My Little Card Game: Dueling is Magic

by RarityFigma

Rating: everyone
Tags: Cutie Mark Crusaders, Silver Spoon, Diamond Tiara, Crossover, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 8438

On the playground of destiny the CMC engage Tiara and Spoon in a battle of honor

In yet another attempt to gain their cutie marks, the CMC challenge Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon to a duel.

(If you don't like Yugioh do yourself a favor and walk away)

Published 2012-06-16 20:34:02 UTC
Last updated 2012-06-16 20:34:02 UTC

Prologue

“Let’s do this!” Scootaloo shouted after strapping on her duel disk.

Her fellow crusaders each let out a yell of approval. “This is our best plan ever,” Applebloom said with a cheer.

“I can already feel the cutie mark,” Sweetie Belle chimed with glee. Suddenly a loud humph could be heard from close by. The three fillies turned to look, only to see their opponents marching on the playground.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had their heads held up high as they made their way to the duel field marked by a few lines in grass. The stuck up ponies finally looked over at their rivals with more than a hint of disdain. “I didn’t think you namby pamby losers would even show up,” Diamond Tiara said mockingly.

“Not only did we show,” Scootalou retorted. “But were also about to take you chumps down!”

“You three beat us?” Silver Spoon laughed. “That’s a farce if I ever heard one.”

Applebloom looked down at her tiny duel disk. It seemed like it was only yesterday, probably because it was only yesterday that a pony named Tristy had gotten her cutie mark in dueling. The Cutie Mark Crusaders freaked out. They ran to the local store and spent all their bits on cards and filly sized duel disks. The trio then spent the next three hours figuring out how to play the game they had forgot even existed before finally venturing to the park.

However even after crushing Snips, Snails and the vast majority of their class, the fillies were still left without their long sought after cutie marks. It was there they heard that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were the undefeated champions of dueling. Even Tristy hadn’t been able to beat them.

That was when the idea hit the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The only way to get their cutie marks would be derailing the winning record of the two snobs. One thing led to another and now here they were on the school’s playground, a crowd of students gathered to watch the battle. Even Miss Cherilee was watching. She had decided to lengthen recess to allow more time for the duel. “All my students should get a chance to watch a true display of team work and strategy,” Cherilee had said when the Crusaders asked her for permission to duel during recess. Now the whole school was in attendance. If the parents only knew what was taking place right now on their hard earned bits, the rage would paramount.

“How is this gonna work anyway?” Applebloom asked. “There are 3 of us, but only 2 of you.”

Diamond Tiara shook her mane as she chuckled. “Must I explain everything to you slackers?” She responded pompously. “Very well, I’ll go first followed by Sweetie Belle. Then I’ll go again followed by Scootaloo. After which Silver Spoon will go and then finally you’ll go.”

The Crusaders were puzzled. There was nothing in the tiny rulebook; they had ended up tearing to shreds about 2 versus 3 duels. Each filly racked their brain trying to figure if Diamond Tiara was somehow cheating them. Though this line of thought quickly gave way to the simple Meh we’ll crush them anyway and that was that.

“Also,” Diamond Tiara continued. “Since there’s three of you losers, Silver Spoon and I will each duel with 6000 lifepoints while you guys play with the normal 4000 lifepoints.”

“Whatever whatever whatever!” Scootaloo interjected. “Let’s get this show on the road while we’re all still young!” The orange pegasus jumped over to her spot on the field. Her fellow crusaders each followed suit.

“Humph,” Silver Spoon said with a yawn. “Fine, but don’t cry when DT and I leave you wimps in the dust.”

And with that each filly took her spot on the field. The duel disks each opened up with a subtle flash, as both teams gave the other a brief stare down. Finally Diamond Tiara began by gently pulling a card from her duel disk.

“It’s my turn now,” Diamond Tiara said with confidence. “Time for your nightmare to begin!”

Shiny Cards with Strong Effects

“I play the field spell card Diamond Palace,” Diamond Tiara said as she pushed the shiny card into her duel disk. The magic stone in the duel disk activated creating the illusion of Diamond Tiara’s card. It was huge building made of shimmering diamonds that sprung up from nowhere to now stand behind its tiny pink owner. The castle was so tall its highest towers were blocked by the clouds.

“What is that thing?” Scootaloo said trying not to be distracted.

“This is my Diamond Palace card,” Diamond Tiara responded proudly. Each turn its effect allows me to negate one attack and during my draw phase I can choose to add a “Diamond” monster from my deck rather than draw normally.”

“There’s gotta be some catch right?” Sweetie Belle said with a slight shake.

“Humph!” Diamond Tiara answered. “Well it does cost me 1000 lifepoints during each of my standby phases. If I for some reason can’t pay, my palace shall fall.”

The crusaders each let out a sigh of relief. However, this only further annoyed Diamond Tiara. She quickly placed another card on her duel disk creating a new illusion.

“I summon my Diamond Knight!” Diamond said as her monster appeared. It was a blue unicorn clad in diamond armor with a javelin in his mouth. The creature glared at the crusaders as its stats flashed randomly in the air. ATK: 2400 DEF: 2000

“No way,” Scootalou jumped in. “How is it so strong? You didn’t even tribute anything!”

“Heh, my Diamond Knight can only be summoned while my Palace is on the field.” Diamond Tiara countered. “If my Palace goes, it goes. Now I place one card facedown to end my turn.” A card appeared at Diamond Tiara’s hooves as she pushed the new card into her disk. “So what will you losers do now?”

Sweetie Belle tensed up. “It’s my time,” she shouted. “Draw!” The white unicorn pulled the card from her disk. A smile appeared on her face. “Hehehe, I’ll show you! I summon CopyPony!” A yellow pony sporting a blue mane and a question mark for a face appeared on Sweetie’s field. Its strange appearance caused many of the students watching the duel to shudder. ATK: ? DEF: ?

“What good is a monster with no attack points?” Silver Spoon said coldly.

“Oh it has attack points,” Sweetie Belle answered with a sneaky smile. “My CopyPony turns into a clone of your monster with the same attack and defense!” Just as Sweetie finished her speech, the strange question mark faced pony morphed into Diamond Tiara’s knight. The clone copied every detail right down to angry glare. “How’s that?!”

“Psh,” Diamond Tiara responded. “Its not good enough. I activate my trap card!” The card next to Diamond Tiara flipped over to reveal a frightening trap with the image of a pony falling into a massive hole.

“Wait what?” Sweetie Belle said confused.

“You fell for my Bottomless Trap Hole just like the fool I knew you were,” Diamond Tiara said with a cruel expression. “Now you’re CopyPony is not only destroyed, but also removed from the game permanently!” No sooner than when Diamond Tiara said that did a massive hole open under Sweetie Belle’s monster. The pony fell into the pit which then quickly closed up around it. The card on Sweetie’s duel disk then fell off the device and landed on the ground.

“Oh man,” Sweetie Belle said looking down at her fallen card. “I goofed on the first move.”

“Don’t worry! We’ve still got this,” Scootalou shouted over to her dismayed friend.

“Yeah this duel’s only started,” Applebloom threw in.

Sweetie looked up with newfound determination. “You guys are right!” She said fired up. “Now let’s see here.” Sweetie looked at the cards in her hand briefly before shoving two cards into her duel disk’s spell and trap zone. “I set two cards and that ends my turn!”

“About time,” Diamond Tiara said drawing her card. “I’ll use the effect of my Palace to add another Diamond Knight to my hand.” The crown wearing filly’s duel disk began to glow as the card she declared magically flew out of her deck automatically. “Next as my standby phase starts I special summon my Diamond Noble to the field in defense mode!” Diamond Tiara played another shining card on her duel disk. This one created a gray unicorn holding a book clad in diamond armor. ATK: 0 DEF: 2500

“Hay you can’t summon during the standby phase!” Scootaloo yelled.

“Oh please,” Diamond Tiara responded. “The rulebook was made to be laughed at. Besides if you let me finish then you would know that my Diamond Noble can be special summoned from my hand whenever I’m about to play lifepoints via the effect of Diamond Palace. And best of all while she remains on my side of the field the lifepoint cost of my palace becomes 0!”

The crusaders looked on with fright. Diamond Tiara’s cards were all shiny and worst of all strong. Each filly began to shiver as Diamond Tiara placed another card on her duel disk. “I summon my second Diamond Knight!” Diamond Tiara said proudly. Another angry javelin toting unicorn appeared on Diamond Tiara’s field. By this point the sheer aura of the pink filly’s area was becoming hard to stare at. Every card was shimmering in the sunlight and frankly the glare was getting painful. “I end my turn.”

“Alright it’s my turn!” Scootaloo pulled the card from her disk so fast she almost ripped it. “I summon Rainbow Wanderer to field in attack mode!” A rainbow colored pegasus similar to pony we all know appeared next to Scootalou. The only thing that would keep the copyright law ponies away would be that this rainbow pegasus was red rather than the normal blue. ATK: 1400 DEF: 1000

“Are you even trying?” Diamond Tiara barked at Scootaloo.

The orange pony gritted her teeth. “Just you wait,” Scootaloo whispered. “I place one card place down to end my turn!” A card appeared next to Scootalou and her monster and Silver Spoon began to draw her card.

“Finally now I can expedite winning this silly duel,” The glasses wearing gray filly declared.

“Oh and how are you gonna do that?” Sweetie Belle yelled back in defiance.

Silver Spoon smirked. “Let me show you. First of all, I activate my Silver Shield Spell card!” A huge shield appeared floating behind Silver Spoon. It was nowhere near as big as Diamond Tiara’s palace, but the whole magically floating part made the new card all the more eerie. Silver Spoon relished the fear in her opponent’s faces. “Silver Shield is a continuous spell card that can reduce effect damage to any player’s lifepoints to 0 once each turn.”

“Is there any drawback?” Scootaloo asked.

“Nope,” Silver Spoon happily answered. “Now allow me to finish my brilliant move.” The crusaders wanted to barf. The sooner they could win this duel and get their cutie marks the better. The librarian looking filly then placed two more cards in duel disk. “I activate Silver Cannon and Silver Call.” A big artillery weapon appeared next to Silver Spoon. It was a device the crusaders had never seen before. It had long celery stalk like part that seemed to be pointing at the crusaders. In particular it was targeting Applebloom.

“My Silver Cannon I’ll explain later,” Silver Spoon said proudly. “My Silver Call allows me to add any “Silver” Monster in my deck to my hoof. I’ll take my Silver Spirit.” The card just like before magically floated out of Spoon’s duel disk into her hoof. “Now I’ll summon my Silver Spirit!” A gray ghostly unicorn appeared on Silver Spoon’s field. It floated freely above the filly with its back legs replaced by a wispy tail. ATK: 0 DEF: 0

“Oh and you complaining about our monsters being weak?” Scootaloo jumped in.

Silver Spoon merely laughed. “Whenever I play my Silver Spirit, I can special summon every other Silver Spirit card from my hoof, deck, or graveyard.” The ghost pony split into three of itself. Each continued to wander aimlessly about with a look of terror and boredom on their spiritual faces. “Now for my Silver Cannon,” Silver Spoon pointed at the weird device. “With its effect by sending all the “Silver” monsters on my side of the field to the graveyard, I can inflict 800 points of damage for every monster lost!” The crusaders each cringed as the ghost ponies crowded into the celery stalk. The cannon lit up as the ghosts finally all entered the tip. “Take this Applebloom!” Silver Spoon yelled as the cannon fired a silver laser at the yellow filly.

“Ahhhhhhhh!” Applebloom screamed as she fell dramatically to the ground. The first rule in the dueling rulebook was to always be dramatic no matter what. The filly rose to her knees as a number appeared floating over her head. It was her lifepoint count and it was dropping fast. Lifepoints: 4000>1600

“You okay Applebloom?” Scootaloo asked as her friend struggled to stand.

“Yeah I’m fine,” Applebloom said with confidence. The farm pony had been practicing the art of stunt falls long before this dueling hype even started.

Silver Spoon scoffed. “Well you won’t be fine in a minute,” She said coldly. “I play Monster Reborn!” A weird and quite frankly stupid symbol appeared on Spoon’s field. It shimmered with a strange glow as Silver Spoon’s ghost pony spontaneously popped up back on the field. “Monster Reborn revives any lost monster and since I brought back my Silver Spirit I get all 3 again!” The ghost pony again split into 3 shadowy entities each freely roaming the field. “Now I can use the effect of Silver Cannon again,” Silver Spoon said smugly. “This means I can wipe out Applebloom and deal 800 damage to Scootalou.”

“Wait a second here!” Applebloom cut in. “I didn’t even get a turn yet!”

“Too bad loser,” Spoon retorted. “This is what happens when you face the elite! Now be gone! I activate my Silver Cannon again!” The ghosts crowded into Spoon’s cannon which again lit up. The device then fired another laser out of its celery stalk at Applebloom. The filly shut her eyes. Was it really over so soon?

The Terror of the Diamond Deck

The silver laser was just about to envelop Applebloom when Sweetie Belle dove in action. “I activate my trap card!” The white filly shouted as one of her set cards flipped up. “My Damage Sharer trap card halves the damage one player takes and then inflicts double that damage to my opponent!” A white veil flew from the trap card to block the blast heading toward Applebloom. The silver laser was reflected back at Silver Spoon. However, the gray filly didn’t even flinch. Her floating shield appeared in front of her to block the attack.

“Not a bad move,” Silver Spoon began. “But that was still a truly pathetic way to duel.”

“Sweetie Belle you saved me!” Applebloom shouted with joy.

“Of course I saved you,” Sweetie replied. “If we don’t all win this duel, then we can’t all get our cutie marks!”

“She’s right,” Scootaloo said. “We’ve got to step it up!”

Silver Spoon yawned. “You three really think you can actually beat us without losing anypony? That’s rich! Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon both laughed at the concept as Spoon set a card. “I place a card facedown to end my turn. There just try and fight back!” Applebloom’s Lifepoints: 1600>400

“Oh ah will,” Applebloom cut in. “It’s my turn draw!” The yellow filly like Scootaloo violently pulled out her card.

“I activated my trap card,” Silver Spoon said. Suddenly the same card she had just played flipped up. “My Silver Return trap lets me add one “Silver” monster from my graveyard to my hand. Take a guess what I’m bringing back.”

“That’s cheap,” Scootaloo yelled. “She’s trying to do that stupid cannon thing again!”

“Don’t worry Scout,” Applebloom jumped in. “I’ve got this! The filly shoved a card into her duel disk. “I play Mind Crush!” A blue card appeared with the image of a pony kneeling while a random hoof seemed to be frying its brain. “This card lets me guess a card in yer hand and if I’m right you lose it! Silver Spoon glared at her. “Hay Silver Spoon guess who’s gonna lose their Silver Spirit?”

As Applebloom said that the card in Silver Spoon’s hoof burst into flames. The gray filly clenched her shiny well maintained teeth. “Humph to even use such a garbage card,” She grunted.

Applebloom got excited. “Now I’ll play my Naturia Apple to the field! A huge smiling apple with arms and legs appeared on Applebloom’s field. Had it not been so silly looking one might recoil from the creature in pure terror. ATK: 1200 DEF: 500

“Is this really the best you losers can muster?” Diamond cut in.

“Calm down,” Applebloom said annoyed. “I’ll set two cards ta end mah turn.”

“Finally!” Diamond Tiara yelled. “I have a hoof-macure at 3 and I’m not gonna miss it wasting my time on you dregs! The crusaders each tensed up. Now what did the rulebook say about the duel devolving into a street fight again?
Diamond Tiara gently pulled her card before donning an evil grin. “I tribute both of my Diamond Knights to summon my Diamond Dragon!” The two knights both vanished as a new demon materialized on the field. The Diamond Dragon was huge. Its diamond ridden body flashed in the sun and its massive wings flapped so majestically that is almost seemed real. The crusaders stared in awe. The only dragon they had seen before this one was Spike and this dragon was a LOT bigger than him. ATK: 3000 DEF: 3000

“That’s… big,” Scootaloo said with an impossible to feign envy.

Diamond Tiara smirked. “And that’s not all,” Diamond Tiara laughed. “My Diamond Dragon gains 1000 attack points for each “Diamond” monster I sacrificed to summon it. The dragon began to shake as its muscles grew larger. It roared in pleasure as its diamonds turned into spikes all over its body. Some members of the audience closed their eyes in fear. The dragon, if not scary enough before, had now become terrifying. ATK: 5000

“That’s crazy,” Scootaloo yelled. “5000 attack points just like that?!”

“Yep,” Diamond Tiara said. “And it’s all coming your way Scootaloo!”

“Wait what?!” Scootaloo cried.

Diamond raised her hoof at the orange filly. “Go Diamond Dragon! Obliterate her Rainbow Wanderer with your Destructive Diamond Breath!” The dragon let out a blast of shining energy from its move at Scoot’s red rainbow pony. The orange filly didn’t bat an eye.

“Heh I activate my trap card!” Scootaloo said proudly. “Rainbow Armor!” Her set card flipped over to reveal a rainbow colored shield. “This card blocks an attack on a “Rainbow” monster and destroys the attacking monster! How do ya like that Diamond Tiara?!”

“It matters not,” The pink filly responded.

“Huh?” Scootalou said dumbstruck.

“My Diamond Dragon is immune to the effect of your little trap card,” Diamond Tiara said with the same evil grin. Diamond Dragon’s blast tore through Scootalou’s shield hitting the orange filly and her monster. A huge explosion occurred obscuring everyone’s vision. When this dust cleared Scootaloo was lying on the ground. Scootaloo’s Lifepoints: 4000>500

“Scootaloo!” Applebloom and Sweetie Belle screamed in unison.

“Are you okay?!” Applebloom shouted. The orange filly managed to stand.

“Yeah I’m fine,” Scootaloo said weakly. Her wings drooped as she looked down. The filly’s heart was wavering.
Sweetie Belle caught this feeling and sought to destroy it. “Hay Scoot remember were gonna get our dueling cutie marks from this?” Sweetie Belle chimed in. “You can’t give up now!”

The pegasus braced herself. “Your right Sweetie,” Scootaloo answered. “Thanks.”

The opposing team scoffed at the display of friendship. “Pathetic,” Diamond Tiara jumped in. “If you guys honestly think you still have a chance just watch this!” Diamond Tiara pushed another card into her duel disk. A spell card with a lightning bolt at the top appeared on the field. Applebloom wanted to ask how she played the spell card during her battlephase, but decided against it. She didn’t want Diamond Tiara to lecture her again.

The pink filly laughed as she saw the confusion on Applebloom’s face. “This quick play spell card is called Diamond Double Attack! By reducing my “Diamond” Dragon’s attack points by half, it can attack again!” The Diamond Dragon grew small though it was still much bigger than the schoolhouse. ATK: 2500

“No way!” Applebloom shouted.

“Yes way,” Diamond Tiara responded. “Now there’s only one question left. Which of you punks do I finish off first?”

Applebloom and Scootaloo each exchanged glances before gulping. Neither pony could take the attack from Diamond Tiara’s dragon. The pompous filly laughed as she contemplated her attack. Tiara spoke her thoughts aloud in an obnoxious and overly dramatic fashion. Maybe she too had read the rulebook.

“On the one hand I could finish off Scootaloser with one clean direct attack, but I could also wipe out Applebother by destroying that eyesore of a monster. Hmm decisions decisions. Oh I know! Hay Sweetie Belle which of your friends should I defeat first?”

Sweetie Belle glared at Diamond Tiara. “Just attack already,” Sweetie said angrily. Both of her fellow Crusaders grimaced. It was about to end. Their dreams of a dueling cutie mark were about to end just like that.

Diamond Tiara blinked before opening her eyes with what seemed like a sudden epiphany. She finally made her decision. “Well Scootaloser it’s been real.”

Making Amends

Diamond Dragon fired a shimmering blast at Scootaloo. The orange pegasus shut her eyes in fear. Her dueling career was over.

“I activate a trap card!” The sound drew gasps from the crowd of onlookers and from Diamond Tiara. Scootaloo opened her eyes to see Sweetie Belle staring bravely as the blast previously aimed at Scootalou now careened toward her.

The resulting explosion enveloped the field in a dust storm. Scootaloo and Applebloom both covered their faces with their hooves. Each tried desperately to make out their friend in the haze. What did Sweetie Belle just do?

As the smoke cleared the white filly came into view. She stood with a serious look on her face. Sweetie Belle let out a few heavy breaths as the dropping numbers appeared over her head. Sweetie Belle’s Lifepoints: 4000>1500

Diamond Tiara pouted. “How did you redirect my attack?” She shouted with contempt. “My Diamond Dragon is immune to trap cards!”

Sweetie Belle grinned as her trap card began to dissipate. “My Astral Absorption trap card makes so any damage from a direct attack this turn is inflicted to my lifepoints. Also I get to draw one card each time I take damage.” Sweetie Belle slowly drew a card from her deck. The duel may be a battle of illusions, but the white filly was still growing weaker and weaker with every move.

“What a pitiful excuse for a card,” Diamond Tiara retorted. “I mean do you honestly believe you can defeat us with your garbage cards?!”

“Hay Sweetie Belle,” Silver Spoon shouted. Sweetie looked over to her bespectacled adversary. “One unicorn to another, this duel is a waste of time.” Sweetie shot Silver Spoon a death glare, but the look was clearly not very effective as the gray filly continued her tirade. “You fools have used nothing, but crummy common cards. I’ve been checking the value of each of your cards while it wasn’t my turn in this issue of duelists monthly and frankly I’m repulsed. All of your decks are nothing more than compilations of junk cards you probably just pulled from a pack yesterday!” The Crusaders each blushed. Maybe Silver Spoon’s cutie mark somehow meant she could read minds. “DT and my cards are all secret editions or ghost rares. We got our daddies to spare no expense to provide us each the most expensive decks in all of Equestria! There’s no way you three can win. Just give up now and maybe we’ll let you leave quietly.”

Silver Spoon’s cruel words hit Scootaloo and Applebloom hard. It was true. They had made their decks purely from cards they received just yesterday. Only 3 of their cards were shiny and none of them could be used in the trio’s decks. Each filly had assembled the cards they liked into a somewhat coherent deck and then went to work. The only real reason that they were able to defeat their other classmates was that everypony else had done the same thing.

Snips had a scissors deck, Snails a snail deck and so on and so on. The Crusaders were now faced with two seeming perfect decks ran by their two worst enemies. Scootaloo and Applebloom both began to shudder. They were about to be embarrassed in a duel in front of their whole class. And worst of all their dueling cutie marks were virtually a pipe dream.

“No!” Sweetie Belle yelled at the top of her lungs. The passion in her voice made her teammates look up and caused her opponents to cringe. “Were Cutie Mark Crusaders! And when were Crusading for our Cutie Marks, WE NEVER GIVE IN!”

Scootaloo and Applebloom both started smiling. She was right. It didn’t matter if their cards were rarer. They had the drive to win this battle. Besides there was no way they’d concede to the likes of Tiara and Spoon, the two ponies responsible for the vast amount of their suffering. If there was ever a time to not give up, this was it.

“It’s my turn!” Sweetie Belle ripped a card from her duel disk. She looked over at her hoof impatiently. Now was the time to strike back. “I summon my Pony Samurai!” A tan pony with a black mane appeared in front of Sweetie Belle. The pony was biting on the hilt of a long katana. ATK:1600 DEF:1000

“Here I go," Sweetie Belle shouted. "I attack Silver Spoon directly with my Samurai!” The sword wielding pony took off in Silver Spoon’s direction. The gray filly glanced over to Diamond Tiara who smirked with glee.

The pink filly rose her hoof to point at the palace towering behind her. “You dunce!” Diamond Tiara yelled. “With the effect of my palace I can negate an attack each turn! Your puny samurai is useless!” A beam of light shot from the palace as Diamond Tiara spoke. The light enveloped the pony samurai who in response abandoned her attack. Scootaloo and Applebloom were both saddened, but Sweetie Belle was calm.

“I hoped you’d do that,” Sweetie Belle said.

“What?” Diamond Tiara responded.

Sweetie Belle shoved another card into her duel disk. “I activate my quick play spell card Battle Junky!” Another lightning bolt marked card appeared on the field. This card’s image was two ponies boxing while smiling a little bit too happily. “If a battle is negated, then you take 1000 points of effect damage.”

Silver Spoon began to laugh. “Are you kidding?” She mused. “My Silver Shield blocks an instance of effect damage every turn!” The floating shield flew over toward Sweetie Belle’s spell card. Sweetie grinned triumphantly. Silver Spoon grew confused especially when no blast was fired from the white filly’s spell card.

“Or I can activate the second effect of Battle Junky to let me draw 1 card,” Sweetie Belle said with a smile. Silver Spoon growled. Her shield flew back to its position as Sweetie Belle’s spell card started to glow. The top card of her deck also began to glow. Sweetie looked at the card trying not to tear up. There’s only one card that might make this right she thought. With that Sweetie Belle drew her card.

A half hearted smile appeared on her face as she momentarily stared at her card. It was like a long lost friend had returned to her. It was now or never. The filly knew she had to make amends. “I set two cards,” Sweetie Belle said sliding both the cards in her hoof into her duel disk. “I end my turn.” Sweetie Belle was serious, but underneath her tough expression was a mountain of sorrow.

Diamond Tiara pulled her card. “Well here am I again with the same dilemma,” Diamond Tiara jeered. “I could thrash any of you losers with my Diamond Dragon! Who do you want to beat Silver Spoon?”

The gray pony glared at Sweetie Belle. “Finish off one of those two,” Silver Spoon said while pointing at Scootaloo and Applebloom. “I want to be the one to finish off Sweetie Butt.”

Sweetie Belle smiled again. “Sorry, but I’ll make the choice for you this time Diamond Tiara,” Sweetie Belle jumped in.

“What’s that?” Diamond Tiara said as Sweetie’s facedown card flipped up. The new card was a trap depicting two strange creatures both pointing at themselves while wearing obnoxious smiles.

“My Taunt trap card makes it so I choose the only monster you can attack this turn,” Sweetie Belle said proudly. Everypony looked on with a mix of fear and confusion at what Sweetie Belle did next. She pointed at her own Pony Samurai while maintaining a smile. “Well Diamond Tiara, what’re you waiting for?”

Applebloom and Scootaloo were dumfounded. Why was Sweetie putting herself in harm’s way? She was the driving force behind this whole crusade. Now she was about to lose. Suddenly both fillies then remembered Sweetie Belle’s other set card. I get it they both rationalized. She must have some trap facedown to save herself!

Diamond Tiara clenched her teeth. How dare this upstart attempt to control her? This whole duel was a waste of her time to begin with, but what made her the most peeved was Sweetie Belle’s face. She was still smiling as her defeat was imminent. Unacceptable! Her rage boiled over as Diamond Tiara stomped on the ground.

“Ok then Sweetie Dolt!” Diamond Tiara shouted. “If you want to lose first, then I’ll happily acquiesce!” Diamond Tiara raised her hoof to point at Sweetie Belle. “Hay Diamond Dragon! Obliterate that eyesore and her Pony Samurai right now!” The Diamond Dragon locked eyes with Sweetie Belle as it inhaled. Even while facing the dragon’s glare Sweetie maintained her confident smile. Diamond Tiara saw this confidence and she began to burn with fury. “Get lost already! Go Destructive Diamond Breath!”

The Diamond Dragon let loose another shimmering blast towards Sweetie and her monster. Scootaloo and Applebloom both looked on getting psyched for their friend’s trap card. However as the diamond blast erupted over Sweetie’s field the pair’s excitement quickly gave way to total terror.

The True Reason

YESTERDAY

“This is stupid Sweetie Belle,” Scootaloo said as she struggled to put on her duel disk.

“What are you talking about?” Sweetie responded. “This is the best idea ever!”

“Ah don’t know about that,” Applebloom cut in. “I mean don’t we look just a little bit silly with these weird things on her legs.”

Sweetie laughed. “No no no, guys not only are these duel disk fashionable, but they’ll get us our cutie marks in no time flat!”

“What does a dueling cutie mark even look like?” Scootalou retorted.

“I don’t know,” Sweetie Belle responded. “Probably like a card or something.”

“This is bunk,” Scootaloo shot back. “I don’t think I even want a card on my flank!”

“Yeah I’m not so sure about this Sweetie Belle,” Applebloom said. “Ah mean does anypony even still play this game?”

Sweetie Belle kept her smile large as she strapped on her duel disk. “I already told you guys. This is retro now! Besides after we get our dueling cutie marks people will pay just to watch us duel! We’ll have our cutie marks and be rich in a snap." The two dissenting fillies both pouted. Sweetie looked confused for a second before finally letting out a sigh. “Look guys I know this is weird idea, but can you please just trust me?”

Both fillies exchanged glances. They had “just trusted” Sweetie Belle numerous times in the past with questionable results. Still their friend seemed dead set on this new plan and neither pony wanted to be the party pooper. Scootaloo and Applebloom both smiled. “Alright Sweetie Belle, we trust ya,” Applebloom said happily.

“Yeah,” Scootaloo jumped in. “It may have been expensive to get all this stuff, but if this dueling thing does pan out, then we’ll finally have our cutie marks!”

The trio pounded their hooves together. Sweetie Belle quickly wiped away a tear from her eye. They still trust me she thought even after all this time.

The smoke began to clear. Everypony was trying to see what Sweetie Belle had done to stave off Diamond Tiara’s attack. None were more concerned than Scootaloo and Applebloom. Each filly stared in their friend’s direction looking for a sign of life. Sadly there was none.

Sweetie Belle was laying face first on the ground. Her monster was destroyed and her last card on which all hopes of her survival had been pinned was left unopened. Both fillies began to tear up. Their dreams were crushed. This crazy fantasy had finally been revealed as foolish pipedream. Sweetie Belle’s Lifepoints: 1500>0

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon burst into laughter. “At last it’s finally over!” Diamond Tiara chuckled.

“Exactly it was only a matter of time,” Silver Spoon said. “I told you this duel was a farce!”

“I mean did you losers ever really think you could beat Spoon and me?!” Diamond Tiara shouted. The pair of fillies continued to laugh obnoxiously as Scootaloo and Applebloom each began to shrug. It’s over they thought. We should just give up before we get embarrassed even worse.

“Hold it.” Everypony turned to see Sweetie Belle struggling to stand. “It’s not over yet,” She managed to say. Her facedown slowly revealed itself. It was a shining card the likes of which no pony had ever seen before. The image on the card showed three hooves united in an epic brohoof.

Diamond Tiara pointed at Sweetie Belle and screamed. “WHAT IS THAT CARD?!”

“Yeah,” Silver Spoon said as she hurriedly flipped the pages in her magazine. “I’ve kept an archive of all ghost rare and secret rare cards in existence, but I’ve never seen that card before!”

“Hay Sweetie Belle what is that card?” Scootaloo cut in.

“Yeah,” Applebloom said. “You never showed us that card before.”

Sweetie Belle closed her eyes. “Well guys I wasn’t totally honest with you,” She said fighting back tears.”

“What do you mean?” Scootaloo responded.

“Well,” Sweetie Belle began. “The reason I wanted us to become Cutie Mark Crusader Duelists so badly is that well… I made a card.”

“You what?!” Applebloom yelled. Gasps could be heard from the crowd.

“It all started a couple months ago,” Sweetie Belle started. “I was cleaning up Rarity Boutique when I found this magazine lying in the corner. It said, Design your own duel monsters card and maybe it’ll get made into a real card! I was bored so I entered the contest. The problem was I didn’t have any inspiration, so I just drew a picture of us pounding our hooves and mailed in the drawing. Then two days ago I checked the mail box and found the cards waiting for me. They were so shiny and cool. I really wanted to show you guys, but I didn’t want you to think that I was an egghead. So I thought the only way I could show you the card, was if we all became duelists.”

“So this wasn’t about the Cutie Marks?” Scootaloo whimpered.

“It was about the marks!” Sweetie Belle answered. “But it was also about finding an excuse to give you each these.” Sweetie Belle pulled two cards from a pocket on her duel disk. In her hand there were two more copies of the mysterious shining brohoof card. Scootaloo and Applebloom stared at the shiny cards their friend had gotten for them. Any feelings of anger in their hearts vanished. Each now wanted to run over and just give Sweetie a hug.

“Uh hello!” Diamond Tiara yelled at her wide-eyed opponents. “First of all, had I known about this little contest I would’ve won it in an instant with my award winning artistic skills. Second what does it even matter? Sweetie’s lifepoints are zero so she can’t activate her card anyway.”

Sweetie Belle smiled. “That’s where you’re wrong Diamond Tiara,” she said coolly.

“What!” Diamond Tiara shouted as she glared at Sweetie Belle.

“My trap card is called Crusaders Forever!” Sweetie Belle said as she pointed proudly at the glowing card. “Its special effect only activates when my lifepoints hit zero. And that effect removes from play all cards on your side of the field!”

“No way!” Diamond Tiara shouted.

“That’s impossible!” Silver Spoon screamed. However just as the pair looked up they could see each of their cards beginning to vanish. Diamond Tiara’s palace crumbled and Silver Spoon’s Shield tore in two. Both of Tiara’s monsters also dropped to their knees before disappearing completely.

Sweetie Belle looked up to the sky before turning to her fellow crusader. “Guys I may have let you down, but just do me a favor and crush these jerks for me.”

Scootaloo couldn’t help, but smile. “Eh why not?” She said casually. “I mean regardless of the situation I can’t let Diamond Tiara beat me!”

“Don’t worry about us Sweetie Belle,” Applebloom jumped in. “This duel’s in the bag.”

“Excuse me!” Diamond Tiara shouted while stomping the ground. “We both still have all 6000 of our lifepoints! Our decks are still filled with rare powerful cards while your decks are still full of trash!” Diamond Tiara raised her head up high. “This duel belongs to us. Sweetie’s little gambit was a merely a waste of time!”

“Well if you’re so sure about that end your turn!” Scootaloo responded.

Diamond Tiara fumed. “FINE IT’S YOUR STINKING TURN ALREADY!” The pink filly screamed.

“Bout time,” Scootaloo said as she drew her card. “Time to finally strike back. Hay Applebloom ready to win this little duel.”

“Ah sure am!” Applebloom answered cheerfully.

“Has everypony lost their mind!?” Diamond Tiara shouted.

“Yeah,” Silver Spoon cut in. “There’s very little chance a garbage deck like yours could ever inflict 6000 points of damage in one turn.”

“Is that so?” Scootaloo answered cockily. She took a quick look at her cards before shooting a confident smile over to Silver Spoon. “Congratulations Spoon! You just bought yourself a one way ticket to loserburg!”

Two Turns to Change History

Scootaloo had 5 cards in her hand and one turn to make a miracle. Everypony had their eyes on her as she took one last look at her cards. The orange filly finally turned to proudly face her opponents. “Alright Silver Spoon here I come.”

“Psh,” the gray filly answered. “Just try it, there’s no way you can win!” Silver Spoon had responded with confidence, but something deep inside of her made her shudder. What was Scootaloo going to do and would it really defeat her so easily? The gray filly clenched her teeth as Scootaloo shoved the first card into her duel disk.

“First card!” Scootaloo shouted. “The spell Rainbow Return!” A multicolored aura appeared into front of Scootalou. The onlookers all stared in wonder, even Diamond Tiara and Silver’s jaws dropped. As the aura grew it took on the form of a pegasus. The light flashed for a moment before the new shape fully materialized. It was Scootaloo’s destroyed monster the Rainbow Wanderer. “This card brings back a monster from my graveyard and now I use the effect of my Wanderer.” Scootaloo pointed at her monster as the red pegasus began to glow.

Diamond Tiara scoffed. “What could that weak card possibly do?!”

Scootaloo smiled. “Well when my Wanderer gets special summoned, I can special summon another “Rainbow” monster from my hoof,” As Scootalou said this she slammed another card on her duel disk. “I play my second card Rainbow Strider!” A Green Pegasus also with a rainbow mane appeared on the field. The two ponies both flew up and glared down at Silver Spoon. ATK: 1200 DEF: 500

Silver Spoon tensed up. “What does it matter?” She growled. “Your monsters only have 2700 attack points together! That’s not even half of my lifepoints!” The gray filly tried to calm down, but she couldn’t. Scootaloo’s smile was too large for Spoon to even relax for a minute.

“My Third Card is another monster,” Scootaloo said proudly. “I play Rainbow Glider!” A Tan colored pegasus sporting the team’s rainbow mane materialized on the field. The new pony flew up to join her fellow pegasi. The newly formed trio now each raised a hoof to point at Silver Spoon. The gray filly gulped. The gaze the monsters gave her was unnerving to say the least. ATK: 1400 DEF: 400

Diamond Tiara wasn’t impressed. “So what? This is still just a waste of time!” She yelled. Diamond Tiara turned to her startled friend. “Get a grip already! Her weak monsters can’t actually beat you!” Spoon stared into Tiara’s eyes trying to believe what she said, but her moment’s reprise was quickly shattered.

“Wrong!” Scootaloo shouted shoving another card in her duel disk. “My fourth card the continuous spell card Rainbow Burst!” A spell card appeared on the field with an image of a rainbow colored explosion. The unicorns stared in confusion. “Scootaloo savored the moment. Now was the time for a tiny bit of revenge.

“My Rainbow Burst increases the attack points of each of my “Rainbow” monsters by 300 points for each “Rainbow” monster I have on the field. This means each of my monsters gains… um… uh.” Scootaloo tried to quickly count on her hooves with no success.

“Your monsters all gain 900 attack points,” Applebloom cut in.

“Yeah that’s it!” Scootaloo shouted back. Rainbow Wanderer’s ATK: 1500>2400, Rainbow Strider’s ATK: 1200>2100, Rainbow Glider’s ATK: 1400>2300.

“THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE!” Silver Spoon screamed.

“Wait why?” Diamond Tiara cut in.

“With all that Attack,” Silver Spoon whimpered “She can deal me 6800 points of damage!”

“That’s right Spoon!” Scootaloo yelled back. The pegasi trio all began to glow. Scootaloo stood up on her hind legs. She pointed at Silver Spoon and shouted with a passionate voice. “Go get er guys! Sonic Rainburst!”

The pegasi flew up a few stories at lightning speed before all turning to dive. The trio in unison began to speed toward Silver Spoon. As they flew down the ponies fused into a solid rainbow beam. The crowd, Applebloom and Diamond Tiara all stood stunned.

But one pony wasn’t merely taken by the light show. Silver Spoon wasn’t just stunned she was awestruck. Her deck cost thousands of bits and for what. To lose. To lose these guys? No. “NOOOOOOOOOOOOO,” Spoon screamed as the rainbow careened into her. The explosion caused a burst of light that forced most to look away. A huge dust cloud formed, but like the former dust clouds it quickly dispersed.

“SILVER SPOON!” Diamond Tiara yelled. However as the dust cleared, Spoon was revealed. The gray filly was lying on her back with a pile of shining cards thrown around her. The numbers floated around Silver Spoon until they quickly became the same digit. Zero. Her duel disk beeped a few times before its lights grew dark. Silver Spoon’s Lifepoints: 6000>0

Silver Spoon made a grumbling noise. “I… I… don’t believe,” She managed to say. Spoon turned to look at Diamond Tiara. “I’m sorry DT… I couldn’t do anything.”

Diamond Tiara’s face which should’ve showed concern was instead full of rage. “WHATEVER!” She shouted turning away from her fallen comrade. “Spoon may be weak enough to lose to you punks, but could never-“

“Hold it!” Applebloom cut in.

Diamond Tiara shot the yellow filly a look of scorn. “WHAT?!” She shouted back.

“Well since Silver Spoon just lost, by the turn rules you made guess who gets to go next,” Applebloom said with a raised eyebrow. Diamond Tiara gasped. It was true. After Scootaloo would be Silver Spoon and with Silver Spoon gone that would mean-

Applebloom waved her hoof in the air. Diamond Tiara scowled. “Well,” She scoffed. “There’s no way you could possibly pull off a-“

“Just watch us!” Applebloom shouted.

“Us?” Diamond Tiara responded flustered.

“You got that right!” Scootaloo said as she shoved her last card into her duel disk. “I’ll leave it to you Applebloom.”

“Got it!” The yellow filly said as she drew her card.

“I refuse to believe you both have a strategy to deal another 6000 points of damage!” Diamond Tiara shouted.

“Well I couldn’t do it by myself,” Applebloom said casually. “But with Scoot’s help.”

“This duel’s about to wrap up!” Scootaloo said revealing her facedown card. “I play fifth card! My trap card Rainbow Typhoon!” The rainbow mane pegasi flew into a massive twister. The gale began to envelop Diamond Tiara. The pink filly looked away as her the wind began to blind her vision.

“WHAT IS THIS NONSENSE?!” She shouted at the orange filly.

“My fifth card Rainbow Typhoon destroys all my “Rainbow” monsters,” Scootaloo said with eyes closed. “But in exchange it deals you.” She opened her eyes and smiled. “600 damage for each monster destroyed!”

"Ugh! Your'e Kidding me!” Diamond Tiara yelled as the winds began to subside. The numbers appeared over her head. Diamond Tiara looked up with rage as her lifepoints dropped before her eyes. Diamond Tiara’s Lifepoints: 6000>4200

“Now allow me to finish dis little shindig!” Applebloom jumped in. “I activate my trap card Natura Harvest!” The trap flipped over on Applebloom’s field. Its image depicted a huge party of happy smiling plants all dancing around. Diamond Tiara growled in confusion. This can’t be real she thought. Applebloom stood up on two legs and pat the floating illusion. “This little guy makes me lose mah hand, but in exchange ah can special summon up to two copies of any “Natura” monster from mah deck with their attack halved. Two more strange looking apple creatures sprung from the earth on to Applebloom’s field. Each smiled and jumped about. The existing Natura Apple quickly joined them. ATK: 600 DEF: 500

Diamond Tiara brushed herself off and pleasantly sighed. “Wow I was almost worried for a second there,” She happily condescended. “But with that last move you quite literally ended any chance of beating me. Oh well I mean should I expect from losers like you!”

“Hay Diamond Tiara,” Applebloom said.

“What?” She answered calmly.

“You talk WAY too much,” Applebloom said as her second card flipped up.

Diamond Tiara’s face froze. The trap that was on the field depicted the same happy plants from before each with huge muscles making threatening faces. Applebloom chuckled a bit. “This card’s called Natura Bulk Up, It doubles the attack of all my “Natura” monsters, but then removes em from play when ah end my turn. Not that I’ll be ending mah turn again.” ATK:2400, ATK:1200, ATK:1200

Diamond Tiara began to back away. “No no no this it just this can’t be,” Soon the pony’s professional manner finally faded and she let out a true scream. “THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE! I CAN’T LOSE TO YOU CUTIE MARKLESS DEGENERATES!”

Applebloom jumped back to her hind legs to mirror Scootalou’s pose. “Well this is real! Go! APPLES CHARGE!” The silly weird apple creatures all suddenly gained serious expressions and huge muscles to replace their puny stem limbs. Each apple turned toward Diamond Tiara. The menacing produce walked over to the now wide-eyed filly. Then group of super fruit in the most professional manner possible pimpslapped Tiara into next week.

“AHHHHHHHHHH!” She screamed as the mental shock of the illusion made her fall backwards. “Ugh!” Diamond Tiara said as landed on the ground. The pink filly writhed in dirt for a moment before opening her eyes to see the numbers float over her head. Diamond Tiara’s Lifepoints: 0. The filly let out one final grunt of disdain before closing her eyes and wallowing in defeat.

“We won!” Applebloom shouted as Scootalou jumped in the air. The crowd of onlookers cheered wildly.
“It’s finally over!” The orange filly yelled with joy. Suddenly each filly remembered their fallen comrade. They rushed over to Sweetie Belle’s side.

“Sweetie Belle we won!” Scootaloo said as they looked down on their still grounded friend.

“Yeah and we could never have won if ya didn’t have that fancy card ya made,” Applebloom chimed in.
However, Sweetie Belle was barely able to look up. “You mean you’re not mad at me for tricking you into dueling?”

“Of course not!” Applebloom sang.

“Yeah this may be nerdy, but who cares? Were still the best!” Scootaloo said.

Applebloom and Scootalou helped Sweetie back onto her feet. “Thanks guys” she said again wiping away a tear. “Here, before I forget to give these to you.” The white filly handed the gleaming copies of her personal trap card to her two friends. Each filly happily took the card and stared at its glow in the sunlight.

They all smiled with joy. It was finally done. The ordeal was over. Their gauntlet walked. Now the Cutie Mark Crusaders each shared a common thought. There was still one thing left to check…

Epilogue

Ten years later

“Well bob I never thought I’d see the day,” A pony in a suit said while speaking into a microphone.

“I know Jared,” A pony sitting next to him answered quickly. “I never thought I’d see the day where three mares with the same cutie mark controlled the dueling circuit to such an amazing degree!”

“To think these were once just little fillies using decks made out of random commons!” Jared chimed in. “And now the Cutie Mark Crusaders are the foremost champions of dueling in Equestria!”

“I still remember a day when nopony even remembered this game still existed Bob, but now thanks to the Crusaders dueling has once again become awesome!”

“Wait Jared! Bob cut in. “It appears Sweetie Belle is approaching her mic to say something to this crowd!”

Sweetie Belle walked casually over to her microphone. The crowd roared in approval “Ahem,” She began. “Fillies and Gentlecolts! ARE YOU READY TO DUEL?!”