//------------------------------// // Chapter 3: Friendship Games Tryouts // Story: Hunter of Numbers // by Golden Flare //------------------------------// Once the weekend was over, it was back to school for you and your friends, and not just that, you also remember a promise you made to the girls. That's right, the second classes let out for the day, you headed straight for the Duel Fields to participate in the tryouts for the upcoming Friendship Games with the others. When you told Snips and Snails about it, they were shocked, but happy to see that you're branching out. As the minutes passed by, Vice Principal Luna told everyone to take a seat on the bleachers and await further instruction from the coach. The coach, also known as Spitfire walked up to everyone and blew her whistle loudly. "ALRIGHT, LISTEN UP!" Spitfire bellows, "TODAY YOU ALL ARE GOING TO BE TESTED FOR THE ATHLETIC PORTION OF THE FRIENDSHIP GAMES AS WELL AS DUELING! MOST OF YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN BECAUSE BOTH BRAINS AND BRAWN FOR THE ACADEMIC PORTION INCLUDING THE ATHLETIC PORTION! WE CAN'T AFFORD ANY SURPRISES, SO GIVE IT ALL YOU'VE GOT! GO!!" She blows her whistle again and everyone including you charge through an obstacle course that was recently made; tire steps, running the track, climbing ropes, things like that. After it was finished, only twenty-four out of the original thirty students remained and the Duel Monsters portion of the tryouts were left. "GOOD! GLAD TO SEE SO MANY ARE STILL BREATHING NORMALLY AFTER THAT! NOW ON TO THE DUELING PORTION!" Once that was said, you were pitted against several Duelists and came out on top every time, even the girls, after it was all said and done, twelve students remained to take part in the Friendship Games; Sunset Shimmer, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rarity, Flash Sentry, Sandalwood, Micro Chips, Lyra Heartstrings, Bon Bon (whose real name is Sweetie Drops, Bon Bon is her nickname), and you, of course. Derpy Hooves, who usually goes by Ditzy or Muffins, was just below the requirements to take part in the Friendship Games, so everyone congratulated her on at least trying her best, you didn't dislike her, honestly she was the only one who didn't brag about beating you in Duel, so you decided to give her some words of encouragement. "Hey, don't be upset, you gave it everything you had and then some, you had and still have a lot of heart, and be glad that that's the one thing Crystal Prep doesn't have." She smiled at your kind words and hugged you as you hugged back, enjoying that she cheered up considerably. You two released each other and went your own ways home for the day, you felt like you had this sense of unease about the Friendship Games, but you shrugged it off and continued on your way. ...But little did you know was that your senses were correct. Crystal Prep Duel Fields, 4:57 PM Two students were knocked off their feet by their fellow student's monsters, since they were all in two separate Duels. Sugarcoat and Indigo Zap, two resident students of Crystal Prep Academy, were easily defeating two other students for sport. "Please...no more!" one student begged. "Show mercy!" the other pleaded. "Tough luck, kid!" Indigo gloated with a sinister smirk as a 91 mark glowed bright on her right shoulder. "Sorry, that is one skill that I do not possess." Sugarcoat said with brutal honesty with her left shoulder shining with a 94 mark. "Now attack!" both Indigo and Sugarcoat declared. Their monsters attacked the other two students directly, causing them to lose their Duels. Royal Pin: 100 - 2200 = 0 LP Sugarcoat: 4000 LP WINNER: Sugarcoat Suri Polomare: 300 - 2400 = 0 LP Indigo Zap: 4000 LP WINNER: Indigo Zap As the Augmented Reality dissipates, the two students known as Royal Pin and Suri Polomare got up and ran as fast as their legs could carry them away from the two psychotic Duelists. "That's right! Run! Run like a couple of cowards!" Indigo shouted. "Actually, if we were in their shoes, we would run too." Sugarcoat pointed out. "Aw, shuddup! At least we won!" The two troublemakers left the Duel Fields taking their victory in stride. Unbeknownst to them that they were being watched, not from close by, but in a vision from Gazing Eye's...well, gazing eye. He has the ability to peer into the future with one eye, in fact, this Duel was only a few minutes away from taking place. He turned to his loyal follower, Cosine, to inform him of this development. "Two more Numbers have been found...at Crystal Prep." he said. Cosine nods, "I'm on it." He began to hurry to the door, ready to take more Number cards, until... "Wait!" Gazing stops him, "I see...oh, this is interesting!" "What? What do you see?" Cosine urged. "...A young (boy/girl), who is collecting the Number cards just like us." "Huh?!" "Yes...but the responsibility will become too much for (him/her), and begin (his/her) descent into darkness." "What does this mean for us?" "...Leave the Crystal Prep Numbers be, for now, anyway." "But why?" "I have a feeling that this little (boy/girl) will be of great service to us." Cosine hummed in response. "Just for record, this stays between us. Your eldest and younger brothers, Sine and Tangent, must not know, for I fear that they may take drastic measures to eliminate our little friend." "But what's so special about this one person?" Gazing smirked, "...Because (he/she) possesses a power beyond our comprehension." CHS Cafeteria, 5:01 PM A lone student was packing up his things after a long day of helping Granny Smith with cooking the food for lunch today; he had orange skin, red and blue hair parted in the middle, blue eyes, wearing a dark blue shirt with a red blazer jacket, black pants, and white toed orange sneakers with neon red laces. His name is Shining Spoon, he was known for living with his cousin, Fluttershy, being adventurous and love for cooking, but he was also a Duelist, and he and his buddies, Bright Star and Bolt Dash practiced their Dueling skills from time to time. Just before he could lock up for the day, he noticed something on the floor near the oven, "A Duel Monsters card? What's it doing here?" He walked over to it and picked it up, seeing the card was blank. "Huh? That's strange..." Then shadow-like fog surrounded him before he could form another thought. "Yes, Shining Spoon...let the Number take hold." "What?! What's...going on?! AHHHHH!!!" Soon, it was too late, the fog seeped into him and he remained still until a smirk appeared on his face. "Hmm...I just had an idea for tomorrow's lunch...heh-heh-heh." he said as a 59 marked the side of his neck. He left the cafeteria and headed home, ready to prepare what he believes to be his greatest dish yet...