Love of the Draw.

Chapters

In which Draw Blank is given a Flier
In which Draw Blank rides a Train
In which Trixie makes a challenge
In which Applejack Looks in a Mirror
In which this author attempts to give you an exposition dump with a rather short duel
Where Rarity Manages to Tick off Applejack
In Which Trixie Opens Her Big Fat Mouth
Where Twilight Calls Foul
Where Draw is Taken (Draft)

In which Draw Blank is given a Flier

Love of the Draw
by Nicholas Jorvan (Masteroflag)

Chapter 1: In which Draw Blank is given a Flier

“I summon my Exxod, Master of the Guard.”

Attack: 0 Level: 8 Defense: 4000

The young colt spouted as he placed his monster on the field. “And with it I get a little effect I can then use: my flip summoned monsters to do 1000 points of damage to you a piece. I count two of them, and one is Golem Sentry which sends your Monster back into your hand. Then I’ll use their effects to put them back into face down defense mode. Now it’s your turn.”

Draw Blank grimaced. The score wasn’t looking good. Sure he had been leading the duel at first but one good set of traps later and all he had was one monster on the field. His opponent on the other hoof had 4000 life points still with him down to 1500. Meaning this was his final turn if he didn’t do something quick.

Lucky for him all this advantage taking had caused his opponent to use up all the cards in his hand leaving him with no defense outside the monsters. Granted all of them were so high in defense thanks to the field spell he couldn’t hope to do anything but destroy that Golem Sentry and hope the next draw was in his favor. Still there was a way he could win this game here and now if he had one more spell.

The colt seemed to tap one of his hind hoofs impatiently as he waited for Draw to do his namesake. “Can we get on with this now? I kind of want to go home for dinner.”

“Fine,” said Draw Blank, “You kids just don’t like dramatic tension these days do you?” He drew. And lucky him it was the one card he needed.

“Keep track here,” he said, “First I play Jurassic World to get rid of your field and replace it with my own. Next I play the spell card Big Evolution Pill. This lets me tribute my Tyranno Infinity to summon any high level Dino monster without a sacrifice. So now I summon my Black Tyranno.”

Attack: 2600 Level: 7 Defense: 1800

“So?” The colt’s confidence was obvious, “It’s still not enough to take out my Exxod. And you can only attack once anyway.”

“True,” agreed Draw Blank, “But my Black Tyranno can attack you directly if all you have is defense monsters.”

“That’s stupid,” said the colt, “Even if you do that I’ll just win next turn.”

“I never said I was done,” replied the puke green pony. “I also have the spell card, Megamorph. This doubles my monster’s attack if I have less life points than you. Meaning my Tyranno has 5500 attack points.”

“No way,” said the colt astonished, “how could you even play that? This has to be illegal.”

Draw Blank smiled, “Fraid not. So that means I win since you only have 4000 left. Good game though kid. We should do it again next time I’m in town. Now as we agreed, five bits please.”

The colt grumbled as he gathered his cards and handed over the bits. “Can we not bet next time? That was my entire allowance.”

Draw Blank looked at his opponent’s face and said simply, “Sorry, I only take money challenges. Next time don’t bet all your money on something that is still a game of chance in some cases.” With that he gave back one bit.

“Thanks mister,” the colt said smiling again, “I’ll keep that in mind in the future. See you some other time.”

“Sure kid,” said Draw Blank waving him off and gathering his own deck. And placing it carefully in to his bag with his ten other decks, not all of them from the same card game, along with the bits into his pouch with only had ten in it before.

“Well,” Draw said signing, “Least I got enough to get some food. Looks like I’ll be camping again though. I wish there was something else I was good at so I could at least afford to rent a place.”

Draw Blank turned around to look at his flank. A spinning card similar to the back of the Duel Monsters cards he had with him. Sometimes it just didn’t pay at all to be good at trading card games, especially since most ponies that played besides him were half his size and age. Any who were his age usually had other jobs that could support them. He however didn’t.

It wasn’t for a lack of trying, but his legs were too naturally weak for hard labor all day and his fumbling often got him in trouble with even the most basic of jobs. Heck even when he tried relying on what he did better than most without a mark in it, talking to customers, he still wasn’t making enough impact for anyone to keep him employed since most ponies thought he looked like he was about to keel over.

Hence the “professional” Dueling for money, which to be fair did give enough when he won the regional tournament last year. That money however was running low and he didn’t have the cash to enter again this year and he had missed it. And because of his age and the filly to colt ratio it was hard finding opponents willing to bet money in general, let alone find one someone wouldn’t call the police on when he offered. It was looking like another year of being yelled at by others this year.

Draw stretched himself before walking to find a good place to camp before the sun set. As he did a pair of mares trotted past him, he gave them a smile and they whispered to each other as they pointed and frowned in pity.

Again typical, girls didn’t like Stallions who played colt games for a living it seems. Well besides the fact he was poor. His color scheme made him look sick all the time with his blood colored eyes and pale blonde mane on his puke green form, so girls wouldn’t touch him if he didn’t make the first move. Granted he had not found a complaint on a girl he did get but that wasn’t the issue.

Something in him was telling him to correct the mares. Another telling him to run with it, but as they started to walk away he changed it to just ignoring them. “If they’d just leave a sick pony in the street I don’t want anything to do with them anyway. Besides if I dated any filly now I’d just be a gold digger at some point. First thing I need to do is get the cash to support myself before I can thing about finding a hook up.”

As if by sheer destiny Draw Blank heard a familiar voice calling out to him. It was the colt from earlier and he was holding something in his mouth, a flyer. He hoofed it over to Draw and said, “I got this in the mail. It was forwarded over from my old address in Ponyville.”

Draw looked down at the flyer and read:

Dear Ponyville citizen,

I, the Great and Powerful Trixie, invite you to partake in a little event I have set up with the blessing of our princesses. The event will take up the entire town on the weekend of the 17th. Invite as many ponies from out of town as you wish but all participants in this game must be registered by the 15th.

The game you may ask? Why the greatest game The Great and Powerful Trixie has found that is sweeping the kingdom. It’s called Duel Monsters and those entering will get a discount on a starter deck and boosters at all stores in town selling the cards so that any pony can enter. Prepare for a weekend of fun so long as you have the entry fee of five bits. I know, the great and powerful Trixie is quite generous to offer such a large event at such a low price but for ones as great as I fun is more important than material gain.

However, this event is also to show just how great and powerful Trixie is, so do not expect to win in this little event when I am you opponent. If however you manage to win this event I do have a very special prize to the winner. They will receive ten percent of the combined entry fees of those who enter, and a day with the lovely Princess of the night, and Trixie’s personal friend, Luna.

For the non Trixie placement we will still reward you with five percent of the entry fees as well as your own fee given back and a free gift card of 20 bits to any store in Ponyville and Canterlot. Trixie looks forward to our day of fun and friendship.

Sincerely,

The Great and Powerful Trixie

Draw read over the letter several times to ensure he knew what he was reading. The colt under him explained as he did. “Mom said I couldn’t go but if you’re good enough to beat me then I figure you stand a good chance of winning this. I know you’ve been struggling lately so I hope this makes up for me not being able to give you a bigger anti.”

“It more than makes up for it kid,” said Draw smiling, “Thanks a lot. Ponyville right?”

The colt nodded, “But it is pretty far. You’d have to take the train to make it in time.”

“Lucky me,” said Draw, “you caught me while I still have the money for a ticket.” He started to gallop off to the train station. “Thanks again kid. I’ll win it for ya.” The child waved off the young stallion and mumbled under his breath about not being able to go but hoping he can win in spirit with his new friend entering.

“Pip,” called his mother, “get back home this instant.”

“Yes mother,” cried Pip as he galloped for her.

Elsewhere, a blue unicorn sipped her tea while organizing her cards. “Trixie is still confused,” she said to her guest across from her. “How does this help you exactly? I mean Trixie will get all the praise when she wins this and you get money to fix parts of the town sure. But how does this help you personally?”

The pony with a grey mane sipped her own tea. “For all you need to know, I had a bit of a scandal in the news paper since my last election. With one coming up soon I need everypony to love this town enough to reelect me. Is there any other reason to do such things?”

Trixie still had a bad feeling in the back of her head somewhere on this. Ever since that pink pony had a full body shudders with some ear flops and tried to warn everyone something was going to happen in fact. But then again what were the chances anything would go wrong at a simple card tournament?

“And besides,” she thought to herself, “I was able to convince Twilight Sparkle to enter. I may have failed a few times before, but this time the plan is so simple it has to work.” She had a bad flash of the last plan that went wrong somehow ending with them dating for a month before she came to her senses after the plan backfired. In retrospect she didn’t see how it was going to work in the first place. She shook her head to get rid of it and regained her confidence.

The Mayor continued to sip her tea, amused by Trixie’s obvious plotting in her head. The poor girl had no idea what this event’s purpose was. Then again so long as they both got their ends of the deal, Trixie didn’t have to know about their third silent partner in this. Ignorance is bliss after all.

In which Draw Blank rides a Train

Chapter 2: In which Draw Blank rides a Train

The last train Draw could have taken to make it to Ponyville on time was just leaving when he arrived. After some arguments and train hopping he was able to get a seat and was relaxing in his chair. The trip would be a long one since it took a day and a half with all the stops this train had to make.

“Why does it have to be in the middle of nowhere?” he thought pulling out his bit pouch. Two bits, that’s all he had left. All he had to his name was two bits. Two bits couldn’t even buy him enough food too last him this trip. “Looks like I’m going to have to barter for money while on this trip too. Still it’s better than begging.”

It was better to do it sooner when he had more time and energy than later when he’d be desperate and coming off accused of assaulting a filly, something he’d rather not get through again. He rose and started to walk around the cramped cars. The further he walked to the back the less ponies he saw, not that there were many in general. And none of them were kids nor did they have the look about him that told him they were the type to not only play a card game but carry it with them.

Giving up he decided to head for the food area where he knew stallions like to play poker. Draw Blank didn’t like poker. That and most other games that used those cards were about luck first and skill second where his card games were opposite.

Try as he might he saw nothing to like about a game where the first hand could win you the game without you even having to hunt down or balance the deck to make it so. Still he was confident he’d make money semi-legally with that. The problem was if you win too much at poker in a game involving strangers they tended to think you were cheating and not let you take the money, and that was the best case scenario.

He had just turned around when something caught his ear. “But I just don’t get it Applebloom. How do ya play this Dueling Monsters? This book is too long and has too many rules.”

“Bingo,” Draw thought, “legit money op here I come.”

Following the sound into the caboose the first thing that caught his senses was the strong smell of Apples. The room was empty except for two ponies. The first that caught his eye must have been the one who asked that question. A small yellow filly with bright red hair and a bow nearly as big as her head looking at her cards.

The other one, a young orange mare with a blonde mane, was reading the rule book intently.

“May I be of assistance?” Draw said trying to make himself sound as professional as possible. It came out more like a slimy salespony’s proposition, but you take what you can get.

As expected, the younger of the two looked at him interested and with a vague sense of knowing. Not surprising since his picture was all over kid’s magazines and papers last year to promote the pocket monsters card game he became champion of last year in exchange for not being able to get paid for winning due to low attendance. That stunt did get him some challengers that got him a few bits that kept him alive till the Duel Monsters tournament that saved him from working odd jobs till lately.

The elder of the two gave him the usual stage of emotions, the surge of anger for someone imposing on in an obvious personal car. The shock of seeing a sick looking pony enter that looked like he was about to pass out on her. The pity of seeing such a sick creature, followed by the the pupil dilatation of realization. Finishing of course with the annoyance that she was fooled by his appearance. All these emotions were gone in a flash and only able to be seen from the pony’s eyes. This mare however had full on cute little faces with them and Draw Blank was forced to hold back his amusement since he needed her not to kick him out.

“Howdy stranger,” said the elder in a deep southern accent, “Ya need something?” Apparently she had realized it was stupid to blame him for her own mixed emotions on seeing him when she didn’t know him.

At her words Draw Blank also realized it was she who had asked for how to play Duel Monsters. Meaning the younger was Applebloom. This was surprising but not at all a deal breaker that would stop Draw Blank from his objective.

“No my dear,” he said still keeping up the slimy salespony voice, “but it appears you need me. The name is Draw Blank, I’m-“

“Oo OOO,” exclaimed Applebloom, “I know you. You’re the former kingdom champion of card games. I saw an article on you in my hub magazine.”

Drawn nodded, “Yes I am. As for why I am here at this moment, my ears were pleasantly graced by the sound of your sweet voice miss?”

“Applejack,” answered the orange mare blushing slightly. “Me and my sister are just returning to ponyville after helping out our cousin with some preparations. Gonna be a big wedding for him soon.”

“Wow,” thought Drawn Blank, “For once this voice didn’t kill my chances of going beyond professional.” He continued, “Applejack, that’s a nice name.” The words as he tried to say it came out with a dull accent that made him sound far more like he was trying to hit on her than he intended. Neither of the ponies seemed to notice however, but he still pulled back just in case.

“Well I was trotting by trying to find a way to get some food. I’m low on bits you see, when I heard your little conversation about Duel Monsters. I for one would be happy to give you a lesson if you wish if you would both grace me with allowing me to join you for dinner tonight.”

“Sounds fair,” said Applebloom.

“Yep,” agreed Applejack with a wisp of desire in her voice. Applebloom didn’t catch it, and it made Draw Blank a little uncomfortable. Mostly because he wasn’t sure if it was something he said or if somehow this mare was into skinny ponies despite looking like she needed one that could handle some rough and tumble work. Either way it was best to keep it professional.

“Alright then,” he said pulling out his saddlebags, “Do either of you have a deck?”

“I do!” said Applebloom. But her face sagged, “I left it at home.”

“I don’t got one either,” said Applejack, “Reckon I’d get myself a deck when I got home. I assume you’ll be entering that tournament too though. So I suppose with your skills it’d be useless now.”

“Not necessarily,” said Draw Blank. “True the better cards you have the better off you are, but I’ve seen many get far with just a starter deck because of luck and knowing how to use them. It’s like if I tried to buy a heard of sheep. I could get the best sheep and luck out and get the best land to raise them on, but if I don’t know how to take care of them properly eventually I will lose them in the end. So here is what I’m going to do. I’ll let Applebloom here borrow one of my decks and then use a different one and I’ll explain to you all the ways one can play as we do. Will you be able to follow if we do?”

“I guess,” said Applejack. She seemed to finally come out of her haze.

“Then to not have this take long, Applebloom and myself will have a 2000 life point game and then you and I can have a game to have you learn.”

“Good idea,” said Applebloom, “Only my friend Scootaloo, my colt friend, and two others have the free time to play this game a lot in my school so I need a refresher anyway.”

“Two birds with one stone then,” agreed Draw Blank. He handed Applebloom his Dinosaur and pulled out a deck he made just for teaching for his own. A deck that really didn’t work well in real competitions but could show all the various moves all the same.

“First off,” he began showing Applejack his deck and setting some cards aside. “Most duels, especially tournaments have a rule that to keep luck from really winning out each match in one is set up as a best two out of three duels. This however is time consuming so I doubt it will be used for anything but the final match at your event, but you never know.”

“Now, there are three decks in a sense one has. The side deck, extra deck, and main deck. Tell me if I’m going too fast. In order of importance: first is the side deck. This is a deck made of pretty much 15 cards max that you use as sort of a utility knife. You keep cards you would normally not keep in your main deck in it. That way if you say notice you can’t use a certain card for example or a certain strategy is useless, you can switch out the cards with the ones in your side deck between duels in a Match to fix that. I don’t have one for this deck but it is worth mentioning.”

On and on went the explanations, but to his credit Draw had kept is as simple as possible and gotten everything explained in a clear manner until it was time for him and Applebloom to duel. Applejack followed with interest and Draw found it very odd how attracted she obviously was to him. In fact he could hear a soft male chuckle in the back of his head and didn’t get why.

“Duel!” Both he and Applebloom shouted as they took their starting hands.

“I’ll go first,” said Applebloom. Life points 2000.

“I’ll start by laying two cards face down and setting one monster in defense mode.”

“Kay,” said Draw, “my turn then.” Life points 2000. “I start by summoning my Axe Raider. Then I’ll use the spell: Polymerization from my hand to fuse the Gaia the Fierce Knight and Curse of Dragon in my hand to special summon, Gaia the Dragon Champion.”

Attack: 2600 Level: 7 Defense: 2100

“I thought you said this was for teachin.”

“Sure it is,” he said with a grin, “I wouldn’t use these monsters in a real match. Now Applejack, here is a tip. See most defense monsters likely 2000 or higher if there is no real effect to them so when you don't know what the monster is it's smarter to attack with your strongest first. Even if you don’t have a monster with over 2000 attack it reduces damage. Now Applebloom, Gaia attacks your face down monster.”

“Fine, you killed my Hyper Hammer Head. This sends your monster back to your hand. But since it didn’t come from there it goes back to the extra deck.”

“Good,” Draw Blank smirked. “But I still have one more monster. So Axe Raider, attack her life points directly.”

“I have a trap: Fossil Excavation. This lets me bring back the Black Tyranno I discarded to the field. It just gets rid of his effect. But I don’t need it to block your attack. “

“Nice move again,” said Draw, “then I’ll set two cards face down and end my turn.”

Applebloom: 2000 Draw Blank: 2000

“My turn,” called Applebloom drawing a card.

“I play the spell: Tail Swipe. This sends up to two of your monsters back to your hand, so goodbye Axe Raider. Then I switch my Black Tyranno into attack mode and attack you directly.”

“Are you following so far Applejack?” asked Draw.

“I guess,” said Applejack. “Still sort of confusing though.”

“So long as you’re not lost,” he replied before turning back to Applebloom. “I use my Scapegoat quick play spell. This summons four sheep tokens to my side of the field in defense mode.”

“Fine,” said Applebloom annoyed. “Then I guess I’ll just take out one of those tokens and end my turn.”

“Alright,” replied Draw doing his namesake, “I activate a trap: Reckless Greed. This lets me draw twice more. I simply can’t draw normally again for two turns.”

“Oh no you don’t,” said the small filly, “Malfunction. I pay 500 life points to this trap to negate its activation.”

Applebloom: 1500

“Thought so,” said Draw with a smile, “But I had to be sure before I end this.”

“End it?” Applebloom was obviously confused. “You can summon a monster with 4600 attack points?”

“Nope,” he said still grinning. “But since I’m not afraid of your traps now, I can summon my Cannon Solider.”

Attack: 1400 Level: 4 Defense: 1300

“What’s it do?”

“Simply, for every monster I tribute while he’s on the field, you lose 500 life points.”

“Oh, and you have four monsters counting him.”

“Yep,” his grin widening, “so it is my win.”

“Shoot,” said Applebloom, “and I thought you gave me the better deck to use.”

“I did. But like I said: Even if your cards are not as good it’s all in how you use them. None of the cards I used had a strategy to back them up outside what I already used. Now I’m hungry. Time to pay the piper so to speak, and Applejack, I think after that I’ll duel you. I’ll even give you this.”

He handed over the Scapegoat card from the deck. “There, your first card not in the starter deck you can use. I hope you find a good use for it.”

Again Applejack seemed oddly touched by this gesture. But soon enough she shook it off and then they were readying to leave the car. As he gathered his things to lay with the Apples he heard that laugh one last time, though far smaller.

Something told him to double check his deck, and instead of the thirty-nine cards in the learning deck he expected he counted forty. The new card was one he had never added to any of his decks. “That’s odd, never had this card.” Draw shrugged it off as he put the Chaos Greed into his saddle bag and left.

In which Trixie makes a challenge

Chapter 3: In which Trixie makes a challenge

Ponyvile was in frenzy. Most of the town was scrambling for cards from all over the stores. Any that were not participating were also packing to leave for the weekend. So no matter what every pony was buying something for some purpose and that made the economy rise, so the Mayor had more money to use for her public services.

“Not even the end of registration and already we have enough to cover the costs of keeping everything running,” mused the Mayor.

“Of course,” said her guest, “Trixie knows what she’s doing. And she trusts that princess Luna knows what she is doing. She will be here tomorrow to begin hosting the tournament so Trixie can focus on winning.”

“Winning?”

“Do you doubt The Great and Powerful Trixie’s skills?”

“No,” said the Mayor simply, “I don’t even know how to play that game so it would be foolish for me to assume how good you are at it. But I do wonder how this event will get Luna back in everypony’s good graces.”

“Perhaps you as a non immortal leader don’t understand the concept of a very long game then,” said Trixie a little mad her friend was being insulted. “Luna wishes to make favor with the children of Equestria. That way less will be afraid of her as time passes instead of just trying to win over older ponies who went their entire life without even hearing about her as anything more than their nightmares.”

“Oh I know the tactic,” said the Mayor, “I just don’t think the princess is prepared for such interactions just yet after so long on the moon. It has only been two years after all, and she still has not altered her speech patterns since her last visit to Ponyville. Keep an eye out for her while you’re playing is what I will warn you Trixie. This will be the first big event she will be hosting without her sister in a long time and I’ll be too busy to assist her.”

“Busy with what?”

“You’ll see. For now I have to finish preparations so it will be all set for your little tournament.” And with that the Mayor left Trixie alone to ponder what to do next.

***

Later that afternoon, Trixie finished sorting out her deck. She had done a test drive of the previous one and lost due to putting in too many powerful cards. It appeared that her weakness was the inexperience in actually playing this card game. Even if she had the most famous powerful cards from the game thanks to her own skills, but it appeared if she wasn’t used to how to balance out this deck she would need to get her own abilities set.

“You,” Trixie called out the window to a pre-teen grey colt with flame colored hair, “Trixie wishes to use you for a practice match for the event. Get over here please.” The colt agreed with a shrug and brought his deck with him in little time.

Trixie showed him into her guest chamber the Mayor had set up for her. It wasn’t as big as the other rooms in the house, but my most standards it was better than the best motel in ponyville minus the room service so that was a plus. The two ponies sat on each side of a table by the door. Trixie set up all her materials, but the colt stared at her as he shuffled his cards with his magic.

“Uneasy about your own deck I see,” stated the colt as he placed his deck down. Before Trixie could answer he offered a hoof out, “I already agreed to help you out. After all that boasting it wouldn’t due to have co-host to be so weak as to lose in the first rounds of this thing.”

“Weak?” Trixie help back her urges to punch the colt and laid her own deck on the table in front of them. “I’ll show you weak child. The Great and Powerful Trixie will win a duel against you and then you will tell me how to improve this deck.”

The colt rolled his eyes, “Sure. The name is Cog by the way, nice to meet you.” Trixie shook the outstretched hoof and the Duel began.

Cog: 8000 Trixie: 8000

“You go first,” said Trixie. Her horn glow with the power of the magic she radiated into the room.

“Very well,” replied the pre-teen. Despite how he shuffled his deck he still held his cards in his hooves unlike his opponent. “I’ll start with a set monster in the front row and two face down cards in my back row. I end my turn.”

The cards however suddenly glow as he said that.

“Okay, Trixie’s turn.” Said his opponent, “Trixie starts by playing Card of Consonance, so by discarding Trixie’s The White Stone of Legend Trixie gets to draw two cards. Then Trixie will summon Kaibaman and use his effect to summon one of Trixie’s strongest cards that comes to Trixie's hand by White Stone's effect: Blue Eyes White Dragon.”

Attack: 3000 Level: 8 Defense: 2500

At her words the card had a white glow and something appeared above it. It looked like the monster image had crawled right out of the card. Cog stared in wonder at it and Trixie smiled. “You didn’t think Trixie would organize such a game to take place all over town unless she could make it interesting to watch did you? Though this is just a sneak peek, Trixie doesn’t feel like she should need to bother using up so much of her precious energy to make it scale.”

“Oh you gotta teach me how do to that,” said the boy excited.

“Another time perhaps, now my Dragon attacks your set monster.”

“Fine,” said Cog, “It was Heavy Mech Support Platform.” The card suddenly burst into shards of light and reappeared in the graveyard zone face up. “Oh now that is just too cool.”

“Glad you enjoyed it. Trixie sets one card face down on her back row and ends her turn.”

“Wait,” said Cog suddenly remembering the duel, “first I activate my other trap: Stronghold the Moving Fortress. This trap becomes a monster on my field with 0 attack and 2000 defense, and then it’s my draw. So I summon Yellow Gadget, its effect brings Green Gadget to my hand. Then I activate my trap: Ultimate Offering. So I pay 500 life points to summon another monster. Green Gadget, this card’s effect is to bring Red Gadget to my hand. So I pay again to summon my Red Gadget to the field which puts another Yellow Gadget in my hand. Then I switch Stronghold to attack mode.”

Attack: 1300 Level: 4 Defense: 1500

Attack: 1400 Level: 4 Defense: 600

Attack: 1200 Level: 4 Defense: 1200

“But why-“ Trixie began.

“As long as I have all three Gadgets, Stronghold has 3000 Attack Points instead of 0. So now I attack your Blue Eyes with my Stronghold which destroys them both. Then I attack you with each of my gadgets directly. With that I end my turn.”

Cog: 6500 Trixie: 4100

“Darn. How could Trixie lose so many points so fast?”

“Probably cause you didn’t have a trap that could stop me. Mirror Force is fairly common these days and that would have gotten me stuck if you had that. Heck it’s even in the starter deck now.”

Trixie made a note about actually buying a deck before the stores ran out.

“Very well, now it is Trixie’s turn.” She pondered what to do for a moment before finally blinking and remembering to draw. “Silly of Trixie, oh thank Celestia, play my White Dragon Ritual spell and use my second Blue Eyes White Dragon as the cost. Then Trixie will sacrifice the Paladin of White Dragon that brings out to bring forth the final Blue-eyes in Trixies deck. Then Trixie plays Dragon’s Mirror, which lets Trixie remove all three Blue-eyes from the grave and field out of play to fuse them into Blue-eyes Ultimate Dragon.”

Attack: 4500 Level:12 Defense: 3800

“Now, Ultimate Dragon attack his Red Gadget. And with that Trixie is done for now.”

Cog: 3300 Trixie: 4100

“Wow good move,” complimented her opponent. You’re in no short supply of knowing how to play your cards well.”

“Of course,” said the blue unicorn smugly, “Trixie is nothing if not the best at knowing how to use what she has to her advantage. Why she had Twilight Sparkle crying in sheer joy at feeling the great powers of Trixie overtaking her.”

Cog just stayed silent as the realization of what she let slip hit her before just saying with a dead pan, “Did not need to know that thank you.”

“Whatever,” said Trixie blushing.

Cog drew. “I set this card face down and switch my gadgets to defense with one card in the spell/trap zone face down.”

“Very well, then Trixie’s Ultimate Dragon will attack your Green Gadget. And she ends her turn.”

Cog: 3300 Trixie: 4100

“Alright, I didn’t want to do this but I summon my second Yellow Gadget and activate my trap: Torrential Tribute. This destroys all the monsters on the field when one is summoned. Then by paying 500 points I summon my Ancient Gear Soldier.”

Attack: 1300 Level: 4 Defense: 1300

“And when he attacks you can’t stop it with a trap until after he finishes. Then I play Ancient Gear Fist and equip it to my solider as a precaution so that if you do summon a monster that can destroy it, it goes away as well leaving you wide open again. Solider attacks your life points directly. And I end my turn.”

Cog: 2800 Trixie: 2800

Trixie didn’t grimace this time. In fact she smiled. “Well there does come a time when a final trick has to be played.”

Cog was confused until Trixie flipped the face down card she had since the start of the Duel: Call of the Haunted. This allowed Trixie to bring back her Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon in attack mode. No words were spoken for a bit as Trixie did a little dance as she picked up her cards.

“Well it appears you just need to focus more on your deck basics if you didn’t know about Mirror Force,” Cog said simply. He had long since calculated he’d lose because of his own deck faults. “But outside that you should at least be able to handle yourself well in this tournament. Looks like I gotta get some better cards too. I will ask one question though.”

Trixie raised an eyebrow at the child. “And that would be?”

“Why didn’t you play call of the haunted when I was attacking with my gadgets? You could have stopped all my attacks and it makes even more sense since you had no way to summon that Ultimate Dragon till you got that ritual card.”

“Trixie simply wanted to pull her best move for last is all.”

“But,” Cog added, “If I had a way to destroy that card at all you would have lost. I take back what I said about you knowing how to use your cards. I think you need to practice more before this starts, but against different decks since I’m not about to let you know all of my cards if I’m going to make it to the finals.”

Trixie wasn’t angry with the boy as she would have been before. Instead she found it a good challenge. However the boy was right. She needed practice with this deck, lucky her she new two other colts that would still do anything she said with the right incentive.

***

Draw Blank let out a long breath. It was the middle of the night now and thanks to Applejack he was able to sleep with her and Applebloom in the caboose. After an evening of playing all kinds of games he had and laughing with the two he had gotten more than he bargained for his assistance.

Still he couldn’t sleep. Despite having likely the best bed he had in months something picked on the back of his head. That laughing he heard whenever he was near Applejack. It had not happened since he found the Chaos Greed card. That bothered him more than anything. He was looking at it harshly along with the rest of his learning deck. No other cards had appeared, it was still the game minimum of 40 cards to a deck with one of each of the three card types for his extra deck. He needed sleep so he set aside the cards.

The small snores of his roommates for the trip caught his attention to them. In the moonlight the sisters snuggled up with each other for warmth. Draw felt bad about this, the Apples had given him Applejack’s futon and blanket to use so the two had to share the remaining.

“Having family must be nice,” Draw thought. “No matter how low your life gets, someone will always have your back. I have to repay them for what they’ve done for me somehow. But I can’t do that until I have some capital and my own life isn’t so rocky. Sort of wish they were family, then I wouldn’t have this feeling I suppose.”

He watched them sleep a bit longer. It calmed him a bit and he was starting to fall back to sleep when a shadow past over Applejack’s face. Blinking back his sleep, Draw’s eyes darted to the outside. His ears perked up and he could hear it. Something or someone was crawling around on the top of the car. That much was obvious.

Draw got up to look out the window. As soon as he did a pair of claws grabbed his head. Luckily he was still mostly in the car so he bucked the side and called out for some help. The claws pulled and him and his skull until he finally gave in and was pulled to the roof of the car.

“Who is he?” asked one of the three figures on the roof. The other two had pinned him to the ground, each holding two limbs.

“He’s the one with the cards,” said one of them.

“Yes the rare and valuable cards,” said the last.

Finally looking up, Draw could see what he was dealing with. Three Diamond Dogs stared down at him. “You sure you got the right guy? I can barely afford tickets on this train. Why would I keep any rare cards if I needed to eat?”

A fourth dog came into view holding Draw’s saddle bags. His eyes widened. Everything draw owned, including his last two bits, was in that bag. His body went into auto-pilot at this trigger. Living his life barely in means meant he had been mugged a lot, until he taught himself how to get out of holds so he could run. Granted he couldn’t actually fight these dogs, but they were not expecting him to flip the two holding him off enough so they were hanging off the sides.

This distracted the other two long enough for him to buck the bags out of the dog’s hand and run for the end of the train as he grabbed his loot. He wasn’t exactly fit so it didn’t take long for even that to take its toll, but adrenaline was covering that for now as he opened the caboose’s door and rushed in, closing the door behind him. Applejack met his face and he turned to continue galloping. “What’s going on?”

“Quite simply,” said the green stallion, “thieves. Grab Applebloom, we have to get to the train security.” Applejack nodded and the two rushed back to the main part of the car to pick up Applebloom.

Unfortunately these dogs were smarter than they looked. Two of them had chased Draw behind, but the other two had broken back into the train, one holding down Applebloom by the neck while the other was searching for more valuables. Applejack rushed her sister’s capture and bucked his teeth in while Draw galloped ahead to open the next compartment door so they could get through. That’s where he met yet another Diamond Dog, one so large his was able to pin Draw with one of his massive paws.

The other three dogs, the fourth one still holding his maw from Applejack’s powerful buck, wrestled with the two mares. Applejack was strong, but with three of them and trying to protect Applebloom she was taken down in due time.

“What happened to him?” asked the largest dog.

“Pony kicked me,” replied the fractured jawed dog. Only it came out more like “Aaarrreaa.”

“You’re welcome,” said Applejack with a grin.

After some struggling Draw was met with the light of candles and scent of wax as the room was lit up to the best it could be. The Apple sisters were in front of him with the four dogs with knives to their throats. The largest dog got off him so he could turn to look at Draw. “Get your deck out pony. We will take your cards after winning.”

Draw looked at him confused, “can’t you just take my deck and leave? Heck with this set up even if I wanted to fight you I couldn’t.”

“What pony said is true,” replied the large dog. “Grumble, would have done so if not ordered by master to duel you up there.” He pointed to the roof.

“You gotta be kidding,” said Draw getting his bearings again. “Even if I agreed to this moronic idea, our cards would just fly off. What idiot would challenge anyone to duel on a moving train’s hood?”

The large dog snapped his fingers and the blades came closer to the Apple sisters’ necks. Applebloom let out a cry as the blade nearly brushed her skin.

“Stop,” called out the stallion, “I never said I didn’t agree to this. If you let them go I agree to do this duel.”

“Better yet,” said Grumble, “We release small pony. If you win duel then muscle pony is free to go and we leave. You lose and we get your deck and muscle pony stays ours to use for labor.”

Draw didn’t have many options, “agreed then. Now release Applebloom.” They did as he said and pushed Applebloom away from her sister as she tried to run up to her.

“Follow,” they told Draw Blank as they backed up holding Applejack.

Applebloom looked worried, but Draw Blank patted her head. “Get the security. I’ll keep them busy with this game. Then no matter what happens you grab Applejack and I’ll run for it when they show.” The filly understood and nodded as she rushed out to the front of the train.

Draw Blank came out to the roof of the caboose with is deck. It was his real deck since he couldn’t risk losing too soon. After making sure the dogs were all in his view and aimed for the rest of the train, which seemed odd they would listen to him he sat down. “So how exactly to you plan on us doing this without our cards flying off?”

In response, Grumble stood and used himself as a wall to block the winds from most directions. As he did so he dropped a black orb he kept in his vest pocket. It grew with magical energy as he tossed it between him and Draw.

One of the other dogs, came to meet him with his own deck. Under the glow of the black orb's aura the cards stuck as if there was no wind. “Tornic will duel you for your cards.”

“Whatever,” Draw said trying to act as calm as he could with one of his newest friends having a knife at her throat. He placed his own deck down. Slowly releasing it to his amazement there was no wind so long as he was in the black aura's field.

“DUEL”

Draw: 8000 Tornic: 8000

“I go first,” said the dog picking his five cards. He drew and looked at his hand with a malicious grin. “I summon Mad Dog of Darkness in Attack Mode.”

The monster card seemed to leap out of the card again but it was as big as Tornic. Applejack’s eyes darted from the monster to the Diamond dog. “What the heck is going on? How can the card come to life like that?”

“It doesn’t,” replied Draw Blank simply holding his five cards to the ground along with his deck to keep them from blowing in the wind. Then when he noticed there was no wind around the cards he released them and looked at his friend. “This is fairly common in my circle. Unicorn fans love using illusion magic to make it look real. I don’t know how but I’m guessing this dog’s little orb is what is doing this and keeping my cards from being blown in the wind.”

“Master gave it to us,” said Tornic simply, “especially for facing you.”

“I’m flattered,” said Draw trying to keep up the calm demeanor with a smirk. It twitched a little too much and his eyes kept darting back to Applejack to make sure she was safe. “Are you done with your turn?”

“Not yet,” said the dog. “I set two cards face down and end my turn.”

“Fine then,” replied Draw doing his namesake. “I set one monster in defense mode and one card face down in my back row, your turn.”

The dog drew his card and laughed. “I play the spell card: Cold Wave. This makes it so neither of us can play nor set spell cards or traps until my next turn. So I don’t have to worry about pony playing trap on me. Now, my Mad Dog attacks his face down monster.”

“You must be fairly new to this,” said Draw darting his eyes back to the game. “Effect monsters can be used as traps if used right. The monster you attacked is my Penguin Solider.”

Attack: 750 Level: 2 Defense: 500

“And when he is flipped, such as when you attacked him and sent him to the graveyard zone, I get to send up to two monsters on your side of the field back to your hand. So since you only have one I think he can go back to your hand. Plus since my knight was in defense mode I didn’t take any damage from your attack. All in all a good move for me.”

Tornic Growled. “I will summon my Mad Dog of Darkness back in Attack Mode again.”

“Then my turn,” Draw replied. “I set another monster in defense mode and end my turn.”

“Is Tornic’s cards so good pony can only defend?” The question was a decent one, but one Draw rose on purpose. He had to make this game take as long as possible. He could have taken out that monster easily on his turn, but he couldn’t be sure the beast had a way to come back yet.

The Dog’s wide grin grew more so with his next card. “I play the spell: Big Bang Shot. This is a Spell that equips to my Mad Dog. Raising his attack by 400 points to 2300 and giving him a powerful effect. Unlike last time, even if your monster is in defense mode the difference between that and my monster’s attack comes out of your life points. Then I summon Guard Dog in Attack mode.”

“And now my Mad Dog of Darkness, destroy his defense monster!”

“I have a trap,” Draw called out. “Mirror Force, this trap reflex your attack to destroy both of your dogs.”

“Not so fast,” said Tornic with a grin, “I have one of my own. I chain my Seven Tools of the Bandit. By playing 1000 life points I negate and destroy your Mirror Force.”

“Crap.”

“Indeed, it appears Pony needs refresher, now Mad Dog of Darkness finishes his attack.”

The set monster was destroyed. Draw wasn’t sure how to react, “the monster you killed was my Witch of the Black Forest. This card lets me bring any card I want with 1500 or less defense to my hand. And I choose my Goblin Attack Force.”

“A lot of good it does pony right now. Mad Dog still does 1100 points in damage to you.”

The dog’s tail smacked into Draw Blank, usually this was just symbolical for effect, so one could imagine the shock when he felt like he was punched in the face. Draw Blank was pushed back by the shock until the back of his head hit the ladder on the back of the caboose. “What the-“

“And next,” Tornic continued, “Guard Dog attacks you directly.” The beast pounced on Draw and bit into his shoulder. White hot pain shot through his limb as it did. “Then I end my turn.”

Draw: 5400 Tornic: 7000

Drawn Blank struggled to balance himself again. His limb wasn’t bleeding but it still stung as if he had been bitten and red dots where teeth marks would have been. He couldn’t stand on it but it could still hold his cards. “What the heck was that?”

“Oh, forgot.” This time it came from Grumble. “Master said this orb will make you both feel the attacks. And the loser will have their soul drained into orb or something.”

“Seriously,” said Draw in disbelief, “it’s a filly’s card game. Who takes it this far?”

“Our master does,” said the Diamond Dog with the knife to Applejack’s throat. A small trickle of red ran down the knife. Applejack winced in pain. “And I suggest you do as well or you’re going to lose both yourself and your friend here.”

In which Applejack Looks in a Mirror

Chapter 4: In Which Applejack Looks in a Mirror.

Edited by UltimateRuin009

Draw: 5400 Tornic: 7000

“You’re far behind pony,” laughed Tornic. “I have two monsters and a face down card. You have nothing on your field and you can’t hide in defense mode anymore. You’re finished if you can’t turn things around this turn.” The dog holding Applejack pressed the knife closer. The blood was flowing freely down her neck now, though the wound wasn’t serious, it was enough to get Draw worried.

“Well then,” said Draw staggering slowly. He had to focus so the cards in his hands didn’t blow away with the heavy winds getting around Grumble and him. “I guess I have to stop toying with you then.”

“Toying?” Applejack was set off by this but didn’t move because of the knife, “you mean to tell me the entire time you let this idiot hurt you?”

Draw just replied with a smirk to his friend as he drew another card, his eyes remained closed as he drew his card. “I play the spell card: Graceful Charity.” As if powered by his own will, and as the words left him, the long haired angel pictured on the card appeared for a moment before disappearing into dust made of white light. “This lets me draw three new cards if I dump two in my hand after. So I draw and I think I’ll get rid of my Goblin Attack Force and Serial Spell cards.”

“What was the point in taking the Goblin then?” asked the Diamond dog confused.

“Just for that look on your face,” Draw replied. He opened his eyes which had turned beady and the white somehow replaced with yellow. “You wanted me to take this seriously. Well then I’m giving it all I got this time. Since you have monsters on your side and I don’t, I get to special summon my Cyber Dragon to the field in attack mode.”

Despite its size being enough to go out of the aura to crash one of the windows of the train car, the diamond dog howled in laughter, “That thing doesn’t have enough power to take out my monster.”

“True,” agreed the pony, “but I still didn’t normal summon this turn. And I chose my Dark Resonator to come to the field in attack mode.”

Applejack was taken in by the look of the creature. It was far different from the other monsters Draw had played up to this point. The black face grinned at its audience, even doing a little dance around the Cyber Dragon.

“Again you must jest pony,” cried the dog. “Even if you could do anything I activate my trap: Shadow Spell. “ Chains covered and wrapped around Draw’s Cyber Dragon. Even their spell was reeking of oil. Draw had to admit it was a really good spell to even be able to bring something as useless as smell to make these cards seem real.

Tornic continued, “With this it can’t attack with your Dragon and loses 700 attack points. So much for your big come back.”

Draw just shook his head, “I figured the fact you didn’t have an extra deck meant you had cards just that good, but it appears you don’t even know how to use one. See my Dark Resonator is a Tuner Monster. And Tuner monsters have quite the ability. You can sacrifice them and any monsters you wish from your field to summon a monster in your extra deck with a level equal to all the monsters’ combined level. And I count 8 from these two, which lets me summon Red Dragon Archfiend.”

The creature’s sheer size was enough that its cry shook all the dogs to the core. Applejack felt the sting of the blade digging deeper from the twitch her capture made. She expected these dogs to fear this thing as she did, but instead Draw’s opponent smiled.

This told the stallion all he needed to know. “Looks like I’m not done yet. So I play the spell: Double Summon. This lets me normal summon once again from my hand. So I summon Barrier Resonator in attack mode.” The imp looked odd even compared to its brother with a white hood instead of grey and smaller stature. None the less, Tornic still smiled. “Then I play yet another spell: Monster Reborn, to bring back Dark Resonator from my grave. With my two tuner’s levels equalling up to four stars and with Red Dragon Archfiend’s star level at eight, this allows me to synchro summon my most powerful beast: the level twelve Red Nova Dragon.”

Time itself seemed to be at a standstill as this creature floated above the train, far outside the orb’s range yet full and there in physical form, as if Draw Blank had really summoned him despite being an earth pony. Its master however remained focused on his task. “And his effect is quite good this time, with it he can’t be destroyed by any card effects controlled by my opponent. Also, for every tuner monster in my grave it gains 500 attack points, meaning 1000 more points from this. However I am still not done. I have one more card with a very special ability. He can only be summoned if there are exactly three dark type monsters in my grave. So with Dark Resonator, Red Dragon Archfiend, and my Witch of the Black Forest in my grave I can bring forth my Dark Armed Dragon.”

“He comes with a good effect too. By removing my three dark monsters I used to bring him out from play I can destroy your Dogs and your remaining face down.”

“Oh nelly,” said Applejack as the winds of dark matter the armed dragon leaked to engulf the two dogs and all the cards on Tornic’s side of the field appeared in his graveyard zone. Draw let out a small chuckle at this. In fact looking at Draw, Applejack saw his own blood colored eyes had grown even darker now, a wide grin crossing his face. She could tell he no longer remembered the incidents he was in. All he was caring about was destroying his opponent. It didn’t suit him.

“Now with nothing on the field, both of my monsters attack your life points directly.” The Dark Armed Dragon attacked first. It’s roar sending Tornic flying into Grumble who caught his fellow dog. However when the second attack came it was a burst of light from the nova dragon, Tornic ducted this and Grumble took the shot full in the face, causing him to lose balance and started falling off the train.

Draw: 5400 Tornic: 200

Draw blinked his eyes now normal as he saw this and left his cards near the orb to jump back and caught one of the large dog’s flailing paws while hanging from the ladder of the car. The force of which caused the pain in the limb that the Guard Dog bit to flair and a pop rang in his ears as all feeling in his limb seemed to loose strength.

“Tornic lays a card face down and end my turn.”

Draw grimaced, “Seriously? Could you help your friend here instead? I can’t even hold cards right now. I think I dislocated something.”

“Then pony gives up? Grumble is useless if he is dead weight. We only let him come because he is bigger. Let him drop.” As he said this the sound of the Train got clearer. If anything else was being discussed or said Draw couldn’t hear it. So instead he made a focused effort to pull the large Diamond Dog close enough to grab the ladder.

“Pony saved my life,” the low voice growled as he clutched his savior’s hoof and kissed it. “Grumble owes pony a great debt.”

“Yeah whatever,” said Draw holding his front right dislocated hoof. “Just stay there.” Draw looked past the dogs. Applebloom still had not shown up with anyone. He couldn’t even pull himself up and if he took too long that wound on Applejack would become a full gash that could kill her. “Actually, could you get your friends off the girl?”

“I can not,” said Grumble getting both feet on the ladder, “Grumble big and strong, but others have knives and are fast. They would cut pony’s throat before Grumble could stop the first one. Grumble can only recommend you keep stalling. We were sent to get something from pony and can’t leave without him losing duel. Others will not keep Tornic’s word about the female pony if it means getting you to duel them.”

“Why exactly does this all have to happen?” said Draw as Grumble pushed him up to get back on the train. Without the large dog the wind blasted his face hard. He had to close his eyes as he wobbled over and drew his card. He didn’t smile, it was all deadpan. “Foolish Burial, this spell lets me send any monster I want to the grave that isn’t already there from my deck. I choose Sangan. With that I can use my armed dragon’s power again. Games over when I attack.”

Whatever color Tornic had in his face dropped. He gulped. So did Draw. He didn’t know what to do. Tornic’s lackeys were not going to let Applejack go. Of this he was sure. Nopony else was coming and she didn’t have much time before that wound would start to effect her. He thought about how sad Applebloom would be, of all the friends Applejack boasted about at dinner. Only then did it hit him.

Draw looked at Applejack, “Tell you what Tornic. We both know full well that even when I attack and win, and you wouldn’t keep up your bargain about letting her go. So if you release her I will forfeit the match.”

“S-soul will still be needed,” said Tornic quickly in response. He was obviously afraid. Any wrong word on his part would mean his own death and he wasn’t exactly a dog born with a silver tongue.

“I’m aware of that,” said Draw biting his lip. He may have made a noble choice but it didn’t mean he had to take it like a stallion. Still he had to keep up appearances or Tornic would try to trick him into forfeiting to keep her alive. He tried his best to look fearsome.

Applejack could see that somehow he couldn’t get that face he had earlier. Then it occurred to her. “Wait, why would you do that? I an’t worth your life.”

“Actually,” replied Draw winking at her, “you are.” His head drooped as he noticed the doors start to open in the distance. Train security would be here soon but not soon enough with the knife to Applejack still. “You have a family and a decent job. I’m not exactly going to be as missed objectively speaking.”

“How c-can I trust pony?” Well at least it was fooling the target.

“I’m a stallion of my word. You walk away if you do as I say. That is, unless that orb doesn’t do what you guys said. Then you’ve just been pulling my leg just to do something stupid, and I’ve stalled you enough to get you guys arrested when train security shows up. Well?”

Tornic thought for what seemed like forever, but finally snapped and Applejack rushed to Draw’s side the instant she was released. Seeing her new friend lifting a hoof she tried to stop what he was about to do. The stallion smiled with a sad face and said, “Well if I am going, I think I better do something I wanted to do since I met you.” With that he planted a kiss on Applejack’s cheek, he wasn’t about to go for the lips he wasn’t sure she would want it, and pushed her away with his good hoof. Draw laid his lame one over his remaining cards in his deck and said loudly. “I Draw Blank surrender this match to Tornic!”

Instantly the black orb glow and the cards used by the both of them were sucked into it. Draw Blank didn’t even have time to register what happened before the other Diamond Dogs besides Grumble grabbed it and jumped off the train into the walls of the tunnel as they entered. “Grab the other decks.”

Applejack couldn’t see anything in the dark all she could hear was a laugh, half Draws and half something familiar as if she had heard it before. “Well now,” that familiar voice said without any Draw, “This makes things interesting.” And with that everything stayed dark for a long time.

***

By the time the orange cow pony was awake, morning came, and it came in through rays of light through a window. Her head felt like somepony went about and stomped on it a good couple of times before stopping, she struggled to keep her head balanced as her image was getting less groggy by the second. When she felt like her head was good enough to start moving it around freely, she noticed a familiar, scrawny stallion laying down on the floor, snoring.

“Oh thank Celestia you’re okay,” she said to the stallion on her floor. Her floor? This was her room. This caused her to 360 her comment along with a cry, “Why are you in my room?”

Draw Blank raised an eye, he wasn’t really asleep. “So, you can see me at least.”

Before Applejack could ask what he was talking about the door to her room swung open, right past Draw’s head. He disappeared. Big Mac stood in the doorway. “You okay there AJ?” The look on his face was one that Applejack had only seen a few other times. Big Mac wasn’t a Stallion of many words, unless it was talking to his siblings when he had worries. “Did your neck hurt ya or something?”

“My neck,” she said reaching a hoof to where the knife wound was. She felt a bandage, so everything wasn’t a dream. She rushed out of her room into the downstairs bathroom to look at herself in the mirror. She closed the door with a bang and pulled off the bandage.

There wasn’t a scar. A sickly line of green fur was there in a line along her neck.

“You know, for a country mare you sure jump to concern for your looks real quick.”

Applejack turned to see Draw Blanks head popping through of the restroom door, the rest of him on the other side of the wall.

Elsewhere, the sound of rustling papers were being made by none other then a blond maned earth pony stallion, Braeburn. His cow pony’s duster never looked more weathered and old, his eyes burning from having to look through certificates through all the night and now the morning. When he heard the shrill cry of a mare in distress, and a cry sounding too familiar, he dropped what he was doing and trotted at a brisk pace to his guest room. “Applejack? When did Y'all get back? Did something happen?” asked Braeburn in worry to the empty room. He looked around several times and shrugged before heading back.

In which this author attempts to give you an exposition dump with a rather short duel

Chapter 5: In which this author attempts to give you an exposition dump with a short duel.

Edited by UltimateRuin009

“Get down from there,” remarked Applejack, as she was bucking from a large oak tree in the premises of Sweet Apple Acres. Sure she had a big ol’ knife pressed up against her neck just a few nights ago, but nothing ever stops the country mare from doing her work.

Draw Blank, looking as if he was already used to his ghastly form, was still flying around like a pro, doing barrel rolls and such. “Buzz kill.” he remarked slyly.

“Well excuse me for still being freaked out that Ah’m being followed around by a ghost only Ah can see!” With one mighty kick from a rear leg, the old apple tree split where the orange farm pony hit, leaving a large indent on the tree.

Draw whistled as he saw this, “That seems like a great way to get out some anger.” He chuckled when he saw Applejack’s frustration, whose frown only grew larger.

“Ah just don’t get it,” said Applejack. “How can you not be even more freaked out about this? Darn it, you’re enjoying yourself more now than when you had a body.”

“Well that’s because of two things,” explained the body-less stallion. “First is that you’ve been out for over a day because of what happened. I had an entire day to come to terms with this. Second, I’m freer now than I ever was alive. No scrambling for money since I don’t need to eat or drink anymore and no more getting suspected of being too close with little fillies.”

“Still,” said Applejack waving a hoof through the stallion’s astral body, “Ah wouldn’t be happy about this. Plus… it is sort of mah fault after all. If Ah didn’t get caught, ya’ll wouldn’t have agreed to that darn duel.”

“Never said I was, but considering the fact I can’t do anything about it now, there’s no point in dwelling on something stupid. The only way I have to live, if this is even living, means I should probably change how I used to do things.”

“That’s just it though.” This time there wasn’t a cracking sound but that was because Applejack had missed the tree entirely and fell on her belly. She got up and tried again before continuing. “Ah have this here friend who might be able t’ help. But thanks to that gosh darn card tournament, she ain’t at the there library, and Ah’m too far behind in work t’ just go all over town looking for her.”

“Isn’t there going to be an opening ceremony for this stuff first though? Wouldn’t she be there then if we went with you signed up? Out of curiosity of course.”

“That’s just the thing. Ah’m not signed up because Ah thought Ah’d be too busy to compete this weekend. Liked you said, Ah slept nearly a day. The time for me to join was up last night.” This buck went perfectly and she started to load everything together.

Draw Blank chuckled, “Yeah, about that...”

Before he could finish, a large Diamond Dog came bounding out of the trees holding a large bag. Thankfully, it was only their newest friend, Grumble. The diamond dog wore a large smile as he stopped moving and exclaimed, “Master, I got you signed up like you asked, but you were asleep when I came back. Here, I brought you all the cards I could get from ponies that were going to throw them away, and a starter deck.”

Applejack stared at the dog while Draw Blank floated above Applejack. Suddenly Applejack could feel her mouth move as Draw’s voice came out of it. “Thanks Grumble. If I may ask for one more thing though.”

“Anything master,” yapped the dog happily.

“Talk to this girl’s family to see what you can do about helping around the farm for the weekend. Also can you catch Applejack here up on what’s happening? I bet this is kinda crazy for her to deal with after the train incident with your “friends”.”

Finally getting control over her mouth again Applejack turned to Draw who had spun down to seem as if he was standing next to the dog as he set down the bags. “How the hay did ya’ll do that?”

“Grumble shall explain,” said the dog taking a seat on the ground and beckoning Applejack to do the same. She did so reluctantly. “Grumble was confused as well at first about this but boss told us to defeat Element of Harmony in a duel.”

“Run that by me again sugercube,” said Applejack perplexed.

“I wasn’t the real goal,” said Draw simply, “You were. They only challenged me because they knew you couldn’t play the game right. They didn’t think their master would send them all to get somepony they could easily beat.”

“Grumble was told to use orb and win duel to get soul of loser at that it was adult pony in caboose of train. Since new master was not target of the orb it took his body but left his soul with the element. That’s you.” The dog’s long fingers pointed at Applejack.

“So that means…” started Applejack.

“That these elements of harmony are the real goal. Meaning your friends you told me about on the train are in danger. Heck I think one of them is already-“

“WHO!” shrieked the mare, jumping to the diamond dog since Draw wasn’t an option. “Which of my friends did these weirdoes take?”

“Grumble doesn’t know,” said the dog ducking and avoiding the mare. “Two teams were sent. Other team went to Canterlot.”

“Rarity,” said Applejack slowly, “oh my gosh, Ah got t’ go find her!”

Before either of her companions could say anything more Applejack was off. Grumble doubled back for the sack of cards while Draw floated along with Applejack easily. “If I may help, she’s at the opening ceremony I believe.”

Applejack stopped so suddenly the dog running after she tripped and the cards in the sack spilled all over the floor. Draw took this time to look over the haul that had fell face up. Most of the cards were indeed useless as they required a certain strategy to even use them. But a good amount was still workable and would help fix the shortcomings of the deck they did have of them.

Applejack shook herself and focused on Draw, “Now why the hay didn’t you tell me that earlier then? If Rarity’s safe then how did you know they are after us?”

“First,” replied Draw, “it’s very funny, and cute to see how worked up you can get. Second question is that it was only a guess. I don’t have any magical powers or background. My line has been a pure earth pony for at least the last thousand years and only. Meaning that if they were also sent to Canterlot and the princesses were not attacked that leaves the only thing that makes logical sense. For some reason they needed to beat you in Duel Monsters so I’m guessing there is something else about this I’m not getting.”

Applejack decided to not tell Draw about the fact his eye’s changed during that last duel he had. Draw was right, if neither princess were reported in danger it was the only lead they had. No need to escalate the issue further. She looked at the pile of cards, “And this game is supposed to be the only way we can fight back?”

“Why else challenge you to this when it was obvious that the dogs didn’t have all that strong a deck? Most these days need an extra deck unless they have ways to shut out the opponent from using one.”

“So what are we waiting for?” said Applejack. “Let’s make a deck.”

***

“So do yah think we can win with these cards?” Applejack asked this of Draw as she fastened her deck into an earth pony made saddle to hold it and the extra deck with a latch for the side deck.

“Can’t really tell, at least until we have a real duel with somepony. The remaining cards are enough for another deck to practice on, but none of them work together. So, do you wanna name it or something?” Draw floated randomly spinning counter clockwise as he said this. It was annoying to see for the orange pony but it was something she could handle to see, she would often have to see the town’s local weather mare fly around in circles.

Grumble had started gathering the cards not being used back up. “Grumble will see about helping in orange pony’s place. The two of you should get going.”

“Right,” said Applejack propping up her trademark hat and starting her way to Ponyville square. Draw floated beside her, still spinning slowly as he did. “You know,” she said to her companion, “If I didn’t know any better I’d say you enjoyed being like that.”

“It’s the way I live my life Jackie,” replied the soul, “work with what you have to the best of your ability and you will have no regrets. I may be…whatever, but I can do all kinds of things I couldn’t when I had my own body. Life gives you lemons and all.”

“Yeah, Ah’m more the mare who makes them take those lemons back,” said Applejack now at a full gallop. “And don’t ever call me ‘Jackie’ again. Just call me AJ.”

The square was full of ponies all gathered with their own make shift belts to hold their decks as they looked onto the stage Trixie normally had set up whenever she was in town ever since learning her lesson in Porco Rico about showing off.

Applejack excused herself through the crowd. Most of them recognized her and let her through. A few had questioning glances as to why Applejack would even be there. “Not much for having fun I guess,” noted Draw as he saw this.

“Well Ah’m usually working whenever Ah’m not out. Ah only got interested in this because Rarity was taking into it somehow, she was the last of my friends Ah thought would like somethin’ like this.” She finished pushing through to the edge, seeing Rarity was perfectly fine somewhere far in the crowd. In fact she saw most of her friends, all except Pinkie Pie. That tugged at her stomach a bit but she put it out of her mind since she would be jumping the gun. It would be best to discuss this with all her friends.

From the stage blasted a familiar blue coated mare, who’s mane and tail were as white as the scales of the dragon she rode on. The illusion of Trixie’s favorite monster was hovering, leg claws nearly touching the wooden floor of the stage and spotlights pointing at the one and only, who stood on all fours and looking down from the head of the beast. “Ladies and Gentlecolts, welcome to the first of what I hope will be many bi annual duel monsters card event. How is everypony feeling today?”

Applejack was amazed at the crowd’s reaction. Trixie certainly had won the town back over in such a short time and everypony seemed hyped for the approaching event, many of them stomping in unison. The blue unicorn smiled at this, “Very well then. Now allow me to introduce the head sponsor of this event to kick off our proceedings: the one and only princess of the night, Luna!”

Unlike the last few times Applejack had seen the princess, this time Luna had come up with a far lighter shade of fur and a mane that was just of normal hair, unlike her older sister’s mane. She looked the same as the first time they had officially met when they had defeated Nightmare Moon. Still keeping up her regal stance despite the difference making her look smaller and meeker, she began in a normal voice to which the rest of the town kept quiet. They didn’t want their princess to be forced to be as loud as she was on Nightmare Night.

“Greeting citizens, many of thou from the far corners of our great and glorious kingdom, We welcome you to this festival game tournament in hopes we can all get along well for the sake of a good mood and undoubtedly fun times. For those of you confused about our appearance, we can tell you now that we are perfectly fine. Sorry, I am perfectly fine. My powers are a bit muffled in the presents of my sister’s sun and it we both felt it would help you all to see I am no different than all of you during this event.

“Now then, on to the rules of this weekend’s event: First of all, all the normal rules of this ‘Duel Monsters’ card game apply to the duels you will all be taking part in. You are free to duel as much or as little as you wish but you must duel at least three times a day until you qualify for the finals. Each of you will be given two special silver bits and a band to keep them on. Your bands will be able to hold ten of these bits and anypony with a full band at the end of the weekend will be in the finals taking place three days from now. With over a hundred participates this should allow for a decent amount of finalists.

“Lastly when you all signed up you were given a chart with the cards forbidden from your decks and the limitations as announced by the creator of this fine game: J. Pegasus. Unfortunately Pegasus could not be present for this event but he did send his thanks for allowing his game to get so popular and offers the finalists here the choice between several cards that will be revealed at the finals.”

“That’s fairly standard,” commented Draw. “And don’t worry AJ, the guy hasn’t changed that list much unless he brings out a new booster, since he hasn’t in about five years. All the stuff in our deck is within the rules unlike the deck I used on Tornic.”

Applejack stayed quiet as Luna continued. She went on and on about various items and how all the dueling stages were set up around the place with unicorn guards to power the illusions for the monsters to pop out. She even addressed a mishap with trying to make a magic Frisbee that displayed the monsters which explained why most of the guards had some kind of eye cover or a patch over their eye. She wished for everyone to have fun before finally making it to the end.

“To demonstrate just how each duel will play out I offer any of you ponies to come and duel my sister’s student, Twilight Sparkle, on this stage. For this demonstration alone, Twilight will be using a deck made by my sister herself with some of the best cards in the game. Who here is up for the challenge?”

A few ponies raised their hooves, but it was a griffin that pushed past all of them and got the rest to lower their hooves at the sight of her. Applejack recognized her immediately, with the grunge feather-do and the arrogant smirk of this griffin in particular, Gilda. Rainbow Dash’s old friend that wasn’t too friendly last time she was in town. Based on the body language she was using she didn’t learn her lesson about being mean unlike the blue unicorn who had backed away and was talking to Twilight about something.

Gilda puffed her chest and stared Luna down. Luna didn’t even give her the time of day, “Twilight Sparkle, if you’d please get ready.” Twilight followed Trixie to one end of the stage as Luna took Gilda. The two were going to do the unicorn guard’s jobs for this duel.

“Hope you’re ready to lose,” said Gilda with a smug look on her face.

Both players clapped their hooves/claws together and as they opened them the magic from the unicorns followed to give a display with fourteen card spots. The top row of seven was for the grave and field areas with the five allowed monster zones. The bottom held the main and extra decks on each side with the spell/trap zone between them. The crowd stayed silent as they watched the two intensely, curious to see what cards their day ruler used.

“DUEL!”

Twilight: 8000 Gilda: 8000

“I’ll go first if, that is okay with you,” said the unicorn drawing her card. “I set a monster in defense mode and set three cards face down on the field, your move Gilda.”

“Is that a good move?” Applejack whispered.

The pony next to her shrugged. Draw Blank who floated above her replied, “Not exactly. It will let her be prepared for anything, but in return there are quite a few cards that could destroy a spell or trap card easy, too easy. If I was in the same situation I’d only set two in case something was wrong. But since I don’t know what face downs she has I can’t be sure. We’ll just have to see how this plays out.”

“My turn,” said the Griffin drawing her card. She looked at it and smiled, “I’ll start by discarding the Harpy Queen I just drew to the graveyard in order to bring the field spell: Harpies’ Hunting Ground to my Hand and play it.” The illusions around them morphed the stage to look like a wild field similar to the card.

“Next I’ll summon my Harpie Lady #3 in attack mode.” She waited, Twilight did nothing. The creature poured out of the card till it was high in the sky. Draw Blank chuckled as he noticed one male pegasus spread his wings looking at the female creature, only for the girl next to him to nudge him and give him her best glare.

Gilda continued, “So with Hunting Grounds effect I have to target one spell or trap card on the field and destroy it.” The blue haired Harpie swooped in and crushed one of the back row cards, from the picture it had when the giant illusion of the card came up, it was Mirror Force. “Next I play Elegant Egotist. This lets me summon another Harpie if I already have one from my deck, and I have 3. The downside is with the third I have to destroy my Hunting Ground. But it’s a fine pay off for no traps to worry about and I have more monsters.” So gone went Twilight’s Spell Binding Circle, and Scrap Iron Scarecrow.

“Lastly, I think I’ll remove my Queen from play in order to summon Garuda the Wind Spirit.”

“Five monsters,” cried the crowd in unison. Draw Blank was the only one who didn’t react.

Gilda smiled, “This game is mine. Harpie Lady #1’s effect boosts every one of them by 300 attack points. So Harpie #2 attack that monster in defense mode, if your monster has a flip effect it is negated when she kills it.”

“It’s Sangan,” called Twilight. “And when he is destroyed I get one monster with 1500 or less attack from my deck to my hand, so no flip effect. I choose Kuriboh.”

“Fine,” said Gilda. “I’m guessing it will block my Harpie Lady Sisters attack so everyone else still gets through in this as all of them go in for an attack.” Gilda was right and Twilight was pushed back the winds of the monsters’ attack except for the sister’s attack which was stopped by the fluffy creature that popped out momentarily to protect Twilight.

Twilight: 2900 Gilda: 8000

“Bad move,” said Draw with a shake of his head.

“What do you mean?” asked Applejack confused. “Ah just learned this game and even ah can see Gilda’s at the clear advantage.”

“She used her best stuff too early,” He said simply, “She could have just used two of those and saved the last two monsters in case Twilight has something planned. Now she may have a field advantage, but she has no cards defending her monsters and no backup plan since she has no idea what she’s going to draw and has no hand. Unless your friend’s deck is completely useless, she should still be able to take out this entire strategy just by taking out that Harpie #1 with the right monster. Heck our deck could easily get around this most of the time.”

Twilight took a deep breath as she pulled her next card. “Well,” she said simply, “it looks like this duel is over already.”

Gilda laughed, “Already? Well I can’t blame you. My cards are too awesome and unbeatable.”

“I wasn’t talking about you,” replied Twilight, “I’ve won.”

“You?” the question Gilda posed was mixed with total laughter, “How could you get out of this?”

“Like this,” Twilight said with her smugness added. “First I summon: Zero Gardna to the field.” The weird creature holding a giant metal zero was weird enough. But everyone was baffled at the fact Trixie had used her magic to display that this thing had zero attack and defense to work with. Gilda didn’t even make a remark because she didn’t see where this was going. Draw however had his eyes bulge a bit.

“Next, I send Sangan and Kuriboh from my grave to the deck in order to summon Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord!”

“I still fail to see how that is going to help,” Gilda said. “What card could you possibly have that would end the duel with two monsters with no attack points and one card in your hand.”

“Because the final card I play is Diffusion Wave Motion. So by paying a thousand life points my Exodius will be able to attack all your monsters this turn. Finally I use the effect of Zero Gardna, which makes Exodius unable to be defeated in battle and I take no damage. Meaning by the end all five Forbidden Lord cards in the Princess’s deck will be in the grave and I win the duel.”

Gilda’s jaw dropped as Exodius attacked Garuda and the sisters first, finishing by attacking each Harpie Lady in order. Each attack making the muscles in its limbs grew.

Twilight: 1900 Gilda: 3200

With all five cards in the grave the monster burst and Exodia, the strongest monster in the game stood before the griffin. It swatted the poor griffin in one slap to finish the duel. The hand passing through her but still caused her to duck from it. By the rules of the card, Twilight had won with Celestia’s deck and she carefully put the cards away and handed them to a guard to stepped up after, trying her best to hold back her glee.

Gilda however did not take it so well. She immediately cried out and swooped down at the unicorn, claws extended. Twilight was busy with the guard and didn’t notice this, but the pink aura of Trixie’s magic still caught her by the tail and pulled Twilight out of the way.

“Cease this at once,” she said pulling Twilight behind her. “If you stop now Trixie will forgive you for lashing out as the tournament has not started. But physical violence will not be permitted. If you should continue….”

“…You will have to deal with me,” finished Luna walking next to Trixie with her guard forming a wall between the griffin and Twilight.

Gilda growled at this but finally agreed to back down. “We’ll have a rematch later then with your real deck. No more hiding behind other ponies when you do.”

Twilight nodded, though Gilda couldn’t see it as she flew off. It was at this point Applejack and Draw approached with the other elements coming on the stage from different parts of the crowd. Pinkie was still not with them but checking on Twilight took priority.

“I’m fine,” she insisted dusting herself off. “Gilda isn’t scary. I’ll just have to keep a closer eye out is all. Besides, Princess Celestia suggested I have fun at this even so I could study how different people dueled. She said something about how cards reflect the pony or something.” Draw Blank nodded at this, to which Applejack voiced her agreement on his behalf.

“I can’t believe Gilda,” said Rainbow Dash while glaring in the direction the griffin had fled. “I invited her so that we could try to make up and this is how she treats my friends after last time? Maybe I shouldn’t bother with her anymore.”

“Don’t say that Rainbow,” said the white unicorn Rarity. “No matter what she is still important to you, so maybe try again in a few years. I think most of this anger she’s holding is just her going through something in her own life. If Pinkie tried and wasn’t even her friend, you shouldn’t give up so easily.”

“I guess,” Agreed Rainbow, “but it’s going to be a very long time before I try extending a hoof to her again.”

“Well with that settled,” Luna said with a sigh. “Why don’t we get back to starting this thing?” She turned back to the crowd. “As you can see we’re not very kind to cheaters so I suggest to all of you not to break the rules of this tournament. Everything starts and noons so please spread out now and have fun.”

“By the way Twilight,” Trixie began to inquire as she adjusted her hat, “Where is Celestia’s deck?”

“I gave it to that guard,” answered Twilight looking around for him. “He was right here.”

“He ran off,” said Draw lightly floating around Rarity.

Unable to stop him Applejack just yelled, “Then why the hay didn’t you say anything about it?”

Twilight was taken aback, “but I just did.”

“Not you,” corrected Applejack.

“He’s a guard,” said Draw returning to Applejack’s side as he felt her stare. “Figured he was taking it to a safe place to avoid thieves, most would either want those cards or at least make sure they couldn’t be used against them. You don’t even want to know how annoying it was to hear this one colt wine after he was disqualified for throwing someone’s cards off a boat.”

“Well it looks like he was the thief then,” said Applejack. “But why would he want to steal cards?”

Draw Blank shrugged as Applejack’s friends looked at her in confusion, they all remember the time where Applejack tired herself to near death getting half of the apples of her family’s orchard. “Guess Ah should explain,” Applejack proclaimed. "But first, 'ave any of y'all seen Pinkie?"

Elsewhere, a black unicorn in gold armor teleported into a room to place the cards he had stolen on a pedestal. “As you ordered my liege,” he said chaining back into his natural changeling form.

“Very good,” said the bubbly voice of the pink pony. “At this rate the seal will be broken in no time. Join your siblings and your previous queen in the lower chambers for now. The food I promised is already there. A group of self loving diamond dogs, they failed in getting me the two powers I sent them to retrieve. A bit stale for your tastes but soon you will all have all the food you could want.”

The changeling bowed to the pink earth pony. “Thank you, my liege.” Then he teleported out of the room, leaving only the pinkie pony with black and red eyes and her throne. On top of the thrown was a display with seven slots. One had a crystallized blue balloon with another pony inside. This one looked just like the pony outside only with normal white and blue eyes. The pink pony was obviously crying for something and banging on the crystal. But nopony could hear her.

“Don’t worry,” said the dark eyed pony. “Your friends will join you soon enough.”

Where Rarity Manages to Tick off Applejack

Chapter 6:
Where Rarity Manages to Tick off Applejack

All of Ponyville was in a state of chaos as everypony prepared for the duels that would be starting in just ten minutes. Sugar Cube Corner even had a raffle to see who got to duel in the store and the winner got a free pastry of their choosing. The local pink mare’s treats did have sweets was simply to die for after all. A certain lady was the proud winner of the raffle and so it would come down to whomever she challenged.

Applejack sat in the corner, with thoughts in mind that only fogged her mind the more she thought about them. Her ghostly companion was doing his best to appear to be sitting across from her so she wouldn’t give her the headaches he loved so much to give her by flying around. “You can’t blame them, silly Applejack, even I find this whole idea rather…hard to believe. I bet your siblings feel the same about this.”

“Ah can bet on that too.” she muttered to herself. “Maybe Ah really am just going crazy. This may be some weird fever dream. Or Ah’m in shock and I can’t seem to break out of whatever coma Ah maybe in right now.”

“Snap out of it!” Draw finally shouted at the mare. Applejack jumped from her friend’s reaction, feelings of surprise and shock welled up within her. “Even if this was for some reason a dream you don’t get out of it by just laying around. In any dream you only get out if you see it to the finish it, one way or another. So if you’re not going to take my advice so you can help me and your friends, than I guess you’re stuck. Whether you like it or not.”

“Ya’ll got ah point,” Applejack replied. Draw nodded. “Still,” she thought, “Ah sort of hope this ain’t a dream. Since my friends aren’t in any danger, it means Ah don’t have to feel bad for wishing you’d shifted over a bit with that kiss.”

Draw Blank turned and smiled, “You do know I can hear your thoughts too right? We are sort of sharing the same body and all right now. Guess it doesn’t work the other way for some reason or you would have noticed a long time ago. Especially THOSE choice of words there.” Applejack turned and pulled her hat over her head in embarrassment, her face flushing red like the apples on her flanks.

Noticing her country friend act the way she had at that moment, a hint of light hit Rarity in the eye, an idea was born. “Oh hello Applejack! I was just wondering if you could play a little game of cards with mwah?” asked the fashionista mare.

Applejack’s attention however was more on Draw who was once again staring at Rarity. “Well look there,” he said, casually looking deep into her eyes, causing a bit of anxiety to rise up in her stomach of her friend’s astral form. “as a friend this might be a good way for you to really get to know about dueling first hoof, and oh sweet Celestia what a friend you have...oh my.” The next sounds from Draw Blank were his best imitation of gurgling noises he could muster from his liquid-less mouth.

“Sure Rarity.” said Applejack, angered up to the point of trying not to grind her teeth.

Rarity however, wasn’t born yesterday. “Oh I know that look Applejack, is somepony you like interested in me again? I keep telling you if you just fixed yourself up a bit it wouldn’t happen, or at least you’d have so many suitors it wouldn’t matter. In fact, you’d have a much better chance of keeping somepony more than me. I can admit that I’m a bit…picky.”

Draw couldn’t quite read the message in between the lines of the marshmallow-white mare’s words, but he knew she was trying the best she could to be subtle with her orange friend. What he could read was that she was only making her friend even angrier by the second. “How are these two friends?” thought Draw Blank.

“Fine,” said Applejack, “If it will get ya’ll to leave me alone fer not believing me earlier, then Ah’ll take you on… alone.” She said this last word to Draw as she pulled out the deck they had made.

“Wow,” thought Draw, “Didn’t take her as the jealous type. Or is it just how she acts when it’s with this mare?”

“Shut up, Draw Blank.” thought Applejack.

“DUEL!”

Applejack: 8000 Rarity: 8000

“You can go first Applejack,” said Rarity coyly. “I dare say that you’re going to need that advantage.”

Applejack looked her dead in the eyes, even though what she read was just tom foolery, every word sank down right into the farm mare’s core like rotten apple cider going down her throat. “Oh I’ll go alright…”

Draw hovered over his host, “Now are you sure you know what you’re doing. Remember unless you have a different way you can’t normally summon a monster with more than four star levels without a sacrifice.” He attempted to reach for Applejack’s shoulder, but it wasn’t so much of use since his hoof went right through her.

“Don’t ya’ll be a back seat driver, Draw.” Applejack yelled at him. Rarity was a bit confused but shrugged after getting over the out of nowhere scream. “Ah can do this on my own thank ya very much, so Ah’ll start by summonin’ Hayabusa Knight in attack mode.”

Draw grew with irritation as Rarity waited to see what else Applejack was going to play. Applejack didn’t stop there, “Now mah Knight, attack Rarity directly!” Draw face hoofed the best he could with his spiritual form, followed with a loud groan.

“Applejack,” Rarity said simply with her sweetest voice. Nerd rage was hidden in her voice but she couldn’t get too short with one of her best friends after all. “Surely you know that by the rules of this game you can’t attack if you go first. Why, that would be too much of an unfair advantage.”

“Oh…” said Applejack embarrassed, her cheeks flushing red, “Guess Ah just thought it was just some kind of strategy behind the ones Ah saw not doing that. Guess Ah end my turn then.”

Draw was about to yell something but Applejack stared daggers at him. Just great, he could see plenty of moves Applejack could have done to recover, but sometimes it’s just got to be learned. He bit his lip and swallowed as Rarity raised an eyebrow.

“Well if that’s all you’re going to do,” said Rarity with her usual natural smug, “I suppose it is up to me to correct your mistake by showing you what a real move is like in this game, dear Applejack. I draw, and now I summon Gem Knight Garnet to the Field in Attack mode. And he’ll attack your Hayabusa Knight.”

Applejack’s monster fell like it was a rag doll when it came to the Gem Knight’s attack. Draw by this point just sat back on the other side of sugar cube corner with the other spectators. It was obvious if he bothered to pipe up now Applejack wasn’t going to have any of that. With this not costing them the tournament he wasn’t going to bother unless Applejack asked if that’s what she wanted.

“I end my turn with a face down card in my magic/trap zone,” called Rarity doing as she said without any emotion too it.

Applejack: 7100 Rarity: 8000

Applejack growled. She didn’t want to admit her mistake, and she wouldn’t have to if she just drew and pretended like that was part of the plan. She did so and tried to think of what to do. “Ah’ll start my turn off by playing the spell card Allure of Darkness. This lets me draw two new cards and then I have to banish a dark monster from play. So I’ll draw and get rid of my Dark Blade. Then ah…” She sat there reading her cards. “Just give me a minute.” Two full minutes past, Draw could tell because he had time to get bored and mentally sing a song one of his friends made to go with playing the game.

“Alright, Ah got it! I set this monster in defense mode and set a card face down as well.”

“All that for such a simple move?!” Rarity’s anger was showing, it was enough to show Draw why she didn’t exactly have a boyfriend despite her good looks. She calmed herself quickly however and just said simply. “I suppose I better just end this quickly then.”

She drew her own card. “I’ll start off by playing my face down card. Dust Tornado. I use it destroy your face down card.” It was Ego Boost. Both Rarity and Draw swallowed, but for two very different reasons despite the source being the same. “Applejack, I’m going to say this right now. If that face down monster doesn’t have less than 1000 attack points I am going to smack you upside your rough head for wasting my time with this pathetic display you are calling dueling.”

“Hey,” called Applejack from her end of the store, “That’s a bit uncalled for. Besides it isn’t that bad a move….uh…is it?”

Draw stayed silent and just motioned to Rarity who was so mad at this move and waiting so long she just had to be audible about it. “Even if you were afraid of my face down card had you played your Knight, from the first turn on this one you would have at least killed my own Knight and dealt me damage, and quite more while saving your life points with whatever this monster is defending you. Your Ego Boost card would have powered up any of your weak monsters to destroy mine. But if that’s how you wish to play then I will attack you head on!

“Now I summon Gem-Armadillo. His effect lets me bring one Gem-Knight to my hand from my deck, I choose another Garnet. Then I play the spell: Polymerization so that it can take my Garnet in my hand and the Gem-Knight Crystal also in my hand in order to summon: Gem-Knight Citrine.”

“Oh that’s a bad move Rarity,” said Applejack nodding with a smile, “playing all yer best cards now when Ah can counter it.”

“Like you could even counter it.” Rarity said simply.

“She’s right,” Draw said from the sidelines. “First off Applejack you have nothing to defend yourself. And second unlike Gilda she still has two cards in her hand to back up her monsters should you actually be able to counter this.” Applejack felt dumber than a sack of potatoes, she thought she had everything set up from the beginning, but it was her friend who had the upper hoof.

“Now Gem-Knight Citrine, attack the face down monster.” It was Trident Warrior. Draw just stared at his host in disbelief. She could have used Trident Warrior with another monster he saw in her opening hand and completely dominated the duel at this point with a powerful monster. Heck he hoped it was one of the cards she drew form Allure of Darkness to at least justify not having that effect to bring out Dark Blade to have a decent defense follow up. He really should have trained her in how to use this deck better.

However no one in the Bakery was more angered than Applejack’s opponent. She ground her teeth in rage before swallowing to smile cutely and saying, “No, it isn’t worth my time. So my other two monsters just attack her directly please.”

They only passed through but Applejack felt every blow because of how she was making both of her friends react to her dueling. Was she really that bad at this? Even if she wanted she couldn’t ask for Draw’s help now. After all her boasting at all it would be degrading. Rarity didn’t even bother with face down cards. Applejack wasn’t sure if that meant she didn’t have any traps or spells, or if it was that she was so disappointed in Applejack’s skill that she didn’t bother giving it her all anymore.

Applejack: 3500 Rarity: 8000

“Fine then,” said Applejack trying to keep a stiff upper lip. She looked at the card she just drew and remembered what the symbol on the spell card she read meant. She took a minute to read the text and finally played her cards the only way she could at this point if she remembered Draw’s instruction correctly.

This is a type of spell called and Equip Spell card. Notice the symbol that looks like a cross? These spells have a decent amount of good effects and stick to the monster you use it on till it’s removed one way or another. This one that came with the starter deck is crucial to how we are going to surprise our enemies when we are in a tight spot. Learn this card well, but I won’t tell you the best way to play this card. That can only come from you if you really want to learn this game.

“I summon Speed Warrior in attack mode. He comes with a great effect all his own Rarity. On the turn I summon him I can double his original attack points during the battle phase.”

Rarity didn’t even bother with this. She had used up too much of her energy trying to stomach the horrible way her friend was playing already and chose to just relax without a care.

“Now Ah know what your thinkin’ Rarity,” said Applejack, “With 900 attack points that guy could only defeat your Gem-Armadillo when it doubles to 1800. But you see Ah still have a spell card to play: Unstable Evolution!”

That got Draw’s and Rarity’s attention back in full. “And with this equip spell’s effect, the original attack of my Speed Warrior changes from 900 points to 2400 points so long as my life points are lower than yours. This of course means that my warrior doubles that this turn into 4800 attack points. But that isn’t the only equip spell I have. I got a different one from my Allure of Darkness earlier. It’s the Spell: Twin Swords of Flashing Light-Tryce. So by lowing my Monster’s attack, which doesn’t count as his original attack, by 500 points he can attack twice in this battle phase. So Ah think Ah’ll have my Speed Warrior take out yer two Gem-Knights. Also, since this effect comes in before he even attacks your Citrine’s effect doesn’t stop it.”

The illusion of the mechanical warrior spun around on its feet, slashing apart Rarity’s monsters with two shining swords in hands. After it was done cutting up the other illusions like they were nothing, it swung it swords at Rarity’s direction to show that she lost life points.

Applejack: 3500 Rarity: 3500

“Downside is now that we have the same point count my monster goes back to 900 attack points, and the swords still reduce his attack so now his has 400 attack points. So Ah’ll place one face down card in the back row, and end my turn.”

“Amazing,” Draw heard. “She evened the score and the playing field.” They were right. Applejack may not know everything about this game just yet, but if she could come up with being able to use the cards like that she had a pretty good potential to be at his level, that is if she learned enough.

“Applejack,” Rarity said in surprise. “That was simply amazing. I never thought you’d be able to do something like that.” A smile slowly crossed her face. “Now it seems I really have to give it my all as well.” She drew her card.

“Hold it Rarity,” cried Applejack, “I activate my trap: Drop off. You gotta throw the card you just drew into the grave now without playing it.”

“Well played Applejack,” said Rairty smiling again, “I’m still going to win of course but now I have to send my Gem-Knight Fusion to the grave so you may actually hold out well enough this turn. Unfortunately your trap was in vain I’m afraid since with its effect I can remove my Citrine from play in order to return it to my hand. So now I’ll have my Gem-Armadillo attack your Speed Warrior, and set one card face down to end my own turn.”

Applejack: 2200 Rarity: 3500

“You still have one monster at least in your hand Applejack,” thought Draw Blank. “But with 1600 attack points it isn’t going to do anything. I hope something good comes in your next draw.”

Applejack drew her next card with caution. Could she play it with Rarity’s face down card looming? Well if she did just play the only monster in her hand to defend it wouldn’t do any good if she could pull off two monsters and leave her with little to work with. “Ah play the spell card: Monster Reborn. This lets me take a monster from either of our graves and lets me use him as my own. So since you already got rid of your Citrine I guess I’ll take one of your Garnets for myself.”

The Flame wielding Knight came to Applejack’s field. “Not so fast yourself Applejack,” called Rarity. “I have a trap to play: Compulsory Evacuation Device. This trap will give me back my Garnet by returning him to my hand. As if I’d let you steal any of MY knights.”

“Well fine then,” replied Applejack disappointed her strategy didn’t work. And she was on such a roll too last turn. “Ah’ll just have ta’ do my best this turn then. I summon my Tune Warrior to the field. Then I suppose I’ll just play the last card in my hand: Foolish Burial. Not sure what good it will do me but Ah’ll look anyway.”

Draw could barely contain himself; she did have one monster perfect for this one moment. He hoped she would find and see it. Granted it wouldn’t win her the duel but he would be the only right move Applejack could make now, and at this point that’s all she needed.

Applejack’s eyes widened as she found just the card, she looked up at Draw and mouthed the monster to him. He nodded with a blank stare. In all her excitement she forgot she was mad at him and forgot everything she did wrong in the duel thus far. Just the chance to turn this duel around again after Rarity cut her off was so exciting she didn’t even care about what Rarity may do next turn.

“I put Quillbolt Hedgehog in the grave,” she announced as she did so and shuffled her deck. “Then I play its effect: since I have a Tuner monster on my field he comes out of the grave. And when he goes away it will be out of play. But I won’t need him then. So I think I’ll Tune my two monsters together this time. To Synchro Summon: X-Saber Wayne!”

“Oh my,” said Rarity looking at the monster. “He’s actually quite the mysterious one isn’t he?”

“Don’t go getting’ a card crush on him now, Rarity,” Applejack said with a snort. “Ah can’t even use his effect because I don’t have a hand anymore. But Ah can attack with him which is what Ah’ll do. X-Saber attacks your Armadillo!”

It went down fast and hard to the monster’s assault, but that’s not what mattered to Rarity at the moment, what mattered was the muscles on her friend’s monster. It was almost more then she could bare in anything male, and yet it was there. It was a dream on the eyes and could only focus on the movement of the illusion. Heck, she swore she saw the monster wink at her.

“Hey Rarity!” called Applejack. “It’s your turn now.”

“Oh,” said Rarity shaking her head, and with cheeks flushing red, “the duel… right.”

Applejack: 2200 Rarity: 3100

She drew her card. “Oh, I don’t wanna do this,” Rarity muttered. “But I must. I MUST. I play Lightning Vortex to destroy your strong, handso-err… to destroy Wayne.” The Lightning crashed and Wayne was blown to pieces, she winced before she rid herself of the Gem-Fusion card again. “Then I summon my Garnet back in attack mode. It was a good game Applejack, but I’ve basically won. Go my monster. Go in for a direct attack. Then I’ll set my final card and end my turn.”

Applejack: 300 Rarity: 3100

“It’s best to forfeit now Applejack,” Rarity said. “We don’t have all day and not many monsters can match my Knight that you could summon. Also even if you did I still have the face down to play to end this. Still, I must congratulate you for such a splendid duel. Had you not messed up at the start I would not have made such a careless mistake at allow that speed warrior combo and who knows how the game would have gone then?”

“Don’t count your apples before they harvest Rarity. I still got one draw left to turn this around.” Applejack drew her card and her eyes grew wide as she read it. “Wow, Ah must be really lucky or my deck loves me fer this to work. Since Ah have no cards in my hand I can summon Swift Gaia the Fierce Knight to the field without a tribute.”

“Now my Knight beats yours down, unless your face down can do anything.”

“Not the time yet,” Rarity replied.

Applejack: 300 Rarity: 2700

“Guess now the tables have turned,” said Applejack with a smile.

“Not exactly,” replied Rarity, “I just need one card from my deck to end this.” She drew, “I activate my trap: Reckless Greed. I’ll draw two cards now and stop drawing for the next two turns.” She laughed ecstatic, her hooves nearly making her jump. “Yes I got it. Gem-Knight Alexandrite! His effect lets me sacrifice him for Gem-Knight Crystal from my Deck in attack mode.”

“I’m not going to lose if that’s all you got yah marshmallow.” said Applejack confident now in her draw luck.

“Unfortunately Applejack, you’re not getting another turn. I remove my other Gem-Knight Crystal from play to bring Gem-Knight Fusion back to my hand. That way I can discard it again in order to play D.D.R., Different Dimension Reincarnation!”

Something inside Draw pulled at him when the magic of this card activated. Without any control over it he felt himself being pulled to the portal opening in the illusion. Applejack noticed this and cried out she admitted defeat on instinct, copying the move Draw did and saying what she needed to fast, before Rarity could say who was being revived.”

The magic left and Draw soon returned to himself, “W-What just happened?”

“Ya’ll almost got taken away is what happened!” Applejack called to him rushing to Draw Blank as he lay back down.

“I feel tired for some reason…”

“Hang in there!” Applejack wasn’t sure what to do. Twilight was no where nearby to help even if she did know what was going on, the same with Trixie and Luna.

Rarity saw the look of desperation on her friend’s face and approached cautiously. “You weren’t lying earlier were you? What’s happened to him then?”

“He’s suddenly fading or something,” exclaimed Applejack, “Ever since ya’ll played that DDR card thing. Oh gosh, hang in there Draw.”

“My card,” Rarity said looking down at the card she had played when Applejack suddenly freaked out. She thought for a moment then used her magic to make a smaller scale illusion and called over the two guards in the store. “It is sort of your fault too, darlings. Help me out here.” They did as she played her card, but this time putting two knights on top of each other and another black card from there.

Suddenly the illusion portal opened again and this time Draw felt perfectly fine. He bolted upright with a start until he saw the card Rarity just did that with. “Ask her for that card,” he said quickly to Applejack.

Applejack for her part was far too happy to notice what he was saying. Rarity however still gave the card to her. “I thought it was strange,” said Rarity, “Yesterday Pinkie gave me this card saying that if for some reason there was somepony in trouble while playing this game, YOU should play this to stop it. I thought she was just being Pinkie Pie and kept it for myself even though it isn’t a very good card for me. Maybe you know more about it?”

Applejack looked at the black card. In gold letters it read: Number 11: Big Eye.

In Which Trixie Opens Her Big Fat Mouth

Chapter 7: In Which Trixie Opens Her Big Fat Mouth

With a whistle of Trixie’s trademark fireworks, the tournament began. Ponies soon started duels everywhere and the sounds of monster summoning could be heard in every corner of the town. Luna herself had stepped away to help keep any guards under control since Shining Armor was still off with his wife in their honeymoon. All was loud and busy except on the stage where Trixie had set the fireworks off, ironically. “Is something wrong?”

Trixie’s question had broken Twilight out of her train of thought. She shook her head before looking at her friend and responding. “What? Oh… sorry Trixie, I was just thinking about these cards Pinkie gave us before she left. I’m not even sure how we are supposed to use them. I don’t have any way to summon this in my deck without a serious alteration.”

Trixie looked down at her own card and said, “Well I can sort of use mine, though I don’t think I have any way to use this other effect and it would be useless to use in most cases with my deck too. It’s like she doesn’t even know what’s in our decks. What idiot thinks all the best duelist use cards that swarm the field most turns?”

“Hey,” said Twilight giving the blue unicorn a shove. “Pinkie is my friend, and you will not bad mouth her in front of me.” To emphasize her point she stomped a front hoof to the ground. This outburst took Trixie by surprise as she flinched, hoping that she wouldn’t attack her. When she seemed calmer she started talking again.

“Very well,” replied Trixie, recovering from Twilight’s anger. “Trixie shall rephrase: How can someone be so ignorant about our decks if they knew how we play? She’s seen you at least play a few times hasn’t she?”

“Sure we play at least once every two weeks,” agreed Twilight, “usually more.” Her brow lowered, “I think you may have something Trixie. Pinkie of all people loves this game and plays it all the time. How did she not know what cards to give us?”

“Who knows?” shrugged the show mare. “Trixie has not really had to chance to get to know her very well, but from what I do know she seems pretty… crazy. Maybe she had one of those… what did she call it? “Pinkie Sense”? She talked about that and just gave these to us because she thought something would happen to them.”

“Maybe,” said Twilight almost losing herself to the thought train again. “But I guess it does us no good to think about it for now. When we run into her again we should ask.”

“Agreed,” said Trixie. She looked around at the crowd of ponies now starting all their own duels. “I guess we better get started. I don’t wanna duel you for my first duel, such things should be saved for last, and I don’t like to disappoint the crowd. Let’s split up here and we can check in again in about an hour or so to see if either of us spots Pinkie.” Twilight nodded in agreement, and then both went their separate ways into the crowd.

Trixie scanned her audience from a respectable distance. She needed to find a proper dueling partner, picking someone too weak wouldn’t be good for her image, though picking someone better than she was is bad for her image too. So many choices were laid out for her right in front of her but she couldn’t tell which one was the rotten egg.

Out of the corner of her eye she caught sight of an orange filly dueling on her scooter somehow as a Pegasus Followed her and the two guards did their best to spread their magic to fill the area they were circling. The crowd of ponies paying so much attention to this duel that Trixie felt compelled to do so as well. I mean, how could you ignore a duel on scooters? This was something very interesting, and new. Then again only Pegasuses would think up something this complicated to make the game more exciting when it didn’t need to be.

Scootaloo: 400 Snowflake: 8000

The orange filly licked her lips as the large Pegasus, who had more muscle than was necessary for a pony, ended his turn. “I active my trap: Miracle’s Wake! It lets me bring back a monster that was destroyed in battle this turn. So welcome back my Nitro Warrior.”

The move itself was a rather impressive display as the monster on the card came up and started floating next to Scootaloo, but there was one thing that made the moment a bit ruined, her opponent’s monster was bigger. It wasn’t even just because her opponent’s monster was bigger; the monster floating next to the large stallion was a ten star monster, The Wicked Dreadroot.

“Yeah,” called Snowflake. “Nice move, but that pathetic monster stands no chance against my monsters. I can’t wait to see how you end up losing it again.” Indeed with his own the Wicked Dreadroot on the field Nitro Warrior’s attack plummeted to 1400, not to mention the Summoned Skull also on the field next to the larger fiend.

“You think you’re so tough now?” replied the filly. “Well let’s see how good you are after my turn. And the first thing I’m gonna do is summon Junk Sychron.” The little guy popped out right next to Nitro Warrior, with a determined face that didn’t waver even when half of its attack points were reduced.

“He lets me summon a level two or lower monster from my grave when I normal summon him so how about I say hello once again to my Nitro Sychron. Next, I activate the effect of Level Eater in my graveyard to bring down Nitro Warrior’s level by one, making him a level six. Thanks to this effect I can special summon level eater from my graveyard. Then I play the Spell card Star Changer to reduce his level by one star yet again, making him a five. You following what I’m about to do yet big guy?” The buff pony blinked, unsure of what to do now or what she was getting at, muscle clouded his thought process.

Scootaloo did a 180 and started riding her scooter backwards in the circle as she continued. “I Tune my now level five Nitro warrior with my level three Junk Synchron in order to synchro summon the level eight Junk Destroyer!”

“Junk Destroyer has a particular set of skills, skills that would make this monster a nightmare for yours, those skills involve destroying the amount of monsters that synchro summoned with Junk Synchron. One monster, one card is gone, and with that Wicked Dreadroot gone, all of my monsters return to normal power.” Snowflake looked in shock as he saw the best monster in his deck get destroyed in a blast created by Junk Destroyer. He was screwed now, but he still had his summoned Skull and another turn coming. He could still turn this around.

“But I’m not done yet. I play my final card: De-Synchro, which splits my monster Junk Destroyer back into Nitro Warrior and Junk Synchron. Then I’ll tune my Junk Synchron with Level Eater in order to synchro summon level four Armory Arm.”

“With the effect of Armory Arm, I can equip it to any monster I control, thus I give my Nitro Warrior one thousand extra attack points, another bonus from Armory Arm. And since I used a spell this turn he also gets another thousand points but only in its next attack, and I’m not done yet!”

Snowflake looked very concerned at this point, what else could the little filly do at this point now? “Now with my level two Nitro Synchron and my level two Quiltbolt Hedgehog that I summon from my grave, I can synchro summon yet another Armory Arm. Good thing that you can equip the same monster twice, for that’s what I’m going to do!”

The sight of the Nitro Warrior monster with two giant claw gauntlets brought a bit of fear into the filly’s opponent, and gave the crowd a pleasing sight as the metal claws of Nitro Warrior tore through the skin and bone of Summoned Skull. In a flash it all went to hell for the stallion who felt the sting of the hologram magic hit him in a wave, his life points dropping.

Scootaloo: 400 Snowflake: 2200

“But next I activate my trap card, Synchro Overlimit! Whenever a synchro monster I controls attacks and destroys a monster, he can attack again this turn!” Right when the Nitro Warrior took up position in front of Snowflake, Scootaloo decided to add one more thing. “Oh, of course the synchro monster gets destroyed at the end of the turn, but you’re going to be gone long before it.” With a cross slash from the monster, Snowflake lost the duel. He stumbled and crashed to the ground from the blow to give his defeat emphasis.

The crowds soon died down as the orange filly was congratulated by her friends. “Yes,” thought Trixie, “she may do well as my first opponent. Then again she is just a child, if I win then I’d be seen as a bully and if I lose I’d be seen as weak with my status as one of the top duelist here. Looks like I might have to wait out for another player just in case.”

It was then the voice of Snowflake had caught her ear, almost screaming at a couple of cloaked figures. “This card was useless. It wouldn’t even work with that unicorn magic. I almost lost all my bits just so that school filly can beat me like a punching bag.” He held up one card that had looked important by a hoof, a trap card by the looks of it. The only way such a card wouldn’t work was if it was counterfeit.

There were cheaters in her tournament? Trixie didn’t care any longer about such things as picking an opponent. She needed to clear this up before it took down her entire tournament from the inside out. She focused her magic and winked in front of Snowflake in order to see who he was talking to and see what this was all about. Before her where two identical twin yellow unicorns in cosplays of the same monster, except one had red horns while the other had blue orbs stuck to their hats. It was obvious to Trixie, who was a master at seeing the little things in her audience: the two had suddenly changed their faces in an instant from a sly smile to mock confusion.

“I have no idea what you are talking about,” said the red horned unicorn. “Why, I have not seen you before in my life.” A blatant lie, why did it have to be so easy? The place was even an ally that shady deals would be easily done without security catching you. Just how obvious where these two going to be?

“Neither have I.” said the mustached twin. At this Trixie used her magic and pulled a card from the sleeve of the twin and the card Snowflakes was holding and looked at them both, while too separate cards both had the marks of being fakes. The same wrong font, same ink, same color. It was definitely made by the same pony. She showed the two the cards up close. The blue orb twin swallowed, “I can explain that.”

“Please do,” said Trixie putting on her best overpowering tone in the same way Princess Luna had used now and again in Canterlot. The horned twin simply laughed nervously as he pushed his brother away and at first seemed to urge him to run. Snowflake however cut off that escape.

“Now now,” said Trixie marching up to them. “It wouldn’t be good to cut and run. One should always make up for their mistakes. Trixie believes Trixie can strike you two a deal. You can either do one of two things: You can work for The Great and Powerful Trixie after the tournament and be banished from it otherwise….Or you could agree to duel Trixie for your right to stay.”

All three ponies blinked. “What?”

“It’s simple. If you beat Trixie you not only get both her silver bits but you get to stay and have the honor of being famous as you will be dueling me on the demonstration stage. The Great and Powerful Trixie shall even do you one better and bet you 2,000 bits that she can get through a duel with both of you without taking a single point of battle damage.” The words left Trixie’s lips before she could think about it. A smile crawled on both of the unicorn’s faces.

“You have a deal then,” said the horned Twin. “The name is Flim, and this is my brother Flam, business entrepreneurs of the highest caliber. And this will get quite the business for us. You my dear mare are on. Meet you at the stage in twenty minutes.

Trixie held back a gulp as the two winked away. Only then did she realize they had forced her into this without her noticing. Just how far had they planned all this? Snowflake it appeared was not part of this and Trixie put a hoof on his shoulder. She did her best not to show her own worry for her fast talking mouth and put as much confidence in her voice as possible. “Don’t worry. I’ll refund you as soon as I take care of those cheats.”

Author's Note

Sorry for the delay. Due to personal reasons my editor sort of couldn't get this chapter done and had to leave. He did do this chapter in full as I've cut what I did write in half for the sake of making it more cliff hangery and so it doesn't take too long while I edit the rest of the chapter.

For now comment away as you will get the second half later today or tomorrow likely with the chapter I just finished capping off the end of the year.

Again sorry for the wait guys and please with UltimateRuin009 the best.

Where Twilight Calls Foul

Chapter 8: Where Twilight Calls Foul

Trixie stood behind the curtain chewing at her hooves nervously. Her opponents stood outside gathering a big crowd while she mentally berated herself. How could she be so stupid? She may have learned to treasure having friends but even now her mouth was going to be the death of her, or at least her defeat in a foal’s card game.

“Are you okay Trixie?” It was Twilight this time coming to comfort her friend. She looked worried about Trixie, but there was a gleam in her eyes that meant that something good had happened to her. Probably won a duel and gained a bit in the process.

“Trixie is perfectly fine.” said Trixie with a nervous laugh.

“No you’re not,” replied Twilight, “you only talk like that in private when your stressed. Now come on, out with it.”

Trixie sighed, “Trixie has challenged two shady stallions to a duel, and the thing is though that Trixie challenged them to a two-on-one where Trixie loses if she took any battle damage.” Twilight face hoofed as hard as she could. “Trixie couldn’t help herself, you know how it gets when Trixie gets like this when it comes to challenges, but now it looks like Trixie is going to stand the heat of this one.”

Much to Trixie’s surprise, Twilight put a comforting hoof on her shoulder and looked at her earnestly. “Look, we both know that you get into some stupid things,” Trixie nodded to that. “But the thing that’s most important is that you at least know that this is wrong to do. That alone is good enough for me to help you. Would you like that?”

Trixie nodded and they stepped out into the crowd. After explaining the rules of the double duel, each team shuffled the others deck and trotted to their corners to prepare. The brothers pocketing their deck with Trixie deciding that she and Twilight would put it in view to show how confident they were, but not all business ponies are as strong on the inside as they are on the outside.

Turn 1- Flim: 8000 Flam: 8000 Trixie: 8000 Twilight: 8000

“My brother and I will go first, giving you lovely mares the chance to attack first in exchange,” said Flim as the brothers set up their hands. The girls did the same. Trixie smiled, her hand consisted of all three of her Blue-eyes White Dragon cards, the spell The Ancient Rules, and Polymerization. No matter what most duelists did she would be able to rip out Blue-Eyes White Dragon for Twilight to use as needed next turn or even blow a weak monster out of the way for an open attack with her ultimate dragon. It would only be better if she drew De-fusion on her first draw.

Flim grinned as he looked at his hand and drew. “This is why you should have kept your deck a trade secret oh Weak and Meek Trixie, because I play the continuous spell card: Prohibition. So long as this spell remains on the field any card I call cannot be used in this duel at all until it is removed. And I pick: Blue-Eyes White Dragon!” A wooden sign posted between the twins with the words: “Blue-Eyes White Dragon is Forbidden.” written on it.

Trixie felt her stomach sink. No Blue-Eyes meant not only could she not play the monsters on the field. She couldn’t even fuse them into the Ultimate Dragon. Useless, her hand was nothing but a useless mess for this duel unless she destroyed that card, and she had no way to do so currently.

“Next I’ll summon the monster: Card Guard(1600/500). When he gets summoned successfully he gets a Guard Counter that boosts his attack by 300 points. However, I can transfer this counter to any other card on the field and make it guarded from destruction once. So I’ll pass it to my Prohibition so you don’t get any ideas like destroying it to allow the use of your Blue-Eyes. Finally I’ll set one card face down and end my turn.”

What was Trixie going to do? If the next card she drew was just as useless then it would all be for nothing. With the set up they had she’d be relying on Twilight far too much for her own comfort. She cursed her luck, of all times she had to not bother searching out her Blue-Eyes, now was when they decided it was best to show. Crestfallen her hat began to droop and she nothing about it as Flam drew his card.

Turn 2- Flam: 8000

“Well brother, allow me to assist you today with my own Card Guard. That way we have twice the protection. I’ll also set two cards in the back row and end my turn.” He did this so quickly it was even if Trixie wanted to adjust her hat she wouldn’t be able to finish by the time the mustached stallion had finished.

Twilight stayed silent as she watched her friend look disappointed at her hand and then looked at her own. Indeed she didn’t have a stellar hand for the situation either. It would all come down to what the two of them drew.

Turn 3- Trixie: 8000

A dead draw, of course. Paladin of White Dragon stared back as her. She couldn’t play a single card in her hand. What’s more with that much protection and two face down cards it was useless to set the two spells and try to bluff, especially since she knew all three others had seen the depressed look on her face. No amount of her acting was going to change their minds that fast. “Trixie passes.”

Turn 4- Twilight: 8000

As Twilight looked at her hand from her draw she considered her options. Trixie didn’t play a single card. Was it worth doing what she planned? Something was a nagging at the back of her mind. How could these two not only get hands that not only complimented each other but both of their opponents could do nothing on the first turn. The odds of such a thing were astronomical in a tag duel like this.

“I’ll start then,” she called out. “I play the spell card Exchange. This allows us all to show our hands and exchange one card from each of our hands. However since this card was made before double duels were allowed it claims both. As in only two can partake. So you two can Exchange among each other while I have a look at my partner’s hand. Agreed?”

“By all means,” said Flim with his usual arrogance as he a card to his brother who toss a card to him at the same time. “you could use all the advantage you can get.” Now that was strange. The two didn’t even look at the other’s hands, simply swapping cards without a word to one another. Something was indeed wrong here. Still Twilight took her hand to Trixie as looked over her shoulder at the blue Unicorn’s own. Shock, that was all that registered in her mind when she saw this hand and immediately she began to both see what was going on and what would be needed to stop the brothers from winning. There was no guarantee it would work, but she took the spell from Trixie and let Trixie take a certain other card from her hand that would be useful if her own plan worked out.

“Next, I play the spell I took from my partner: Ancient Rules. With this I can summon one normal level five or higher monster from my hand without issue, so with it I-“

“Not so fast,” said Flam, “I chain Dark Bribe. You can draw a card instead.”

“Fine,” said Twilight with a grin as she looked at her new card. “Then instead I’ll play the spell Reload, so that I can get an entirely new hand and shuffle my deck.”

“Nope,” said Flim suddenly a little panic in his voice. “my own Dark Bribe isn’t going to let that happen.”

“Fine then,” she finally said with a knowing smile. “I play my Heavy Storm to get rid of all your cards except Prohibition, but it loses a Guard counter because of that.” Flim’s face down trap, Skill Drain was gone soon enough, it’s power to make monster effects useless gone. “I thought so,” said Twilight. “I still have four cards so let’s see how you handle this next card: Card Destruction.”

At this the two smiled wide. Flim laughed, “You did exactly what I wanted you to do. The two of us have the same monster three times. Say hello to Broww, Huntsman of the Dark World!”

“And with his effect being triggered by you that means instead of 3 new cards,” started Flim.

“The two of us draw nine instead,” finished Flam. So the two did so while Trixie discarded her own hand and Twilight followed suit.

Twilight smiled somewhat, “Looks like one of my draws was Watapon. So I get to special Summon it to the field. Next I’ll set a card face down ending my turn.” She was left with one card in her hand. Trixie wasn’t sure what her plan was and felt even worse. It was obvious Twilight was doing all the work to protect her from the double turns of the Flimflams now that they had such a powerful hand.

Turn 5- Flim: 8000

“Very well,” said Flim looking at all ten of his cards and laughing. “I suppose I’ll start off my turn with a spell card. Dark World Dealings, this spell forces each of us to draw a card and then discard a card from our hands.” They each did so with Trixie discarding a useless spell. “I discarded Grapha, Dragon Lord of the Dark world one of my most powerful beasts. When he is discarded I can rid myself on one card on your field. So say goodbye to that facedown card.”

“Sure I’ll say goodbye to it,” said Twilight, “because your card was a waist, I activate my face down now in chain: Mystical Space Typhoon. So you lose your target and your Prohibition loses one of the guard counters on it.”

“Oh you think your slick,” said Flim, “But I am better since I believe.”

“That I have a Grapha as well,” said Flam laughing as Watapon left the field.

“That’s it,” said Twilight finally having enough. “I call shenanigans on you two. There is no way you both have the same cards and are doing this along with Trixie getting the one hand that made it impossible to play against you, and me having the one card that could help you. The chances of such a thing are so astronomical it borders the impossible. You two are cheating.”

There was a collective gasp from the crowd as all eye turned to the twin unicorns. Neither of them seemed to react, Flam was shuffling around some of the cards in his hand in an attempt to organize them as he awaited his own turn while his brother looked bored. “Really now Ms. Sparkle,” said the non mustached brother, “just how do you suppose we cheated in the first place? Not only did your illustrious guards see to it that couldn’t happen but so did this entire crowd. Combine that with the fact you and your partner over there shuffled our decks for us and I can hardly see how it is possible. But as unlikely as it is the fact we had such a turn this time is possible. Correct?”

Twilight gave it some thought. “True, that may have been the case if we actually shuffled your deck. But I will admit slide of hoof is always possible as Trixie has shown me. One thing you get from being intimate with her long enough is to see at least when she does it, even if you can’t see how. Right Trixie?”

The blue unicorn’s eyes widened as she remembered. “That’s right. After giving back your decks the two of you placed them in your pockets as you walked to your corners. That is unusual for unicorn players but most don’t pick it up because of the handicap that requires it so saliva doesn’t get on an earth pony or pegasus’ deck. You two either had another deck in that same pocket or you used your magic to bring certain cards to the top of your decks.” Two of the gurads started to move but Trixie shook her head and they backed off. Then she looked down at her own graveyard and her hand. “But you couldn’t doctor it too much, otherwise we could prove it. After all if you were dumb enough to doctor all of your cards I’d have noticed myself. I mean you can’t have two more Grapha’s each in your hand, and now if you play them in this useless to you situation you only prove my point.”

“Wait,” said Twilight a bit taken aback, “what are you saying?”

The twins sneered as Trixie smiled. “There is nothing on our field currently Twilight. The only reason they would have to discard more Graphas is to summon them, but if that were the case now that we shined light on them it would only prove they did cheat as the chances they both also have three of that monster in their hand, AND a way to bring them all out this turn is impossible. So as you say, if they are smart even if they do have them, now they are better off just keeping the two in their hand in case they need to rid another card from the field. We can’t get rid of them because frankly that would be worse. Not to mention that since they only vaguely knew what either of us had they couldn’t doctor your hand.” She laughed despite herself, the old Trixie shining through in malice of giving everyone a good show and displaying her superiority. “So go on then boys. Trixie calls your bluff.” she all but started shaking her flank and smacked it as she said, “hit me with your best shot.”

Flim’s eye flared as he continued, “Very well, then I’ll summon my Brron, Mad King of the Dark World and have my card guard attack you directly!” The monster slashed at Twilight, who was now brimming with confidence and took it like it was nothing. “Next I’ll attack Trixie with my Mad King directly and use his eff-“

“Not so fast,” said Twilight, “I discard my Kuriboh to he takes the hit instead of myself. So now you can’t call on the Mad King’s effect.”

“Fine,” said the unicorn, “I’ll return him to my hand in order to bring out my Grapha. Then I’ll end my turn and the two extra cards in my hand.”

Turn 6- Flim: 8000 Flam: 8000 Twilight: 6400 Trixie: 8000

Flam drew, looking at his opponents with determined eyes, he started his turn. “I’ll start my own turn off by playing the field spell, the Gates of the Dark World. With this all fiend monsters gain three hundred attack points. Next I play three of a very powerful card: Solidarity, with this as long as only fiends are in my grave all fiends on the field will gain 800 attack points. I have three of them, meaning all fiends I summon now boost by twenty-seven hundred. Then I activate my field’s effect: by removing one of my Broww’s, I can discard my second Grapha from my hand and draw one card. Finally I play my own Card Destruction!”

“What are you doing brother?” called Flim. “You were supposed to wait until I was able to assist. You cannot do this alone.”

“Yes I can, and I’ll prove it. I discard three Beige, Vanguard of the Dark World’s, their effects allow me to special summon them all. Also, I have Snoww, Unlight of the Dark world which lets me search for any other Dark world card in my deck and my last Grapha. Then I return my three Beiges for three Grapha, and since I can choose to share my brother’s graveyard, I summon Beige normally and return him to my hand to bring out a fourth Grapha. All of them now have fifty-four hundred attack points.”

Trixie gulped as Flim discarded three of his own copies of Snoww and took some Beige’s of his own. The rest must have been magic and trap cards he couldn’t lay down yet and was upset he had to get rid of because of his brother.

“Now I have four Grapha’s on my field and neither of you have anything. I’ll take you both out here and now! Go first Grapha attack Trixie directly!”

“Not going to happen. I activate Necro Gardna’s effect from my graveyard, which negates your monster’s attack. You won’t win this Flam, next turn I’ll make sure of that.” Flam’s rage peaked and he didn’t listen to his brother as he called for a Grapha to attack Twilight directly along with Card Guard, ending her duel and leaving Trixe alone as the final two Graphas attacked her.

“Hold it, I have a monster of my own to play. Since you were kind enough to play Card Destruction again I got another new hand, and since you now are calling an attack on me I can special summon Battle Fader from my hand and stop your battle phase.”

“What are you doing Brother,” Flim called, “Trixie has a full hand. You played right into Twilight’s hooves. What were you thinking?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Flam replied, “Unlike Twilight, Trixie isn’t able to use her best monster and she is staring down not only four fifty-four hundred attack monsters from me, but you have your King at fourty-five hundred, and our Card Guard’s at fourty-three hundred. No worries at all good sir.”

Turn 7- Flim: 8000 Flam: 8000 Twilight: 0000 Trixie: 8000

Trixie smiled, “so neither of you is curious?” The two looked at her as she let out a little laugh. “Seriously, neither of you dunderheads will question why I didn’t use Battle Fader to save Twilight?” She drew her card and looked at her hand. “The answer is I knew you would be too stupid thinking I had nothing to play to even consider playing any face downs to stop me. Fortune smiles on my first card: Heavy Storm!”

Everything on the field was blown away outside the rickety sign post which now had no guard counters on it. All the monster reverted back to their original attack points. “Next I play one of my favorite spells: Dragon’s Mirror. With this I can summon a different monster, the one the only FIVE-HEADED DRAGON!”

The Twins sat there, mouths agape as was the rest of the crowd. “Wait a minute,” called Flim. “You can’t use Blue-eyes to fuse. How did you summon that?”

“I used Paladin of White Dragon, Thunder Dragon, Infernal Dragon, White Stone of Legend, and Twilight’s Winged Dragon, Guardian of the Fortress that she discarded with her Card Destruction.” They were about to object as she continued, “You said so yourself that we are free to consider our partner separate or the same as we need and I’ve chosen as you instructed just as Flam summoned 4 of that monster.”

“However The Great and Powerful Trixie is not done,” Trixie continued. “Next I sacrifice my Battle Fader for Luster Dragon #2, but he won’t be there for long as I next play: A wingbeat of Giant Dragon!”

“This rids the field of your annoying little sign. Then by returning Kuriboh, Watapon, Dark Magician, Celtic Guardian, and my Lord of Dragons, in order to play Pot of Averice and Draw two new cards. Then I play another Dragon’s Mirror to finally fuse my three Blue-eyes into the one and only, Blue eyes Ultimate Dragon!”

“These last two cards end this duel, I equip my Five-headed Dragon with Megamorph!”

“T-t-t-ten,” started Flim.

“T-t-t-t-thousand attack,” gasped Flam.

Trixie barely held it in, “Finally I set a card.” Trixie smiled, “Go Five-headed Dragon, take out Card Guard.”

Flim: 0000

“And Finally, Blue-eyes Ultimate Dragon attacks Flam’s Card Guard. Neutron Blast!”

Turn 8- Flam: 5100

“Well Flam,” said Trixie with an even wider grin, “it seems I was a tad off. You still get a turn. Though since you currently have all three of your own Grapha on the field, already used your Card Destruction and nothing you have in your hand is useful to stop me, I would suggest admitting your cheat and I will resend the part of our bet that banishes you from the town along with the tournament. Afterall with two counts of shinanigans you’d have to build trust again to do business here anyway.

Flim huffed but calmed down, “You’re right.”

“But brother,” said the mustached unicorn. “I still have points, I could win this.”

“Think about it,” said Flim, “You have no way to bring the Graphas back to your hand this turn, and because of that no way to get rid of that face down. So even if you did take them out you’d lose.”

“You don’t know that,” called Flam. “I’m not about to let this little girl get the best of me. I Draw.”

“And I activate my Trap,” called Trixie with a shake of her head, “Eradicator Epidemic Virus.”

“I’m sure you, having a Dark World deck, know this card well. I rid the field of my Five-Headed Dragon in order to make it so you can’t play any Spells and all of them go in the grave for the next three turns. No Dark World Dealings, and since you are about to show me your hand I’ll be able to see what traps you would lay for me over the next three turns and can avoid them.”

Flam looked sullen as he whispered, “I’m sorry brother.” He put a hoof over his deck to show he was done. They bowed and gave over their bits as agreed and proceeded to trot away.

“Hold it,” called Trixie. “Trixie doesn’t remember saying you could leave. You will be barred from any further action but you may stay. Trixie is sure the two of you can be of some use if you put your minds to it as snack venders or something. That is sort of what your cutie marks are about after all. So go help out at Sweet Apple Acres or something. Trixie heard they need help anyway since two of the Apple families are in this tournament anyway.” The brother’s faces lighted a bit as they considered it and trotted in the farm’s direction. Trixie looked down at her prize.

“You can take them,” said Twilight, “as per the rules. Besides I wanna study more decks anyway so I don’t need these.

Trixie took the six bits, she’d nearly be there with just this alone. But she gave Twilight two of them and Snowflake a single bit to make up for the one he lost to Scootaloo. The rest she did keep for herself, she was now halfway there. “Tha-thank you,” murmered the buff pegasus as he looked at the bit like it was a piece of gold.

“Just make sure next time,” she said with a wink. Then she turned to her lavender friend, “You can give those away if you wish but they are yours all the same. Just be sure to meet me in the finals.”

Twlight nodded, “I’ll keep that in mind. But honestly I’m surprised you even agreed to do this. The old Trixie wouldn’t risk so much just to help somepony she barely knows.”

Trixie just smiled, “The Great and Powerful Trixie no longer does what The Great and Powerful Trixie does for The Great and Powerful Trixie. The Great and Powerful Trixie does what The Great and Powerful Trixie does because The Great and Powerful Trixie is The Great and Powerful Trixie.” And with that she trotted off into town once again to find a new opponent.

“I really gotta get her to stop using the third person,” muttered Twilight.

Author's Note

I'll add the usual Pics and stuff later on but I wanted to see how you guys like this without the card pics for once. I want some better input here as I'm not sure all the Bold lettering is really good at this point or not.

Tell me how ya like it.

Now if you'll excuse me I have a one-shot to finish off since it is only half posted.

Where Draw is Taken (Draft)

Chapter 9: Where Draw is Taken

It was finally a few hours into the event that most everypony that was out for a duel had at least one by now. Many laughed off the fact they had lost their bits so fast and decided to enjoy the rest of the festival. Only a certain Teal unicorn could be heard complaining about having to use magic to hold her cards since she wanted a trained monkey to do so for her. Something about the game being meant for fingers. While her friend the candy maker happily juggled four bits in her own earth pony hooves and laughed at her friend’s comments before comforting her about losing all her bit so quickly.

Elsewhere however, things were not so productive. In a part of town most didn’t even bother entering because they knew the owner would yell at them for entering without an intention to buy her wears, little to no dueling was taking place. In fact it was only the younger sisters of the two mares inside that were now playing each other. Both had lost pretty early on, but they still laughed and enjoyed the game even without the images coming to life all the same. Inside the elder sisters however…

“Not to be rude Applejack,” Rarity said trying to hold back a huff. “But I must insist you finish looking through my collection for anything else to use.” She gazed at the mess of a card pile behind her orange friend and started counting mentally while her magic sorted them back into place without her noticing. “The three cards you took I guarantee are the only ones that you can use without messing up your current deck and we really should get started on winning more duels for the finals.”

Applejack was only half listening as she skimmed through another pile of Rarity’s with rare cards. She took time to read each of their text word for word. She needed to know what to expect along with being sure there was nothing she could use. For all she knew Rarity didn’t know something that she and Draw did about her strategy. This though however, was not shared by Draw.

“I would have to agree with Miss Rarity Applejack,” said Draw who had taken to jumping from wall to wall in boredom. “The three cards you took will help but any more changes will require a complete overhaul of the deck. And considering time and the fact we only have one bit left now it would be wise to get at least one other duel in before sundown to regain our position at least.”

“When did you get such a gentlemanly tone?” inquired Applejack with a raised eyebrow. She shut the casing as Rarity put the cards back in right. “But you’re right sugarcube. Ah gots ta get make’n up for the bit I lost to Rarity…” Rarity was about to interrupt when she stared at her and raised her voice, “…FAIRLY and with no reason to doubt otherwise. But who to duel is the real issue.”

“Not really,” added Rarity. “Everypony in town knows how hard you work so you wouldn’t have time for these things normally, and you already have one bit. To others be they with one bit or halfway there you’d be an easy target at first sight.”

“Gee,” muttered Applejack, “Thanks for the vote of confidence.”

“You’re quite welcome Applejack,” Rarity replied ignoring the tone her friend had put to the statement. The orange mare rolled her eyes as her ghostly partner snickered at her dismay. Applejack gave him her stink eye as the three proceeded to trot out of Carousel Boutique, the younger sisters waving them off as they focused on their game.

“Did something seem off about Applejack to you?” asked Sweetie Belle setting a card down and ending her turn.

“I don’t know,” said the red head with a sad tone. “She hasn’t been really the same since the train ride. It’s weird though. I can’t really remember anything about the ride back. I’m not ever sure when AJ met that Diamond Dog we got workin on the farm now. It’s weird.”

“Well then why don’t we go looking into it then?” offered Sweetie Belle. “We could get our Cutie Marks in detective work if we do that.”

“Don’t you already have yours?” countered Applebloom.

Sweetie Belle looked down at her flank and blushed, “oh yeah.”

“Still it is a good idea,” said Applebloom. “Let’s do it anyway. It’ll be fun and if we find anything we can rub it in Cog’s face that we solved a mystery without his help.”

“Wow,” commented Sweetie as she stared at her friend. “Didn’t think you were that competitive with your own boyfriend.”

“Meh,” replied Applebloom putting her cards away. “You do what you must sometimes. Besides he’s likely hanging out with Scootaloo now, I don’t wanna leave you alone AND be stuck just cheering for them tomorrow anyway.”

“Fair enough,” nodded Sweetie Bell, “Let’s go then.”

As Rarity had said it didn’t take very long to find an opponent, which was for Rarity of course. While it was true Applejack seemed like an easy target, next to Rarity who appeared to be the type totally devoid of skill at this game and the fact she was indeed to more attractive competitor garnered attention away from her earth pony friend. Not that Applejack minded much.

She actually did want to test out her skills against somepony she would have a challenge against without being too overwhelmed. Applejack wanted to prove she was able to take on something, especially if Rarity could take to it easily. She slipped out of her friend’s sight the first chance she got, Draw however was still following her just as closely as ever. He floated slightly above her lazily, focusing mostly on spotting weak opponent and pointing them out to the cowgirl. They did this for about an hour till they finally wondered into the main street where most had gathered for trading and finding opponents that didn’t have too many bits.

At one point Applejack and Draw had witnessed even one of Cog’s duels. The guy had swapped out his gear machines for a different machine archtype that worked much more with the type of summoning Applejack still had not seen much of up close since by the time Rarity used it the game was mostly decided. The child pulled out these moves so easily it was making her feel more and more like she was out of her league. This wasn’t helped by Draw pointing out a good weak opponent and stating as such for the fourth time since they left Rarity’s side.

“Ah told you ah don’t want no easy wins,” Applejack said trying for a honest face and not succeeding at all. “Besides how can you tell who has a strong deck and who doesn’t? Just cause somepony lost a round doesn’t mean they have a bad deck.”

“True,” agreed Draw, “However there are other telltale signs of the inexperienced. So even if they had a strong deck, they’d be at your level and you could stand a chance. Meanwhile if I had my old deck I’d make paste out of them easily.”

“Aren’t you the one being a little arrogant now?” Applejack smirked. “I recall you saying to me how luck would help in wining just as much as skill.”

“Again true,” stated Draw. “But then I had a deck that stacked the odds in my favor if my opponent is prepared for my ace cards like Red Dragon Archfiend. But unfortunately it seems your perfect opponent in terms of at least confidence is out. Not sure why she’s still around the main street though.”

Applejack followed Draw’s hoof to see Fluttershy who was looking at the ground counting. A look at her own band showed the mare was completely out of bits. She looked like she was about to cry, Applejack rushed to her side while Draw held back. He figured it would be best not to bug another one of Applejack’s friends with him only being able to talk to the orange mare.

“Oh what’s the matter boy? Is my little help no fun at all for you?” The voice echoed around, but not even Applejack seemed to hear it at first, only the ghostly pony who only heard it in the back of his mind along with a laugh that lingered far longer. It was a laugh he remembered from only once before, before he had gained his status and awoken as a shade that was forced to possess Applejack to keep her from falling off the train.

Draw blinked. “What the heck was that?” he thought. He spun around, but nopony was anywhere around. Draw was never one to hear things, so to start now of all times was especially worrisome to him. But with nothing he could do about it he shrugged it off and looked back at his host and the Pegasus with the pink mane.

“Fluttershy,” said Applejack pulling the cream mare close. “What happened? Beg your pardon for the interruption but ya don’t seem the type to be upset about losing that much.”

“I’m not,” squeaked Fluttershy, “It’s just that, oh well I sort of didn’t even get a chance to duel yet. I had to use my bits as a payment for a debt I made few months ago.” Applejack didn’t say anything and motioned for Flutterhsy to go on. “Oh I was so sure I already settled everything with him, but as soon as I saw his face again…I just froze. I hoofed over the bits before I could even think about what I had just done. Now I’m out of the race before it even began.”

“Well then,” cried Applejack. “Let’s find this guy and give him a real piece of yer mind. Ah can’t have someone bully mah friends around.” With that she got up and started marching to an oddly rhythmic beat. Draw and Fluttershy were sure she would have started singing if other ponies had not suddenly given to staring at her like she was crazy.

“Do you want me to throw out some sick rhymthe or something?” Draw wasn’t exactly the best at well timed or accurate comebacks. Applejack finally returned her attention to him only with a look of anger in her face.

“Do y’all think this is funny Draw?” she all but screamed. Draw froze. This was the first time Applejack can been angry at him, and oddly it felt manufactured; like it was only because somepony wanted it to be so and used something that would only annoy her as a springboard. “Well it isn’t.” Applejack started to shake her head in frustration. “Look could you just leave me alone for a bit? Duelin’ isn’t exactly my strong point, ah think maybe, maybe we can leave helping you to Rarity and I do what comes naturally to me. Okay?”

The words were a bit off tune, Draw could tell that. Something was influencing Applejack to say that, but only influencing. This was what Applejack would likely feel, especially after Rarity so easily kicked her flank. Nothing was more detrimental to a duelist, be it for serious or games, than a lack of self confidence in the craft. It meant that instead of just stupid mistakes, you made uncaring moves that had no thought put into them as you waited for your opponent to finish you off.

“Come on Fluttershy,” Applejack stated putting her band in her sack with her deck so that she didn’t have to deal with challengers they may get on the way. “Let’s go have a talk with this bully of yours.”

“Oh but,” Fluttershy looked like she didn’t know what to do. “He isn’t exactly a bully. Besides, it looks like you have to talk to your friend about something, whatever it is.”

“Nonsense,” Applejack said trying not to sweat. “Now come on, we better hurry or he may get too many bits for us to even get things done civil like.” Fluttershy looked worried for only a moment, but then something told her to agree and she nodded; the two than galloped away and left Draw to float there alone unable to talk to anypony.

“Well now that they are gone,” came the voice again only much clearer. Draw felt a talon grab his shoulder. “I need to have a little talk with you while I have the ability to do so. Come along please.” Draw felt a tug and if Applejack had been bothered to look back she would have seen her new friend disappear into nothingness.

“Th-that’s the guy that took your bits?” Applejack asked with a lump in her throat. The Minotaur stood far higher than Applejack expected. He seemed to be talking with a hooded pony about something as he looked at a shiny foiled card of some sort for the game neither element could make out from this distance.

“I told you it was pointless,” said Fluttershy. “Besides it isn’t really important. We should just go back. Yeah let’s go back! He can have them, I wasn’t interested in dueling anyway.”

“Really now?” said Applejack. This didn’t seem correct at all. “If that were the case you could have just not entered in the first place. Either yer lyin or I know a blue pegasus that needs a good walloping.”

“Oh Rainbow Dash didn’t ask me to join the tournament,” said Fluttershy quickly. “Angel was the one who signed me up. It’s mating season you see the he always tricks me into things so I don’t interfere with is ‘swag’ as it were.”

“Huh,” said Applejack impressed, “that is sort of weird though.”

“Oh not at all,” replied the yellow mare, “I neutered him ages ago when he was a baby so that he didn’t mess with the already out of control bunny census. I gotta give the little guy some fun now and then.”

“That actually explains far more than I needed to know,” stated Applejack. “But you still could have just left for a few days. Admit it, y’all wanted to play this thing right?”

“I suppose,” Fluttershy said with hint of sadness. “But I’m fine like this. We’d better find you an opponent instead then since you’re in this still anyway right?”

“Actually,” said Applejack looking at Iron Will’s band. Six silver bits gleamed back at her as he waved off the pony and kept the shiny card. “I think I can kill both with one stone. Let’s go Draw!”

And so without even checking in on her two friends that were supposed to be with her Applejack approached the Minotaur and stopped him in his tracks. “Now hold it right there ya varmit. I hear you’ve been take’n bits without wining them first from my friend here.”

“Iron Will does not know what you are talking about.” He looked at Fluttershy and understanding gleamed in his eyes. “Ah that. Well, Iron Will only recently found out that Fluttershy has been using Iron Will’s patent pending techniques around Ponyville. Iron Will simply took the silver bits as payment.”

“But,” whispered Fluttershy from behind Applejack, “I’m pretty sure you said it was only if I was one hundred percent satisfied with the techniques. I’m still not.”

“Then you wouldn’t be using them at all,” Iron Will countered. “Now if you’ll excuse me, Iron Will has but four more bits to obtain.”

“Hold it,” called Applejack, “I wanna challenge you.” She pulled out her band and signaled two guards to come to them. Iron Will however waved them off.

“That is stupid of Iron Will to accept. I’ve not need for duels over one measly bit.”

“It’s not for one,” Applejack stated, “You’re putting up three bits. One for me, and giving Fluttershy back hers if you lose.”

“Really now,” the Minotaur huffed. “And what would Iron Will even get for winning if he did that anyway? You have nothing Iron Will wants.”

“How about my deck?” Applejack said simply. “I guarantee rare card in it you can use to trade with all over equestrian.”

“Iron Will doesn’t believe you have such cards.”

“Then if I don’t…I’ll…I’ll be your servant for a year.”

That got his attention. He called the guards back over. “Very well then. Iron Will needed to give his goats a break anyway. Iron Will accepts your challenge.”

“DUEL!”

Applejack started at her opening hand and whispered, “Alright Draw, what do you think is a good move? Draw?” Nothing returned. Applejack only now realized she was all alone.

Finally Rarity had broken up the crowd around her. Thanks to the Number card Pinkie had given her along with her own XYZ she had before had made even quicker work of her two opponents. Seven bits shined on her own band easily enough.

“Well that was simple enough,” she said to herself. “Now then, where did Applejack head off to anyway?”

A pony is a black cloth appeared out of her vision out of nowhere at this point. “It appears you enjoy the Master’s gift. I’m here to take it back if you’d please.”

“Really now?” Rarity stated disbelievingly, “If Pinkie really needed all this done just to spice up this tournament it is going rather far. But I suppose I will play along.”

Shaking a bit as it finally sank it what was happening Applejack allowed Iron Will to make the first move. Draw didn’t seem the type to just up and leave her alone, sure she had demanded it but with how he was she assumed he couldn’t or just wouldn’t. Now her mouth had gotten her into deep trouble. Even if she did keep her word that would mean not seeing her friends or working on the farm for a long time. She found herself cursing Draw under her breath as Iron Will took his first draw.

Turn 1: Iron Will 8000

“Iron Will shall set one monster in defense mode, and two cards face down. The earth pony may go now.” Applejack did so and looked at her hand. She wasn’t sure it was the wisest move but it was the safest, and for now that was all that counted.

Turn 2: Applejack 8000

“I summon Goblin Attack Force! Attack Iron Will’s set monster!” The card image flipped as Iron Will revealed it to be Pyramid Turtle.

“My monster’s effect allows me to summon any other Zombie from Iron Will’s deck with 2000 or less defense. And most zombie monsters have this. So meet the warrior ‘s worst nightmare: Ryo Koki!”

“Mah monster goes into defense mode after it attacks, which will protect mah life points.” Applejack stated as the card turned. The group of goblins suddenly went limb and fell on their butts, some sleeping and one picking his nose. “I then set one card and end mah turn.”

Turn 3: Iron Will 8000

“You may think that saves you but it doesn’t. See if it wasn’t for the fact my new monster’s effect works so well I’d attack with it since having 0 defense points means anything can kill it. I summon Blood Sucker in Attack Mode.”

“Ryokoki, wipe out that attack force. Blood Sucker, attack directly and drain her of one card from the top of her deck.”

Applejack: 6700

Applejack watched as the card that was milled down to the grave was Call of the haunted. A perfect card for defending herself should Blood Sucker attack again. She wasn’t going to be able to hide much soon if this kept up. And she couldn’t see how her hand was going to help. She was utterly stuck.

Draw opened his eyes. He found himself staring at nothing but starry lights of all Celestial patterns. Luna must have really been bored to make all this.

“Just so you know,” came that familiar voice, “yes, it does get boring being stuck here all the time.”

“If you are who I think you are,” stated Draw spinning around to try and see who was talking now that is had much more form to it. “Then it wouldn’t make any sense that you were even here, let alone how you could contact me but be unable to just get out and give yourself kicks.”

“Oh my dear boy,” laughed the voice, “What exactly is the fun of making sense?”

Next Time on Love of the Draw:

“YES, let the number take hold.”

“Listen Carefully because this is important…”

“Now you will pay for what you’ve done…”

“NO! You can’t do this!”

“One step Closer to our goals…”

Author's Note

Because I'll be working on other things I figured I'm just get this out of the way now.

I'll edit where you guys notice and extend when the time comes to finish this duel but for now I've got a new year and you guys really need an example of how cruddy this is without UltimateRuin's help.