"Ice?!", Ace cried out. "I knew you'd be back. But I guess you're not here to come home." Ice let out a laugh.
"AHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA! Sorry. But Ice isn't here anymore.", Dark Mist said as the number 96 glowing brightly on his arm. "Now to finish our business Ace! All I needed to do was plant false memories in your dear brother's mind! And in doing so I strengthened my hold on his soul! And in turn, have increased my power! Now...let us end this!"
Ace: 8000
Dark Mist: 8000
"I'll take the first move!", Dark Mist said. "I discard a fiend-type monster to special summon Malicevorous Fork and end my turn with a face-down card!"
"Alright then! I draw!", Ace said. "I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior and place one spell counter on him! This boosts his attack by 300! Attack Malicevorous Fork!" Malicevorous Fork was destroyed with one slash! "Now I'll set a card and end my turn!" 'Ice. I WILL save you! This time, both of us are going home!'
Ace: 8000
Dark Mist: 6500
"Impressive. But you've actually helped me a great deal! I activate my trap! Limit Reverse! This lets me revive a monster with 1000 or less attack in my graveyard! I revive Malicevorous Spoon! Then I'll summon Malicevorous Knife and activate his effect! Since he was summoned, I can target and special summon a Malicevorous monster in my graveyard! Welcome back Malicevorous Fork! Now I'll overlay my three monsters to xyz summon myself! Number 96: Dark Mist!" Dark Mist's true form materialized on the field in a swirl of shadow. "But I'm far from finished! I play Rank-Up-Magic Barian's Force! I'll target myself and bring out my strongest form! Rise Number C96: Dark Storm!" Dark Mist's copy on the field began to twist and change until it looked even more sinister! "Now that Dark Storm has Dark Mist as an overlay unit, he gains another effect! I can detach an overlay unit and attack your monster! Now I gain all his attack points and Breaker is left at zero! Destroy Breaker with Dark Fury!" Ace cringed as his monster was destroyed! "I'll end my turn."
Ace: 5100
Dark Mist: 6500
"I draw! Perfect! I summon Berry Magician Girl and end my turn!", Ace said.
"Hmph. Fool. I'll attack Berry Magician Girl with Dark Storm!", Dark Mist said with a wicked smile!
"I don't think so! When you target Berry Magician Girl I can switch her position and special summon another Magician Girl monster from my deck! I special summon Dark Magician Girl! Good thing Berry Magician Girl switched into defense mode!"
"That won't keep you safe for long. I end my turn.", Dark Mist said.
"My turn! I'll attack your monster! Dark Burning Attack!" DMG fired a powerful blast of magic that struck Dark Storm, but Dark Storm was still on the field! Not only that, but Ace felt himself take the force of the attack too! "What...what was that?"
"Another one of Dark Storm's effects.", Dark Mist answered. "With my increased hold on your brother, I can make any pain you inflict to me damage to you as well! Just like how I planted false memories of you humiliating him!"
Ace: 4100
Dark Mist: 5500
"I end my turn with another face-down.", Ace said. 'Looks like Dark Mist is actually trying now. And that power increase of his sure isn't making this any easier!'
"I draw! Now I'll detach another one of Dark Storm's overlay units to reduce Dark Magician Girl's attack to zero and gain her attack! Destroy DMG!"
"Not so fast! I play Mirror Force! This'll destroy Dark Storm!" Dark Storm was destroyed in a flash of light as his own attack was sent flying back at him!
"I end my turn with a face-down.", Dark Mist said with a frown. 'The fool only delays the inevitable. Soon my copy shall make a return to the field!'
"I draw!", Ace said. "I'll activate my other trap! Trap Stun! All other trap cards on the field can't be activated for the rest of this turn! Now I'll attack you directly! Do it DMG!" Dark Mist howled as his life points took a big hit! "I end my turn."
Ace: 4100
Dark Mist: 3100
"Nnnggggh!", Dark Mist groaned as he clutched his head. "No! Not you! Not now! NOOOO!" Ace was shocked as Dark Mist was somewhat forced out of Ice's body, but was still tied to Ice's limbs! He hung over Ice like a dark spectre. Ace was also surprised to see movement coming from Ice's body. As Ice's head slowly moved, Ace once again saw the eyes of his brother.
"Ace...? What happened", Ice asked. He then gazed in anger at Dark Mist. "YOU! You used me as a puppet! You separated my family!"
"Silence fool! I may no longer hold dominion over your mind and soul, but your body is still mine to command! Now draw and activate the trap card!", Dark Mist commanded. Against his will, Ice activated the trap! "Xyz Reborn allows me to revive and xyz monster in my graveyard and attach Xyz Reborn as an overlay unit! Now I'll play Xyz Energy! I can detach an overlay unit from Dark Storm to destroy one monster on the field! I'll destroy Dark Magician Girl! Next I'll equip Dark Storm with Xyz Unit! He gains 200 attack for each rank he has! This boosts him by 600 points! Now I'll attack you directly!"
"AAAGGGH!", Ace wailed as he took damage!
"ACE!", Ice screamed as he tried to fight Dark mist's binds! 'Dang it! If I hadn't accepted Mist's offer, none of this would've happened! Ace is hurt and it's all my fault!'
"I've let him suffer enough for one turn.", Dark Mist said cruelly. "I end my turn."
Ace: 2500
Dark Mist: 3100
Burst and his friends had gone off to see where Ace, Fang, and Veenus had went off to and found the Dazzlings with them. They also saw Ace on the ground! Burst saw Sonata's concern and walked over to her. 'Ace doesn't look so good!'
"Excuse me, but what's your name?", Burst asked.
"S-Sonata. You're one of the guys from that band who gave that last-minute performance. Ace was with you wasn't he?"
Burst nodded. "What happened?"
"Ace and those other guys convinced me and my family to stay, then this guy who's his brother showed up and started dueling him! Now we found out he was being possessed by that monster hanging above him!"
"Looks like he could use a healthy shot of encouragement. Does Ace love you Sonata?"
"Y-yeah."
"Then show him you love him back."
inside Ace's mind...
'So this is it huh?', Ace thought. 'I finally free Ice, and now I'm about to lose it all.'
'What kind of talk is that? That's not the Ace I know!', a voice said.
'Who...who said that?' Timaeus then materialized before Ace. 'Timaeus?! I thought Ice stole you!'
'He stole my card, but our bond is far from broken!', Timaeus said. 'And this duel isn't over yet! Right now your friends are calling to you! Trying to get you to stand again!' Ace then heard the voices of his friends.
The outside world...
"Come on Ace! Get back up!", Inferno urged.
"You really gonna just lie down like that?!", Steel shouted.
"Don't give in yet Ace!", Gold called out! But two voices stuck out in particular.
"Come on Ace! Are you really gonna let that creep beat you like this in front of your girl?!", Burst cried out! Ace's attention then shifted to the next voice.
"You were there for me Ace! So I'm here for you!", Sonata shouted! Ace then sprang to his feet and looked right at Dark Mist! For a brief moment, Ace's eyes looked exactly Timaeus's! A dim green glow was seen coming from Ice's deck box, and a card shot into Ace's hand! Ace's eyes then returned to normal.
"I draw! I play Dark Magic Veil! I pay 1000 life points to revive Dark Magician Girl from my graveyard! Now I play The Eye Timaeus! I'll fuse it with DMG to bring out Dark Magician Girl-the Dragon Knight!"
"NO!", hissed Dark Mist.
"Oh yeah!", Ice said. 'C'mon Ace! Finish this duel!'
"Next I'll activate her effect! I can discard a card to destroy one face-up card on the field! Dark Storm has passed!" Dark Storm was struck down with a bolt of magic! "Now I'll attack you directly! Dragon Knight Blaze!" Dark Mist howled in pain as his life points took a major hit! "Then I'll end my turn."
Ace: 1500
Dark Mist: 500
"This isn't over!", Dark Mist roared! "I summon a monster in defense mode and end my turn!"
"Sorry, but I activate Shield Crush! This destroys a defense mode monster! Now I'll finish you off with a direct attack!"
"AAUUUGGGHHH!", Dark Mist screamed as his life points dropped to zero and the flames incinerated him! Ice fell to one knee exhausted.
"That was NOT fun.", he panted. Ace walked over and helped him up.
"Come on. Let's get you home. Mom and Dad kept your room just the way you left it. Cards on the desk and all.", Ace said. 'I was able to keep my promise after all...'
Dark Ice let out a chuckle. "Sounds perfect."
"Shouldn't we find out who won the Battle of the Bands?", Inferno reminded. They all made a mad dash back to CHS to find out who won. Principal Celestia and Luna had just taken the stage to announce the winner.
"The winner of Canterlot High School's Battle of the Bands is...Heart of the Cards!", Luna announced the whole crowed cheered as Burst, Inferno, Gold, and Ace accepted the award.
"Thanks all of you. We wouldn't have made it without your help!", Gold said.
"Rock the dragon CHS!", Burst shouted! And the group went to Sugar Cube Corner to celebrate their victory, and Ice reuniting with his brother.