Episode 1: Heart Of The Cards
Long ago, when the pyramids were still young, Egyptian queens played a game of great, and terrible power. But these shadow games erupted into a war that threatened to destroy the entire world, until a brave, and powerful pharaoh locked the magic away, imprisoned within the mystical millennium items. Now, 5000 years later a filly named Twilight unlocks the secret of the millennium puzzle. She is infused with ancient magical energies, for destiny has chosen her to defend the world from the return of the shadow games, just as the brave pharaoh did, 5000 years ago.
Intro
--
"Hey Rainbow, Earth to Rainbow." said Twilight, trying to get her friend's attention, "Are you in there? It's your turn."
"Aww. Isn't she cute when she's thinking." said Applejack, wrapping her right foreleg around Rainbow.
"Hey Applejack. Twilight here's teaching me how to play duel monsters." Rainbow said.
"Drooling monster?" asked Applejack.
"Duel monsters ya nimrod." Rainbow said, pushing Applejack off her.
"Sheesh." said Applejack as she regained her balance.
"They've been at it for hours. Rainbow's starting to get the hang of the game, but Twilight's like an expert." said Pinkie.
"Okay Twilight, it's time to duel." said Rainbow, setting down a card with 800 attack points.
"See, each card has an attack number, and a defense number. First person to eliminate their opponent's life points wins the duel." Pinkie explained.
"Pretty good move, huh Twilight?" said Rainbow.
"Yup. Pretty good move." said Twilight, taking a card out of her hoof. "But not good enough." she said, laying down a card that had 1500 attack.
"What! Thanks a lot." said Rainbow, "A card that powerful totally wipes me out."
'Woah. You stink at this game Rainbow." said Applejack.
"Ah, you did fine Rainbow." said Twilight, "I just have better cards. See, my grandpa owns a game shop, and I get all my best cards from him."
"Your own game shop! What are we waiting for, let's go." said Rainbow, excited.
"Okay." agreed Twilight, "Maybe I can even get my grandpa to show us this super rare card he's got." A few seats away from them someone else noticed what Twilight said.
Hmm. Rare card? Wondered Trixie. Could they have found the card that I've been searching for?
--
A bell rang as Twilight, and the others entered a store. "Grandpa! I'm home!" called Twilight.
"And I see you brought company." said the tan stallion with a gray mane, behind the counter.
"Gramps, could you show my friends your awesome super rare card?" Twilight asked him.
"Rare card? My special card? Hmm." he pondered.
"Please, please." said Twilight.
"Pretty please." said Rainbow.
"Hmm. Ha ha. How can I refuse?" said Twilight's grandpa. "You kids are in for a treat. I don't take this card out too often." he said, setting a box on the counter. "Ready? Here it is." he said, holding up a card. The image on it was of a dragon. "The Blue-Eyes White Dragon. So rare, so powerful I never let it leave my hoofs." he said.
"Awesome." said Rainbow.
"Doesn't look all that special to me." said Applejack, taking it.
"Ah! This card is priceless." said Twilight's grandpa, taking it back, "There are only four of them in all the world."
"Speaking of priceless, I'm ready to trade." said Rainbow.
"Not for this card." he said.
"Huh. Naw, I didn't mean that card." said Rainbow, "I meant show me some other cool cards to get me started." Just then the shop's bell rang as a light blue mare in a school uniform stepped in.
"Hello can I help you?" Twilight's grandpa asked her. They all turned around to see the new arrival.
"If you can't it certainly wouldn't surprise me." said the blue mare.
"Seto Trixie." said Twilight.
"Trixie!" exclaimed Rainbow.
"Doesn't she have a big fancy company to run? What's she doing down here?" wondered Applejack.
"Not that it's any of your business, but I came to see the card." said Trixie.
"Hey are you into duel monsters too?" asked Rainbow, "This is perfect. Maybe we could all duel together some time."
"Me? Duel you? I would have more of a challenge playing solitaire." said Trixie, walking in front of them.
"What?" said Rainbow.
"I am the number one ranked duelist in the country, and the favorite to win the duel monsters championship." said Trixie, "Heh. You wouldn't last two minutes in a duel against me."
"Ooo I'm shaking. Maybe you'd like to settle this with hooves, instead of cards." said Rainbow.
"Woah. Take it easy Rainbow." Twilight said.
"But Twilight, Trixie's askin' for it." said Rainbow.
"Now does this shop have any worthwhile cards or not?" asked Trixie. Just then her eyes widened a fraction as she spotted the Blue-Eyes White Dragon. She pushed her way past the others, and to the counter. "Can it be? The Blue-Eyes White Dragon in a dump like this?" Trixie said. It is. The card I've been searching for. She thought.
"Well enough window shopping. Is there anything else I can help you with?" asked Twilight's grandpa as he closed the box he had his card in. Trixie scowled. She slammed a briefcase onto the counter, opened it, and turned it towards him. They gasped at the amount of cards in the briefcase.
"Listen old man. Give me your Blue-Eyes White Dragon card, and I'll trade you all of these." Trixie said.
"Woah." they all said.
"Ah, nice. But no thanks." said Twilight's grandpa.
"Huh?" they said.
"Ugh. Fine. If you won't trade, then maybe you'll sell it. Name your price. I can pay anything you ask." said Trixie.
"I'm sure you could." said Twilight's grandpa, "But this card is worth more to me than you could ever offer. Not because of it's power, or because it's so rare, but because of what it means to me.This card was given to me by a dear friend. And so I treasure this card as I do that friend. So parting with it is completely out of the question."
No! Thought Trixie.
"You'd feel the same, even if it were a common card, right Grandpa?" asked Twilight.
"Exactly." he said, "You see, this precious card has bonded with my heart."
"Fine." said Trixie, slamming the briefcase closed. "I've heard enough of your nonsense. Senile old fool." she said, walking out. Heart of the cards. Ridiculous. Thought Trixie as her vehicle drove off. These cards are all about power. And one way or the other, his Blue-Eyes White Dragon card will be mine. "Gentlecolts, there's a little something I'd like for you to pick up for me at the game shop." said Trixie once she was inside her building. "Gladly Master Trixie." said another voice.
--
Twilight's grandpa was cleaning the shop when he heard the door open. "Good mornin'." he said, turning around. "Hmm." he said, when he saw three stallions in black suits, standing in the doorway.
"My master, Seto Trixie challenges you to a duel." said the one in the middle, "You will come with us now."
"And if I were to decline?" he asked.
"I'm afraid I must 'insist'." the one in the middle told him.
Young Trixie doesn't understand. He thought. I'll teach her about the heart of the cards.
--
"Man, I hope he has some cool cards today." said Rainbow.
"Me too." agreed Twilight.
"Yeah." agreed Pinkie, and Applejack.
"Okay Gramps, I'm back to get more cards!" called out Rainbow, as they entered the shop. "Hey. Hey Gramps!" she called out again.
"Grandpa, I'm home." called out Twilight.
"Maybe he went out." suggested Pinkie.
"Maybe." agreed Rainbow, "But why would he leave the door unlocked?" Just then the phone ringed.
"Hello, Game Shop." said Twilight, answering the phone.
"Ah, Twilight, perfect." said a familiar voice.
"Trixie!" Twilight said.
"Your grandfather's here visiting, but he's not feeling well. Why don't you come by my office, and pick him up." said Trixie before hanging up.
"Trixie! What have you done Trixie?!" she asked.
--
Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack, and Pinkie ran into Trixie corporation, and into an elevator. When the elevator opened on the top floor, they saw Twilight's grandpa collapsed on the ground. "Grandpa!" Twilight cried out, running to him. "Grandpa are you okay?" she asked.
"Twilight, I failed." he said, "I wanted to teach that girl, Trixie, a lesson about the heart of the cards, but I lost."
"Grandpa." Twilight said.
"How's the old man feeling, hmm?" asked Trixie, standing in a doorway. Everyone turned towards her.
"Trixie, you sleaze! What have you done to him?" asked Rainbow.
"We had a duel, that's all." said Trixie, "With each of us putting up our most valuable card as the prize. But I guess that playing against a champion such as myself was just too much stimulation for the old fool."
"Trixie! You should be ashamed of yourself." said Pinkie.
"It was fair. And look at the sweet prize I won." said Trixie, taking a Blue-Eyes White Dragon card out, and tearing it in half, making them all gasp.
"Grandpa's most treasured card." said Twilight.
"Yes, the Blue-Eyes White Dragon is a rare and powerful card, and this one will never be used against me." said Trixie.
"Ah. My Blue-Eyes White Dragon. My treasure." said Twilight's grandpa, before wincing.
"Grandpa hold on." Twilight said, "How could you do such a thing?"
"Twilight, here, take this." her grandpa said, holding a deck of cards.
"Huh? Grandpa." she said.
"I built this deck." he told her, "I put my soul in these cards. And I taught you everything I know Twilight. Take them. Take my cards, and teach her respect. Teach Trixie respect for the heart of the cards Twilight."
"But Grandpa, you need help." Twilight protested, "I've got to get you to a doctor."
"Sounds like an excuse." said Trixie, "Your friends can care for your grandfather while you and I duel. Unless you're afraid."
"Take him Twilight." said Rainbow, "We can take care of your grandpa while you take care of creepy Trixie. Teach that rich spoiled brat what a real duel's all about."
"For your grandpa Twilight." said Pinkie.
"I don't know." said Twilight.
"Trust me." Rainbow told her, "You're like the best player I've ever seen, and you've got the millennium puzzle. You can do this Twilight. I know you can."
"We all do." said Pinkie. Twilight nodded.
"Alright Grandpa, I'll do it." she said, grabbing her grandfather's deck.
"I know you will my girl." he said.
"Everyone put your hooves together, and I'll mark us with a special sign." said Pinkie.
"Huh? What gives Pinkie?" asked Rainbow.
"It's a symbol of our friendship, so when Twilight's dueling, no matter how tough it gets, she'll know she's not alone. We're all right there with her." Rainbow, Pinkie, and Applejack all ran out just as the ambulance got there. "Rainbow, Applejack and I will take Twilight's grandpa to the hospital. Why don't you get back in there, and cheer Twilight on." Pinkie told Rainbow.
"Okay. Take good care of him Pinkie." Rainbow told her.
"I designed this virtual stadium myself." Trixie said, "Impressive hmm? I think you'll agree it adds more life to the game. We each start with 2000 life points. First person to hit zero looses. Are you ready to play runt?"
"Playtime is over Trixie." said Twilight. Suddenly the millennium puzzle let out a bright light, making Trixie shield her eyes. When the light faded Trixie was surprised with what she saw. Twilight had somehow gotten bigger.
"Ah. What the?" Trixie said.
