 3100

Tami was outraged, but as the smoke from the attack cleared, she could see her monster was still standing. “Hey, what’s going on?” she asked, and she suddenly got her answer as the monster changed into a glowing orb and flew over to the Sphere.

“Your monster had turned into an overlay unit, and joined up with my Dyson Sphere.” said Shining Armor “And what’s more, now I can deal you 300 points of damage for each unit it has.”

“What?!” snapped Tami, and she counted all the units, seeing four in total. She counted up on her fingers “That means I lose… four… carry this… add that-- Twelve-Hundred points?!”

SCORE:

Cadance: 4000 & Shining: Armor 4000

Mandy: 1200 & Tami: 1900

“Well, you know what they say; love hurts.” mocked Shining Armor, and then he gazed over at Mandy “And speaking of hurting, it’s time for you to go down!”

“What are you babbling about?” snarled Mandy “You already attacked this turn.”

“True…” said Cadance “But did you know that our Sphere has another special ability?”

Mandy gasped, and Shining Armor nodded, and shared a snicker with his wife. “You see, since Chaos Dyson Sphere has the original Dyson Sphere as an overlay unit, I can now detach two other overlay units, and now… you’ll lose 800 life points for each.”

Mandy gasped, that was a total of 1600 points, but she only had 1200, and she knew her facedown card wouldn’t help her.

“Mandy!” cried Tami.

“She’ll lose the duel.” cried Sabrina.

“No, it can’t be!” I cried.

Suddenly, the monster stopped glowing and never fired its effect, much to the ponies, and Mandy’s confusion.

“What happened?” snapped Cadance.

Her husband was furious and he shouted up at his monster to strike Mandy down, but nothing happened. “This is wrong!” he growled.

That’s when Tami grinned and said “No, it’s totally legit.” She then felt every eye gazing at her, even Mandy. “Remember the card you sent to my graveyard?” she spat at Cadance “It was a trap called BREAKTHROUGH SKILL! I didn’t activate it before because the timing didn’t seem right, but that didn’t matter much. All I had to do now was banish it from my graveyard, and your overgrown Sphere’s effects were canceled for this turn!”

The ponies gawked in shock and anger, but Mandy was totally speechless. “I would’ve lost the duel.” she thought to herself “She saved me, just like that.”

Tami then turned to gaze at Mandy.

“Humph! Well, I guess that was sort of cool.” She said with a hint of sarcasm in her voice, but Tami took it as the nicest thing she would get, and smiled.

Sabrina sighed in relief, and I closed my eyes, feeling very thankful the girls were alright. “Thank goodness Tami did that. Mandy may not have been very courteous, but Tami knew right to protect her. Now this duel should start to turn around.”

Shining Amor had no choice but to end his turn.

“My move now…” Tami said as she drew her card and liked it. “Now I’m going to totally keep that monster on the fritz, thanks to this card; FORCED RELEASE! Now that overgrown ball of yours loses all its overlay units.”

The ponies gazed up in shock as the remaining units on their monster vanished, and one of them went to Tami’s graveyard.

Mandy was really impressed deep down, but she did her best not to let it show.

“Now that that’s settled, I’ll play MONSTER REBORN, to get that monster back; MADOLCHE QUEEN TIARAMISU!”

“But I’m not through just, because I have one other monster to play, and I can play it by overlaying just my Queen.”

The ponies couldn’t understand it.

“What is she doing?” Cadance muttered.

“With my Madolche Queen, I build the overlay network. I summon MADOLCHE PUDDINGESS CHOCO A LA MODE!”

(Atk: 2500) ---> (Atk: 3000)

The ponies had forgotten the Chateau card powered up Tami’s monster, and it suddenly became obvious to them that Tami wasn’t going to go after the Dyson Sphere; especially when she glared furiously at Cadance.

She shuddered nervously, and Tami snapped her finger and shouted “Go get her!”

“Cadance!” cried Shining Armor, as the monster dove straight at his wife, striking her hard and knocking her off her feet.

SCORE:

Cadance: 1000 & Shining Armor: 4000

Mandy: 1200 & Tami: 1900

“No!” cried Shining Armor “Cadance… are you alright!”

His wife slowly got back onto her feet and retook her post. “I’m alright, darling. Love makes us strong remember.” She angrily glared at Tami promising to pay her back for that last attack.

Tami just scoffed and said “And like what can you do about it?”

“Just watch me!” Cadance snarled as she drew her next card, and then she laughed “Excellent!” then she gazed up at the girls. Remember this card; CHANGE OF HEART!”

Mandy and Tami were really growing annoyed; the way the ponies just kept passing their one monster back and forth with one another.

Now that Cadance had control of the sphere again, she was ready to put her plan into action. “Prepare yourselves ladies, and witness the full power of our love!” as she shouted she and her husband seemed to glow brightly before everyone, not by the astral marks, but by a force virtually indescribable by many.

“What’s going on?” snapped Mandy.

Sabrina and I gazed forth in awe

“Mykan, do you see…?”

“I see it, but I don’t think I believe it.” I said, it was possible the magic force we were seeing was a result of the deep love that Shining Armor and Cadance felt for one another, but still, I couldn’t let myself believe this was real… not the way these two troublemakers were behaving.

Mandy then suddenly went straight into disbelief. “All right, I’ve like totally had just about enough with these lamo light shows, and all this preach about lovey dovey mush. If you have a move to make, make it already!”

The ponies angrily sneered at her for that outburst.

“Let them have it.” Shining Armor said.

His wife agreed and slammed her card down hard “I now use the spell OVERLAY CAPTURE! Now my monster can take your monster’s overlay unit as its own, as well as have this card equip to it as well as an additional unit.”

Tami growled angrily, and then Cadance ordered the Sphere to attack, and her Madolche. Neither of the girls were able to stop it, and Tami’s monster was struck hard.

(Atk: 3600) Vs (Atk: 3000)

SCORE:

Cadance: 1000 & Shining Armor: 4000

Mandy: 1200 & Tami: 1300

“And don’t forget my monster’s ability.” said Cadance “Instead of destroying your monster; it changes it into an overlay unit, giving me three in total. You know what happens then, don’t you…”

Tami shuddered nervously.

“That’s right, for each overlay unit my monster has, I can sap 300 life points.” Then she quickly and sharply gazed at Mandy “…And I choose you!”

“Ah!” Mandy gasped, and before she or anyone else could react, she got struck hard by the Sphere’s massive beam, and lost 900 points instantly.

SCORE:

Cadance: 1000 & Shining Armor: 4000

Mandy: 300 & Tami: 1300

“Excellent shot, Cadance.” exclaimed Shining Armor. Then he spoke severely to Mandy “Perhaps that will teach you to shout at us and berate our love!”

Mandy was absolutely furious “You little pests! You’re going to pay for that!”

Cadance laughed “Oh, please! Look at the both of you; you have neither a strategy nor a power that can save you from the power of our love.”

“That’s right…” hissed Shining Armor “On my next turn, I promise you both this much, you’re both going to get wiped out, for good!”

When Cadance’s turn ended, Shining Armor regained control of the Sphere.

Tami felt nervous. For the first time ever, she was completely out of options and had not a clue of how they could win.

Sabrina and I noticed this, and didn’t want her to lose her confidence, before either of us could say anything; we heard the sound of Mandy laughing, which got louder and more mockingly.

“And just what are you laughing about?” asked Cadance.

Mandy gazed at the two ponies and said “Just how incredibly pathetic you both are.”

The ponies were confused, and felt insulted.

“We’re not!” thundered Shining Armor.

“You are…” protested Mandy “Just look at how you’ve been dueling. I admit it’s only slightly impressive, but all you’ve been doing is passing the same card around multiple times and protecting each other. Well it looks to me like you’ve both used up all your tricks.”

The ponies hated to secretly admit she was right, as neither one of them had a single card left in their holsters, and no set cards either.

“And as much as I hate to admit this; Mykan was right about you; what you’re dueling with isn’t love at all, but rather stupidity, because the real secret to winning a duel isn’t love but rather skill and strategy, as well as playing your cards right… and the first and foremost thing every good duelist knows is: Never rely on a single monster!”

The ponies were growing impatient.

“Enough of your stalling!” snarled Cadance “My husband and I have a duel to win, and then we’re taking you all on a journey into the Light of Harmony.”

“The only journey you’ll be taking is straight into Loservile!” Mandy sneered, and she drew her card “Ah, just what I needed, MONSTER REBORN, and I’ll use it to bring back one of my Blue Eyes!”

Sure enough, Mandy’s Blue Eyes appeared alongside her other one.

“Now, watch closely, because I’m going to overlay both my dragons to build the overlay network!”

Mandy’s two dragons soared up high and vanished in the swirling vortex, and in a flash of bright lightning, a new dragon had appeared “I summon forth THUNDER END DRAGON!”

(Atk: 3000)

The huge electrified dragon stomped its huge foot, spread out its wings and roared angrily, as sparks of lightning and electricity emitted all around it.

“For all the good that did you.” snapped Shining Armor “That dragon may be huge, but it’s no match for my Chaos Dyson Sphere.”

Mandy grinned wickedly “You are like so totally pathetic, I’m surprised you even know which way is up.”

Shining Armor gnashed his teeth and felt like he was going explode in a rage, but it was Cadance who spoke up for him “I’m warning you; insult me or my husband one more time…”

“Save it!” Mandy cut in “Your husband is about to learn a golden saying; “Love is Blind!”

Shining Armor still didn’t understand.

“I activate Thunder End Dragon’s ability!” shouted Mandy “By using an overlay unit, I can destroy every other monster that’s in play.”

The ponies gasped, and the dragon flew up really high, and unleashed a huge wave of electrical energy, incinerating Tami’s Mewfeuille, and destroying the Dyson Sphere in an explosion so massive, everyone, even Mandy covered their eyes.

Sabrina held onto my tight, burying her face in my chest as I held her close.

When all had quieted down, Shining Armor opened his eyes to see not only was his Sphere gone, but Thunder End Dragon was standing right before him in a threatening manner.

“Shining Armor!” shouted Cadance. There was nothing she or he could do at all, much to Mandy’s delight.

“So much for your love.” She mocked, and then ordered her dragon to attack, and Shining Armor got blasted so hard he was knocked several feet away from his duel post, as well as losing 3000 points.

SCORE:

Cadance: 1000 & Shining Armor: 1000

Mandy: 300 & Tami: 1300

“My love!!” shrieked Cadance.

Shining Armor struggled slowly back to his post, but he was more angry than hurt, but before he could say anything, Mandy held out her hand, and then pointed down at her facedown card. “Since you two are married, shouldn’t there be a ring…?”

Then her card revealed.

“It’s the RING OF DESTRUCTION!” I cried out.

“But if Mandy uses that…!” Sabrina cried…

Already, the Ring attached itself to Mandy’s dragon.

“What are you doing?” Shining Armor demanded to know.

“I’m going to use this card to destroy my Thunder End Dragon, and then you and I will both take damage equal to his attack power!”

The ponies gasped, and Tami was horrified. “No, don’t do it!” she cried.

Mandy gazed at her “Look kid, it has to be done, and you’ll learn why.” Then she gazed back at the ponies “As for you two, well, being experts on love, you should know it comes in sacrifice.”

She raised her fingers…

The ponies’ eyes widened in fear…

“Now!” shouted Mandy, and the ring exploded, taking her dragon with it, and blasted both her and Shining Amor right to the ground.

SCORE:

Cadance: 1000 & Shining Armor: “0000”

Mandy: “0000” & Tami: 1300

“NO!!” Cadance and Tami both screamed.

Mandy was knocked unconscious by the force of the blast, while Shining Armor lay exhausted on the ground, and very weak from the force of the explosion.

“Shining Armor…!” Cadance cried with tears coming to her eyes.

“I… failed you… my love.” he groaned, and then he passed out, and vanished; back to Equestria.

“No, don’t leave me!” she cried, but he was already gone.

As for Tami, she now could see; Mandy was using tough love to teach her, and it actually did help. Though Mandy was now out of the duel, because she took out Shining Armor, it meant the turn was skipped right to Tami.

Cadance turned back to gaze at her and realized she was completely wide open. All Tami needed was one good monster.

She drew her card, and gazed back at Cadance. “I summon MADOLCHE MARMALMAIDE, and remember, the Chateau gives her 500 extra attack points.”

(Atk: 800) ---> (Atk: 1300)

“No!!” cried Cadance.

“Time to end this… once and for all…! Attack…!”

The monster charged straight at Cadance, and gave her nothing more than a simple smack to her cheek, cutting out the rest of her life points.

FINAL-SCORE:

Cadance: “0000” & Shining Armor: “0000”

Mandy: “0000” & Tami: 1300

“She did it!” cried Sabrina.

I nodded proudly “I knew she could. She and Mandy did it together.”

Unfortunately, Mandy awoke, and because she was still knocked out of the duel, the Astral Force took over her, and the mark appeared on her head.

“Mandy.” cried Tami “Are you okay?”

She still couldn’t understand much about the astral mark, but she didn’t like it when Mandy starting chanting to the light of harmony, and joined Cadance’s vast army of brainwashed victims.

“It looks like you’re friend has finally seen the light…” hissed Cadance “Just like you’re about to.”

“No way…! I won, so get lost!” snapped Tami.

“I agree!” I shouted “You and your husband both lost, and we had a deal.”

“Sorry, but that deal was broken when you sent my husband back to Equestria. Now, I’m going to make you all pay!”

“You… double-crosser!” snarled Sabrina, but Cadance took no notice and prepared to fire her magic from her astral mark…

“No, I won’t allow this!” I sneered angrily, and I began to concentrate hard, and the Millennium Symbol appeared on my head again as my ancient powers came to life.

“You are all mine!” shouted Cadance as she fired her power, but my magic deflected her blast right back at her, knocking her down.

She was far too fatigued form her duel, which gave me the full edge I needed, especially after the stunt she just tried to pull.

The army of infected people tried to rush us, but were suddenly sucked up by a huge vacuum…

We all gazed up and could see a WOOHP jet hovering overhead, and Clover, Lee and Marc waving to us. “Sorry we missed the party.” Lee called to us, and we watched as he and the other used the WOOHP suction pump to send all the infected people right back into the stadium, where they’d be locked in again.

Megan and Tony were among them. “You can’t do this to us!” they wailed as they got tossed around in the suction winds.

“Sorry, guys. It’s for your own good.” Marc said.

(Picture what happens next like what happens in this vid, between 16:55 to 18:02)

Now, Cadance was all alone, and I was extremely furious with her.

-She and her kind were brainwashing humans
-The world was about to end because of them
-Her and Shining Armor’s treachery on the island and hurting our students.
-She tried to double cross our solemn deal

…She had it coming to her, and I was going to give it to her.

I began to walk over to her threateningly.

“You stay back!” she snarled “I’m Princess Celestia’s favorite niece. If you hurt me, she’ll catch up with you… she’ll punish you! She’ll punish all of you!”

She tried to make a run for it, but she ran right into an alley way near the dumpsters, too tired to fly out, and I was still approaching her.

I raised my hand and fired two magical blasts at her. One knocked off her crown, and the other knocking off her necklace.

Then I lunged straight at her, shoving her hard against the wall.

I punched her hard across the face, and then rammed her twice in her gut.

She tried to ram at me, but I swerved out of the way, grabbing her by the horn, and I gave her a huge shove to the ground. Then jumped on top of her ready to deliver what could have been a huge finisher blow…

“Mykan stop!” Sabrina shouted, having finally caught up to us. I gazed up at my wife as she softly told me “That’s enough. Don’t do it.”

The symbol on my head vanished as I felt a deep shame coursing through me for what I had just done and what I almost could have done! I angrily gazed down at the beaten pony and sneered very deeply at her “I considered myself a rational human-being. No matter how angry I got! No matter how incredibly enraged enemies have made me, I have never taken another life in anger. Even when they deserved it, no matter how much I wanted to… I never… ever would kill.” I paused deeply and moved in closer sneered at her deeper than ever “...You almost made me forget that; Almost!”

Cadance never looked more fearful than ever, and in a bright flash of light, she finally vanished.

“Celestia…!” I hissed softly.

The spies and Tami approached the alley. “Okay, what did we miss?” Clover asked.

Sabrina said nothing and approached me calmly. I was still shaken from what I had just done, practically almost near tears of shame.

My wife held me softly. “It’s okay. She’s gone.”

“I’m so sorry…” I cried softly “Sabrina I’m so sorry, I don’t know what came over me.”

“Shh, you’re only human, dear. Just relax.” She held me close, stroking me softly, and pecked my head, and I felt really upset.

“Okay, I don’t know what to feel right now, but this mondo-bizzaro.” said Tami.

The spies ignored her, and then they told me what Twilight had told me and how the world was being invaded worse than ever.

“We and the remaining people on this island are all that’s left.” said Marc. “I don’t know what to do.”

We all looked up at the sky. The Crystal Heart designed light had already vanished leaving only the shadowy light left. The moon was so incredibly close to the Early, it was gigantic in the sky, and everything was as bright as the day now.

In less than two more hours, it would reach the threshold, and we’d all be doomed.

As much as Tami still didn’t understand much of this. She was really starting to panic, and grabbed onto Lee. “I don’t want the world to end. We haven’t even had one single date yet!”

“Tami… you’re choking me…” cried Lee.

I clenched my fist, feeling my strength returning. I finally realized what we had to do. “We have to go.” I said “…to Equestria.”

The others slowly began to agree. It was time to take the battle right to the heart of where all this started to begin with.

“Princess Celestia is the one behind all this this.” said Marc “If we beat her, it’s all over.”

“Agreed.” said Sabrina “…We go.”

Tami was still confused, but didn’t say a thing. No one did.

Showdown with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Acknowledging that we had to head to Equestria, we had very little time to prepare ourselves. A world full of magical ponies and creatures we had never seen before, we needed weapons and protection. Who knew what would happen once we entered.

Luckily, my department of experts working at the academy were actually prepared for something like this; fearing there would be a time of absolute danger, and we would have to take extreme actions.

Everything was designed and created with the aid of my ancient powers.

First we had armor paddings: Torso vests, armored paddings for our arms and legs would protect us from whatever magic the ponies or other creatures could try to throw our way.

Next we had weapons: Beam swords, laser pistols, long laser riffles, and even flash grenades; all those weapons, as deadly as they looked would only stun whoever or whatever they hit and knock the victim unconscious for a while.

…We didn’t really want to kill the ponies, or even hurt them too much, but we did want to keep them under control long enough to find and confront Princess Celestia.

We also had many of the WOOHP gadgets the spies had brought with them in their jet, and finally, we had a massive army of all the unaffected staff and students on the island… including Tami.

Most of the students practically jumped at the opportunity, acting all cocky and believing it would be just like playing a life-sized video game, only then to be reminded that this was no game.

“We are one a mission to save our world from certain doom.” I announced to the army “This is our home, and all the people in it, though different from us in many ways, they are what we are; human beings, and they do not deserve to be forced into a nonsensical society as our enemies brainwash them into. I realize it is rather disturbing to ask you all to help us, for this adventure is extremely dangerous, and the chances are that some of us may not make it back.”

Hearing this worried many of the students.

“I give you all this option…” I said “You are not being forced into this army, and you have every right to decline if you wish. Just note; we need all the help we can get if we are to succeed, and we have no place else to go with the entire world under the spell of the ponies. If you wish to resign, please speak now.”

Fortunately, nobody said a thing, and I smiled proudly, and the students and staff smiled with me. Now it was time to start arming ourselves and be prepared to go.

The weapons and their designs were simplicity itself, so there didn’t have to be any crash-courses on how to use them.

Of course, Tami was still complaining a bit. “Eww, black and gold is so last year.” she groaned “It doesn’t even go well with my blazer.”

The spies could hardly believe her attitude. The world was at stake and all she could do was color-coordinate?!

Nevertheless, I had devised one final bit of planning for our trip to the island where the wormhole was. We had a sneaky suspicion that entering Equestria wouldn’t be easy.

“I think it’s time to employ the element of surprise.” I said.

“And I know just who can help us.” added Sabrina.

…

Meanwhile, all over the Earth, there was not a single person left that did not bear the astral mark, nor was not chanting to the light of harmony and praising Princess Celestia.

Ponies and other magical creatures from Equestria were pleased with their work. Twilight and all her friends, including the recently healed Shining Armor and Cadance were among them.

However, with only Princess Luna’s light as the only strand left in the skies, everyone could now see that the moon was getting much too close to the Earth and even causing small tremors.

Now the ponies were starting to believe that something was wrong…

…Yet when they asked Princess Celestia about this, she simply replied “I would never let something so devious happen to our new world. Why would I want to destroy all our new friends? I’m just simply readjusting the moon to a better perspective and really bring forth the light.”

Trusting their princess, the creatures attended to their duties without question while she continued to admire the magical views of the human world, especially the moon getting closer and closer.

“The light has nearly reached the breaking point.” he said softly to herself in thought “My triumph over the humans will be so devastating, all those who oppose me will see how powerful I am and never have to think twice about challenging me.”

…

Since the WOOHP Jet was not large enough, we and our army rode on one of the islands cargo planes, and were heading out to the rocky island.

“How long do we have now?” asked Lee.

“No more than two hours.” said Marc. “After that… it’s game over!”

Down below, the ocean was so insanely rough, the tidal waves were getting bigger and bigger, but strangely, the waters got calmer as we got nearer to the wormhole’s island; obviously the ponies using magic as they wanted to keep the portal to their world safe from danger

I then noticed that Marc seemed a little down. “You alright…?” I asked.

“This just seems like such a wasted opportunity.” Marc said “I mean we’re going to enter a whole new world, far beyond the boundaries of space and dimensions. This could have been a great chance to make a fascinating discovery, and explore so much… yet all were doing is busting into their world for an all-out-attack.”

The rest of us understood how he felt.

“Marc, you have to keep in mind…” Sabrina said “These creatures are invaders, they’re trying to conquer and destroy our world, and they have to be stopped.”

“She’s right, bro.” said Lee “We have to do what’s right. It’s the only way we can ever get Tony and Megan back, as well as the rest of humanity.”

Clover agreed “As much as I hate the code of WOOHP sometimes, duty comes first.”

Marc agreed, and promised to keep his mind straight, and he cocked his laser gun, and just in time, we were approaching the wormhole island.

“All right… standby.” I said “We’re going in.”

The stage was finally set for our most dangerous adventure yet, for we and our entire army of followers were headed directly into den of the enemy. It was time for a showdown with My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic!

The plane landed vertically on the island, and I stepped out alone. I moved slowly towards the wormhole to check if it was safe.

The others watched from the cockpit as I got nearer to the portal. Sabrina was getting very nervous. “Easy, Sabrina…” Clover whispered trying to comfort her.

Finally, they could see I was very close. I turned to look back at the jet, and the others waved at me from the cockpit, and then turned back to face the swirling light. Slowly, I raised my hand, and reached out to touch the light, and suddenly, strong winds began to blow all around as lightning and thunder struck, and in a shadowy veil, appeared another pony.

She was much larger than the others, suggesting she was in fact a fully grown mare. She had a very dark indigo coat, and her mane and tail were more voluminous which magically fluttered and shimmered, and were both the exact color of the last light in the sky.

“Well, hello there…” she hissed softly.

The others ducked down so as not to be seen. “Who’s that?” asked Lee.

“Is that Celestia?” asked Marc.

“I don’t think so…” said Sabrina “But standby. We’ve got to get ready to make our move.”

I began to back away from the pony princess, and she slowly followed me, moving away from the portal saying “You do know this area is off limits to those not of our kind. Those orders come from my sister, Celestia, and I am her younger sister, Luna; princess of the night.”

She began to explain her story of how she once became the evil Nightmare Moon, tried to conquer Equestria and bring forth an eternal night, all out of jealously and loneliness she got for always working at night, and not having many to interact with as every slept at night.

“Now, I am a part of this grand society my sister rules, and I wish only but to aid her in this glorious conquest.”

Though I seemed terrified, I still did not answer, and merely got out my deck and a duel disk.

Luna snickered “So, you wish to do battle with me?”

I nodded without saying anything, while sneaking a quick peek over at the Jet, way on the other end of the island.

“That’s the signal.” said Clover.

Just then, the backdoor opened, and a hand signaled them all to come. It was time to move out, while Princess Luna was distracted. She was too far away, and the ocean waves were very noisy, she couldn’t hear the ramp being lowered and the army, armed and loaded, marching out softly.

Luna prepared her dueling post and was very thrilled to be dueling against me.

“My sister promised a great reward for the one who takes you out, Mykan Jaden.” she hissed at me “I supposed I should commend you and your forces for resisting us for so long, but now… it all ends for you.”

Once my duel disk was activated, and Princess Luna was ready, that was it. The duel was on, and it neither duelist could leave unless they forfeited.

“Prepare to lose…” Luna hissed.

But I just smiled at her, and clicked the WOOHP Disguise Ring on my finger, and I transformed into Sabrina father, King Wilhelm.

“What?!” snapped Luna.

“Goth’cha!”

Princess Luna then turned round in time to see the real me and my forces dashing for the portal, but if she left her post while the duel was on, she’d be out and the last light in the sky would vanish.

“You tricked me!” she shouted.

Wilhelm nodded “I felt it was time to come a bit out of retirement and get back into the action; especially if it means safeguarding my family, and my world.”

Luna was outraged “You will pay dearly for having deceived me. I will duel with you, and then I shall return to Equestria to finish what’s left of your army, should there be anyone left that is.”

Sabrina’s father wasn’t scared a bit. “You don’t know Mykan like me and my daughter too. He doesn’t know how to fail. Pity you won’t say the same when I’m through with you.”

The two duelists glared each other down ready for a brawl!

Meanwhile, the entire army and I had landed in the middle of a grassy meadow in Canterlot.

“Man, what a ride!” Lee excitedly exclaimed.

We all took a moment to gaze all around us at the world of Equestria, it really didn’t look all that different form our world at all; a little cartoonish but seemingly normal in many ways…

…Except for the giant astral mark handing in the sky like the lights in the skies of our world, and the fact that there was no one else around to notice us.

“Okay, starting to feel a bit creeped out here.” said Clover.

It still baffled me dearly; how a card from our world got mixed up in all this and still we knew it wasn’t the card itself that did all this. There was only one way for sure to get that answer; find Princess Celestia.

“I think I know where we should look…” Marc said as he pointed straight at the royal palace just ahead, across the meadow.

“All right, team, move out!” I hollered, and we all began to charge onward.

At the palace, many of the ponies of Canterlot and from around Equestria had gathered, and many of the royal guards were ushering everyone in, instead of manning their posts as instructed by Celestia; whom still believed she had already won!

Soon, the royal fanfare sounded, and her majesty was announced.

“Presenting, her esteemed majesty; the ruler of Equestria and the human world, and gallant leader and found of our glorious society of the light of harmony… Princess Celestia!”

Her majesty walked along the carpet with her honor guards behind her, and she stepped out onto the terrace to greet the cheering crowds. “Hail Equestria! Hail to the light and harmony!”

As the crowds continued to cheer, no one could hear or notice our army creeping up by the palace. The drawbridge was still open, and not too many guards were seen; Just two by the gate, and two more on the battlements.

“All right, take ‘em out.” I whispered.

The three spies and Sabrina slowly crept forth, aiming their stun-pistols, and fired at the guards. One-by-one, they plopped to the ground, out cold. Nobody else noticed, as they were all too busy and preoccupied by Celestia giving her victory speech, which we could all hear form where we stood.

Tami could see her, and planned to shoot her from where she was with her rifle, but I stopped her “Not now! First we’re going to bust in there, and then you’ll have plenty to shoot at.”

“Fine.” groaned Tami “But can we please hurry up, I totally want to have at these things.”

In order to take the ponies by surprise, and hopefully keep them at bay so we could storm in, we had brought with us small bombs, powerful enough to blow huge chunks right out of the palace.

“I thought you said we weren’t going to hurt them.” said Lee.

“We’re not, we’re just going to use these to distract them, and catch them off guard.” I answered.

“Yeah, but won’t they still get hurt?” asked Clover.

“A few of them might, hopefully not severely.” said Sabrina “We’re still outnumbered, but this just may give us the edge we need.”

“She’s right. Now let’s get to work.” I said.

The spies crept about, carefully sticking each bomb in specific and strategic places, so they’d all set each other off in a chain reaction.

While they worked, Celestia continued her speech…

“The human world is now ours, and as I stand before you, my subjects, my friends… it is a great feeling to know that all our efforts have not been wasted in perfecting a new world for us all, and ensuring a glorious future for ourselves and future generations of the light.”

Outside, the army huddled all together, ready to rush in.

The bombs were all in place, and the first one’s timer was ticking.

“Ten more seconds…” said Lee.

“All right, get ready.” I said to the others, and everyone checked their weapons.

“We can all stand proud…” Celestia said “We are the society of light and harmony. There is nothing will stop us now.”

Everyone cheered and hollered for joy, and Celestia basked in all the glorious praise… when suddenly…!

(Picture it like this… 7:32)

POW!! A big explosion blew up on the battlements within the courtyard, frightening everyone and Celestia. More explosions happened as each of the bombs exploded, one-after-another, sending huge flaming rocks all over, and frightening all the ponies into a great panic.

Some of the explosions were so massive; they sent the boulders crashing down in the village around the castle, frightening more of the ponies everywhere as fires began to burst all over.

“What is happening?!” shouted Celestia.

She suddenly got her answer when the front gates of the palace blew wide open in a big explosion!

(Music during the fight: I prefer it one pitch higher)

I leapt right in through the smoke and began to shoot my stun-riffle, knocking two guards out cold at once.

Celestia screamed out “GUARDS, TO ARMS!!”

And as her guards began to spring into action, my army came rushing in. “SPREAD OUT!!” I shouted.

What a brawl it was! The guards with their magic lances and other unicorns opened fire at us, but the armor I designed protected us as promised, and the ponies had no defense against our stunners.

Lee threw a stun-grenade high up on the battlements. It exploded, and caused many of the guards to fall over the edge.

Marc did the same on the other side and shot with his gun, knocking a pony out the window.

Celestia could not believe her eyes and wondered how we humans got in when Luna was supposed to be guarding the entry way. Not that that mattered now.

“GET THEM YOU FOOLS!!” she shouted.

Pegasi from the wonderbolts came flying into action and began to attack from above, catching some of our allies by surprise, but the spies, with their rocket-boots and jetpack, flew up to take the battle airborne.

While on the ground, the battle was heating up. Some of our allies had lost their riffles and resorted to their smaller guns, and others drew their stun-swords for close combat; knocking the lances away from the guards, and one touch of the blades, and those ponies went out like candles.

“Keep it up! We’re got them all cornered!” I shouted as the fight continued.

Celestia was furious with her guards. Even with other ponies backing them up, the battle seemed virtually equal.

“Your majesty…!” cried a guard “You should get to safety while you can.”

“What?!” snapped Celestia “How dare you insist such a thing! It’s preposterous to imagine me running from my kingdom because of a simple pack of humans.”

“But your highness…”

“Silence!” shouted Celestia “We can take them on. You will see!”

The guards were very uncertain.

(Part 1) Non-Intimidation

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

While all the chaos was going on in Equestria, King Wilhelm and Princess Luna began their duel.

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 8000 VS Luna: 8000

“Let’s get the party started.” Wilhelm said as he drew his first cards.

“Or maybe I should’ve said show. I pay 1000 life points to play my all-time favorite card; TOON WORLD!”

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 7000 VS Luna: 8000

“And now, ladies and gents, presenting everyone’s favorite toon performer; TOON MASKED SORCERER, in defense mode!”

(Def: 1400)

The cute little monster, made a silly and gawking expression at Luna.

Luna was not impressed “You call that ugly little thing a monster?” she sneered “This duel shall be easier than I thought.”

“Ah, don’t count your chickens before they hatch…” said Wilhelm “Speaking of hatching, I’ll hatch another Toon. From my hand, I special summon TOON MERMAID!”

(Def: 1500)

The mermaid giggled cheekily and then hid herself inside her magic clam.

“I place one card facedown, and end my turn.”

“Very well…” hissed Luna as she drew her cards “For my first move, I shall summon ARCANA FORCE VII- THE CHARIOT!”

(Atk: 1700)

“The Arcanas…!” Wilhelm muttered. Having designed those cards, he knew fully well they were a force to be reckoned. Their effects were determined by the toss of a coin…

The magic coin appeared and began to spin rapidly. The result; Heads!

“Wonderful.” hissed Luna “Now when my monster destroys any one of yours, I will get summon it to my side of the field.”

Wilhelm growled, and then Luna ordered her Chariot to destroy the Mermaid.

“Hold your horses…” snapped Wilhelm “I play the trap; HALF OR NOTHING!”

“Ah!”

Wilhelm snickered “You have a choice now, you can continue the battle, but your monster’s attack will be reduced by half. Or you can just call the attack off plain and simple.”

Princess Luna merely snickered “Fool, you think I am easily intimidated? I shall continue my assault.”

With that decision, her monster continued to dash forth, but its attack was reduced to half; 850.

(Atk: 850) VS (Def: 1500)

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 7000 VS Luna: 7350

“Despite that I have lost life points, it enables me to use this spell; DIVINATION OF FATE!”

Wilhelm had a feeling that was why she continued her attack.

“Since my monster failed to obliterate yours, I may now call forth another creature with “Arcana Force” in its name.”

“I’m quite aware of that…” sneered Wilhelm “I did invent the card you know.”

Luna grunted “Still, I now call forth ARCANA FORCE VI- THE LOVERS!”

(Atk: 1600)

With the monster’s appearance, the coin appeared again and began to spin. Once again, the result was Head. “Excellent!” hissed Luna “But since you invented the card, you must surely know what it does. So, I shall now place two cards facedown, and conclude my turn.”

“Fine by Me.” said Wilhelm, and he drew his next card, and then changed both his monsters into attack mode.

(Atk: 900)

(Atk: 1400)

“Your monsters may be powerful, but my Toons have the power to bypass them and strike you directly!”

Luna growled softly, and Wilhelm then ordered his sorcerer to strike her directly. The Toon, like the cartoon it was, slunk through Luna’s monsters and them popped up in front of her. He stuck out his tongue and lashed her right in the face, dealing her 900 points of damage.

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 7000 VS Luna: 6450

“And, when my sorcerer damages you, I get to draw one card.” He drew as promised. “And now for my next episode, I’ll pay 500 life points, so my Toon Mermaid can strike you.”

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 6500 VS Luna: 6450

“Mermaid, attack...!”

The mermaid armed her bow, ready to attack, but Luna grinned wickedly. “Now I use my trap.”

“Huh?”

“Activate DIMENSION WALL! Your monster may be about to strike me, but it will be you who takes the battle damage.”

“No!” growled Wilhelm, but it was too late to call off his attack, and just as promised, he lost 1400 points.

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 5100 VS Luna: 6450

“Silly, fool…” hissed Luna “I told you, I do not get intimidated so easily. You attacked me with your first monster, but that was hardly any concern to me compared to what happened to you. You see, as a princess of my kind, I am expected to be brave and bold. To laugh in the face of danger and never let my emotions get the better of me.”

Wilhelm was impressed by her courage and boldness. “Like I said, you remind me of my son-in-law, Mykan. Speaking of which, I wonder how he and his gang are getting on in your world.”

In Equestria, the battle was still heating up big time, even the Wilhelm Scream was heard a few times as more ponies ran in fear, or were knocked from high places.

Tami had knocked out a couple more ponies.

“Tami, behind you!” shouted Marc, but Tami already got grabbed from behind and lifted up high by a pegasi.

Tami screamed and fussed to be let go as the pony flew higher and higher. “HELP ME!!” Tami screamed.

That’s when Lee soared in and gave the pony a huge fist to the face, making him drop Tami, who plunged down, down, down. Lee quickly jumped after her, and the pony looked ahead just in time as he crashed right through the palace walls.

Lee quickly caught Tami just in time as they landed safely on the ground. “Oh… my big strong hero...” Tami cooed, and she tried to pull him in for a kiss, when a unicorn guard came out with a large cannon.

“Surprise!” he hissed, and lit the fuse, but Lee made Tami duck down and he himself swerved causing the shot to miss and blow up a tree. Now Lee was pretty angry “Big mistake pal!”

The pony went totally numb with fear and could only scream as Lee charged forth and gave him a heck a whap with his stun-sword.

Sabrina was faced by many Earth ponies that all ganged up on her, but using her judo skills, she punched, kicked and flipped them all down like bowling pins.

The Wonderbolt’s leader, Captain Spitfire, and four more of her flyers came soaring in and had Sabrina in their sights. “Wonderbolts, ready… take aim…!”

Sabrina looked up and saw them, and so did I. I came running in, and Sabrina gave me a huge boost sending me up, up, up, and the symbol on my head reappeared, and I gave a thunderous roar as I fired my power in a huge beam straight at the air squad, striking them all, and hitting the palace behind them.

The palace rocked and quaked as more boulders fell, and poor Celestia nearly fell off her feet in the stress. “What’s happening?!” she cried out.

The air squad tumbled down, down, and crashed into the moat below.

Sabrina and I ran off together as more ponies chased after us.

Celestia was completely outraged. “What is going on here? My guards, my vast allegiance of followers; they’re all being torn through like they were paper-cut-outs!”

She didn’t know how much longer this could continue.

“I’m sure Mykan’s just fine.” said Wilhelm “Sad to say you won’t be. I place two cards facedown and end my turn.”

Luna was already aggravated enough, and wasn’t about to let a middle-aged human to make a fool of her again.

She drew her next card. “Ah, just the thing I needed. Enter now if you will, the LIGHT BARRIER!”

Wilhelm knew that field spell as well, and he watched as the area was shrouded in a dome of light.

Princess Luna snickered “And now I shall use the CARD OF SANCTITY, requiring us both to draw until we hold six cards.”

Both players drew, refreshing their hands, and Luna’s eye twinkled sinisterly. “Now, my Lover’s coin toss was Heads, it counts as a double offering. So I shall sacrifice it in order to call on ARCANA FORCE XVIII- THE MOON!”

(Atk: 2800)

“A very appropriate card for my background, as I am the princess of the night and moon, and thanks to the Light Barrier, rather than…”

“I know how it works!” Wilhelm cut in “It means you can choose which ever effect your monster can play without tossing a coin.”

Luna grunted and just went ahead with her move “I activate its ability, allowed me to create one Moon Token on my field.”

(Def: 0)

“And now, my Chariot, attack Toon Mermaid!”

The monster dashed forth.

“Not, so fast!” shouted Wilhelm “I activate the trap PUNCH-IN-THE-BOX! It lets me stop your attack, and I can destroy one other monster you control.”

The magic box spun its crank, and the big fist launched straight for Luna’s field, and grabbed her Chariot.

“I think not!” sneered Luna “Now I use TRAP DISPLACEMENT!”

“Ah!” cried Wilhelm. He knew that trap too well, having use it himself. It meant the effects of his trap were now reversed, so his monsters would get struck.

The punch glove reversed its direction and struck Toon Mermaid hard, which allowed Luna to send Toon Masked Sorcerer to the graveyard. “And unless I am mistaken, I can now weaken your mermaid’s attack power by the total defense of your downed Sorcerer.”

Wilhelm groaned nervously as his mermaid lost all her attack points, dropping her down to nothing!

“Now, as I was saying… ” hissed Luna “…Chariot, attack!”

(Atk: 1700) VS (Atk: 0)

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 3400 VS Luna: 6450

“My beautiful Toons!” cried Wilhelm. “Are no more!” snarled Luna “Further; since my Arcana destroyed your monster, the original attack points of that destroyed monster is added to my life points, which is 1400!”

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 3400 VS Luna: 7850

Wilhelm growled in frustration.

“And I am far from though!” growled Luna “Arcana Moon, attack him directly!”

“No!” Wilhelm shouted as the giant monster charged straight at him and blasted him hard with its powerful energy. “I activate the trap THE GOLDEN APPLES!”

“What?!” shouted Luna.

The blast had hit, Wilhelm hard and his life points did decrease, but then they just went right back to 3400 again. “When I use this trap, if I control no monsters; when you attacked me, I regain the points from the damage I took, and I get to summon this…!” That’s when a bright golden apple magically appeared on his field.

“What is that?” snapped Luna.

“It’s called a Malus Token, and its attack becomes that of the damage I would have taken. That’s 2800 points!”

Luna was outraged, and gnashed her teeth softly, and thought silently “This human is more resourceful than I thought, but I shall not allow him to get the better of me. I have many more tricks to unleash.”

She placed three cards facedown and ended her turn.

“My draw…” said Wilhelm, and he drew a seventh card. “Okay, now I think I’ll start by playing this card; SOUL EXCHANGE! It lets me sacrifice one of your monsters as well as my own, and I know just which one I want too.”

Luna watched in outrage as her strongest Arcana, the Moon was taken from her.

“Now that that’s done, I summon this; TOON ANCIENT GEAR GOLEM!”

(Atk: 3000)

“Sadly, Soul Exchange doesn’t allow me to attack at all this turn, so I’ll just place these two cards facedown and end my turn.”

“You will pay dearly for having stolen my monster.” Luna snarled as she drew her next card, and then she laughed wickedly. “This will do wondrously, but first, I must toss another coin to see what becomes of my Light Barrier.”

The magic coin spun, and it turned up Tails, much to Luna’s dismay, but to Wilhelm’s delight. “Oh, too bad…” he mocked “Looks like your field’s power is negated for now.”

“Perhaps…” hissed Luna “However, I am still able to play other cards. For example, I shall activate the trap, RAGEKI BREAK!”

“Ah!” gasped Wilhelm.

“By simply discarding one card, I am now able to destroy one card that I choose, and I believe you know which one that is.”

“My Toon World card!” cried Wilhelm. He knew if it got destroyed, then his Toon monster would be destroyed automatically as well, and he’d be wide open for a direct attack again.

Luna ordered her card to activate, and Wilhelm couldn’t stop it, his Toon World card bit the dust. “Now, your Toon monster will fall!” shouted Luna.

“Don’t think so!” snapped Wilhelm “I activate the quick-play card; POP-UP!”

“What?!” snarled Luna.

“Since you have a field spell out and I don’t, this lets me activate a field spell from my deck. In order to play it I must first banish the top three cards on my deck, and now welcome to TOON KINGDOM!”

The Light Barrier card was shattered, and Luna watched her magic light cease as a larger version of the Toon World pop-up book appeared.

“This card’s name is also called “Toon World” Wilhelm said “Know what that means, it means my Toon gets to stay around for another hurrah, and also all my Toon monsters become impervious to your card effects.”

Luna grunted softly, but then she smirked “Ah, and interesting move, but unfortunately there was more to my strategy than you realize.”

“What do you mean?”

“Observe…” Luna said and she activated a special spell card “Behold the power of THE SKY LORD!”

Wilhelm gasped at the sight of that card. Being the creator, he could immediately tell what was about to happen, and he was right…!

“I also now activate the two trap cards, THE MATERIAL LORD and THE SPIRITUAL LORD!”

Each of the cards required her to have Arcana monsters of specific levels in the graveyard. One being level four, one level five or six, and finally a level seven. She already had a four and a seven, and just recently discarded a level six.

“Now, I am able sacrifice all three of these cards, so that I may call forth an extreme creature of such power and destruction, it shall overwhelm you!” Luna shouted as she sent the three cards away, and a huge beam of light emitted from her side of the field as her monster materialized.

“Behold, ARCANA FORCE EX- THE LIGHT RULER!”

(Atk: 4000)

Wilhelm felt a wee bit numb deep inside as he gazed up at the big brute that stared him down.

“And now… another coin toss.” hissed Luna as the magic coin began to spin, and it turned up Tails. “Excellent!” hissed Luna.

“Oh, no!” cried Wilhelm “That means if a card effect is activated that targets your monster, you can lower Light’s ruler’s attack by 1000 points and negate that effect.”

Luna snickered softly “You would know, since you had created it. Now the creation shall obliterate its creator.”

Wilhelm clenched his fist softy and muttered “I can’t let this happen!”

Meanwhile, so many ponies had been conked out, and there were many fires blazing in Canterlot, and much destruction of property laying about, and yet the fight was still showing no signs of ending.

“Don’t these guys like ever quit?!” snapped Clover as she threw another stun-grenade, blowing a whole gaggle of ponies unconscious.

Lee was showing off his mad skills with his stun-sword as he battled one of the guards, parrying his lance, and the guard continued to retaliate.

“Your shoe’s untied.” said Lee, and despite the guard was not even wearing any footwear, he stupidly gazed down allowing Lee to strike and stun him; “Loser!”

The spies, Sabrina and I regrouped and decided to let the rest of our army deal with the remaining ground forces. It was time for us to tackle the main source, and we rushed straight for the palace.

“Your majesty, they are coming this way!” cried the guard.

“I can see that for myself you imbecilic!” Celestia sneered “This is outrageous! All my little ponies are being wiped out and we still cannot stop them.”

“Your majesty, please…” cried the guard “Escape now while you can. We shall hold them off as long as we can.”

Celestia, glared at me and the gang, but rather more at me. However, now fully unable to argue, she galloped off into the palace.

“CHARGE…!!” we all shouted as we dropped onto the terrace and began to fight the guards in our way.

Marc flipped one of them clear off the terrace and into a shrub below, while Sabrina punched another in the face, kicked him hard in the gut, and then actually grabbed him and rammed him hard face first into a stone column.

Another gaggle of guards came rushing at us, but Clover and Lee stood side-by-side and used their gadgets to blast the floor, freezing it with ice, causing the guards to slip and fall all over the place.

As for me, I wanted to find Celestia more than anything and make her suffer for all that she had caused. Suddenly, I could see her, galloping along the battlements up ahead.

“There!” I shouted “Let’s move!”

We left the remaining guards, and flew up to the battlement. The spies had to carry me and Sabrina since we couldn’t fly without jetpacks or rocket-boots.

“PROTECT THE PRINCESS!!” a guard screeched.

And many more guards armed the cannons and fired at us, while others shot at us with their own magic, but Sabrina and I with our hands free, shot them with our stun-guns as the spies tried their best to avoid the shots.

“Keep firing!” shouted a guard.

“Stop!” cried another “They’re too close to the princess, we may hit her too.”

The guards had no choice but to cease fire.

As Celestia continued to gallop towards an exit…

“Oh, no ya don’t!” said Lee and he threw one of his real explosives as the doorway. POW!! Celestia skidded to a halt, and then saw the door was completely blocked with fallen rubble.

She used her magic to blow the rubble clear so she could exit, but it slowed her down allowing us to gain on her. Sabrina and I were let down so the spies could circle around and enclose all other exit ways.

Celestia dashed for a bridge path, but Marc dropped down, forcing her to bank right and run down another pathway.

Sabrina and Lee stopped her, forcing her to backtrack.

Suddenly, she realized that in her initial panic, she had forgotten that she could fly, and she spread out her wings and began to fly up, but Clover got out her special WOOHP rope and tossed it at her leg like a lasso, yanking her down hard.

“YE-HAW cowgirl!” she cheered.

Celestia crashed hard in courtyard below and I dropped down right before her as she stood, and we glared furiously at one another.

“Princess Celestia!”

“Mykan Jaden!”

I was surprised she knew who I was.

“Don’t look so surprised; you and I go back a little ways.”

To Be Continued...!

(Part 2) Rotten Revealations

CHAPTER NINETEEN

I was very confused. I had never met Celestia before in my life, yet she claimed we had. “What do you mean by that?” I demanded to know.

Celestia snickered at me and hissed “One of the first rules of magic: Things are not always as they seem.”

I still had no clue of what she meant.

“I waited such a long time… for my revenge.”

“Revenge…?” I asked in even more confusion.

As much as this was really starting to rot at my brain, I shook myself back to my senses “I don’t know what you mean by all this, but I give you this one chance; surrender willingly or face the consequences!”

The spies and Sabrina leapt down and pointed their weapons at her. “End of the line for you, Princess.” said Lee, but Celestia laughed wickedly.

“Get her!” snarled Sabrina, and the all fired their stun-guns, but Celestia’s horn glowed, and she neutralized the blasts before they could reach her.

“No way!” cried Marc.

Then Celestia made the guns disappear, and used her spell to knock them all off their feet in a gust of wind. “Like, rude much!” whined Clover.

“You earthlings are so ridiculous.” hissed Celestia “No matter, your world will be destroyed soon enough, and your race will be no more.”

All our bloods turned cold.

“You mean you’re aware of the moon going to hit us, and you’re doing this deliberately.” I snarled at her.

“It’s exactly what you all deserve, for what you did.” She turned to gaze at me “Preferably, you Mykan!”

Overcome with rage with a sudden burst of hatred, we all lunged at her. She couldn’t focus her magic on all of us at once. Lee and Marc got knocked away again, while Clover and Sabrina managed to lunge at her, pushing her to the ground, and Sabrina managed to sock her hard right in the face.

More infuriated than hurt, Celestia, zapped the ladies off her with a zap from her astral mark. “You impudent little parasites!” she snarled as she prepared to punish them mercilessly, but I tackled her to the ground, trying to pin her down hard to restrain her.

Celestia then grinned wickedly, and I noticed that I was sitting directly on her back.

“Uh-oh…!” I groaned.

Celestia bolted upright, actually hitting me in the “spot”, thankfully my armor softened the blow, but Celestia reared up on her hind legs, neighing furiously like the horse she was.

“Hey! Wh--Whoa!!” I shouted and held on for dear life as Celestia began to buck about furiously. “Let me give you a lift.” she laughed as she spread her wings and took off into the sky.

“Mykan…!!” Sabrina screamed.

“Where can I drop you off?” Celestia teased.

I looked over the side, it was such a drop I felt my stomach turn in so many directions, I just had to scream.

Meanwhile…

Princess Luna was ready to launch her attack.

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 3400 VS Luna: 7850

“Nothing will stop my Light Ruler.” she sneered “And don’t forget, you can use no card effect to stop it. Attack now…!”

(Atk: 4000) VS (Atk: 3000)

The Light Ruler charged up its powerful beams, and fired straight at the Toon Ancient Gear Golem, hitting it hard and resulting in a bright explosion.

Wilhelm looked away with his eyes shut tight, but quickly took a card off from the top of his deck.

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 2400 VS Luna: 7850

“So there!” Luna laughed, but when the smoke had cleared “What’s this? Your monster still stands-- but how?”

“You need to watch more cartoons.” Wilhelm said with a smirk “You see, in cartoons, the primary protagonist never gets hurt. The opposing tries with extreme effort to get at them and never would they succeed.”

He then motioned to his field spell.

“As long as my Toon Kingdom card is in play, not only are my Toon monsters safe from being targeted by effects, but any time you try to destroy them either by battle or effects, I just banish one card from the top of my deck, and the monster is spared.”

Luna growled and gnashed her teeth in outrage. Her Light Ruler couldn’t stop that sort of effect.

“That’s not all I can do…” said Wilhelm “I can use this trap; CALL OF THE HAUNTED, which lets me call back my Toon Masked Sorcerer!”

The monster reappeared and cackled sinisterly, like the cartoon it was.

(Atk: 900)

Luna was ever so outraged. “I shall use my final card; POT OF GREED, so I may now draw twice more.”

She gazed down at the two cards she had drawn, and knew they would help her, but on her next turn. She had to leave it all up to chance now.

“I shall now lay one card facedown, and conclude my turn.”

“Now then…” Wilhelm said as he drew his next card. “I summon TOON CANNON SOLDIER in defense mode!”

(Def: 1300)

“And I’m giving my Toon Ancient Gear Golem a present; the equip spell LIGHTNING SABER! It’ll boost his attack by 300.”

(Atk: 3000) ---> (Atk: 3300)

“And now, Toons, let’s get busy!” he sounded like someone in a tough-guy movie “Toon Ancient Golem, attack the moon token.”

His Golem crept forth, teased the token a bit, by making it look up, then down, then side-to-side, and finally crushing it with his new sword.

(Atk: 3300) VS (Def: 0)

“What? You did not attack me directly?” asked Luna.

“Didn’t have to.” said Wilhelm “My Golem itself has a special ability. When it destroys a defending monster, the difference in the attack and defense is dealt to you as damage, and that’s 3300 points anyway.”

“Ah!” Luna gasped as her points dropped severely.

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 2400 VS Luna: 4550

“And it may interest you to know, the saber itself has a special power. Since my Golem successfully crushed a monster, he can attack once again, as long as I halve his attack power.”

Luna groaned softly in outrage.

“Attack her directly Golem!” shouted Wilhelm, and his monster’s attack dropped to 1650 as it slunk around Luna’s Light Ruler, and then gazed at the Princess, and faked a slash attack, and instead, gave her a cheeky little poke and laughed.

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 2400 VS Luna: 2900

“I am far from amused!” growled Luna.

“Oh, you will be.” teased Wilhelm “Toon Masked Sorcerer, you attack her directly too!”

The nasty little Toon slunk around Luna’s light ruler, and stuck out his huge tongue, lashing her hard dealing her another 900 points of damage.

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 2400 VS Luna: 2000

“And remember, you lose points, he lets me draw a card…” he drew a card “And as a finishing touch, my Cannon Soldier can’t attack, but he does let me use his special ability; I can now sacrifice my Sorcerer, he has served his task, and that deals you another 500 points of damage.”

Luna watched as the Toon Cannon Soldier aimed his huge gun straight at her, firing a huge torpedo, and at the last few inches, the torpedo stopped, unfolded, and held out a small flag with the word “Bang” on it, and then it exploded in her face and dealt her damage.

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 2400 VS Luna: 1500

Wilhelm stretched out mockingly and said “That was invigorating. I’ll just set these two cards facedown and call it a turn, and on my next turn, I’ll wipe you out. Any last words…?”

Luna drew her next card, and liked what she got. “Yes, eight words in fact… Prepare yourself to face utter humiliation and defeat!”

Wilhelm was confused, and Luna proceeded with her next move.

“First I shall use the card MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE! With this, I shall revive three of my fallen comrades, with their attacks at zero and their powers negated.”

“Uh oh…” Wilhelm muttered. He had a sick feeling this was going to get rough.

Luna then summoned forth her three monsters. “I call… ARCANA FORCE THE MOON, THE LOVERS and THE STRENGTH!”

The last monster she had discarded much earlier when using Raigeki Break. Now she had to either Xyz Summon or take 4000 points of damage.

“Just how do you intend to Xyz Summon using all those guys?” asked Wilhelm. “Look at them. None of their levels match.”

“Correct.” said Luna “Therefore, I shall activate my trap; BIG WIN!?”

“What?!” snapped Wilhelm “You must be kidding. That is one of the absolute riskiest moves in all of duel monsters. I even wonder sometimes why we even made that card.”

“I kid you not.” said Luna, and two magical coins appeared, and begun to spin rapidly. “Should both coins turn up heads, I shall be able to change the levels of all my monsters to that which I select, if not, my life points decrease by five hundred points multiplied by that level, and I choose… Level Nine!”

“What?!” snapped Wilhelm “With a level; that high, you’ll lose the duel if you mess this up. Aren’t you leaving a bit much to chance?”

“I am aware!” snarled Luna “But I must have faith. So far, my coin tosses have not failed me, and I willing to take a chance.”

The coins were still spinning, and both Luna and Wilhelm felt their insides churning with anxiety.

One of the coins turned up; heads.

The second one was still spinning, and spinning, and spinning, and finally it stopped… on Heads!

“Ah!” cried Wilhelm.

Luna burst out laughing loud and evilly. “YES!!” she shouted “I knew it would work! Now, all four of my monsters are level nine. Let the magic begin!”

Wilhelm gulped hard.

“I now overlay my three newly summoned monsters so that I may construct the Overlay Network! I shall Xyz summon NUMBER 92: HEART-EARTH DRAGON!”

(Atk: 0)

The huge dragon appeared in a huge burst of dark light and roared at Wilhelm. He braced himself as the gusts of wind roared past him.

He already knew just how dangerous that monster was, but he had that sickly feeling Luna was not finished, and indeed she wasn’t.

“Now, for my final spell…” Luna shouted “I use RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!”

“Oh, no, not this too!” muttered Wilhelm.

Luna’s astral mark and her monster glowed in huge bursts of light. “With my monster, I reconstruct the overlay network to summon a most powerful dark creature I can conjure. I call forth NUMBER C92: HEART-EARTH DRAGON!”

(Atk: 1000)

This new dragon looked fiercer and more deadly than the other one, and despite in only had 1000 attack points. Wilhelm knew everything about it.

“I shall now invoke my dragon’s special ability.” said Luna “Since my previous dragon is attached to it, I am able to use one overlay unit, and negate the power of one card that you control.”

The dragon’s eyes glowed wickedly and it shot a huge beam straight at the field spell.

“No, not my Toon Kingdom!” cried Wilhelm. With the card’s power negated, it was no longer considered as “Toon World” and with no Toon World in play, all of Wilhelm’s Toon Cannon Soldier was instantly destroyed. “No!” he cried.

Luna snickered “That is one nuisance down and now…” she glared at the Toon Ancient Gear Golem. It didn’t get destroyed, which she was glad of. “I’m certain you’re aware of my dragon’s natural ability; it is not destroyed by battle, and any battle damage I would have taken is dealt straight to you!”

Wilhelm growled nervously, and Luna ordered her dragon to attack.

(Atk: 1000) VS (Atk: 3300)

The force of the damage shot straight at Wilhelm, blast him hard and dealing him 2300 points of damage.

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 100 VS Luna: 1500

“Further…” hissed Luna “Those points you just lost are transferred to me.”

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 100 VS Luna: 3800

“And my Light Ruler has yet to attack, and without the aid of your field spell, you… shall… perish!”

Wilhelm clenched his fist angrily, and he still couldn’t try and target the Light Ruler with its ability still active.

“Farewell…” sneered Luna and she ordered the attack.

Just as her monster powered up and prepared to fire…

“Hold it!” snapped Wilhelm “I activate EMERGENCY PROVISIONS!”

“What?!” snapped Luna.

Wilhelm used it to destroy his Lightning Saber and his Call of the Haunted card, still in play. “With these two cards gone, I’ll gain 2000 life points before you strike me.”

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 2100 VS Luna: 3800

The attack hit, and the golem was destroyed, but Wilhelm managed to hold on tight enough, only losing 1000 points.

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 1100 VS Luna: 3800

Luna didn’t seem a bit concerned “You are more resourceful than I thought, but if you expect me to flinch, you are sorely mistaken. With my Dragon and Light Ruler, I very much doubt you could come up with anything that would work at all.”

“We’ll see about that…” Wilhelm said as he drew his next card. He gazed deeply at it and said “Now it’s time for me to leave this up to fate.”

“What are you saying?”

“This is what I’m saying; I activate RETURN FROM THE DIFFERENT DIMENSION!”

“What?”

“Now that my Toon Kingdom is reenergized after your turn, I’ll trade up half of my life points.”

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 550 VS Luna: 3800

“I have quite a few cards banished; I didn’t know what they were. So, I’m just leaving up to hope now.”

All four of his banished cards appeared before him, and revealed they were all Toon monsters.

“Perfect.” He said, and he summoned them all. “I play TOON GOBLIN ATTACK FORCE, TOON DARK MAGICIAN GIRL, TOON GEMNI ELF and another TOON CANNON SOLDIER

(Atk: 2300)
(Atk: 2000)
(Atk: 1900)
(Atk: 1300)

Luna was at first speechless, and then scoffed “Those monsters are hardly any threat to me. Not only are they far too weak, not one of them is permitted to attack.

“True enough, Princess. That’s why I have another plan in mind.” said Wilhelm “I overlay Toon Goblin Attack Force and Toon Gemini Elf. With these Toons, I build the overlay network. I summon NUMBER 85: CRAZY BOX!”

(Atk: 3000)

Such a huge steel box appeared and overshadowed Luna’s entire side of the field. “What sort of monster is this?” she asked in outrage.

Wilhelm smirked “This monster can’t attack you either, but with a little extra luck, it just might help me crush you for good. I use one overlay unit so I can use my monster’s effect.” That’s when a dice block appeared and began to bounce along the field. “Whatever the outcome of this die roll is, that tells me what I get to do.”

The die began to slow down, and the two duelists gazed forth anxiously.

The result was Two!

“Good, that lets me draw another card.” Said Wilhelm, and he drew his third card. “Now it’s time to bring out an old friend of mine. I play the BLACK ILLUSION RITUAL. I’ll sacrifice my Toon Dark Magician girl to play it. I summon my old pal, RELINQUISHED!”

(Atk: 0)

“Ah! Not relinquished!” snarled Luna.

“Yes, ma’am, and I bet you know what’s going to happen now. I may not be able to destroy that dragon of yours, but that doesn’t stop me from absorbing it.”

Relinquished used its special ability to absorb Luna’s dragon and equipping it onto itself like a spell card. Relinquished then gained the 1000 attack points the dragon had.

“Relinquished, attack Light Ruler now!” shouted Wilhelm.

(Atk: 1000) VS (Atk: 4000)

“What are you doing?” snapped Luna.

She and Wilhelm both knew the Light Ruler would counter attack, and any battle damage Wilhelm took, Luna would take the same as effect damage. They would both 3000 points of damage,

“You intend to defeat me by destroying yourself?” snarled Luna “What sort of plan are you thinking?”

The two monsters collided with their attacks, resulting in a huge explosion. Only the dragon was destroyed by the impact, but Reliquished survived, and Luna did take the 3000 points of damage, yet when smoke cleared and she looked at the field and the score…

SCORE:

Wilhelm: 550 VS Luna: 800

“What’s this?!” shouted Luna “This cannot be! Your life points should be at zero! How did you survive?”

“Simple really…” said Wilhelm “Just before the attack collided, I activated a quick-play card from my hand; MYSTIK WOK. It let me tribute the Crazy Box, and then transfer all 3000 of its attack points to my life points just in time to take the hit.”

Luna stomped her hooves in extreme fury shouting “NO!! I DON’T BELIEVE THIS!”

“Oh, you better believe It.” said Wilhelm “And while I have no attacks left, I can still use my Cannon Soldier’s power to finish you off, for good!”

“No!” shouted Luna. Even though her Light Ruler was strong, she couldn’t stop Wilhelm from getting at her life points.

“Relinquished, Toon Cyber Dragon be-gone…!”

The two monsters changed into light, and were loaded into the Cannon Soldier’s huge guns. Two sacrifices would cost Luna 1000 life points.

“…FIRE!!”

The Cannons fired, and blasted at Luna hard. She roared and screeched as the explosions hit her.

FINAL-SCORE:

Wilhelm: 550 VS Luna: “0000”

She slowly keeled over onto her side, and her monster, since she lost the duel keeled over as well and went up in a huge explosion.

Wilhelm stood with his arms folded and smiling triumphantly as the duel images faded away.

Luna wasn’t hurt, but in deep outrage that she had lost. However, this outrage began to fade as her face twisted into an evil sneer.

Wilhelm looked up in the sky, and saw Luna’s light was still there, and worse, the other lights in the sky were starting to return. “No!” cried Wilhelm “What’s going on?”

Luna laughed as she got back onto her feet. “Foolish human; you thought defeating me would end all this. Well, it hasn’t. As we have dueled, our forces of light and harmony have grown ever stronger. Your world belongs to us now.”

All over the world, Twilight, her friends, and every inhabitant of Equestria that had come had placed every single human on Earth under the spell, and everyone was still completely unaware that the moon was now less than ninety minutes from reaching the critical point-of-no-return, thus the Earth would be doomed.

Celestia was still carrying me through the skies and flying furious circles and angles. “Your world will soon be no more.” she said to me again.

Still hanging on tightly, I asked angrily “I don’t get it, why would you do all this?”

Celestia laughed and reminded me again “Simple; you all deserve it, especially you for what you did to me when I first came to Earth.”

“What?”

Celestia snickered “That’s right.” Her voice now sounded more devious, and mixed with a low tone. “Princess Celestia is nothing more than a mere vessel for my life force.”

Whoever this creature was, she explained how it all started.

She was a forceful energy being, that existed as long as time and space themselves, but above all things, her overall desire was power and lots of it. She searched forth for a planet with vast amounts of energy for her to feed on to grow strong enough to conquer worlds, and rule the entire universe within her light.

Sadly, in all her eons of traveling, not a single planet sufficed her with the power she desired, until she came to Earth, and managed to seep her way into the new Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force spell card that I and my team of card makers had made, for the game of Duel Monsters was a game of deep thinking and strategizing that used up vast amounts of energy to make and play.

While possessing the card, she began to sap the energy of all humans who came into contact with her, but then I and my team managed to isolate the card with her still inside it, and we sent it on that rocket to the sun, intending to destroy it, and her.

Luckily, she had absorbed quite enough energy in order open a small rift that allowed her to enter an alternate universe, and brought her to the magical world of Equestria. She was astounded by what she had found…

Such magic, such beings of power and energy, and even ponies possessing magic powers of their own; like a child in a candy store, she quickly invaded Equestria, and possessed Princess Celestia, as she seemed to be the strongest force on the planet.

Combining Celestia’s magic with her astral powers, and using the Card Game to help amplify the force as is it was a game of equal power and energy, she brainwashed every other pony and every creature Equestria to do her bidding and bask in her glory, by tricking them into believing they were doing it all for Harmony, Friendship, Love and other things the ponies stood for, but her wicked ambitions were not yet satisfied.

Desiring revenge against the human world, especially me for having nearly destroyed her, she begun the plans of the invasion of Earth, in a ruse that it was to help cleanse the Earth of all its problems and to give them friendship; her true wish was to destroy the Earth by crushing it from above with its own moon, and she used her magic to force everyone to not realize this, until it would be too late.

“The humans of your world have no will of their own now. They will never realize what is happening. They won't even know what hit them.”

I had heard enough, and never in all my years had ever felt so outraged and disgusted “You’re a sick creature!” I sneered “You conquer worlds, brainwash innocent beings, and destroy others you can’t stand! You’re a monster!”

“It’s my rightful revenge!” snarled Celestia, and she soared down in a fast, steep dive. I held on for dear life screaming. Then she sored up, up, up again! “As for you, you’re destruction will be far worse than your world’s demise shall be for what you did to me.”

“I did what I had to do!” I snarled “You were hurting innocent people, you had to be stopped!”

“Correction!” growled Celestia, and she used her magic to grab me in a telekinetic field, and threw me off her back, and levitated me right in front of her “The only one that will be stopped is you!”

Down below, the others could see it all.

“MYKAN!!” Sabrina screamed

“She’s going to drop him!” cried Clover. “Quick someone shoot her!”

“No, don’t!” shouted Marc “We may hit Mykan.”

“Ah, man! What are we gonna do?!” cried Lee.

Celestia was ready to drop me any second from such a height, but I could see down below and I saw we were both hovering directly over the wormhole portal that connected the two worlds.

It was risky, but it seemed to be the only possible way for me to get out of this safely.

“And now, goodbye Mykan…!” Celestia sneered, and she was ready to drop me, when I summoned up my own powers. “Think again!” I shouted, and I managed to break her spell and blast her hard. She screamed, and we both began to fall!

“They’re falling!” cried Clover.

“Try and catch them!” shouted Lee, as he and the other spies rocketed forth hoping to reach us in time, but other ponies that hadn’t been dealt with fired their cannons, just missing the spies and knocking them out of the air.

“No!” cried Clover.

They all watched as Celestia and I continued to plunge, right over top of the wormhole, and we vanished.

“…Mykan!” Sabrina shouted, and she dashed straight at the portal and jumped through.

“Sabrina!” shouted Marc.

They all tried to dash after us, but more ponies and creatures blocked the way, engaging in another huge fight for having lost their princess.

The spies just hoped that I was okay after my fall.

Author's Note

Arcana Force monsters suit Luna well for me because they are light creatures, and they have a MOON in them, plus I've been meaning to use them in a fic

(Part 1) Crooked Cards

CHAPTER TWENTY

The lights had covered the sky again, and at the same time the Earth trembling. Air currents were blowing suddenly in hard puffs, the ocean was getting rougher than ever. Typhoons, hurricanes; what a mess, and in less than ninety minutes, it would all be gone.

The little rock island where the wormhole was at was about the only single safest place to be on the planet.

Suddenly, Celestia and I came crashing through the portal, and landing safely on the ground without much trouble.

Princess Luna was still there, and surprised to see us.

“Sister, are you alright?”

“I am…” said Celestia, and she eyed at me as I stood “I will stay and handle this. You may go.”

“I wish to go along too.” Wilhelm said. He now had the astral mark on his head, despite winning his duel. Luna had previously brainwashed him for the kick of it.

She let him ride on her back, and they began to take off, just as Sabrina came through the portal.

“Sabrina.” I said.

My wife saw Princess Luna sly away with her father riding her, and she saw the astral mark on his forehead “Daddy!” she cried.

Celestia snickered in her mixed voiced “It would appear that your father has begun to see the light. Soon you all will be heading for it along with the destruction of your entire planet.”

Sabrina was ever so infuriated. “Princess Celestia… you overgrown pile of hay manure!” she lunged at her to brawl, but I stopped her. “Let me go, Mykan.”

“Sabrina, no you don’t understand…” I said to her “That’s not really Princess Celestia. Her body’s been taken over by some power hungry alien. It’s what’s been behind this whole thing, and it’s trying to destroy our world and conquer others.”

I told her everything I was told, including how she was using the Card Game to amplify her power and get stronger.

Now Sabrina was really outraged.

“Unfortunately, there is little either of you can do about it.” said Celestia “Equestria is mine. The ponies are mine. Your world and all the people in it are mine… to obliterate.”

I clenched my fists in anger “All right… That is far enough, Celestia.” I said “I now challenge you to a duel, and we’ll make it very simple. If I lose to you, all right, we’ve lost, but if you lose, you will leave and restore everything to normal.”

“Mykan…” Sabrina said with shock.

"No, don't you see...?" I said to my wife "If the game is making her stronger, maybe we can use it against her like the others have against the ponies. If I win, maybe... just maybe... she'll have used up so much power she won't be able to sustain the force anymore; things can be evened out."

I turned back to face Celestia again. "Well, do you accept?"

Celestia hesitated as she thought it over. Finally she said “Very well, but only one condition: Your wife must duel alongside you; two against one.”

Sabrina and I gazed at one another.

“Why not…” said Celestia “I can take the both of you on, and I do need energy to maintain my power and life force.”

“We accept the challenge.” I said.

Sabrina gazed at me “Mykan… wait… I…”

“It’s all right.” I said to her “I know we can do this, and the world is counting on us, like it has before in the past.”

Sabrina, still feeling a bit uneasy about participating in what was defiantly the most dangerous duel ever, reluctantly agreed. “Okay, I’m in.” she said.

I nodded thankfully at her.

Celestia snickered, and all three of us prepared to duel.

“This shall be the greatest and final spectacle your world shall witness before its demise.” Celestia said.

Sabrina and said nothing, not even to each other, but we looked at one another, both thinking the same thing; we wouldn’t’ give up, and we would defeat Celestia, vanquish he evil controlling her and save the world from its doom.

As for the duel itself, the order of turns were; first Sabrina would move, then I would move, and then over to Celestia. Since the duel was two on one, Celestia got to start off with a full 8000 life points while Sabrina and I each got 4000. Finally, as expected, Sabrina and I were forbade from discussing strategies.

Sabrina and I prepared our duel disks, and Celestia and created her duel platform. It was a pity though that Sabrina and I didn’t know what type of strategy she was going to use, but we were defiantly about to find out.

“The fools…” Celestia hissed in thought “They haven’t the faintest idea of the dangers my deck will produce. I hunted down and stole extremely dangerous cards that will ensure my victory.”

“All right, let’s begin.” I said.

“I’m with you, Mykan.” added Sabrina.

Celestia snickered, and our scores were set.

SCORE:

Celestia: 8000

Sabrina: 4000 & Mykan: 4000

“Let’s go.” Sabrina said as she drew her cards, and then gazed at me, and I nodded at her. She shot me a small smile and then focused.

“My first card is POT OF GREED, so now I draw two more cards.” She drew her cards giving her seven in her hand. “Now, I play POLYMERIZATION, fusing together two CYBER DRAGON(s) in my hand, which lets me call on THE CYBER TWIN DRAGON!”

(Atk: 2800)

Her great big machine stood forth, and both its monstrous heads roared loudly.

“An impressive opening move…” Celestia said.

“Just wait, it’ll get even better.” said Sabrina “Now I place two cards face down and end my turn.”

Now it was my move, and I drew my first cards. “All right…” I said “I summon one monster face down in defense mode, and then I place two cards face down, ending my turn.”

“How pitiful…” said Celestia “Your wife summons a mighty dragon machine while you cower in defense. I’m disappointed.”

Sabrina and I didn’t like her attitude. Nevertheless, it was now her turn and she drew her first cards.

“I shall use the spell DOUBLE SUMMON! Now I call forth not one, but two NIGHT EXPRESS KNIGHT(s)!”

(Atk: 0) x2

Sabrina and I gasped. Both those monsters were level ten, but having created the cards we knew they could be normal summoned without any tributes, provided their attacks were reduced to zero.

“Every princess needs her carriage and noble knights by her side.” said Celestia “But my two knights will not be staying long. I now overlay both these level ten monsters, so I may build the overlay network.”

Sabrina and I looked way up as we saw a new monster appear in the skies above Celestia.

“Behold my monster; SKYPALACE GANGARIDAI!”

(Atk: 3400)

“She summoned an Xyz monster that strong in just one turn.” I said.

“Not just any monster…” said Sabrina “One that we created ourselves.”

Sabrina and I both remembered creating cards together based on our love, and romantic fantasies we liked to have together, like sailing on a flying ship.

“Now, to continue…” hissed Celestia “I use my Skypalace’s special ability; by using one overlay unit, I am able to destroy one card on the field and deal 1000 points of damage to whomever owns that card.”

She eyed Sabrina’s Cyber Twin dragon, seeing it as a huge threat. “Say goodbye to your monster.” She hissed, and ordered her monster to strike it.

“Nice try…” said Sabrina “I activate DE-FUSION! It splits my dragon up into the original Cyber Dragons I fused it with, and you miss your target.”

Just as promised, Sabrina’s dragon vanished, causing the blast to miss, and her two smaller Cyber Dragon’s appeared.

(Atk: 2100) x2

Celestia grunted softly.

“Great move, darling.” I said “Not only did Celestia miss her target, but her monster isn't able attack this turn for using it's effect.”

My wife nodded, but Celestia suddenly snickered. “The duel is only just beginning. Don’t think for one moment you’ve landed safely on your feet. Now I activate the spell, RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!”

Sabrina and I both winced, fearing we knew what was going our way now as Celestia’s monster glowed along with her astral mark.

“I no rebuild the overlay network with my Skypalace, to call on forth, CXYZ SKYPALACE BABYLON!”

(Atk: 3800)

This was yet another monster Sabrina and I had designed based on our love and fantasies. It pained us to know that monsters we poured our hearts and souls into were being used against us in such a duel.

“You seem tensed…” said Celestia “Well, perhaps I can blast it right out of you. After all, since I am the last to move, I am permitted to attack. So let’s try this again.”

She glared at Sabrina’s dragons, and ordered her palace to attack one of them. “Attack now…!”

The Skypalace charged its laser cannon to fire straight at her.

“Hold on!” I shouted “I activate the trap SPELLBINDING CIRCLE! It ensnares your skypalace and holds it in place, preventing it from attacking at all.”

Celestia grumbled softly.

“Why grumble?” I said “After all, I am allowed to help defend my wife if she needs it; like a good husband should.”

Sabrina smiled thankfully and she smooched the air gesturing to me.

“Impressive, but far amusing.” Celestia said “I’ll place these last two cards facedown and end my turn.”

“All right, so far so good…” I thought to myself “We made it through the first round, but it’s really going to take some effort to bring down that giant ship.”

Sabrina was thinking deeply as well “We’ve got try and end this duel quickly. Every second we delay brings the world closer to destruction. I won’t let Mykan down.”

She drew her next card and said “Now, I’m going to overlay both my level five Cyber Dragons. With these monsters, I build the overlay network, and Xyz Summon CYBER NOVA DRAGON!”

(Atk: 2100)

Celestia grinned widely and hissed “Thank you.”

“Why are you thanking me?”

“When you special summoned your creature, you’ve allowed me to play this card; I activate DEMISE OF THE LAND!”

Sabrina and I both gasped.

“This powerful spell now enables me to activate any field spell from my deck, and I know exactly which one it shall be…”

The ground began to tremble and quake.

“What’s happening?” Sabrina asked.

“Look!” I cried as we both saw what appeared to be a huge golden castle rising up from the ground. “That… that card…!”

“It can’t be!” cried Sabrina.

Celestia snickered loudly “Welcome to GOLDEN CASTLE OF STROMBERG! This palace is the final piece that will complete my deadly strategy and ensure your destructions.”

Sabrina and I could not understand this a bit. This field spell was one that had not even been completed yet. It was among the most recent cards being developed back at Duel Academy, but we hadn’t perfected it yet or given it all its special effects yet.

…It hadn’t even been printed yet.

“You seem quite perplexed, both of you.” said Celestia “I had my agents bring me whatever they could find, and this card I found most amusing, so I completed it for you; giving it a whole list of special effects that guarantees anyone a perfect victory.”

Sabrina and I felt a little uneasy about this.

“And just what are those special effects you’ve given the card?” I asked.

“Oh, you will see in due time.” Celestia said and then snickered “Of course, by then you’ll realize just how hopeless the situation really is.”

Sabrina and I gazed at one another wondering just what this new card was capable of doing, and so, in doubt, the only choice we had was to set off any tricks waiting for us; at least it would tell us things.

“Now I activate my Nova Dragon’s special ability.” said Sabrina by using one overlay unit, I can then target in my graveyard that very monster, which is Cyber Dragon, and summon him straight to the field.”

(Atk: 2100)

“Am I supposed to be impressed by this little maneuver of yours? I am far from it.” Celestia sneered.

“Trust me, you will be.” said Sabrina “Now I get to banish my Cyber Dragon from play, which activate another ability of my Nova Dragon; it increases its attack up by 2100 points.”

(Atk: 2100) ---> (Atk: 4200)

Celestia gasped “That dragon is stronger than my ship.”

“Correct.” said Sabrina “And you know what that means, your ship’s about to crash.”

She ordered her Nova Dragon to attack.

“Got’cha!” hissed Celestia.

“Huh?” said Sabrina

“Hmm…?” I went, and then we both noticed the castle was glowing brightly.

“You just activated one of my castle’s special powers.” said Celestia “You see, whenever you attack me with your monster, that monster automatically gets destroyed!”

“Ah!” Sabrina gasped.

“What...?!” I shouted.

Then the castle fired a huge ray at Sabrina’s dragon, blasting it to pieces.

“And what’s more…” said Celestia “You now take damage equal to your monster’s attack power.”

Sabrina and I gasped again.

“I will not allow this!” I shouted “I activate MYSTICAL SPACE TYPHOON! Your castle is about to buried within its powerful currents.”

The storm raged on Celestia’s castle, however, nothing happened!

“What’s this?!” I cried “Your card should have been destroyed!” Then it donned on me “Let me guess; you made it so this card cannot be destroyed by cards effects?”

Celestia nodded slyly. “Try as you might, nothing you throw at my castle can penetrate its golden walls, as for your wife there…”

The effect of her attack was continuing. “Sabrina!” I cried out “Her dragon had 4200 attack points! She’ll lose the duel!”

“No I won’t…” snapped Sabrina “I activate the DAMAGE POLARIZER! It stops any effect from dealing me any damage.”

The ray ceased just inches before her, sparing her from any damage as promised. “Then, each of us may draw one card.”

We all drew one card each, and Celestia was not amused.

“There’s something else...” Sabrina said “...When you destroyed my Nova Dragon with a card effect, you let me activate another of its specialties; allowing me to summon one Machine-Type Fusion Monster, and I chose my faithful CYBER END DRAGON!”

(Atk: 4000)

Celestia gazed up at the huge hulking hulk of a machine as its three heads roared at her, blowing her mane in the wind, but rather than be irritated, she grinned.

Sabrina and I noticed this, and then saw Sabrina’s Cyber End Dragon getting ready to attack. “Hey, wait!” she shouted “I didn’t call out for an attack.”

“You didn’t have to…” said Celestia “My castle forces your monster to attack if it’s able to, and you get no say in the matter.”

The Cyber End Dragon continued to charge and prepare for attack. “Hold on…” Sabrina snapped “Thanks to my Damage Polarizer card, I was able to draw this, which I play from my hand now; BOOK OF MOON!”

“Ah!” Celestia gasped.

“Ah, but of course…!” I cried with glee “By using that card, Sabrina’s monster changes into facedown defense-mode, and the attack is canceled out.”

Sabrina smirked and sneered “Who says I don’t have a say in things? Now I place one card face down and end my turn.”

Now it was my turn, and although I was relieved that Sabrina saved herself, that still didn’t change our predicament.

“What now?” Celestia teased “You can’t destroy my castle, and all monsters you summon will only let you down.”

She then thought silently “And I still have a few more special tricks yet to show that will completely devastate the both of you.”

I didn’t like the look in her eyes as I drew my next card. I carefully considered my options. “Celestia’s Skypalace is still immobilized by my Spellbinding Circle, but even still, I don’t have any monsters strong enough to take it down yet. Plus, the castle will destroy my monster if it attacks. I guess I’ll just have to play it safe for now, like Sabrina did.”

“Now I reveal my monster; BIG EYE!”

(Atk: 1200)

“His special ability now allows me to look at the top five cards on my deck, then I set them back down in any order I wish.”

I looked at my cards, and then compared what I had in my hand, and a plan was starting to form. I rearranged my cards and set them back down again.

“Now I activate the spell GRACEFUL CHARITY. So now I draw three cards, and then discard two that I hold.”

I drew the top three cards I needed, and then sent the perfect two in my hand to the graveyard.

“And now, I shall sacrifice my Big Eye, in order to summon CASTLE GATE in defense-mode!”

(Def: 2400)

“Interesting.” said Celestia “You pit a castle against a castle.”

“Yes…” I said in response “And my Castle Gate cannot be destroyed in battle. So let’s see you try and get yourself past these perimeters. I’ll set two cards facedown and end my turn.”

Sabrina nodded at me, and I nodded back. Then we turned to face Celestia as she drew her next card, and snickered at us while her castle started to glow.

“What’s happening now?” asked Sabrina.

“Nothing really…” Celestia teased “It’s just that to keep a castle like this can be quite costly. Therefore, to keep it in play, you must send half the cards in your deck to the graveyard.”

Sabrina and I felt both shocked and confused.

“Half the cards in your deck…?” asked Sabrina.

“You’d destroy half of your deck just to keep one card in play?” I added.

Celestia snickered and shook her head “I’m afraid you didn’t quite understand; I said YOU must pay up the cost.”

Sabrina and I gasped hard, and like magic half the cards from our decks vanished and went straight to the graveyard just like that; thankfully the top cards of my deck remained untouched as the card only said to discard from the deck, not directly from the top.

Still, Sabrina and I were totally outraged. “This is insane!” snarled Sabrina “How can we possibly fight a card that was designed against us in every detail?”

“You can’t!” scoffed Celestia “That’s the whole idea. I have designed the perfect card; completely impenetrable and ensure my victory, speaking of which…” she drew her next card.

“I now activate a spell known as NIBELUNG’S TREASURE!”

Sabrina and I had never seen that card before. “It must have been another card in recent development.” I said.

“But what does it do?” asked Sabrina.

Celestia snickered and answered “It allows me to activate one spell in deck, and I choose REMOVE TRAP!”

The card then activated… on Sabrina’s side of the field. “Hey, what’s going on?” she asked in confusion.

“Oh, did I mention the card activates for you?” Celestia teased “Which means you get to use all its power.”

“What?!” snapped Sabrina.

“You heard me. Now you are able to destroy one trap card that is active, and seeing as how there only is one...”

“…My Spellbinding Circle!” I cried.

“Oh, no!” cried Sabrina.

Celestia was overjoyed. “Not only is my Skypalace now free, but thanks to my Nibelung’s Treasure, I may draw five cards.”

This was bad indeed, now Celestia had a full set of six cards. “Well, you know what they say about castles, they often contain treasures, and special of treasures, my castle now will show you another one of its powers… one that I’m sure you know of.”

Sabrina and I did in fact know-- The only special effect we officially had fixed to the card was that it allowed it’s user to special summon any monster with up to four stars from the player's deck in attack mode, but in addition, Celestia was not permitted to normal summon or set any monsters.

“Say hello now to my newest monster, NIGHTMARE HORSE!”

(Atk: 500)

Sabrina and I gawked at the horse.

“Judging from your expressions, you know that this monster may attack you directly.” said Celestia “Just as I learned of your Earth History, the Trojans surprised their enemies by hiding themselves within a wooden horse, and attacked form within.”

With that, she ordered her monster to strike me. The sneaky horse dashed right through my castle, and slammed hard right into me.

“Mykan!” cried Sabrina.

SCORE:

Celestia: 8000

Sabrina: 4000 & Mykan: 3500

I wasn’t hurt too badly, but Celestia wasn’t through yet!

“Now I activate the trap ROBBIN’ GOBLIN!”

“Oh, no…!” I cried

“Oh, yes…” hissed Celestia “As long as this trap remains in play, when you take battle damage, you must discard one card from your hand.”

I growled angrily, but complied and tossed out a card.

“And now that my skypalace is free…” Celestia said as she eyed at Sabrina, and ordered her monster to attack her facedown Cyber End Dragon. The sky palace began to charge up its laser cannon.

“You do remember what will happen if your monster is destroyed?”

“Yes…” sneered Sabrina “I take damage equal to half of its original attack power; 2000!”

I watched in horror as the cannon fired and blew Sabrina’s facedown dragon to bits, Sabrina braced herself as she bright lights and shockwaves zoomed past her.

Celestia smiled wickedly, but when she looked at the score… “What’s this?!”

SCORE:

Celestia: 6000

Sabrina: 4000 & Mykan: 3500

“Why have my life points taken damage?”

Sabrina grinned through the smoke as it cleared, “Because... you fell into my trap; BARREL BEHIND THE DOOR! It made it so you took all the damage instead of me.”

I smiled at my wife for having made a great move, while Celestia was outraged, but her scowl curled into a wicked grin. “A clever move, but still… you are now wide open, and seeing as you created the skypalace, you know of its other specialty; When it successfully destroys a monster while it has Skypalace Gangaridai attached it, I can use one overlay unit, and my monster can attack again!”

Her skypalace charged up, ready to attack again, and Sabrina was completely defenseless. “Fire!” shouted Celestia.

“Hold on!” I called “Activate SPELL TEXTBOOK!”

“What?!” snapped Celestia.

“I now discard every card I hold.” I threw out the one card I had “Now I draw one card from the top of my deck, and if it’s a spell card, it activates at once.”

Celestia felt a bit uneasy.

“And since I arranged my card, and didn’t discard them, I know exactly what this card I’m about to play is.” I drew it and held it up high “I play the RING OF MAGNETISM, and I equip it to my Castle Gate!”

The magical ring formed directly around my castle, and reduced its defense by 500 to 1900.

“My castle may have gotten weaker, but now I’m afraid your monster’s attack is being pulled towards my magnetic field.”

The skypalace’s laser beam veered off course, directly at my castle, hitting it hard.

“And of course, my castle isn’t destroyed in battle, which means your monster can't use its special ability. You've wasted a great deal of power..”

Celestia growled in outrage, while Sabrina gazed at me and nodded thankfully and lovingly.

Celestia then laughed loud.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

“I must admit, I’m impressed that you both managed to make it this far, but even so, you’re only prolonging the inevitable.” She motioned all around us at all the chaos, which put us both well in mind that time was running out.

No more than an hour remained until it would all be over.

“Face it!” snarled Celestia “Even if by some miracle you manage to defeat me, which I sincerely doubt, you won’t save your world from its fate. That’s when I shall return to Equestria and continue my reign as I conquer all worlds, until every world, every dimension, every being anywhere… will bow to me and my powerful light!”

Sabrina and I both felt extremely nervous.

…

Back in Equestria, things were no longer in our army’s favor.

The people were growing exhausted from having been fighting for such a long time, not to mention their weapons were running low on power and needed reenergizing… back on Earth!

Despite all the many ponies and creatures the army had knocked out cold, there were many more that made up the entire world of Equestria.

Now, so many creatures and ponies were chasing down the army in the biggest mob anyone would ever had seen, and the people were forced to run or fly for their lives, but ultimately they were completely surrounded.

“I think were busted!” cried Lee.

“Gee, what gave you that thought?” said Marc.

“This is so totally not good!” Clover whined.

To Be Continued!

Author's Note

Celestia's deck, I figured since she being mighty and powerful, I just threw together random strong cards

(Part 2) Impossible Possibilities

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

The entire army was enclosed in a magical dome, still surrounded by the more massive army of Equestrians, glaring and snickering at them from outside.

Some of the monsters made ugly teasing faces, which frightened Clover. Tami was scared too and held tightly onto Lee crying “Save me! Don’t let them get me!”

“Tami… choking me… again!” groaned Lee as he struggled to pries himself free.

The creatures were all beginning to argue with one another about what to do with the “Human slime” as the worded it, but ultimately decided to wait for Celestia to return, and then decide what to do.

“I don’t like the sound of that.” said Marc; he was actually more worried about the Earth than his own fate. “Do you think Mykan and Sabrina are okay?”

“Right now, I don’t even know what to think.” said Lee.

The scores still stood…

SCORE:

Celestia: 6000

Sabrina: 4000 & Mykan: 3500

…and Sabrina and I were still not looking in too good shape.

“You seem so confident that you’ll win, Celestia.” I said

“Why shouldn’t I?” hissed Celestia “I have you both in a perfect deadlock; thanks to my Golden Castle of Stromberg.”

Sabrina smirked almost cheekily “You may think your castle is invincible, just because you made it so; but one thing Mykan and I keep in mind is… every card has a weakness.”

“Right…” I said “We’ll find some way around your defenses, and then we’ll turn this entire duel around.”

Celestia scoffed at us “Impossible! I designed this card so perfectly; there is no way around it. You both will fall to my power, and your world will then follow as it is exterminated from all existence…

…For now though, I shall place two cards facedown and end my turn.”

Now it was Sabrina’s turn, she drew a card. “Ah, just what I needed. I activate MONSTER REBORN! I’ll use it to revive my monster, CYBER NOVA DRAGON!”

(Atk: 2100)

“I already disposed of that creature once.” snarled Celsetia “What possible good can there be of you reviving it?”

Sabrina smirked “You’ll see; my dragon has one other special ability you may find a bit unappealing to you. I can instantly overlay my Cyber Nova Dragon by itself, so I can rebuild the overlay network. Now I summon forth a strong beast known as CYBER DRAGON INFINITY!”

(Atk: 2100)

“Yes, that’s a great monster to summon, honey.” I said to Sabrina, and she looked and me in a cheeky way and fluttered her eyes, but Celestia merely laughed “You fell right into my trap; BOTTOMLESS TRAP HOLE!”

“Ah!” Sabrina gasped.

“This trap destroys any monster you special summon with more than 1500 attack points and banishes it completely.”

The ground beneath the monster began to glow brightly as the hole was ready to materialize, but suddenly… the light had ceased.

“What’s happening?!” snarled Celestia, and she noticed her trap card was being stunned by electrical jolts, which were emitting form my side of the field. “You…! You did this!”

“Correct…!” I said “And thanks to my TRAP STUN, no traps can be activated for the remainder of this turn.”

Celestia growled furiously.

I gazed at my wife, and she smiled thankfully.

“Now then…” Sabrina said “Allow me to explain how my new monster works. It gains 200 attack points for each overlay unit tied to it, but that’s not all it can do, I can use its natural ability to take any face-up attack position monster and attach it as another overlay unit, and I think I know just which one to pick.”

“My Skypalace…! You wouldn’t dare…?!”

“Just try me…” hissed Sabrina, and sure enough, the skypalace was transferred to her monster, and raised its attack to 2500. “Cyber Dragon Infinity, attack! Destroy her Nightmare Horse!”

“You fool!” snarled Celestia “Haven’t you forgotten about my castle? When you attack, your monster is destroyed!”

“I haven’t forgotten…” snapped Sabrina “That’s why I’m activating my dragon’s special ability; by using one overlay unit, it may lower its attack, but now I can negate the effects of one card that activates.”

Celestia gasped in outrage, and Sabrina continued her attack, destroying the Nightmare Horse.

(Atk: 2300) Vs (Atk: 500)

SCORE:

Celestia: 4200

Sabrina: 4000 & Mykan: 3500

“Great shot, Sabrina!” I cheered “Even though her castle can’t be destroyed by card effects, it doesn’t mean we can’t disable its powers.”

Sabrina smiled triumphantly. “Now I’ll activate the SOUL RELEASE spell, which lets me banish up to five cards from my graveyard, but I choose to remove from play only two cards. Then, I’ll place my last card facedown, and that’s all.”

“My move now…” I said as I drew a card. “I play POT OF GREED so that I may draw two cards.”

The two cards that I drew weren’t too bad, but I was beginning to grow concerned. So far, Sabrina had been the one doing all the attacking, while I hardly did anything at all. At least my castle gate wearing the Ring of Magnetism would keep us safe from attacks.

Sabrina even gave me a look that she was grateful for all I had done, especially all the times I saved her from being hit hard.

“I’ll place these two cards facedown, and that ends my turn.”

“Is that all?” hissed Celestia “I thought you were devoted to your wife, and yet you haven’t launched a single attack all duel long.”

Sabrina and I didn’t like her taunting.

Celestia drew her next card, giving her five, and she laughed sinisterly. “This is just what I needed.”

Sabrina and I didn’t like the sounds of that.

“Firstly, however, the effect of my Castle forces the both of you to lose half the cards in both of your decks again.”

Sabrina and growled as more of our cards left us. Now were both starting to run pretty low on cards. “If we keep losing cards like this…” I thought

“…We might not be able to win the duel at all.” Sabrina thought as well.

Celestia snickered “And now, I shall use my Castle’s power to special summon a creature from my deck; STAR SERAPH SCALE!”

(Atk: 1500)

Sabrina and I both recognized that card. “The Star Seraph’s!” I cried softly.

“But they weren’t even shipped out to stores yet.” added Sabrina.

Celestia snickered “I suppose then you already know of my monster’s special ability. When it is special summoned, I may special summon another Star Seraph Scale, and with that I can also call forth STAR SERAPH SCEPTER!”

(Atk: 1500)

(Atk: 1800)

“She summoned three monsters in one turn.” cried Sabrina.

“She is planning something extremely large.” I added.

“Oh, I am indeed…” said Celestia “Now I reveal my trap, XYZ REBORN, which I shall use to revive my Skypalace Babylon, and attach this card to it as an overlay unit.”

(Atk: 3800)

Sabrina and I both felt our stomachs churning with worry.

“And now…” Celestia sneered “I shall equip the palace with this; XYZ CROWN!”

Sabrina and I knew what that card did. Not only did it now treat the skypalace’s ranks as levels, but if Celestia were use it in an Xyz summoning, it would count as two monsters of the same level.

“Now then, since my Skypalace was Ranked 11, that puts its level as 11, but I am able change that by discarding from my hand NOISY GNAT! It adds one level to the creature, reaching it to 12!”

“Twelve?” Sabrina and I both cried out together.

“What, you can’t count?” Celestia mocked.

Both of us were not amused.

“And now, behold the power of this spell; GALAXY QUEEN’S LIGHT! It allows me to target my Skypalace, and now all the monsters on the field become level twelve, just like it is!

“This cannot be good!” cried Sabrina.

“Steady Sabrina!” I said sounding tense.

Celestia’s body enveloped in a bright steady glow of light “Prepare yourselves for the ultimate monster you will ever see.” she sneered “I overlay all my monsters to build the overlay network!”

The overlay network appeared in the sky, but never had it looked as enormous and violent. Large energy bolts struck all around and the ground quaked. Then, right before us appeared what had to be the single largest duel monster ever known.

“Behold… NUMBER C10000: NUMERRONIUS!”

(Atk: 10,000)

Yet another card that had not been completed, or even given a name, point values or any special abilities; stolen from the archives.

“Ten-thousand points, and six overlay units?!” cried Sabrina.

“This is ridiculous!” I snarled.

Celestia snickered “What, I thought you always leapt at challenges thrown your way. Oh, and while I’m at it, the three Star Seraph’s granted me special privileges by using them to Xyz Summon. The two scales each let me draw one card, and the Scepter allows me to destroy one card on the field…!”

“My Ring of Magnetism…!” I cried as the card was vanquished.

“And now, I may draw yet again…” hissed Celestia.

Sabrina and I couldn’t understand something; why she would destroy just the ring and not my castle itself. We were soon about to find out.

“Now that we are ready, allow me to explain just how this new monster of mine works, since I specified it to my favor. Firstly; my Numerronius can only be destroy by another Number, which neither of you seem to have.”

She then turned to Sabrina seeing her monster was the logical choice to attack, and she ordered her monster to strike.

She was really in trouble now, and couldn’t defend herself at all.

“You are through!” Celestia shouted.

“I wouldn’t be so sure of that.” I shouted.

“What?” snapped Celestia, and her monster stopped dead in its tracks just inches before Sabrina’s dragon, and then I revealed why. “You sent this card to my graveyard when I was forced to discard half my deck; ELECTROMAGNETIC TURTLE! When I banish it from my graveyard, I can end your battle phase immediately, thus sparing Sabrina from harm.”

Celestia grunted softly, but then she snickered “So, you managed to avert my assault again, but I’m afraid it will not amount to anything, you just activated another ability of Numerroius.”

Sabrina and I were confused.

“You see, when my battle phase ends, I now have the power to storm the field and destroy each and every monster you both control.”

“What? All our monsters…?” I snapped.

“I think not!” said Sabrina “You forget I can use the effect of my Cyber Dragon Infinity.”

“I don’t think so…” snapped Celestia and she quickly activated a card she held “I’m certain you recognize this; it’s a card you played; BOOK OF MOON!”

“Ah!”

With the activation of that card, Sabrina’s dragon was flipped facedown, unable to use its power, just in time as both it and my castle were destroyed instantly.

“And now…” hissed Celestia “Since I destroyed monsters that way, they return straight to the field in defense-mode, but under my control!”

(Def: 1600)

(Def: 2400)

“Our monsters!” cried Sabrina.

“So that’s why she didn’t destroy my castle at first.” I said “This is very serious!”

“And it will only get more serious, for you.” Celestia thought silently. “Now I’ll throw these two cards facedown, and end my turn. Although, I really don’t see what the point is much longer. Just look at my field, I hold the perfect strategy that renders me completely indestructible. You may have succeeded in striking me a few times, but your luck will not hold forever. This is the end of you, your world, and the beginning of my supreme reign over all worlds anywhere.”

Sabrina and I were nearly at a loss for words, or even though. How could this keep happening to us? So many cards not completed were being used us in such a horrid way, and badly tipped the duel in Celestia’s favor. Now she had control of our monsters as well, and who knew what other dastardly things her Nummerious was capable of.

I was actually starting to tremble, not knowing what I or Sabrina could possibly do.

“Mykan…” Sabrina called to me “Are you all right?”

I turned to face my wife, and she could see the fear in my eyes, while at the same time, I could see the same amount of fear in hers, but then again, we could also still see the determination. Neither of us was willing to give up. “Keep on playing!” that was what we pretty much were saying to ourselves and to each other.

We both stood tall and glared at Celestia, much to her shock “You still insist on continuing? You should be begging for mercy by now!”

“Mercy…? You don’t know what mercy is.” Sabrina said sternly. “First, I draw a card, and now these two cards that removed last turn return to my hand; CARD FROM A DIFFERENT DIMENSION! When I removed these cards from play, they returned to my hand now. Then they go to the graveyard, and we all get to draw two cards for each one.”

“So, we each draw four cards; very well.” hissed Celestia.

We all drew our cards. Sabrina held five each and Celestia and I each had four. It was somewhat comforting to have fresh hand of cards again to increase our options, but it decreased the amount in our decks even further. We were both starting to run pretty low on cards, and what if we had just helped Celestia out as well?”

Still… we had to keep fighting.

I nodded at Sabrina, and she nodded at me.

“Now then, the first thing I’ll do is summon CYBER KIRIN!”

(Atk: 300)

“But he won’t be staying long, for I’m sending him to the graveyard. This way, any effect damage I would take this turn will be reduced to zero.”

Celestia maintained her cool.

“And now… I activate the spell POWER BOND, and in addition, I’ll use CYBERNETIC FUSION SUPPORT!”

“What do you think you’re doing?” asked Celestia.

“Simple…” Sabrina said thanks to these two cards, I can perform a special type of fusion. Thanks to your castle, I have three CYBER DRAGON CORE(s) in my graveyard, and all of their names are treated as “Cyber Dragon” Now I just pay half of my life points…”

SCORE:

Celestia: 4200

Sabrina: 2000 & Mykan: 3500

“Then banish the monsters so I can use Power Bond to fuse them together, in order to form my CYBER END DRAGON!”

(Atk: 4000) ---> (Atk: 8000)

“Power Bond automatically doubles its attack when it’s summoned.”

Celestia didn’t seem amused at all. “That monster may be powerful, but it isn’t anywhere near as strong as my Numerrious!”

“I know…” hissed Sabrina “That’s why I’m not targeting it. I’m going after one of the other monsters you have. For when Cyber End Dragon attacks a monster in defense mode, you get dealt some extreme piercing damage to your life points.”

Celestia growled, and Sabrina ordered her monster to attack. “Cyber End Dragon, attack Cyber Nova Dragon.”

“I suppose you intend to try and block my castle’s ability again?” Celestia asked, but before either of us could say or do anything, “I will save you the trouble…” hissed Celestia “I activate Numerrious’ special ability. Once during anyone’s turn, by using one overlay unit, I am able to target one monster you control and destroy it instantly.”

Sabrina and I both gasped in surprise.

“Say goodbye to your monster.”

“Oh, no you don’t!” I snarled “Now I activate the trap DESTRUCTION JAMMER! All I have to do is discard one card from my hand, and I can counter your monster’s effect and destroy it. So you’re about to lose your own monster.”

“Oh, really…? Guess again!” sneered Celestia.

“What?” I snapped.

“You have stopped my monster’s effect, but my monster still has one other special ability. Whenever it is about to be destroyed, I can destroy any other creature I control instead.”

That’s when my castle gate exploded from her side of the field, leaving her monster untouched.

“Yeah, big deal!” said Sabrina “My Cyber End Dragon’s attack is still heading for you.”

“That’s right…” I said “And I can still stop your castle form destroying it, thanks to my other card. Activate, CALL OF THE HAUNTED, and I shall use it to revive the monster I just discarded; SPELL CANCELLER!”

(Atk: 1800)

“As long as this monster is in play, no spells can be activated and those that are already in play have their effects negated, including your castle!”

Celestia growled, and braced herself as the blast struck her monster hard, resulting in a huge explosion.

“So there!” snapped Sabrina, but as the smoke cleared, we both could hear Celestia laughing softly. When the smoke cleared completely, Celestia’s monster still stood, and she didn’t take any damage.

“You really think you can strike me all that easily?” she teased “Just before your attack struck me, I used my WABOKU trap, sparing my monster from destruction, and I took no damage either.”

Sabrina and I both growled in outrage, but at least Sabrina still had her supped up dragon, and thanks to Cyber Kirin, her Power Bond damage was negated. “I’ll place two cards facedown, and end my turn.”

“My move…” I said as I drew a card, but my deck had hardly too many cards left to spare; less than ten, to be precise. Pretty soon, my deck and Sabrina’s would be empty, and we’d both lose the duel automatically.

Still, thanks to my Spell Canceler, the castle’s effects were negated for a while, but I had a feeling it wouldn’t last long. So I decided to play my next move wisely.

“Firstly, I’ll summon BIG SHIELD GARDNA in defense-mode!”

(Def: 2600)

“And next, I’ll turn my Spell Canceller into defense as well.”

(Def: 1600)

“Then I place one card facedown, and end my turn.”

“Just a moment…” hissed Celestia “You forget the special ability of Numerrious? I can now use an overlay unit to destroy one monster you control.”

I winced in shock and watched as my Spell Canceller was vanquished.

“No!” I shouted. Then I noticed my extra deck started to glow “What’s this? What’s going on?”

“Oh, just another ability of my monster.” hissed Celestia “You see, when I successfully destroy a monster, you are now force to summon any Chaos Number from you extra deck regardless of summoning conditions.”

“But… I only have one Chaos Number.” I muttered, and sure enough, my monster was summoned instantly; NUMBER C80: REQUIEM IN BERSERK!

(Atk: 0)

Despite that my monster had appeared, my turn had already ended, and there wasn’t much I could do.

“Now then…” sneered Celestia “With your Spell Canceller gone, my castle reenergizes.” She then then drew a card, "...and you both know what that means; say good bye to half more of your decks!”

This was it now; Sabrina and I each had hardly enough cards left to fill a single hand with a large draw.

“Your decks are starting to look thin, and your options are running low. I will admit, you and you r kind were worthy opponents, and I will miss having powerful adversaries to joust with.”

Sabrina and I didn’t like the way she was talking.

“Firstly, I shall invoke the power of Cyber Dragon Infinity, which I shall use to snatch your Chaos Number, and use it as an overlay unit!”

“No!” I shouted

“Yes!” snarled Celestia “I am also able to use my monster’s special ability again, which I shall use to destroy Big Shield Garnda!”

My monster was destroyed, and this time I had no further Chaos Numbers to summon, which left me completely wide open.

“And now… the time has come.” Celestia hissed “I must admit, you and your band of duelists were indeed worthy adversaries, and it will be quite boring not having anyone strong to give me a challenge, but now… it all shall end for you both here, and then… your world is doomed!”

To Be Continued…!

(Final Part) Mighty Magic

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

The earth tremors were getting worse, and the lights in the sky seemed to get brighter, only because the moon was ever so close to reaching the brink of its decent onto our planet, it wouldn’t be any more than forty-five minutes before it would all be over.

Still, no one seemed to notice or care, not even the ponies and other creatures being controlled by Celestia. Even Twilight and her friends were all just partying in the streets with their new friends…

…Singing, dancing, laughing and playing as if there was no tomorrow… which, unbeknownst to them, wouldn’t be if Sabrina and I didn’t defeat Celestia and soon.

SCORE:

Celestia: 4200

Sabrina: 2000 & Mykan: 3500

“If only I could brainwash the two of you now.” Celestia hissed at us “But why bother, when you lose this duel, I want your last thoughts to be that all the world was destroyed because of your blunder.”

She turned and thundered at me “Especially you, Mykan Jaden! You launched me into space, you robbed me of my power and glory, and you will suffer immensely, knowing the world was destroyed all because of you.”

My fury was showing brightly “I warn you, don’t test me!” I sneered angrily.

“Why shouldn’t I? It’s true. You started all this with your actions. Fortunately you lead me to find Equestria, which I deemed much better than here. Son in many ways, you are now responsible for two worlds left to suffer a horrible fate.”

“Stop it!” shouted Sabrina “Mykan did what anyone would have.”

“My wife speaks the truth.” I said “You can try and pit the blame on me all you like…” I paused “Although in some ways, it is true, I did endanger Equestria, but I had no way of knowing of its existence, and even still that’s no excuse for the way you behaved! You came to Earth to sap the energies of innocent people with intention of conquering and controlling us, and now look at you… using Celestia’s body to fulfil your own selfish and horrid desires for dominance! You’re nothing more but a vicious monster, and we won’t allow you to continue in this conquest any longer.”

“Allow me?!” snapped Celestia “You dare to control me? I am the ruler of all Equestria, and soon to rule many worlds beyond. You two are nothing more than the last of a dying breed or pitiful Earth slime! It will make my victory all the sweeter as I watch you disappear along with your entire Earth.”

“What makes you think you’re going to even win?” said Sabrina.

“I don’t think, I know! Last time I saw, you were both running extremely low on cards, and I have the ultimate weapons to destroy you with, and I have yet to launch my attack!”

With that, she changed her Cyber Dragon Infinity into attack mode, and since your husband is very much defenseless, I’ll go after him!” She ordered her dragon to attack me.

“I don’t think so…” I shouted “Activate MIRROR FORCE!”

“Sorry, but I use Cyber Dragon Infinity’s ability, letting me use the precious overlay unit I have and cancel your card out.”

I anticipated that would happen, and so did Sabrina.

The attacked continued straight at me, and I had no choice but to take the hit, and I got struck really hard and was knocked off my feet!

“Mykan!” cried Sabrina.

SCORE:

Celestia: 4200

Sabrina: 2000 & Mykan: 1400

A good 2100 hundred of my life points were lost. “I’m alright.” I said as I slowly got back onto my feet.

“For now you are…” hissed Celestia “But did you forget about my Robbin’ Goblin card? Every time you take damage from an attack, a card is thrown from your hand!”

“I KNOW!!” I shouted, and discarded one of my only two cards, leaving me with only one left.

That’s when her Numerrious monster looked ready for action against Sabrina’s super Cyber End Dragon!

“Poor little princess.” Celestia mocked “As if you can be called that. You’re about to see how a real princess battles!”

“Try me!” snarled Sabrina.

“Very well, don’t say I didn’t warn you! Numerrious, I command you to attack! Demolish that so-called dragon of hers!”

With that, her Chaos Number charged.

“Hold on…!” snapped Sabrina “I activate my face down, BATTLE FUSION!”

“What…?!”

“Ah!” I said with glee “Of course; that allowed Cyber End Dragon to absorb the attack strength of Numerrious!”

(Atk: 8000) ---> (Atk: 18,000)

“Eighteen-thousand?!” cried Celestia “You can’t do this!”

“I can, and I just did!” said Sabrina “Cyber End Dragon, counter-attack now! With an attack power that high, though your monster can't be destroyed, you’ll lose this duel.”

As Cyber End Dragon prepared for assault, Celestia burst out laughing again, “I agree; YOU shall lose this duel.”

“What?” snapped Sabrina.

“What does she mean?” I wondered aloud.

“I activate a card that I hold; STOP HAMMER!”

Sabrina and I both gasped.

“This card allows me to negate my own monster from attacking, which will also stop the Cyber End Dragon from attacking as well.”

Sure enough, her monster skidded to a dead standstill.

“Just don’t forget the downside to that card…” said Sabrina “It causes your monster to lose 500 attack points.”

(Atk: 10,000) ---> (Atk: 9500)

“Oh, what a shame…” Celestia mocked “But then again, I simply just will activate this card that I hold; DOUBLE OR NOTHING!”

“Ah!” cried Sabrina.

“No! Not that!” I added.

Celestia snickered “Since my monster’s attack was negated, this card allows it to attack you once more, only this time… its attack... IS DOUBLED!!”

(Atk: 9500) ---> (Atk: 19,000)

“Nineteen thousand?!” cried Sabrina.

“Oh, no…” hissed Celestia “You think far too small, for I have one final card to play. I activate my face down; DOUBLE TENSION! Since my monster has made a second attack, its points are doubled once more!”

(Atk: 19,000) ---> (Atk: 38,000)

Sabrina and I could only scream in overwhelming shock. “Its power… it’s unbelievable!” I cried!”

The monster began to charge up again for its attack. “GO!!” shouted Celestia.

(Atk: 38,000) VS (Atk: 18,000)

“No, Sabrina!!” I cried. There was nothing whatsoever I could do to stop the attack. She was going to lose for sure, but just then she sharply turned to face me.

“Sabrina?”

“Mykan… it’s up to you now.” she said “But there’s one last thing I can do…” she pointed down at her last facedown card, which immediately told me what it was…!

And I thought way back several to our wedding anniversary. We were spending a quiet night, having an outdoor candlelit dinner, looking at our wedding photos, and Sabrina had a surprise for me.

“Mykan, I made this…” she said as she showed me a single card, and telling me she based it on the deep love we shared.

“Sabrina, this is incredible.” I said as I admired the card “This incredible, but… this last effect, why in the world would you put this in, no one will want to use the card with an effect like this.”

Sabrina knew I’d feel that way about the card. She wasn’t so sure herself when she made it, “But don’t you see...?” she told me “If this card is used at just the right moment, and in just the right way, it can be very helpful, and besides… it also demonstrates that I’d give my life for you, the same way you gave yours for me many times. I love you, Mykan.”

“Oh, I love you too.”

“Sabrina…” I said.

My wife turned sharply to face Celestia “I activate DEVOTED LOVE!”

“What is this?” snapped Celestia.

“It stops your monster from attacking and ends the battle phase, and then…” Sabrina turned to look at me “Mykan gets to draw one card.”

“Sabrina…” I said gazing at her with deep concern.

“And after that… my life points drop to zero.”

“Sabrina!”

SCORE:

Celestia: 4200

Sabrina: “0000” & Mykan: 1400

She slowly got down on her knees, now completely out of the duel, but at least she didn’t get attacked or she would’ve been really hurt by the blast.

“Sabrina.” I said, a tear leaking from my eye.

“Oh, isn’t this heartbreaking.” Celestia mocked “Well, at least you’ve succeeded in helping me out. Once, I take you down, Mykan, my long awaited revenge shall be complete, and your world will perish under the crushing moon.”

I took no notice of anything she said; I just staring sadly at my wife. “You gave yourself up for me.”

Sabrina gazed at me, and she was smiling. “What are you waiting for? Draw your card.”

Despite all the overwhelming feelings I had swimming inside of me; I drew my card, and gazed down at it. Then I gazed at my deck, and then suddenly, I had an idea, one that would very well help me turn the tables on the duel once and for all.

“Well then…” Celestia said “I shall now place all two cards facedown, and end my turn.”

She felt very confident that on her next turn she’d win it all “He hasn’t got a chance.” She thought wickedly “With both of these monsters, anything Mykan summon, I’ll absorb and then destroy them, and if those fail, my three facedown cards will help.

“BLACK HORN OF HEAVEN will destroy a monster he tries to special summon. XYZ REFLECT will stop any spell or trap effects targeting my Xyz monsters and deal him 800 points of damage. Finally, my spell card that I hold, STOP DEFENSE will enable me to stop his monsters form defending. Then, I’ll wipe him out for good. I can’t lose!”

“It’s my move now.” I said as I drew a card “And now, I activate the card that was given to me through the courtesy and sacrifice of my wife…”

I gazed at her, and she gazed at me.

“I play CARD DESTRUCTION!”

“Ah!”

“Now we must both discard the cards we are holding, and draw the same number that we had.”

“No! I’ve lost my Stop Defense!” Celestia growled in thought “No matter. I still have my two trap cards ready. Come on, summon a monster.”

I drew two cards and then grinned at Celestia. “I now place one card facedown, ending my turn.”

“Huh?” said Celestia “That’s it? You didn’t summon any monster?”

“No, I didn’t. Does it concern you?”

Celestia was now confused and insulted. “Perhaps you are in need of a reminder of what happens.” She sneered as she drew a card. She held no monsters to summon, and no playable cards to actually play at the moment, and she already felt confident enough she would succeed.

“And now, the first item is for you to once again discard half the cards in your deck. My Castle of Stromberg doesn’t pay for itself you know.”

All I did was just stand where I was, with my eyes shut, and smug grin on my face and I said “…I can’t.”

“What?” snapped Celestia “You must; you are required to discard half your cards!”

“He knows…” Sabrina said “He just can’t pay up.”

“Silence!” shouted Celestia “You are no longer in this duel.”

“I wouldn’t speak to my wife like that, since she happens to be telling the truth.” I said “And it was thanks to her last move that I was able to realize the one, and ultimately fatal flaw with your castle.”

“Impossible! My castle has no flaws. I designed it to perfection.”

“Wrong!” I snarled “There’s one flaw that you overlooked, and it’s about to cost you dearly. You Castle requires me to discard half the cards in my deck on your turn in order to keep it in play… but there’s just one problem with that. Take a look…”

I held up my duel disk, and Celestia looked deeply.

“You see, I have only one card left...” I said “...And I can’t very well discard half of that now, can I.”

“Ah!” Celestia cried, and her castle began to crack, and quiver.

“And since I can’t pay the castle’s cost effect, your card can no longer remain on the field!”

The castle crumpled away to complete and total nothingness.

“I… I don’t believe it!” cried Celestia “It’s impossible!”

“Actually, it’s quite possible.” I said “You spent so much time gloating about how strong and powerful you were that you didn’t stop to think of every little detail when taking these cards for yourself.”

Sabrina smiled proudly at me, and I turned back to face her. “Thanks honey. I couldn’t have discovered that weakness without your help.”

Celestia was still not discouraged “So, you destroyed my castle, I no longer require it. The time has come for you to pay the ultimate price! Numerrious attack his life points and end this duel forever!”

Her monster stepped forth and charged up. “Attack…!”

Then the monster dove straight at me.

“Just a minute…!” I shouted “I quickly discard this one card; KURIBOH!” and at that second, a wall of furry little protectors shielded me from the attack.

“What’s going on?!” shouted Celestia.

“What’s going on is, thanks to Kuriboh, my life points are safe from your attack!”

Celestia turned red with rage, and steam was shooting through her ears as the light around her glowed brightly. “Why you… you… you I…! CYBER DRAGON ININIFTY, ATTACK!”
Her last monster aimed straight at me and fired “You have lost now, anyway!” snarled Celestia.

“Think again.” I said “I activate NUTRIENT Z! Whenever I lose 2000 or more of my life points, this card quickly grants me 4000 points before I get hit.”

My points went up to 5400, and then I took 2100 damage, leaving the score at

SCORE:

Celestia: 4200

Mykan: 3300

Now Celestia was starting to shake. “He outwitted me. He actually survived my attacks!”

Her worry suddenly faded into an evil glare “Bravo, Mykan… but there’s still one little detail yet to be resolved. With only card in your deck, you’ll lose the duel automatically, unless by some miracle you can possibly win.”

“Oh, there is a possibility.” I said as I drew my last card “You forget, I still have one facedown card, and I activate it now; EXCHANGE OF THE SPIRIT!”

“Ah!”

“I was waiting for just the right moment to play this card, and now that my deck is completely emptied, all I have to do is pay 1000 life points…”

SCORE:

Celestia: 4200

Mykan: 2300

“And now, each of us must exchange all the cards in our graveyards with those in our decks.”

“No!” growled Celestia.

Sabrina smiled with joy in her eyes. Now I got every single card I lost right back and destroyed Celestia’s deck as well, making her now very low on cards, all of which were cards she had already used.

“And now, the card that I drew…” I said “I activate CARD OF SANCTITY! Allowing us both to draw until we hold six cards”

Celestia and I both drew, and of course Celestia did draw good cards she used before, but it wasn’t her turn and she could do nothing.

“And now, for my first move, I activate the spell HEAVY STORM, which will destroy all the spell and trap cards on the field.”

Celestia braced herself as the strong winds blew both her traps away.

“And now, for my next spell, I use GRACEFUL CHARITY! I now draw three cards, and then discard two.”

“Draw all the cards you like, you’ll never get past me or my all-powerful monsters.”

“Wrong. Not only are your monsters about to fall, but I’m going to end this once and for all. This shall be the greatest magical show you ever saw.”

“I’ll start by playing POT OF GREED so I may draw two more cards, giving me seven all together. Then I shall use BRAIN CONTROL. So I pay 800 life points…”

SCORE:

Celestia: 4200

Mykan: 1500

“Now I’ll take control of something you stole form my wife; the Cyber Dragon Infinity.”

Celestia could already see what I was planning to do; use its power to rid the field of her Numerrious. “A very cunning plan, except for one flaw…” she snarled at me “I can use the ability of Numerrious, by spending one overlay unit; I can destroy your monster.”

The Cyber Dragon was destroyed instantly, but my smile only widened “That’s exactly what I wanted you to do.”

“Huh?” said Celestia, and suddenly she remembered the effect of her own monster “Oh, no! You get to summon a Chaos Number!”

“That’s correct, and since I recovered all my monsters, I now get to build the overlay network and summon forth NUMBER C80: REQUIEM IN BERSERK!”

(Atk: 0)

“And now that I have it out on the field, I shall sacrifice it to the graveyard, in order to summon DARK MAGICIAN GIRL!”

(Atk: 2000)

“And now that she has arrived, I can use the spell SAGE’S STONE! When this card is combined with Dark Magician Girl, I am able to summon forth my greatest ally; DARK MAGICIAN!”

(Atk: 2500)

My two magicians stood side-by-side, and nodded at each other.

“Ha! As if those overgrown turncoats can actually help you.” snarled Celestia.

“Oh, they will…” I said “They just need one more ally, which I intend to summon now. I play MONSTER REBORN! I shall now revive one monster I discarded; DARK MAGICIAN OF CHAOS!”

(Atk: 2800)

“Wow, what a lineup!” Sabrina muttered as she gazed at all three of my powerful magicians.

“When Dark Magician of Chaos is special summoned, I can put the Monster Reborn card back into my hand, but I prefer to play a different spell this time SHRINK!”

“Ah!”

“This powerful spell will cut your Number’s attack power in half!”

(Atk: 9500) ---> (Atk: 4750)

“This can’t be!” cried Celestia.

“I’m afraid it is, and now, my magic show reaches its climax, thanks to this next spell; BRAVE ATTACK! Now all three of my magicians can attack your one monster all together, and combining their attacks into one!”

Celestia shrieked in fear and outrage!

“Go get her, Mykan!” Sabrina cheered. I nodded at her and then turned to face my monsters “Now my magicians ATTACK NOW!!”

(Combo: Atk: 7300) VS (Atk: 4750)

All three of my monster’s clashed with Celestia’s. All three of them were destroyed, but Numerious was not destroyed. "Haven't you forgotten, fool!" Celestia snarled "My monster can only be destroyed by another Number monster!"

"True!" I shouted "However, your life points are a different story. You still take the damage!"

"Ah...!"

SCORE:

Celestia: 1650

Mykan: 1500

“You!" Celestia snarled "This is not over, Mykan!"

“No Celestia, it’s all over for you, I’m still not finished. Once again I play MONSTER REBORN, which I shall use to revive my Dark Magician of Chaos again!”

(Atk: 2800)

“Thanks to his special ability, I get to play Monster Reborn again, to revive the last monster in my graveyard, CASTLE GATE!”

(Atk: 0)

“No! You wouldn’t!” cried Celestia.

“I will!” I sneered “You wanted magic, you wanted harmony? Well, let me give them to you then. I play my final spell; HARMONIC WAVES! It will change my Magician into a four-star monster…”

Celestia was shaking and fretting in panic “This can’t be happening!”

I glared at her furiously “The special ability of my Castle Gate now activates. When in attack mode, all I have to do is load any monster with less than six stars into the cannons on its battlements, and then… your life points will get hit, and be subtracted by the total attack points of the monster I fired.

…PRINCESS CELESTIA… IT’S GOODBYE!!”

“NO!!”

“ATTACK…!!”

My castle fired, and Celestia got shot super hard, losing the rest of her life points. “B’AAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!”

With the loss of her score, even Numerious exploded in one colossal big bang, shaking the entire island.

All over the world, the ponies and other Equestrians began to feel very strange.

“What’s happening?” asked Twilight.

“I don’t know, but I don’t think I like It.” said Spike.

Back in Equestria, all the other creatures had that same sickening feeling something was wrong.

“What’s up with them?” asked Lee.

“Never mind that…” cried Marc as he gazed at his hands, which were starting to glow, and soon, his whole body was glowing. As was Lee’s body, Clover, and all the rest of them.

“Okay, seriously freaking out now!” cried Clover.

Sabrina leapt and cheered for joy, and she ran right up to me. I grabbed her in my arms and twirled her around cheering with her.

“You did it!” Sabrina cried.

“No, we did.” I corrected her “I couldn’t have done it without you. Thank you, Sabrina.”

My wife smiled and wiped the joyful tears from her eyes.

Celestia didn’t know what she was feeling, but her fury was really starting to show. “Nobody… Nobody defies the light!!!” she roared.

She glared at me and Sabrina, and then bolted upright shouting “I may not have defeated you, Mykan… BUT I WILL STILL HAVE MY REVENGE!!!”

Her astral mark glowed as she prepared to attack,

“Wait! What about our deal?”

(Skip to 1:17 and picture it like this)

“DEAL WITH THIS!!” she shouted and fired her beam, which suddenly stopped at halfway, and began to vanish, into the wormhole.

The winds began to pick up, blowing Sabrina’s hair in long waves, and we saw Celestia’s duel platform vanish into the worm hole as well, as the winds grew stronger, and stronger…!

Then, a few small Equestrian creatures came flying by. Sabrina and I leapt out of the way as an enormous path of all the Equestrians came crashing through, even Twilight and her friends. Pinkie Pie tried to hold on for dear life to a rock, but lost her grip as Rainbow dash crashed into her.

All the creatures began spinning around in a giant whirlwind of colors and light directly over the wormhole, and growing larger every second.

Celestia ducked down and swerved as many creatures flew past her, getting sucked into the twister. Rarity flew right past her, screeching while trying to fight the pull.

More and more creatures, all the dragons, griffons, Minotaur, other ponies, every Equestrian creature, were flying in from all over as the wind got stronger, and the twister ever larger and Celestia felt herself getting lifted off her feet. She grabbed on for dear life to a rock, but ultimately, the pull was so strong, than she let go and got sucked into the wind screaming with everyone else as she whirled round and around.

Sabrina and I didn’t get sucked into the wind, but were never so frightened before in our lives. Sabrina held onto me tightly, and I held her close as the whirlwind continued.

Its narrowing tip by the bottom then connected straight onto the wormhole, and now the whirlwind was acting like a giant whirlpool; sending all the creatures back to Equestria from whence they came.

The twister got smaller and smaller as more of the creatures vanished, and the wormhole began to close!

Finally, all that was left was Celestia. Her head slammed right into the now extremely small wormhole, screaming and wailing.

Sabrina and I slowly turned to face her, and then watched as she vanished out of sight. Her astral mark came right off her head, and fell to the ground, and the portal vanished in a big flash light lightning.

Then all was quiet.

Sabrina and I looked around; the lights in the sky were all gone. The oceans had calmed down, and even the moon was back in its normal place in the sky.

Then we turned round when we saw a bright flash!

The mark that was once on Celestia’s head was pulsating and glowing. It shattered, and the alien creature emerged. Sabrina and I held each other close as we watched the alien go crazy as it shrunk down and then shattered into a million tiny bits of light and was gone!

…

All over the world, the astral marks on everyone’s heads disappeared, and everyone just stopped where they were, all confused.

“What happened?”

“What am I doing here?”

“Must’ve been a wild party...”

All the humans that were transferred to Equestria were warped back to Earth, all landing at the Academy, where all the once brainwashed people were released from their detainment, but hardly remembering a thing… only the spies remembered the last thing that happened.

…they won their duels, and then… nothing.

Jerry was also transported back to WOOHP, still not remembering too much, except he had to use the anti-magnet to save the moon, only to find the moon was already back in its proper place. “Oh, my… no more white wine spritzers before bed for me.”

As for the Equestrians, they were all sent home. All free form the curse, and ironically, all the damages caused by me and my army had been reversed. There was no damage to Canterlot Palace, no ponies were injured, not even those who fell from high places. That magic room Celestia once sat in had vanished too.

All the ponies were just waking up to find themselves outside, lying on the ground. “Oh… oh my.” groaned Celestia.

“Sister…?” Luna peeped as she got up.

“Princesses…?” Twilight said “What happened…?”

Cadance and Shining Armor couldn’t understand a thing.

“Oh, Nellie!” said Applejack “How long have I been out for?”

Rarity whined “Ugh! This is no way for a lady to be; sleeping on in the dirt!”

“Hey.” Rainbow said as she held up some beat up cards “What are these things?”

“I’ve never seen cards like these before.” said Fluttershy.

“Ooh-Ooh-Ooh…! I got it! I got it!” chirped Pinkie, but then she stuttered and stammered “Okay, maybe I don’t got it.”

The others sighed in dismay.

***

“We had no idea what happened to us, until I saw Zecora.” Twilight said as the magic images faded “And everything you just saw is exactly what happened. Spirits don’t lie, and they can tell you most everything.”

Lightning and Krysta were positively speechless. “Galloping Galaxies...” Lightning muttered.

“And you kept the cards ever since?” asked Krysta.

Twilight nodded “As a reminder of what happened to us all. It’s also an Earth game, so we didn’t wish to replicate these cards, and instead we created “Magic Card Creatures.”

Lightning gazed down at the cards and thought it was frightening that such a fun game was inspired by events that almost doomed two worlds.

“I wonder what happened to the Earth people after those events.” said Lightning.

“We don’t know…” Twilight said “The spirits didn’t tell us that much, and besides, if their world was saved, I guess it’s best to just let it be, just as long as we’re all careful not to let this happen again.”

Satisfied after hearing a good story, Lightning challenged Twilight to another game of Magic Card Creatures, and Krysta watched, but still all three of them wondered what did happen to the people in the aftermath.

(Part 1) The Grad Match

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

During that year, it was such a relief to have everything back to normal. Jerry even erased all the staff and students memories since they discovered about WOOHP, and the ponies and their world too.

Only the spies, I and my family, and Jerry himself remembered everything, but we decided it best to keep it ourselves. The ponies and their world was indeed a magical place, and there was still a lot we didn’t know about them.

We that perhaps someday there would be another chance, but we didn’t want anyone to learn of what we knew, out of fear that greedy, heartless, or unscrupulous people would try to find their way into Equestria and engage in another hostile takeover.

For now, life went back to normal.

One week had passed since the world was saved, and the final exams were given. Some didn’t do so well, but others did extraordinarily well, but as anyone expected, the Clarks were all in a four-way tie at number-one; the big students on campus.

“That’s my boyfriend, Lee.” Tami would say, much to Lee’s extreme annoyance. The other enjoyed teasing Lee about it, and even worse to his annoyance, Tami’s marks had gone way up thanks to her high test score, making her a graduate too; which gave her more chances to peruse after him.

Nevertheless, the graduation ceremonies soon followed, and it was a real smash hit, for many.

My family and I were gathered. Sabrina was wearing her royal garbs, and I was wearing my fancy outfit as well as we sat in our royal balcony box. Sabrina’s father was with us, and so were the children, Erica, Misty, and 2 year old baby Koga.

Clover, Sam, and Alex were permitted to sit with us as well.

I was making a special announcement.

“And now, to conclude this auspicious graduation ceremony, we present to you all a special treat. A once in a very great while show for you all to commemorate the fine duelists you’ve all become. We present the graduation match of the year, however, it will be a four-way battle royal featuring our four finest students. In the past years they’ve been here, they have turned to be outstanding in both schooling and dueling, and here they are now to conclude their final year; I present to you the Clarks; Lee, Megan, Marc and Tony!”

The kids came out from all four opposite corners of the arena, and waved to the cheering crowds. Tony acted a bit more egotistical, blowing the ladies kisses, and gloating of how great he was.

Tami cheered loudly for Lee hoping he’d notice and look at her, and not wanting to be too rude, he shot her a wink, making her want to faint.

The whole thing was being broadcast on live TV as well. So many viewers and dueling fans around the world would get to watch the match; that included Jerry, and the spies’ parents, Karen and Cal.

Karen was overcome with happy tears. “My babies are graduating duel academy.”

“Seems like only yesterday they were graduating middle school.” said Cal.

The Clarks reached the center of the battle ring.

“I guess this is It.” said Lee.

“Time to find out which one of us is really the best.” said Megan.

“I think we all know who that is.” Marc said acting cocky.

“Yep, that’s gonna be Me.” added Tony.

The Clarks took their places and prepared their disks.

The rules were simple for the battle-royal:

-Each duelist had to wait until after each one had gone first to call any attack, or activate trap cards or monster effects, unless of course the effect was triggered automatically.

-Each duelist could attack any other, and each duelist could defend any other

-The turn-order: Lee, Megan, Marc, and then Tony.

-Each duelist began with 4000 points, and the last one standing would be the winner, but there were no awards, prizes or things like that. It was all just for show.

-Direct attacks were off limits; unless a card effect that allowed it was activated.

In addition, there was one other rule: Multiple field spells could be in play at once, and they would all have their effects applied to the entire field.

Alex was getting nervous, but really she was excited. “I don’t know exactly which of them could win.”

Clover kept eyeing the kids and trying to make best on who would win with the others. “If Tony wins, you girls so have to clean my penthouse suite for a week.”

“Clover, we’re not making best on this.” snapped Sam.

“Okay, snapping turtle-much.” said Clover “Once of them has gotta win.”

“I don’t know, Clover.” I said “Remember when you girls dueled me?”

The girls remembered that well, and almost wondered if that would happen again.

The Clarks stood reach at opposite corners of the ring with their disks and decks ready, and as always, Sabrina had the honor of beginning the match like the princess she was. She stood at the end of the balcony holding a handkerchief and gave it a huge flick shouting “Let the duel begin!”

“DUEL!!” the kids shouted.

SCORE:

Lee: 4000… Megan: 4000… Marc: 4000… Tony: 4000

“Here goes…” Lee said as he drew his card “From my hand I summon two GILASAURUS!”

(Atk: 1400) x2

“Now I overlay these two dinos. With them, I build the overlay network! I Summon GRENOSAURUS!”

(Atk: 2000)

“Now I’ll play the field spell, JURASSIC WORLD!”

The entire field warped into the prehistoric wilderness landscape.

“With this baby around, all dinos gain 300 attack and defense points.”

(Atk: 2000) ---> (Atk: 2300)

“Now I place one card facedown and end my turn.”

Now it was Megan’s turn. “All right, watch how a lady does it…” she said as she drew her cards. “I play the spell MACHINE ANGEL RITUAL! Sacrificing one eight star monster from my hand so I can summon CYBER ANGEL- BENTEN!”

(Atk: 1800)

“Now I’ll put two cards face down and to finish my turn, the field spell LUMINIOUS SPARK.”

A large glow of light enveloped the field, mixing in with Jurassic World. “With this in play, all Light monsters gain 500 attack points, but lose 400 defense points.”

(Atk: 1800) ---> (Atk: 2300)

Marc drew his cards. “Stand back! I discard one card and summon QUICKDRAW SYNCHRON!”

(Atk: 1000)

“Since I discarded DANDYLION, two Fluff Tokens appear on my field.

(Def: 0) x2

“I also summon LEVEL EATER!”

(Atk: 600)

“Now I’ll tune all four of these guys together. I Synchro Summon ROAD WARRIOR!”

(Atk: 3000) ---> (Atk: 3500)

“Thanks for the power boots, Megan.”

His sister grunted softly.

“Now, I place two cards facedown and end my turn.”

Now it was time for Tony to get his game on “Here I come, and I play POLYMERIZATION! I fuse Plasma and Dogma, to create DESTINY END DRAGOON!”

(Atk: 3000)

“Now I’ll throw down a facedown, and chillout.

The people in the audience were already well at the edge of their seats. Who wouldn’t be? An Xyz monster… a Ritual monster… a Synchro monster… and a Fusion monster all out on the field at the same time…!

“Whoa! I’m sweating already.” cried Alex.

“Totally, what a way to begin.” said Sam.

Clover was still looking the kids over and wondering who would win, but they each had a super monster already in play, and the possibilities twisted in so many directions, her brain hurt. She almost fainted too.

Sabrina and I just kept our attention focussed on the duel. “And now… the real fight begins.” I said as I held my wife’s hand.

Lee was up and he thought carefully of what to do. “Okay, who should I go after? Either one of them is already a bigger threat because their monsters are stronger than mine, but then again who knows what surprises they’ve got for me either. There’s only one way to find out…”

“I play the equip-spell. FIGHTING SPIRIT! It grants my dino an extra 300 attack-points, for each monster you guys have out, and that’s 900 points!”

(Atk: 2300) ---> (Atk: 3200)

“Of course since Marc and Megan’s monsters are still too tough, I’m going after you, Tony! Grenosaurus, attack!”

(Atk: 3200) VS (Atk: 3000)

“Sorry bro, but I activate DRAINING SHEILD!”

“Nice try, but I activate XYZ REFLECT! This card cancels out your card targeting my Xyz monster, and deals you 800 points of damage.”

SCORE:

Lee: 4000… Megan: 4000… Marc: 4000… Tony: 3200

Megan and Marc refused to do anything, not wanting to stop Lee’s attack. So Tony’s monster got destroyed.

SCORE:

Lee: 4000… Megan: 4000… Marc: 4000… Tony: 3000

“And now, since Grenosaurus destroyed a monster, I can activate his ability; by using one overlay unit, I’ll inflict 1000 points of damage to Megan!”

“I don’t think so!” snapped Megan “I activate SPELL OF PAIN! It lets me transfer that damage to any one of you that I choose, and I choose Marc!”

“Think again…!” snapped Marc “I activate the counter-trap DARK BRIBE! It negates the spell and destroys it, plus, my opponent draws one card. So consider it a gift Megan.”

Megan drew her card, but her life points still dropped…

SCORE:

Lee: 4000… Megan: 3000… Marc: 4000… Tony: 3000

The kids’ tensions were starting to rise.

“I’ll lay one card facedown, and end my turn.” said Lee. With one less monster in play, his dino’s attack dropped to 2900.

Now it was Megan’s turn, she drew a card. She couldn’t go after Tony due to the “No Direct Attack” rule. This left her to choose either Marc or Lee. She had bones to pick with them both, but she could only do so much with what she had.

“Firstly, I’ll give Cyber Angel Benten this spell, RITUAL WEAPON! And it boosted up her attack and defense by 1500.”

(Atk: 2300) ---> (Atk: 3800)

“And now It’s time for a little payback!” she eyed at Marc “Cyber Angel, attack Road Warrior!”

(Atk: 3800) VS (Atk: 3500)

SCORE:

Lee: 4000… Megan: 3000… Marc: 3700… Tony: 3000

“Whoa! Talk about road kill.” said Tony.

Marc was not impressed and growled softly.

“There’s more.” said Megan “When Benten successfully destroys a monster, the total of the destroyed monster’s defense is dealt to you as damage, and that’s 1100!”

“Sorry, but my DAMAGE POLARIZER would disagree on that!”

“Ah!” cried Megan.

“Afraid so; the damage is negated, and now everyone draws one card each.”

“Heck, I’m with that.” said Tony.

“You me and me both.” added Lee

Megan grunted softly, but felt relieved that she did a little damage. “I end my turn.”

“Good.” Marc said as he drew his card “Now I’ll use MONSTER REBORN to get back my Road Warrior!”

(Atk: 3000) ---> (Atk: 3500)

“Ah, come on!” groaned Megan.

“Just when we thought it was gone too.” added Lee.

“Afraid not, and it gets worse…” said Marc “Now I use its special ability which lets me summon QUILBOLT HEDGEHOG!”

(Atk: 800)

“But I’m going to sacrifice him so I can summon another QUICKDRAW SYNCHRON!”

(Atk: 1000)

“And since I now have a tuner monster in play, “I can bring Quillbolt right back again.”

(Atk: 800)

“And I’ll use Level Eater’s special ability; by reducing Road Warrior's level by one, Level Eater gets summoned right to the field.”

(Atk: 600)

“Don’t forget Marc…” Lee called “The more monsters you call out, the stronger my Dino gets.”

(Atk: 3500)

“Oh, I’m aware.” said Marc “But I’ve done the math, and that equation is about to get rewritten. I tune Quickdraw with my Quilbolt and Level eater. I Synchro summon my faithful JUNK DESTROYER!”

(Atk: 2600)

All the others gasped in shock at the sight of Marc’s monster. “And now his ability activates, letting me destroy up to two cards on the field.”

Tony began to panic and beg for mercy, until he remembered “Oh, wait Marc can only destroy cards. Guess that leaves me out.”

Marc thought it over carefully a moment, and then made his move. “I’ll destroy Lee’s facedown, and Megan’s Ritual Weapon.”

Megan and Lee gasped as their valuable cards were destroyed instantly. Now both their monsters were weaker than Marc’s.

“Road Warrior, attack Grenosaurus!”

(Atk: 3500) VS (Atk: 3200)

Lee braced himself as the attack struck him.

SCORE:

Lee: 3700… Megan: 3000… Marc: 3700… Tony: 3000

…but his monster was still standing.

“Sorry bro, but when my monster is destroyed with Fighting Sprit attached to it, I can destroy only the spell card, but the monster dino lives.”

“Big deal, that’s why I have a second attack; Go Junk Destroyer!”

Lee growled in frustration. He couldn’t stop the attack this time, and his dino bit the dust.

(Atk: 2600) VS (Atk: 2300)

SCORE:

Lee: 3400… Megan: 3000… Marc: 3700… Tony: 3000

“About time he took some damage.” said Megan.

Lee was not impressed “Okay, no more Mr. Nice Dinosaur!”

Marc felt content with what he had done. “I’ll place one card facedown, and end my turn. You’re up, Tony.”

“It’s about time too.” Tony said as he drew a card.

“All right, since I have Dragoon in my graveyard, all I have to do is banish Plasma, and Dragoon comes right back onto the field.”

(Atk: 3000)

“Now I play POT OF GREED, so I can draw two cards.” He drew his cards, and gazed them with a cheeky grin. “Sweet! I think now I’ll play field spell of my own; CLOCK TOWER PRISON!”

The field began to rumble as the scenery changed, putting Tony’s Clock Tower arena in the Jurassic wilderness, illuminated by the Luminous Spark. The other players knew this wasn’t a good thing, but Tony felt it was his best plan yet.

For every one of the other’s standby phases, a Clock Counter would be placed on the clock. Once it had at least four counters, Tony wouldn’t take any damage.

“Now I think I play this, DESTINY SPIRIT! Since I have no Destiny Heroes in play, I get to summon one right away, and I choose DUNKER!”

(Atk: 1200)

“And I’ll also summon DIAMOND DUDE!”

(Atk: 1400)

“Thanks to his special ability, I can look at the top card on my deck, and if it’s a spell, I send it to the graveyard and then activate it on my next turn.”

He looked at his card. “Well, well, look at this. It’s OVER DESTINY, so away it goes.” he discarded. “Now that that’s settled, I overlay both my level four Destiny Heroes. I build the overlay network, and I Xyz summon NUMBER 39: UTOPIA!”

(Atk: 2500) ---> (Atk: 3000)

Being a Light Attributed creature, it gained power from Megan’s field spell.

The others were concerned now that Tony had two strong monsters in play. Then he cheekily rolled his eyes form side-to-side wondering where to strike, but it was a no-brainer to him.

“Utopia, attack Cyber Angel-Benten!”

“No!” cried Megan, but she watched as her monster Clashed with Tony’s, and was slashed to ribbons.

(Atk: 3000) VS (Atk: 2300)

SCORE:

Lee: 3400… Megan: 2300… Marc: 3700… Tony: 3000

“And now, Dragoon, it’s your turn; trash that Junk Destroyer!”

“Think again, Tony!” snapped Marc “I activate SCRAP-IRON SCARECROW! Your attack is stopped and the trap is reset.”

Tony clenched his fists, but remained calm and cool. “I’ll just throw down a facedown and call it a turn.”

Everyone in the crowd was starting to sweat. This duel was really turning into a nail-bitter. Even though Megan was in last place, it was still possible for her to make a comeback, or could she.

Alex was finding it hard to breathe, and had to vent in a paper bag. “Oh, boy... I can’t stand the suspense.”

“Easy, Alex, the duel’s a long way from over.” said Sam.

Clover was still aghast at how the duel was going it made her head ache. “Okay, this is so not going to do well for my complexion.”

“Well, I haven’t seen a duel this amazing in a long time.” said Wilhelm “Even waiting for the next part of a cartoon wasn’t like this.”

Sabrina was fanning herself with her handkerchief, and I had to loosen my collar a bit.

“Daddy, what’s going on?” asked Erica.

“You’re a little too young to understand, sweetie.” I said as I pat my daughter’s head “Someday you will.”

Now it was Lee’s turn, and he drew a card, and Tony’s Clock gained a counter.

“All right, time for a little reset.” He said “I play the CARD OF SANCTITY! So we can all draw until we each hold six cards.”

This was helpful for all the duelists, now having a full refreshed hand, the duel was about to grow even more intense.

“Now I summon OVERLAY EATER!”

(Atk: 200) ---> (Atk: 700)

It was a Light type, but not a Dinosaur, much to the others’ confusion.

“Hey, that’s a Reptile type.” said Megan.

“We thought you were all about dinos.” added Tony.

“Yeah, I know…” said Lee “And it’s true, Dinos are always number-one with me, but dinos were reptiles after all, and they did start out like this before. It just took them a really long time to evolve into big brutes.”

Tony and Megan gazed at Marc, who was rather impressed with his brother’s accuracy “He’s right.” Marc said.

“Yep, and that’s why I’m going to speed up the process.” said Lee “I activate ULTRA EVOLUTION PILL!”

One-by-one the others all gasped.

“This lets me sacrifice my Reptile, so I can summon one supped up dino from my hand; and I choose my biggest bad-boy of them all; SUPER CONDUCTOR TYRANNO!”

(Atk: 3300) ----> (Atk: 4100)

The big dino roared loudly, and seemed to get bigger thanks to its bonuses from the fields cards.

“Ah, yeah, who’s d’man now?” Lee gloated.

The others shuddered a bit.

“Now, then, I can’t go after Megan, and I can’t attack Marc, so, guess what Tony, it’s you… me… and him.” He pointed at his dino “Go for it Tyranno, attack Dragoon!”

Tony wasn’t able to defend himself this time, and brace himself as the battle waged on.

(Atk: 4100) VS (Atk: 3000)

“Dragoon, No!” cried Tony.

SCORE:

Lee: 3400… Megan: 2300… Marc: 3700… Tony: 1900

“Sweet…!” Lee shouted “Now that that’s settled, I’ll throw all three of these cards facedown, and call it a turn.”

Everyone in the crowd hollered and cheered for that last astonishing move. Tami cheered the loudest.

“Whoa!” cried Alex and she breathed so hard into her paper-bag, that she blew a big hole right through the other end.

“That Lee really knows his dinos well.” said Sam.

“I wouldn’t he’s in the clear yet.” said Sabrina “…Now it’s Megan’s turn.”

Megan drew her next card giving her seven in her hand, and the Clock Tower gained a second counter.

“Well, I gotta admit, that was a smooth move, Lee, but don’t think you’re the only one who has any, cuz I play another MACHINE ANGEL RITUAL! By discarding one monster in my hand, I now summon CYBER ANGEL- IDATEN!”

(Atk: 1600) ---> (Atk: 2100)

“By summoning her, I get a spell back from my graveyard; the Spell of Pain!”

The boys didn’t like that a bit, now that she had it again.

“Now then, I’ll play MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE, so I can summon three monsters from the graveyard. Cyber Angel- Benten, WHITE KNIGHT DRAGON, and WINGWEAVER!”

(Atk: 0) ---> (Atk: 500) x2

(Atk: 0)

“Hey, where did those two other monsters come from?” asked Tony.

“Duh, from when I played my rituals…” Megan sneered “But that’s the least of your problems, because now I play this spell; GALAXY QUEEN’S LIGHT! Now I can make all four of my monsters level eight like my dragon is!”

“All level eight?!” cried Lee.

“This can’t be good.” said Marc.

Megan smirked sinisterly. “Now I overlay Wingweaver with Idaten, and Benten with my dragon. Now I build the overlay network twice, and I Xyz summon NUMBER 15: GIMMICK PUPPET GIANT GRINDER and NUMBER 40: GIMMICK PUPPET OF STRINGS!”

(Atk: 1500)

(Atk: 3000)

The boys shuddered at the sight of the two Xyz monsters. Megan now had a huge advantage over them.

“Now then…” Megan said “The First thing I’ll do is use String’s special ability. By using one overlay unit, I can put string counters on all other monsters on the field.”

With that, all the monsters in play, even her own Giant Grinder had long strings attached to them. “Ah, man, this is not cool!” cried Tony.

“That’s just an assurance for me.” said Megan, now I activate RANK-UP-MAGIC NUMERON FORCE! Now I use my Strings to rebuild the overlay network. Go Chaos Xyz Evolution! I summon, NUMBER C40: GIMMICK PUPPET OF DARK STRINGS!”

(Atk: 3300)

The boys were all really shaking now.

“You should be shaking.” said Megan “Now I get to use its special ability. By using an overlay unit, all monsters with String counters will be destroyed, and you’ll all take damage equal to your highest monster’s attack points.

All the boys gasped in extreme shock, if the effect succeeded, Lee and Tony would lose, and Marc would be at Megan's mercy!

Had Megan really clenched the match? Was this really the end of the duel?

To Be Continued...!

(Final Part) End it with a BOOM

FINAL CHAPTER

Everyone in the crowds, and we in the box all were leaning forward still wondering if this was really it…!

SCORE:

Lee: 3400… Megan: 2300… Marc: 3700… Tony: 1900

“Time to win this all…!” Megan shouted “Activate ability!” but suddenly, her monster vanished instantly, and her White Night Dragon and Gimmick puppet reappeared on the field in defense-mode.

(Def: 2500)

(Def: 2000)

“Hey, what’s going on?!” snapped Megan, and then she could hear Lee snickered. “...You did this?!” she snarled at him.

“Yep.” said Lee “I used XYZ ENCORE. Your monster lost all its overlay units, and then was sent back to your extra deck. Then, the monsters were the overlay units return to the field in defense mode, and the White Night Dragon has its level reduced by one.”

Megan growled fiercely, while Tony and Marc sighed heavily in relief. “For a second there, I thought we’d had It.” said Tony.

The crowds cheered for joy for Lee’s excellent move, even Clover Sam and Alex cheered, but Clover was cheering nervously. “I can hardly take this anymore.” She cried.

“Easy, Clover…” I said to her “We’re going to see this to the end, just like they are.”

Megan was fuming with anger, but she spoke softly “That was a cheap move, Lee. You’re going to regret that.”

“Oh, I am, am I?” Lee asked sternly.

“Yeah! You forget, I summoned a second monster. Giant Grinder lets me use his ability twice. So when I use two overlay units, I can destroy up to two monsters.”

Megan made well good on her threat as she destroyed both Lee’s Tyranno, and Marc’s Road warrior. “See how you like that.” snarled Megan “I place one card face down and end my turn.”

The boys could feel Megan’s anger well, but didn’t let it scare them, but motivate them for her almost winning the duel so cheaply.

“It’s my move now.” Marc said as he drew his card, and Tony’s clock gained its third counter. “Just one more to go...” Tony muttered softly.

“Here I come…” snapped Marc “First I play BACK TO SQUARE ONE! I first discard one card in my hand, and then I get to choose one card on the field, and send it to the top of the deck, and I choose White Night Dragon!”

“Ha, think again.” snapped Megan “When my dragon is targeted by a spell, its special ability lets me negate its activation and destroy it.”

Marc didn’t seem disappointed at all. “Actually, there was more to my strategy. The monster I just discarded was MAKYURA THE DESTRUCTOR, and during the turn he’s sent to the graveyard, I get to use traps right from my hand.”

The others all winced and gasped softly.

“And here’s one of them… LIMIT REVERSE! It lets me summon one monster with 1000 attack points or less form the graveyard, and I choose Quickdraw Synchron.”

(Atk: 1000)

“And now I summon DASH WARRIOR!”

(Atk: 600)

“Now I tune both my monsters, and Syncrho summon another JUNK DESTROYER!”

(Atk: 2600)

“Oh, no!” cried Megan.

“Not this again?” added Lee.

“Ah, yeah…” said Marc “And now I get to destroy one other card on the field, like Strings!”

Megan couldn’t stop the effect this time, and her Gimmick Puppet was crushed.

“And now, again from my hand, I play CALL OF THE HAUNTED, so my Road Warrior returns too.”

(Atk: 3000) ---> (Atk: 3500)

“Whoa! He’s got three big bad boys in play.” cried Tony.

“That’s right.” Said Marc “And now, I overlay all three of them, so I can build the overlay network. I Xyz Summon COACH KING GAINTRAINER!”

(Atk: 2800)

“And as if that weren’t enough, I now play RANK-UP-MAGIC BARRIAN’S FORCE! Now I can rebuild the overlay network with my Coach. Go CHAOS XYZ EVOULUTION! I summon CXYZ COACH ULITMATRAINER!”

(Atk: 3800)

The others all gaze up at the enormous monster!

“That thing is way huge!” cried Tony.

“Yep, and that’s not all. The Rank up card lets me take one of Utopia’s overlay units for myself.”

“Hey!” snapped Tony.

“And now, I’ll use my Coach’s special ability. I use one overlay unit to draw one card, and if it happens to be a monster, I can inflict 800 points of damage to whomever I want.”

He drew his card.

“Well, what d’ya know, it’s SWIFT SCARECROW.”

The others all growled softly.

“So now, I get to inflict 800 points of damage… to Tony!”

“Ah!” Tony gasped.

The magic blast headed straight for him, but then it stopped and bounded straight at Lee. “What the—” and he ended up taking the damage.

(Atk: 3000) VS (Atk: 2300)

SCORE:

Lee: 2600… Megan: 2300… Marc: 3700… Tony: 1900

“Ha! You forgot about my SPELL OF PAIN.” Megan shouted “It let me switch whom took the damage, and it’s about time Lee took some more.”

Lee was not amused and vowed revenge for that.

“Ahem…” Marc said “If you’re done arguing, I have one last trap to play from my hand; OVERLAY ACCEL!”

Then he ordered his monster to attack. “Coach, attack White Night Dragon!”

As his monster charged towards Megan’s dragon “I don’t think so…” snapped Megan “First, I activate DEFENSE DRAW. So I draw one card and don’t take battle damage this turn, and then I can destroy it to activate my Dragon’s special ability, to shift your attack over to my Giant Grinder.”

(Atk: 3800) VS (Atk: 1500)

“Well, I have to admit that was pretty slick…” said Marc “…But now my trap activates. As long as Overlay Accel is in play, when my monster successfully destroys another monster, all I do is use one overlay unit, and I get to attack again!”

“Ah!” cried Megan, and Marc ordered his monster to attack, and she couldn’t save her dragon this time, and it got destroyed.

“Now I’ll use my trap again.” Said Marc “I use one overlay unit so my monster can attack Utopia!” said Marc.

“Fine!” snapped Tony “But I can just use Utopia’s ability to negate your attack.”

“Maybe so…” said Marc “But I forced you to use your last overlay unit. Now I’ll end my turn.”

Now it was Tony’s turn and he drew a seventh card. “First, I’ll banish Dunker from my graveyard, so Dragoon returns once again!”

“I hope you’re not planning to use his ability on Me.” said Marc “My Coach can’t be targeted by any card effects.”

“Oh, I’m aware… I actually did study you know.” said Tony. “But I have something much better in mind. Like this; I play DESTINY DRAW! So I ditch one Destiny Hero from my hand and then draw two more cards.”

“He drew his cards and really liked what they were. “Sweet! Now I’ll use the OVER DESTINY I got last turn from Diamond Dude. It lets me target my Dogma in the grave, and now I get to summon one Destiny Hero whose level is equal to half of his, and I choose CAPTAIN TENACIOUS!”

(Atk: 800)

“Now I use, THE WARRIOR RETURNING ALIVE to get Dogma back into my hand, and then I’ll use MYSTICAL SPACE TYPHOON, and I’ll use it to destroy my Clock Tower!”

“WHAT?!” The others all shouted. “But it doesn’t even have four counters on it.” Lee pointed out.

“Heh-heh!” laughed Tony “I activate the trap ETERNAL DREAD, which puts two counters on the clock, giving it five!”

The Clock chimed five times as the Typhoon crushed it with its powerful winds; the others all braced themselves as bits of holographic rubble flew everywhere.

“And now…” shouted Tony “Since my clock had at least four counters on it, I get to summon DESTINY HERO- DREADMASTER!”

(Atk: ?)

“With his appearance, I can bring back a Destiny Hero from the graveyard; like the one I just discarded--DASHER!”

(Atk: 2100)

“And now, Dreadmaster’s attack becomes the combined total of both monsters’ original attack points.”

(Atk: ?) ---> (Atk: 2900)

“Now, sacrifice Dragoon, Tenacious, and Dasher to summon

DOGMA!”

(Atk: 3400)

“But hold up, the dude’s got more… because now I’ll throw in a new field spell; DARK CITY!”

A large metropolis of tall buildings formed all around and really messed up the Jurassic world scene. “Man, this is almost like that show where Dinosaurs acted like people.” said Lee.

“Yeah, but I got a feeling this won’t end good.” said Megan.

“Oh, something big is still coming.” said Tony “From my hand I discard RANK-UP-MAGIC LIMITED BARRIAN’S FORCE! Now I can Rebuild the Overlay network using just Utopia!"

“You what?!” snapped Marc.

“I summon NUMBER 99: UTOPIC DRAGON!”

(Atk: 4000) ---> (Atk: 4500)

Everyone gazed up in awe, and slight fright at Tony’s newest monster. Lee now regretted what he had told Tony about it and wished he had kept his mouth shut.

“Now…!” shouted Tony “Dragon, attack Marc’s Coach.”

Dragon charged straight into battle.

“I still have my Scape Iron Scarecrow!” shouted Marc “So I negate your attack.”

“So what, I still have Dogma. Go!”

(Atk: 3400) ---> (Atk: 4400)

“Thanks to Dark City, my Destiny Heroes all gain a 1000 point boost when they attack stronger monsters!”

Marc couldn’t stop the attack this time…!

(Atk: 4400) VS (Atk: 3800)

SCORE:

Lee: 2600… Megan: 2300… Marc: 3100… Tony: 1900

“Ah, yeah…! Who’s the man now?” Tony cheered, much to the other’s annoyance.

Sam wiped her brow “Wow! Tony’s really on fire now.” She said.

“No joke, we trained him a little too well, I think.” said Alex.

Clover finally cracked from all the pressure and she fainted in her seat.

Sabrina and I rolled our eyes and sighed by her overdramatic attitude, but still, the duel was really remarkable. We felt the big climax was just around the corner.

All the kids were trembling and sweating. Even Tony was, despite the fact he had a huge advantage.

“Hey, guys…” said Lee “Outside of all this, I gotta this is pretty fun dueling you all like this.”

“Totally…” said Megan “I haven’t been this challenged in a long time.”

“We’re still all going to be good to each other after, right?” asked Marc.

“You bet…” said Tony “That’s why I’m going to give you all one last scoop. I play DOUBLE SPELL! I ditch one spell out of my hand, and now I get to play any spell one of you guys used, and I choose CARD OF SANCTITY!”

They all got to refresh their hands again, and were holding six cards each one more.

“I’ll throw down, three facedowns…” said Tony “And finally, I’ll play EXCHANGE!”

The others gawked with concern. Now Tony was allowed to take one card from the hand of any duelist he chose, and he chose Marc. “You have something I think will be useful to Me.” he said as he approached his brother.

“Let me guess… This?” Marc said as he held up his Swift Scarecrow.

“You got it.” Tony said as he took the card. Then he let Marc take one of the two cards from his hand.

All he had were two Destiny Hero monsters, and Marc decided to take DEFENDER.

Tony they walked back to his post, feeling confident he couldn’t lose now. “If any of you try to attack me directly, you know what I’ll do!” he threatened.

“Whatever.” said Lee, and he drew his next card, then suddenly his life points decreased…

SCORE:

Lee: 1300… Megan: 2300… Marc: 3100… Tony: 1900

“Oh, no!” he groaned.

“Oh, yes…” said Tony “As long as my Dogma is around, on each of your standby phases, he’ll cut your life points in half.”

The others were real tensed now.

“Well, then it’s obvious what I have to do.” said Lee. “First I activate XYZ REBORN! It revives my Grenosaurus and attaches itself to him as an overlay unit.”

(Atk: 2000) ---> (Atk: 2300)

“And now I play, RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE!”

Watching Lee play that card made the others, and we watching from the royal box feel a bit strange. However, since the card was proven to be harmless, all the copies of it were full distributed to join the rest of the cards in the game.

“I use my Grenosaurus to rebuild the overlay network!” shouted Lee. I summon NUMBER 61: VOLCASAURUS!”

(Atk: 2500) ---> (Atk: 2800)

This was the very monster he used to defeat Spike with, and now he was going to use it to crush Tony… he hoped.

“Here goes…” Lee said “I activate my dino’s ability; by using one overlay unit, I can destroy Dogma, and deal you damage equal to his total attack power, Tony!”

“Oh, really…” hissed Tony “What if I were to activate SKILL PRISONER!”

Lee’s monster powered down; its effects were negated, much to Lee’s frustration.

“No problem.” Lee said “I’m not out of it yet, after all “I can still do this! I summon

I’ll place two cards facedown and end my turn.”

Over to Megan, she drew her next card. “Okay, time to comeback.” she said.

“But don’t forget about Dogma.” Tony said, and Megan’s life points dropped.

SCORE:

Lee: 1300… Megan: 1150… Marc: 3100… Tony: 1900

“I’ll show you!” snapped Megan “I play EARTHQUAKE! It changes all the monsters on the field from attack to defense-mode!”

Dogma: (Def: 2400)

Dreadmaster: (Def: 1800)

Utopic Dragon: (Def: 2000) ---> (Def: 1500)

Volcasaurus: (Def: 1000) ---> (Def: 1300)

“What good can turning our monsters to Defense do you?” asked Tony.

“Plenty.” said Megan “I play this spell; recognize it Tony? It’s DOUBLE SPELL!”

The boys all gawked in shock.

“So, I discard one spell, and now I’ll help myself to Marc’s MONSTER REBORN!”

“Aw, come on! Why does everyone keep going for my cards?” groaned Marc.

“I use Monster Reborn to Revive Cyber Angel- Beten!”

(Atk: 1800) ---> (Atk: 2300)

“And as if that weren’t enough…” said Megan “I summon CYBER TUTU!”

(Atk: 1000)

The boys all gasped hard.

“Since all the monsters on the field have higher attacks than hers, she can attack directly.” said Megan, and the rule didn’t forbid her now.

“Go Cyber Tutu!” shouted Megan.

“Wait…!” snapped Marc “Remember the Swift Scarecrow I got from Marc…?”

“Ah!” Megan gasped “I totally forgot about it!”

“But I didn’t!” said Lee “So I activate HAND DESTRUCTION!”

“No!” shouted Tony, but he couldn’t stop it. Now he, along with the others had to discard two cards, and then draw two cards, which cost him his defense.

“Too bad, Tony…” Marc teased, and then he motioned at the charging Cyber Tutu, whom skidded behind his monsters, and slapped Tony across the face, costing him 1000 points.

SCORE:

Lee: 1300… Megan: 1150… Marc: 3100… Tony: 900

“And now, ladies and gentlemen, the end of Tony…” Megan said “When Benten destroys a monster; you take damage equal to that monster’s defense points.”

Tony growled, and Megan launched her attack against Dreadmaster.

“Hold on!” shouted Tony “I activate the trap SHIFT!”

“Ah!” cried Megan.

“It lets me change the target of your attack to any other monster I have, and I choose Dogma!”

Megan’s attack got deflected badly.

(Atk: 2300) VS (Def: 2400)

SCORE:

Lee: 1300… Megan: 1050… Marc: 3100… Tony: 900

Megan was furious! “I’ll place one card facedown, and end my turn!”

Now it was Marc’s turn, but instead of drawing a card; “I think I’ll just take back my Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force that I just discarded.”

The others didn’t like the sound of that. He obviously had a plan.

Still, his life points were halved thanks to Tony’s Dogma

SCORE:

Lee: 1300… Megan: 1050… Marc: 1550… Tony: 900

“I activate PREMATURE BURIAL!” he shouted “By paying 800 life points…

SCORE:

Lee: 1300… Megan: 1050… Marc: 750… Tony: 900

…I can revive my Coach Lord Ultimatrainer!”

(Atk: 3800)

“Now I use RANK-UP-MAGIC ASTRAL FORCE! I use Puppet of strings to rebuild the Overlay Network, and I summon SUPERDIMENSIONAL ROBOT GALAXY DESTROYER!”

(Atk: 5000)

“Whoa!” cried Lee.

“Double Whoa!” added Megan.

“Make that triple!” said Tony.

“And there’s more…” said Marc “Thanks to his ability, by using an overlay unit, I can destroy all spells and traps you guys have on the field, and you can’t use them to try and stop me this time, even your Skill Prisoner won’t work in the graveyard, Tony.”

Tony shuddered, but then he noticed something. “Hey, don’t you actually need overlay units to use that effect?”

“Huh?” Marc looked up and saw his only overlay unit was gone! “What happened?”

“I’ll tell ya…” Lee suddenly said. “Remember my Overlay Eater? Well, it just so happens that I banished him from my graveyard and activated his special ability; letting me snatch your overlay unit and give it to my dino.”

Marc growled softly. “No worries, I can still use this; OVERLAY REGEN, which gives me a fresh overlay unit.”

“Good thing I have a chance now….” said Megan “I activate the trap PLANKTON!”

“Huh?!” snapped Marc “You… but that… now my robot can’t attack this turn.”

“Too bad, so sad.” teased Megan.

Tony and Lee snickered softly, and Marc felt so outraged that he activated his robot’s ability again, destroying all the spells and trap cards in play, even field spells were destroyed, and the entire field became one massive swarm of virtual explosions.

The kids braced themselves from the lights and shockwaves, and everyone in the audience freaked with excitement and fear and anxiety!

Sabrina’s fear was starting to show as I could feel her pulse racing as I held her hand. My pulse was quickening too.

“This is it now…” I said “I think this duel is just about to end.”

Sam and Alex leaned forth, leaving Clover, still passed out from her faint.

The smog cleared, and Marc was still panting furiously. “I’ll place two cards facedown and end my turn.” he simply said. He was really upset, having really having a chance to win the duel and it blew up in his face.

Megan felt relieved that she spared herself for another turn, but something told her she wouldn’t be so lucky this time.

Lee felt his insides aching as the pressure got to him.

As for Tony, it was his move, and his fingers felt numb as he attempted to draw his card, but he managed to do so, and gazed deeply at that one card.

The others wondered what it was he drew… however, the only, absolutely single person in the entire arena who had a feeling of what that card was… was me.

“I was right.” I muttered softly.

Sabrina turned to face me, as did the rest of the gang.

“Okay…” said Tony “Here goes something. I first banish Dasher so I can get Dragoon back.”

(Atk: 3000)

“Then I’ll turn all my other monsters into attack-mode as well.”

(Atk: 2900)

(Atk: 3400)

(Atk: 4000)

“Now I play MONSTER REBORN, which I’ll use to snatch Marc’s trap monster.”

“You mean, MAKYURA THE DESTRUCTOR?”

(Atk: 1600)

“Yeah, him.” said Tony “And now I’ll tribute him, along with Dreadmaster and Dogma, so I can play PLASMA!”

(Atk: 1900)

“When he’s summoned, all monsters you guys control lose their powers.”

The others didn’t like that one bit.

“Now, that’s to Plasma’s ability, I can take any monster on the field that I want and equip it to him, that’s your Robot Marc.”

“I don’t think so.” said Marc “I activate DIMENSIONAL U-TURN!”

“Huh?”

“It lets me summon one of my banished monsters; Quilbolt Hedgehog.”

(Def: 800)

“And… now that the trap is in my graveyard, I can use its other ability, to banish my robot from play until he end of this turn. So you get no target!”

Tony growled softly. “Fine, I’ve got other ways. Utopic Dragon, attack Volcasaurus!”

“Don’t think so.” said Marc “I play EXPLOSIVE WALL, which will destroy your monster, and my Quilbolt!”

The two monsters were instantly destroyed, and Tony grew angrier. “I still have Dragoon! I’ll at least try and Wipe Megan out of this!”

“No you won’t!” snapped Megan. “From my graveyard, I activate my own Explosive wall, which will destroy your monster, and all the monsters I control.”

Tony was aghast, and his head hung low, but then he quickly snapped upright smiling “I guess, there’s no other way then, but I supposed it’s for the best.”

The others all wondered what he was talking about.

“Remember, when I sent Marc’s monster to the graveyard, it lets me use traps from my hand, and this is just the one…” he held up his only card and activated it “Go FINAL FUSION!”

The others gasped, and their looks of shock suddenly faded into soft smiles.

“So, that’s it, huh?” asked Lee.

“That card makes us all take damage equal to Dragoon’s attack points.” said Megan.

“And at 3000 points... we’ll all lose.” said Marc.

Tony nodded sadly but pleased. “Why not…? We’ve done enough, and it’s our last day here. So let’s go out with a bang!”

The others sadly nodded, and then all four of them shut their eyes…!

KAPOW!! The entire field exploded in a great big bang, making the whole arena tremble with the shockwaves.

The force woke Clover up. “I’m up, I’m up! What’s happening?!” she squealed, but then she saw exactly what was going on.

The smoke from the explosion had cleared, and all four of the kids were lying on the floor panting with exhaustion.

FINAL-SCORE:

Lee: “0000”… Megan: “0000”… Marc: “0000”… Tony: “0000”

A perfect draw!

Smiling proudly, I stood up from my seat and began to applaud softly.

Sabrina stood and joined me, followed by her father, then the girls.

Soon, the whole arena echoed with the thunderous sound applause and cheers of extreme joy for an excellent duel.

At WOOHP, Jerry could hardly believe what he just saw, and just grinned proudly.

As for Karen and Cal… they had both fainted from overexcitement when the duel ended in such a draw.”

“Man!” groaned Lee “What a duel!”

“Yeah…” said Megan “But what happens now?”

“Who knows…?” said Marc “We’ll duel again someday, but we’ve got a long way ahead of us yet.”

“I’m all for that.” said Tony “But right now, I could use a nap.”

The siblings all shared a soft and funny laugh as they just lay there.

The very next day, they were on a ship headed away from the island; our private Yacht. I and my family were riding with them, and so were Clover, Sam and Alex. Jerry was with us too.

All of us; the world’s most powerful team of duelists…

We all watched as our quaint island sank below the horizon as we sailed farther away. The Clarks were really going to miss the place and the academy, but felt maybe they would return someday.

For now, they… and the rest of us… had nothing left but to look forward to our futures, wherever that would go, and whatever obstacles came our way…

Nothing would ever stop us!