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// Duel 9: The Menace Unmasked 
// Story: Yu-Gi-Oh! Friendship is Dueling 7: The Malefic Menace 
// by Bahamut0 
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	Ace had met with most of his friends to discuss his encounter ant victory over the rogue duelist who had been hunting legendary dragons. "And she would've gotten me if she wasn't cautious about my face-down! It was a good thing her virus cards didn't cripple me too much! Otherwise I'd have been in BIG trouble!"

"And it looks like you scored more than one victory.", Gold noted. "You and Timaeus managed to liberate two of the legendary dragons that were captured."

"Speaking of that, what's your connection to those two Timaeus?"

Timaeus had a proud smile as he introduced the dragons he and Ace had freed. "Ace and friends. It is my honor to introduce you to my comrades in arms. Critias, the greatest strategist I've ever known, and Hermos. The most skilled blacksmith I've ever met." Critias and Hermos bowed their heads as Timaeus introduced them. "I was wondering when you'd stop by Ace's world."

"We were searching for you when that duelist captured us.", Critias said.

"She trapped us in card form, but she couldn't conjure up malefic versions of us!", Hermos boasted! "It takes more than that to defeat a dragon knight!"

"Speaking of said duelist, can you give us any information on who we're up against?", Inferno asked.

"Yeah! Tell us what we need to know so we can clobber her!", Rainbow Dash chimed in.

"I like this girl.", Hermos said with a grin. "She's got a fire in her hotter than the one in my forge!"

"Joking aside...", Critias added. "We can tell you everything you need to know about the duelist who attacked today and imprisoned us. She thought we were blind in our card forms. But the cards also allow us a window into your world. And we heard and saw all we needed to. The duelist's name is Starlight Glimmer." Burst let out a sigh, and the group turned to face him.

"Burst? What is it?", Nightmare asked.

"I knew it. And I was hoping that I'd be wrong. Starlight dueled against me a few days back to show-off her deck. The monsters and field she used are completely identical to the cards Inferno encountered last Friday."

"So....what do we do now?", Twilight asked.

"Well we can't just up-and-confront her.", Night said as he tried to think of a strategy. "That'd put too many people at risk."

"Great. A girl comes into Shadow's life and she turns out to be the next big threat.", Ice grumbled.

"Yeah, but....should we tell him?", Ace asked. "Shadow would be crushed if he found out."

"But she could be trying to get at him and Dragluon!", Ice argued. "C'mon Ace! We've gotta think about the safety of the world AND our family! I don't know about you, but I'd rather not leave it to chance." In the meantime, Nightmare noticed Sunset's troubled expression.

"Something on your mind?", Nightmare asked.

"Starlight's not like any of the villains we've faced before. You may have caused Burst's first break-up by accident, but at least you never tried to destroy us. Starlight straight-up attacked Inferno to get at his dragon."

"Very true.", Rarity added. "But we're still behind on one crucial piece of information. WHY is she doing this?"

"Rarity's got a point. Ah can't get a read as to why Starlight'd hunt legendary dragons.", Applejack said.

"Or why she'd hurt them....", Fluttershy stated.

"She doesn't SEEM like a total meanie...", Pinkie chimed in.

"Maybe she's not aware of her actions.", Nightmare said. "Burst said that maybe Starlight didn't know she was hurting the dragons so much. Or maybe these aren't her own desires being carried out. Take it from me. I can tell when there's another entity present that shares the desires of the person its inhabiting. I've picked up on something from Starlight, but whatever it is, it's really good at masking its presence."

"I guess the only thing that makes this whole situation worse is that Shadow and Starlight are a developing couple.", Sunset added. "No matter how they tried to hide it."

"Maybe Starlight'll come around?", Rainbow Dash asked.

"Indeed darling. Sunset, The Dazzlings, and Moon changed.", Rarity added. "Is it that out of the question that Starlight could change too?"

"I honestly hope she does.", Nightmare said with a sigh. "Let's just move on with the rest of our day." The group departed, and went their separate ways. Each of them contemplating how to deal with Starlight.