//------------------------------// // Turn 38, Light of the Pendulum // Story: Yugioh EQG // by Banshee531 //------------------------------// The Duel between Flash Sentry and Grand Hoof continued with Flash about to start his turn. "This is where the real Duel starts," he said as he drew. "First I play Pot of Greed, which will let me draw two new cards," he drew his cards and smiled. "Now watch as Solaris and Lunara cut through space time and carve the arc of victory," the wizards fired their magics and the portal formed above Flash's head. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!" The portal opened and two lights shot out and struck the ground. "To arms, Flash Knight." (A1800/D600/L4/P7) "Shine your light of victory, Flash Heart Dragon." (A2500/D2000/L7/P4) "ALRIGHT" everyone cheered seeing Flash's best card. "With the skill of Flash Heart Dragon," Flash said, "I send Shinobi Shadow Striker to the bottom of the deck." Grand Hoof looked over at his strategies key aspect, as a wormhole opened up and swallowed him. "Without Shadow Striker," Twilight said, "Grand Hoof can't use his three card combo." "Now Twin Lazor Dragon attack Shinobi Commander," Flash ordered as his robotic dinosaur fired one of its cannons at the armoured ninja. "With Twin Blade's ability," Grand Hoof said, "I sacrifice Shinobi Commander." The sword wielding samurai slashed through its comrade before the blast could hit him. "Why'd he do that?" Sweetie Bell asked. "His monster would have been destroyed anyway," Rarity explained, "so Grand Hoof chose to use him to negate the attack and save his life points." "Now Twin Lazor Dragon's second attack is coming at Shinobi Stealth Rouge," another blast was fire at the ninja monster. "Once again Twin Blade will negate your attack," Grand Hoof said as his ace cut through Stealth Rouge. "Sorry Flash," he said. "Don't be," Flash said, "you did exactly what I wanted you to do." Grand Hoof raised his eyebrow, only to realise his field was almost empty and Flash still had his best card. "Flash Heart Dragon attack Twin Blade Shinobi," Flash ordered as his monsters boosters came to life and propelled it forwards. With one swift punch, Flash Heart destroyed Twin Blade Shinobi. Grand: 3900 Flash: 3400 "And now," Flash said, "Flash Knight will attack you directly." The Pendulum knight charged at Grand Hoof and slashed him down the chest. Grand: 2100 Flash: 3400 "I activate my face down," Grand Hoof as his card flipped up revealing a Trap, "Ninjutsu Art of Wound Recovery. This card allows me to draw one card for every Ninja destroyed this turn." Grand drew three cards from his deck. "I end my turn with a face down," Flash said. Once that was done he smiled. "How'd you like that Gramps? I managed to break through your impenetrable defence." "Indeed you did," Grand replied, "with the power of your Pendulum Summon you overcame a stratagy that would destroy most Duellists. Tell me, the Pendulum cards you use. What do they say about you?" Flash froze at the question, confused why he would ask. "Every card has a purpose in the deck," Grand Hoof explained seeing his confusion, "they each tell a story about the Duellist who uses them. So I ask, what do the Pendulum cards tell about you?" Flash looked up at Flash Heart, his Magna Casters and then down at his deck. Flash's mind flash back to the day he found them in his locker, then to the first time he used them against Garble. He remembered the first time he Duelled Twilight and meeting all of his friends. The first time he lost against Cold and everything else he'd been through. Despite all those memories, he wasn't sure what the card said about him. "Can't answer huh?" Grand asked, "maybe it'll come to you if we keep Duelling. It's my turn...I draw." Grand looked at his hand and smiled, "I activate Ninjutsu Art of Ambush. This card lets me remove a Ninja monster in my graveyard and draw cards equal to its level," he explained as he removed a card. "I remove Shinobi Commander and draw four cards," he drew and added the cards to his hand. "Seven cards," Twilight said, "who knows what he could do with them." "But Flash took out his best card," Spike said, "so what more can he do." "Now my boy," Grand Hoof said, "who said Twin Blade Shinobi was my best card?" "It's not?" Spike asked nervously. "No," he replied, "let me show you my best card." Grand took a card from his hand, "in order to summon it, I have to remove Ninja Monsters from my graveyard whose levels are equal to or higher then his. I remove Shinobi Stealth Rouge and Twin Blade Shinobi." "Those two will equal level ten," Twilight said. "This is gonna be big," Rainbow said. "Now rise, Grandmaster Shinobi Warlord!" The ground below them broke apart as a new monster rose up. It was a large bulky man who stood at about thirty feet in height, wearing a crimson red kimono. He wore a red demon mask which covered everything but his mouth and moustache with golden horns protruding from it. He had white hair and stood on geta shoes. In his hand was a black Japanese war fan. (A3000/D3000/L10) Everyone stood in shock at sight of the new monster. "I thought ninjas were suppose to be subtle," Rainbow said, "that thing is anything but." "What is that thing?" Applejack asked. "I'm not sure," Twilight said, "but it kind of looks like the Japanese warlord Takeda Shingen." "Now I summon Shinobi Footsoilder." A ninja in green clothing under black armour appeared with a samurai war helmet on his head. (A1600/D1400/L4) "And then I equip him with the Ninja Weapon Naginata," a long bladed staff appeared in Footsoilder's hand. (A2100/D1400/L4) "Now attack Flash Knight," Grand ordered his Footsoilder who charged forward and slashed the naginata at Flash's monster and impaling him. Grand: 2100 Flash: 3100 "I activate my face downs," Flash said, "Stardust Draw and Code Change. Code Change will rewrite Stardust Draw's text to two thousand, allowing Flash Knight to activate it and I draw four cards. "Well now Grandmaster will destroy Twin Lazor Dragon." The giant man raised its colossal foot over the robotic brachiosaurus and stomped it down, crushing Twin Lazor Dragon Grand: 2100 Flash: 2200 "I'll place two card face down and end my turn," Grand Hoof said. "Then it's my turn," Flash said, "I draw and activate the Spell card Mystical Space Typhoon." A tornado appeared on the field which engulfed Lunara, destroying her. "Why would you destroy your own Pendulum card?" Grand Hoof asked. "To make room for this," Flash said placing a card on his Duel Disk, "I reset the Pendulum Scale with Scale three Alchemy Dracokid." The pillar to his right reappeared as the small dragon flew up. "Now I can carve the arc of victory once more," Flash said as the portal began to form. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!" The portal opened and a single light shot out. "Invoke your moonlight Magic, Magna Caster Lunara." (A2400/D1200/L6/P1) "Here it comes," Scootaloo cheered. "This might be just what Flash needed," Twilight said. "Now I'm using Alchemy Dracokid's Pendulum Ability," Flash said as the small dragon uncorked its beaker. The smoke flew out and engulfed the two monsters on his field, before being pulled back into the bottle. "Now watch as I fuse the unequalled might of a Dragon with mystic properties of a Spellcaster," Flash chanted as the beaker was opened and the smoke shot out. "I FUSION SUMMON!" The smoke cleared revealing the Fusion Monster. "Spectral Nova Dragon." (A3000/D2000/L8) "An incredible feat," Grand said looking over the dragon, "I remember back when Fusion Summoning was such a high level skill that only master Duellists could pull it off. You kids today have it so easy." He looked back at Flash, a quizzical look in his eye. "You first summoned this monster during your Duel with Tidal Wave, am I correct?" Everyone looked over at Tidal who smiled, while Flash simply nodded in response. "Tell me," Grand said, "the first time you Fusion Summoned what was going through your mind?" This again. Flash looked up at his Fusion Monster and thought back. "I first learned about Fusion Summoning from Pinkie Pie," he said, "she showed me that there was more to Duel Monsters then just summoning strong creatures. Only by working together with your monsters could your truly unleash your decks full strength. Pinkie smiled remembering the super fun Duel they had had in the park that one time. "Then I Duelled Rarity and she showed me how many different ways of Fusion there was, how you had to be flexible with it." Both Rarity and Scootaloo smiled remembering that day. "I wanted to help my deck grow," Flash continued, "to help my cards work better together as a team. Fusion Summoning was my answer." He looked up at his dragon and smiled, "my Fusion Summon was born through that desire to fight as one." Grand Hoof smiled. "Good answer, so show me the power born from that desire." Flash nodded and looked up at Spectral Nova Dragon. "When Spectral Nova Dragon attacks, I can draw one card and depending on the card I can activate an effect." The Fusion Monster aimed its cannons at Grandmaster Shinobi Warlord, as Flash went to his deck. "Here goes...I draw!" He drew his card and looked at it...before smiling. "I got Starbreak Dragon, so I'll be cutting your monsters ATK points by his amount." His dragon shot an red lazor a Grandmaster...but. "I activate Grandmaster's special ability," Grand Hoof said, "by tributing a ninja monster my monster becomes immune to all Spells, Traps and Monster effects for the turn." Footsoilder became a spectral entity which flew up into Grandmaster's war fan, as he used it to block the Fusion Monsters ability. "Since Ninja Weapon Naginata was sent to the graveyard I can draw two cards." Flash growled seeing his move negated. "Next I activate my face down," Grand said as his face down flipped up showing a Spell, "Ninjutsu Art of Reanimation. This card lets me summon a ninja monster from my graveyard and summon it to the field in DEF mode." Shinobi Footsoilder reappeared on the field, kneeling down. "I end my turn with a face down," Flash said. "It's my draw," Grand Hoof said, "and with it Grandmaster's ability activates." Grand's monsters began to glow. "During each of my Standby Phases, my Shinobi Warlord will increase its ATK points by a hundred points for each ninja on my field and right now I have two. (A3200/D3000/L10) "A," Flash said deadpan. "Next I sacrifice Shinobi Footsoilder to summon Shinobi Sure Shot," his monster disappeared and was replaced by a ninja with a bow and arrow. (A2100/D1600/L6) "Now Shinobi Warlord, destroy Spectral Nova Dragon," Grand ordered as his monster once again raised its giant foot and stomped down on the Fusion Monster. Grand: 2100 Flash: 2000 "Now Sure Shot," he said, "finish this." The archer Ninja raised its bow and aimed at Flash and fired its arrow. "If this attack hits it's all over," Sweetie said. "Flash!" Twilight called out. "I activate my face down," Flash said as his card flipped up, "Defence Draw. Not only am I protected from your monsters attack but I can also draw a card." A force field appeared in front of him which the arrow bounced off. "That was close," Rainbow said with a sigh of relief. "Don't celebrate to soon," Twilight said. "I'll end my turn, by activating the Spell card Ninjutsu Art of Sabotage. This card lets me destroy up to three cards in your Spell and Trap zones, though I'll only be destroying two...your Pendulums." Solaris and Alchemy Dracokid were destroyed as Grand Hoof drew two cards. "I'll set two cards face down and end my turn." "My turn," Flash said, "I draw and play Starburst Reload. I remove Twin Lazor Dragon from my graveyard to draw five cards." Flash looked at his new hand and nodded. "I'm setting scale two Magna Mechanic Kuda and scale eight Magna Caster Estella, into the Pendulum Zone." the Pillars of light reappeared as the new Pendulum monsters flew up. "With these two monsters I can summon monsters levelled three through seven all at the same time," he said. "Cut through space time and carve the arc of victory," the portal formed above his head. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!" The portal opened and four lights shot out. "To arms, Flash Knight." (A1800/D600/L4/P7) "Invoke your moonlight magic, Magna Caster Lunara." (A2400/D1200/L6/P1) "Cast your solar spell, Magna Caster Solaris." (A1200/D600/L3/P8) "Shine your light of victory, Flash Heart Dragon." (A2500/D2000/L7/P4) Everyone marvelled at Flash's army of monsters. "Flash Heart skill," Flash said, "Shinobi Sure Shot to the bottom of the deck." As his archer was swallowed up by the wormhole, Grand smiled. "Your not the only one who can send cards back to the deck." "What?" Flash asked. "I activate my Trap, Ninjutsu Art of Trapdoors." His face down flipped up, as a wormhole opened below Flash's ace. "With this I can send one of your Special Summoned monsters to the deck, then shuffle it." Flash Heart fell through the hole as Flash returned it to the deck, which quickly shuffled. Everyone felt worried about Flash losing his ace...everyone but Flash. "You might have taken my best card," he said, "but that doesn't mean you've beaten me." Magna Mechanic Kuda raised its spanner and fired a beam at Solaris, hitting him. "With Kuda's Pendulum Ability, I can turn one level three or lower monster on my field into a Tuner Monster." "But Flash can't Synchro summon Accel without Flash Heart?" Twilight asked. "He's not summoning Accel," Spike told her. "I tune level three Magna Caster Solaris with level four Flash Knight!" Flash yelled as the wizard changed into three lights which carved three circles that Flash Knight flew into. "With skills born through work and dedication, raise your sword for battle," the monsters disappeared in a burst of light. "I SYNCHRO SUMMON!" The light faded revealing Flash's Synchro Monster. "Magna Champion Assault Striker." (A2500/D2100/L7) "When did Flash get that?" Twilight asked. "He summoned it in the Survival Duel," Applejack said. "And I missed it?" Twilight moaned. "So now it's Synchro Summoning," Grand said, "another high level tactic. So what about this one? What does it say about you?" Flash had expected that question. "Twilight was the one who first showed me Synchro Summoning," he said remembering that Duel, "and ever since then I've Duelled tons of Synchro Duellists. Cadance, Spike, Shining Armor. They all showed me how Synchro Summoning can be used to push yourself further, so when I learned I could Synchro Summon I realised it was my chance to make myself better." Everyone thought back to when they first saw Flash Dragon Accel, and how it looked like Flash had really grown since then. "My Synchro Summoning was born from my desire to grow as a Duellist, to transcend myself." "Then show me what that growth has given you," Grand said. "I activate Assault Striker's ability," Flash said, "by discarding a card from my hand I can destroy a card on your field that's the same type as it. I discard Starbreak Dragon, to destroy Grandmaster Shinobi Warlord." "With no other monsters on his field," Scootaloo said, "Gramps can't use his monsters ability." As Assault Striker's shoulder pads opened revealing its lazor blasters, Grand Hoof smiled. "I activate my face down Out of the Shadows which lets me summon two Ninja Shadow Tokens to the field." A pair of ninjas appeared next to Grandmaster. (A0/D0/L1) "But with those out," Twilight realised. "I tribute one Shadow Token to activate Grandmaster's special ability," he said as one of the Tokens changed into a spectral entity that flew into the giants war fan. Assault Striker fired its lazors but the war fan blocked the attack. "I saw you pull off that move in the Survival Duel, so I knew what to expect." Flash growled. "You'll need to be more origanal if your gonna want to beat me kid," his grandfather said. What more was there for Flash to do? He'd used everything he knew to try and beat that monster. Flash felt his confidence begin to falter. How was he suppose to win when all his best cards had been...no he wouldn't quit. Grand Hoof had said he had his fathers blazing spirit and with it he would find a way to overcome this wall. "I will not give up!" he said. In that second his Extra Deck shot open and a light flew out. Averting his gaze so not to lose a retina, he grabbed one of the cards that was glowing and took it out to find it was the final blank Synchro card. At that moment the glow intensified and consumed the entire card before dying down revealing the new monster. This card was like nothing he had ever seen, as its top half was silver like a normal Synchro card, but the bottom was light blue light a Spell card...or a- "Pendulum," he realised. In that second every this became clear to him. Ever since his first Duel against Cold he had though that his deck was incomplete because he could only Pendulum Summon, but it wasn't like that. Every time he'd been in a bind Pendulum Summoning was what had saved him. His first Duel against Garble, against Twilight, Pinkie and Rarity and so many time after. Even when he'd first Fusion and Synchro Summoned, they had been through his Pendulum Summon by using those abilities. "I get it now." (AN) "Get what?" Grand asked. "What Pendulum Summoning says about me," Flash explained, "you asked me and now I know." He looked down at his deck and said, "when I was a kid whenever I Duelled I always lost. I thought it was because I was a weak Duellist but now I realise that it was more then that. When I first got these cards I thought I was just luck that they came to me, but it's more then that." He looked back up, "I know now that these cards were meant to come to me, that this is the deck I was destined to have. That's why I always lost as a kid, because I wasn't using my real deck and Pendulum Summoning is at the heart of that deck." He held up the new card, "and it's time to show its full power." Everyone watched as the monsters on the field and Pendulum Zones glowed. "First I'm using Estella's Pendulum Ability to decrease the level of Magna Caster Lunara by three," he said as she waved her wand and cast her magic on the other Magna Caster. (A2400/D1200/L3) "So what?" Grand said, "you can't use Kuda's ability again." "I don't need to," Flash said, "the ability of the monster I'm summoning allows me to Synchro Summon using a Pendulum Summoned Pendulum Monster in place of a Tuner Monster." Lunara transformed into three lights which carved three circles that Assault Striker flew into. "Let the ancient light of ages past shine onto this battle field," the monsters disappeared in a burst of light. "I SYNCHRO SUMMON!" The light faded revealing Flash's newest monster. It was a man in light blue and orange steampunk robe shaped armour, with gold cog like fixings on the arms, shoulders and hips. In his hand was a giant steampunk sword with two side by side blades which it held in one hand with ease. "Magna Guardian, Sacred Light Paladin." (A3300/D2500/L10/P8) Everyone was in awe at the new monster. "A Synchro Monster that's a Pendulum card," Twilight said in amazement. "Awesome," Rainbow said. "With Sacred Light Paladin's ability," Flash said, "I can add a Spell card from my graveyard back to my hand." He revealed Reverse Polarity and returned it to his hand. "And now Sacred Light Paladin attack the Grandmaster." The Synchro Pendulum Monster raised its sword and flew at the Shinobi, swung its weapon and slashed right through it. Grand: 2000 Flash: 2000 "And now my Paladin's other ability activates," Flash said, "halving your life points." The Paladin's sword shined causing Grand to be blinded. Grand: 1000 Flash: 2000 "I activate my Trap card," Grand said, "Ninjutsu Art of Body Replacement. This ability activates whenever a monster on my field is destroyed, and lets me revive it to the field." Shinobi Warlord reappeared on the field. (A3000/D3000/L10) "I end my turn." Flash said. "It's my draw," he nodded at the card he got. Now, my Grandmaster's ability raises its attack for each Ninja on my field." (A3200/D3000/L10) "Next I equip him with the Ninja Weapon Shuriken Star Blade," a sword appeared in his hand with a shuriken for the cross-guard. "This weapon raises my Ninja's ATK by one thousand points." (A4200/D3000/L10) "Now attack and as he does, Shuriken Star Blade's effect will destroy one Spell or Trap card on your field." The giant swung its sword and slashed through the Synchro Pendulum destroying it as the shuriken flew of and struck Estella, destroying her to. Grand: 1000 Flash: 1100 "When Sacred Light Paladin is destroyed," Flash said, "I can place him in any empty Pendulum Zone." The paladin reappeared in the left pillar." "I end my turn," Grand said, "but unless you can claim victory this turn. You know I'll end it next time." "Then I'll just end it here," Flash said, "It's my turn...I DRAW!" he looked at his card and smiled. "With my two monsters I'll carve the arc of victory one last time," he said as the portal formed above him. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!" The portal opened and a single light shot out. "Shine your light of victory once more, FLASH HEART DRAGON!" (A2500/D2000/L7/P4) Everyone smiled at the sight of Flash's ace. "Flash Heart's skill," Flash said, "your Ninja Shadow Token goes bye bye." The wormhole opened and sucked the token down, "and with that gone you can't activate your Grandmaster's ability, meaning I can use this card." Flash slotted a card into his Duel Disk, "Reverse Polarity. With this I can raise my monster's ATK to meet your's, while lowering yours by the same amount." (A4200/D2000/L7/P4), (A2500/D3000/L10) "Let's finish this Flash Heart," Flash yelled as his dragon's boosters fired and propelled it forwards and with one swift punch Grandmaster Shinobi Warlord was destroyed and Grand Hoof was knocked off his feet. Grand: 0 Flash: 1100 (Winner) "GRAMPS!" Flash yelled, running towards his grandfather as he got up. "I'm fine kid," Grand said as he stood up, "now that was a great Duel." "It was," Flash said, "and thanks. You helped me remember what you can do when you don't give up." "Good to hear it," Grand said. "Yeah," they turned to his friends as they drew closer. "That was amazing Flash," Twilight said. "Thanks guys," he said, "and I'm sorry for how I acted before." He frowned but it didn't last long, as Pinkie grabbed him by the checks and pulled them until he smiled. "Forget about it," she said, "SMILE!" "Okay," Flash said, "I'm smiling see." She removed her hands and sure enough he was smiling. Grand nodded and then went to his wrist. "Flash," he said, "you won...so this is yours." Suddenly Flash's wrist beeped and he looked down at his DPM as it read. Flash Sentry: 100Ps Flash looked at his grandfather and saw he wore a grey DPM. "How?" "You think I'm to old to try and compete against you?" he asked, "you just competed in my first and last Celestic Cup match." "But with those points," Twilight said. "Flash can still compete in the tournament," Scootaloo realised. "Yeah but," Rainbow said, "there's only two weeks left in the tournament. And Flash's starting from scratch." "It doesn't matter," Flash said, "I'll make it to the finals." "Yeah," Applejack said, "you can do it." "Flash," the teen turned back to his Grandfather who was holding something out to him, "take this." Flash took it and saw it was a blank Duel card. "This is..." "You mother gave me that card before she vanished," Grand explained. "She said only a Duellist of incredible skill could unlock its potential, and I believe that Duellist is you." Flash smiled and nodded before pocketing the card. "Well then," Grand Hoof said seeing the sun almost completely set, "we'd better be getting home." "Right" everyone said. Later that night. Cold was in his office looking down at the white DPM with Flash's points displayed on top. Suddenly his phone rang and he answered it. "Is it done?" "Yes," Grand's voice replied, "now tell me why it had to be done?" "In order to grow as a Duellist he needs to be pushed. If he wishes to enter the finals he will need to go all out to get there." "You ever think maybe he's gone as far as he can?" Cold said nothing. "Just keep an eye on him," and with that he hung up. The next morning Twilight and Spike were waiting outside Flash's apartment building. "How much longer is he gonna be?" Spike asked. "I'd thought he'd want to get an early start," Twilight said. "Twilight," they looked up to see Scootaloo stepping out the building, "what are you doing here?" "We're waiting for your brother," Twilight replied. "But Flash is already gone," Scootaloo said, "he was gone when I woke up this morning." "What?" Twilight asked. "It's true," they looked up to see Grand Hoof, "he's gone. Left early in the morning on his Runner." "Do you know where he went?" Spike asked. "No," he replied holding up a phone they recognised as Flash's, "he left this as well so I can't track him." Then he held out something to Twilight. "This was on the table this morning, addressed to you." Twilight took the envelope and opened it up, taking out the note inside she read it allowed. Dear Twilight. I'm sorry, but if I'm to make it to the finals in time I'll need to keep Duelling nonstop. I don't want to drag you into that so I have to say goodbye for now. You'll see me again...at the finals. Flash Sentry. Twilight shook as she finished the letter, tears in her eyes. "Flash."