Author's Note

Wow. 3 months for a chapter? Surely I jest! Well... no. Guess I have some explaining to do.

Shorthand answer is that something happened to me and my family. Something personal. I won't go into details because its a pretty touchy subject, but it wasn't good. It interfered with my personal life and I'll admit it, I wasn't in a good place afterwards. After sometime recovering away from art and writing and such, I felt better. Good enough, at least, to continue this. Don't get me wrong, I don't want to stop writing this story. I have many more ideas and such to write. Its just that life reared its ugly face and got in the way for a while.

But anyway, enough about me and my issues, here's the next chapter.

Egao! - A Show and a Smile for the Camera

A soft whirring noise followed suit as the hologram of Sunsets monster faded away. The sounds of applause and cheering thunder across the stadium as Micro rises up and sits up, cleaning his glasses with a small cloth obtained from his pocket. Sunset could hear him mumble to himself as she approached him. With his glasses wiped clean, he began to sulk and look downward at his deck.

"How can this be? I had everything planned out perfectly. All of my calculations and plans just... gone."

Sunset gives him a smile as she extends her arm toward him. "Like I said before, it takes a lot more than excessive planning or even luck. It's about believing in your cards and your deck. Just like friendship, there's an inseparable bond between us and our cards and we just need to trust in those bonds."

Micro, now with a small smile on his face, takes her hand and rises to his feet. Dusting off his sweater, he shakes Sunsets hand and says, "Yes well, perhaps there are some things that you can't just calculate. Maybe I need to do more experiments. Still, the victory is yours Sunset. Congratulations."

"What a duel ladies and gentlemen! With our first victor decided, we can now move on to the next duel in our lineup; Pinkie Pie vs Photo Finish!" the M.C declares. The crowd continues to cheer as both Sunset and Micro walk back down to join the rest of the duelists. Following close behind was the duel official that led them up to the field initially. " Attention all duelists! Please be seated and wait as we set up for the next duel!" he said. Walking back to their seats, Micro sits next to Bulk, who simply pats his back and gives him a reassuring smile. Sunset went back to be seated next to Twilight as the rest of the girls crowded around her.

"Aww yeah! Way to play Sunshim! I knew you'd win!" Rainbow said, wrapping her arm around Sunset.

"Yes, indeed! That was a splendid display darling. Though I must say, it was quite close." Rarity adds.

"Waaaay to close! First Micros monster was all like 'Grahhh! I'm gonna make your monsters go boom' and then Sunnys big metal dragon was like 'Nope. KABOOM!' and then Micros bigger dragon thingy was all like, 'WHOOSH! Bye metal dragon!' And and-"

"Breathe Pinkie. Breeeathe..." Fluttershy says calming her now hyperventilating friend.

"Soooorry! I was so nervicited during that whole duel! Ooo, and I still am! I can't wait to get up there and duel! With all of these people watching, I'll be sure to give them a show!"

"I'll never know how you stay so cheery in front of such a crowd Pinkie." Sunset giggles.

"Are ya kiddin'? She could be dueling some big bad from Equestria in front of the entire world 'n' she'd have a smile on 'er face throughout the whole ordeal!" Aj says.

"Heeey, nice foreshadowing Aj! What can I say? Entertainment Dueling is one of my favorite things to do! It's a great way to have fun and bring a smile on anyone and everyone who's having a bad day! That's my dream; to be the greatest Entertainment Duelist the world has ever seen! Well that, and being a world famous baker too! It's a good thing I don't have some sort of evil alternate ego or 3 other me's that makes a giant meanie dragon to combine all dimensions with. Makes it easier to be the best without any plot contrivances!"

There was a long pause among the girls as they tried to wrap their heads around what their wild pink friend just said. They each looked at each other, unsure of what to say at that. After a long moment of silence, the girls each broke out in laughter.

"Oh Pinkie Pie, you are so random! " was the only answer Twilight gave as Pinkie smiled and blushed.

"Attention all duelists! Will the next contestants please step up to the duel arena?" the official booms.

"Oooo! That's me! Later gals! I'm off to throw down for a few minutes. Be riiiight baaaack!"

"Here they are folks! The next duel of the day will be Pinke Pie and Photo Finish!" the M.C declares excitedly.

With a skip in her step, Pinkie glides up the stairs to the field to meet her opponent. Standing front and center was Canterlot Highs resident photographer, nudging her iconic fuchsia glasses into place. The sudden pink blur that appeared before her nearly knocked her over as she fumbled with her deck.

"Hiya Photo! Ready to get decked?" Pinkie says shuffling her deck at an inhuman speed.

"Heh. Ve shall see. Don't sink zat I vill go down so easy!" Photo replies with a smile.

Decks now shuffled, each duelists walks over to their respective sides as they activate their duel disks. The dark navy blue of Photos duel disk glistened under the sun as the glittery white stars lined across the blade sparkled brightly. A puff of confetti spewed out from Pinkies vibrant pink disk as its blade swung forward. Both disks began to glow brightly as a robotic voice spoke out just as before.

"Duel Disk link established. Life Points: 4000 The first to go will be... Pinkie Pie."

"Let's Duel!"

~~*~~

"Alrighty then! I draw!" Pinkie says drawing her card in a rather dramatic fashion. A brilliant flash of neon colored stars and hearts scattered from her disk as she drew. A mile wide smile stretched across her face as she held her arms up high. " Ladies and gentlemen! Thank you all for coming to watch us all duel and have fun! Now, let the fun begin! I set my Pendulum Scales with my scale 1 Entermate Monkeyboard and scale 8 Card Gardna!"

The words "Pendulum" appear across Pinkies duel disk as two tall pillars of light shine beside her. On each side was a monster that rose high into the air, each with the numbers "1" and "8" respectively. To her left was an orange monkey riding a small unicycle, dressed in a deep blue suit and mini top hat. Strangest of all was its huge smile and teeth that appeared to be reminiscent of a keyboard; owing to the monsters name. Opposite to the simian was a sentient playing card; complete with a pair of hands, feet, and a cute face with big, round eyes and a slight blush. A single, gold star on its forehead glittered brightly and it hopped into the air. In between the pillars of light was a multitude of light strands that formed a gigantic vortex.

"Now my Monkeyboards effect activates! By playing on his lovely teeth, I can add an Entermate to my team! So I add Lizardraw to my hand!" A quick tune emits from Monkeyboards teeth as it taps on them rapidly and a card ejects from Pinkies deck. "This is where the real fun begins! With both of my monsters in my zones, I can pendulum summon any monsters who's levels are between 1 and 8! Let's get this party started! With my set scales, I pendulum summon 3 monsters! Let's go, Entermate Lizardraw and Entermate Hermit Crab Landlord!"

3 streams of light suddenly catapult themselves from the center of her pendulum scales as her monsters appear from the beams of light. First was a anthropomorphic orange lizard clad in a crimson magicians outfit and topped off with a tiny top hat, not unlike the one worn by Monkeyboard. Strapped to its back were four red cards, each with a question mark centered inside them. It twirls its scepter and taps it on the floor lightly as its counter reveals its 1200 attack points. The second monster was a large hermit crab with a hefty 2500 defense points. Lining its aqua green shell was a multitude of small rooms with the silhouette of smaller crabs walking around. It twirls its long mustache with its tiny striped claws as it waddles forward next to Pinkie.

"Finally we have the star of the show! That wondrous party animal with the dual-colored eyes, let's give it up for Odd-Eyes Dragon!"

The final light stream makes contact in front of Pinkie as a pair of green and red eyes glisten. A magenta tail suddenly sweeps across the light as a crimson covered bipedal dragon crashes down. Plastered on its chest were two large cyan orbs that gave off a deep glow as it reared its golden head and let out a screeching roar. It stamps onto the field with a hefty 2500 attack points.

"Incredible! In one fell swoop, Pinkie Pie has just summoned three monsters at once! That's the power of pendulum monsters folks!" the M.C says.

"The gang's all here now! Just wait! The real fun begins next turn. So I'll slap down a card face-down and pass it off to you!"

"Not bad. Arh! But vatch as I bring zee light of mein brilliance into aczion! I draw! Perfect! Of courze, effery brilliant mind like mine needs zee proper equipment! Zo I play zis, mein Continuous Schpell Persona Shutter 2!"

An eerie fog extends from Photos card as a strange orange and indigo colored mechanical object hovers in front of her face. As bizarre as it was, the object appeared to have some sort of camera lens on its right and a blank, crimson eye on its left. The end with the crimson eye clamps on tightly to the right lens of Photos wide shades as the masks lens whirs and snaps shut.

"Oooo! Sweet new lens!" Pinkie says.

"Vy zank yu! As an artist, I am flattered by your vords. Howeffer, zis card is more zan just a simple tool for mein genius. As long as zis card remains on ze field, all uf your cards are unaffected by ya own card effects."

There was a series of rapid taps from the duel trackers as Rainbow Dash quickly reviewed Photos newest card. Try as she might, she stared at the screen in complete confusion as she said, "Uhhhh... I'm lost here. Why did she play that card? It's not like she negated all of her cards effects."

"It means that Pinkie can't use any card effects on her own cards." Twilight replies. "No attack boosts, no equip spells or traps. Nothing."

"Oh my. So she can't do anything to her cards? What can she do now? It's not like she can make do with what she has now. What if Photo summons something stronger?" Rarity says worriedly.

"Oh, I wouldn't worry about that." Sunset says with a smirk. "It's gonna take a lot more than some simple spell card to stop any of Pinkie's fun. If anything, she'll just see it as another challenge."

"Ohh, so that's what that new fancy shmancy frame of yours does! Ah, I'm sure I'll draw the exact card I need to get rid of it later on." Pinkie says cheekily.

"As is natural. Arh ! Hoveffer, I vill make zure to vin our battle before zat time comes. Now! Ve proceed! I zummon mein C/C One-Eyed Past Eye!"

Appearing onto her field was a bizarre shaped entity that appeared to be some sort of purple crystal formation with bits and pieces of dull, grey steel plates and gold hooks scattered across its body that curved into a vague, sword shape. Placed in its center was a large mechanical eye that seemed to glisten. The strange creature hovers slowly next to Photo with 1400 attack points.

"Und mein next move is vere mein vizion begins! I play mein next Continuous Schpell, Montage Fusion! Now vith zis, I can fuzion zummon a monster uzing monsters on both zides uf our field! Und I chooze your Hermit Crab!"

A dramatic gasp is heard from Pinkie as she says,"Oh no! I just so happened to summon the exact monster you needed with the exact level and attribute for you to Fusion summon with! Huh... imagine that."

Photos card emits a bright glow as a long telephonic lens spawns from the card. With a small click, Pinkies monster suddenly disappears as Photos card displays the newly captured image of Hermit Crab. Both of Photos cards are pulled into a swirling, multi-colored vortex before exploding into a torrent of aqua green light.

"I Fuzion zummon! Arize, Level 6! C/C/C Water Sword ze Embodiment of Fused Arms!"

A circular slate of steel rapidly spins from the wave of light and hovers above. The metal plate vibrates gently as several deep panel lines of varying thickness creep across the smooth face; with each line widening around the numerous neon indigo and green orbs that appeared along side the panel lines. Embedded deep in the center was another orb, this one place in the center of a golden swords hilt as its long, odd shaped blade curved downward. A counter shows its 2400 attack points.

"Just look at that folks! In one swift move, Photo Finish has fusion summoned a monster using Pinkie Pies own monster to her advantage!" the M.C says.

"Behold Mein brilliance! Mein vizion has come forth, all zanks to your monster. Arh ! Zuch is zee beauty of mein genius! Ko, mein Water Sword! Schtrike dovn her Lizardraw!"

Each of the metallic swords orbs begin to glow vibrantly as a low hum emanates from its surface. The deep panel lines spew out a brilliant stream of aqua colored light that streaks across the field towards Pinkies monster. Suddenly, the attacks light is stopped dead in its tracks as a slender signal light crashes through the floor.

"Phew! That was a close one. Sorry, buuuuuut I'm gonna have to stop ya there! Thanks to my Trap, Entermate Signal, I can draw a card and toss it right to my graveyard! Best part is, if it's a Entermate monster, then your fancy little light show comes to a screeching halt!" Pinkie says as she swiftly draws her card and eyes it. "And lookie here! It's Entermate Longphone Bull! So your attack and battle phase goes buh-bye!"

The train signal then displays a red light as it gives out a loud "ding!" The waves of light dissipate harmlessly as Photos monster wearily returns to her side. Whistles and cheers thunder across the stage as Pinkie gives a cheeky peace sign towards the audience. None were louder than the ones from the other duelist, and especially not as loud as certain rainbow-haired teen.

"Nice going Pinkie! Way to dodge that one!" Rainbow cheers. "So what if she can use your monsters? You've got plenty of moves to stop her!"

"Ah dunno Dash. If she can just keep on usin' Pinkies monsters, she ain't gonna be able ta break through her field!" Aj responds.

Even the heavy mask she wore could hardly hide Photos annoyed expression. She let out a huff as reached for a card and said, "Yu may haffe schtopped mein attack but trust me, zis performance is far from offer! I zet one card und end mein turn.Unfortunately, due to zee effect of Montage Fuzion, mein Water Sword is destroyed." True to her words, the metallic creature scatters into pieces above her.

"Oh boy, ain't that unfortunate!" Pinkie says giddily. "Now you're fields empty! Guess its my a-go now! I draw! Hit it Monkeyboard!" At her request, Pinkies pendulum simian rattles its teeth as another cards ejects from her disk; with this card being a mimic, usually seen in most fantasy games, with a stylish bow tie and top hat. However, it was what was behind the card that caught Pinkies attention. Peeking out slightly from her newly added card was yet another card that had accidentally ejected alongside with it. While it was glued on with some sort of pink sticky goo, the words "God-Eyes" could still be seen in its corner.

'Sweet Ra! Now there's a big broken boy that shouldn't be in this story yet! Guess playing card games while shoveling down cotton candy all night wasn't such a good idea. Well, nobody noticed it, but that sure isn't fair. It's a good thing I've got just the card to help me out!' She reaches for another card in her hand as she waves to the audience and says, "Sorry folks! Looks like I don't have much of a good hand! Buuuut like every good show, sometimes all you need is a recasting of the crew, and this card right here will fix that right up! I play Entermate Cast Change! Now I can send back any number of Entermate monsters back to my deck and draw the same number of cards plus one more! So say bye-bye to Entermate Trap Mimic and Turntrooper, and say hello to three new cards!"

Drawing her new cards, her smile fades slightly as she examines her new cards. "Aww well. Not much I can do now except for some damage! Alright! Let's go Odd-Eyes! Light her up with Spiral Flame!" Pinkies dragon roars and leaps high into the air. At the peak of its jump, it opens its maw and unleashes a torrent of crimson, spiraling flames down towards Photo.

"I zink not! Ko, Persona Shutter - Instant!" Photo declares as her trap flips up. "Vith zis, I can play mein Persona Shutter - Instant as ein copy of your Odd-Eyes und halt your attack!" Yet another strange mask appears from the card, with this one being a grey plate of metal with magenta bumpers on each of its sides. Despite its bizarre appearance, what it was attached to was stranger still; a near identical version of Odd-Eyes Dragon, albeit with the mask shielding its right eye. most of its body had a slick metallic sheen to it and the two large spikes on its back had a dull, silver coloration. With its attack being halted by a robotic doppelganger, Pinkies dragon crashes back down to the field and shuffles back to her.

"Aww shoot! I almost had ya there. Ah well, guess there's always next time! You're up!" Pinkie says with a wink. The copy of Odd-Eyes then suddenly shatters to pieces as the mask slowly fades away.

~*~~

"Umm... what happened? That's the second time her own monster destroyed itself." Fluttershy asks. She looks over to her friends,who have crowded to the duel tracker.

"It says here that the monster summoned by Instant is destroyed during the End Phase. Strange... is that what her deck revolves around? Short, disruptive bursts before her monsters are destroyed?" Twilight says puzzled.

"Why that's a bit odd, don't you think?" Rarity adds. "Even if she can stop Pinkies attacks and use her monsters to summon her own, won't it be useless If she keeps losing her cards?"

There was a mutter of agreement among the girls as Sunset sat in thought, but not on the duel. While every other duelist had either cheered, looked at their trackers, or spoke to each other, there was one that Sunset stared at. Seated at the far end of the benches was the Emerald Witch who, as far as she could tell, hadn't moved an inch since being seated with the other duelists. No sounds, no movements. Nothing. Sunset could only watch as she silently stared out to the field. The more Sunset stared at her, the more and more that feeling of dread in her grew. 'Who is she?'

"..right Sunset?"

"Huh Oh... yeah." Sunset responds slowly, now snapped out of her thoughts by Aj.

"You feelin' it too? It's about that witch, isn't it?"

"Well... I don't know. It's that Emerald Witch. I can't explain it but.. something about her is just wrong."

"You too huh? Yeah, same 'ere. Sumthin' about that there witch ain't right. She just comes in up an' outta nowhere an' takes someones else spot. It ain't just you an' Twilight either. The rest of the girls are feelin' uneasy about 'er too."

" Yeah. I don't know what it is about her. Part of me wants to believe that Equestrian Magic is back again, but I just don't know..."

Sunsets gaze shifted away from the mysterious figure as she returned to spectating the duel. Try as she might, that nagging thought that something was up never left her mind. Whoever she was, Sunset would find out soon enough. For now, all she could do was observe the duels until that time came.

~~*~~

"It's mein turn. I draw! I play mein schpell, Treasured Cards of Adversity! Zince I haffe nein monsder und yu do, I can draw two more cards! Just vat I needed to "refill" mein genius! I zummon mein Film Magician!"

Leaping into the air was a mage draped in a long black robe accented with a lime green trim and an indigo hat. Its face was concealed by a grey metal mask and a dull brown steel oval ring that ran around its neck with a pattern that was reminiscent to the film reels used by older cameras. It descends downward, brandishing its staff and zero attack power.

"Und now, I zet two cards und end mein turn." Photo says setting her cards. There were murmurs of confusion and concern form the audience and the duelists alike.

"A monster with no attack or defense points?! What could she be planning?" the M.C says voicing the crowds confusion. " Is this some sort of desperate move by Photo Finish to keep Pinkie from attacking?"

'I hope Pinkie has a plan." Twilight thinks worriedly after searching for that monster on the tracker.'As soon as she attacks, not only will that monsters effect kick in and prevent it from being destroyed, but it will mirror the attack points of the monster it battles.'

There was a small smirk across Photos face as she stared across her field. She knew all too well how tricky Pinkie could be and how annoyingly stubborn her pendulum monsters could be. Stalling for time wasn't a great plan and a feeble bluff was even worse, but every bold move had to begin somewhere. 'Every snapped moment begins with a vision,' she would say, and this was no different.

"Zere. Arh ! Zat schould hold yu at bay for now! Let's zee yu attack me now!"

"Oooohh, so you wanna bait me in with your set cards eyy? Alrighty then, I'll play along! I draw! Rock them tunes for the last time Monkeyboard!" Pinkie declares a she once again adds a card from her deck to her hand. "Sorry Photo. I love your new look and all, but I got a story to progress and it doesn't involve your neat little mask! I play Twister! All I gotta do is pay 500 life points and your mask is gone!"

Pinkies life points drop to 3500 as a vicious cyclone spews out from her card. The wild funnel twists and winds across the field as it brisks past Photos face and rips her mask off of her glasses. All she can do is grit her teeth in annoyance as the strange aura that covered the field is lifted.

"Now that my fields free, let's change the scenery! I play my Field Spell, Sky Arc!"

The bright blue sky suddenly darkens as the summoning ring that appeared from Pinkies pendulum scales arcs across the sky. Unlike before, the wire meshes of light streaming across the sky are bathed in the wondrous colors of the rainbow. The sense of awe and wonder spreads across the crowd like wildfire as the multi-colored lights soar around the stadium.

"Isn't it pretty? And it's not just for show, cause by sending away my Monkeyboard, I can add Entermate Odd-Eyes Light Phoenix right to my hand! Thanks for all the help Monkeyboi, but it's your buddy Seal Eels turn now!" Pinkie says waving at her monster. The monkey gives a giddy chuckle as one of the bands of light swept it away into the pendulum circle. Wriggling out of a dark blue party popper In its place was a small orange eel dressed in a tiny green suit, blue polka-dotted bow tie, and tophat. Placed on its big brown nose was two bandages that formed an "X." A glowing number 3 appears beneath it as it takes off its tiny hat with its stubby flippers and bows respectfully to the crowd.

"D'aww, ain't he a gentle-eel? Aside from looking all cute and snazzy, he can help me out with your magician. See, once per turn, he can use that bandage on his lil schnoz to wrap up your monsters effects!" Pinkie says, Her monster responds with a cute squeak as the bandage on its nose flings forward and expands in size. The cross shape figure turns a bright red as it wraps around Photos monster in a vice grip bind. Despite its struggle, it couldn't break free of its new bindings.

"Vat? But vy vould yu-"

"-negate your monster effect? Well duh! Isn't it obvious? You play a mage with no attack points and two cards? Biiiiig red flag. My Pinkie Sense tells me that your two cards are just duds and you want me to attack your magician! So, let's try this again! Go, get 'em Odd-Eyes!"

Once more, Pinkies dragon catapults into the air as it spews its spiraling flames downward. No amount of struggling from the bound mage could halt the burning flames from striking it dead on. The flames melt away Photos monster as she braces herself from the strike. The force of the flames, however, sends both her shades and herself flying back as she lands onto her back and her life points plummet to 1500.

The M.C gasps and spurs the crowd as he says, "Woah! What a strike ladies and gentlemen! Photo finish just took a huge hit from Pinkies dragon! With only 1500 life points left and no monsters on her field, what will she do now?"

Slowly rising to her feet, Photo reaches for her tinted shades and rests them back onto her face. "Hmph... not bad. Arh ! I vas careless, but don't zing yu'll attack me akain zis turn! I play mein trap, Damage Gate! Zis card allovs me to zummon back vun monster from mein graffeyard, zo long as its attack is equal or less zan zee damage I took. I bring back mein One-Eyed Past Eye!" Appearing before her was the familiar mechanical creature, beady eye and all.

"Looks like Mr. Peepers is back again. Ahh well, guess it's your turn!" Pinkie says unfazed by her opponents move.

"Mein move... Arh ! I draw." Photo grumbles. "Yu are schtrong, Pinkie Pie... but I von't giffe in chust yet! Mein vizion vill come forth! I play Pot of Greed!"

As if by strange coincidence, nearly everyone in the arena had either checked their duel trackers or mobile devices after Photo played her spell. Plastered across the screens of the arena was the image of Pot of Greed and the card text that read "Draw two cards" beneath the creepy smile of the acid green pot. Simple murmurs of confusion and idle shrugs came from the audience and even the M.C seemed to be at a loss for words as he flipped through a thick, heavy-looking book. There was, however, one person. A single, pink, deadpanned soul that stood completely still and stared at nowhere in particular.

"Really? A Pot of Greed joke? Children's card game cliche and all, sure, but one from 2000?" Pinkie mutter under her breath in annoyance.

"*ahem* Zanks to zis card, I can draw two-"

"Yeah yeah, draw two cards. In the future we'll get a neg 9 pot that everyone will think is good, Move along!"

"Ehehe....ja. Anyvays, I schall equip mein Past Eye vith mein Scroll of Bewitchment! Vatch as I change its attribute to Earth!" A long multi-colored scroll wraps around Photos monster before fading away with a dull brown glow. "Your crab friend has been guite helpful Pinkie, und he schall help me akain! I activate mein zet schpell card, Past Tune! Zince your Hermit Crab is ein leffel 6 monster, I can treat mein Past Tune as ein leffel 3 tuner monster!" Her card scatters into 3 neon green rings as it surrounds her Past Eye.

"I Zynchro Zummon! Let's ko, leffel 6! C/C/C Rock Shooter ze Embodiment of Tuned Attacks!"

Cutting through the light was an object of immense proportions that was seemingly shaped like a crude arrowhead. The body of the mass was a deep brown with its topmost and bottoms spikes being a dull green and had the texture of what could only be described as "jagged" and "rock-like." Despite its inorganic form, the gnarled teeth and single, crimson, beady eye showed it's true nature as a monster. It propelled itself next to Photo with, what one would assume to be, its pair of engines near it end and floated gently on its 2200 attack.

"I'm not done chust yet! I play mein Continuous Schpell, Persona Shutter 1! Chust like before, zis card vill become ein copy of your Odd-Eyes!" Yet another mask appears from Photos card; this one being shaped like a stopwatch and having some sort of dial in its center. Just like before, the mask was attached to the same mechanical copy of Pinkies Odd-Eyes. "Finally, for zee small cost of 800 life points, I schall bring pack mein Wader Sword vith zis! Re-Fusion!" Photos life points drop to 700 as the vanquished steel dish spins out from an indigo portal by her feet.

"Is time I return zee favor Pinkie Pie, becauze now ve begin! Mein Perzona Odd-Eyes schall schtrike down your Lizardraw! Ko, Spiral Flame!" Photo commands as her machine leaps into the air and vomits a storm of cerulean flames. A screech of pain escaped Pinkies monster as the flames disintegrated its body. All that remained of Pinkies doomed lizard was the few scattered and burned cards from its back that fizzled away in the wind. A huff escapes Pinkies lips as her life points drop to 2200.

"Next! Mein Water Sword attacks your Hermit Crab, und vith zis attack, its effect activates! Now it gains zee attack points of your monsder!" Photo declares again as her monster once again blasts a torrent of blinding water; now boosted to 2900. The small crustacean is washed away by the stream as it slams into its shell.

"Und to finisch mein move, mein Rock Shooter schall attack your Odd-Eyes!"

"Whoopsie! Did you get all caught up in the moment? Cause my Odd-Eyes is a lot bigger than your rock gun."

"Yu must oben your mind Pinkie. Arh ! For yu zee, mein Rock Shooter alzo has ein effect I can uze. Once per tun, I can have one monster yu control loze 1000 attack points!" The two green spikes jutting from Photos living weapon glow brightly as a wave of strange energy crosses over to Pinkies dragon. The beast roars in pain as its body is weighed down by the aura around it as its strength plummets to 1500. A golden cone of energy suddenly blasts from the deep void on its face and wraps around Odd-Eyes. Despite its defiant howls, the dragon shatters to pieces as Pinkie braces herself from the damage.

"What a move ladies and gentlemen! Photo Finish just wiped out all of Pinkies monsters and cut her life points down to 1500! Incredible!" the M.C declares with his cheery nature goading on the crowd. Cheers and yells rolls across the stadium.

"As expecded, mein vizion has taken zee breaths of zee people. Arh ! None can keep zee marffelous mind of Photo Finish down! I now end mein turn. Of courze, due to zee effects of Persona Layer 1 und Past Tune, mein two monsders are destroyed. Still, I haffe more zan vat I need to vin zis duel." Photo says with a snide twang in her voice.

"Man oh man, that was a pretty sweet move! Gotta say, this is fun! Still, I've got a duel to ace and a crowd to woo, so it's time to get your game on! I draw!"

With a dramatic swing of her arm, Pinkie draws as a shower of bright neon stars, bubbles, and smiley faces spew from her deck. "It's Pendulum Time ladies and gentlemen! Let's give a round of applause for our returning actors Lizardraw and Hermit Crab, and our latest guest Entermate Odd-Eyes Light Phoenix!" Streaming downward from the spiral of dazzling was the familiar sight of a magically adept lizard and now annoyed crustacean. Soaring above them both was a fiery phoenix with long flowing strands of majestic crimson feathers, clad in a sharp black suit and matching fedora. Despite its seemingly hefty size, the burning avian simply perches itself onto Pinkies left shoulder as she suffers no discomfort from this. Landing between them, however, was yet a third beam of brilliant light with this one having a silhouette of a humanoid figure.

"Watch as the magic of pendulums gives you the greatest sorcerer there is in entertainment! May his might magic flip those frowns upside down! Let's go and work the crowd, level 7! Entermate Smile Magician!"

Daintily stepping out of the cone of light was a tall, slim man dressed an a flowing navy blue magicians coat embroidered with crimson hex marks and colorful stars across its coat tails. Draped across its shoulders was a coat, white as snow, that wavered behind the shower of pastel colored smiley faces. Flustered squeals and blushed out faces filled the stadium as ladies and schoolgirls alike fawned over the handsome face under its dark blonde hair. The warm smile and cheeky wink it gave to the audience only furthered the infatuation from the girls. Even the normally lady-like Rarity found herself fanning away at her steaming face at the sight of the gallant mage.

"Yes folks, he's a pretty face and all, but he's gonna help me out and bring a smile to all of you! Thanks to him, I can ad Smile World right to my hand!" Pinkie gives her magician a wink as he reciprocates this by tossing one of his held cards to her. "But why wait? Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Smile World!"

To say that the number of neon colored smiley faces and stars that stormed all around the area was "excessive" would be an understatement. All across the stadium, the joyous giggles and excited nature of the faces spread across the audience. The younger viewers playfully touched and bounced the glowing smileys while the older audience were overtaken by laughter and joy. Even the monsters down by the duelists felt a surge of happiness from the performance above; right down to Photos slate sword forming a odd "smile" with the few bits of neon lights running through its body. Nearly all of the duelist onlookers rose form their seats as they too felt a sure of excitement from Pinkies performance.

"Look at that light show! Pinkie sure knows how to end a performance!" Rainbow says as she cheers along with the crowd. "And as a plus, that fancy light show gives all the monster a boost equal to the number of them on board! All to the tune of 500 points each!"

"Completely unnecessary, but that's Pinkie for you!" Fluttershy responds happily applauding the show.

There was a pause from Photo as she stared up at the light show above her. The streaming beams from Sky Arc, the brilliant shine and figures from Smile World, the laughs, the smiles. It all came together into an image, no, a vision of spectacular awe and whimsy and before she knew it, a huge grin had been plastered on her face. Had it not been for her shades, one would see swirling stars in her eyes. There was no doubt in her mind; this would be a loss, but one she would take with grace.

"Amasing... no, schpectacular... Arh ! Nein! Zis is your vizion?! It is apzoludely marffelous! Effen I, Photo Finish, is left in awe at your beaudiful vizion! Yu truly are zee one who vill move zis crowd vith your artistic smiles und joyous laughs! Now come! Let uz finish zis duel!"

"D'aww you! Every great vision starts somewhere right? Thanks to you, we both gave these fine people an awesome show and a rockin' finale! I got one last spell to play at this will bring down the house- er, stadium! I throw down my Miracle Rocket Show!"

A hatch behind Pinkie opens up as a gigantic red rocket ship rises above and towers over her and her monsters. Bubbles filled with what looked like galaxies floating around inside them spawned above the stadium and weaved themselves among the complex web of lights and smiles.

"Who needs any sort of training in astronomy when you've got a giant red rocket?! So long as this big guy is around, you take no battle damage and your monsters can't be destroyed! You ready Photo?! Cause this is the grand finale! Go, Smile Magician! Give her Water Sword the what for!"

Pinkies mage gives her a thumbs up as he climbs into the rocket and slams the door behind him. The engines beneath the craft roars to life as smoke billows and swamps the field with a heavy pink smog. Above the counter that displayed her magicians attack points was yet another digital panel that began to countdown the rockets launch.

"5!"

"4!"

"3!"

"2!"

"1!"

"Blast Off!!!"

With a furious roar of its engines, the comical spaceship catapults into the sky and soars above the audience. As the rocket streaked across the sky, it flew through each of the galaxy filled bubbles in a shower of radiant stars and smaller bubbles that scattered above the onlookers.

"Don't you worry Hermit Crab! You can help out too! Now for every Entermate monster rout on the field, my magician get a big boost to the tune of 400 points for each one!" Pinkie says gesturing to her monster. Her monster skitters to center of the field and raises its claws up. The rooms on its shell all light up at once in a sparkling display and the lights all converge onto the high-speed rocket. Gold and silver colors cover the rocket as the counter that appeared by Pinkie show a spike to 4200. The rocket jerks downward and dives towards Photos monster. A shower of more stars, golden streams of light, and bubbles blinds Photo and most of the audience. The brilliant light dies down as Pinkies magician takes off its tiny top hat and gives Photo and her untouched monster bow that even the slated sword reciprocates by bending its form slightly. Applause and whistles of pure excitement and joy fill the arena from both onlookers and duelist alike.

"Imbreziffe numbers und yet I take nein damage!" Photo giggles, also clapping her hands.

"Weeeeelll, not quite. See, you take no battle damage but I can send my Rocket Show away and you take all of the damage you would have taken!"

Rising form his bow, the magician gestures towards Photo and opens up one of its large sleeves. Streams of tied handkerchiefs and confetti spring towards her and drape her in multi-colored cloth and glitter. Laughter was all she could muster from this. Even as her life points dropped to zero, all Photo could do was laugh. It had been a long time since she felt such joy from a duel and her bubbly pink friend had provided it to her in spades. The sights, the sounds, the experience, the joy from the crowd. All of it came into the perfect blend of entertainment. Her only regret as she fell over with laughter was that she didn't have her camera to capture this moment.