Greatest Challenge, Different Problems
Standing before her opponent, her Duel Disk securely on her arm, Rarity could not fathom what his reasons for joining The Dazzlings were. Fancy Pants had always been the epitome of sophistication and class in whatever he did, from his school work to his dueling skills.
He wasn’t the type that would want to take over the world.
“I must say darling, seeing you associate yourself with those girls is quite appalling. What ever were you thinking?”
“I will agree with you there, Fair Rarity. My choosing to ally with these people is purely business.”
“And what, may I ask, does that business entail, Fancy Pants?”
“Why, you of course, my dear, Rarity.”
“Me? Whatever do you mean by that, darling?”
“Why, Rarity. Don’t you know?”
The last time the two of them engaged in a Duel together was during the last Friendship Games. Due to the rising popularity of Duel Monsters, Principle’s Celestia and Cinch agreed to include it into the Friendship Games as the final challenge, seeing as many of the students in both schools were becoming quite skilled at the game. Months before Canterlot High students picked up on the game, the students at Crystal Prep had gotten the reputation of having the best Duelists in town with Fancy Pants being one of the top tier.
Until the Friendship Games where he lost to Rarity.
“Fancy Pants, darling. Do you mean to tell me that you joined them just to Duel against me?”
“When you say it like that, I can understand how absurd it may sound.”
“That’s because it is, dear. You lose one Duel, so you help The Dazzlings try to take over the world? And people think I overreact over the littlest of things.”
“I don’t expect you to understand, Rarity.” Fancy Pants throws his left arm out, activating his own Duel Disk. “However, if you wish to save your school mates, I expect you to Duel me!”
Rarity was caught off guard by the shift in character Fancy Pants made, she just couldn’t understand why he cared so much over something as simple as a card game. However, Rarity concluded that, at the moment, it didn’t matter. If she was gonna help her friends and save not only her school mates but the world from The Dazzlings control, she was going to have to Duel him.
“Very well, sir. I accept your challenge.” Rarity announced as she held out her left arm to activate the Duel Disk.
“Let us Duel! And may the best Duelist win!”
While they prepared to Duel, Fluttershy had wondered if she should have joined Rarity in Dueling Fancy Pants. The Dazzlings had somehow taken control of everyone in the school while the seven of them had gone into town for lunch. When they returned, Fancy Pants was blocking their way and wouldn’t let them pass until Rarity Duelled him. When she agreed, Rarity insisted they go ahead but as Sunset lead them away, Fluttershy decided to stay and support Rarity.
“I may not be as good a Duelist as my friends are, but I can still be there for them.”
As Rarity and Fancy Pants inserted their decks into their Duel Disks, their Life Points displaying the 8000 that was the standard amount as the Holo-Imagers started up, Fluttershy hoped her friend would be alright.
I can’t believe this. How could I have let this happen?
Rainbow thought to herself for what seemed like the millionth time as she stood on the Canterlot High soccer field, facing down one of her greatest rivals.
This is unacceptable! I shouldn’t be here. It’s just not fair!
Looking behind her, Rainbow saw Applejack standing a few feet away, watching as she and her challenger shuffle their own decks in preparation for their Duel.
“Darn it! I wanted to Duel those freaky sirens! Not you, Lightning Dust!”
“Sucks, doesn’t it?” Lightning shout back. “Not getting what you really wanted!”
Rainbow and her friends were on their way to take on The Dazzlings when another of their past opponents decide to show up and challenge her. She was forced to tell Sunset, Twilight and Pinkie to go on without her. Applejack would have gone too, but had decided to Duel with me until Lightning Dust called me a coward for even thinking of accepting her help. So there she stands, to stubborn to go and help the others.
“There ain’t no way ah’m leaven ya alone ta take her by herself, Dash.” She had said. “Friends don’t abandon one another, ya hear?”
Rainbow had secretly appreciated Applejack’s decision to stay. While she was confident that she could win, Rainbow couldn’t help but feel like something more was going on here.
First Fancy Pants, now Lightning? Something weird is going on, that’s for sure!
“What’s this really about, Lightning? I never took you for a Dualist. Why would you challenge me now of all times?”
“You humiliated me by beating me in my favourite sport! I thought I'd do the same to you! Adagio told me this was the best way to get the best payback!”
Lightning threw out her left arm, launching the Holo-Imagers and activated her Duel Disk before inserting her deck into it, bringing up her Life Point counter.
“That’s stupid!” Rainbow shouted. “You don’t know the first thing about Duel Monsters. What makes you think you can beat me in a game I’ve been playing a lot longer then you have?”
“Why don’t you start up your Duel Disk and fine out.” Lightning challenged. “Or are you too afraid of losing to a beginner like me?”
Rainbow gritted her teeth at the jab before starting up her Duel Disk, Holo-Imagers gliding to the side of their Dueling ground and inserting her deck, bringing up her Life Points.
“Fine, Dust! Just remember that YOU asked for this when you lose!”
“I can’t wait to see your face…” Lightning Dust retorted with a grin. “When I beat you and put you through the same thing I went through.”
“Enough talking, Lightning! Let’s Duel!”
Applejack crossed her arms as she watched Rainbow and Lightning start their Duel.
I hope Rainbow’s arrogance doesn’t blind her this time.
Looking to the roof of the school, Applejack couldn’t shake the feeling of unease with the growing dark cloud brewing over the area. A dark energy beam surging into the cloud originating from The Dazzlings who were standing on the school roof.
Those three are up ta something big, and we need to work together to stop them.
“Let me guess…” Twilight spoke aloud. “You joined The Dazzlings, along with Fancy Pants and Lightning Dust to separate us by Dueling us separately, allowing Adagio the time she needs to complete her plan. Am I getting close, Sour Sweet?”
Twilight and Pinkie stood together in the school parking lot with Sour Sweet before them, blocking their path toward the back entrance of the school. Sunset had managed to get past Sour Sweet and into the school to confront The Dazzlings while she and Pinkie confronted Sour Sweet.
“Oh, very good Twilight.” Sour Sweet said sweetly. “But your missing a few key points. Good thing this isn’t a test, otherwise you would have failed. Badly!”
“Hey now, there’s no need to be a meanie-mean pants!” Pinkie Pie said in an attempt to lighten the mood.
“I may not know everything that's happening right now, but I do know you can’t take on the both of us.” Twilight said confidently. “So I suggest you step aside and let us past, before…”
“Before what, Little Miss Goody Two Shoes?” Sour interrupted. “You’ll shower me with your silly ‘friendship’? I’m absolutely frightened.”
“Friendship isn’t suppose to be frightening!” Pinkie said cheeringly. “It’s suppose to be welcoming and happy!”
“You didn’t always think that did you, Twilight?” Sour jabbed at Twilight.
“What do you mean?”
“You'll find out soon enough.” Sour spat. “In the meantime, allow me to introduce your Dueling opponent.”
“Wait, it’s not you?” Twilight asked.
“Believe me, I’d love to get you back for that rigged match we had. However, I found someone who despises you more then I do.”
Twilight was shocked to here that. Granted, her time at Crystal Prep wasn’t the greatest in her life, but she was sure she hadn’t done anything to deserve such hate from anyone.
Or so she thought as her opponent stepped out to reveal herself to be the last person she expected to see.
“…it…can’t be…”
“Allow me to reacquaint you with your ‘dear friend’.” Sour began as the young woman stood beside her. “Moondancer!”
Pinkie watched as Moondancer stepped forward, activating her Duel Disk, drawn to the look of hate she directed at Twilight. Never in her life had she seen someone so full of hate towards another person before in her life.
“Twilight, do you know her?”
Twilight was to shocked to reply.
“Moondancer…why…?”
“Ready your deck, Twilight Sparkle!” Moondancer shouted hatefully. “Or do you intend on abandoning more of your ‘friends’?”
Those words cut deeper then Twilight expected; growing up in the city, Twilight would always focused on her studies. The only two people she ever enjoyed interacting with were Shinning Armor and Cadence until she introduced Twilight to Moondancer. For years they stayed together through everything, from the class projects they did to the trials of the first year at Crystal Prep. They were the best of friends until she transferred from Crystal Prep to Canterlot High.
“Moondancer, please.” Twilight begged. “Can’t we talk about…”
“I SAID READY YOUR DECK!” Moondancer shouted, literally knocking the wind out of Twilight until Pinkie jumped between them.
“That was uncalled for! Twilight’s your friend and friends don’t shout at each other.” Pinkie reasoned.
“FRIENDS? What kind of ‘friend’ abandons you when you needed them the most?”
“Twilight would never do that!”
“SHE ALREADY DID! She left me all alone at Crystal Prep and she didn’t even have the decency to TELL ME THAT SHE WAS LEAVING!”
Pinkie spared a glance at Twilight, her bangs covering her face, before looking back at Moondancer, determined to fight for Twilight.
“I’ll admit, that was a pretty inconsiderate thing for someone to do.” Pinkie admitted as her left ring finger went numb, her Pinkie Sense telling her that Twilight had flinched at that.
“But that’s way she came to Canterlot High! To learn what it means to be a good friend. I speak from personal experience when I say that friendship is hard to maintain.” She said before smiling back at Twilight, earning her a tearful look for her downed friend, then looked back at Moondancer.
“But it is definitely worth fighting for! Yes, her actions hurt you, but instead of giving in to that hate, you should talk to her about it so you can both work through it.”
“I’m not here to amend fences with her!” Moondancer said darkly. “I’m here to make her pay for hurting me, by making her feel helpless and unable to do anything for you or her other ‘friends’!”
Sour just stood back and watched as Moondancer tore down Twilight one hurtful word at a time. Ever since she could remember, Sour couldn’t stand Twilight, with her academic brilliance and social awkwardness. It always made her uncomfortable to be around but it wasn’t until the Friendship Games, where she managed to beat her in their Duel, did Sour begin to really despise her.
“I’m sorry, Moondancer.” Twilight said as she stood up behind Pinkie. "You’re right, I did leave Crystal Prep with out telling you, and for that I’m truly sorry.”
Lifting her head, Twilight looked at Moondancer as she started up her Duel Disk.
“I realize I’ve hurt you and nothing I say will change your mind. So…” She said as she walked past Pinkie, standing face to face with Moondancer. “…I’ll just have to beat you. Maybe then, you’ll be in a state of mind to listen.”
“Don’t bet on it, Sparkle.” Moondancer growled as she launched her Holo-Imagers. “I won’t fall for that ‘friendship’ thing ever again.”
“Well, I’m not about to let her Duel alone!” Pinkie said as she stood beside Twilight, Duel Disk ready. “Together, we’ll show you just how strong friends working together can be!”
“Thanks, Pinkie.” Twilight said as they spared a glance at each other before seeing Sour walk to Moondancer’s side with her Duel Disk ready.
“As this is no longer a private party, I’ll join in as well.”
Twilight looked between Sour Sweet and Moondancer as their teammates got ready to Duel. She never imagined she could be the cause of so much hate between her two opponents.
I guess it’s impossible to go through life without making at least one enemy.
With everyone’s decks shuffled and Holo-Imagers ready, Twilight, Pinkie, Sour Sweet, and Moondancer drew their cards and declared at the same time.
“Let’s Duel!”
Running up the stairs toward the roof, Sunset couldn’t figure out what Adagio was planning. The last time they tried something all they wanted was to take control of the Equestrian magic within her and her friends.
Now it seems like they were trying to get something far greater.
“Adagio!” Sunset shouted as she burst through the door to the roof.
Right there in the middle of the roof stood Adagio and her two cohorts as the dark energy beam shot out of some golden Tablet they placed on a pedestal.
“Ah, Sunset.” Adagio said when she saw her running towards them. “Seeing as you’re all alone, I take it your friends got a little ‘tied up’ with our new friends.”
“Don’t you mean pawns in what ever twisted game you’re playing?”
“You say pawns, I say cannon fodder. But, it’s interesting that you say game as that’s the only way for you to stop us.”
“What’s that suppose to mean? What are you three planning?”
“Duh, we’re like, getting the biggest helping of negative energy since like, ever.” Sonata said with a child like innocence that disturbed Sunset before walking away from the Tablet toward her.
“Once this Millennium Tablet gathers the energies of your dueling friends, we’ll obtain a power like nothing you’ve seen before.” Aria added as she joined Sonata, both of them preparing their Duel Disks.
“Turns out, this world had a magic long before we came along.” Adagio explained as she stood between Sonata and Aria. “A power that would put even your precious Alicorn Princesses to shame.”
“What do you mean, ‘energies of my dueling friends’?” Sunset asked as she reached for her deck.
“The Millennium Tablet is as ancient as the pyramids.” Adagio began as she activated her Duel Disk. “Back then, ancient sorcerers would Duel each other, not with weapons, but with actual monsters.”
“I don’t need a history lesson on the origins of Duel Monsters.” Sunset retorted. “Everyone knows where Maximilian Pegasus got the idea from.”
“True, but did you know that it was their constant Dueling that produced the magic they used to command those monsters?”
“How does that work?” Sunset asked, stalling to try and figure out a way to stop them.
“You’re full of questions, aren’t you?”
“Did you forget? I was a ‘villain’ myself, so I know how much you want to monologue.” Sunset smirked knowingly.
Sonata and Aria looked at each other before turning to Adagio, who was red in the face with embarrassment.
“You know she’s right, Adagio.” Aria said aloud.
“Shut up!” Adagio snapped at Aria before inserting her deck into her Duel Disk. “If you want to know about our plan, Sunset, you’re gonna have to Duel all three of us at the same time!”
I was afraid of that.
“How’s that for villainy?” Adagio asked with a smirk.
“What if I refused? Only an idiot would accept a three-on-one Duel.
“Why do you think I’m challenging you?” Adagio jabbed, angering Sunset. “I doesn’t matter to us either way, but if you don’t Duel and defeat us, you’ll never stop what we have started.”
Sunset clutch her deck as The Dazzlings laughed.
What should I do? I’ve never done a three-on-one Duel before.
Sunset looks at the still laughing sirens.
But if I don’t Duel them, I might never be able to stop them in time.
Making up her mind, Sunset inserted her deck into her Dual Disk after launching her Holo-Imagers.
“Fine, then!” Sunset declared. “I’ll take you all on at once!”
The Dazzlings smiled as they spread out to make room for their Duel, all the while giving Sunset a predatory look that all but said they had won.
Then a maniacal laugh filled the air.
Everyone looked around trying to find it’s source but were unsuccessful.
“Adagio, I think I missed the joke.” Sonata commented.
“You are the joke, Sonata.” Aria replied.
“Hey!”
“Quiet! Both of you!” Adagio commanded,
“Sunset, you crake me up!” The laughing voice finally said. “Taking on impossible odds just to save this pathetic world? That’s hilarious!”
Why does that voice sound familiar?
“As much as I’d hate to, I have to agree.” Another voice joined in. “As good as you are, even you cannot win a Duel like this.”
“Who are you?” Sunset called out. “Where are you?”
“Come on, Sunset. You’re gonna hurt our feelings.”
With that, two ethereal beings floated out of Sunset and turned as they floated before her.
“What’s going on, Sunset?” Adagio called out. “What game are you playing at here?”
“Daydream? And my She-demon self?” Sunset whispered.
“I prefer the name Sinset, if you don’t mind.” SInset told her before moving to Sunset’s right side as Daydream moved to her left side.
“How…?” Sunset stuttered. “Why…?”
Just then, Duel Disks appeared on both their left arms with complete decks.
“Isn’t it obvious?” Sinset said with a devilish grin on her face.
“We will Duel with you, Sunset.” Daydream added.
“This wasn’t suppose to happen!” Adagio practically screamed. “We were suppose to Duel Sunset alone! Not have her demented personalities Duel with her!”
“Too bad, Dazzie.” Sinset called out. “Next time you use ancient magical Tablets, you should make sure it doesn’t have any side effects when mixed with Equestrian magic.”
“It would seem the Millennium Tablet has granted us the power to be our own beings when near it’s presents.”
Looking form her two past personas made real, Sunset couldn’t keep a smile from forming on her face before looking at Adagio.
“Looks like this Duel just got a lot more even now.”
“Fine! It doesn’t matter!” Adagio growled. “The three of you don’t stand a chance against us!”
“LET’S DUEL!”
Author's Note
If it wasn't obvious by now, I'm in a very Yugioh mood. 
Constructive criticism is always welcomed.
Thank you for reading.
You are Awesome.
