“Last up!” said Luna. “The Rainbooms vs. the Illusions!”
“This is it!” said Sunset. “Last round and you're in the finals!”
“You haven’t got a chance, Rain-goons,” said Trixie. “You should just forfeit while you have the chance.”
“Please!” said Rainbow. “My team’s gonna tear you to pieces. Besides, I could beat all three of you by myself.”
Fluttershy and Pinkie crossed their arms in anger.
“Sure ya could,” said Trixie sarcastically.
“I’ll go first,” said Pinkie.
“Let me take her on,” said Fuchsia Blush.
“Go for it,” said Trixie.
Pinkie Pie LP: 4000
Fuchsia Blush LP: 4000
Turn 1: Fuchsia Blush
“I draw!” said Fuchsia. “I summon Symphonic Warrior Sizerrs in attack mode. Next, I equip him with Mist Body, Rocket Pilder, and Ribbon of Rebirth. Then, I’ll play Burden of the Mighty. I place one card face down and end my turn.”
Turn 2: Pinkie Pie
“Okay, my turn,” said Pinkie.
“I play a trap!” said Fuchsia. “Rare Metalmorph! Now my monster can’t be can’t be targeted by spells, destroyed in battle, it lowers your monster’s ATK points, and it comes back if it is destroyed. How to do like that?”
“I don’t,” answered Pinkie. “So I’ll just get rid of it. I summon Madolche Mewfeuille, and I’ll use his ability to special summon Madolche Anjelly from my hand. Then I’ll tribute her to special summon Madolche Messengelato from my deck. Next, I activate Harmonic Waves to change my Mewfeuille’s level to four. (Madolche Mewfeuille Level: 3 – 4) Now I’ll overlay my two monsters and Xyz summon Madolche Queen Tiaramisu! I activate her ability, by using an overlay unit, (Madolche Messengelato) I can shuffle the Messengelato and Anjelly in my graveyard back into my deck. Then I can shuffle your Sizerrs and Burden of the Mighty back into your deck.”
“Crap,” said Fuchsia.
“Now I activate Rush Recklessly to give my queen a boost,” said Pinkie. (Madolche Queen Tiaramisu: 2200 – 2900) “Attack her directly!”
“Ah!!” cried Fuchsia.
Pinkie Pie LP: 4000
Fuchsia Blush LP: 1100
“I place one card face down,” said Pinkie. “Now I activate Linear Accelerator Cannon. Think of it as a party cannon. A party cannon that inflicts damage, a lot of damage!”
“Darn,” said Fuchsia.
Pinkie Pie LP: 4000
Fuchsia Blush LP: 0
“My turn,” said Lavender Lace.
“Hope you can do better,” said Trixie quietly.
“Let’s duel!” said Pinkie.
Pinkie Pie LP: 4000
Lavender Lace LP: 4000
Turn 3: Lavender Lace
“My turn,” said Lavender.
“Hold up! I play a trap!” said Pinkie. “Call of the Haunted, and I’ll use it to bring back my Queen Tiaramisu.”
“Alright then,” said Lavender. “I place one card face down, then play Double Cyclone. I just destroy my face down and then your trap and monster go to the graveyard.”
“On snap!” said Pinkie.
“Now I summon Symphonic Warrior Sizerrs in attack mode,” said Lavender.
“Are we caught in a time loop here?” asked Pinkie.
“Hey, it’s favorite, okay?” asked Lavender. “Now I activate Back-Up Rider, which gives my Sizerrs 1500 extra ATK points. (Symphonic Warrior Sizerrs: 1200 – 2700) But why stop there, when I can play another one.” (Symphonic Warrior Sizerrs: 2700 – 4200)
“Holy cow,” said Pinkie.
“Attack her!” ordered Lavender.
“Ah!!” cried Pinkie.
Pinkie Pie LP: 0
Lavender Lace LP: 4000
“Yes!” said Lavender. (Symphonic Warrior Sizerrs: 4200 – 1200)
“Okay Fluttershy, your turn,” said Rainbow.
“Why can’t you go?” asked Fluttershy.
“Because we need to save the best for last, you know?” asked Rainbow.
“Oh, okay,” said Fluttershy.
“Let’s duel,” said Lavender.
Fluttershy LP: 4000
Lavender Lace LP: 4000
Turn 4: Fluttershy
“I draw,” said Fluttershy. Her hand contained 3 Bunillas, Dark Bat, Rabidragon, and Card Destruction. “I play Card Destruction, so we both draw a new hand.”
“Big deal,” said Lavender. “This one card wasn’t useful anyway.”
“I hope I draw the right cards,” thought Fluttershy. “Yes! I now set a monster in defense mode, then I’ll play Tri-Wight to special summon the three Bunillas from my graveyard in defense mode. Then I’ll activate the Book of Taiyou to flip my face-down monster face up. Meet Creepy Coney, when he’s flipped, you lose 1000 life points for each Normal monster I control. So you lose a few.”
“Dang!” said Lavender.
Fluttershy LP: 4000
Lavender Lace LP: 1000
“Now for you monster,” said Fluttershy. “I play Offerings to the Doomed, so say bye-bye.”
“Shoot,” said Lavender.
“I place one card face down,” said Fluttershy. “Now my little Coney, attack her directly!”
“Damn!” said Lavender.
“Good try,” said Trixie. “Not. Guess I’ll have to handle this.”
“You’re on,” said Fluttershy.
Fluttershy LP: 4000
Trixie Lulamoon LP: 4000
Turn 5: Trixie Lulamoon
“My turn,” said Trixie. “I play Stop Defense to switch one of your Bunillas to attack mode.”
“Oh my,” said Fluttershy. “Oh well, as long as I have my face down Negate Attack, my bunnies are safe.”
“Now I summon Breaker the Magical Warrior,” said Trixie. “When he’s summoned, he’s gets a counter and 300 ATK points. (Breaker the Magical Warrior: 1600 – 1900) Now, I shall remove his counter to destroy your face down card.”
“No!” cried Fluttershy. (Breaker the Magical Warrior: 1900 – 1600)
“Then I’ll play Magical Dimension!” continued Trixie. “I sacrifice my Warrior to summon the Dark Magician of Chaos, and destroy your one of your defense mode Bunillas.”
Fluttershy signed. “I’m done for. Sorry, my little bunnies.”
“Oh please, they’re not real!” said Trixie. “Now I play Diffusion Wave-Motion! I simply pay 1000 life points, then my Magician can attack all of your monsters.”
Fluttershy LP: 4000
Trixie Lulamoon LP: 3000
Fluttershy gasped.
“Then I’ll play the Swords of Revealing Light,” said Trixie. “Once you lose, your partner won’t be able to attack for three whole turns.”
“Whoa,” said Rainbow. “Can’t believe she thought so far ahead.”
“Dark Magician of Chaos, attack her little rodents!” ordered Trixie.
“No!!” cried Fluttershy.
Fluttershy LP: 0
Trixie Lulamoon LP: 3000
“Looks like it’s up to you, Rainbow,” said Pinkie.
“When is it not?” asked Rainbow. She then looked at Trixie. “Prepare to lose.”
“Yeah right,” said Trixie.
Rainbow Dash LP: 4000
Trixie Lulamoon LP: 3000
Turn 6: Rainbow Dash
“I draw!” said Rainbow. “I activate Ancient City – Rainbow Ruins! Next, I’ll remove the Rainbow Dragon in my deck from play to special summon Malefic Rainbow Dragon!”
“So what?” asked Trixie. “No matter how big he is, he still can’t get to my life points.”
“Oh yeah?” asked Rainbow. “Say that to my spell card! Dragon King's Demise! This lets me tribute all of my monsters, then we both take damage equal to the ATK points of all the Dragons I tributed.”
“Oh crap!” said Trixie. “Wait, now we both lose!”
“Don’t think so!” said Rainbow. At that moment, Rainbow began to transform. Once Sunset saw, she jumped at Rainbow and knocked her over, forcing her to drop her Hanewata card before she could use it.
Rainbow Dash LP: 0
Trixie Lulamoon LP: 0
Everyone looked at Sunset.
“Well, it looks like we have a draw,” said Celestia.
“Now that's the bad girl we love to hate!” called Flash. The crowd starting booing Sunset.
“I knew she was still trouble!” said Octavia.
“The real Sunset Shimmer is back!” said a random student.
“No. It isn't like that,” said Sunset.
“What the heck was that?!” asked Rainbow.
“You were showing them your magic,” explained Sunset. “I-I didn't know what else to do.”
“Maybe close the curtains, or something?” asked Rarity.
“I'm sorry,” said Sunset. “I just wanted to help.”
“Yeah, well, you didn't,” said Rainbow.
“Nice duel, Rain-brooms,” said Trixie. “I especially liked the part where Sunset Shimmer, in a fit of jealous rage, knocked out Rainbow in the middle of her turn!”
Sunset got in Trixie’s face. “It wasn't a fit of jealous rage!”
“If you say so,” said Trixie. “Anyway, since it was a draw, I guess we’ll just have to duel again.”
The Dazzlings then walked over to the principals and sang a short harmonious tune.
“What are they doing?” wondered Sunset.
“What can we do?” asked Rarity. “Our team’s already been disqualified. And I had the most gorgeous outfit for the finals!”
“Yup, cause that's the real tragedy here, Rarity,” said Applejack. “That you won't get to play dress-up!”
“You know perfectly well that is not what I meant!” countered Rarity.
The Principals then took the stage. “Guys, keep it down!” said Rainbow. “I think they’re about to announce our rematch.”
“I doubt it,” said Fluttershy.
“Attention students!” said Celestia. “We’re a little pressed for time tonight. So, instead of a rematch, we’ll decide the winner between the Rainbooms and the Illusions with a coin toss. Heads for the Illusions, tails for the Rainbooms!”
“Perfect,” said Trixie. “I always win with heads.”
Luna flipped the coin. “The winner is… The Rainbooms!”
“What?!!” cried Trixie.
“How about that?” asked Pinkie.
“This isn't over!” said Trixie as she stomped away.
“Congratulations, girls,” said Celestia. “You deserve it.”
“See you tonight, Rainbooms,” said Adagio. “We are really looking forward to this duel.”
“Yeah, and you’re going down,” said Rainbow.
All the students booed them.
“Zis never should haf been you, Rainbooms!” called Photo Finish. The crowd continued to jeer Rainbow, Twilight and the others as they walked out of the gym. The Dazzlings then walked toward Trixie.
“This is a travesty! A travesty!” cried Trixie.
“It really is!” said Adagio. “The Rainbooms don't deserve to be in the finals. Not when your team was clearly better.”
“And wanted it so much more,” added Aria.
“Alas,” said Adagio. “This is the way it's going to be. Dazzlings vs. Rainbooms.”
“Unless, of course, the Rainbooms don't manage to make it tonight, or get held up for some reason,” said Sonata.
Trixie chuckled sinisterly.
Rainbow, Twilight, and the girls headed to the big stage where they would duel the Dazzlings.
“I don’t like it,” said Fluttershy.
“What?” asked Sunset.
“How we made here,” answered Fluttershy. “Doesn't anybody think that outcome was a little… strange?”
“Very strange,” said a voice. The girls looked to the side and saw Trixie with her teammates.
“What are you doing here, Trixie?” asked Rainbow. “Pretty sure the losers are supposed to be up there in the cheap seats.”
Trixie clenched her fist. “The Great and Powerful Trixie is the most talented duelist at Canterlot High. It is I who deserves to be in the finals. And I will not be denied!” She then snapped her fingers and Fuchsia Blush pulled a lever which triggered a trap door under the girls, causing them to fall.
After witnessing the incident, Spike ran to find help.
“See you never!” said Trixie as the trap door slammed shut.
The Dazzlings saw the entire thing. “Told you someone would give them a shove,” said Adagio.
“She didn't shove them,” corrected Sonata. “She pulled the leaver.”
Aria groaned. “Go back to sleep, Sonata.”
A couple hours later, the Illusions showed up to battle the Dazzlings. Meanwhile, the girls were still trapped under the stage. Rainbow had found a door and as trying to bust it open, unfortunately it was locked tight.
“Give it up, Rainbow!” said Applejack. “You've been tryin' at this for hours. It's not gonna open.”
Rainbow snapped her fingers in frustration.
“Maybe it doesn't even matter that we're trapped down here,” said Twilight. “Who knows if our strategy would have worked?”
“I’m sure it would've, Twi,” said AJ. “Assumin' a certain team member didn't try to hog the spotlight.”
“Hey!” said Rainbow. “If you wanna tell Twilight she's getting a little too caught up trying to be the new leader, you don't have to be all cryptic about it.”
“She was talking about you, Rainbow Dash!” said Rarity.
“Me?!” asked Rainbow. “I'm just trying to make sure my team wins at all costs!”
“OUR TEAM!!” yelled the others.
“Was this even the right strategy?” asked Twilight. “I should know what to do. How could I not know what to do? How could I have failed like this?”
“You may have named one of the teams, but you’re not the only duelist in it, Rainbow Dash!” said Applejack.
“I'm the one who win all the duels!” countered Rainbow.
“Pinkie and I won duels!” said Fluttershy. “You just never seem to remember!”
“I had the most perfect outfits for us to wear!” said Rarity.
“Again with the costumes!” said Applejack. “No one cares what we're wearin'!”
“I care, Applejack!” said Rarity. “So sorry if I enjoy trying to make a creative contribution to the team!”
“Hey! Anybody here remember fun?!” yelled Pinkie. “I'll give you a hint! It's the exact opposite of being in the Rainbooms!!”
Rainbow pointed at Pinkie and Fluttershy. “I wish I never asked either of you to be on my team!”
Rarity pointed at AJ. “I wish I'd never agreed to be on your team!!”
“Me neither!” said Applejack.
As the girls continued to argue, their magic slowly slithered out of their bodies and floated up to the stage.
Meanwhile, the Dazzlings were dominating the Illusions. Sonata had beaten both Lavender and Fuchsia. While Trixie had only defeated Sonata.
As the girl’s magic floated up, the sirens sucked it all up.
Sunset couldn’t keep quiet anymore. “Stop! You have to stop! They're feeding off of your magic!”
“But how?” asked Applejack. “It's the magic of friendship.”
“Ever since you formed these teams, you all have been letting little things get to you,” explained Sunset. “At first, I didn’t said anything 'cause I didn't feel like it was my place. Not when I'm so new to this whole ‘friendship’ thing. I still have a lot to learn. But I do know that if you don't work out even the smallest problems, the magic of friendship can be turned into something else.”
“I can't believe all this tension was happening right under my nose and I didn't see it,” said Twilight. “I'm supposed to be the one with all the answers. But all I've done is let you all down.”
“I don't think anyone is supposed to have all the answers,” said Sunset. “But you can count on your friends to help you find them.”
Twilight’s eyed widened. “I think you already have. C'mon! We need to get out of here!” The girls all pushed against the door, but still it wouldn’t budge. Suddenly, there was a knock, and Spike pushed it open. “Spike!” Twilight hugged him with all her might.
“Sorry I took so long,” said Spike. “I had to find somebody who wasn't under the sirens' spell to help me get you out.” Vinyl Scratch then peeked in.
“Why isn't she under their spell?” asked Twilight.
“Never takes off her headphones,” answered Spike.
“Come on, y'all!” said Applejack. The girls quickly made amends with each other, grabbed their cards, disks, dresses, and rushed out.
Unfortunately, the girls were too late. The last duel was basically over.
Adagio Dazzle LP: 4000
Trixie Lulamoon LP: 1000
“Opera the Melodious Diva, attack her directly!” ordered Adagio.
“No!!” cried Trixie.
Adagio Dazzle LP: 4000
Trixie Lulamoon LP: 0
“Oh no!” said Twilight. “We didn’t make it!”
All of a sudden, the Dazzlings began to transform. They grew extra-long ponytails, pointed ears, and translucent wings.
“Looks like we win,” said Adagio.
“Not yet!” said Twilight. “You’ll have to defeat all of us first!”
The Dazzlings cackled.
“You’re too late!” said Aria.
“Totally,” said Sonata.
“We already regained… OUR TRUE POWER!!!” said Adagio. The three girls then summoned the astral versions of their true siren forms.
Twilight and the others stood speechless for a moment.
“Attack!” roared Adagio, and the sirens flew toward the girls.
“We can’t let them beat us!” said Twilight.
“Right!!” said her friends. As the girls drew their cards, they sprouted their own pony features.
Rarity drew her Diamond-Dust Cyclone card, then used her magic to fire a massive number of real diamonds at Aria.
Fluttershy then used her magic on her Butterspy Protection trap card and launched a swarm of butterflies at Sonata.
Twilight used her magic on her Star Blast spell card to create hundreds of sparkling stars and aimed them at Adagio.
But the sirens just fired their own blasts of magic which overpowered the girl’s attacks and pushed them back. The sirens then fired another blast at the girls scattering the cards from their duel disks and sent the girls flying.
One card landed next to Sunset.
“Sunset!” cried Twilight. “We need your help! Badly!”
Sunset quickly strapped on her own disk, and walked in front of her friends. “You’ll never bring us down!” She then and picked up the one card, it was Rainbow Dragon. A sudden realization hit her. “Girls! We need to combine our powers!” The others quickly rushed over to Sunset and channeled some of their magic into the card. Then suddenly, Sunset grew her own pony ears and tail. Embracing her new power, Sunset slapped the card onto her disk. “I summon Rainbow Dragon!” The magic from the seven girls swirled around the dragon and filled the seven colored spots on its body.
“What are they doing?” asked Aria.
“I don’t know, but I don’t like it,” said Adagio. “Attack!” The three sirens flew at the girls, but the Dragon blew them back with its Rainbow mouth blast.
The girls then held up their hands and transferred all their magic and power to their monster. As the dragon glowed with the girl’s power, it suddenly began to double in size. It then sprouted another pair of feathered wings and a unicorn horn appeared on its head.
“Rainbow Dragon!” cried Twilight and Sunset. “Prism wave!” The dragon fired a giant wave of rainbow colored energy from its mouth and a beam from its horn, destroying the siren’s astral projections as well as their gem pendants. The Dazzlings’ spell was then severed.
After getting back on their feet, the Dazzlings picked up the remains of their jewels and tried to sing again, but couldn’t. The enraged students then pelted them with fruits and vegetables, forcing the three to flee in shame and disgrace.
Sunset picked up a piece of the shattered jewels. “Guess that explains why these were so important to them.”
“Without those pendants and the magic you brought here from Equestria, they're just three harmless teenage girls,” said Twilight.
Flash Sentry then ran up on stage and hugged Twilight. “Way to go! That was amazing!”
The other girls giggled as Twilight and Flash shared a moment.
“You may have vanquished the Dazzlings!” said Trixie appearing out of nowhere. “But you will never have the amazing strategy and skill of the Great and Powerful Trixie!” She then threw a smoke bomb.
“She's gone!” said Pinkie as the smoke settled. She then looked over and saw Trixie climbing over a wall. “Oh wait, there she is.”
“You know?” asked Rainbow. “Twilight is going back to Equestria soon. Which means Rarity’s team is gonna need a replacement.”
“I’d be happy to apply,” said Sunset. “By the way, Rainbow. Here’s your card back.” The girls and Spike all embraced Sunset.
The next day, the girls and Spike walked to the statue.
“Sure wish you could stay longer,” said Applejack.
“Me too,” said Twilight. “But I have responsibilities in Equestria that I have to get back to. Its citizens need me. But now I can go through the portal whenever I need to. So, I’ll see you all next time. Ready Spike?”
“Ready!” replied Spike.
Later, the girls got together to duel, but Sunset sat down to write a quick letter to Twilight in her journal.
“Dear Princess Twilight,
Missing you already, and I hope you'll be back soon. Things are definitely looking up for me here at CHS. But I know I still have a lot to learn about friendship. Hope you don't mind if I write to you for advice when I need it.
Your friend, Sunset Shimmer.”
“You ready or what?” asked Rainbow.
“You bet!” answered Sunset.
“Let’s duel!” said the two girls.
Rainbow LP: 4000
Sunset LP: 4000
Elsewhere, in a school called Crystal Prep, another Twilight Sparkle was documenting all the strange events that were connected to Canterlot High. “No doubt about it, Spike. There's definitely something strange going on at that school.”
Her dog barked in agreement.