An annoying buzz was the first thing Flash heard as he awoke that morning.

Getting up and getting dressed he walked out his room and saw a man in his late sixties standing at the stove. He had grey skin and grey hair, with a large scar over his eye. This was Grand Hoof, Flash's maternal grandfather. "Morning kiddo," he said seeing him coming out.

"Aren't you supposed to be at work?" Flash asked. Grand Hoof was a detective for the Ponyville Police department and had recently cracked a case, involving an illegal smuggling ring for counterfeit Duel Disks.

"They gave my entire team the week of after catching those criminals," Grand Hoof explained.

"Great." Flash replied.

"You okay?" Grand Hoof asked. "You seem down...well, downer than usual."

"Just something on my mind," Flash replied.

"Anything I can help with?" Grand Hoof replied.

"No," Flash replied, "just something I need to figure out." He quickly ate his breakfast and began packing for school, as he grabbed his Duel Disk Grand Hoof saw it and smiled.

"So you getting back into Duelling?" He asked.

"I guess."

"What brought this on?" He asked

"Just kinda happened," Flash replied before heading to the door, stopping at another door and knocking. "Time to get up," he was then out the door.

With him gone Grand Hoof sighed and turned to a picture on the mantle. The picture showed a man and a woman, the man looked like an older version of Flash with green eyes while the woman had silver skin and purple hair, they stood close showing a romantic bond. "Sometimes I wonder where he gets that sullen demeanour from, obviously not you two."

Back with Flash we find him walking to school but his head was elsewhere.

"In the heat of battle, a Duellist's true character is revealed," Cold said, "and depending on your actions, your insecurities become crystal clear to your opponent."

That Duellist hadn't even broken a sweat during the Duel, and had read every move Flash had made. Flash wondered whether he had had any advantage over him, or had everything he'd done been playing into his hand.

Flash was so focused on his thoughts that he didn't see someone walking around the corner and straight into him. "Oh, sorry." Flash instantly recognised the voice to be Twilight, who realised it was him and blushed. "We really gotta to stop bumping into each other like this," she said smiling at him only for him to give a frown and continue walking on. Noticing the downed look he was sporting Twilight ran up to him and walked besides him, before she asked, "are you okay?"

"I'm fine," Flash lied, "just having a bad day."

"Oh," Twilight said, "well okay. So, what happened yesterday? Did the guy show up?"

"No," Flash replied, "he didn't."

"Oh to bad," she said, "did you maybe find out anything new about Pendulum cards?"

"Yeah," Flash replied though he didn't sound exited, "they become Spell cards in the Pendulum zone."

"Really?" Twilight said her eyes going wide. "Well that explains why the bottom of the card is that colour."

"Yeah" Flash replied as they finally arrived at school.

"So what you doing after class?" she asked as they went in. "Gonna find someone to Duel?"

"Don't know." Flash replied causing Twilight to roll her eyes. Talking to him today was like pulling teeth.

The bell rang and Flash and Twilight had to go their separate ways to different classes. As she watched him walk down the hall she couldn't help but feel something was up with him, since he was back to being the same sullen guy he was when she first met him. Suddenly an idea popped into her head, that made her grin...there was only one person she knew who could make anyone laugh, and that was what Flash needed right now.

Flash sat in class staring out the window remembering what that guy had said about him.

"Do you expect me to treat you like a real Duellist?" Cold Steel asked. "Without showing me anything worth watching."

But what else was there? Flash had his Pendulum Summon but what else could his deck do to win a Duel?

"Mr. Sentry." Flash spun his head around to see the teacher looking at him not to happily.

"Yes miss?" he asked.

"I apologies for my lesson being so boring that you would rather look out the window," she said, "but do try and pay attention."

"Yes miss." He replied as his face went red as everyone looked at him.

"That's better." She said turning back and walking to the board.

After school let out Flash was on his way home when he suddenly heard someone running up to him and yell. "Flash!" He turned to see Twilight running up to him. "Can you give me a hand with something?"

"What do you need?" he asked.

"It's hard to explain." Twilight replied. "I'll need to show you, but we need to go through the park."

"Okay." Flash said. He might as well since he went through there to get home.

"Great," Twilight replied with a smile, "let's go." And with that Flash and Twilight headed to the park, as Twilight lead them to the area he had Duelled against Garble at.

"What are we doing here?" Flash asked.

"We're here for a Duel." Twilight said.

"But haven't we already Duelled?" Flash asked. "Why would we Duel again?"

"First of all," Twilight said, "your allowed to Duel someone more than once. Secondly, I'm not the one your Duelling."

"Then who-" Flash was cut off suddenly when a high pitched voice called out.

"Right here Mr. Grumpy Pants." He spun around to see Twilight's friends enter the area. The pink haired girl he remembered as Pinkie Pie stood at the front carrying a pink Duel Disk.

"You?" Flash said before looking at Twilight in disbelief.

"First off don't underestimate Pinkie's skill," Twilight told him, "and secondly I think she can help you."

"Help me with what?" Flash asked.

"You'll have to Duel her to find out."

That was how Flash found himself facing off against Pinkie. He strapped on his Duel Disk as Pinkie activated hers forming a pink energy blade.

"Let's get this over with" Flash said as his orange blade appeared.

"DUEL."

Flash: 4000
Pinkie: 4000

"I'll take the first move," Flash said. "I summon Cybernetic Lancer in ATK mode." (A1700/D0/L4) "That's all."

"It's my turn," Pinkie said as she drew with a twirl. "I draw. I summon Balloon Animal Lion." The monster was a bunch of yellow party balloons that had been shaped into that of a lion, with orange balloons used for its mane and its face was drawn on in felt tip. (A1500/D1200/L4)

"But it has less ATK than mine," Flash said. "If it attacks, it will be destroyed."

"Next, I activate its effect. By discarding one card, I can Special Summon one Balloon Animal monster from my deck. I summon Balloon Animal Eagle." A bird made from brown balloons with white balloons for a head appeared. (A1200/D800/L3) "Since "Balloon Animal Eagle was summoned this way, it gains one Level." (A1200/D800/L4)

"Two Level 4 monsters?" Flash said remembering what happens when there are at least two monsters of the same Level.

"I overlay my level 4 Lion and Eagle," Pinkie said. Her two monsters changed into lights as they flew in the air. A vortex appeared on the ground as the lights entered it. "Now with the mighty strength of a lion and the winged flight of an eagle, you shall take flight." The vortex exploded. "I XYZ SUMMON."

From out of the portal came a new monster. It looked like a four legged eagle made from balloons with a yellow behind, brown front and white head. Two lights surround it. "Balloon Animal Griffon." (A2200/D1800/R4)

"An Xyz Summoner?" Flash asked.

"That's right," Pinkie said. "I now activate my monster's effect. By detaching one Overlay Unit, I can guess one card type and draw one card. If it's the same card type as the guessed card type, Balloon Animal Griffon will gain 1000 ATK." The griffon bites down on an Overlay Unit as Pinkie reaches for her deck. "I declare Spell Card." Pinkie draws a card. "It's Giant Trunade." (A3200/D1800/R4)

"Uh oh." Flash said.

"Now I attack," Pinkie said. The griffon inflated its wings to take off, flying towards Cybernetic Lancer before stomping on him destroying him.

Flash: 2500
Pinkie: 4000

"I place one card face down end my turn," Pinkie said.

"It's my turn," Flash said. "I draw. I activate Reload. With this I can return my entire hand into my deck and redraw." Flash took his hand and placed it in his deck before it shuffled and he redrew. "Next, I summon Magna Dragon Raider." (A300/D200/L1) "Next I activate its special ability to Special Summon Magna Dragon Fighter." (A1500/D1200/L4) "Next I Set my monsters in the Link Arrows. I LINK SUMMON."

"Magna Champion Gladio." (2100/LINK-2/Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right)

"Awesome," Rainbow Dash said, "a new Link monster."

"But it's weaker than Balloon Animal Griffon," Twilight said. "If it attacks, it will be destroyed."

"True," Flash said. "But now I can activate this. The spell Bringer of the Light. Now I can bring back one LIGHT monster from my Graveyard. Come back Cybernetic Lancer." (A1700/D0/L4) "Now with the effect of Magna Champion Gladio, all monsters I control that it points to gain 800 ATK." (A2500/D0/L4) "I now attack with Cybernetic Lancer," Flash said as the robotic knight charged.

"I activate my face down," Pinkie said. "Defense Switch. This card allows me to switch one monster I control to Defense Position. I choose my Balloon Animal Griffon." The griffon took a defensive stance as the robotic knight slashed at the griffon, destroying it.

"Oh yeah. Well, if my monster attacks a Defense Position monster, you take piercing damage." Flash said.

Flash: 2500
Pinkie: 3300

"Now I attack with Gladio," Flash said. "By the way, if I attack with Gladio while it points to a monster, you can't activate any card effects in response to its attack." Gladio slashed at Pinkie.

Flash 2500
Pinkie: 1200

"I end my turn," Flash said. "Let's see what else you can do."

"It's my turn," Pinkie said. "I draw and lookie. I've got a good one. I summon Balloon Animal Dog." A monster made out of red balloons twisted into the shape of a dog appeared. (A1000/D1000/L3) "Next I activate Balloon Duplication. With this I can Special Summon up to two more copies of the monster on my field. I summon two more copies of Balloon Animal Dog." (A1000/D1000/L3) "Next I activate the effect of the first Balloon Animal Dog. Now all monsters' Levels increase by 1." (A1000/D1000/L4) "And there's no fun in it if I stop there." (A1000/D1000/L5) I now overlay my three Level 5 Balloon Animal Dogs." All three dogs turn into lights as they entered a vortex in the ground. "A balloon dog with one head isn't fun enough. How about a dog with three heads? Now that's all of the fun." The vortex exploded. "I XYZ SUMMON."

The portal exploded revealing the new monster. "The creature was a bulkier version of Balloon Animal Dog, that was about the size of an elephant but had three heads. Three lights surround it. "Balloon Animal Cerberus." (A3000/D3000/R5)

"Next I activate its special ability," Pinkie said as one of the lights entered its center mouth. "By detaching one Overlay Unit, all monsters you control lose 300 ATK." The cerberus howled as the two monsters powered down. (1800/LINK-2/Bottom-Left, Bottom-Right) (A2200/D0/L4) "Now I attack your lancer," Pinkie said as the cerberus rushed forward and chomped down on the robotic knight, destroying it.

Flash: 1700
Pinkie: 1200

"I end my turn," Pinkie said.

"Why didn't you attack Gladio," Flash said. "It's weaker."

"It's because I want you to bring out your ace and see it battle mine," Pinkie said. "That's fun."

"Yeah it is," Flash said. "I draw. I now summon Light Spear Dragon." (A1900/D0/L4) I now create the ultimate circuit." The board appeared again. "The summoning conditions require at least two LIGHT monsters. I set Gladio and Light Spear Dragon in the Link Arrows." Gladio split into two versions of itself before being sucked into the tornadoes and Light Spear Dragon got sucked into the tornado before they entered the arrows. "I LINK SUMMON."

A dragon appeared. This one resembled Magna Flash Dragon, but it was light blue instead and it was carrying a shield with a mirror. "Flashforward Dragon." (2500/LINK-3/Top, Bottom, Bottom-Right)

"A new Link Monster?" Pinkie said. "Amazing." she exclaimed.

"If you think it's amazing," Flash said. "Check out its abilities. Once a turn, I can add 1 Spell Card from my Graveyard to my hand." A card came out from his Duel Disk as he took it and placed it in his hand. Now I activate it. Bringer of the Light. I choose to bring back Cybernetic Lancer." (A1700/D0/L4)

"Cool, but it's not enough to destroy my monster," Pinkie said.

"I know," Flash said. "Which is why I can use its second special ability. All monsters you control lose ATK equal to the Level of all monsters it points to." Flashforward Dragon turned around as a reflection of Cybernetic Lancer appeared on the mirror as it turned around and fired a blast of light from it at Balloon Animal Cerberus. (A1800/D3000/R5)

"Uh oh," Pinkie said.

"Next I activate its final ability," Flash said. "By banishing Magna Flash Dragon, it gains its special abilities." An image of Magna Flash Dragon appeared on the mirror. (A3500/LINK-3/Top, Bottom, Bottom-Right) "Now I attack." Flashforward Dragon leaped as it charged at the cerberus. A blade appeared from under the shield as it slashed the cerberus, destroying it and blowing Pinkie off her feet.

Flash: 1700 (winner)
Pinkie: 0

As the field and monsters disappeared Flash deactivated his Duel Disk and looked over at Pinkie to see she wasn't getting up.

"Pinkie!" Flash ran towards her hoping she wasn't hurt. But as he drew closer his worries were softened when he heard her laughing. "You’re okay."

"Are you kidding?" Pinkie said between fits of giggles. "I'm great, that was so much fun."

"It sure was," Flash turned to see Twilight and her friends coming up close. "So Flash, did you figure out why I wanted you to Duel Pinkie?"

"Yeah," he replied,"I think I do. You wanted to show me that Duelling isn't always about winning."

"That's right." Twilight said. "Duels can be intense and serious, and sometimes too much rides on them to enjoy. But if you only ever see a Duel like that, then your love for the game will disappear."

"I think that's what happened to me." Flash said taking out his deck. "When I was young I used to live in a neighbourhood where Duelling was about getting respect, not just fun. I used to lose so much that I lost my love of the game, but now since I got this deck I've been feeling a little better each time I Duel."

"Remember that feeling," Applejack said, "the next time a Duel becomes something other than having fun, remember what a real Duel is."

"I will," Flash said before turning to them, "thanks...I needed this."

"What are friends for?" Twilight said.

"Friends." Flash never had any friends before, but something about these girls made him smile at the thought. Duelling had given him the chance to make friends he'd never been able to have before, and that was something he was now thankful for.

Author's Note

And that's it. What do you think? I got the idea of monsters being similar to the original monster from Yu-Gi-Oh! VRAINS, which coincidentally debuted Link Monsters.