It was a normal day in Canterlot City. Well, somewhat normal. Spike sat in his room with his legs crossed as he shifted through his cards. A few days ago, Sunset Shimmer, the head of Horizon Gaming, had announced a city-wide Duel Monsters tournament.
However, this wasn't like any tournament. According to the announcement all participants would utilize Sunset’s latest portable 3D holographic technology. A technology that apparently was small enough to fit on your arm, but powerful enough to create fully 3D holograms of Duel Monsters. Spike shuffled through his Elemental HEROes, trying to decide which ones would work best for the tournament.
"Hmm. Should I go for a normal monster deck and focus on the core heroes, or maybe one focusing on the side heroes?"
As Spike puzzled over which way to build his deck he heard a knock at the front door. Putting his cards down he walked to the living room and opened the front door where he was greeted by a tall mailwoman with a happy smile. Spike blinked at the mail woman, noting her crossed eyes.
"Package for Spike Drake," she said cheerfully and held out the box and delivery slip to his face.
Spike was a bit put off by the woman’s forwardness of the woman and simply smiled and signed.
“Uhhh, thanks," he said as he sighed.
The mailwoman gave a salute and then turned and jogged back to her van. Spike shook his head at the peculiar woman then closed the door and walked inside to inspect his new package.
Turning it over he saw a note from his father, Astral Shadow, that read, "Son, I'm sorry I couldn't make the trip back like I said I would. There's been freak sandstorms that are delaying a lot of flights. I hope this gift will make it up to you. It's a trinket from Egypt. Good luck in the tournament. I know you've been working hard on building your deck. I'll be cheering you on, even if I'm stuck in Egypt."
Spike sighed, "Of course he will." His father was an archaeologist consultant, and thus was constantly on the move. Going from archeology dig to archeology dig and ensuring the sites were set up right and not violating any government rules. As a result, Spike was likely to see his father once a month. Even less now that his mother had died. Still, at least his father was trying to be there for him. Often sending his gifts and letters all about his travels.
Ripping open the package Spike tilted his head as inside he found what looked to be a gold choker. Spike wasn’t sure whether to be happy or annoyed. Sure, the choker went with the dark clothes he wore, but gold? Gold really wasn’t his style. ``Guess I can at least try it,” he thought.
Returning to his room Spike placed the choker around his neck and looked at himself in the mirror. While gold wasn’t really his favorite color, he did have to admit it went well with the dark sleeveless shirt and skinny jeans he usually wore. "Well, dad does have a good eye when it comes to my taste in fashion," he said before gathering up his cards and heading out to meet his friends at Donut Joe’s. While the tournament was set to start today, no actual location had been given. Those who qualified had simply been told to register and given one of the new wearable duel disks.
A half an hour later Spike arrived at the donut and sweets shop where his friends were already seated at a booth in the corner. Pinkie Pie waved her arm manically upon seeing him. “SPIKE OVER HERE!” she shouted, turning everyone’s attention toward him as he blushed and walked over to sit with his friends.
Rainbow Dash chuckled as Spike slumped down and tried hard to disappear after Pinkie’s simply. "Hey squirt, bout time you made it. You ready for the tournament?"
Spike nodded, "I think so. Still figuring out a few last-minute cards.”
“You gonna be running, HEROes like ya always do?” asked Applejack.
Spike nodded. “Of course. They have tons of support and like a million ways to build an awesome deck with them. HEROes rock."
Applejack shrugged. “Eh. Too complicated for me. Just give me my Amazons. They’ll run over anything.”
“Not if my jets run circles around them,” pipped Dash, as the two rivals glared at one another.
Rarity simply shocked her head as the two hotheads of the group bickered once again. It was then she noticed Spike's new choker. "Spike, where did you get that choker? It's simply to die for!"
Spike smiled as Rarity complimented him. "It was a gift from my dad. Sandstorms delayed his flight, so he couldn't be here to give it in person."
Applejack supportably patted her friend on the back saying, "Don't worry about it Spike, we know it hasn't been easy for you and your dad."
Spike thanked his friend, "Thanks Applejack. Having you guys with me makes things easier to handle."
As the two continued to eat the inside wall television suddenly changed from the local baseball game to a close up of Sunset Shimmer.
"Ladies and gentlemen, duelists of all ages. I'm happy to announce that the Battle City tournament is now beginning. The rules are simple. The entire city of Canterlot is now the location for this grand tournament. The holo devices you received, that I designed myself, are not only capable of displaying your duel in full 3D. But will track the duel in real time and upload it as it happens to Horizon network. Streaming every duel that takes place during the tournament world wide! Each duelst has been given 1 locator card. In order to qualify for the finals you must obtain six more from other duelists. As well as locator cards, duelists must wager their rarest card on a duel."
Spike looked at his favorite card, Elemental HERO Wild Wingman, and said to himself, "I can't afford to lose you buddy. Something about you... we have a bond. A bond between a monster and a duelist... it's strange, but it feels natural. The others have cards like that too, everyone has a card that means the world to them for one reason or another."
He then spoke out loud, "Well, we better get going, unless we plan on dueling each other here and now."
The girls and Spike laughed before finishing their meals and parting ways to find their first opponent.
Meanwhile in Spike's mind...
A strange laughter echoed deep within the darkest recess of Spike's mind, and a voice spoke, similar to Spike's, but with much more confidence. The voice said, "Spike, I can help you fulfill your greatest dreams. Gaining the affection of the love of your life, rebuilding your relationship with your father, and anything more. All you need to do is free me from the chains of the millennium."
Spike was taken aback by a voice suddenly taking to him, but years of being friends with Twilight had taught him to take things like this in stride as he cautiously replied back. Keeping his voice low so nobody would think he was insane as he talked to himself, "The Millennium Collar? That's what my father's gift was? Does that mean you're a spirit like the Pharaoh in Twilight's Millennium Puzzle?"
Spike swore he could almost hear the voice grin. "Yes, the Pharaoh was my closest friend, similar to how you are Twilight's closest friend. My name... well, like the Pharaoh, my name has been lost to time."
"Woah. What are the odds that both me and Twilight get an item with an ancient spirit in it. Well, the Pharaoh is a good guy, so I guess you must be too. I’d be glad to help you. You deserve to be at peace just like the Pharaoh, and I'll help you get there just like Twilight is."
The voice smiled, "Thank you Spike, you are truly a kind soul. I will never forget your kindness."
Spike smiled back, "You're welcome, I’d never turn down somebody who needs help, and I never give up on a promise."
"You will not regret this Spike. If you wish, you may call me Yami King. The only thing I remember about my past life was that I was the king of a kingdom close to the Pharaoh's kingdom."
And so, the Battle City Tournament has begun. Spike has entered the tournament, now imbedded with an ancient spirit from his new Millennium Collar. But does he know the true power of this spirit? Is he truly a close friend of the Pharaoh? He claims he was once a king like the Pharaoh once was. Is that true, or is this so-called Yami King using Spike?
And with the start of the tournament, Spike is in it to win it, but there are other duelists who are entered with malicious intentions. Will Spike and Yami King be able to defeat them and protect their friends?
Only time will tell. The clock is now ticking, this is the beginning of a new story…
Despite the Battle City Tournament taking place, Spike still had to go to school. It was study break, and he was altering his HERO deck to include some new cards that the Supreme King had recommended. He said to himself, "I never knew there were so many different HERO monsters, and they're all so cool!"
Shortly after he finished altering his deck, he saw a student who he recognized as Blueblood, laughing at another student, Button Mash, and could overhear him saying, "How pathetic! Did you really think those cards could beat mine? I'm one of the richest people in town, I have the money to get the best cards!"
Spike growled, if there was one thing he hated, it was bullies. He stood up and walked over to them and said, "You really think you're special? You're just a royal prick who flaunts his money around, I'm surprised you haven't been mugged before."
Blueblood growled, "You little runt! My cards are the best, you can't possibly beat me!"
Spike let the Supreme King take control and he became Yami Spike before saying, "You duel like a coward, using money doesn't make you a better duelist, you're essentially buying your way in."
Blueblood rolled his eyes, "And what's the problem with that? I have the money to afford the best, so the best is what I deserve."
Spike yawned and told him, "In other words, you have no skill, and I'll prove it." looking to the clock on the wall, he said, "It's too late to start a duel here and now, meet me in the courtyard after class. My HEROs will take you down."
Blueblood laughed, "Please, I could easily beat you before the bell rings, but fine, I'll give you the time to think this over and choose not to duel me."
As the bell rang, Spike headed to his next class, and as he was in the hallway, he could hear people whispering about the fact he stood up to Blueblood.
Two hours later...
Spike was looking through his cards as he waited for Blueblood to show up. When he did, he stood up and said, "Well, I'm here, and so are you. I suppose you took very little time deciding what cards to use."
Blueblood shrugged smugly and said, "Like it matters, you can't beat my cards."
Spike rolled his eyes, "We'll see about that." before shuffling his deck and inserting it into his duel disk. "For sport's sake, I'll let you go first."
As Blueblood shuffled his deck and put it in his own duel disk, he drew his first five cards. "I summon Volcanic Rocket in Attack Position! Next, using its effect, I can get a Blaze Accelerator from my deck! Next, I activate Blaze Accelerator, but since you don't have any monsters on the field, I can't activate its effects yet, so I end my turn."
Spike drew a card from his deck and smirked, before saying to Blueblood, "Tell me, what do you think about karma?" before holding his hand out, not showing his hand though, he said, "With the six cards I hold in my hand, I'll defeat you in this first, and only turn!"
Blueblood laughed, almost to the point where he was catching his breath, "Seriously? You think a brat like you can beat me on his first turn? You really are delusional!"
Spike chuckled, "Seems that way, but you'll see what I mean soon enough. First, I summon Evil HERO Infernal Gainer in Attack Position! Next, I think I'll use this spell card, Dark Fusion! Dark Fusion lets me summon a Fusion monster from my Extra deck, as long as I have the right materials."
Blueblood was shocked that Spike was able to perform a fusion summon on his first turn, but kept his composure, "Like you have any good Fusions."
Spike rolled his eyes and said, "By fusing my Evil HERO Malicious Edge with another Evil HERO Malicious Edge, I call out this monster! Witness darkness itself! Evil HERO Malicious Fiend!"
Blueblood's eyes went wide when he saw the powerful Evil HERO standing against him, and stuttered, "Wh-What!? How could a trash urchin like you get such a rare card!? You must have stolen it!"
Spike growled, "I'm no thief Blueblood, I duel with honor, and I rely on my skill, not my allowance. Sure, I have some luck, but luck is still no substitute for true skill. And I'm not done with my turn! I activate Infernal Gainer's effect! By sending it to the future, my Evil HERO Malicious Fiend can attack twice this battle phase!" before sending Evil HERO Infernal Gainer to his banished zone on his duel disk.
Blueblood's legs were shaking as if they were made of jelly, "I-I can't believe this! This can't be happening!"
Spike smiled, "Sorry, but this is no nightmare! Malicious Fiend, attack his Volcanic Rocket!" As his fiend attacked, it dug its claws into the monster, destroying it completely.
As his Life Points fell to 2400, Blueblood was panicking, saying, "Please! We can work something out! I'll pay you!"
Spike shook his head, chuckling lightly, "Pay me? To throw a duel? Please, you just proved my point about you. You don't have skill; you just have money. No self-respecting duelist would ever throw a duel for money. Let's end this, Evil HERO Malicious Fiend, attack his life points directly!"
As Blueblood whimpered, Malicious Fiend attacked him the same way it attacked his Volcanic Rocket, and even though the claws were holographic, Blueblood screamed as they dug into him and his Life Points fell to 0. "I... I lost... but... but how? I have great cards, I spent hundreds on my deck, how could I lose?"
Spike told him, "Just because you have expensive cards doesn't mean you know how to use them. I wouldn't be surprised if you paid that student to lose during study break, you've probably never won a duel the old-fashioned way."
Blueblood stood silent, he didn't want to admit it, but Spike was right, all his life, he'd bribed people into throwing duels. He had never won a duel in his life. As he walked off, his head down, other students cheered for Spike.
Spike smiled as Blueblood left, he could tell his words got to him in the end. School had ended for the day, so he decided he was going to see Twilight at her grandfather's game shop to see what she thought of his new deck and to tell her how he stood up to a bully, something she had always done for him when they were kids.
