//------------------------------// // Chapter 15: Battle // Story: Yu-Gi-Oh! Equus X Zexal // by moviemaster8510 //------------------------------// Twilight, Spike, Alex, and Yuma searched all throughout the palace for clues. From looking for switches under busts to checking underneath rugs, their luck and time was running short. “Have you found anything yet?” asked Twilight. “Zilch,” answered Alex. “Either this King Sombra hid the Crystal Heart really good, or we're going about this wrong and we're going to find it in the most obvious place.” “Come on, Alex,” spoke Spike. “That negative attitude isn't going to help us find the Crystal Heart faster.” “I know, I know,” said Alex, checking through a bookcase. “It's just the longer we spend in here, the more likely my friends are... no, you're right, Spike. We just have to keep looking. After all, that's what Yuma's kattobing is all about.” Spike and Alex went off to another room to find the Heart. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Ahuizotl and King Sombra watched with anger as Vetrix and his powers were decimating their army of cats. “Ahuizotl,” ordered Sombra. “Storm the palace from the back. If we can spread them out, the chances of us getting in will be very high.” “Excellent thinking, my liege,” answered Ahuizotl. Using his cat whistle, he conjured up even more cats, pointing them to the west and east side of the empire. The felines ran out on both sides as directed. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Rainbow Dash flew into the air to look over the carnage as Vetrix and his allies proved to be effective in keeping the cats back. However, she looked out to both sides to see more cats. “Guys!” she called to everyone. “They're going to come from the sides and the rear! You should split up!” “That horse seems to have things under control,” spoke Nistro. “They're called ponies,” retorted Tori, slashing at a puma that had gotten through. “Either way, one of us needs to protect the other side.” “I'll go,” shouted Pinkie Pie, mounting her party cannon like a horse. “Whoopee!” she then yelled as she literally drove it like a car to the northeastern side of the empire. “How did she...” wondered Nistro, utterly confused with Pinkie's physics-breaking abilities. “It's best not to ask,” answered Tori. “Nistro!” ordered Dextra. “Quit slacking and help out.” “Yeah,” complied Nistro, slightly agitated. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Kite, taking notice to Rainbow Dash's order, began to formulate what to do. “Orbital,” spoke Kite. “Stay here with Rarity and Vetrix. Chris and I will guard the north.” “Awk!” squawked Orbital. “But master Kite, are you going to be safe?” “Are you questioning me?” “Er... understood.” With Orbital's compliance, Kite and Quinton ran out to the north section straightaway. Suddenly, a purple portal appeared behind Vetrix. “On second thought,” he stated as he was pulled into the portal as he dissolved into gold sparks. “I think I'll go elsewhere. I forgot how bothersome that robot is!” Before Orbital could get its word in, Vetrix's portal closed back up. “Who are you calling bothersome, you freak!” it shouted back. A tiger leaped out at it, forcing Orbital to attack and kill it. “Orbital, darling,” spoke Rarity in a seemingly calm voice, “it would ever so help me if you could just SHUT UP AND PROTECT MY FLANK!!!” “Un– Un– Understood!” agreed Orbital, genuinely fearful for its life. _________________________________________________________________________________________ As Pinkie Pie manned her station, Vetrix appeared behind Pinkie Pie in a similar portal. “Hello,” he stated. “It looks like I'll be joining you.” “Alrighty, Arclighty!” agreed Pinkie Pie. “Huh? I don't recall giving my real name.” “Oh, don't worry. Shark told me all about–” “Heraldic Beast Basilisk, attack!” Before Pinkie Pie could respond, an armored, bird-like creature with bat-like wings flew into a pack of cats coming their ways from the stampede from the east and west. Upon hitting one of the cats, it exploded on impact, killing about half a dozen cats. More came from the resulting smoke. “Cool!” shouted Pinkie Pie. “You also like explosions. My turn!” Pinkie Pie shot a blast of confetti and other party materials from her cannon point blank at the remaining cats, their paper remains mixing with the streamers and bright colors. Vetrix couldn't contain his laughter, clapping as he did so. “That was great!” he stated. “Just like in the cartoons! I think we'll make a great team.” With Pinkie Pie ready for another blow, Vetrix drew more cards from his deck, ready to increase his and Pinkie Pie's numbers with his monsters. _________________________________________________________________________________________ “I'll take the northwest road,” stated Trey to his companions, heading there. Daring Do, who was heavily intrigued by Trey's ancient artifact monsters, spoke up to her group as well. “I'm going to go with Trey, too,” she said before galloping off. Given a break from hacking and slashing due to Quattro holding the line so well by himself, Shark spoke something to Tom that went unheard by the others. With this, both Tom and Shark ran to the underside of the palace where they parked their motorcycles. “Aw man,” spoke Quattro to Shark, “and I was having so much fun when you were by my side.” Ignoring him, he refocused his attention to the cats with Applejack. Rainbow Dash, meanwhile, flew back to Tom and Shark. “Guys,” she asked them, “what are you doing?” “We're going to try and take out the cats trying to still come in,” said Tom, putting his helmet on. “Quattro and Applejack seem to be doing a good job on their own. That is, if you want to come?” “Are you crazy? Of course I will! Not only am I not going to let my friends go alone on this, but it's the first time I get to really spread my wings today!” “Alright then,” confirmed Shark, placing his helmet and visor on his head and over his eyes. “Let's go.” With a rev of their engines, Tom sped off to the west, Shark rolled off to the east, and Rainbow Dash flew to the north, all in an attempt to lower the numbers of their enemy. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Twilight, Spike, Alex, Yuma, and Astral went by the throne room to the palace. Just as they each passed it, Twilight backed up, as if she realized something. Looking at the throne with scrutiny, she looked at a crystal at the top of the throne that resembled the one that Princess Celestia kept with her. This sparked a memory of her meeting with Celestia prior to heading for the Crystal Empire. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ................................................................................................................................................................ _________________________________________________________________________________________ “If the empire is filled with hope and love…” Casting another spell at it, the crystal began to shine, serenading the room in various colors. “…those things are reflected across all of Equestria.” Twilight smiled in wonder, as Yuma, Alex, Kite, and Astral looked at it in amazement. Celestia then closed her eyes and concentrated. “If fear and hatred take hold…” Celestia’s eyes opened, revealing them to be a solid green, along with Sombra’s purple auras on the sides of her eyes. Her horn also bubbled with a purple aura. She then shot a black, lightning-like spell at the crystal, rendering it colorless and gray. _________________________________________________________________________________________ ................................................................................................................................................................ _________________________________________________________________________________________ Twilight then realized. “Of course!” she exclaimed, just as Spike ran into her, alerted by her voice, falling onto his rump. “What?” asked Spike. “Did you find it?” “No,” answered Twilight, just as Alex, Yuma, and Astral poured into the room, “because this isn't King Sombra's castle.” “Well,” wondered Spike aloud, following Twilight to the throne along with Alex, Yuma, and Astral, “isn't this where he lived when he was in power?” “It is, but it didn't look like this.” Focusing on the top crystal, Twilight began to charge her horn. What was strange to everyone else was that it looked like it was taking Twilight a lot of her energy to charge it, as told be her sweating and labored groaning. Then, to everyone's shock, Twilight's horn's aura gradually changed from its natural magenta to a sparking black. “Twilight,” spoke Alex, concerned for his friend's appearance. Shock became audible gasps as the sides Twilight's eyes began emitting a purple aura along with her black aura now changing to a bubbling green and purple. “Twilight!” shouted Spike and Yuma. With her concentration and power at its peak, Twilight launched her darkened spell at the top crystal, turning it grey like Princess Celestia did. Also a shadow began to cast itself over the throne and to the floor, amazing Yuma and the others. Upon reaching the floor, Alex, Spike, and Yuma, stepped out of the shadow's way to let it pass. As it scanned over the floor, a rectangular hole appeared in a similarly bubbling aura. The hole revealed a crystal cave with a long, downward, spiral staircase that almost seemed to stretch on for eternity. “Woah,” Spike managed to say. Happy that her spell revealed something new, Twilight clopped her front hooves together excitedly as she peered downwards. Alex, Yuma, and Astral also looked down. “Where did you learn to do that?” asked Spike. “That was a little trick Celestia taught me,” spoke Twilight. Both Yuma and Spike were visibly unnerved with the height of the stairs, only imagining how scary it would be for either of them to fall in. Twilight, undaunted, stepped forwards to descend the staircase. As Spike was about to make his way down, Twilight stopped him. “You stay here,” she said. “I'll check to see if the coast is clear.” “Come on, Twilight,” spoke Alex, “we're in this together, just like Kite said.” “I know,” said Twilight, “but if something bad happens down here, I don't want all of us to suffer. Besides, if the Crystal Heart is down here, I can still give it to Cadance and Shining Armor and still pass my test, right?” Alex knew where Twilight was coming from, but he still didn't feel easy. “If something does happen down there,” said Alex. “We'll be too far up to help you; this stairway is like Super Mario 64 all over again.” Twilight also knew where Alex was coming from. Kite's words from the night before began to ring once again in Twilight's head, sealing her decision. “Alright, fine,” she relented. “Just don't get so close to me.” Alex nodded in agreement. As Twilight lit up her horn to illuminate her path, Alex, Spike, and Yuma walked downwards as well. Alex took out his phone and opened his flashlight application, the resulting white screen providing enough light to see through the darkness. “Good thinking, Alex,” said Yuma. “I try,” he answered back. With that, the five friends made their way down the ever winding stairs. _________________________________________________________________________________________ “I summon Chronomaly Golden Jet and Chronomaly Mud Golem!” shouted Trey, placing two monsters on his D-Pad's zones. The first monster was a winged shuttle made entirely out of gold, while the next monster was a brown Dogu equipped with a sword in its right hand and a smaller blade formed into a circle with another blade sticking out from the top in its left. Chronomaly Mud Golem mounted the seat in the front of Chronomaly Golden Jet before it flew off over the stampede of cats in the west. “Attack, Mud Golem. Jomon Laser!” As Chronomaly Golden Jet swooped down over the cats, Chronomaly Mud Golem shot a pink beam through two slits in its pecs at his crossed weapons, then shooting the beam out over a large area where cats ran, destroying them all. “Wow,” exclaimed Daring Do. “That was great.” Daring Do saw as a lynx that got away from the attack lunge towards the two of them, Daring Do stepped out in front of Trey and speared it with her lance, killing it. “Thanks,” responded Trey. “You aren't doing too bad yourself.” As Trey concentrated back on the stampedes heading to the north end of the empire, Daring Do protected him and herself from any cat that tried to cross them. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Kite slashed another panther with his lance, tearing it to paper shreds. An adorable white housecat pranced up to Kite, before hissing and charging. With a smirk, Kite kicked the cat like a football, the force being enough to kill it and reduce it to paper. “I summon Planet Pathfinder!” shouted Quinton, placing a card on one of his unoccupied zones. From the ground, a six-wheeled space rover jumped out and landed on its wheels. As another pack of cats came towards Kite and Quinton, Planet Pathfinder accelerated forwards, mowing down most of the cats with ease. The ones that were smart enough to dodge it were met with another unpleasant surprise. “Go, Solar Wind Jammer!” yelled Quinton. “Attack!” The spaceship fired a beam out in front of the two, incinerating the remaining cats in the beam's heat. “You know,” said Quinton, “it's finally good to start working with you again.” “Hmph,” huffed Kite with a pleasant smirk. “I agree.” As more cats poured in, the two humans put their mutual feelings at a standstill so they could continue protecting each other. _________________________________________________________________________________________ “Go! Heroic Champion – Kusanagi!” shouted Nistro at a warrior monster with orange-and-brown shogun-like armor. “Attack!” The monster slashed at a tiger with its glowing blade, killing it and redering it to paper pulp. “Aw, yeah!” shouted Nistro. “I love the way they explode like that.” Dextra ignored him, focusing on her own three monsters: Photon Papilloperative, an anthropomorphic butterfly with black-and-blue wings, two bladed weapons and a large brown helmet, and a pair of dark blue wings with a purple-and-red eye in the center. “There's just no pleasing you, is there?” mumbled Nistro with a grimace. “I overlay the level 4 Morpho Butterspy and Moonlit Papillon!” Dextra shouted as her monsters became a purple and yellow wisp of aura, respectively, that flew into a red vortex. “I build the overlay network with my two monsters. Xyz Summon!” A red, slender female monster with black breast armor, white limb armor, and red, black, and orange butterfly wings with blue glowing centers appeared from the red vortex. “Appear! Photon Alexandra Queen!” shouted Dextra. “Now, Photon Papilloperative, Photon Alexandra Queen, attack together! Butterfly Death Waltz!” With a strong flap of both of their wings, both monsters showered a wave of butterflies at the approaching cats, killing a very heavy number of them. “Nice job, Dextra!” complimented Tori. With her attack leaving some room to take a breath, Dextra smiled and nodded at the young girl. Nistro, noticing, took offense. “No respect...” he muttered. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Twilight and her friends continued to climb down the virtually endless staircase. “Are we there yet?” asked Yuma, feeling tired. “Of course not!” snapped Twilight. “How many more times must you ask me that?” “Oh...” They continued to descend. “How about now?” asked Spike. “Ugh!” groaned Twilight, breaking off a small crystal jutting from the walls with her magic. “Here, let's see how much farther down.” Twilight hovered the crystal over the center of the hole and let go, putting her ear to the hole to hear the clatter once it came. As Twilight patiently waited, she couldn't be sure if she didn't hear it, as it seemed to be taking an awfully long time. Finally, with a fifteen second hangtime, Twilight heard the faint crack of the crystal as it fell to the floor below. “Woah...” muttered Yuma, unnerved by the prospect of having to climb that much further down. “We don't have much time,” spoke Twilight. “We have to hurry!” Twilight galloped down the stairs, quickly leaving the two humans, the dragon, and the alien behind. “Wait!” called Alex. “Twilight! It's too dangerous! Slow down!” While contradicting his words, Alex, Yuma, and Spike sprinted down to catch up to her. _________________________________________________________________________________________ “Gimmick Puppet – Night Joker!” shouted Quattro at a creepy, black marionette with a large black scythe. “Attack!” As a handful of cats came Applejack and Quattro's way, Gimmick Puppet – Night Joker slashed away at all of them with its scythe. As the paper flew in the air like a ticker tape parade, Quattro laughed maniacally. “You cat's can go back to Hell where you belong!” he shouted. “Um, sugar cube?” asked Applejack next to him. “Don't you think you're... taking too much enjoyment out of this?” “Don't kid with me, small horse. If my friends and family are going to be attacked, then my enemies deserve what they get.” Applejack was surprised by his answer. “While I can't say we see eye to eye here, as long as yer helpin' us save the Crystal Empire, you can do as you please.” “That's the spirit. Gimmick Puppet – Bomb Egg!” Quattro's other monster shot more projectiles at the packs. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Tom rode through the few unoccupied streets that the Crystal Empire had left, having a pack of cats follow him to the outskirts and fields of the east. “That's it,” muttered Tom as the cats got closer. The cats indeed got closer to Tom as he seemingly tried to outrun them. Once they were about a yard or two from Tom's back wheel, he made the call. “Rainbow Dash, now!” A rainbow colored contrail swooped down from the sky, coming at the stampede from the west. With perfect timing, Rainbow Dash flew over the cats just as she performed a Buccaneer Blaze, zapping the cats with bolts of lightning that shredded through their bodies. A bolt of lightning nicked Tom on the side of the neck, the initial pain causing him to come to a drifting halt. While Rainbow Dash had killed a vast majority of the cats, a couple still got out cleanly. Tom, however, took out his bladed lance and hacked them easily. With the short burst of adrenaline wearing off, Tom gripped his slightly singed neck. “Woah,” shouted Rainbow Dash, swooping in close and hovering next to her friend. “What happened? Are you okay?” “Just peachy,” replied Tom with a grunt, trying to relieve himself of the pain. “However, I'll try not to let them get so close.” “Hehe,” she giggled. “I'll say. I don't think you have what it takes yet to be as daring as I am!” Rainbow Dash flew out again, ready to do another bait-and-attack with Tom. With a twist of his right handlebar, Tom accelerated back to rally more cats. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Shark was well ahead of the pack nearest him, taking a different approach. Strapped in his belt, his lance stayed put. After taking a look back, Shark felt as if he'd covered enough distance. Gripping his brake, he also jackknifed to the left, causing him to drift upon the grass and face the stampede of cats head on. Once he felt straightened enough, Shark twisted his handlebar and moved forwards. With both parties moving in towards each other, Shark equipped himself with his lance and held it like a knight would a sword, ready to slay his enemies. “Let's go!” he shouted. Shark mowed into the stampede, crushing and killing most cats that he ran over while slashing at more with the lance. As he neared the easternmost side of the Empire, he turned into the city streets, allowing the now angered cats to follow him. As the cats neared the Empire, Shark smirked at how well his plan would work. Taking a hard left, the cats were now greeted to Trey's Chronomaly Chrononaut standing before them. The cats tried to turn away, but it was too late. “Reflect Flash!” shouted Trey. Shooting another beam from the gem in its chest, the monster vaporized all cats that were unlucky to have been chasing Shark before. _________________________________________________________________________________________ “No,” shouted Sombra from the outside of the empire, watching with horror at the dwindling number of their armies. “Impossible! They're holding us off!” As Sombra went forwards to enter on his own, he was stopped by the voice of Ahuizotl. “No, Sombra!” he called. “You dare order me around?” Sombra seethed. “We cannot let those pesky duelists beat you, otherwise, we've both lost. Let me handle them.” As Sombra was about to object, Ahuizotl produced an xyz monster card with a golden, mechanical lion on the artwork. The card was brimming with a black, green, and purple aura. “I don't think that you would give this to me if I wasn't going to use it.” “I understand, Ahuizotl, but you must understand as well. That card's magic is powerful; it will destroy you if you lose to them.” “I won't!” Ahuizotl then sprinted towards the Crystal Empire, ready to take matters into his own hands while King Sombra watched from the outside of the Kingdom. _________________________________________________________________________________________ As Rarity and Orbital continued to hold their own on the south end, they saw a larger animal charge at them. Rarity could tell from its jewelry and its monstrous appearance that it was Ahuizotl, causing them both to squeal with fear. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Daring Do, while preoccupied with Trey, heard the screams from where they both stood. Turning around to see the reason for their reactions, she looked on with horror as her nemesis came closer to the palace. “Ahuizotl,” she grunted, galloping towards the south end. “Wait!” called Trey, forcing him to make a quick decision. “Mud Golem, Golden Jet, stay here. Chronomaly Chrononaut, come with me!” The brown Dogu and the golden shuttle stayed and held back the line of cats coming their way while the purple alien followed Trey who followed Daring Do. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Orbital zoomed out in front to attack Ahuizotl head on with its drill. “Don't worry, Rarity,” it professed. “I'll save you!” As Orbital thrust his drill forwards, the blue dog-like creature leaped and flipped over Orbital with ease, whipping the appendage on its tail to whack Orbital in the back of its head, forcing it forwards and to the ground. Once Ahuizotl landed, he began to walk calmly to the now alone Rarity. However, Daring Do and Trey stepped in front of her, ready to fight. “Chronomaly Chrononaut!” shouted Trey. “Reflect Flash!” As Trey's monster shot out a beam from its chest, Ahuizotl took his xyz monster out which began to glow a bright purple. As the beam came closer, it stopped just short of Ahuizotl's face, causing Trey, Daring Do, and Rarity to gasp. “Foolish creatures,” spoke Ahuizotl. A purple shockwave emanated from the card, causing the nearby stands and tents from the Crystal Faire to blow away or become destroyed. Orbital merely blew away from the palace, being too strong to break. Its force also sent the three creatures flying while repelling the beam and destroying Cronomaly Chrononaut. As Trey was in the air, the tattoo on his eye as well as his D-Pad disappeared, causing Mud Golem and Golden Jet to vanish as well. Trey's left eye also turned into its natural green. Both landed to the ground, terribly weakened. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Dextra, Nistro, and Tori were the next to notice the shockwave coming. “Brace yourselves!” shouted Nistro. It did little to help. The three humans were thrown off their feet due to the force of the impact, as well as destroying all of their monsters. As with Trey, both Dextra and Nistro's tattoos and D-Pads vanished in a puff of yellow sparks, along with their eyes returning to their natural color. _________________________________________________________________________________________ “Huh?” questioned Vetrix. “What's this? As the shockwave came closer, Vetrix emanated a swirling, blue crest design from his left eye, trying to shield both him and Pinkie Pie. However, the shockwave shattered through the barrier as if it was nothing, causing Vetrix and Pinkie Pie to take the hit. Vetrix's Heraldic monsters were also destroyed in the blow. Impossible, thought Vetrix. How could my powers be defeated? The force knocked Vetrix's mask off, revealing a technicolor, nebular aura on the left side of his face with a black hole where his eye should have been. “Vetrix?” asked Pinkie Pie, concerned for the unconscious boy on the floor, “what happened to your face?” _________________________________________________________________________________________ Applejack and Quattro were flung into the air by the force of the shockwave, causing the latter's D-Pad, tattoo, and monsters to vanish. Both of them landed hard on the ground, rendered immobile by the pain that it caused. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Kite and Quinton saw the pulse coming, but could only block their faces as they were hit and Quinton's monsters were destroyed. Kite, seemingly not weakened from the blow, got up and ran to Quinton, who lied on the ground, his D-Pad not on his arm anymore. “Chris. Chris!” he called, shaking his friend on the shoulder to no avail. A pack of cats surrounded the two and slowly prowled closer to them, sealing them in further. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Tom, Rainbow Dash, and Shark decided to collaborate with each other, but were confused about the purple ring coming their way, forcing them all to park. “Rainbow Dash!” shouted Shark, dismounting his motorcycle along with Tom. “Fly up! It's not safe here!” “Nuh-uh,” objected Rainbow Dash, instead shielding them both as best as she could with her wings. “I'm not letting you take the fall for me.” “Rainbow...” muttered Shark. The three of them were swept off their feet by the blow along with Shark and Tom's motorcycles. As Shark flew in the air, separating further from his friends, he saw his motorcycle rolling on its back wheel from the force, its pointed end jutting up into the air. No, he thought. Shark's right side scraped along the pointed end of his motorcycle, leaving nothing left but the ground to break his fall. About two yards from him, he saw Rainbow Dash and Tom lying together on the ground, writhing in pain. Shark checked his side to see if he was hurt. To his horror, his right side began to bleed. “My stitches...” he groaned. Before he could concentrate about his injury, a pack of cats closed in around them. _________________________________________________________________________________________ In the spiral stairwell, a massive rumbling caused by the shockwave shook the earth, causing Twilight to lose her balance and run into the wall. About a level above her, Alex, Yuma, and Spike stood still and kept their balance so the tremors wouldn't knock them into the hole. Twilight, in her colliding with the wall, was forced to the side towards the hole. Using what little balance she had left, she prevented herself from falling in and grabbed to the edge of the stairs with her front hooves for dear life. “Twilight!” shouted Alex, seeing her grasping for her life on the other side of the stairs. Alex, Yuma, and Spike rushed to save her as Astral followed, but Twilight could feel herself slipping. Even wit her last ounces of strength as she grasped with the edge of her hooves, she couldn't hold on any longer, being forced to let go. Before she could plummet into the abyss, she felt hands grasp her hoof, suspending her. Looking up, she saw Alex leaned over the edge of the hole, gripping her hoof tightly. “Gotcha,” he grunted. “Let's get you up,” said Yuma, kneeling down to help Alex pull her up. Spike stood in between the two humans, scared out of his wits. He hopped on the stair that he stood on, the anxiety killing him. However, the stairs could not hold their combined weight, causing the stone beneath them to give way. The four of them began to plummet downwards, screaming as Astral forced to follow Yuma and his friends to their certain doom. _________________________________________________________________________________________ Everyone on the surface was captured and carried to the underpass of the palace. While Tom, Shark, Tori, Kite, Rainbow Dash, Daring Do, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie were battered, but conscious, Dextra, Nistro, Trey, Quattro, Quinton, and Vetrix were barely moving. They were made to sit on one of the four stairway entrances of the palace to the left from where Kite and the others were, a pack of cats preventing either party from moving. Ahuizotl watched with pride from the center of the underpass as his cats, who had earlier gathered the rag-tag battalion, began to usher in crystal ponies from their homes to the palace, all of whom looked miserable with the likely prospect that they'd be sent back into slavery. Kite glanced at Quinton, whose eyes were barely open to witness what was happening. “What have you done with them?” asked Kite, his anger growing. “While you're under my leadership,” spoke Ahuizotl, “you shall not speak until spoken to. However, I can gladly answer your question, seeing as you couldn't have known that rule. I had disabled your friends' ability to summon real monsters. However, the extra oomph in the shockwave was to immobilize the rest of you. As you can see, the ones who could use such powers didn't fare as well.” “Bastard...” mumbled Kite, hoping that Ahuizotl wouldn't hear. A door opened from the palace leg next to them, leaving the human and pony hostages to look and see who it was. Shining Armor and Hart walked out of the door, escorted by a multitude of cats. Cadance, still unconscious, laid on the back of a tiger. “Send the prince and princess with the new humans,” ordered Ahuizotl. “Send the boy with his brother.” As the cats ushered Shining Armor and Cadance to join Vetrix and his group, Hart was sent to the leg where Kite's group was. A line of cats preventing their escape made way for Hart to pass, allowing him to run to his brother. Kite met Hart with a warm hug, hoping to ease the boy out of his fright. “It's okay,” spoke Kite. “I'm here now.” As more crystal ponies were gathering, Tori looked to see Fluttershy being carried by the cats. Upon seeing the sight of her, she gasped, causing everyone on the steps to turn her way, only to be equally shocked. Fluttershy looked terrified. As she was hoisted on the back of a tiger, tears were freely flowing from her eyes, weeping and sniffling all the while. Her body was also scratched and cut, having hidden in Rarity's craft stand when Ahuizotl used the magic from his card to blow the Crystal Faire away. On top of the panther next to the tiger, a deactivated Orbital was hoisted upon its back, which Applejack and Kite were shocked to see. As she was placed on the steps by Rainbow Dash and her friends, the ponies, along with Tori, did their best to console the hysterical pegasus. Orbital was also unceremoniously dropped on an open spot on the stairs. Tom, Kite, and Shark, looked upon this with anger. “Let me make this clear to you,” shouted Ahuizotl as he addressed everyone, “I will not be ruling over you. King Sombra has and will return. I'm just restoring the Crystal Empire to his accommodations: with you all in chains!” On the word “chains,” the crystal ponies recoiled in fear. Shark, Tom, and Kite glanced at each other and nodded, knowing what they had to do. Shark continued to clench his wounded side, trying to stop as much blood flow as possible. “However, I am certain that most of you aren't comfortable with this prospect. If any of you object to the lives that King Sombra has laid out for you, now is the time to speak!” While the ponies remained silent to Ahuizotl's request, a voice caused gasping amongst the others. “You and Sombra can go straight to Hell,” spoke Tom's voice. Ahuizotl turned to the source of the voice to see Tom, Shark, and Kite standing up to him. “Shark, Tom,” whispered Rainbow Dash, “what are you doing? Sit back down!” Rainbow Dash then saw the scarlet liquid drip from Shark's fingers, her resulting shock silencing her. Ahuizotl giggled as he waved his hand to the side, signaling his cats to let the three humans step forward, which they did. “Ah, we meet again,” spoke Ahuizotl. “If there was anyone who I'd expect to try and rebel against me, it would be you.” The crystal ponies were all in awe of the brave three humans who would be risking their lives to save theirs as well as their city. Ahuizotl looked upon the three humans with confident pride, made only more confident by seeing Shark's wounded side. “And you,” said Ahuizotl to Shark, “you're already knocking on Death's door. Do you really think you can stand up to the likes of me?” “Yes,” answered Shark quickly, issuing a genuine reaction of mild surprise from Ahuizotl. “I fought a similar battle four days ago. My wound didn't stop me then, and I'm not going to let it stop me now.” “Not only that,” shouted Tom, “Alex could beat you on his own, so you won't stand a ghost of a chance against the three of us!” Ahuizotl chuckled. “You think I'm scared of three of you?” he responded. “Alex could join the three you in a duel against me and it will mean little to me. Speaking of, where is he?” Scanning his vision back to the leg where Tori and the ponies sat, his eyes widened upon realizing that not only Alex was missing, but so was Yuma, Twilight, Spike, and Astral. “My cats,” he shouted. “Make sure they don't leave. I'll go look for them.” As he turned from Kite, Shark, and Tom to go to one of the palace entrances, he felt a rope tugging at his wrist. Turning back around, he saw a red, glowing strand wrapped around his wrist, the other end connected to Kite's wrist from inside his sleeve. “You're not going anywhere thanks to my Duel Anchor,” stated Kite, whipping his arm away to render his rope invisible. “Now, prove to me that you aren't scared of us and duel us!” Ahuizotl growled at having his hand forced as it was. “You,” he shouted, pointing at a cheetah, a tiger, and a panther, “find them. Bring them to me alive.” Without a second's hesitation, the cats ran to the now opened door and went searching. “Your friends will not find the Crystal Heart, I guarantee it. Even if they were able to unlock the secret passageway, my cats will reach them before they can get any further.” “Maybe,” said Tom, pulling his tablet from behind him, “but even if we can't find the Heart now, we'll certainly find it after we've defeated you. Let's go!” Tom attached his tablet to the wrist dealer/graveyard slot already on his wrist, causing the zones to unsheathe out of it.. Shark threw his tablet into the air. As it unfolded and elongated, Shark placed his own wrist dealer on his wrist and allowed the tablet to attach itself on, the zones also sliding out from it. “Duel mode!” shouted Kite. “Photon Change!” Kite's clothes turned from black to white at the shock and awe of the entire audience. “Oooh, pretty,” spoke Pinkie Pie. Kite's wrist dealer and D-Pad blade appeared on his wrist in a burst of light. Ahuizotl made his golden gauntlet appear on his arm, leaving just one last thing to do before the duel could commence. “Duel Rezzer!” shouted Tom, activating and tossing his device out. “Activate!” The Rezzer became invisible as the area was covered in holographic auras. As the four duelists drew five cards from their decks, Quinton weakly sat up to see Kite preparing to duel. “Kite...” he moaned. Rainbow Dash stared at Shark's side, which continued to bleed, bringing some anxiety to the pegasus. “Good luck, guys,” she whimpered. With cards drawn, Shark, Tom, and Ahuizotl were set. “DUEL!” the four of them shouted.