MLP: Chaos is Evolution

by Garebel

Chapters

Chapter 14: The Coming D, Part 1: The Hidden Powers of Masks
A New Impact
Chapter 2: Harvest Season
Chapter 3: Brushing off Possession
Chapter 4: A Duel of Pride
Chapter 5: Games, Riders, and Bears, oh my!
Chapter 6: Another Rider Identity, The True End of a War and A Lost Brother Now Found
Chapter 7: Questions, A Sirening Disaster, plus Overcoming Trauma
Chapter 8: Rainbow Dash’s secret part 1/discover the M
Chapter 9: Rainbow Dash's Secret part 2/Stop the H
Chapter 10: Wrapping up the Broken Illusion
Chapter 11: 2016; W Wars
Chapter 12: 2040; Fashion! a Passion-ite Question!
Chapter 13: Xeno-Monado

Chapter 14: The Coming D, Part 1: The Hidden Powers of Masks

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A New Impact

Author's Note

I only own my SI-OC, Everything else belongs to their respective owners

A New Impact

In Canterlot Castle, Celestia signed. It was after Nightmare Night, which meant she was basically teaching her little sister, Luna, about the current state of things, now. It made sense since Luna was stuck on the moon for one thousand years after all. However, after a few minutes, Luna was more focused at staring out the window, rather than learn.

"Luna, what's wrong?" Celestia asked the small blue pony.

“Sister, doesn’t Thou feel it? " Luna asked Celestia, who blinked and shrugged.

"No, Luna, I do not feel anything. Why? Do you have a bad feeling about something?" Celestia asked. Luna shook her head.

"Not a bad feeling, just…strange…" Luna replied, unsure what the feeling is warning her about.

"I'm sure it's nothing..." Celestia trailed off, seeing something out of the ordinary.

"Sister, what’s wrong?" Luna asked, before trailing Celestia's gaze. There, in the sky, was a small meteor. They would have brushed it aside, but the meteor was at a point where it should have disappeared already, but it had not done so at all. In fact, it was going to hit outside of Ponyville...Celestia and Luna's eyes widen, realizing there's a chance of danger to their subjects. They quickly teleported to Ponyville, to protect their subjects.

"Arggh..." a male voice spoke, moving out of the wreckage of his spacecraft. "Burroughs, report! Are you okay?" the male asked. Suddenly, a image floating in mid air appear, showing a human woman, but anywhere above her mouth or below her upper torso was not seen.

"Master, I'm okay. I already moved myself to the DFS Machine which, I still say is a weird name...Master, take a look in a mirror or something." The 'woman', Burroughs said in a worrying manner.

"Why? What's wrong with...NO!!" the male all but screamed. Not so much about his looks, but rather...

"WARNING, SELF-DESTURCTING SEQUENCE ACTIVATED!! REPEAT..." a mechanical voice droned out.

"That wasn't me!" Burroughs said, worry clear in her voice.

"It must be the crash!! Let's get out of here!" the male yelled before running out of the ship. He was so focused on running that he didn't notice that he was walking on all fours. He just managed to get out before the ship exploded, knocking him forward quite a bit and on his stomach.

"Master! Initiate bio-scan!" Burroughs shouted, before a new image showing a black bar with two orange bars at the top and bottom of the bar, with the word 'SCANNING' on it appeared next to her. The new image soon disappeared. Burroughs looked at the result and signed.

"Good, he's just unconscious. Then again...I still question, whenever or not a normal human can survive that or not..." Burroughs mused before she heard voices. "Must be the locals...Activate shutdown mode. Not taking an-y c-ha-n-ce-s..." Burroughs slurred out before disappearing all together. It was at this very moment; the two princesses soon arrived at...Celestia’s eyes widen in shock. So much destruction...Could that mean she failed? To protect anyone?

"Sister, look!! Over there!!" Luna yelled. Celestia blinked and looked to where her sister was pointing. Sure enough, lying on the ground was an unconscious pony. Quick rushing towards the pony, they saw that the pony was uninjured on the outside, but, decided use some spells to find any internal injuries, to be safe. They blinked at the results.

"Sister, this isn’t right…” Luna stuttered out, for good reason. The results are almost in flux, unable to give a clear reading, other than the fact that the pony is a colt. Celestia looked over the colt's body to figure out why. She nearly had a heart attack at what She saw.

"Sister, I think I know why. Look at him more closely." She told her sister. She looked at Celestia in confusion before doing so. She quickly reached the same conclusion when she did so.

"SISTER, WHAT SHOULD WE DO!?" Luna asked Celestia, whose face was scrunched in thoughts.

"You try and disguise him, with an illusion of a sort, & I'll try to see if my student can help out." She said, remembering that Ponyville did not have a hospital yet. Luna nodded.

"Okay, I’ll try…" Luna yelled before she closed her eyes. Since they are both Alicorns, their magic should work on him. Suddenly, Luna’s eyes open and widen in shock. "No! How!?" Luna yelled out, scared.

"Sister, what's wrong?" Celestia asked her sister, wondering what's wrong.

"My illusion spells failed to even touch him!!" Luna said, becoming more scared by the second. Celestia’s own eyes widen in shock.

‘That’s close to impossible.’ She thought. Quickly, she decided to see if an 'untouchable by light' spell would work on him. To her own surprise, it did, and the colt disappeared before their eyes. They looked at each other and nodded.

"You better head back to the castle. I'll follow you after I dropped him off with my student." Celestia told Luna, who nodded before flying off. She then look to the colt was, removed her spell to make him visible again, lifted him up with Telekinesis, and then used her own spell on both of them to make them invisible, before heading to her student's home.

Celestia arrived at her student's home, the Golden Oaks Library. Letting herself in, She saw an empty couch, and laid the colt out on it, before removing her spell from both herself and the colt. Knowing her student, Celestia went to the second floor, soon find a purple unicorn resting with some books nearby, while a baby dragon with purple and green was sleeping standing with some books in his hands. Celestia giggled quietly to herself. Her student was still a bookworm. Given the events of last night, though, she's not surprised.

"Hey, Twilight..." Celestia got out before the pony woke up so fast, Celestia was surprised she didn't hit either of the bookcases on both sides of her bed, and the dragon almost used his normal flame.

"What the...Celestia!" the pony shouted before running and stopping in front of Celestia, while the dragon saluted Celestia. Celestia stopped the pony from apologizing for not being prepared for Celestia's arrival.

"Twilight, this isn't a normal visit, me and Luna found an colt that's currently out cold, near an impact site. I know it was not your friend, Rainbow Dash, since it was a sort of meteor." Celestia explained. The pony, Twilight's eyes widen in shock.

"Where is he?" Twilight asked.

"On your couch, Twilight. You might want to keep his presence on the down low, though." Celestia explained as they went down to the first floor.

"Why is...oh..." Twilight start to ask but soon found her question answered. His appearance was more than enough reason, why Celestia want his presence unknown for now.

Later, both Celestia and Twilight were discussing ideas while Spike, the baby dragon kept watch over him. Spike had decided to just poke him in the meantime being bored. Spike soon stopped when he heard someone groaning. He then looked around trying to find the source. Spike decided to focus back on the colt, only discover the groaning sound from the colt waking up. Spike's green silted eyes looked into the colt's bright green, surprisingly a mix between normal and silted, eyes. Spike was worried if the colt might try to get rid of him. Fate has a weird sense of humor sometimes…

The duo are still trying to figure out what they should do with the colt when they heard a yell. Fearing the worst they headed downstairs...and wondered if they were seeing an illusion. The colt, who is now awake, had somehow changed his body's size by making all but the head, half as big, and was now running around Spike saying something at high speed. Celestia & Twilight had tried to stop him, since Spike was too dizzy to help, but they were ignored. Spike soon fell down on the ground, causing the colt to trip over Spike's tail. The colt ended up rolling into one of the bookcases causing all on that bookcase to fall on top of him. The colt soon emerged from the pile, unharmed and body normalized. He noticed Twilight & Celestia. The colt tried to say something only that he can't understand them, & they can't understand him.

‘(Great, Ah need to copy their laugauge…) Signing, the colt walked to in front of Twilight, who backed up. He frowned before noticing a good number of picture books around him. He went and look over them, but none were able to explain things to them via pictures. He growled, before noticing something. '(Wait, they write in English!? That would mean...)' He coughed a bit, clearing his throat, before speaking up.

"Sorry about that." He said, laughing nervously.

"Who are you!?" Celestia asked the colt who just shrugged.

"Just call me, Garebel." The colt, Garebel, introduced himself.

"'Garebel', huh?" Celestia looked over Garebel, suspicious of him, his reasons, & suddenly spoke in their language like he was born here, when they couldn't understand him before. She noticed this 'Garebel' colt seems to be in a sort of ready stance, like he was constantly on-guard. She needed to make the first move, but only when he's off-guard. Garebel simply watched Celestia with a look of confusion, & surprisingly, both relief and amusement. He shook his head.

"Sorry for being rude, but may I have a mirror & bed to sleep in?" Garebel asked. Celestia looked like she still didn't trust him, but Twilight still brought a mirror in to allow him see his body. "Thanks, miss..." Garebel trailed off, now seeing his body in full. He, too, was an Ailcorn, like Celestia, but quite different. His body was mainly red, with some blue on the underside. All four of his legs were actually average, but his tail, wings and horn were unusual. His tail was long enough to wrap around one of his legs, but was shifting colors between red, blue, & green. At the tip of the tail were two blue spikes, one on the left and one on the right, which seemed to form a triangle with the tip inward. His wings were quite different, one was a black-feathered wing, but the other one was a white, dragon-like wing. It was striking to anypony, to see one wing different from the other on the same pony. His horn has it's base shaped like a shield, but around 3 inches up from the base, 3 rows of spikes, each row separated by an inch, were growing out from his horn, creating a weird horn-shape that was not seen before. On one of his sides was a shield being stabbed by two swords in different places, with the shield seeming to bleed from the wounds. In the middle where neither of the two swords is stabbed was a small crystal, with a shadow of a pony inside it. A half white, half black jacket rested around his fore torso. The Jacket also has 5 spikes pointing downward on the black over his leg, while the white side has 5 orbs dangling over and on the side of his other leg.

"C-can I have a bed, now, please? I-I really need to sleep on this." Garebel said, actually sounding panicked. This was completely different & need him to get used to this new situation. Celestia, realizing that he, for now, means no harm, summoned a bed for Garebel, which he promptly put himself on it and fall asleep.

Chapter 2: Harvest Season

Author's Note

I figured this might be a good time to mention it, but, the text in the [], that's actually me genuinely not know how else to portray that scene. Sorry about that.

the only thing I own is my SI-OC, everything else belongs to their respective owners.

Chapter 2: Harvest Season

-Ponyvile Library, Morning-

Garebel soon woke up, & blinked a couple of times.

"Huh...? What...oh, yeah…" Garebel said to himself, remembering what happened last night. "I really need to get used to this form. Wait, Burroughs?" Garebel asked, to no avail. Signing, Garebel soon found the reason why. "Must have been a just in case scenario..." He muttered to himself.

"What are you mumbling to yourself?" Garebel, recognizing the voice, turned to the purple unicorn who help him last night.

"I was actually trying to check something, before finding the reason why. It's going to be a bit showy, though, what I'm going to do." Garebel explained to them, who nodded.

"No destruction, please." Twilight asked.

"Nowhere near planing on it to happen." Garebel assured. "Let's see here...Aha! Here we go!" Garebel suddenly yelled. With seconds, several images appeared in a dome-like fashion around Garebel, one of which was actually floating in front of Garebel. It was not long until all the images disappeared with only one reappearing. ("Good morning, Master.") The image spoke. The pony and the little dragon were shocked at the image speaking, though they could not understand what the image said. Garebel signed.

"Switch to English please, Burroughs." Garebel asked. Twilight raised any eyebrow at the first name.

("Understood!") The image said before disappearing with a new image with two gold bars, one on the top & one on the bottom with a black bar in between with a gold word on it. The new image then disappeared, with the first image reappearing. "Change complete. Sorry for the wait." the image answered, with both the pony and the dragon being able to understand it now, much to their shock.

"What's going on here?" the pony all but shouted.

"Okay, We really need to get to introductions. As I said last night, just call me Garebel." Garebel introduced himself again. The pony calmed, realizing that the image might have info, too.

"Twilight Sparkle, Faithful Student to Princess Celestia, who was the white pony with the sun symbol on her side, by the way." the pony, Twilight introduced herself, and explained who Celestia was since She didn't introduced herself to Garebel last night.

"Spike, Twilight's Number One Assistant." The dragon, Spike, said.

"Burroughs, I'm an A.I. or Artificial Intelligence. Basically, I have no physical body, so to speak, unless you count Master Garebel's currently a jacket as one." The image, Burroughs, explained, though, Spike and Twilight are confused at this.

"Long story." Garebel said, though really he was unsure of how to explain it, himself.

"By the way, Master, black side of the jacket, front topmost pocket." Burroughs said.

"Okay...? And Burroughs, I thought we talked about using my 'titles'..." Garebel said, feeling a little annoyed at Burroughs for calling him Master. Garebel then blinked when he realized something. One, no hands, two, though... Twilight and Spike looked in surprise when Garebel did used levitation without his horn glowing, indicating a spell is being used, lifting what appears to be a glass monocle, but more triangular. "There we go...what? What's wrong?" Garebel asked both Twilight and Spike.

Twilight shook her surprise off first. "You used telekinesis...without your horn glowing. Unicorn & Ailcorn horns always glow, when they cast a spell!" She explained to Garebel, who blinked at this bit of info. Burroughs was quick on the uptake, though.

"Master is basically a Psychic master. He can make illusions that are very real, unable to touched by any illusions, but his own, lifts anything with just his mind, and read the minds of anyone." Burroughs explained before adding. "Although, he keeps the last one sealed away."

"Well, excuse me for wanting to make things fair for others, if I'm playing a game with them!" Garebel deadpanned. Twilight shook her head, before realizing something.

"Wait, your illusions still affect you?" Twilight asked, to which Garebel nodded, confused by the question.

"Use one on yourself. You're an Ailcorn, now. Being an Ailcorn means you're of royal blood. Everypony will worship the ground you walk on." Twilight explained. Garebel actually looked angry at this.

"I don't desire to be like that. EARNING their respect is one thing, but being given their respect, just because I'm a certain kind of pony? No thanks." Garebel ranted, before his appearance changed, he look the same as before, but without the odd wings. "At least having a horn will keep anyone from asking how, and likely why." He muttered.

"Okay, might as well introduce you to Ponyville, Garebel." Twilight said, before she motioned to Garebel to follow along.

"Fine by me." Garebel said, surprisingly back to upbeat.

-Carousel Boutique-

A light gray unicorn was overlooking a dress. "Let's see, if I do this, then that won't work, but if I go with this, then that won't work, either..." She muttered herself, before she heard a knock at the door. "It's unlocked." She said, she knew from the knocking that it was one of her friends, which one is what she didn't know...

"Hey, Rarity!" Rarity blinked her blue eyes at the voice, before smiling, recognizing it.

"Hello, Twilight-darling." Rarity said, turning around. Rarity blinked when she saw Twilight alongside an unknown unicorn. Judging from the unicorn's stance, she'll say the unicorn is a colt. Still... "Oh, who's the new unicorn, Twilight-darling? Did you find a new coltfriend without telling me or your friends?" Rarity teased. Surprisingly, the colt answered, while Twilight sputtered.

"We have only met, just last night. All Twilight is doing is showing me around, since I'm new here. That's all." The colt answered, seemingly a little annoyed. Twilight quickly recovered from the sudden tease, which is a little bit weird coming Rarity, though, while the colt seem to be looking over the dress, Rarity was making.

"Oh, yeah, that's Garebel. As he said, he's new here, & I wanted to introduced him to my friends plus show him around town." Twilight explained. Garebel then spoke up.

"Huh, I might not any sense of fashion at all, but wouldn't this dress be better with a clashing theme and used by someone who likes to be the center of attention?" Garebel asked. Rarity then looked over the dress and realized that Garebel's right, the dress would worked with a theme that involves being the center of attention.

"Huh. I never thought about it like that. Rarity Belle, by the way." Rarity introduced herself.

"Garebel, and I'm surprised you're accepting advice from someone who has no sense of fashion." Garebel admitted.

"A different point of view works wonders at times, though, I'm surprised that you knew I worked with making dresses. How did you know?" Rarity asked, being very curious.

"I just looked around. My mom used to do some work with fashion, although, not for long, and It just wasn't going to be the family business, so I didn't do any. I did, however, notice that some of the items lying about were of a similar nature, to my mom's tools." Garebel explained, his voice started having a sort of sad tone. Before Rarity asked more, Garebel suddenly paled. "Oh no…." He muttered. Twilight & Rarity looked confused, before they heard it. The two mares paled, realizing what they heard. A stampede was coming...

-Outside Ponyville-

"Y'all sure you want to help?" An orange pony asked to a light-purple pony and a brown pony, while running ahead of the cattle stampede.

"Considering we started this, by accident, I'm sure." The brown pony asked. Surprisingly, her mane was yellow at the base, but suddenly turns purple, above the base. On her flank was an image five silhouettes with several music notes in the center.

"Come on, Mates!! We need a plan here!" The light-purple pony yell, all dressed like a pirate and talking like one, too. On her flank was the image of a skull and crossbones surrounded by dice & the background was a treasure map.

"Ah have one! We rope up and steer the leader. If we do that, the stampede should follow. If we get the leader to stop..." the orange pony trailed off. From the looks on their faces, she knew the other two connected the dots.

"Let's do it." The duo spoke at the same time. With a plan in motion, the trio put to their plan into action. At one point, the rope they were using nearly snapped, but suddenly a spider climbed along the rope and used its own silk to reinforce the rope, preventing it from snapping. Eventually, the herd was stopped before they tramped Ponyville.

"Ok, promise me, y'all steer clear of Ponyville, next time, will ya?" The orange pony asked, making a pun. Several groans were heard, including from the other ponies.

"Sorry, we were on edge. We all heard a loud crash, followed by a very big kaboom, last night. We don't know what was the cause, so when we heard a bang, we all panicked." The leader explained. The light-purple pony shivered at that.

"Sorry, mateys, I made that bang sound, but it was meant to get your attentions, not panic you all out." She explained, before realizing something. "Where was the direction you all heard the crash and kaboom from?" She asked. The herd responded by pointing to the outskirts of Ponyville.

-Carousel Boutique-

"Huh, the stampede must have stopped. Applejack must have a hand in it..." Twilight mused to herself, realizing that the noises stopped.

"Well, that's a relief. Hey, maybe you should introduce Garebel to her?" Rarity said, crawling out from the table she was hiding under. Garebel, meanwhile, was hiding behind an orange wall that suddenly appeared. He blinked when he realized the noises stopped.

"Well...That was weird..." Garebel said to himself, confused that the stampede had stopped. Twilight's horn seemed to glow for a bit.

"Okay, I might as well introduce you to another one of my friends to you." Twilight said. Garebel nodded before he and Twilight left the Carousel Boutique.

-Outskirts of Ponyville, Near crash site...-

the orange pony trotted over to where the herd pointed where the noises were heard. She looked towards the other two ponies, which were walking behind her a bit. She could not hear what they were saying, but it was not aimed at her. She didn't know why, but after Nightmare Night, she could feel when someone is lying or not. She didn't know the cause, but she had a feeling where it came from...

"Hey!" a voice rang out. The orange pony nearly jumped in surprise when she heard it, but calmed herself straight away. She turned to where she heard it, seeing an unknown ailcorn with wings looking like they're not there at all, walking alongside her friend, Twilight Sparkle.

"Heya, Twilight, what cha doing here?" the orange pony asked Twilight.

"I'm actually showing Garebel around town and my friends, AppleJack." Twilight answered back to the orange pony named Applejack. Applejack nodded before turning to Garebel, who was chatting up with the other two ponies, in a language she could not understand. For some reason, He was making her feel wary of him, and if Twilight knew what he was really like. A look at Twilight's face told her, that while she did know a bit of the language, it was not enough to understand what they are saying. Applejack then decided to go for it.

"By tha way, any idea wha he's like?" Applejack asked. Twilight blinked at that but answered anyway.

"He's mostly a lost unicorn with no memories of his time here." Twilight replied. Applejack however could tell that some of it was a lie. Lost, she can get. Same with 'no memories of his time here', she can get him coming from a foreign country, but unicorn?

"So, do you tell him, he's considered Royalty here?" Applejack asked, discreetly as to not let him hear them. Twilight's eyes widened in shock

"How did you know?" Twilight whispered, trying to not let Garebel or the other two hear this.

"Ah could faintly see the wings at his side. That and Ah can somehow tell you were lying." Applejack replied, with a frown on her face.

Twilight started to worry. She had forgotten Applejack is the Element of Honesty, and with the way Applejack said, It's giving the power to detect lies. Surprisingly, Garebel jumped in, likely sensing her worry.

"It's my fault. She told me what I am & the meaning behind it. I simply said, 'F that, I'm not to be treated as royalty.' If anyone worships me, I'll tell them to stop. I want to earn their respect, not have be handed to me on a sliver platter!" Garebel said, devolving into a rant. Applejack just stared at Garebel, before looking to Twilight.

"Ok, yah were just protecting his secret, then. Sorry, Twilight. Ah really should not have distrusted yah like that." Applejack said.

"Trust me, Applejack. I'm sure I would have done the same thing. That being said, as far as I know you, me, Spike, & Celestia are the only one who know." Twilight said.

"Mates, you might want to include us, too." the light-purple pony replied. "We were actually looking for him, since his tracks were lost."

"Say, Ah forgot to ask, what are y'all's names?" Applejack asked.

"Call me Risky in private, and Purisk in public. Risky is my real name, but I want to hide it." Risky, the light-purple pony explained.

"I'm Shantae, though Shanty Jig is acceptable, too" The brown pony, Shantae, introduced herself. Applejack nodded.

"Allright, I'll be headed back to Sweet Apple Acres. It's Applebuck season & mah brother, Big Mac, got injured, so Ah got to take his place." Applejack explained.

"Wait, Apple-WHAT Season1?" Twilight asked, her train of thought got derailed at that.

"It's what my Family call Harvestin' time." Applejack explained.

"Do you use your head for that?" Garebel asked, having finished his rant.

"No, that'll be AppleBUMP Season if that were tha case, but it's not, it's Applebuck season." Applejack corrected.

"Do you need any help?" Twilight asked Applejack.

"No, Ah got this." Applejack answered, Garebel suddenly shivered.

"I don't think so, you might need some help." Garebel suggested, but Applejack refused again before leaving the area. "I've got a bad feeling here..."

"Master, We have a problem!" Burroughs yelled out, her image suddenly appearing in the air.

"Burroughs, what's wrong?" Garebel asked, wondering what got her panicking.

"I was doing a routine scan, when I got to your cards. I did scan them, but learned one set of cards has become completely blank!" Burroughs revealed. Suddenly, Shantae & Risky got a sinking feeling.

"Which ones?" Shantae asked, to which Burroughs revealed three blank cards before revealing what they were originally. Shantae gasped at this.

"No..." Risky said, fighting her panic down.

"Impossible, then where...?" Garebel trailed off, actually feeling scared.

"What's wrong?" Twilight asked the three of them, worried about them.

"He-he-he's gone." Risky answered.

"We have to find him!" Shantae yelled. Garebel quickly regain his composer.

"Shantae, this is an unknown WORLD! We have no Information to go. We don't even know if this world has an Egypt!" Garebel reminded Shantae. "We need to find the Winged Dragon of Ra, all right, but we don't know where to start!"

-Ponyville Library-

Twilight sighed. She honestly has no idea why Garebel is panicking over the loss of some cards. They just rush back to the Library, almost instantly, & Garebel started looking though books. Surprisedly though, he not only pulled books relating to history, but only books with myths and fictional books. She did also noticed that Garebel gave Risky and Shantae a deck of cards each, before diving into the books.

"No, no...Please put back this, Spike, thanks." Garebel said, looking though the books he chose, and handing ones that he was done with back to Spike to put away. At least he didn't ruin books that didn't help. She would be angry at him for that. Still, she wondered what about those three cards caused Garebel to act this way. Maybe, one of the two who was looking for him till now may know something. She trotted up to the room where they decided to go to. At the door though, she was nearing pushed away by a sudden gust of wind. Once she got on her hooves, she then heard what she guess was a string of bad words. 'Sounds like Purisk.' Twilight thought. she was trying to use the alias of the two mares to better hide them. She only knew them but, It seems like they're quick to trust anyone, & yet, she wondered what happened if someone broke that trust. Twilight decided to just open the door.

Inside the room was a bunch of odd cards scattered across the floor, Purisk & Shanty Jig seem to be trying to pick them up. Absentmindedly, she picked up one of the cards, & almost felt choking. Was the card...self-aware? Shanty Jig, seeing Twilight being choked, shouted, knowing what the card is.

"Obelisk, stop. I doubt she is trying to steal you!" Shanty Jig yelled, & to Twilight's surprise, the choking actually stopped. "Sorry about that, Twilight. I'm glad I stopped him in time." Shanty Jig said, picking the card Twilight dropped. It's name revealed to be Obelisk The Tormentor.

"What *huff* The *huff* Tar-*huff*-tarus was that!?" Twilight asked, quickly regained her breath.

"One of the God Cards. Cards that are so powerful, It's almost as if the Gods they were based on are actually inside the cards, themselves." Purisk explained, noticing Twilight and hearing her question. "Just one of them can almost destory the very landscape..."

-Canterlot, inside the castle...-

[a golden orb was floating around the hallways, almost as if looking for something.

Purisk: "But if someone holds all three cards..."

the orb found what appears to a bird, its feathers looking to be made of flames.

Purisk: "They are effectively the ruler of the world."

the orb floated closer to the bird.

Twilight: "in other words, will they be...?"

The orb soon rushed the bird, effectively entering it's body.

Purisk: "Unstoppable? Yes."

The bird shirked in surprise, and fell of its perch.

Shanty Jig: "Thankfully, The Gods chooses who uses them. But one of them is lost now."

The bird thankfully landed on the carpeted floor, simply falling unconscious.

Twilight: *starting to sound worried* "Which one is that?"*Gets a feeling she already knows.*

Celestia soon stumped to the scene at this, & gasped.

Both Shanty Jig & Purisk: "The Winged Dragon of Ra..."]

-Ponyvile Library-

Twilight's eyes widened at this. Such a power was lost, & if it falls into the wrong hands...She shivered at the thought. Now, she realized why Garebel was trying to find the Winged Dragon of Ra.

"That's not even the worst part, either. Ra's effectively the Strongest one of the 3 Gods. No matter what, We can't let Ra fall into the wrong hands. Ra has KILLED a number of people who were not chosen by him, before. We can't let a repeat of that occur! Even if they would otherwise deserve it!" Purisk explained, scaring Twilight further. There was no way, she would let that happen. Suddenly, Twilight got an inkling on where, but...

"If you don't mind me asking, does the actual Ra govern something?" Twilight asked. Maybe, just maybe...Shanty Jig & Purisk looked confused.

"Yes, Ra is the Egyptian God of the Sun, why do you asked?" Shanty Jig asked, confused.

"Aha! Princess Celestia effectively does the same thing for us ponies, so, maybe Ra is there as well!" Twilight revealed. Purisk & Shanty Jig's eyes widened at this bit of information. This may be helpful but...

"There is no way anyone here or where she is, will believe it, even Celestia. So we can't just go up & ask to investigate the place. She's a Princess to boot, so we can't just ask her directly, either." Purisk pointed out. Twilight waved her hoof, though.

"Don't worry at those. There's an upcoming event called the Grand Galloping Gala, that's going to happen at Canterlot. It's a really big event, so nopony will miss a few missing ponies. All the nobles will be there, so the Royal Guard will have their hands tied. Which makes things easier." Twilight explained.

"But that mean it's exclusive. How are we going to enter the event?" Purisk said, being realistic.

"I'm Celestia's Number One Student. I can just ask Celestia, to send three more Tickets to the Gala." Twilight revealed. Purisk's jaw dropped at that. Shanty Jig simply put Purisk's jaw back into place.

"Dang, with a Plan like that, there's almost no way it can go wrong." Purisk muttered to herself. Twilight just smiled.

"Ok, Might as gather up the cards Garebel lended to us & tell him what's up." Shanty Jig said, noticing there were still cards scattered all over the place. Twilight's horn just glowed, and all the scattered cards flew into two different plies. They all were inside sleeves with one design or another, and she sorted them based on the sleeve's design. A crash was then heard.

"What the heck was that!?" They heard Garebel yelled. Twilight signed. She has a feeling who it was.

"Excuse me." Twilight said, disappearing. A short while later, Twilight reappeared, alongside a blue pegasus with a rainbow mane, sighing. She had just teleported back to the Library with one of her friends, Rainbow Dash in tow, so she can ask her why she was stuck in a mountain.

"Simply put, I tried to use a catapult as a start to my stunt routine, but Applejack kept starting before I was ready and when I was... You saw the end result." Rainbow Dash explained. Twilight sighed.

"Okay, AppleJack is overworking herself with Applebuck season. Why is she doing the harvesting alone, anyway?" Twilight asked.

"Pride, I guess." Rainbow Dash spoke. both Purisk & Shanty Jig sighed at this. Thankfully, Twilight decided to introduce them to Rainbow Dash, before asking her what happened.

"She sounds like a mare version of him at times." Purisk muttered to herself, though Rainbow Dash picked it and asked Twilight.

"She means Garebel, who's downstairs trying to research something. Anyway, did anypony else asked for Applejack's help?" Twilight asked, changing the topic.

"Only Pinkie Pie & Fluttershy...uh oh!" Rainbow Dash revealed only realizing what that would mean.

"Go to Fluttershy, & tell her Applejack's overworking herself and help stop her from making any of her animal friends scared." Twilight asked Rainbow Dash, who nodded & disappeared leaving a rainbow trail behind her.

"Well, at least her name fits..." Purisk commented. Twilight then sighed.

"Ok, you two stay behind and tell Garebel the plan involving the Gala, & I'll take Spike along with me to Sugar Cube Corner, where Pinkie Pie works, in order to make sure I have backup. Applejack is very stubborn, that's for sure." Twilight said before going down, picking up Spike and left. Shanty Jig & Purisk went downstairs and grabbed Garebel before dragging him upstairs.

"Hey! What's going on!? I'm still trying to find a possible lead, here!" Garebel said.

"Because Twilight ended up finding a possible lead, first, and how we're going to do. We'll explain upstairs." Shanty Jig revealed, causing Garebel let out an 'Oh!' sound.

-Sugar Cube Corner-

Twilight's eyelid actually twitched at the current scene.

She was too late to stop Applejack from causing a scene, who did so by misread a recipe & ended giving the ponies who ate the result to have food poisoning. one of which is throwing up in a trash can. She just hoped Pinkie Pie detained Applejack, which was the case actually much to Twilight's relief.

"Nonono! You don't use worms in place of wheat! The muffins wouldn't bake properly." a Pink pony with her mane a brighter shade of pink, told Applejack.

"So? Ah helped make the baked goods ya asked me to." Applejack said, but the pink pony shook her head fast enough to leave afterimages.

"Not baked goods, You made baked BADS!!" the pink pony emphasized. Applejack just shrugged.

"Well, ah'm going to help Fluttershy, she said she need help with a bunch of newborn bun-Wha' Tha!" Applejack yelled, tripping over surprisingly. She tried to only to find a frowning Twilight.

"AppleJack, we need to talk!" Twilight said, with a tone of voice saying she was not taking a no for an answer.

-Ponyvile Library-

"Ah, com' on! Let me go!" Applejack yelled out, struggling against the chair she was tied to. She need to get to back to bucking those trees.

"Not until you realize you're being dumb." Twilight yelled. Applejack just ignored her. This was going on for at least a couple of hours. All the yelling was starting to get Garebel. If Applejack opened her mouth, one more time...

"Let me go!" Applejack yelled. That was the straw that broke the camel's back as the saying goes.

"BE QUIET! YOU'RE KILLING YOURSELF LIKE THAT! SURE, EVERYONE HAS LIMITS BUT THERE MEANT TO BE BROKEN ONE AT A TIME. YOU'RE TRYING TO BREAK YOUR LIMITS ALL AT ONCE! YOU'RE OVERWORKING YOURSELF! THAT WOULD END UP KILLING YOU IN THE LONG HAUL!" Garebel ranted, before calming down a bit. "Besides, I don't know y'all at all besides your name, but I'm pretty sure you can't take care of the harvesting completely! Besides, you probably have only done around 10% in the time between we first met to now! If you're this much overworked from that much progress, drop your darned pride & ask!" Garebel let out. Applejack paled at that. "Here." Garebel said, before his horn flashed. Applejack soon find herself losing conscious. It wasn't long before Applejack fell asleep. Twilight looked at Garebel, curiously.

"What did you do, Garebel?" Twilight asked.

"It was a spell from a different world I visited. It's called Sleep and well...I bet you can guess what it does based on the name." Garebel said. Twilight nodded at that, sweat dropping at the name.

"So, help with the harvest?" Twilight asked. Garebel shrugged.

"Got nothing better to do, besides playing cards & napping, so sure. Why not?" he said

-Sweet Apple Acres-

"Eeyup, should have known she would act like that." Big Mac, Applejack's big brother, just said.

"Stubborn as a mule, no offense to any mules present." Garebel just said, using the levitation spell Twilight taught him, before he looked thorough the books to find info related to Ra, to pick an entire tree's apples off and put them in a woven basket. Rarity was making those baskets, with both less time & stronger than the ones Granny Smith, Applejack and Big Mac's grandmother, usually makes. Twilight, Pinkie, & Fluttershy were all picking apples off the trees in different parts. Rainbow Dash...

"Hey, you done?" Rainbow Dash suddenly appearing

''Speak of the devil' as the saying would go' Garebel thought as he realized who asked that question. "I think so, any that I missed, Big Mac?" He asked. Big Mac shook his head. "Ok, y'all all right with dealing with Applejack, when she awakens?" Garebel asked.

"Eeyup. Granny might have a few choice words for her not wanting any help though." Big Mac stated. Twilight & Garebel had levitated Applejack, untied, to the Apple Family, before helping them out.

"Ok, I'm headed to the Library. Please tell Twilight I'll be there, Dash." Garebel said, before disappearing.

"Ok, I need to ask him if that was speed-related, and if I could learn it." Rainbow Dash muttered to herself.

Chapter 3: Brushing off Possession

-Ponyvile Library-

It has been a couple of days, since the Applebuck season. Applejack, her mind no longer overstressed, had apologized to everyone for her not asking for help, and thanked them for helping with the harvest. Twilight had even said that's what friends are for. At the Library, Garebel had spread some of his cards out on the table. It actually help when he want to improve his decks.

"I could remove all my Dwarf Star Dragon Planeters from my deck, but I would have to remove the sword from my Extra Deck, since it needs a dragon-type to use it. I can remove Flashbang and replace it with Mirror Force, which means I can add that card to my Extra Deck, but, I don't have any free copies of that card..." Garebel muttered to himself. It wasn't his Ra Deck, since Ra is still missing, so he was working on one of his other decks.

"Maybe I should go outside, it's a beautiful day after all." He said. Lifting himself off his seat, he moved his cards back into two stacks, one without sleeves, and another much smaller one with sleeves, although these were see-though sleeves, so, no one might notice that fact. "Maybe, I should ask Shant-y Jig & Purisk to duel each other so the others might see the power that EACH God Card has?" He asked to himself, correcting himself mid-thought and storing his deck in a pocket of his jacket, which is an access point to a section of a place called The Void, which only he can access. 'Don’t know why it gave me a section, but it's still convenient.' He thought as he went though the door. He blinked when he noticed Pinkie & Dash just sitting around.

"What are y'all doing?" He asked.

"Waiting." they answered.

"'Waiting'? It's a beautiful day! Birds are singing, Flowers are blooming. On days like this..." at this point he didn't notice he stepped and snapped a hidden wire. "Ponies like you two should be..." a cream pie then interrupted him, landing on his face, making a splat sound. "Pranking other ponies...?" He trailed off, looking at the pie tin still on his face. After a few seconds, he noticed Pinkie & Dash laughing at the result. "Okay, didn't expect that!" He said before he shook his head to get the pie off. "I take it, y'all were waiting for that?" He asked.

"Hehehe, yes, hehe." was all Pinkie got out, before laughing again. Dash didn't even bother to answer. Garebel let out a small laugh.

"Not what I was expecting. Y'all planing on pranking others, too?" He asked. They both recovered from their fit and nodded. "Don't let me stop y'all.” he said, before the duo disappeared. "Makes me wonder if they have any Bananas, though...No." He said, shaking his head. "More than likely, they are too expensive. So they won't sell them. Ah well." He promptly shivered, though. It wasn't from any sort of cold, rather...

"I have a bad feeling about this..." He said before going back inside the Library. It was a good place to mediate, after all.

-one day later-

Rainbow Dash smiled to herself. The day after She & Pinkie pranked a number of ponies in Ponyville, one of her old school friends, Gilda, had arrived in Ponyville and met up with her. Gilda was easy to spot. After all, She's a Griffon, not a Pegasus like her. The two decided to prank with different ways.

Unknown to Dash, Gilda was trying to tell her friends that she does not need hang out with their 'lame-o' group. Gilda decided to try and prank Twilight with what Dash thought was a bottle of invisible ink. It was really a water bomb. Gilda had a feeling this 'Twilight' mare cares about her books, so a water bomb going off in the Library would mean that Twilight would refuse to hang out with Rainbow Dash, having Dash hang out with her, more often. Gilda decided she would be the one to make the delivery, secretly having found a way to implement Dash as the culprit. Unknown to her & a being secretly influencing Gilda, the plan was doomed to failure.

"Delivery!" Gilda said, using a disguise to hide the fact that she was a griffon. Surprising to her, Twilight was not the one who answered the door, but, Garebel, although Gilda didn't know that.

"What is it?" Garebel asked her.

"I have a package for A Miss Sparkle from a Miss Dash." Gilda said, her voice not wavering at all.

"Very well." He said before touching the package. Unknown to Gilda, Garebel detected her Mind Wave, signals that tell him how a certain being feels. Gilda's Mind Waves did not look right at all, though almost as if... "I'll bring it inside, Miss Sparkle's out right now, but she'll back later." He said to Gilda who nodded and flew when He went inside.

"All right, I'm all alone, now. This should work." he said to himself. He knew what exactly was in the package, due to reading her mind. After moving the tables and chairs out of the way, he created a small barrier. Not even he can't go outside the barrier unless he wants it to. He opened the package, discovering that it went off when it was opened. He was grateful It was water, though, so he was only wet with no injuries. He frowned though, drying himself off.

"What the heck is wrong with Her Mind Waves?" He asked to himself. He knew who the 'Deliverymare' was. The thing is, he felt that sort of influence before. He can't quite place it, though. He unknowingly pulled a stack of Poker cards instead of his normal cards. He shrugged and shuffled the deck before drawing a card. He looked and frowned. Somehow, he knew he had the answer, but he didn't know what.

"Maybe, I should do that? It’s been a while..." Garebel's eyes widened. He found the answer! Why the card & Gilda's Mind Waves are familiar to him! "Dang it! Everypony's in Danger!" He yelled, recalling Pinkie invited everyone to a party, including Gilda. He should have been there, SECONDS ago. "Shoot!" He yelled, sub-consciously dropping the card on the table before disappearing. The forgotten card laid face up where it was dropped.

It was the Joker card.

-Gilda's 'Party'-

Everypony backed away from Gilda. It was supposed to be foolproof, Gilda revealing her to Dash, so she can learn what Gilda really thinks of her friends. Now, though, Gilda started yelling and holding her head.

"Who, what are you!? Get out of my head." Gilda yelled.

"Gilda..." Rainbow Dash said, slowly approach Gilda, who put her hand out in a manner that said 'stop'.

"No, Dash! Don't come any closer, please!" Gilda yelled out, before screaming loud. Darkness appeared and covered her body fully, before vanishing. Gilda however had her face changed. It was pure white, appearing like she put on a mask, covering everything but her beak, which now sports a smile, and not the happy kind.

"I'll make you all PAY for treating me like trash!" Gilda yelled, her voice sounding corrupted. Suddenly, Gilda was covered by a blue aura, and some manner of...beast appeared. It only had a head & neck which connected it to a body covered with tentacles with the tips split into five claws.

"Time to DIE!" Gilda? yelled before the beast raised its tentacles to the ceiling of the Carousal Boutique. Suddenly, black clouds appeared & sent a lighting bolt towards...

"Dash, NO!" Twilight yelled, realizing the bolt was going to strike Dash. The bolt striked down. Dust covered the area. Twilight's pupils shrank. She failed...

"What the buck...?" Twilight gasped. That was Dash's voice. She was Alive? The Smoke soon cleared, revealing Dash, who is unharmed at all, and another being. This being seemed to be completely different than the beast. It stood like a Manticore, but in a manner that shows that it was it's normal stance, with no hint of being beastly. It wore a black coat similar to Rarity's dresses, but the front was open. The clothing spoke of being a rebel, yet a leader at the same time. Its head was covered in a helmet that hide all of it's face, except its eyes, which are slited pupils on a almost-monsteruos yellow, yet it does not show anger, but rather protectiveness. The being had its arms folded, while electricity sparked around its body, showing it took the attack in place of Dash. An awkward shaped sword stood blade down in the floor.

'What is that?' Twilight thought to herself, before a voice echoed out.

"Good, I made it!" Everyone present, but Gilda? recognized the voice instantly. The front door was open, revealing...

"Garebel!" Twilight yelled.

"WHAT!?" Gilda? yelled in shock. There was no way...

"Sorry I'm late. I didn't realize what is going to happen till a couple of seconds ago." Garebel said, before thinking to himself. 'It's a good thing I can slow down time.' "Now then..." He spoke, looking towards Gilda? "why don't I send you BACK TO HELL AGAIN, NYARLATHOTEP!!" He yelled out. The newly revealed Nyarlathotep growled, despite the fact the grin was still there. One of seven people that ended him is here. He was so close, too.

"Nyarlathuotp...?" Dash asked, getting up & mispronouncing his name.

"Nyarlathotep. A so-called 'God' that wants nothing more than total extinction. Stopping him peacefully is NOT an option." Garebel told them. Nyarlathotep let out a chuckle.

"I doubt you can summon a Persona, now." He revealed, finishing setting up a barrier that would dispel any persona he knows of.

"I wonder about that..." Garebel said.

"What!?" Nyarlathotep let out in surprise. Suddenly, the being that protected Dash unfolded its arms and grabbed the handle of the awkward sword in one hand before lifting it up with ease.

"Brave Blade, IZANAGI!" Garebel commanded, the being suddenly disappeared and reappeared in front of the beast, the blade glowing orange. the being then began swing its sword wildly, at least to everyone else, Twilight & Dash both saw that the swings were not wild at all, but calculated. Twilight could see that blade only hit the beast, while Dash saw that the blade was adjusted in the smallest second to avoid hitting anything or anypony else. Nyarlathotep actually screamed in pain.

"No, that thing is a Persona!?" Nyarlathotep gasped out. Garebel nodded.

"and he's not the only one. Let me show you a new skill I found out, Orpheus!!" Garebel yelled, now surrounded by the same blue aura. Suddenly, a mechanical body with a head of flesh appeared. the head has black skin, red lights where the eyes and mouth should be with its 'mane' being blonde. Its body is pure gray, with an almost simple design. On its back was a harp, its color the same as its holders body. Nyarlathotep's eyes widened, and it was not just because of Garebel summoning another Persona.

"How are you able to do that? It's impossible!" Nyarlathotep yelled. Garebel was somehow able to maintain TWO Personas at once, something that was impossible! One only switch the active Persona, something that only used by those blessed with the Wild Card "Not even I or Philemon can do that!" Nyarlathotep stated. he didn't know when but he started to feel it. Fear...he was afraid of Garebel. He was doing things that were outright impossible, even for him. "You...you're not stronger than ME!" Nyarlathotep yelled. The beast started to throw fireballs at Orpheus, who was in front of his intended target, Garebel. the smoke cleared, revealing Orpheus was uninjured. The beast was then struck by lighting, Nyarlathotep screaming as lighting coursed though the beast. Izanagi have an open palm towards the beast with electricity moving across its claws showed it was the caster. "I won't lose!" Nyarlathotep yelled as he began pouring his power in to the beast, only to grab his head. "What?" He let out.

'Get out!!' a voice echoed.

Nyarlathotep's eyes widened upon hearing the voice. It was impossible. There's no way!

"No! YoU wErE sUpPoSeD tO sEaLeD aWaY! HoW dId YoU BrEaK oUt!?" Nyarlathotep yelled out, his voice becoming distorted. This can't be happening! How...?

"Gilda!" Dash yelled running to Nyarlathotep who was possessing Gilda's body, but was stopped by Izanagi.

"No! I don't know what's happening. Stay away from her." Garion yelled, in a commanding tone of voice. It was true, though. He didn't want Dash to die, and maintaining his Personas was taking a toil on him, though he didn't show it visibly.

"WhY!? wHy-WhY-why-WhY!?" Nyarlathotep yelled out in a rage. The seal he made to keep Gilda away from her body was made in a way that only two can break it, him and one other, so how...?

"You heard the young one. Kindly leave her body, now." Another voice echoed in Nyarlathotep's head. Nyarlathotep gasped.

"YoU! yOu LeT hEr FrEe, PhIlEmOn!? WhEn DiD yOu FiNd Me!? i HiD eVeN fRoM YoUr SeNcEs." Nyarlathotep let out. This wasn't supposed to happen. the other one who can break the seal, Philemon, was here!? How!?

"Really? Did you forgot that Personas as a whole can act as our eyes and ears~..." Philemon let out in a singsong tone of voice. Nyarlathotep let out a sound of shock. He forgot Personas can do that but He only summoned one, which only works for him, so where did Philemon's... He glared at Garebel as soon as he realized it as best as he could.

"DaNg YoU, gArEbEl! iF iT wErEn'T fOr YoU, i WoUlD hAvE bEeN ReViVeD! cUrSe YoU!!!" Nyarlathotep yelled out. The beast tried to do some kind of attack, but it's body was disintegrating fast, leaving it unable to anything.

"Get out of My BODY!!! Gilda yelled out, taking control of her body from Nyarlathotep.

"NoOoOoOoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO...!" Nyarlathotep shouted for the last time, before Gilda took full control of her body, with Nyarlathotep being sent back to where he belonged, once again, hopefully for good This time. the Griffon fell to the ground, heavily breathing.

"Gilda!" Dash yelled, avoiding Izanagi's attempts to stop her from going to Gilda. "Are you Okay!? Say something!" Dash yelled in panic.

"*gasp* Sorry, Dash. *gasp* Guess I *gasp* Screwed up * Gasp* Royally." Gilda let out. Garebel shook his head, approaching the duo.

"Don't worry. It's all over, now." Garebel comforted Gilda, dismissing Izanagi & Orpheus. It was true; Garebel didn't even sense a trace of Nyarlathotep's influence anywhere, not even in Gilda's body.

-Few days later...-

*Splat!*

"Bananas...Thanks!" Garebel said, to the new Pranking Trio. Gilda & Dash have managed to become friends again, during Gilda's recovery from the battle. While Nyarlathotep did took the brunt of the damage instead of Gilda, She still got injuries. Nothing fatal or debilitating, thankfully. She still needed to recover since her mind was starting to degrade a bit, due to her mind and body being seperated. Still, she pushed forward, though not literally. Gilda even managed to forge new bonds with Dash's friends, too. Pinkie, well... The three of them both love pranks, so it's hard not to be friends. Gilda didn't at first approve of Fluttershy for being Dash's friend because she acted weak.

A brief fight with Angel Bunny, one of Fluttershy's pets and who made Gilda angry by throwing a carrot at her, which interrupted by Fluttershy giving them both the Stare & ranting at them, Angel for picking a fight, & Gilda for trying to harm Angel, soon had Gilda regret thinking Fluttershy was weak.

Garebel also made a note to not get on Fluttershy's bad side, after seeing that.

Gilda wasn't on good terms, with Rarity, at first, before Rarity learned Gilda's taste in clothing. Gilda actually prefers armor to clothes because it's more useful. With Rarity guess correctly that all Griffons have a similar taste, She ended up bonding with Gilda over Practical uses. Garebel joined in, since he, too, has similar tastes. Garebel has been the flank of Griffon jokes since then, not that he minds at all.

Gilda bonded with Applejack when they also discussed things, this time being advantages of have paws instead of Hooves. While Gilda can grab apples, she can't do it as fast as Applejack can since her paws can only hold so much.

"Bucking with your Hooves is much faster, than me picking the fruit off of trees." Gilda told Applejack at one point.

Twilight was angry with Gilda for trying to ruining her books, but she was not angry as Gilda thought she would get, since Garebel revealed he stopped that from happening. Twilight got less angry when she got pranked by Gilda, using what she told Dash she was giving to Twilight. Needless to say, not even Twilight was above pranking others, since she sent the bottle of 'special ink' to her mentor. The two bonded further, when Gilda saw that there were several errors pertaining to griffons in history books & Mythes. They didn't touch Fiction, because, well, it's fiction, meaning not real, so there's no real need to change them.

Right now, Garebel was now sporting Bananas in his mane, due to the trio's latest prank. Again, He didn't mind it. He always did enjoy bananas before...That...happened.

"What's wrong?" Gilda asked noticing Garebel shiver.

"It's nothing. Just something I don't want to remember..." He trailed off. Gilda noticed this & decided to dropped the subject.

"Oh, I know! Let’s give Applejack an orange cloud that will rain apples & follow her around." Pinkie suggested.

"No. Cause if an apple hits someone, it will hurt." Dash pointed out.

"Oh, Pooie!" Pinkie said, sadly.

"Actually, why not make it look like it's snowing, but the 'snow' is actually Flour?" Gilda suggested. Pinkie and Dash blinked before nodding. The idea was entertaining.

"Come on!" Dash said, before she went to the Sugar Cube Corner.

"Hey, wait up!" Gilda yelled out, running after Dash, with Pinkie following. Garebel just laughed at the trio, enjoying their antics before sighing.

'Gilda reminds me of someone, but whom? Wait, could it be...? No, she disappeared... There's no way...' Garebel thought before shaking his head. Yet, the thought kept nagging him.

It wasn't until later, when they have the supplies together that they realized they would need clean up the mess they would made and discarded the idea altogether.

Chapter 4: A Duel of Pride

-Ponyville Library-
A week has passed, since Glida & Dash met each other, again. Gilda actually decided to stick around, instead of leaving, though Garebel noticed something that made him chuckle a bit, but didn't explain to the others. Right now, He was looking over his several decks, Each one based on an idea he had when he made the decks. They're good, sure but...

"Master, I've got data for the most recent ban list." Burroughs said. Garebel nodded.

"HEROs?" He asked.

"No Forbidden cards found. Grand Mole & Compulse are at one. No changes needed." Burroughs answered. Garebel nodded.

"Two things, one; Don't call me Master, & two; only tell me any Forbidden cards." He replied.

"Okay, Master..." Garebel groaned at that. "Super Polymerization & Wavering Eyes are banned..." Burroughs revealed. Garebel blinked.

"Okay, Super Poly makes sense, but, Wavering Eyes? After the ban list scanned, Find out why Wavering Eyes is banned, please?" Garebel asked.

"You got it. Let's see...wait, the Chicken Game Field spell is banned, too?" Burroughs said, very confused.

"Wavering Eyes, I MIGHT see, since I used it before, but Chicken Game!? Research, please, Burroughs." Garebel asked.

"Rogers, Spells and Monsters scanned. Hang on...ah. Both Heavy Storm & Giant Trunade are still banned." Burroughs added.

"Ok, Continue to Traps, please." Garebel asked.

"Roger! ...Huh!? Crush Card, Ring of Destruction, & Solemn Warning are missing!!" Burroughs yelled. Garebel blinked.

"Okay, Solemn Warning is a surprise, but the first two were changed. I heard Ring deals damage to the Controller first, then the opponent, removing any chances of a Draw. Crush Card, I know for sure since I have the changed one, still affects the opponent's hand & field, but they get to choose three monsters to destory from their deck, as long those monster meet the same conditions to be infected with Crush Card." Garebel explained. "Actually, go back to checking Limited & Semi-Limited, too." He asked.

"Okay, Looking at Limited...Ring of Destruction is there, and you're right, controller first, opponent second." Burroughs revealed. Garebel nodded.

"Okay, contiune..." Garebel was interrupted, by a knock on the door. "Twilight?" He asked.

"Yes, wanted to see what you were doing, but didn't want to be rude." Twilight answered.

"One; I was talking to Burroughs about my cards, & two; Door's unlocked." Garebel replied, to which the door was opened, & Twilight entered the room.

"Okay, good news & bad news. Good news, you, Shanty Jig & Purisk going to the Gala." Twilight revealed. Garebel narrowed his eyes.

"And the bad news?" He asked.

"One of the Royal Guard is going to be with You at all time, not Shanty Jig or Purisk, though. She didn't think they’d cause Trouble." Twilight answered. Garebel raised an eyebrow.

"What the Tartarus happened?" He asked.

"Not even Celestia knows, but something happen to Philomena, Celestia's pet Phoenix." Twilight revealed to Garebel, who's eyes widen.

"No...It can't be..." He said to himself. Twilight looked confused.

"Of the three God Cards, Ra's the only one with Three Forms. A Sphere Mode, the default Battle mode...and his most powerful form, The Immortal Phoenix mode..." Burroughs explained to Twilight, who's own eyes widened. If that was the case, then...

Celestia need to know, now!

-later...-

"The letter has been sent, Twilight." Spike told Twilight, who nodded. With knowledge of where Ra might be, Twilight, Spike, Shanty Jig, Purisk & Garebel all gathered around a table. He also decided to make a list of other dangerous cards to look out for, just in case. Twilight copied the original list, which also have reasons why they were dangerous, to memorize them & sent the original list along with the letter.

"Okay, We may have knowledge of where Ra might, but there's a chance it might be just be the Immortal Phoenix mode or a much smaller fragment. I don't want to chance it. We need more info. Twilight," Garebel said in a commanding tone of voice, gaining her attention. "Daring Do may be fiction, but I have a gut feeling it may be more. Read though the books, & contact the author. If it's more than fiction, then Daring Do may be real. If she is, let me know." He said before he turned to Shanty Jig. "Shantae," He said, getting her attention since he didn't bother to hide her name. "If Daring Do is real, meet her as soon as possible, and asked if any Artifact, ethier refused to be picked up, or they suddenly disappeared. Practice your dances in the meantime, they can give you more mobility at times." He said.

"Right!" Shanty Jig nodded. Garebel then turned to Purisk.

"Risky," he said, also using her real name. "If any Artifacts disappear, check the ruins where they were found at, If they were returned, check Obelisk. If Obelisk glows, It might be Ra or a piece of him. Try to grab it and bring it here. Otherwise, find out why it was returned. Practice with and maintain your gear, in the meantime. You don't want to mess up or break one of them, in a critical time." Purisk nodded.

"I will, or I will meet Kami, myself." Garebel gave Purisk a look that said 'No, You will stop that' but it wasn't a look of annoyance, but a glare. It was in a Tough Love kind of glare, though. He then turned to Spike, who now knows of the God Cards. Garebel dropped the glare, mid-turn.

"Spike, maintain communactions with Celestia & see if there are more abnormalities with Philomena. Also, keep an ear turned to the rumors. Nyarlathotep had the power to make rumors real. Even though he's gone, I'm not risking it. If there are any rumors pertaining to Ra, send me a letter." Garebel told him.

"Okay, but why sent you a letter?" Spike asked, showing curiosity.

"Because I'm going to investigate the nearby Everfree Forest. I can handle myself just fine, though, so don't worry. Everypony here understands their role?" Garebel asked to the four, who nodded, Twilight & Spike in a worrying manner. "Ok, I'm not going into the forest, tonight, I'm going to gather supplies first. Even I'm not stupid enough to not prepare myself, despite the fact I did so, a couple of times." He said, smiling at the round of laughter his self-deprecation joke got him, before he went back to serious. "I'll be asking Granny Smith to teach me make cloth. With any luck, I can make a tent to rest in at night." He explained to everyone. Suddenly there was several knocks on the front door.

"Twilight! Garebel! Shanty Jig! Purisk!" everyone present in the library heard two voices coming from outside. Twilight open the door, reveal two colts, one of which is bouncing about.

"What is it, Snips & Snails?" Twilight asked, the plans were now all in place, so there is no reason to be rude.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie is in town." the smaller of the two Snips yelled out. Garebel raised an eyebrow.

"Great & Powerful...?" Garebel questioned, not really believing it.

"Yep, she's performing her show, now! Come on!" Snips yelled, excitedly. Twilight looked towards Garebel, who shrugged.

"Might as well go. See if this Trixie is as great & powerful as his or her title suggests." He said, feeling curious. Twilight sighed, but, nodded all the same.

-Ponyville square, a few minutes later...-

Garebel all but growled at the mare on the stage in front of him. He could already tell at the first look that Trixie didn't deserved to call herself 'the Great and Powerful Trixie.' Flaunting power that she does not have made her appear arrogant. He never got along with those kinds of people, unless they can back it, in which case, they were just confident. He got even more madder, when Trixie decided to challenged Applejack, Dash, & Rarity, one at a time, & thoroughly humiliate them. She might have been sneaking to interfere with their tricks, but he saw Trixie using her magic. She even insulted them, despite the fact she cheated by interfering. He then saw a set of cards in her cloak, cards that looked familiar to him...Aha, that's it. He smiled, looks like he knows his challenge. Now...how to lay it down in a manner, that she can not refuse...aha!

"Now, is there anypony left to..." Trixie started.

"Yo, Miss Blowhard!" Garebel yelled, insulting Trixie, who looked shocked, then angry.

"You dare to make fun of the Great and Powerful Trixie!?" Trixie yelled, angry at this new colt that insulted her.

"Why, yes. After all, I don't see anything that would make you 'The Great & Powerful Trixie'. All I see is a bag of hot air in pony form." Garebel stated, getting Trixie angry. He smirked mentally. It was working.

"Oh yeah! The Great & Powerful Trixie did vanquish an Ursa Major! How's that!?" Trixie yelled, only for Garebel to scoff at her.

"I have no idea what this 'Ursa Major', nor do I care. Besides, did anyone forget what about what happened with Gilda?" He asked the Audience, who recalled what he did. Gilda blushed. She didn't want to reminded of that...

"Teach that meanie pants a lesson, Devil Killer!" Pinkie shouted, using the title the mayor gave him, for his battle against Nyarlathotep. Trixie frowned.

"'Devil Killer?' With a Title like that, why would you challenge The Great and Powerful Trixie?" Trixie asked, scoffing at his title.

"Because, unlike you, I earned my title and almost every single pony in Ponyville saw what I did to earn it." He said, before adding, "Though that is not my Challenge. did you really think no one saw the cards under your cloak, because I did." Garebel revealed, causing Trixie to growl.

'What is he going to with that knowledge?' Trixie thought. Her question was answered, when Garebel pulled a similar deck of cards out of his jacket, surprising everypony, but Twilight, Spike, Shanty Jig, & Purisk. The former two was because Ra's disappearance & being given all info about Ra & the game.

"Do you know the rules of Duel Monsters? Because my challenge is a game of Duel Monsters between you & me." He asked, laying down his Challenge. Trixie looked back at Garebel in surprise. No one, she knows of has a deck, yet here this colt, with one such deck in his hand. She glared at him.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie hopes you're ready for defeat." She stated, unknowingly starting to have small green specks in her eyes. No pony else noticed, except for Garebel, who frowned.

"Well, I don't think I'm going to lose." He stated, but mentally stayed on guard. 'I've a bad feeling about this, though. Good thing I chose them.' Garebel thought. He couldn't use the deck he made around Ra, since the cornerstone of the deck, which is Ra themselves, is missing. Trixie then summoned a table and two chairs on opposite ends, which they sat in. Trixie then pulled her deck out and put it on the table. Garebel picked nine cards, and put them in his lower left zone, before putting the remainder next to Trixie's deck. The duo then shuffled each other's deck before return the decks to their respective owners. they then put the shuffled decks into the correct zones, Trixie's being ahead of the stack of cards Garebel picked out by two Zones, while Garebel put his on the opposite side of his field from his stack.

"I've got the LP(Life Points) counter ready for both sides." Burroughs said to Garebel, her image not showing, leaving Garebel to be the only one to hear it.

'Good.' He thought. Both Trixie and Garebel then picked up five cards from their respective decks.

"DUEL!!" They both yelled while Burroughs displayed their starting LP to everypony.

Garebel LP: 8000

Trixie LP: 8000

"I'll take the first turn!" Garebel stated, looking at his cards. He mentally frowned. 'Not a good starting hand. Got to make do, though.' he thought, picking two cards in his hand. "I'll set one monster in face-down defense position, and one card face-down." he told Trixie, before he put the monster in question in the second row in front of him, and the card in the first row in front of him. "Turn end. It's your turn, now, Trixie." He stated, before he mentally spoke to himself. 'I did the best I can. I have to keep Marauding Captain and Legion in my hand, so that I can summon either of those cards to the field and when I ran out of card in my hand, I can use the Card of Demise spell in my hand to draw more cards. Plus, Crystal Seer is facedown on my side. At least I don't have to worry...wait, I shouldn't. My Facedown card is Nightmare Wheel. I can stop one attack cold with it.' He thought. 'Still, like he said, 'a Duel is not over until the last card is played.'' Garebel thought, before focusing on the duel.

"It's Trixie's Turn, and Trixie will draw!" She said picking up the top card of her. She then sported a wicked smile, one that flared up Garebel's sense. "Trixie will activate the Field Spell, the Seal of Orichalcos!" She declared, showing the card she drew to be that very Field Spell.

"WHAT!?" Garebel yelled, shocked. Twilight & Spike's eyes also widened at the card. That was one of the cards Garebel mark as dangerous, & knew why he reacted like that.

"Everypony, Back away!" Twilight yelled! Fortunately, she didn't need to worry. While the seal did descent, It only went as far as Trixie's stage, leaving the audience safe.

"Twilight, why are you worried?" Fluttershy asked, meekly, since she was usually shy to everypony. Twilight bit her lip before she answered.

"Garebel made a list of Dangerous cards which I had copied to learn why they were dangerous. The original was sent to Princess Celestia. I saw that on that list, but I didn't know why at first, but I soon saw the reason why. If this Seal can use its cursed power..." Twilight shivered, recalling that.

"Stop Twilight. When this is over, we'll destroy it." Pinkie said, cheerfully.

"If we can...When the Seal is activated, the loser of the duel will lose their soul to the seal. That is its cursed power." Twilight told them. Eyes widened at this bit of info, such magic was deemed forbidden by Celestia & Luna over 1000 Years ago despite their fallout.

"We may not worry about that." Shanty Jig said, trotting up to them. "I sense something off about that Seal. I don't think Trixie will lose her soul when Garebel wins this duel." She explained.

"Next, The Great and Powerful Trixie will summon Orichalcos Gigas in Attack Mode, and thank to the Seal, it'll gain 500 ATK!" Trixie declared playing the monster in question, which then actually appeared out of the card.

Orichalcos Gigas

Level 4

ATK: 400-900

"Now Gigas will attack your face-down card!" She commanded her monster, which then punched the card, revealing the card to be a young woman before disappearing.

"You activated Crystal Seer's Special Ability. I get to look at the top 2 cards of my deck, then I choose one of those two to add to my hand, and place the other at the bottom of my deck." Garebel declared, drawing two cards from his deck, and nodded. "Of the two cards, I'll add the Dark Magician to my hand and put Time Wizard at the bottom of my deck." He told Trixie, picking one card of the two he drew, and put it at the bottom of his deck.

"Bah! Doesn't matter, The Great and Powerful Trixie will end her turn." She told Garebel.

"Then it's my turn, I'll draw!" Garebel said, drawing one card from his deck. "Within this one turn, I'll summon the Level 7 Dark Magician, which needs two monsters to be tributed to be summoned. Watch and Learn!" He suddenly declared, causing Trixie to growl. "I'll start this combo, by summoning Marauding Captain to the field in Attack Mode." He stated playing the monster in question.

Marauding Captain

Level 3

ATK: 1200

"Then I'll activate his Special Ability! When he's summoned, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or below monster from my hand. I'll choose Legion the Fiend Jester in Attack Mode."He yelled, a portal suddenly opened & what appeared to be a clown emerged from it.

Legion the Fiend Jester

Level 4

ATK: 1300

"Looks like you failed." Trixie stated, feeling proud that didn't bring out this 'Dark Magician' thingamajig.

"Is that what you think? Because everything is in place!" Garebel yelled, shocking Trixie. "I'll activate Legion's Special Ability!" The clown suddenly gave off a purple aura. "One per turn, in addition to my one Normal Summon or Set per turn, I can also Tribute Summon one Spellcaster-type Monster from my hand in ATK mode! I can only gain this effect once per turn, but just once is perfect for me!" He yelled. Trixie gasped, putting all the pieces together. "I'll offer up both Marauding Captain & Legion..." the two monsters dissolved into particles which, then merged into a portal. "To Tribute Summon the Dark Magician in Attack Mode!" He announced, as what actually appears to be a HUMAN that one of the Ponies, Lyra, talked about wearing purple robes & holding a green scepter in one hand emerged from the portal. He then spun the scepter in one hand before pointing at Trixie & her monster.

Dark Magician

Level 7

ATK: 2500

"What!? 2500 ATK points!?" Trixie yelled. Garebel took a peek at Gigas' card text and blinked.

'Gigas can only revive himself only twice total? Huh...? It got downgraded. Oh well.' He thought before he spoke. "Dark Magician, Attack Orichalcos Gigas, please! With your Dark Magic Attack!" He asked his monster, who responded by pushing his hand forward towards Gigas, who suddenly had his colors inverted, before shattering.

"Gah! grrrr..." Trixie growled. Since Gigas was in Attack Mode, She'll receive the difference between the two monsters' ATK.

Trixie LP: 8000-6400

"You'll pay for harming the Great and Powerful Trixie like that." Trixie yelled, before she added, "Trixie will activate her Orichalcos Gigas's Special Ability! Up to twice, this duel, She revive her Gigas from her graveyard, and give it 500 more ATK points. If Trixie does Summon another Gigas, She can revive that one Twice, too. Your Magician is stronger than Trixie's Gigas' max ATK, so, Trixie will place it in DEF mode."

Orichalcos Gigas

Level 4

ATK 900-1400 = DEF: 1900

Garebel frowned a bit, before he noticed something and smiled.

"I was wondering what was going on. You can stop now, Mr. Orichalcos." Garebel stated, surprising everypony present.

"What do you mean? Wha-!?" Trixie asked, before she found herself as a passenger in her own body!

"Darn it! it was too much to hope we can hide from you, Garebel..." Trixie spoke in a monotoned voice, her eyes now pure bright green. "No matter. We will defeat you all the same." Garebel frowned at this.

"Ok, I have two questions based on how you spoke, Orichalcos." Garebel said, before ask his two questions. "One, Are there more of your cursed kind or not, & Two, do you refer to yourselves with any gender?" He asked. Orichalcos-Trixie blinked, before explaining.

"In Reverse Order, We have absorbed countless souls over time. As a result, we always have trouble with our gender. We can't sense any of us on other worlds, but this one, there are only three more besides us." Orichalcos-Trixie answered, to which Garebel nodded.

"Ok, I see. The gender-confusing thing makes sense. I'll set one more card, before ending my turn." He declared, setting his Card of Demise. "Your move." He said.

"Yes, it's our turn. Draw!" Orichalcos-Trixie said, drawing a card. "We pay 500 Life Points..."

Orichalcos-Trixie LP: 6400-5900

"to Special Summon Orichalcos Kyutora in DEF mode." A spike orb with an eye at the front appeared.

Orichalcos Kyutora

Level 3

DEF: 500

"Before you asked about the text, We don't have as much power as we like here, So our cards lost power as a result." Orichalcos-Trixie explained. "Now, Kyutora can only absorb damage from battles or from monster effects. Now We'll summon another Gigas to the field in attack mode and switch the first one to attack mode. They will then attack your Dark Magician." Orichalcos-Trixie declared.

TBDA (Total Battle Damage absorbed): 2700

"Now they revive..."

Gigas #1

ATK: 1400-1900

Gigas #2

ATK: 900-1400

"And Attack again..."

TBDA: 2700-4400

"Sadly, only one gigas will revive, so it'll be in DEF mode..."

Orichalcos Gigas

Level 3

ATK: 1400-1900 = DEF: 1900

"Turn End..." Orichalcos Trixie said. Garebel nodded.

"My Turn then. I'll Draw." He looked at the card. "Looks like I can give both of us a hand." Garebel declared to everyone's confusion.

"How is he going to do that?" Twilight asked.

"I'm activating the Spell card, Card of Sanctity." Garebel declared.

"Figures he drew that. Now they get to Draw cards until they have six cards in their hand." Shanty Jig explained.

"T-t-t-that means...?" Fluttershy asked.

"Garebel gets six cards, while, the Orichalcos only gets three." Twilight answered. Garebel and Orichalcos-Trixie drew their respective number of cards. Garebel smirked, seeing what he drew.

"What are you planning?" Orichalcos-Trixie asked. Garebel simply picked one card in his hand and showed it to everyone. Orichalcos-Trixie gave a sound of both shock and surprise. "No, not him! How did you get a hold of him!?" they asked, confusing almost every pony present.

"That's my secret, right now though, I'll activate this spell card! Please, come to my side, TIMAEUS!!" Garebel announced.

"Who is...Wha!?" Twilight asked, only to be shocked along with everypony but Garebel, when a greenish-blue Dragon appeared behind Garebel, who is surprisingly smaller than the Dragon. Twilight focused, and realized two thing. one was that the Dragon has a scar over one of 'its' eyes, forcing it to stay closed, the other was that the Dragon was letting out a calming presence, like the Dragon's only desire is to protect.

"When Timaeus is played, I can target one card with Dark Magician in that card's name on my side of the fleid, and send it to the Graveyard to summon one Fusion Monster that lists that card as a Fusion Material. You ready, Dark Magician?" Garebel asked the Dark Magician who turned to him and nodded. "Alright! I'll fuse Dark Magician with Timaeus!" The Dark Magician jumped to the air, with Timaeus followed suit, until they were on equal level.

"Hurrah!" The Dark Magician yelled out, giving off a purple aura, while Timaeus glowed a deep green. the duo then enter a portal that suddenly appeared.

"Magician of Darkness, learn the ways of the blade from the Dragon of an age beyond legends. Descend as one of the Dragon Masters!" Garebel said, eyes closed, almost as if he was chanting. Suddenly, his eyes opened wide, before yelling. "Fusion Summon! Appear, one of the greatest warriors! Level 8! DARK PALADIN!"

Dark Paladin

Level 8

ATK: 2900

The new being descended from the portal. His appearance look similar to the Dark Magician, but the purple robes was changed to a deeper blue with Gold highlighting certain parts of his outfit. The top of the scepter was replaced by a blade, with gold lines going though the blade horizontally at certain intervals.

"It won't be enough..." Orichalcos-Trixie growled.

"Maybe, If I have only Timaeus. fortunately for me, I don't JUST have Timaeus. I also have his partners." Garebel said, to Orichalcos-Trixie's shock.

"Don't tell us..." they said, surprised. Garebel's response was to play another card from his hand.

"Please respond to my call. Come, CRITIAS!!" He yelled out, placing his chosen card to the field. this time, a deep blue Dragon appeared behind Garebel. "Now, Critias will take one Trap Card in my Hand or on my side of the field and Fuse with it. I choose the Tyrant Wing Trap Card that's in my hand." He said, his card glowing a bright pink while Critias glow the same color aura as Timaeus. The Trap and the dragon then flew, into a similar portal to the one that the Dark Paladin emerged from. "Ancient Dragon, learn the power of the Tyrants and make it your own, using it to help others instead of ruling! Fusion Summon! Descend, with your full power! Level 8! Tyrant Burst Dragon!" Garebel chanted. The new dragon looking similar to Critias, but a lot more fiercer and with glowing yellow wings. Despite the changes, Critias still emitted the same calming presence.

Tyrant Burst Dragon

Level 8

ATK: 2900

"Lastly, I call the last dragon out to the field. Please mark your presence, here, HERMOS!" Garebel yelled out. The third dragon that appeared was very fierce-looking, with an untold number of spikes trailing down his back. Despite this, the third dragon also has a calming presence. In fact, Twilight felt like she was with her Parents, again.

"Hermos will fuse with one monster on my side of the field or in my hand. Depend on the type of monster, I can summon different Fusion Monsters." Garebel explained. A dragon with two different colors on the same body, one black, the other a gold-yellow. "I'm choosing the Dwarf Star Dragon Planeter from my hand." He said as the dual-colored dragon glowed yellow, while Hermos glowed deep green before entering yet another portal. "Anicent Dragon, merge with the Chaos Explorer Dragon of the stars. Create the Ultimate Sword to stop the long wars! Fusion Summon!" Garebel chanted as a shine appeared in the portal. "Become the true sword! Level 7!" A Black blur span out of the portal, which the Dark Paladin caught, revealing it to be a black sword with a dragonhead as a guard. "The RED-EYES BLACK DRAGON SWORD!!" Garebel announced.

Red-Eyes Black Dragon Sword

Level 7

ATK: 2400

"Now I'll activate the Red-Eyes Sword's Special ability." Garebel said, a black aura emerged from the sword and covered the Dark Paladin, who actually didn't scream. The aura soon disappeared. "When the Sword is summoned, it'll equip itself to one monster on the field and attunes itself to that monster, increasing the equipped monster's ATK points by 1000." He explained.

Dark Paladin

Level 8

ATK: 2900-3900

"Next is Tyrant Burst Dragon's Ability." Garebel said. The Dragon then promptly dissolved. However, the orbs of light the dragon became then gathered to the Dark Paladin, who then absorbed them, gaining the same wings as Tyrant Burst Dragon's. "Tyrant Burst Dragon also equips himself to one monster on the field. The equipped monster only gains 400 ATK & DEF points..."

Dark Paladin

Level 8

ATK: 3900-4300

"But it's well worth it for Tyrant Burst Dragon's other power. The equipped monster gains the power to attack THREE times for each Battle Phase." Garebel explained, shocking Orichalcos-Trixie. "Dark Paladin, please attack Orichalcos Gigas & Orichalcos Kyutora, with Dragon Blade Swoop!" Garebel asked the Dark Paladin, who nodded and rose up in the air. He then dropped down towards the two monsters, Bladed staff in his right hand, the Red-Eyes Sword in his left hand. When he came close enough, he slashed his weapons at the monster destroying them.

"Ghh...We activate Kyutora's Special Ability. When It's destroyed, We can Special Summon Orichalcos Shunoros from the hand, Deck or Graveyard, ignoring any Summoning Conditions, and negating it's effects." Orichalcos-Trixie said, a strange statue appearing in Kyutora's place. "Shunoros' ATK and DEF are increased by an amount equal to the damage Kyutora absorbed." They explained.

Orichalcos Shunoros

Level 10

ATK: 4700

" And let's not forget our Seal's power..."

Orichalcos Shunoros

Level 10

ATK: 4700-5200

"You might as well stop your attack, now. Shunoros is stronger, after all." They boasted. Garebel only grined.

"Dark Paladin's third attack will be used, now! GO!" He yelled, pointing at Shunoros.

"WHAT!?" Everypony yelled.

"Is he Crazy!?" Twilight asked.

"Why are you attacking? Shunoros is stronger!" Orichalcos-Trixie yelled.

"I wonder about that?" Garebel asked.

"What!?"

"Dark Paladin's Special Ability! He gains 500 ATK for EACH Dragon-Type monster on the field and in our Graveyard. Dwarf Star Dragon Planeter, Red-Eyes Black Dragon Sword, & Tyrant Burst Dragon are all Dragon-Types. That's three so Dark Paladin's ATK is raised by 1500!" He explained.

Dark Paladin

Level 8

ATK: 4300-5800

"There's also the Power of the Red-Eyes Black Dragon Sword! The equipped monster gains 500 ATK for the EXACT same number of Dragon-Type monsters!" He explained

Dark Paladin

Level 8

ATK: 5800-7300

"7300 ATK points!?" Orichalcos-Trixie yelled.

"Dark Paladin, please attack Orichalcos Shunoros!" Garebel asked Dark Paladin, who decided to pull out two cards, and mimicked scanning on his weapons. Garebel sweatdroped. "Oh..." He muttered when a male voice echoed out.

"DARK, SLASH!" the voice said. Suddenly, both weapons were wrapped in darkness, while the wings given to him by Tyrant Burst Dragon glowed brighter as if to contrast the Darkness on his weapons. "DARKNESS SLASH!!" The voice said, strangely monotone. Dark Paladin, to everypony's shock, flew PAST Shunoros. Shunoros tried to attack Dark Paladin, with a ring of light at the base of its feet, but Dark Paladin flew in front of the sun. Unable to see its target, Shunoros canceled its attack. Dark Paladin, however, flew to the front of Shunoros' face, and slashed his weapons downward, splitting Shunoros in two.

Orichalcos-Trixie LP: 5900-3800

Orichalcos-Trixie growled, they had no choice now...

"By paying half of our life points when a monster is destroyed by our opponent, we can Special Summon Divine Serpent Geh from our hand!" They announced, as Shunoros collapse into pieces. A Portal soon opened, showing a snake of immeasurable length.

Orichalcos-Trixie: 3800-1900

Divine Serpent Geh

Level 12

ATK: ?-0-500

"Huh? What happened to Geh's ATK points?" Garebel asked, confused. He recalled a old friend of his saying that Geh had infinite attack points.

"Geh was hit the worst of all of our cards. At least, we don't need to send the top 10 cards of our deck to the Graveyard, and when Geh's destroyed, we don't lose automatically. Then again, one did have to pay ALL of their Life Points to summon Geh, and He keeps them in the game." Orichalcos-Trixie revealed.

"Well, at least His ATK points aren't infinite, anymore. Anyway, any abilities I have to worry about?" Garebel asked.

"Well, One can only summon Geh, by the method we used. Geh also cannot be targeted by Card Effects, but can be destroyed by them if they don't target. If Geh attacks a monster, that monster's effects are negated and the monster's ATK points become half of its original ATK. Once per Chain, during damage calculation, if Geh Battles, Geh's ATK becomes equal to the monster, whose Original ATK is the highest on the field. And that's all of it." They explained.

"Then I'll end my turn. I used up all three of Dark Paladin's attacks, so there's nothing else I can do." Garebel said. 'Forgive me, Dark Paladin, my Nightmare Wheel Trap card targets, so it will not work on Geh...'

"Then it's our turn. Draw!" They declared, drawing a card. They looked over their hand, before deciding not to play any. "Geh attacks Dark Paladin, and his abilities activate. Go, INFINITY END!" They command Geh, who responded by shooting a stream of blue fire at Dark Paladin.

Divine Serpent Geh

Level 12

ATK: 500-2900

Dark Paladin

Level 8

ATK: 7300-1450

"Ack..!" Garebel muttered, as his Dark Paladin met his end, & Garebel lost some of his life points.

Garebel LP: 8000-6550

Divine Serpent Geh

Level 12

ATK: 2900-500

"Our turn now ends!" Orichalcos-Trixie stated, discarding a card from their hand, feeling confident that they'll win.

"Then it's my turn, Draw!" Garebel said, drawing a card. He looked at the card and smiled. Orichalcos-Trixie raised an eyebrow. "First, I'm activating the Spell Card, Reinforcement of The Army!" He said, placing the Spell card he drew on the field. "Now I can add a Level 4 or lower Warrior-Type monster from my deck to my hand. I choose Gearfried the Iron Knight, which I then summon!" He declared, picking the chosen card from his deck, and then shuffling it. He then put the deck back in the deck zone, before playing the card he added to his hand.

Gearfried the Iron Knight

Level 4

ATK: 1800

"Too bad your monster can't truly defeat us in this duel." Orichalcos-Trixie taunted.

"Who said he is going to attack?" Garebel asked.

"What do you mean by that?" Orichalcos-Trixie asked, confused.

"Simple, The Legendary 'Dragons' are not going to stay in the Graveyard." Garebel revealed.

"What do you mean by that!?" They asked, before realizing the only possible answer. "No! You couldn't have that card...!?" They yelled, panicking. Garebel's only response was to show his last card in his hand. The card in question showed a picture showing the three Legendary Dragons as well as three swords, all pointing towards the center in a Triangular shape. "NO!" They yelled.

"Yes! Now I activate the Spell Card, Legend of Heart!" Garebel said, playing the Spell card, on the field. "First I'll pay 2000 Life Points..."

Garebel LP: 6550-4550

"And offer up a Warrior-Type Monster I control. Sorry about this, Gearfried." Garebel said, as Gearfried disappear into particles of light. "Then I banish Hermos, Critias, & Timaeus from the Graveyard to Summon their TRUE FROMS!" Garebel yelled as The Dragons emerged from the Graveyard and flew up into the now-cloudy sky.

"Finally, We have been called to protect, once again!" a male voice echoed, shocking everypony but Garebel who smiled, Shanty Jig, who blinked at the voice, & Purisk, who did the same thing as Shanty JIg.

"W-w-w-who w-w-was t-t-t-that?" Fluttershy asked, shaking. Her only answer was Lighting striking down on the table, the light blinding everypony's eyes. Garebel just look on. When the light faded, everyone was shocked at what they saw not three Dragons, but three Humans. Each one seemed to be clad in armor almost themed after one of the three dragons.

Legendary Knight Timaeus

Level 8

ATK: 2800

Legendary Knight Hermos

Level 8

ATK: 2800

Legendary Knight Critias

Level 8

ATK: 2800

"You called forth the Legendary Knights of Atlantis!?" Orichalcos-Trixie shouted, shocking Twilight. It sounded like an ancient civilization that was lost to history.

"So, our opponent has that cursed seal?" the center one, who Twilight guessed to be Timaeus due to a scar over one of his eyes, asked Garebel, who nodded.

"It has stepped in, so, we're fighting the Seal itself. First things first, ya'll know what to do." Garebel said.

"Then I will do it, HUAR!" The one in red armor yelled, slashing his sword to the ground creating a shockwave. However, It was not aimed at Geh, for some reason. Most of the ponies watching screamed out "No!" upon seeing this. Twilight frowned, until she saw the real target. The shockwave hit its real mark: The Seal of Orichalcos, itself. Upon being hit, the card glowed & vanished. The seal on the field reacted, by shattering to pieces.

"NO, Our Seal is Gone!" Orichalcos-Trixie yelled out, causing the panicking ponies to start celebrating instead.

Divine Serpent Geh

Level 12

ATK: 500-0

"Alright. The Last Combo for this duel is here!!" Garebel declared. "First, Timaeus, you know what to do!" He said to Timaeus, who nodded.

"Right." Timaeus said, before he raised his sword and glowed white. The other humans glow blue & red before entering Timaeus. Timaeus ended as a Giant in gold armor, compared to before. Both of his purple eyes are intact, now.

"Behold, Timaeus the Knight of Destiny!!" Garebel yelled out.

Timaeus the Knight of Destiny

Level 10

ATK: ?-0

"Please, Timaeus, Attack Geh with Justice Sword!" He yelled.

"What!? Have you forgotten about Geh's powers...Argh!" Orichalcos-Trixie started, only to gasp upon realizing Garebel's plan.

"That's right, there are only TWO monsters on the field. Geh & Timaeus, who both have 0 ATK. There are no other cards to draw power from. Now, both of our monsters are destroyed!" Garebel revealed. Timaeus slashed his glowing sword, setting Geh aflame. Before Geh turned to ashes, though, Geh shot a stream of blue flame at Timaeus, who was struck though the chest. Geh then vanished; however, Timaeus was turned into three gold orbs, which then landed on the field, reveal the 3 humans again.

Legendary Knight Timaeus

Level 8

ATK: 2800

Legendary Knight Hermos

Level 8

ATK: 2800

Legendary Knight Critias

Level 8

ATK: 2800

"What!? How did they come back?" Orichalcos-Trixie asked.

"When Timaeus the Knight of Destiny is destroyed by battle, I can Special Summon Timaeus, Critias, & Hermos from my Hand, Deck, and/or Graveyard, Ignoring ANY Summoning Conditions." Garebel revealed, shocking Orichalcos Trixie. "It's still my Battle Phase, by the way, and any monsters Special Summoned during the Battle Phase can attack. Timaeus, you have done enough." He said the last sentence to Timaeus who nodded. "Critias, Hermos, please attack the Orichalcos directly!" Garebel asked to the other knights

"Right!" The one in red armor, Hermos, said. The one in dark-blue armor, Critias, dashed first.

"Wisdom Sword!!" Critias yelled, slashing Orichalcos-Trixie first.

"Freedom Sword!!" Hermos yelled, slashing Orichalcos-Trixie, forcing a green aura out of her body.

Orichalcos-Trixie LP: 1900-0

Garebel wins.

"NOOOOOOOOOOoooooooo..........." The green aura yelled before shattering into pieces. The Knights soon faded away; since the seal didn't reappear meaning Trixie didn't lose her soul. This allowed Garebel to sigh in relief, but frowned. There were still three more seals out there. How can he...? An Idea struck gold with him. That can work. It will take some time, but it will work.

He just hopes be able to gather the need materials, soon...

Chapter 5: Games, Riders, and Bears, oh my!

-Unknown location-

“Where is Trixie at…?” She said, looking around. It looked like a lush paradise that is also dying. A set of crude stone archways formed a circle around two beings and an odd cube. Trixie soon ran up to them, and was about to ask a question, when one of the beings spoke up.

“-zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- you-zrt- -zrt-, -zrt-?” it spoke in a colt-like voice, but Trixie couldn’t make heads or tails of what it said.

“-zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- too late -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt-, -zrt- that-zrt -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- -zrt- do -zrt- same -zrt- -zrt-, -zrt-!” the other being spoke in a female voice, almost like a princess or something. The mare revealed a sword, before slashing at an odd place. The colt reacted in pain.

“YOU-zrt-!” The colt yelled out in anger, seeing a device split into two on the ground. “-zrt-…-zrt- -zrt- you –zrt-!?” the odd cube had been split into six sides which were floating around the colt. “-zrt- -zrt- -zrt- no -zrt- -zrt-!” The colt yelled before the sides slammed back into the cube, effectively sealing the being in it. Trixie yelled in pain, almost feeling like she was sealed into the cube instead of the colt…

-Ponyville Hospital-

“Argh” Trixie yelled out startled awake. She breathed heavily, starting to calm down.

“Are yah alright?” a mare’s voice spoke out beside her, turning around to see one of the mares she had embarrassed, Applejack, during her show. Trixie nodded, allowing Applejack to sigh. “Thank Celestia…yah were unconscious for a whole week.” Trixie’s eyes widened. That meant… “Ah’m going to tell the doctor yah are awake.” Applejack said, before moving to leave the room.

“Wait…” Trixie said, stopping Applejack.

“Wha’ is it?” She asked.

“In Trixie’s Carriage, under the desk, there’s a turn dial safe, turn it to 2-1-5-4-3-9-3-7. There should be a file inside. Give to the doctor responsible for Trixie, please?” Trixie asked Applejack who nodded.

“Medical File?” Applejack asked back, Trixie gave a soft laugh.

“Trixie guesses you could say that…” She replied, causing Applejack to raise an eyebrow. Trixie was not telling her something…

“Will it be ah danger to everypony?” Applejack questioned Trixie who stiffened, before sighing.

“Trixie wants to answer that, but Honestly, Trixie doesn’t know even now, though that rest did give Trixie a possible clue…” She admitted to a frowning Applejack, who could tell she wasn’t lying, period.

“All’h right. Yah said the code was 2-1-5-4-3-9-3-7?” Applejack asked Trixie, who nodded. “Right, then ah’ll get yer Medical File, then.” She said, before leaving. Trixie soon laid back down, falling asleep with the hopes of finding more clues in her dreams.

-Ponyvile Square, by Trixie’s carriage-

“You two are going to be leaving soon?” Twilight asked Shantae & Risky, who nodded.

“To be honest, his Actual ‘Herd’…” Shantae spoke, trying, but failing to use air qoutes, as a way of saying something completely different, but used the local version instead. “Asked us to find him, when he disappeared. Garebel’s an adventurer at heart; so, he does tend to go off on his own a lot. Even so, He does pay attention to all of them equally. Anyway, if we stay around any longer, they’ll start to worry. Tell Pinkie the party last week to welcome us & Garebel was awesome.” She added, tossing the deck Garebel lent to her to Twilight, who did catch it with her magic, before walking into a odd portal. Risky was about to follow Shantae, when she remembered something.

“Here…” Risky tossed both Garebel's loaned deck & an odd object to Twilight, who caught both before examining the odd object. She couldn’t figure out what it is, though. It was somewhat rectangular in shape with a button on one of the shorter sides, a dial close to it on one the longer sides, and a slightly traphazod black button that is parallel to the longer sides. The longer side facing her had a sort of label on it. Twilight looked at Risky in confusion.

“What is this?” She asked. Risky shrugged.

“Don’t know, matey, but it was made by a scurvy dog named Kuroto Dan for Garebel. I was meaning to bestow that thing to him, but I have been forgetting to do so. Can ye do it for me, please?” She asked Twilight who nodded. “Thank ye…” She let out a sigh before joining Shantae though the portal. Twilight sighed, moving to her home/library, when she saw Applejack walking towards Trixie’s carriage.

“I thought you were going to keep an eye on Trixie, today?” She asked Applejack who stopped before turning to Twilight.

“Trixie just woke up, and asked me to get her ah Medical File.” Applejack explained to Twilight who blinked at this.

“Weird… Few ponies, if any, can say they have such a thing. Do you know why she does?” Twilight asked Applejack, who frowned.

“Ah don’t know, and honestly…Ah don’t think she does either.” She admitted to Twilight, who recoiled in shock.

“No way…as soon as she’s out of there, let me know, please? I might be able to figure out what it is, if the doctors don’t.” Twilight asked Applejack who nodded, before they split off. Applejack went to get the file, while Twilight went to refresh her memory on scanning spells.

-Later, Ponyvile Hospital…-

Applejack almost bowled over the doctor in charge of Trixie when entering Trixie’s room.

“…And I really don’t see the point of you staying in…” A colt spoke, in a emotionless tone. Applejack recognized the voice instantly. She cursed mentally, before entering.

“Ah think Ah can answer that, Doctor Falthric...” Applejack spoke upon entering the room.

“Applejack? I was wondering why you or any of the others weren’t here. What is it?” Dr. Falthric asked, but was giving a folder from Applejack. “Why do you give me this?” He questioned Applejack, never losing the emotionless tone. Applejack shivered but answered anyway.

“Ah think it’s Trixie’s medical file.” Dr. Falthric blinked at the answer, but shrugged anyway. He began to flip though the file. His eyes widen in shock for the first time Applejack saw since he came here. He turned to Trixie.

“Is this all true!? He asked in complete confusion to Trixie, who nodded.

“Every letter.” She reaffirmed. Dr. Falthric took one look at the folder before stowing it.
“Right, Ya’ll know about the SCP Foundation?” He asked, to Trixie’s confusion. Applejack nodded.

“Not much, but Ah do know they deal with Aliens and Dangerous objects not of Equestia.” She said, to which Dr. Falthric nodded.

“Right! I’m one of the Leading Researchers in it, so I’m allowed to do more advanced tests, then what is suggested in the Medical File. Plus, This also like sounds my field of expertise, so, with any luck, we might be able to get some answers!” He stated, causing both hope & worry to bloom in Trixie’s eyes. “I also have all the Equipment I need here, so we can do it now, if you want to.” He said to Trixie.

“Yes! Do it!” Trixie all but yelled out. Dr. Falthric nodded.

“Good, cause with any luck…” He said, looking at Trixie seriously, before saying one sentence that shocked Applejack greatly.

“We might be able to figure out why you look like this at only 10 years old…”

-Ponyvile Library-

Garebel sighed; both of his plans are ruined. He lost track of both Shantae and Risky, so they must have left, and his plan for preparing the ponies to defend against that was already ruined, when he was told that getting metal is next to impossible. With this in mind, he decided to write down some of the Duel Monster rules as an outlet, when he froze realizing something.

‘Wait a second…I didn’t use any Duel Disk or magic to bring the cards to life, and yet…I doubt it was that cursed seal, either since Hermos banished it, and the Knights & Geh still maintained their forms…maybe that step was unnecessary…’ He thought before beginning to write down the rules, before he heard a ringing sound.

“Burroughs, what is it?” He asked, the AI in question appeared in front of him in a image.

“The DM Rules were just updated, and Lady Orihime sent you a new deck.” She explained to Garebel, who blinked.

“Ok then…I’ll see the new rules first then…” He said, before a hologram showed an image displaying the new rules. Moving the image to see more of the rules, his eyes twitched upon fully comprehending the rules. “Well, that’s a problem…” he muttered, the rules shutting down a good deal of his decks. Garebel blinked, when he realized something. “Wait, she sent me a new deck…?” He asked Burroughs.

“Yes, I have already loaded the data, so you can have a look at it. If you like to, that is?” She answered, to which Garebel nodded. “Done!” Burroughs replied. Garebel smiled.

“Good, now let’s see…” Garebel stopped himself upon seeing the first card of his new deck, a horrified expression now clear on his face. The main door opened, letting Twilight into the library.

“Ok, first things first…Hey, Garebel!” She shouted, trying to get to his attention, only to panic when she saw his expression. “Hey! Are you ok!?” Twilight yelled out, shaking Garebel furiously.

“Huh-who-what-where!” Garebel sputtered, before realizing what’s going on. “I’m fine,” he said, calming down Twilight, before frowning. Twilight blinked when she saw Garebel’s expression turn into a face that can only described as rage. “Burroughs…can you contact her & ask what the *BLEEP* *BLEEP* of all *BLEEP* *BLEEP* is she thinking giving me this kind of *BLEEP* deck!!?” He growled out, surprising Twilight with the amount of anger in his voice.

“O-O-O-OK…” Burroughs stammered out wondering what was going on, until she took a closer look at the deck data, and realizing why Garebel was acting-like this. “Now, I want to give her a few words of my own…” She muttered, before the image disappeared. Twilight started to be afraid at this, sending a blast at Garebel. Blinking, he wanted to yell at Twilight, before realizing he couldn’t bring up any anger at all.

“Twilight, why did you…?” he started to ask when he saw Twilight’s expression. Realizing what had just happened, and thinking a good bit clearly, he sighed. “Sorry, Twilight…” He apologized, trying, and failing, to be angry with himself. Garebel blinked when he realized Twilight had walked up to him, put her hoof on his shoulder.

“What happened…?” She asked him. He took a few moments, before sighing.

“An…incident occurred in my past, destroy my first home and family…” He explained, his eyes started to feel wet. “I got away fine, along with my wife & daughter, but the aftermath…my home was gone, and our daughter is missing. My wife went to find our daughter, but I haven’t been in contact since then…” Garebel stopped himself from talking any further, already crying. Twilight’s eyes widened. Garebel was trying to lashing out because of the trauma he had from that incident. She shivered, not wanting to know how long he was carrying this burden. She stayed by his side, already thinking of several books with spells that might help with mental trauma.

The furthest thing Twilight even could think of was giving Garebel the device Risky wanted to him to have, and refreshing her memory on scanning spells.

-Hours later, Everfree Forest-

Snips and Snails ran though the forest, hoping that the Ursa Major they found will be vanquished by Trixie, hearing that she woke up in the hospital today. It wasn't long until they entered Ponyvile, and the Ursa roaring out upon emerging.

-Ponyvile Library-

The roar echoed into the library, shocking both Twilight, Spike, who had just got back, & Garebel, causing all three to jump into the air.

"No way that's normal!" Garebel yelled out in shock, knowing that roars like that is not even close to rare.

"Ohnowhatdowe..." Spike started to yammer out before a voice echoed.

"ERROR!!" The trio froze, wondering where that voice came from.

"We need to deal with what is likely Ursa first!" Twilight said, getting back to her hooves, jiggling her pouches that she forgot to put away.

"ERROR!!" The voice suddenly spoke again, echoing from Twilight's pouches. Sharing a look with Spike & Garebel, Twilight dug into her pouch before pulling out the two decks that Shantae & Risky wanted to return to Garebel, and the odd object. Using her magic, Twilight moved the decks over the object. "ERROR!!" The object repeated. Twilight sighed, before starting to get her mind in overdrive to figure out a plan, when Garebel interrupted.

"Where did you get that?" Garebel asked, shock on his face. Twilight frowned, before explaining.

"Risky gave this to me to give to you, and said a 'Kuroto Dan' made it." She explained to Garebel, who blinked, before grabbing the object with his own magic, along with a neon green & pink object he pulled out.

"I think I have an answer..." He said before running out, with Twilight & Spike following after him.

-Ponyvile Square-

The Trio soon saw Snips and Snails running around with what is indeed an Ursa chasing them. Snips and Snails seemed to be running Trixie's cart. Realizing what the Duo were trying to do, they shared a look & nodded. Twilight and Spike ran to Snips and Snails, Twilight casting a barrier, while the Ursa started to pound on it. Garebel soon put the green & pink device on his middle, creating a sort of belt to keep the object attached, before moving to standing on two hooves.

Twilight grunted as she hold the barrier while Spike gets Snips & Snails to safety before the barrier breaks. Before the Ursa could punch though the shield, several new waves, each a different color, suddenly traveled the ground, and a voice soon echoed.

"RIDERARCHIVES!!"

Turning around, both Twilight and the Ursa saw Garebel standing at the exact spot where the waves were spreading out. Garebel smiled, before putting the object into green & pink device.

"DUALGASCHET!!"

Sensing a new threat, the Ursa switched from Twilight to Garebel.

"Standingby, R-E-A-D-Y, YESSIR!!!"

Garebel put his front left hoof on his middle like trying to buck someone, and his front right leg crossed over his front at a diagonal angle. The Ursa was almost upon him, when he spoke.

"Unfied...HENSHIN!!" and pushed the pink part to the side.

"GACHAN!! OPENUP!!"

An odd image appeared, knocking the Ursa away, before spliting into five, one in each side of Garebel, and one over him.

"THETIMEISNOW!!UNFIYALLKAMENRIDERSINTOONE!!NOW,THERIDERARCHIVESWILLBEINNOONE'SHANDS!!" As the voice spoke, the image at Garebel's side converged on him, making his head the only part that's not glowing white. Lighting emerged from the one over him, before slamming down on him, covering him in light grey armor, with purple highlights. He changed form from looking like a pony to something akin to Izanagi & Orpheus. a cloth cape hung near his 'back' legs sporting the same colors as the armor, but the purple forming complex patterns, while his 'front legs' had two spikes emerging from the pads at the shoulder area. Bright green painted-on large Eyes stared froward, while the mane spikes in front looked more akin to an open book than a mane. 'Garebel' rolled his head and flex his new body almost experimentally.

"Alright!" He spoke before pointing at the Ursa. "Hope you are ready for a one-on-one fight with Kamen Rider Akashi, now!?" The newly renamed Akashi spoke out. The duo stared at the other for a bit before they charged at each other. Much to Twilight's Surprise, Akashi was able to match the Ursa's power, blow to blow. The duo then jump away from each other, before running towards the Everfree Forest.

"Twilight! Are ya ok!?" Applejack's voice rang out, snapping Twilight out of her stupor to see the rest of the Mane 6 coming towards her along with Spike.

"Yeah, I'm fine...Garebel and the Ursa went near the Everfree!" Twilight spoke, surprising them.

"How did he do that!?" Rainbow Dash asked, amazed that somepony would chase after an Ursa.

"M-m-more im-im-importantly, why is there an U-U-U-Ursa h-h-h-here?" Fluttershy stammered out.

"Snips and Snails wanted to validate Trixie's claims of vanquishing an Ursa Major...Dummies!" Spike spat out, facepalming.

"Come on, we got to try and help him!" Rarity spoke, grunts of agreement coming from everypony, Twilight dispelling her shield before running off.

-Clearing inside the Everfree-

Akashi & the Ursa jumped away from the other, panting. Although tired, if anyone could see it, they were both smiling and having fun. Giving a brief sniff at the air, The Ursa soon frowned, his mother was coming closer. Deciding to end this now, Dark Energy surrounded his foot. Realizing what the Ursa was doing, Akashi moved the pink part, as if it close it.

"Gotchon...KAMIWAZA!!" Under the helmet, Akashi's eye twitched, before moving the pink part as if to open.

"GACHAN!!" The voice shouted before Akashi bent and cross his arms in front of his chest. At this moment, the Mother Ursa, the Mane 6, and Spike all arrived at the same time.

"RIDER CRITCAL CREWS-AID!!" At this, Akashi and the Ursa jumped up before aiming a Kick at the other. The kicks both met head on, and Lighting surged out, striking random places. The Mane 6 and Spike managed to avoid it, but the Mother Ursa got struck got the chest and roared out. Fluttershy, hearing the pained roar, rushed out to the source, getting scratched by shrapnel in the process. She patched up the Mother Ursa, not realizing who her patient was. Fluttershy didn't get the chance to look before the power the duo were using hit a critical point, an explosion pushed the duo away, the Ursa into a tree, out cold, while Akashi dug a small trench in the ground. Almost instantly, Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, Spike, and Fluttershy raced over to the Ursa to help it out, While Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash rushed over to Akashi to help him. When Akashi got his bearing straight, Pinkie and Dash tried to ask him several questions, but...

"Argh!" Akashi yelled out in pain, Sparks flying of his armor. He barely had a chance to close the device and removed the object, making the armor disappear and restoring him to Garebel the pony before he, too, fell into unconsciousness.

The last thing Garebel thought was "Where did that came from? Not a bug or glitch, but an outside influence?" before he only saw darkness.

Chapter 6: Another Rider Identity, The True End of a War and A Lost Brother Now Found

-Ponyville Library-

Four days had passed, before Garebel gained conscious. After he did, he learned what happened while he was knocked out. Trixie & Dr. Falthric had moved to a different location, due to Trixie's own body seeming unwilling to let out any sort of DNA to be analyzed. The two Ursas had returned to the Everfree Forest, with the intent of letting the other Ursas know that Ponyville will still be off limits if Princesses Celestia and Luna were to disappear. Three more days had passed and he had been discharged from the hospital, though with a warning of taking it easy for a while. Right now Garebel was sitting in a chair, seemly talking to himself, though he was actually talking to a different person.

"So, Are you saying someone or something else is messing with the Rider Archives and you end up meeting with a Guardian of said Archives and they thought I was the one responsible? ...Great...Did you at least put in a few measures to stop it? ...Aiyaya...That's a good point...The Backups are fine? Best news I had heard...You're going to investigate? Why? I could think of a few others who could...Ok, yeah, I fully understand. I wouldn't like to be used like that, either. Very well. Go ahead...What about the Guardian you met? ...Tell me you're joking! ...Argh, at least this does explain why we couldn't revive him. Thanks for the Update, Kuroto-San..." Garebel snorted a bit. "Aye! See ya later, Kami-san~..." he said before he ended the call, sighing.

"Hey Garebel!" Spike spoke, entering the room. "Who were you talking to?" He asked, confused.

“Kuroto Dan, the guy who made my Rider Archives Gashet." Garebel explained, showing said device. "Looks like what happen, last week, was the result of an outside influence messing with the Archives. Kuroto Dan had requested, that I sent him out, due to a very personal reason."

"Oh, boy...How long is it going take to fix it?" Spike asked Garebel, who shrugged. "Well then...hey, can I..." What Spike was going to ask was cut off by a ringing sound. Spike paled, realizing what was going on & bolted.

"Hey! Wait!" Garebel shouted before running after Spike. When Garebel entered a room Spike had jumped into, Spike was nowhere to be seen. Garebel entered the room, frowning before he saw a full body mirror, somehow rippling like water. Realizing what Spike did, Garebel pulled out a black box with a golden sigil of a Dragon head with a X behind it and held in front of the mirror, standing on two hooves again. Suddenly a grey belt with an odd slot moved over the mirrored Garebel's middle. Garebel didn't look down at his middle, already knowing the belt was on him, too.

"!!nihsneH || Henshin!!" Garebel shouted, before sliding the box in the odd slot on the belt. Almost instantly, three grey images converged on him before combining, forming a new set of armor. He was still human-shaped, when compared to Akashi, but was otherwise completely different. The main body was covered in sort of scale mail, while the helmet made it so it looked like a Dragon was biting it, a visor being over green compact 'eyes'. The belt now sported a device looking almost like a dragon's head. The New rider soon put on another odd device on his left arm, before pulling a section of it off and placing it on the belt.

"COMPLETE!" The belt spoke before engines appeared on the rider's body, minus the front of the chest where two different sections glowed, before moving over his shoulders, becoming Shoulder pads.

"Iku ze...(Let's go...)" The rider spoke before entering the mirror making a ripple-like effect before he disappeared.

-Ponyville? plaza-

Spike grunted before flying to a wall. He made sure he wasn't hurt before dodging a blast of flame. Somehow, an enemy he though was dead, was back and tried to bind a new Contract Beast to his will, but the binds failed. He, becoming Kamen Rider False Wrath, thought that Spike, as Kamen Rider Dragon Knight, had formed the contract with the new creature. Not an ungrounded theory since the beast looked similar to his own Contract Beast, who he tends to call Partner. Regardless, this was also his first time seeing said Contract Beast, but he wasn't going to let False Wrath go, and just do as he pleases.

Unfortunately, False Wrath found a way to return after his defeat, Dragon Knight found that out the hard way. Plus he can't use the Survive Card to help him out, since he gave it to Twilight to keep safe.

"FINAL VENT!!" Dragon Knight's eyes widen behind his mask, realizing False Wrath had activated his finisher.

"Now, This is the end!" False Wrath spoke before firing a golden beam. Dragon Knight held up his arms to block it, if only in vain, however...

"Confine Vent." A different voice spoke out before the beam suddenly turned monochrome before shattering, shocking both False Wrath & Dragon Knight.

"Who dared..." False Wrath started before a black blur zoomed by him, sparks flying from damage that suddenly appeared, before being launched though a different wall. The black blur then zoomed towards Dragon Knight, who again raised his arms to defend himself, but this time he felt a wind went past.

"Yo, Ryuki, yah alright?" A Familiar voice spoke out. Actually looking, Dragon Knight saw a new rider, but one who's voice is familiar...

"Garebel?" Dragon Knight spoke, surprised at the turn of events. "I thought you weren't allowed to transform using the Archives? Also, who's Ryuki? I'm called Kamen Rider Dragon Knight in this armor." He asked, grabbing Garebel's offered hand and stood up.

"I actually transform using an Advent Deck I still have. Also, look in a mirror, and you would see Kamen Rider Ryuki." Garebel explained, to which Dragon Knight sighed.

"Same armor, different names, huh? Guess the new Contract Beast is your partner?" Dragon Knight asked, said beast coiled around Garebel, leading him to actually stroke the beast.

"Yep, Dragquazard is my aibou(partner)." He confirmed.

<"and Fake Odin not take me from brother bear!!"> Dragquazard purred out, Garebel not being able to understand him, but Dragon Knight can, but before he could ask, False Wrath emerged from the debris, giving off an aura of anger.

"You dare to interfere!?" False Wrath yelled out, causing Garebel & Dragon Knight to turn to him.

"Considering that you were trying to steal my aibou, and tried to end a friend of mine, Yeah, I dare to." Garebel spoke, almost causally. "Hope you're ready for a beatdown, courtesy of Kamen Rider Quaser." He finished, introducing himself as Kamen Rider Quaser.

"Ready? I can survive anything you could throw at me!?" False Wrath proclaimed.

"He's not wrong, he can revive himself after he would, otherwise, be finished for good." Dragon Knight explained to Quaser, who simply shrugged, before pulling out two cards out of the box he had on his belt, and moving one of the cards to his other hand.

"In that case...I'll guess you need this..." Quaser said, giving Dragon Knight one of the cards he drew. Dragon Knight almost had a heart attack upon see the card he was handed.

It was the Survive Rekka card he handed to Twilight.

Dragon Knight was about to ask Quaser how he got it, when Quasar inserted the other card into the device on his belt.

"Summon Rider: D-D-Decade!!" the device shouted before a shimmering grey wall appeared beside Quasar, before a new warrior stepped out. The first thing Dragon Knight saw about the warrior made him question something out loud.

"Did he have a choice in making part of his Armor, pink?" Dragon Knight questioned, causing Quasar to sigh.

"No, he didn't." Quaser answered, surprising Dragon Knight, who now realized he spoke out loud. "and It's Magenta." Quaser added. The new warrior took a look around, surprising Quaser that He didn't respond to Dragon Knight's question, before seeing False Wrath, and turning towards Quaser and Dragon Knight.

"Let me guess, Odin..." he asked, pointing towards False Wrath, "can revive himself?"

"Pretty much, Decade-san." Quaser replied to the new warrior, now known as Decade, making False Wrath more angrier.

"Don't Ignore me!!" He yelled out, pulling out a card and slotting it in his own Visor.

"FINAL VENT!!" his Visor spoke, making him glow golden. Upon hearing that, Dragon Knight quickly entered his Survive Form, before pulling another card out of his now-refreshed Advent Deck and slotted into his Visor.

"FINAL VENT!!"

"Final Vent."

"Final Attack Ride: D-D-Decade!!"

The Trio then jumped into the air, Dragreder who now became Dragranzer following Dragon Knight, Dragquazard following Quaser, and a line of huge holographic cards resembling the card Decade inserted from him to False Wrath also followed. Dragranzer blasted Dragon Knight with a fireball, Dragquazard firing a laser beam to propel Quaser, & Decade simply propelled himself forward, all aiming to kick False Wrath, who fired the golden beam to the trio. False Wrath's Final Vent might have been powerful enough to end Dragon Knight, but stopping Dragon Knight Survive Form, Quaser & Decade's finishers?

It never stood a chance.

The trio almost instantly parted the beam, moving as though it wasn't there. All three kicks landed, the Riders flying past False Wrath, who start to spark all over his armor, but he chuckled.

"Sorry, looks like it wasn't enough." He laughed out loud, glowing gold, before seeming to healing all the damage. Dragon Knight prepared for a fight, but Qauser and Decade didn't. Quaser blew out a breath, and Decade simply dusted his hands.

Almost as if it was a Trigger, a pink glow covered False Wrath before disappearing.

And False Wrath started sparking again, revealing the healing didn't do a thing. Small explosions start to occur over his armor.

"W-w-w-what the!? How...?" He asked out, shocked. Dragon Knight stepped back, surprised as well as confused.

"That would be my doing." Decade spoke, turning his head towards False Wrath. "After all...I'm Kamen Rider Decade, also known as the Destroyer of Worlds! Even Immortals fear me, for I can even kill them!" He explained, before he started walking away, Quaser and a relieved Dragon Knight following.

"No, nononononononono NO! DAMN YOU, DECADE!!!" False Wrath yelled out his last before being engulfed in a explosion that completely and Utterly destroyed False Wrath.

-Ponyville Library-

Dragon Knight, Quaser, and Decade walked out of the mirror, before detransforming. Surprisingly Decade kept his human form, but Garebel & Spike reverted to pony & dragon forms respectfully. Decade raised an eyebrow, but shrugged. he blinked a couple of times, before sighing.

"Dang it, Garebel. You were right." He sighed.

"I told you, becoming a dimensional traveller means getting used to all the strange things. Some worlds even have top-secret giant robot weapons to use against Aliens. That doesn't even hit a 1 on my weird 'o' meter. Deadpool does hit an 8, though." Garebel explained. 'Decade' shook in fear.

"Met the guy. I think he broke my next ten Weirdness meters." He said to Garebel, who nodded.

"See, Tsukasa, you're learning." Garebel spoke to Tsukasa, who nodded, before taking a picture of Garebel. Tsukasa looked at his new photo, before doing a double take and smiling evilly. "Don't tell me..."

"Well, let's see how they react." Tsukasa smirked, before the same shimmering grey wall appeared behind him, and he stepped though it, disappearing. Garebel's eyes twitched before...

"ONORE, DIKEIDO!!" He shout out loud in anger, before Spike spoke up.

"Ok, then 'brother bear'..." Spike started only for Garebel to grab him.

"Where did you learned that!? Garebel shouted, this time in both shock and surprise. Spike blinked before answering

"Dragquazard said it, in response to you declaring him to be his aibou." Garebel dropped Spike in shock before turning to the mirror.

"N-no way. Only one person calls me by that..." Garebel spoke walking to the mirror slowly. He soon saw Dragquazard in the mirror. "......Darth Keeper, is that you......?" He asked, hoping for it to be true. Dragquazard nodded without swaying, which then caused Garebel to break into tears. "You're back...after all this time, when I thought I can't reconnect to my first family anymore and I lost hope...You were really beside me all this time...I'm Sorry for ignoring you...My little brother." He spoke, joyous tears falling from his face. Darth Keeper emerged from the mirror, and hugged Garebel, who hugged back. "You're here. You really are here..." Garebel sputtered out. Spike, realizing what is happening, simply left the room and put up a 'do not disturb' sign, before walking away.

Chapter 7: Questions, A Sirening Disaster, plus Overcoming Trauma

-Ponyville Library-
A few days had passed, since Fake Wrath's end. Spike told her what happened in the Mirror World as well as Garebel & Dragquazard/Darth Keeper's surprising relation. Needless to say, She was surprised at the new info though more concerned over the fact that Garebel had a Survive Rekka card, too. Garebel had actually explained that his Survive card was actually part of a trio of cards he has, but rarely used.

Right now, Garebel was in a different room, looking over the deck, Lady Orihime sent him. As it turned out, She actually gave him the deck as a means of conquering his Trauma. He was angry at this, but accepted it. Before he crashed, the last time his trauma was brought up in front of him, he had pulled a rocket launcher and fired it. No one was harmed, thankfully, but he knew he had to stop it or at least slow it down.

Thankfully, Twilight had a empty room for him to do this in. Soon his eyes glowed white, before falling unconscious, his mind and spirit elsewhere.

-???-

Garebel open his eyes and looked around. The room he was in now, was a large room with blue carpet, and a complex looking machine in the middle. Looking over himself, he was in his original form as a human with green eyes, long pants, a short sleeve shirt with a dragon on it, and a black trench coat without the sleeves. Looking around, he soon spots another human and walked to them.

"It's been a while...Curien..." Garebel spoke, almost spatting out the last word. The other human turned around, revealing to be a middle-aged man with glasses.

"Ahh, Garebel. You're here. Excellent. I had gone out of my way to create a few artificial...'Mutants' to help you out. Though I was unaware of your past. If I had changed my research in a different direction..." Dr. Roy Curien mused the last bit out.

"If you did, you might have a lesser chance of saving Daniel! 'The road to hell is paved with good intentions', as the saying goes. I was angry when I thought about you finding ways to destory mankind using your research. But when Daniel explained about what happened, almost 21 years after your death...I started to view 'them' as byproducts of your research. I'm assuming the research somehow made you insane?" Garebel ask Curien who sighed.

"Not the Research itself, but the slow progress, several researchers who were helping me, abandoning the research altogether, and Daniel's deteriorating health...I've gone insane. Anyway, I'm guessing She told you about this?" Dr. Curien asked Garebel, who nodded.

“Yeah, Lady Orihime told me why She sent y’all to me. Honestly, my reactions are way too extreme for my friends. Anyway, how are you going to do my therapy?” Garebel asked Dr. Curien, who smiled.

“The ‘trauma’ will be targets on a shooting range, and you’ll be using any weapon you like.” He explained causing Garebel to smile, too.

“I like the sound of that!” Garebel said, before following Dr. Curien.

-Ponyville Library-

Twilight was getting annoyed. Spike had already left to make sure Celestia is aware of Garebel being a Mirror Rider, and went to take care of the paperwork, regarding such a thing. Celestia only became aware of what was happening if only due to Spike becoming Dragon Knight. Twilight later explained to Garebel, that Celestia can become Wrath, but only after the entire thing ended. Her annoyance right now was coming from Rarity and Applejack. She had the idea of inviting the two since they were here due to a storm coming in, for a sleepover. Now though, Twilight was having second thoughts, since the duo were arguing with each other. However, Twilight heard somethings from them. Using a spell to make a loud sound, Twilight startled the arguing mares, and turned to Rarity.

"What do you mean by Rainbow Dash deciding not to go to any of the Wonderbolts' exams!? I thought that Rainbow Dash was the kind to jump up at any chance to even meet with them?" She asked Rarity, who blinked at the sudden question, but shrugged.

"I don't know really, but the last time I saw Rainbow Dash at such a event, she looked in one direction and suddenly got spooked by something, deciding to hoof it away, instead. Now that I think about it, the event was fairly close to Cloudsdale..." She mused out loud. Twilight frowned, remembering about a group that Celestia used to allow to take care of 'dangerous' ponies before learning what they really did and ordered the entire thing be shut down, but went rogue instead. She shook her head, deciding to dwell on it later, before turning to look at Applejack.

"And what do you mean with Rarity disappearing constantly?" Twilight asked.

"Ah don't know why but sometimes, she jumps at random, says she has to go & work on her dresses. Ah'm able to tell that's not the full story now, but ah haven't been able to ask her the truth, which maybe ah should." Applejack turned to Rarity, who frowned. Rarity was about to make a retort when she suddenly jumped, and ran in the opposite direction. Applejack, not having her lasso, tackled "Oh naw! nahwt until ya explayn what is a-goin' on!" Applejack yelled out, neither one noticing an object flew out of Rarity's mane and bonking Twilight on the head.

"Ow!" Twilight spoke out on instinct. Glancing around, Twilight soon spotted the object in question...and froze. It was a different color and has a different symbol on it, but Twilight recognized all the same. Using her magic, she lifted up the object, and trotted up to the duo. "Applejack, please let go of Rarity." She spoke out. Applejack frowned, but let go of Rarity, who rushed to the window and started panicking. Looking over the object, Twilight hazarded a guess and spoke up. "'Siren'..." Twilight spoke to Rarity, who bristled, before turning around, her skin paling at what she saw.

Twilight was carrying HER Advent Deck with her magic!

-???-

Garebel exited a room, looking tired, but pleased.

"Feel better?" Dr. Curien asked, walking up to Garebel.

"Much, though the room is a mess, now." Garebel commented, causing Dr. Curien to snicker at this.

"Don't worry, I got a LIVING cleaning staff now, though I might need to raise their pay grade if any of them are willing to clean this up..." Dr. Curien muttered to himself, before looking at Garebel. "Anyway, most of the Types are wanting to challenge you. They actually want to test your strength. Magician is not one of them, though." He told Garebel, frowning. Garebel only laughed at this.

"Being beaten 3 different times might have that effect." Garebel explained after calming down. Dr. Curien blinked as Garebel walked past him.

"Still alive after 3 deaths? Looks like the Magician really is my masterpiece..." He muttered to himself, before going after Garebel to make sure he was going in the right way.

-Ponyville Library-

Rarity stared at Twilight, unable to think a way out of this mess, plus the Contract Beast could be running amuck. Rarity was therefore surprised when Twilight turned to Applejack.

“Applejack, please don’t repeat ANYTHING you hear from this in front of anypony unless Me, Garebel, Spike, Rarity, OR Princess Celestia tells you they’re in on it.” Twilight stated, her voice taking a stern tone.

“What!? but why shouldn’t ay repeat any ov this here conversation?” Applejack spoke out in confusion.

“Because Celestia declared such info should not be at all known to the public. We’re talking mass panic, hysteria…bad things are going to happen if this is public knowledge!” Twilight explained to Applejack who paled at this.

“S-so, are ya a-sayin' Equestria will fall apart!? Ok! Naw repeating evuurr frawum me!” She said, sacred at the new info.

“Wait, Twilight? How did you know? Are you a rider, too?” Rarity asked in confusion and worry.

“No, I’m not but Spike is Dragon Knight.” Twilight explained, causing Rarity to blink.

“Spike!? No offense, but I thought Prince Blueblood was Dragon Knight. Part of the reason for me going to the Gaia was to ask him if he was Dragon Knight.” Rarity admitted. Twilight sighed.

“Is he a Rider? Yes. Dragon Knight? No.” Twilight said.

“Then which Rider was Prince Blueblood?” Rarity asked Twilight who sweated nervously, knowing Rarity would not like the answer.

“He is…”

-???-

Garebel was currently fighting an animated flying gargoyle, who was currently hounding him. Garebel quickly turned around, aiming an SAA that he hadn’t use on his trauma in the gargoyle and firing a couple of rounds into the gargoyle’s chest. A few chips of stone flew off, but damage wasn’t the goal. While only a few seconds, Garebel used them to recharge his gun and put on more distance between them, while the gargoyle recoiled from the shots. The duo was about to continue when…

“WHAT!? ARE YOU KIDDING ME!? HIM?!” Rarity’s voice echoed out, shocking both the Gargoyle & Garebel. Meeting the other’s eyes, they stared awkwardly at each other before Garebel sighed.

“Okay, I’m so going to check in and figured out what the heck happened, after we’re all done here.” He spoke, the gargoyle nodding.

”Agreed…” The gargoyle spoke in a screeching tone. The duo were motionless for a while, before Garebel ran off, & the gargoyle chased after him.

-Ponyville Library-

Rarity’s eyes were wide with shock. Blueblood was Kamen Rider Strike!? She started to angrily rant about this, while Twilight and Applejack sweated in disbelief.

“Hey, Twilight, ah’m just curious but how done y'all ayn' the princess learn about this here whowwl thing?” Applejack asked Twilight, who sweatdropped.

“Well, you see…” Twilight start before explaining what had happened to lead up them learning about this.

(Flashback, Canterlot Library)

Twilight sighed as she approached the table where her mentor was sitting at, frowning.

“Haven’t found Spike yet?” Princess Celestia asked Twilight who shook her head. “No luck of my own, either.” She stated, solemnly.

“Spike, where did you go?” Twilight muttered to herself, before a loud crash was heard. Sharing a look, Princess Celestia and Twilight ran to the source, where a dragon themed warrior, Kamen Rider Dragon Knight, was fighting a warrior clad in purple armor with a cobra theme, Kamen Rider Strike, who started to retreat.

“Get back here, you turd! You will pay for that!”. Dragon Knight yelled out, his voice distorted to hide whoever was under the armor. Strike had used his Final Vent on Siren, making Dragon Knight believe Siren was killed, when really she was sent to an alternative dimension. Dragon Knight pulled out a card and slotted it into the Dragvisor on his arm.

“SWORD VENT” the visor yelled out before a curved sword appeared in Dragon Knight’s hand and charging at Strike.

“Why can’t you leave me alone!?” Strike yelled out, blocking the sword swing with a staff tipped with a cobra’s head. He was about to pull out a card of his own, when their bodies were pushed away from each other via a golden wall that Celestia had summoned. Turning around, they saw two balls of flame rushing towards them, so fast that they couldn’t say a word before they were hit. The duo were blasted towards a wall, impacting against it, before they fell to the ground. The armor were wearing started to spark, before the Advent Decks they had in their belts detached causing the armor they wearing to disappear, revealing who they were, shocking both Twilight & Celestia.

“SPIKE!” “NEPHEW!” They both yelled out, rushing to their sides.

(End Flashback)

-Ponyville Library-

Applejack blinked in surprise at the new info, before speaking up.

“Please tell me that there Prince Blueblood didn’t done kept his callous attitude…”. Applejack asked Twilight who nodded.

“Granted, it took a LONG lecture plus a threat about disowning him from Celestia to change it. Though he started acting differently a few days before Nightmare Moon descended from the moon. I’m still wondering why, even now…”. Twilight explained.

-Mirror World Canterlot, Soldier Training Grounds-

Blueblood/Kamen Rider Strike slashed at what looked to be a sliver humanoid robot multiple times before turning around, letting the robot explode behind him. Dismissing his Veno Saber, a sword with the blade resembling the end of a rattlesnake’s tail, he looked around. The debris surrounding him were remains of a full platoon of robots like the one he just destroyed. Suddenly clapping was resounded behind him, prompting him to pull out his Veno Visor staff and took a ready stance. Upon seeing who was clapping though, he put his Visor away & sighed.

“Geez, I can’t believe that I didn’t see you there…’Thrust’.” He said to the newcomer, Kamen Rider Thrust, a Rhino themed Mirror Rider. While most of the Mirror Riders can be mistaken for their counterparts by Garebel, Thrust could not be the victim of such a mistake. Especially since his armor is the color of Bronze, & not Silver. Thrust walked to Strike, and kneeled before him.

“Forgive me, my liege. I saw you entered the mirror, and wanted to make sure you were okay. After what happened back then…” Thrust spoke, shivering along with Strike. “I won’t let a repeat of THAT happen again.” He spoke, remember the day that he had dishonored the Royal Family.

“Don’t! I forgive you. I can’t believe me and my…’father’…were poor rulers & it took a death from the Gokaigers then a dressing down from my ‘current’ Auntie to realize that.” Strike said, spitting out at the word father. “Sorry about that…Damaras…” He apologized, using the name Thrust had in his past life.

“Even so, I still couldn’t forgive myself for not stopping you…Prince Warz…” Thrust said also using the name Strike had in his past life. Strike sighed.

“Progress on the ‘gift’ projects?” Strike asked putting emphasis on the word gift to clue in Thrust in what he meant.

“Princess Celestia’s own Flagship has reached 90% completion, Princess Luna’s Flagship will take a month more to finish, but Mi Amore Cadenza‘s own Flagship is ready to be given to her as her coronation gift.” Thrust reported.

“Perfect, but I’m guessing there’s something else you need to report?” Strike commented, knowing that Thrust wouldn’t follow him if it wasn’t worrisome.

“Yes, my liege……Garebel’s on this World now.” Thrust explained, causing Strike to freeze up. Garebel had joined the Gokaigers a period of time after GokaiSilver had joined them. He had helped them out while the Gokaigers were fighting him, by using a different method to change his size to alongside Gokai-Oh and GoZyuJin. He shivered, remembering the robot he was piloting being decimated by them, and he was unable to escape it leading to his demise.

“……does he know……?” Strike asked Thrust, who shook his head.

“No, apparently he crashed near Ponyville. I only learned about his presence, when Twilight’s assistant Spike/Kamen Rider Dragon Knight arrived to deliver the paper regarding Garebel being a Rider, know as both Akashi, a ‘Gamer’ Rider, and Quaser, a Mirror Rider.” Thrust explained, causing Strike to relax a bit.

“Good. Still, we need to be careful. I don’t want to die again, and I doubt you or my marefriend want to die, again.” Strike explained before walking off, headed to his room.

“Indeed, though I will sacrifice myself to save you or the rest of your now Royal Family, nonetheless.” Thrust explained before following after Strike.

Chapter 8: Rainbow Dash’s secret part 1/discover the M

-Ponyville Library-
A few days later after the sleepover, Garebel returned to his body. Twilight had taken the time to update him on what she learned, while he was spiritually elsewhere, while he took the chance to explain why the deck was sent to him.

“So, we know something happened to Dash to cause to not jump at the chance to her dream team, Rarity is Kamen Rider Siren/Femme, Blueblood is acting weird and it’s not related to him being Kamen Rider Strike/Ouja, which is something she was outraged at.” Garebel summed up all that Twilight explained to him. Twilight nodded, to Garebel’s sigh. “Ok, I’ll talk to Dash. I would leave it all to Applejack, but I get the feeling something bad will happen, if I do that. In the meantime, try to act normal.” He said, letting Twilight nod her head in affirmation. Garebel then walked outside, & looked around. Seeing Spike walking to the library, he gave a short greeting, before walking off. He soon saw Gilda and Rainbow Dash sitting in a café. Garebel had noticed that Gilda actually have a bit of crush on Dash when Gilda decided to stay in Ponyville, despite the fact that the two of them are the same gender. He was honestly surprised the duo weren’t dating yet. Walking up to them, he caught a bit of their conversation.

“…and she started living up to her name!” Gilda joked, causing Rainbow Dash & Gilda to laugh out loud. Garebel, however, noticed that Rainbow Dash's laugh is more faked. Sighing, Garebel walked up to them.

"Excuse me..." He spoke up, getting both Gilda & Rainbow Dash's attention.

"Garebel? What's up? Didn't see you around, lately." Gilda piped, though Garebel did note a slight tone of annoyance though. He didn't blame her, though, he was effectively interrupting a date, after all.

"...I need to have a private talk with Dash." He said, noting that Rainbow Dash froze up at that. "No rush." He said to calm down Rainbow Dash to no avail. He frowned at this, then got an idea. "Seriously, you should at least spend some time with your..." Garebel trailed off, trying to remember the right word. "Aha! Your marefriend. I mean you two are a cute couple after all." He explained, causing them both to sputter.

"We're not dating!!" They both yelled out, though Gilda did mutter a "Yet..." under her breath. Garebel laughed at their reaction, noting that Rainbow Dash had relaxed a bit. He walked a bit before noticing that Rainbow Dash was following him.

"Better to have that talk now, rather than later." She explained to Garebel, who nodded. After a while, the two were in a clearing in the Everfree Forest. After taking a seat under a tree, Garebel decided to get right to the point.

"Dash, I heard from Twilight, who was informed by Rarity, that you didn't take part in the Wonderbolts tryouts because something freaked you out. What happened?" Garebel asked Rainbow Dash who shivered. She had honestly forgotten Rarity was with her at the time.

"I can't explain it..." She said, leaving Garebel confused.

"Why not?" He asked.

"Because you would be in Danger!" She yelled out in a panic. Garebel recoiled a bit at this piece if info before deciding to ask more.

"Why would I be in...?" He started before noticing something. "Hang on a bit." Garebel said, much to Rainbow Dash's confusion.

-???-

A dark yellow earth pony called Hidden Scout smiled. His own machine, which other ponies can't see strangely, was transmitting to what it saw to his screen and what it heard to his headphones. He smiled to himself.
"If I'm right, one less terror to deal with and I'll have my promotion..." He laughed evilly to himself for a few second, before noticing the Unicorn talking to the Pegasus was looking in the direction of his machine.

"Hang on a bit." the Unicorn said before walking off. Hidden Scout blinked, before shrugging. He waited 5 years for this, he wait a few more minutes, besides he was sure the Unicorn didn't see his machine. He at least made sure to ready his machine to give the Pegasus a fatal wound. He was ready to do the deed when he flinched when he felt something grab a hold of his side. Looking around, he was the only one in the room. Hidden Scout turned back to the screen only to shook his head in surprise.

Somehow, the machine was now focused on the Unicorn, who now had a dark grey entity with muscles visible throughout its body behind him. The Unicorn then took in a deep breath.

"EXCUSE ME, BUT, WHEN I SAID I WANTED TO HAVE A PRIVATE TALK WITH RAINBOW DASH, I DIDN'T INVITE YOU, YOU EAVESDROPPER!!" The unicorn yelled, causing Hidden Scout to yell in pain. He looked back at the screen to see the unicorn take an odd pose with a oddly shaped wooden stick in their hooves. "NOW, GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!!" The unicorn yelled out before swinging the stick. One moment he was in his room, the next, he was implanted on a wall on the opposite site of the complex he was working at, the one after that he fell into unconscious.

-Everfree Forest Clearing-

Rainbow Dash's widened eyes followed the trail of white smoke that suddenly appeared, trailing all the way to the point that she was at least sure went over Canterlot. Garebel looked at the end result and whistled.

"Farthest Home Run I got with that swing." He spoke to himself, smiling as his stick disappeared. Garebel then turned to Rainbow Dash, & blinked at something that Rainbow Dash had that she didn't before. She followed his gaze to see what he saw. Her eyes widened in surprised before trying to hide it. Looking at Garebel, she was surprised that he simply shrugged & sat back down next to her.

"Anyway, why would I be in danger?" He asked Rainbow Dash, who stared at him increditouly, before she direct his attention to what she tried to hide. He stared at it for a few seconds, before looking at Rainbow Dash, an Eyebrow raised. "So?" He asked with genuine confusion. Rainbow Dash stared at him before she explained it.

"So? I'm a mutant thanks to this, and I'm being hunted for that." She said, hissing all the while. Garebel looked at Rainbow Dash for a second.

"That!? A danger!?" He asked incredulously. Rainbow Dash nodded. Garebel's reaction to that was never what Rainbow Dash expected.

He laughed at that fact like it was a joke. Rainbow Dash stared at the sight before she started getting angry.

"What's so FUNNY!?" She yelled out at Garebel, who took a while to calm himself down.

"Oh, Dash..." Garebel said after he calmed down. "Let me tell about a group I know called the X-Men..."

-outside a hut in the Everfree Forest, a few hours later-

“Thanks for curing us.” Twilight said, bowing to Zecora, a zebra that living in a hut in the Everfree Forest.

"Karibu." Zecora bowed back to Twilight, allowing Twilight to guess at what she meant. "Tu kuwa na uhakika wa..." She coughed a bit, realizing she was speaking her native language. "Just...stay away from the Poison Joke, please?" She spoke awkwardly, unused to a different language.

"Fair 'nough. Jus'...don't try to pawin' the ground again. We now know about what the gesture means ta y'all, but ta us, it mean it's ayy threat." Applejack said, sighing. Zecora blinked a few times, but nodded.

"Understood, I set that in mind for future memory." She spoke before realizing something. "Do you know on the stone and the six green Star-noted in the circle?" Zecora asked, causing everyone else present to stiffen.

"C-c-can w-w-we s-s-s-see t-t-t-t-this s-s-s-s-s-s-stone?" Fluttershy asked, hoping it's not what she and the rest thought it was.

"Stay a little..." Zecora spoke, before going inside her hut for a few minutes, before coming back out with a see-though glass box. She showed to them, and allowing them to see in the stone in question. The Mane 5 and Gilda's eyes widened in shock.

It was a Seal of Orichalcos stone.

"W-why is it in a box like this?" Pinkie Pie asked, shaking in fear.

"It's knocking even though my roof booth. Feel bad strength in it, I put in this mirror box, and set hundreds of seals to prevent its influence from affecting anyone. Reason? Is it dangerous?" Zecora asked, who then got surprised when everyone else shook their head fiercely.

"That...Thing is capable of stealing Souls! Other ponies' Souls!!" Rarity explained in a panic. Zecora's eyes widened in shock.

"Damn it! Witchcraft based on the soul is forbidden where I am from!!" She explained to them.

"It is forbidden here, too!" Gilda explained, also panicking! "Damn it! Of all the times for Garebel to disappear..."

"What is going on?" A familiar voice echoed, looking to the side, The Mane 5, Gilda & Zecora saw Garebel & Rainbow Dash trotting over.

"Garebel, Zecora..." Twilight spoke up, making sure Garebel knew about Zecora. "found a stone with that cursed Tartarus-damned Seal on it." She explained. Garebel frowned at this info and approached them. Taking a look at it, he growled.

“As much as I hate to say it, destroying the stone won’t help. We need to destroy the spirit inside it, too.” Garebel explained, not at all happy about the situation. “You’re the one who found it, so as much as I hate to ask, can you get it to possess you so I can challenge it to a duel? I had other ways, but when I did use one……Let’s just say I left a mess, and leave it at that.” He sighed in annoyance. Zecora frowned, but nodded, getting the feeling that said "mess" would cause more harm than good.

"Okay, I'll try it. This hope works..." She muttered to herself, before carefully opening the glass case, breaking many of the seals on it. Already, a green aura emerged and covered Zecora. Much to everyone's surprise, a purple aura emerged from Zecora, and melded with the green aura. The aura then detached from Zecora, who fell unconscious and floated a bit away, before the aura shifted away a bit. Suddenly the green aura formed the Seal of Orichalcos before shattering away, the purple aura shifted into another Zebra, one recognized by Garebel instantly. Almost quickly, Garebel caught the zebra using his psychic powers, thankfully no one else noticed this, and laid the zebra next to Zecora, who Fluttershy caught and rest here on the ground.

"I don't think any of us expected that." Twilight spoke, surprised. Every pony awake nodded in agreement, Pinky Pie doing so vigorously. Garebel was about to speak, when another voice echoed out behind Zecora's hut.

"~~Well, well, well, so that’s how it happened…~~" It spoke. Soon a monster, for that was the only way to describe it, made of wood walked out from behind the hut, holding a pony by their mane. The Mane 6, Gilda & Garebel all took their own fighting stance

"What do you want..." Twilight growled before noticing its chest area. "...Kika?" She hazard a guess.

'Kika' just laughed out loud, before pointing to the dash marking on their chest, making a motion to turn it 90 degrees. "~~It's actually Kikai! Another Kikai, to be precise.~~" they corrected, before lifting the pony they held to drew the others' attention to her. "~~As for what I 'want'...~~" Another Kikai tossed the pony to them. "~~...Is simply repaying one of two favors I owe Garebel, and delivering a would-be assassin to you.~~" They explained, everypony's eyes turned to Garebel, who blinked.

"But this is the first time, I see yah!" Garebel spoke out.

"And he's not lying!" Applejack added.

"~~Well...~~" Another Kikai shrugged. "~~Tenses are always a problem for people like me!~~" Garebel's eyes widened, but Another Kikai raised their hand. "~~No, I'm not him or am I as crazy. However, I am sorry since I'm one of the ones that messed with your Gachet indirectly.~~" Garebel narrowed his eyes at this.

"How did you ended owning me a few favors!?" He growled out.

"~~Considering you rescued me & a friend of mine from our 'boss', I basically will owe you my life.~~" Another Kikai explained before pointing at Rainbow Dash. "~~By the way, while they aren't aware of 'that', they do have their suspicions. And well...~~" They trailed over causing Rainbow Dash's eyes to widen.

"That means they will still hunt her down..." Twilight growled out, realizing what Another Kikai means. "But Dash is a Hero, being an Element..." Her eyes widened as she put two and two together, and gave an uncharacteristic evil smile.

"~~I can already hear the bells toll, for their time is running out.~~" Another Kikai spoke, giving the impression that they were smiling. "~~Well, see ya!~~" they spoke before a black aura surrounded them before fading, leaving no trace of Another Kikai's existence.

Chapter 9: Rainbow Dash's Secret part 2/Stop the H

-Ponyville Library-
"...And then came Link Monsters...Oh boy, did they change up the field..." Garebel spoke, putting a hoof as if to massage away a headache. "and I mean that literally!" The Zebra Garebel was talking rubbed his head.

"Did Pegasus hand a hand in these...Link Monsters?" He asked, causing Garebel shake his head negatively.

"Pegasus had passed away when Synchro Monsters were a thing. There was even a Memorial Cup in honor of him, Dartz." He explain to the Zebra. Even Garebel was surprised to see Dartz revived, though from what Dartz explained, it seemed like he was reincarnated in Zecora, more like a passenger, & the Seal, ironically, allowed Dartz to gain his own body.

"What..." Dartz blinked in surprise, before sighing. Looking behind him, He saw the door to the basement was glowing orange. "say who was that white one who entered the door?" He asked pointing to the glowing door that's been like that for five hours now.

"Princess Celestia, who rules our realm." Twilight explained, before looking around the Library.

Rarity was trying to throttle Prince Blueblood's neck, while a new green pony & Spike tried to hold her back, with Blueblood hiding behind a tall, bronze-colored pony. Blueblood, the Green Pony, and the Bronze pony were teleport here along with Celestia, who interrogating the Assassin, who tried to take Rainbow Dash's life.

Applejack was talking with Darth Keeper, who much to everyone but Garebel's surprise, likes apple juice.

Pinkie Pie was off planing a welcome party for Dartz, Zecora, & Darth Keeper. Garebel had already warned Dartz & Darth Keeper ahead of time.

Fluttershy looked though the various paper 'books' Darth Keeper had drawn and added to Twilight's Library, impressed by Darth Keeper's drawing skills.

Gilda had taken Rainbow Dash in to a different room, in order to show what she thinks of Rainbow Dash's mutation. A few seconds of Garebel enhancing his hearing, and he returned his hearing to normal, what he heard already put what the duo were doing in the 'TMI' category.

Garebel had already noticed that the ponies who were teleported in Celestia were familiar, and asked if they met before. The trio had already said no, though Garebel noticed Applejack twitching a bit, and assumed they were lying. The panicking tone they had were the only reason why he didn't push the issue.

A few more minutes had passed, before the door turned back to its normal brown color, and Celestia exited, carrying the foaming assassin along with her magic.

"All right!" Celestia growled out, causing everyone present to stiffen and seat themselves around the table Garebel, Dartz, and Twilight were already sitting at, Darth Keeper hovering behind Garebel. Celestia took a look around, frowning still in place. "Listen up! Apparently, the Raging Mutant Hunters, the organization who tried to hunt down Rainbow Dash, is hunkering down in a valley at the end, leaving only one Entrance, which they heavily guard." Celestia drew a map depicting the fortress and the surrounding area.

"A good tactical position..." The bronze pony growled out, Garebel realizing the voice was familiar, but unable to truly place it. "We're going to have a hard time getting, even if we get Torgue's help..."

"Indeed, Captain Chess, especially without any casualties. Plus we're going to the focus of their attention. We need more Firepower and an internal distraction." Celestia nodded before everyone started trying to figure out ways to get this to work. A 'DING' Sound was heard from Garebel.

"I have a few ideas..." Garebel stated, before putting a few figures on the map...

-RMH Fortress, a few days later-

"Looks like it's your time, now..." one of two female earth ponies grinned evilly down at the next pony they were planning to kill.

Rushing Delivery wasn't a mutant at all, but a normal Pegasus being known for doing deliveries almost within seconds, whole intact. However, RMH had imprisoned him simply under suspicion of being a father to Rainbow Dash, who RMH thought could be a mutant, and that was enough for them.

"It's odd, though how all the prisoners manage to escape when their execution drew nigh...We will not let you follow them, though." The other earth pony said, then grabbed one end of the chains binding Rushing Delivery. When they reached a room meant for battle preparations, a cloaked figure walk out in front of them.

"Who are you!?" Both earth ponies demanded. The figure only spoke a few words, before both earth ponies suddenly got pushed into their minds.

When they got back in control, the cloaked figure was in the chains instead of Rushing Delivery, who was nowhere to be found.

"Were you responsible for the prisoners disappearing!?" One of them asked, only getting a nod from the figure. "Well, there's going to be one last supporter, then." they sneered, before walking towards the decided place of execution, dragging the figure along.

-Guillotine Square-

Walking up to the Guillotine in question, The two earth ponies laid the cloaked figure in to the Guillotine, which the blade was already raised. The ponies surrounding the Guillotine muttered out in surprise.

"What's going?" "They didn't allow the other ones a cloak, before they met their end." "Is it someone else?" "A traitor?" They continued to mutter among themselves, when one of the Earth Ponies cleared their throat.

"As you are aware, Rushing Delivery was supposed to executed, however, he escaped with this pony's help!" She announced, causing the ponies to gasp. "They have decided to let themselves be executed in his place." Almost all of the ponies bowed in prayer, hoping that mercy may be granted to the poor soul. "Now, it is time!"

-On a balcony over the Square-

"Sir? is something wrong?" Bargaining Devil, A pegasus & the second in command of the RMH, asked her superior, Cursed Sight, an earth pony with bandages crossing his face in an X-shape.

"I don't know, but I have a weird feeling about today..." He said, before returning to look over the square.

-Guillotine Square-

Both Earth Ponies struggled to pull the lever to let the blade drop, taking a few minutes before succeeding. The blade fell with such a force that most of the audience winched. When they looked back at the Guillotine, they started to yell out in surprise. The cloak had fluttered away from the Guillotine from the force of its drop.

There was no body to underneath the cloak.

"Quickly, inform command about this, we need to..." The other Earth Pony start before a voice echoed out.

"Batchiriminā!" The sudden shout caused everyone to look around. They thought it was their imagination.

"Batchiriminā!" A second repeat of it quashed that thought. They still looked around.

"Batchiriminā!" Suddenly one of the ponies in the audience, pointed up.

"LOOK!" They shouted, causing everypony to look at the top of the Guillotine!

"Batchiriminā!" The voice echoed out, a dark wisp circling around the top of the Guillotine.

"KAIGAN: ORE!" The same voice spoke again, this time something different. Suddenly, Orange lines appeared, tracing a humanoid body before black armor manifested under the lines.

The wisp made itself visible at that moment, revealing a sort of sentient Parka. The Parka soon fitted itself over the visible humanoid body almost perfectly, The silver grate was replaced by an orange and black faceplate.

"Let's Go! Kakugo! Gho-Gho-Gho-Ghost! GO! GO! GO! GO!" The voice, coming from the device at the humanoid creature's waist finished, almost like it was singing. The creature soon discarded its hood.

Every pony just stared at the newcomer. A few unicorn soldiers rushed over to the scene ready to fire off spells at the newcomer. A new recruit quickly fired off a spell, knowing instantly that the newcomer will die when the spell makes contact & if they dodge it, they will be mobbed by the soldiers.

“You idiot!” The recruit’s superior yell at her and was starting to rant when the recruit’s eyes widened in shock. The superior turned around and was shocked alongside every pony.

The newcomer did dodge the spell…only, instead falling out the way, they FLOATED out the way.

The newcomer simply floated a bit away from the top of the guillotine, their fore legs folded over each other and head tilted slightly to the side, almost as if they were saying “Problem?” in a taunting manner. Some of the unicorn soldiers let out a collective growl, before they let loose a barrage of magic, all expertly dodged.

'Wow, being Ghost is more fun than I thought it would be!' The newcomer thought.

-Ponyville Library, flashback to a few days ago...-

Rainbow Dash walked downstairs, already cleaned herself from her & Gilda's 'fun', which, if she was honest, she was REALLY looking forward to next time. When she entered the first floor, she blinked. Everyone, but Pinkie Pie were present, plus 6 more beings.

"So, I help get the prisoners out, followed by making sure any innocent bystanders out of the way..." This came from a humanoid turtle.

"It really does seem like it is up your alley..." A ninja spoke out this time.

"Oy, What is my role in...oh...Oh!" A demon spoke out in amazement.

"Wow, wow! Momobaka is going piloting the Denliner!? Amazing!" A dragon cried out in surprise, only to yelp at the demon smacking the dragon upside the head.

"And I get to break any of the base's defensive weapons? Neat! So, what is...?" A bear said, turning to a swan, before everyone followed his line of sight to Rainbow Dash. The Swan stood up and walked over to Rainbow Dash, allowing Her to get a closer look at the swan.

"I'm sorry, Milady" The swan bowed respectfully towards Rainbow Dash. "but I would like to..." He started before Garebel interrupted him.

"Sieg! That's Rainbow Dash, she's the reason why we are planning an Assault in the first place!" He yelled, causing the Swan to jump at this!

"R-Really!?" The swan, now named Sieg spoke in shock. He bowed again to Rainbow Dash. "Forgive me, Princess!!" Rainbow Dash blinked a few times.

"But I'm not a princess..." Rainbow Dash pointed out.

"Doesn't matter to that Teba-yarō!!" The demon spoke out. Sieg gave harrumphed, but didn't comment.

"Why are you planing an assault?" Rainbow Dash asked, before everyone gave an evil grin before Sieg motioned Rainbow Dash to a seat, before everyone explained the plan and their roles.

"The only thing we need to succeed is an internal distraction..." Captain Chess explained. They had hit a boulder at this point, not literally.

"Maybe I can be it?" Rainbow Dash suggested, only for everyone else, but Garebel to yell out no! Garebel actually thought about for a bit, before another DING sounded.

"Aha!" He said, before pulling out his Rider Archives Gaschet. "She can!" Everyone looked at him in shock.

"How!? By the time we took advantage of it, she'll be..." The demon, called Momotaros, shivered.

"What about GIVING Rainbow the powers of the dead?" Garebel asked, before using his magic to twist the dial till an orange eye-shaped icon was pointed at, and pushing the bigger buttion.

"GHOSTRIDER!!" The Gaschet shouted out, before a part moved, revealing a tube with a bunch of round discs. Garebel lifted one with magic, before tossing to Rainbow Dash. The Disc got absorbed into Rainbow Dash's body, much to everyone else's shock.

"GHOST!ORE!" A voice spoke out of nowhere, before Rainbow Dash's body glowed.

"KAIGAN:ORE!Let'sGo!Kakugo!Gho-Gho-Gho-Ghost!GO!GO!GO!GO!" A different voice spoke, before the glow died down, revealing Rainbow Dash had transformed into a Kamen Rider.

Kamen Rider Ghost

Looking over her new body, surprised at how easy it is to move it, Ghost was going to ask how this will be useful, when a bunch of info just entered her mind. Info about her new capabilities as Ghost. She just thought about one such capability, and it worked, making her disappear before Everyone's eyes, before reappearing. Prince Blueblood summed up Garebel's idea in a nutshell.

"Can't kill what's already dead, and having powers of a ghost counts!"

-RMH Fortress, balcony over the Guillotine Square, Present Day-

Cursed Sight growled as he saw Ghost dodged out of the way of the various magic blasts that were now being fired. He was about to turn to Bargaining Devil to issue an order, when an explosion went out. Realizing that the fortress was being attacked, Cursed Sight turned to Bargaining Devil, only to notice she had taken action first.

"Get those defenses up and running!" She ordered on a com unit, likely to a soldier outside. Cursed Sight smiled, only to be surprised when Bargaining Devil did a double take. "What do you mean you 'can't do it'!?" She yelled out.

-RMH Fortress defenses-

"Some sort of weird creature charged by, destroying most of the weapons in the process! We manage to dog pile it, so..." A pony soldier explained before realizing that the entire pile of 20 was lifted before being thrown down the hallway. Looking up, they saw that the creature wasn't exhausted in the least!

"My Strength shall make your defenses cry!!" The creature yelled out before charging forward.

-RMH Fortress, balcony over the Guillotine Square-

Bargaining Devil growled out loud, before switching channels. "Why didn't you guys alert us that we were under attack!?" She yelled out on the new com channel, only to surprised at the unknown voice that come out.

-Outside RMH Fortress-

"I'm afraid they were...indisposed of..." Dartz said, cryptically.

"You mean dead! Bargaining Devil growled out over the com. Dartz simply sweatdroped.

"Actually, no..." he said flatly, before turning the sound sensitivity up.

"~Then you ran into the Bedroom~
~You were struck~
~It was your doom!~" All of the guards that were outside sang along, their eyes glowing purple, dancing with another new being.

"~Annie, are you ok~?
~So, Annie are you ok, Are you ok, Annie~?
~Annie are you ok~?" The being sang after the guards finished.

Bargaining Devil blinked upon hearing the song, and realizing what happened. "...what." She stated in disbelief.

"Believe it or not, that was my reaction, too. Dartz, though Bargaining Devil didn't know his name, replied back.

"How..." She shook her head before smashing her com. "Sir, we need to escape! Our defenses have been disabled, one after the other. We're sitting ducks, now!" Bargaining Devil yelled out. Cursed Sight looked over the new holes that were blasted open, before nodding. The duo ran into Cursed Sight's Office and ran into a secret tunnel, that Cursed Sight revealed. They ran down into the tunnel, to a secret train station that, much to their shock, had all but one train, which was rendered unusable, as opposed to the ten or so trains that were here.

"How in the world...!?" Cursed Sight questioned out loud, before a voice interrupted him.

"A 'Ghost' told us about this spot. So, Steps were taken." The voice spoke out before an entity walked out of one end of the walkway they were, revealing themselves to Kamen Rider Quaser. A different rider soon walked out of the shadows on the opposite end of Quaser.

"Indeed, Your prisoners were rescued and taken away with your trains. Only one remained, so, my ally..." Kamen Rider Wrath/Odin spoke in a distorted male voice, before pointing at Quaser. "...Decided to smash it, to prevent you from escaping."

"And you guys think we're just going to let you catch us?" Cursed Sight asked, to which Quaser nodded. "Then you got another thing coming." He growled, before skeletal rings circled him, before shattering, revealing a new entity.

Meanwhile, Bargaining Devil was covered in a dark aura, before it morphed into a new form and shattered like glass.

~~"Didn't expect this, did you?"~~ Cursed Sight growled out. Quaser and Wrath were both caught off-guard by this, but quickly entered their battle stances, with Wrath pulling out a card from their Advent Deck, and slotted it into the staff that was her Visor.

"SWORD VENT!"

Wrath soon gained two swords to wield, with Bargaining Devil responding with brandishing a wolf-theme saber, and an aquatic-themed gun. Quaser had pulled two Broadswords, while Cursed Sight did the same with standard swords shaped like clock hands. The brawl soon began in earnest. Blades sang as Quaser & Cursed Sight clashed, while Wrath weaved away elegantly though the water bullets to fight Bargaining Devil in close quarters.

-Quaser & Cursed Sight-

The duo clashed, unwilling to give an inch. Quaser soon found an opening and tricked Cursed Sight, allowing Quaser to swing at Cursed Sight's waist. When the blow landed, however, Cursed Sight only stumbled & rolled away, otherwise unaffected. Quaser frowned, and was about to pull a card when his real eyes glowed blue.

-Vision-

Quaser had pulled out the Final Vent card, slotted and activated it. After landing the blow, and the explosion came, Darth Keeper was about to return to the Mirror World, only for a wheel of dark energy to come out of the smoke and cleaved Darth Keeper in two before exploding & killing him. Quaser turned around, only to be shocked when Cursed Sight emerged, unharmed.

-Present time-

Quaser stumbled a bit from the vision, caught off guard by having one. He quickly recovered in time to block an attack from Cursed Sight, before kicking him away to recover a bit.

'How did he survive that? I can't lose my bro, again!!' Quaser thought, before focusing on Cursed Sight, noticing something odd. The Right side of Cursed Sight's visor had 'ZI-O' written on it. 'Just like...!!' Quaser thought before remembering the person that led them to this and what they said...

(~~"It's actually Kikai! Another Kikai, to be precise."~~)

'Then is he like him? Not the same person but they use similar powers...' Quaser thought before Cursed Sight land a slash and caused him to stumble back. Quaser quickly recovered from it and block the next one, causing a blade lock.

"I'll make sure you will stopped...Another Zi-O!" Quaser spoke, causing Cursed Sight/Another Zi-O to chuckle.

~~"It doesn't matter what you call me, I will kill you!"~~ Another Zi-O spoke out.

-Wrath & Bargaining Devil-

Wrath wasn’t faring much better, being overwhelmed by Bargaining Devil’s weapons which can also transform into monsters. As Wrath rolled away for thunder coming from a purple mismashed monster...

...They thought about why they got into this situation.

-Flashback, Ponyville Library-

“Are you serious!?” Rainbow Dash yelled out. Only She, Celestia, & Garebel were the only ones present, the rest were beginning to prepare for their parts of the plan.

“Yes, I am. I was the one that allowed RMH to rise, but they were meant to be a sort of police force. Before last year’s Nightmare Night, though, they started hunting other mutants, good or bad. I though I made sure they were disbanded, though.” Celestia explain. Garebel hummed for a bit, before speaking.

“Best guesses, they didn’t get the memo or the did but ignored it and going rogue. With the way I’ve seen you do mail and such, I’m willing to bet it’s the latter.” He explained to Rainbow Dash and Celestia, the latter nodding.

“I think so too. I helped them, I need to take them out with my own hooves…” She explained before pulling out an orange deck box. “Even using this to do…Kamen Rider!” Celestia shouted before being covered in a gold light. When the light cleared, Kamen Rider Wrath/Odin stood where Celestia once was.

-Present Day-

Wrath dodged a blast of water from an aquatic monster that once was Bargaining Devil’s gun.

She growled, trying to figure out what to do without summoning her Contract Beast. Goldphoenix needs to stay with his mate, Philomena, for her sake.

It wasn’t long before Quaser and Wrath were back to back with each other.

“You ok, Quaser?” Wrath asked.

“No, because my opponent seems impossible to defeat.” Quaser explained, having almost exhausted his Advent Deck to end Another Zi-O to no avail.

Another Zi-O finished preparing his finisher, while Bargaining Devil motioned a blue wolf monster...

...To transform into her saber, which is now glowing a dark blue. They began to swing their blades, while Quaser & Wrath defended themselves.

At this moment, a sound was heard, and suddenly all four were moving at a crawl.

~~“(What’s going on!?)”~~ Another Zi-O thought, only able to think normally, along with everyone else affected.

“(It can’t be!!! Slowdown!? But there are no Roidmudes to cause it)”. Quaser thought furiously, utterly baffled at how could this happen. Suddenly a roaring sound was heard, before a red blur smashed into Another Zi-O.

~~"(My lord!!)"~~ Bargaining Devil thought in shock, only for the red blur to drift and smash into her and her allies, causing them & Another Zi-O to fly right into a wall. The Red blur then slowed and stopped, revealing its appearance.

"What is that!?" Wrath asked out loud in shock, however, Quaser was in much bigger shock.

"Is that...Tridoron? But Krim wouldn't let it be in such a state!" He muttered in shock, catching Wrath's attention. Before she could ask, a door on the right side of the 'Tridoron' opened, and a new figure stepped out before turning to Wrath & Quaser.

Quaser noticed the name 'DRIVE' engraved on the figure's left side and, having met Shinnosuke Tomari/the Original Drive, instantly realized who he was looking at and what the vehicle really is.

"Why did you save us...Another Drive?" Quaser ask Another Drive, who chuckled.

"Yourself, to a degree..." Another Drive answered in, much to Quaser's surprise, a female's voice. Quaser took a few moment before realizing the answer.

"Future Me sent you, huh?" Quaser asked, when a new voice spoke up.

"Yep!" the source then exited Another Tridoron from the left side, revealing the speaker to be Another Kikai. "All three of us are going to help you guys take out Another Kiva & Another Zi-O!" He explained.

"...Wait a second, three?" Quaser asked, before a third door in the rear opened, revealing...

"Tsukasa-san?" Quaser asked upon seeing Decade, something feeling off. As Decade/Tsukasa walked around Another Tridoron to stand in front of Wrath & Quaser, the latter pined down what was wrong, Decade's belt/Driver was not the usual Sliver, but black and magenta.

"Yep, Leave Another Zi-O to me." Decade spoke out loud, putting his right hand on Quaser's shoulder.

"Ok, one, how? and two, finally accepted the fact that you're wearing pink?" Quaser teased, pointing at Decade's Driver.

"It's still Magenta." Decade softly corrected, before pulling a card from the book-like device on his left side. "As for how..." He trailed off, turning around and walking forward a bit, Another Drive and Another Kikai moving out of the way, while Decade opened his belt. "This." He spoke before flipping the card and inserting it into the DecaDriver.

"KAMEN RIDE!" The DecaDriver shouted before Decade closed it. "ZI-O!" Suddenly, an old-style round clock float behind, the hands pointing at 10:10, followed by a set of odd letters: ライダー

"Rider?" Quaser questioned, translating what the odd letters meant. Another Zi-O & Bargaining Devil/Another Kiva launched their finishers intending to end them, only for the odd letters to suddenly launch themselves off the clock, blocking the attacks, while Decade was surrounded by watch strap-themed rings. When the rings shattered, the odd letters flew backwards.

"KAMEN~~ RIDER~~ ZI-O!!" The DecaDriver shouted, and the odd letters shrunk until they slot into place as the visor.

Zi-O!Decade then pulled out a sword before charging in.

"Garebel..." Another Kikai spoke, before removing the Advent Deck from Quaser's V-Buckle, reverting him back to Garebel. "...You can't destroy Another Riders unless you use the powers of the Rider they're based on, or a Rider from the same time as that Rider. You need Kiva's power to stop the second Another Rider... He explained to Garebel, who's eyes widen before pulling out a strange whistle. Looking at Another Kikai, who nodded, Garebel bit his lip. Handing Garebel back his Advent Deck, Another Kikai turned to Wrath. "Can you help us hold them off?" He asked Wrath who nodded, brandishing her twin swords as she did so, before She and both Another Rider charged into the fray.

Garebel frowned, before mentally cursing. 'I can't do it, not without her...Why did my other self...no...My sister have to sacrifice herself to seal her...I can't do it..." Garebel started to despair when...

'You can do it.' Garebel's eyes widened at the familiar voice. 'Macha already planted a new one in you for a long time, but it has noy yet fully matured.' It spoke.

"Indeed, Ryoji is correct, but I will help you out anyway! Let's do this! A corrupted version of Garebel's voice echoed out in his head, raising Garebel's spirits.

"Yes, Let's!!" Garebel yelled out, before blowing into the whistle, making a tune that Garebel knows is one of his favorite songs.

Feeling afraid, Another Kiva rushed towards Garebel, intending to stop him, only for something to suddenly attack her and knock her back. Her Attackers were revealed, when they floated near Garebel. one was an odd bat...

...While the other was a small orange dragon.

The bat said something that no one should understand, but Garebel did.

"I'm fine, but we got a faker to deal with." He said, pointing to Another Kiva. The bat and the dragon looked at the Another Rider then back to Garebel and nodded.

"It's time, then." The dragon spoke in a female's voice, before the bat bit on Garebel's leg. Suddenly an odd sound echoed out, while flowing water markings appeared from where the bat bit. The marking soon had reached from Garebel's head to his hooves, when showing themselves on his invisible wings, causing Another Kiva to do a double take. Chains covered Garebel's waist before turning to water and splashed out, revealing a new dark blue belt. The bat then perched itself upside-down on the front of the belt, while the dragon somehow attached herself to Garebel's lower left foreleg.

"Henshin!!" The trio spoke at the same time. Suddenly, Water erupted up from underneath them, engulfing them. The sudden geyser then morphed into a tornado before exploding, causing a sudden downpour. Everyone watching covered their face due to the explosion’s sheer force. Another Kiva was the first to recover, looking towards where Garebel was and was shocked.

A new figure was kneeling on the ground before standing up. The bodysuit was a light blue, while the leg armor was a dark blue, shaped like a knight’s armor. The chest had light blue armor shaped like a bodybuilder’s own muscles, while a dark blue trench coat flowed out. Unlike a normal one, though, the upper part connected to the chest is also armor, while the lower part is still fabric. In the middle of the lower trench coat was a strange bat symbol, with the wings and head were all separated from each other. The shoulder pads each had three light blue spikes. The arms only were only lightly armored, but the dark blue armor was no less sturdy than the rest. The helmet was still a dark blue, but the mouth plate was sliver, while the lower jawpart was still dark blue. The visor was shaped like the wings of the bat symbol, but were green. The crest above the visor was shaped like the same symbol’s bat head colored light blue, but with a small red jewel in the middle of the base. In the middle of the chest was a carving of seven different colored diamonds around a larger green diamond. The larger diamond was, unlike the seven small ones which were carvings, was actually a real diamond merged with the chest. The leg guards, shin guards, and the shoulder pad each had a diamond implanted into the armor, each one matching the same colors as the carving on the chest. The orange dragon was attached to the lower left arm, while the bat was still perched on the belt, which had six different whistles attached, three on each side.

Another Kiva only let out a growl, before she moved her hand to point at the new figure before her nails actually stretched forward to impale him. The new figure let the nails hit him, but the nail failed to even scratch him. He looked at the nails before grabbing and shattering them with his right hand, followed by motioning his arm in a flourish, the force of which shattered the remaining length of the nails up to Another Kiva, causing her to fly backwards. Recovering from the blow, she looked at the new figure.

~~”Who in Tartarus are you!?”~~. Another Kiva yelled out at the figure.

“We…are Kamen Rider Chaos Kiva…Perfect form.” They declared. Growling, Another Kiva snapped her fingers, calling the wolf creature to her hand as her saber, once more and rushing towards him. Chaos Kiva merely grabbed another strange whistle, from his belt this time, and inserted into the bat's mouth. The bat then 'blew' into it, causing a dog whistle-like sound. Suddenly, Another Kiva's saber flew out of her hand, and into Chaos Kiva's. Chaos Kiva then fused a disc to the saber, before moving at high speed, slashing Another Kiva multiple times. He then threw the saber at Another Kiva.

~~"Idiot! Why would you give me my weapon back!?"~~ Another Kiva scoffed, ready to catch the saber. However, mid-flight, a blue projection appeared over the saber before merging with it, the wolf now wearing a suit of blue armor.

~~"What!?"~~ Another Kiva yelled out in shock, unprepared for the kick to the chest and stumbled back. The new warrior landed on their feet, before pulling out a gun and opened fire on Another Kiva, shocking her even further.

"Thanks for that, Garebel, Chaos & Tikal!" The new warrior, Kamen Rider IXA Rising Form said, before changing to fight Another Kiva, wanting payback for the mind control.

"It was never a problem." The dragon on Chaos Kiva's left arm responded, while Chaos Kiva pulled out two more of the strange whistles, one making the sound of trumpet, the other made a deep alarm. The aquatic & mishmash monsters transformed into their weapon form before flying to Chaos Kiva's hands. Chaos Kiva merged two more discs into the weapons before tossing them forward, the gun transforming into a white stained glass warrior known as Kamen Rider Saga...

While the hammer transformed into a warrior with black & red armor known as Kamen Rider Dark Kiva.

"Yeah, Let's go!!" Saga yelled, while Dark Kiva grunted, charging into the fray, with Chaos Kiva behind them to join, too. Another Kiva did try to fight back, but an Attack she didn't see coming prevent her from doing so.

-Zi-O!Decade and Another Zi-O-

Another Zi-O growled, recovering from the last attack. Not only was the new warrior beating, he was doing so effortlessly. Another Zi-O tried to use his own Future Sight power, but Zi-O!Decade pulled out a card, inserted it, and activate it, making his own power useless. Now, Zi-O!Decade pulled out another new card, and inserted it.

"Final Attack Ride: Zi-Zi-Zi-O!"

When he heard, he started to dodge, only for a different set of odd letters blocked him, surrounding him in a circle. Zi-O!Decade jumped up and entered a drop kick stance. The odd letters disappeared one by one till one set remained, but by the time they did, it was too late & Another Zi-O couldn't escape. He attempted to guard, only for Zi-O!Decade to pierce through and hit him. Another Zi-O flew into a wall before exploding. Cursed Sight laid out prone, no harm except for the bandages, which were cut apart. An odd watch-like device with the face of Another Zi-O on where the clock face should be...

...clattered against the floor, sparking, before it self-destructed. Another Zi-O was gone for good. Zi-O!Decade reverted back to Decade, before dismissing the armor altogether, revealing Tsukasa, before he walked up to the unconscious pony. Reaching to pick him, Tsukasa finally noticed what was underneath the bandages, and his eyes widen in shock.

"What the...!?" Tsukasa gasped. he then shock his head, before lifting up Cursed Sight and walking over where Another Tridoron is.

-back to Another Kiva, Chaos Kiva, IXA, Saga & Dark Kiva...-

Another Kiva rolled on the floor, Dark Kiva having given her a powerful punch to her waist. When she got up, Another Kiva looked around, shocked. All 4 four Riders were in each of the cardinal directions, facing her. IXA detached a part of his gun's handle, revealing to be another whistle. the other 3 Riders also grabbed a whistle from their belt. IXA insert his own in his belt, then pushed a handle on it in, while Saga did the same, only plugging the butt of his sword/whip, the Jyacorder, into the side instead. Chaos Kiva & Dark Kiva insert their whistles into the bats mounted on their waist, Dark Kiva tapping twice, while Chaos Kiva gave the head of the small dragon a tug. A whistle sounded from IXA's belt.

"WAKEUP!!" The creature known as Sagarc, the one serving as Saga's belt shouted. Saga then removed the Jyacorder, revealing a new red line attached to it and Sagarc, the latter transferring power to the former.

"WAKEUP2!!" The bat perched on Dark Kiva's belt, known as Kivat-Bat the 2nd, shouted out.

"CHAOTIC WAKE UP!!" The bat perched on Chaos Kiva's, known as Chaos Kivat or Chaos 0, shouted, one of the few times he truly spoke.

"WAKE UP UNITY!!" The small dragon, once known as Tikal now referred to as Tikalot, Shouted out as a seven colored light steamed out her back.

The area was shrouded completely by a dark mist, Another Kiva unable to see even an inch in front of her. When it cleared, Another Kiva stepped back in shock.

She was in a flooded, destroyed city! Skyscraper were leaning as they had been pulled out, every window were shattered in a million pieces. Another Kiva looked up and was surprised. The full moon floated in the clear, yet, starless night time sky, a symbol gorged out on its surface, the same symbol that was on the lower part of Chaos Kiva's trench coat.

It wasn't long before the same symbol appeared as a glyph of red energy. Another Kiva tried to find the source of the glyph, only to stabbed & blasted in the back.

Saga had used the Jyacorder's whip mode to impale itself into Another Kiva while using his own powers to shoot orbs of water at her back. He then jumped into one of the glyph's 'wings' and emerged from the glyph's 'head', facing away from Another Kiva. The whip still intact, Saga tugged it, causing Another Kiva to lifted into the air, hanging by the impaled whip.

Water splashed as Dark Kiva and IXA jumped out of the water on opposite sides of Another Kiva. They somersaulted once in the air, before drop kicking into Another Kiva, Dark Kiva's energy blades cutting into her, while IXA's artificial solar heat burned her. After landing their kick, they somehow flew past each other.

Water soon swelled up in front of Another Kiva. She thought a tornado or hurricane was forming in a strange way, only to be shocked and sacred as the water morphed into what can only be described as a giant monster.

The monster opened its mouth & gathering white energy, illuminating Chaos Kiva inside, 3 blue scythe-like energy blades attached to each of the armored boots, before he adjusted into a strange pose. The instant he did, the monster fired the energy out of its mouth, propelling Chaos Kiva. The energy blades grew and lunged forward, as thought they were giant teeth about to bite down. The blades converged on her at the same as when Chaos Kiva and the energy beam impacted her.

She tried to move, but the nature of the Jyacorder meant she couldn't even twitch or scream. Chaos Kiva soon pushed past her, landing on the water like it was solid ground. Sparks flew all over her body as the damage began to take their toll. Saga then placed his hand on the whip like a violin, before sliding his hand down to the Jyacorder itself.

Something snapped as the Jyacorder's whip snaked rapidly back into the Jyacorder itself. Explosions erupted on Another Kiva, before she was consumed in a MASSIVE explosions. The illusion of the flooded city shattered by the sheer force of said explosion. When the smoke cleared, Bargaining Devil laid on the floor, covered in wounds. A watch-like device same as Another Zi-O's but with Another Kiva's face instead...

...shattered the instinct it contacted the floor. All 4 Riders took a couple of deep breath, before IXA, Saga, and Dark Kiva reverted to their monster forms, before dissolving in a gold light, returning to their home world. The discs that Chaos Kiva gave to them flew back into his own hands. Chaos Kiva then reverted to Garebel.

"Jiro, Ramon, Riki...Thank you all..." Garebel spoke, refering to the wolf, aquatic, and mishmash monster respectively. He then trotted up to Bargaining Devil, using his magic to lift her up and carrying her to Another Tridoron. When he reached it, he was surprised at the conversation going on between Tsukasa, Celestia, and two humans he didn't recognize, but guessed they were Another Kikai & Another Drive. They saw Garebel carrying Bargaining Devil with his magic, Chaos Kivat & Tikalot at his side. After gently lowering Bargaining Devil and healing her wounds, Garebel turned to the others, laying eyes on the knocked out Cursed Sight, gasp in surprise.

"Tsukasa harmed him that badly!" Celestia blamed Tsukasa, frowning at him.

"No, I didn't! They were there when he reverted!" Tsukasa countered. Before an argument erupted, Garebel cut in.

"Tsukasa-San's right. The wounds are already scarring over, plus..." Garebel trailed off, turning to face them and said something that shocked them all.

"They looked like they were self-inflected..."

Chapter 10: Wrapping up the Broken Illusion

Twilight sighed as she shook her head. It had been a couple of days since the assault on the RMH HQ, and things had changed a bit. Celestia & Luna had both decided to let Garebel 'become' an Ailcorn, as a reward for planing the assault, making sure to let Mayor Mare, the current... well, Mayor of Ponyville, know that Garebel dislikes special treatment. While the Mayor did give Garebel a large empty house. She informed Garebel, that the house was meant to be temporary while giving him a set of blueprints that would allow him to design his own mansion and how to build it himself. Garebel didn't mind this, though he did turn the house into a sort of factory to help Ponyville be armed with Duel Disks for when The Seal reappeared.

Twilight watched as Fluttershy decided to give trouble to Garebel in a different way regarding the 'workers' he decided to use.

"So cute...!" Fluttershy muttered as she had, on instinct, glopped on a small mouse-like thing with a stick shaped like a lighting bolt and basically gave it love.

"Ok... Didn't expect that..." Garebel muttered to himself, before speaking out loud. "Have you forgotten your Type, Spirit Gemini?" Spirit Gemini seemed to have shocked and angry at himself, though Twilight couldn't tell, since his expression didn't change, though it did looked drawn. Spirit Gemini then phased out of Fluttershy, much to her and Twilight's surprise, and moved to beside Garebel before turning to Fluttershy. A click was heard, before a new voice echoed out.

"OK! While-i-don't-might-getting-love-on-like-that, i-would-like-to-be-aware-of-it-beforehand." The voice spoke out, coming of Spirit Gemini who then moved away.

"Sorry, being a Mimikyu, He's always like that." Garebel sighed before focus on the duo. "So, why do ya'll need me for?" He asked.

"Well, The Winter Wrap-Up is going to be starting soon to welcome the season of Spring. Everypony has to help out." Twilight explained, while Darth Keeper guided Fluttershy around the 12 Pokemon that Garebel choose to help out with the Duel Disk Factory.

"So, y'all going to celebrate the ending of winter, huh? That seems to...!" Garebel muttered to himself, before stiffing. "I'm sorry, I can't..." Garebel spoke before turning away from Twilight, who was shocked.

"Why? You are not harmed in anyway...?" She questioned Garebel, who let out a sad sigh.

"It's not that... I lost someone close to me... when winter... ended..." Garebel spoke out, pained at looking at sad memories.

"Oh... I-I'm sorry... I didn't know about that." Twilight spoke sadly, realizing that Garebel had a heavy load on him, all this time.

"It's... fine..." Garebel choked out, tears steaming down his face. "C-Can you... Leave me alone, please?" He asked Twilight, who nodded, and went after Fluttershy. As soon as she left the room, Garebel broke down & let it all out.

"Dang it! Why? Why did you decide that way was better... Sis... my... Other self..." He cried out, tears staining the wooden floor.

-With Fluttershy & Darth Keeper...-

"So, Sea-Bone & Leangle of Clubs take turns cooling the heated metal so, that Sea-Bone could still use his singing prowess to control water if an attack happens?" Fluttershy, who had silently mistaken Sea-Bone for a Merpony, instead of being an actual Primarina, a kind of Pokémon, asked Darth Keeper who nodded.

'WiThOuT VoIcE, AlL Of ThEiR FiGhTiNG CaPaBiLiTiEs LoSt. SpEcIaL CaRe NeEdEd.' Darth Keeper wrote out on a notebook, using it to explain things, since his voice can only come out in growls. At this point, Twilight walked up to them.

"T-Twilight, what's wrong?" Fluttershy asked Twilight who seemed down. Twilight then explained what she learned. "Oh, poor thing!" Fluttershy exclaimed, having started crying partway though. Darth Keeper hummed a bit before realizing something.

"What's wrong, Darth Keeper?" Twilight asked him, noticing his expression. Darth Keeper seemed to think a bit, before writing something in his notebook.

'NoThInG ImPoRtEnT.' it said. Fluttershy & Twilight then decide to tell Mayor Mare about this and leave Garebel alone.

-a few hours later, Ponyville Square...-

"I see..." Mayor Mare sighed, having started the Wrap-Up already and learning what Garebel is feeling. "We'll have finish it by ourselves, then." She said, mentally wishing she could help Garebel deal with his sadness. Twilight noticed that Fluttershy had already run off, without being given a task by the mayor. Frowning, she walked up to Mayor Mare.

"Mayor, Do you usually give Ponies tasks to do?" She asked Mayor Mare, who shook her head much to Twilight's shock.

"No, usually the other ponies decide what they want to do..." She explained, causing Twilight to realize that no pony had decide to organize and keep things on track!

-Nighttime...-

Needless to say, the Winter Wrap-Up went by quickly, thanks to Twilight's organizing. Right now, Garebel was sitting on one of the roof, glaring at the moon. A creepy sound echoed out, but only Garebel heard and understood it.

"Yeah, I know I should not be angry at her, but It's still difficult to stop it..." Garebel answered, seemingly to no one. Another sound echoed . "I can't... Sis, being my Shadow, is the one who helps keep my emotions in check." He explained. Once again, the sound echoed. "I don't know if I can adapt to this... I'm sorry, Ryoji..." Garebel apologized to the unknown voice. The sound this time, was an indescribable oddness. "The Moon? I have no idea. Is something wrong?" The oddness repeated itself. "An intruder that has no physical body?" Oddness. "I have no idea. I tried to teleport to the Moon to attempt something to try and rescue Sis from the Great Seal she formed to seal her away, and deal with your 'Goddess'..." a sound like banging shutters. "But I couldn't get through an unknown barrier. The origin of which I have no idea on!" Oddness. "Yes, and I have no idea on how to pierce it!" Silence and A odd but faint Animal sound. "You touched the barrier and you have an idea?" Rapid Barking. "This place feels strongly like the barrier?" Another Bark. "Huh. I would ask Twilight about it, but I got two major problems to deal with first." Oddness. "First, The Seal of Orichalcos is present, only two pieces are active so far." Banging Shutters. "One was destroyed, the other got sacrificed to revive an former enemy of mine." Banging Shutters. "Thank you, Ryoji." A sound like a mix of a bark and a bang. then oddness. "The other problem is Ra..." a whoosh this time. "Yup, pretty much." An odd Whoosh. "I already know where Ra is, but just in case, you can search out for any trace of Ra as well." The Strange Sound echoed out. "See ya later, then Ryoji..." Garebel spoke out before sighing, deciding to turn in for the night. Sleep always helps to calm him down from time to time.

Chapter 11: 2016; W Wars

“What the heck!?” Garebel’s Voice echoed out the factory when Twilight entered. Raising an eyebrow, she trotted to the very back where Garebel is, messing around with a Prototype Duel Disk. Twilight blinked when She saw Garebel’s expression of rage. “Come on!” He yelled out before trying to do something else.

“What’s going on?” Twilight asked out loud, hoping for an answer. A screen showing Burroughs soon popped up.

“Master is having trouble with an unknown piece of data that refuses to go away. Even Protective measures don’t seem to stop it. Without knowing what is the purpose of said Data, how is he going to allow others to use it when there’s a potential danger to them?” She explained to Twilight who nodded in understanding.

“#%@&!! Factory resetting it doesn’t erase it!! Argh!!” Garebel yelled out. Twilight stopped for a second, before walking up to him.

“This may sound stupid, but did you actually used the data?” Twilight suggested. Garebel turned to Twilight and was about to snap at her, when he froze and thought about it.

“Stupid, yes, but that would be on me…”. Garebel admitted after a while, before finding the data on the Duel Disk and activated it. A message soon popped up.

“PLEASE INSERT OR CHOOSE A DECK.”. The message said, raising the confusion of all present, before pulling out a random deck and inserted it. ”ANALYZING…DECK ACCEPTED! RUNNING ‘INTO THE VRAINS’!!” A new message said, surprising them.

“Into…” “The…” “VRAINS…?” The trio repeated before a light shone out of the disc engulfing them.

-???-

When the light died down, they took a look around, Burroughs somehow gaining a physical body. A pedestal stood in front of 3 stained glass windows, where a sunset shone though.

“Hang on… this place is familiar to me, but I can’t quite place it…”. Garebel spoke out loud, before trying to place it.

“Is it……Master! Your body!!” Burroughs shout out loud. Blinking, Garebel looked down, and his eyes widened in shock as he took in his own Human form. He looked the same as before, but with Bulky white armor covering his right arm, and sleek, yet spiky Black Armor covering his left.

“What in the world!?” Garebel spoke to himself. While he looked himself over, Twilight investigates the room. She looked over the pedestal, noting that words seemed to be carved into the pedestal. Frowning she turned to Garebel & Burroughs.

“Garion, any idea what ‘Skeith’ means?” Twilight asked Them. Garebel turned to Twilight in shock.

“Where did you see that word?” Garebel asked Twilight, who just pointed at the pedestal. Walking over to it, Garebel looked over it and read it out loud. “ Skeith, Innis, Magus, Fidchel, Gorre, Macha, Tarvos, & Corbenik? Wait, those are the names of the…!!! Then, we are in the Hulle Granz Cathedral? Why are we here!?” He asked out loud.

/That would be my doing…\

Garebel, Twilight, and Burroughs look up at the source of the voice, seeing what looked to be a human girl with long white hair & blue eyes. The rest of her body was covered in a white cloak hiding it from view. A broach shaped like the infinity symbol was perched under her face, attached to her cloak. Garebel’s eyes widened, recognizing the girl instant.

“Lady Aura…?” He asked out loud, to which the girl nodded.

/Garebel, My daughter, Zefie, saw something worrying though the Lost Network. A different A.I. on a different world is planning to soon end the humans of the same world. Please stop them!\

A trio of lights appeared in front of Aura, both floating to Garebel’s Prototype Duel Disk and entering it. Garebel looked at his Duel Disk, before turning to Aura.

/I have sent the coordinates to your Duel Disk, as well as the means to fight them. Please, You’re the only one I can count on!\

Before either of them could respond, a bright flash caused them to cover their eyes.

-Duel Disk Factory-

When the light cleared up, Twilight & Garebel were back in the real world, the latter returned to his Ailcorn body.

“Burroughs, report.” Garebel calmly spoke out, a screen showing Burroughs appearing a split second later.

“I’m here, Master! Did we really entered The World?” She asked Garebel, who shook his head.

“Didn’t feel like it, plus Aura’s statue is missing…”. He muttered to himself.

“Are you going to trust what that…Aura girl said?” Twilight asked Garebel who nodded his head.

“Lady Aura’s both a Goddess and the Ultimate A.I. If she gives out a warning, I treated as seriously as you would when Princess Celestia did the same thing!” He explained, causing Twilight’s eyes to widen at his meaning. Garebel removed the deck from his Duel Disk, and frowned. The deck he inserted was the now-blank Deck that Trixie had when the Seal possessed her. The deck suddenly glowed, Garebel and Twilight quickly averting their eyes. When the light died down, they took a look at the deck, revealing to be changed, no longer blank.

“Didn’t expect that…”. Garebel muttered to himself before pulling out a monster card and read out mentally. ‘Kite of the Azure Flame .hacker, FIRE attribute, Level 8, Cyberse/Effect monster with……wait’.

-Sugar Cube Corner-

“How long do you think it will take for the poor dear to realize the Cute-Ceañera is today?” Rarity asked Pinkie Pie, who shrugged.

“Don’t know, but I’m still keeping her busy with helping her find her Cutie Mark…” Pinkie Pie was about to say more when a shout echoed out.

”WHAT IN THE BLEEPING WORLD AND TARTARUS IS THE CYBERSE-TYPE!?”. Garebel’s voice echoed out, catching everypony by surprise.

“……Looks like Garebel even doesn’t know everything… Now I’m kinda curious about this Cyberse…” Pinkie Pie mused, while Rarity gave Pinkie Pie a blank look.

“Focus on the Cute-Ceañera now, ask Garebel later…” Rarity deadpanned, though she was curious about why Garebel yelled out, just now.

-Duel Disk Factory-

Twilight rubbed her ears due to being right next to Garebel when he yelled out in shock. She shook her head before she spoke up.

"You haven't heard of this Cyberse-thing before...?" Garebel shook his head.

"No, and I'm going to try and learn more about it, when I get the factory up and running." He explained to Twilight, who sighed.

"As much as I would like to help you with that, I'm afraid you're going to have to delay on it." She said, much to Garebel's confusion. "A Cutie Mark Party is going to held today." She explained to Garebel, who looked confused.

"What's a Cutie Mark Party?" Garebel asked in confusion.

"A party that a local bully arranged to show that she and her group to be 'superior' to other foals who haven't found their Cutie Mark, a sign that they found something that makes them unique from others." Twilight explained sadly. "The bully would have been punished, except for the fact her mother, being the head of said bully's school, is rumored to be worse, and no proof has been found about how she treats her daughter. For all we know, it could be a case of bullying others being a coping mechanism." She elaborated, causing Garebel to frown.

"...How does one find their unique talent and get a Cutie Mark?" Garebel asked Twilight. He blinked a couple of times when Twilight, realizing why he was asking such a question, facefaulted.

"...You know about the odd symbol on your flank?" She asked Garebel, who nodded in confusion and pointed to his flank which had the-shield-being-pierced-by-two-swords-symbol. "That's YOUR Cutie Mark." Twilight explained to Garebel, who blinked before facehoofing.

"Ask a stupid question..." Garebel muttered to himself in disbelief and annoyance at himself.

"Anyway, Pinkie wanted you to come to the party. You know how she is..." Twilight said to Garebel who nodded. Pinkie Pie is a very insistent pony, after all.

-Sugar Cube Corner, a few minutes later…-

Twilight smiled as Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, & Scootaloo formed the Cutie Mark Crusaders, ready to find their Cutie Mark. She turned to where Garebel decided to hang out, surprised when he suddenly growled out and slammed his right foreleg on to the closest table…which had food on it. The pastries flew though the air. While most missed, Diamond Tiara, the one who was responsible for the party, and her friend and fellow bully, Sliver Spoon got hit along with the newly formed Cutie Mark Crusaders. Garebel’s eyes widened.

“What…Ok, I’m really, really, really sorry! I really didn’t mean to do that!” Garebel said, partly telling the truth. He did mean to hit the table, but he didn’t mean to hit anyone with the resulting flying food. Diamond Tiara, having reached her boiling point after being shown up at her own party, didn’t hear this and grabbed a pie from the closest table before throwing it at Garebel, the pie splattering all over his face.

Everyone stood silent in disbelief, even Diamond Tiara, who stared as the pie tin slid down Garebel’s face, showing a shocked expression. Garebel himself blinked a few times, before shaking his head to get the remains of the pie off his head, before saying something that shocked everypony.

“To quote an old friend of mine, whose is a rabbit… ‘Of course you do realize… This means WAR!’” Garebel quoted before grabbing a cupcake and threw it at Diamond Tiara who ducked under it, though it did hit Apple Bloom, who took a few seconds before grinning along the other Crusaders.

“CUITE MARK CRUSADERS FOOD FIGHTERS YEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!” They shouted before scattering and finding food to throw.

Needless to say, the Ponyville Cutie Mark Food Fight incident, as it’ll later be called, would be talked about for a long, LONG time.

Chapter 12: 2040; Fashion! a Passion-ite Question!

-One day later-
At the Ponyville Library, Twilight sighed as she put her chosen book back.

“No luck there, either.” She complained, loudly, being alone. Spike, along with the newly-formed Cutie Mark Crusaders, went to the Duel Disk Factory so that Garebel could give them their new Duel Disks and help them learn Duel Monsters. She didn’t join in for the same reason she was going though her books.

‘I still can’t believe Garebel did it! He did found out the truth, but still…’. She thought, thinking back.

-Flashback, Yesterday, three hours after the Ponyville Cutie Mark Food Fight-

”What!? The rumor was true!?” Twilight yelled, shocked, towards Garebel who nodded.

“It’s more along the lines of emotional abuse than physical, but yes.” He confirmed. “I decided to use my mind reading powers to try and dig into Tiara’s mind…” Garebel explained. Noticing Twilight’s building anger, he elaborated. “I didn’t even begin to dig, before I got slammed out of Tiara’s mind by her memories of her Mom, all of them!” Garebel emphasized. “I then actually took a moment to analyze and look over the memories I saw before being forced out, and when I learned that, I was angry since any form of abuse is basically one of three guaranteed ways to make me angry. I took out my anger on the table closest to me, and well…” He trailed off, Twilight already know what happened.

“The food fight happened… I’m still surprised Pinkie actually tried to stop it, instead of allowing it.” She mumbled to herself.

-Present day-

Twilight shook her head to get the memory out of her head in order to clear it. She went to continue her search when a knock came from the front door. Opening the front door revealed Rarity, who was smiling.

“Darling, I actually got an idea about dresses for the Gala! Do you have a dress So, I can exclude making you a dress!” Rarity asked, seemingly excited to make dresses. Twilight thought about it for a second before answering.

“Yes, but it is pretty old. I can certainly see a need for a replacement.” Twilight explained. Rarity brighten at this before she went off to make dresses. Twilight sighed before decided to go to the factory to check up on Spike.

-Duel Disk Factory-

Twilight blinked as she saw Garebel talking to the CMC & Spike on a TV screen.

"...& remember, there are real people playing Duel Links, too. You should be polite to them, as well." He said, the ones on the screen nodded. "Then off you go." the group ran off in different directions. Garebel himself was trotting into an open chamber, when he noticed Twilight. Noticing her worried expression, Garebel decided to explain things. "I hooked them into a Duel Monsters Online Game called Duel Links. I sent them there, because Experience is more often the best teacher." He explained, causing Twilight's expression to soften.

"What are you going to do?" She asked, wondering if he was going to make sure they were safe.

"I'm logging into Duel Links too, but, for two reasons. One is to keep an eye on them." Garebel explained, letting Twilight relax, before she blinked.

"What is the other reason?" She asked, wondering why Garebel would need another reason.

"One of my friends found a lead on the Cyberse-Type." Garebel explained, shocking Twilight. "I'm going to ask him for details about it." With that, he entered the chamber and with a brief flash, Garebel was in Duel Links. Twilight decided to leave and headed to Carousel Boutique, since the rest of her friends were likely to be there.

-Carousel Boutique-

Twilight blinked at the first thing she saw when she entered. Her friends were indeed her, but she didn't expect them to be an argument. Rarity & Applejack sat at a table, actually trying to ignore the argument. Twilight trotted up to the duo, before speaking up.

"Dare I ask what they are arguing about?" Twilight asked, a look of worry visible on her face.

"After showing Rainbow Dash the dress I made for her, she told me that it could 'stand to 20% more awesome'..." Rarity explained. "Then Gilda said something about it being more ridiculous instead and well..."

"The whowwl argument done started, with Pinkie & Fluttershy a-joinin' in latuurr." Applejack finished. Twilight sighed at this before she got an idea.

"Wait, I think I have an idea..." She said, before explaining her plan to Rarity & Applejack, who both nodded.

"That there actually sownds like ay darn good plan! what about ya, Rarity?" Applejack asked Rarity, who was frowning.

"If we do that, that would actually also help business with the shop. There's a problem, in the form of Hoity Toity. I don't think he would approve of being left out of something like this." Rarity pointed out to Twilight, who frowned. Hoity Toity was just a fashion critic, but The fashion critic. Having him would also help out Rarity long-term, which did lead to helping out Applejack and Pinkie Pie as well, but bring him on board would be difficult...

"Aha! I got an idea!" Twilight shout, getting everyone's attention. She then proceeded to explain her idea.

-Duel Links-

An explosion was heard, before a white cloaked person was seen walking away from the source of said explosion.

"Damn! Not him, either... I thought Cyberse was detected here. I'm going to crack that damn protection and log off after my next duel." He grumbled, before walking off. After a while he took notice of a little dragon. Blinking a few times, he shrugged before hacking to start a duel, before he was spooked by a voice.

"So, you must be the hacker that was searching Duel Links." Turning around, the white cloaked person soon saw a man wearing a black trench coat leaning against a wall. "How about having a duel with me instead of a newbie." Garebel asked the white cloaked person, who raised an eyebrow. "If you win..." Garebel showed him a single card. "I'll give you one of my Cyberse cards." The white cloaked person let out a gasp, cause Garebel to grin. "If I win, you'll tell me everything I want to, including why you were hunting for Cyberse cards." Garebel stated, making sure he understood the stakes. The white cloaked figure blinked before grinning and turning to Garebel.

"Only if you allow the condition of Me winning to destroying all of your Cyberse cards, Then I, one of the Knights of Hanoi, accepted." The Knight spoke, before raising his arm. Garebel's eyes narrowed at this, but nodded at this. "Well, then..."

"DUEL!!" They both yelled out, starting the Speed Duel.

Knight LP: 4000

Garebel LP: 4000

"I'll start off. Since you control no monsters, I can Special Summon 2 Hack Worms from my hand!" The Knight explained before summoning two worm-like creatures.

Hack Worm x2
Level 1
ATK 400
DEF 0

"Then I'll release both of my Hack worms to Tribute Summon Cosmo Queen, in ATK mode!"

Cosmo Queen
Level 8
ATK 2900
DEF 2450

"Followed by equipping her with Book of Secret Arts to increase her ATK & DEF by 300!"

Cosmo Queen
ATK 2900-3200
DEF 2450-2700.

"That will end my turn." The Knight spoke, pass the turn to Garebel, who nodded.

"My turn, I'll draw." He spoke, now having 5 cards in his hand instead of 4. Taking a look at his hand, he grabbed a card before playing it. "I'll summon Moonstone of the Silent .hacker!" Garebel declared.A man wearing armor and hold two daggers just simply walked up to the field.

"......ready..." He spoke softly.

Moonstone of the Silent .hacker
Level 4
ATK 0
DEF 0

The Knight frowned, he thought he wasn't taken seriously, until he saw the new monster's type.

Moonstone of the Silent .hacker
Cyberse-type

He smirked a bit, before focusing on the duel.

"Now I'll activate Moonstone's ability! Once per turn, I can Special Summon one Level 4 or lower .hacker from my hand. I choose to Special Summon Natsume of the Crazy .hacker!" Garebel yelled out, playing his next card. This time, a lady wearing odd clothes practically leaped onto the field.

"Let's GOOOOOOOOOO!" She yelled out, excitedly while Moonstone facepalmed at her antic.

Natsume of the Crazy .hacker
Level 4
Cyberse-type
ATK 1900
DEF 1000

"I'll end my turn with that." Garebel spoke, ending his turn.

"I'll draw!" The Knight spoke before looking at his card and grinned. "I'll activate the Equip Spell, Plague Virus Blackdust!" (AN: the OCG/Japanese name was used here, because it sound cooler and less weird to me. The TCG/English name is Ekibyo Drakmord) A trio of blue skined creatures appeared and grabbed Natsume.

"Oh, come on! I got a flu vaccine last week!" She complained, struggling to get the trio off her.

"While your precious Cyberse card is equipped with this card, it can't attack, and is destroyed at the end of your second turn!" The Knight let out an evil laugh. Garebel growled at the Knight while Natsume struggled. Moonstone however noticed something.

"...Virus...Equipped to Natsume? Equipped?" He asked the Knight, who stopped laughing in confusion.

"Errr...Yes...It is..." He spoke, feeling odd talking to a monster hologram. Moonstone's response was to facepalm.

"...Idiot." He spoke, angering the Knight greatly.

"CAN YOU STILL CALL ME THAT AFTER MY COSMO QUEEN ATTACKS YOU! COSMIC NOVA!!" The Knight yelled out, commanding his monster to throw a dark ball of energy at Moonstone. the energy ball impacted where Moonstone now was, Smoke covering the area. "And with that monster gone, You're going to take damage." He spoke confidently, however...

Garebel LP: 4000

"What the!? Why didn’t you take damage!?" The Knight shouted in confusion. He would have gone in a rant, if his Cosmo Queen didn't fell down before disappearing. "What!? My Cosmo Queen!!" He shouted out loud, before realizing Moonstone was alive and standing where his Cosmo Queen was. Moonstone grunted, before jumping back to Garebel's side of the field.

"When Moonstone battles a Monster..." Garebel spoke after the smoke clears out. "The Opposing monster destroyed before damage calculation starts. Just as long as that monster is not a fellow .hacker." He explained to the now shocked Knight.

"Turn end..." The Knight spoke after snapping out of his shock, allowing Garebel to take his turn.

"And I realized why Moonstone insulted you. I activate Natsume's effect!" To the Knight's surprise, Natsume smoothly jumps away from the creatures, before the creatures dissolving into pixels. "I can send one Equip Card equipped to Natsume to the Graveyard, to Special Summon any .hacker from my deck." Garebel explained, causing the Knight to wince.

"...I screwed up." The Knight stated bluntly, before azure flames appeared. When the flame dispersed, A Young boy wearing bright orange clothes ('Close, but thankfully, not as bright as Naruto's' The Knight thought to himself') and holding two daggers stood where the flames once were. Unlike his fellows, He holds his daggers as though they were a single bow without string.

"I called forth one of the three Descendants of Fianna! Say hello to Kite of the Azure Flame .hacker!!" Garebel yelled out.

Kite of the Azure Flame .hacker
Level 8
ATK 2500
DEF 2500

"Now Natsume, Direct Attack!" Garebel commanded Natsume, who dash towards The Knight of Hanoi and slashed him a couple of times.

Knight LP: 4000-2100

The Knight shook off the shock from that blow, before seeing Kite have an arrow of azure flames notched in his 'bow'.

"Finish it." Garebel spoke before Kite let go of the arrow which promptly knocked the Knight to the ground.

Knight LP: 2100-0

Garebel wins.

Garebel walked towards the Knight and helped him up.

"Now I do believe you have some info to tell me." Garebel spoke, not being stern, but still reminding the Knight of their deal.

"Ok, All I really know is that our Leader, who goes by Revolver, wants all Cyberse destroyed along with the Ignis, who made the Cyberse in the first place, or Humanity is Doomed." The Knight explained to Garebel who's eyes widen in shock. "Look for a corporation called SOL Technologies. I heard a rumor that they were indirectly responsible for the Ignis, but I don't know if it's true…I’m Sorry…” The Knight apologized, not being able to give more info. He went to hack the protection so he can log out, only to blink at the sudden lack of said protection. Realizing that the protection was there so his opponent could get info about Cyberse, he sighed before logging out. Garebel was left to muddle in his own thoughts.

-unknown space-

The Knight materialized before walking to a red-haired individual that could have been mistaken for a robot, and kneeled.

“Did you find and destroyed the new Cyberse?” The ’robot’ spoke out. The Knight shook his head.

“Find, yes. Destroy, no. Bright side is said user was actually unaware of the Cyberse’s origins. I was actually trapped for a bit because I’m guessing they wanted to investigate the Cyberse, itself, Lord Revolver.” He reported, identifying the ‘robot’ as Revolver. Revolver himself showed surprise.

“He used Cyberse, but he didn’t have a corresponding Ignis?” He asked the Knight who nodded.

“His known Cyberse Cards more matches our enemy, Playmaker’s choices of Attribute.” The Knight explained before tapping something on his duel disk. A Screen open in front of Revolver which showed the Duel as well as the Cyberse cards in question and their known effects.

“…Interesting…None of these cards can match what the Ignis could possibly make. They more look like other people…” Revolver mused about these new .hacker monsters. He then smiled, wondering what kind of monsters he had up his sleeve. He turned to the Knight, shocked at his action, before motioning him to stand. “Come, the other Knights need to be informed of this development.” He explained, sporting an almost maniacal grin.

Chapter 13: Xeno-Monado

-Ponyville outskirts-

Garebel sighed, leaning against a tree, trying to relax. Rarity’s fashion show was a greater success than thought, with Hoity Toity ordering 7 dozen each of the dresses Rarity had made without input from her friends, while Rainbow Dash admitted that her idea was indeed stupid(being laughed at while wearing the dress Rarity did made with Dash’s input helped, which did get Dash depressed, until Gilda decided to take Dash aside to have some ‘fun’ with her to cheer her up.)

He was relaxing when he noticed Pinkie Pie trotting at full speed to him. She started speaking really fast, fast enough that Garebel can’t catch a single word she was trying to say.

“Calm down, Pinkie, calm down.” He spoke, in a calm voice. “What were you trying to say?” He then asked.

“There’s a strange orb floating in the square, and My Pinkie Sense is telling me it’s not friendly.” Pinkie Pie explained fast, but it was slow enough for me to catch what she was saying.

“Lead the way!” Garebel spoke, frowning intensely.

-Ponyville Square-

Pinkie leaded Garebel to the center of the square, where a bunch of ponies were gathering around…an inactive Absent Silhouette!? He frowned upon seeing the weapon inside, a pair of claws. ‘Doesn’t match any of the ones I know of.’ He thought.

“Ah, Garebel!” Applejack shouted, letting him know where the rest of the mare 6 are. Very close to the Absent Silhouette. “Twilight is trying find any info related to this…thing.” Applejack explained before Twilight spoke up.

“Nothing! Not a single thing about this…” She said before Garebel cut in.

“Absent Silhouette.” He said, letting everypony know the name of it. “You won’t be able to find any info to begin with, they are essentially ghosts. That said, unlike ghosts, they do have enough of a physical presence to be able to fight.” He explained, before elaborating. “I fought a few alongside a friend of mine, but the symbol inside it doesn’t match the ones that were fought.” He finished, remembering the fights He had with the Absent Silhouettes, alongside Sora, Donald, & Goofy.

“I would say that’s impossible but well…” Twilight started before giving Rainbow Dash a look.

“Blame Garebel for that.” Rainbow Dash pointed out, remembering her brief stint as Kamen Rider Ghost while the RMH was being dealt with.

“Either way, all of ya stay back. I’ll handle this.” Garebel said, knowing that it’s impossible to talk to an Absent Silhouette at all. He reached to touch the orb...

“Wait!” When Rainbow Dash and Twilight tackled him, a bright flash engulfing them.

-???-

Falling face first into the ground, Garebel got stunned a bit, before quickly standing up and turned to Twilight and Rainbow Dash, idly noticing He’s in his human form.

“What’s the big idea!?” Garebel asked angrily.

“Should we talk this out with…?” Twilight started before Garebel shook his head.

“No, Absent Silhouettes are incapable of speaking. Like it or not, we have to fight our way out.” He explained, taking a look around the arena. He then saw two titans that He instantly recognize.

The Bionis and the Mechonis.

‘Being able to see both of them from one angle means we’re in Sword Valley.’ Before Garebel can think any further, he heard a whir sound.

(Play An Obstacle in Our Path!)

“Get down!!” he yelled, tackling both Rainbow Dash and Twilight to the ground. A whoosh sound indicated something just flew over them, saving their necks. Getting his wits together, Garebel looked & spotted the culprit right away. It changed its shape into a human-like configuration, before land on the opposite side of the arena from us. When the dust settled, I saw it and recognize who the Absent Silhouette is from.

Metal Face, no…

“Mumkhar...” Garebel growled before pulling out what would be an odd weapon to Rainbow Dash & Twilight, but He knew it was the only thing that could help. The Monado G…

His Monado...

As the Monado G split itself open to release an energy blade, Garebel turned to Rainbow Dash.

“Don’t go fight him using your body, Dash. The armor is too thick, you’re more likely to break your body than the enemy’s. Right now, my chosen weapon is the only one that can hurt him.” He explained to Rainbow Dash, before turning to Twilight. “The armor doesn’t nullify magic in any way, so use any offensive spells you can. The more Powerful, the better.” Garebel finished before noticing Rainbow Dash grinning. She spoke up before he can tell her it’s not going to work.

“Are they immune to lightning bolts?” Rainbow Dash asked, causing Garebel to blink.

“No, actually.” He admitted, confused at the question.

“Pegasus Magic is weather manipulation.” Rainbow Dash spoke, Garebel’s eyes widening at what Rainbow Dash meant.

“There’s clouds both above & below us.” Garebel said, knowing Rainbow Dash will realize what He said, before turning to Mumkhar. “The enemy’s coming! Let’s go!” He yelled out charging at Mumkhar. Mumkhar tried to stab him with his claws, but know that there’s a chance they were poisonous, he ducked under one and knocked the other away. Remembering the armor’s weaknesses, Garebel slashed at head level to Topple Mumkhar over, but he dodged into the path of Twilight’s spell, which removed his left arm. Taking advantage of this, Garebel tried to grab the arm, only realize how he was trying to do it.

‘Dang it! I’m not an alicorn now.’ He thought, mentally kicking himself, before backing up to dodge a kick from Mumkhar. Growling, Garebel flip the handle of the Monado G and pushed the blade forward. One difference between the original Monado and Garebel’s is that Garebel’s can transform into a blaster when needed. He fired a few blasts into Mumkhar before Mumkhar started moving faster, dodging both Twilight’s attacks and mine. Mumkhar was already posed to stab Twilight when a thunderbolt came down and struck him. Stunned, Mumkhar left himself open for a few of Garebel’s blasts to land, allowing Twilight to get some distance. Turning towards Garebel, Mumkhar had his cannon charging to take Garebel out. Realizing his method, Garebel aimed towards Mumkhar, the symbol for the corresponding Art He was going to use (斬) showing up in the glass panel inside the Monado G. We both fired at the same time, our attacks clashing.

“Monado…” He spoke as he pushed more power into the attack. “DESTROYER!!” Garebel yelled out, his attack overwhelming Mumkhar’s. As the attack engulfed Mumkhar, creating an explosion, Garebel fell to my knees, exhausted with his Monado back into its sword form.

“Is it over?” Twilight asked after she & Rainbow Dash rushed back to my side. Garebel frowned as he shook his head.

“The wreckage should have been replaced by the orb, if it was.” He explained as he looked over the flame covered wreckage, right arm hanging over Rainbow Dash’s body. Soon, Garebel heard a sound and saw some of the wreckage move before a person emerged from the wreckage. Garebel frowned, realizing who it was.

“Mumkhar survived that!?” Garebel growled out before flinching. He wasn’t hurt, but the exhaustion was getting to him. ‘I’ve gotten rusty…’ He thought. Mumkhar started charging, only to be jump away from green lighting.

“I was wondering what was going here.” A voice said before the owner dropped into view.

“Alvis!? But I thought…”. Garebel started before Alvis waved his hand and suddenly Garebel was back in his pony form.

“This sort of abnormality is my duty to fix as an administrator, despite being only an observer now. Shulk & the others are busy with trouble of their own, anyway.” Alvis explained before he added. “It seems your exhaustion was because two types of magic were in you and fighting. I simply removed the ether part.” Garebel now noticed he felt like he was at his more natural power now.

“Alright, shall we go then?” Garebel asked Alvis, whose only response was to pull out a Monado of his own. Garebel smiled before both he and Alvis charged forward. The duo attacked as though they were choreographing a dance due to how much they were in sync. Mumkhar was quickly overwhelmed from the constant barrage. He tried to dodge backwards, but another lightning bolt stunned him, which Twilight took advantage of by giving Mumkhar one last blast, which was followed up by Garebel and Alvis landing an X slash on Mumkhar’s chest. Time passed as sparks erupted off Mumkhar.

“Hehe…Perfect……” Mumkhar surprising us all, before he collapsed and was engulfed in explosion. When it cleared, the orb was present before fading away.

“It would seem that he wanted to go out fighting……” Alvis mused, before we noticed that three of us were fading along with the arena.

“Alvis…” Garebel said, turning to Alvis. “Tell Shulk and the others I said hi.” I said, before a flash of light blinded us. When we could see, we were back in Ponyville, and Alvis wasn’t among us.

“Yikes, that was exhausting.” Rainbow Dash said, holding her wings. She must have sprained them, to get the clouds in position.

“Yeah…” Twilight admitted, also feeling the same. I didn’t even reply as I basically flopped to the ground and feel asleep, instantly. Thankfully I missed the fountain altogether, though.