“Let’s do this!” Scootaloo shouted after strapping on her duel disk.
Her fellow crusaders each let out a yell of approval. “This is our best plan ever,” Applebloom said with a cheer.
“I can already feel the cutie mark,” Sweetie Belle chimed with glee. Suddenly a loud humph could be heard from close by. The three fillies turned to look, only to see their opponents marching on the playground.
Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon had their heads held up high as they made their way to the duel field marked by a few lines in grass. The stuck up ponies finally looked over at their rivals with more than a hint of disdain. “I didn’t think you namby pamby losers would even show up,” Diamond Tiara said mockingly.
“Not only did we show,” Scootalou retorted. “But were also about to take you chumps down!”
“You three beat us?” Silver Spoon laughed. “That’s a farce if I ever heard one.”
Applebloom looked down at her tiny duel disk. It seemed like it was only yesterday, probably because it was only yesterday that a pony named Tristy had gotten her cutie mark in dueling. The Cutie Mark Crusaders freaked out. They ran to the local store and spent all their bits on cards and filly sized duel disks. The trio then spent the next three hours figuring out how to play the game they had forgot even existed before finally venturing to the park.
However even after crushing Snips, Snails and the vast majority of their class, the fillies were still left without their long sought after cutie marks. It was there they heard that Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were the undefeated champions of dueling. Even Tristy hadn’t been able to beat them.
That was when the idea hit the Cutie Mark Crusaders. The only way to get their cutie marks would be derailing the winning record of the two snobs. One thing led to another and now here they were on the school’s playground, a crowd of students gathered to watch the battle. Even Miss Cherilee was watching. She had decided to lengthen recess to allow more time for the duel. “All my students should get a chance to watch a true display of team work and strategy,” Cherilee had said when the Crusaders asked her for permission to duel during recess. Now the whole school was in attendance. If the parents only knew what was taking place right now on their hard earned bits, the rage would paramount.
“How is this gonna work anyway?” Applebloom asked. “There are 3 of us, but only 2 of you.”
Diamond Tiara shook her mane as she chuckled. “Must I explain everything to you slackers?” She responded pompously. “Very well, I’ll go first followed by Sweetie Belle. Then I’ll go again followed by Scootaloo. After which Silver Spoon will go and then finally you’ll go.”
The Crusaders were puzzled. There was nothing in the tiny rulebook; they had ended up tearing to shreds about 2 versus 3 duels. Each filly racked their brain trying to figure if Diamond Tiara was somehow cheating them. Though this line of thought quickly gave way to the simple Meh we’ll crush them anyway and that was that.
“Also,” Diamond Tiara continued. “Since there’s three of you losers, Silver Spoon and I will each duel with 6000 lifepoints while you guys play with the normal 4000 lifepoints.”
“Whatever whatever whatever!” Scootaloo interjected. “Let’s get this show on the road while we’re all still young!” The orange pegasus jumped over to her spot on the field. Her fellow crusaders each followed suit.
“Humph,” Silver Spoon said with a yawn. “Fine, but don’t cry when DT and I leave you wimps in the dust.”
And with that each filly took her spot on the field. The duel disks each opened up with a subtle flash, as both teams gave the other a brief stare down. Finally Diamond Tiara began by gently pulling a card from her duel disk.
“It’s my turn now,” Diamond Tiara said with confidence. “Time for your nightmare to begin!”