“I don’t like this…” Adelinde frowned. “I should finish this quickly.”
Adelinde
LP: 1600
Luna
LP: 1100
“Her expression changed. What could it mean? Leo, I hope you’re okay,” Luna thought. “It’s my turn! I activate Sunlight Unicorn’s effect! Once per turn, I can—!”
“Not gonna happen.”
“Huh?”
“As long as my Field Spell Reptilianne Swamp is face-up, the effects of all non-“Reptilianne” monsters with 0 ATK are negated!”
“No way…”
“With my monsters stripping yours of their ATK… and my Field Spell taking away their effects… you can’t do anything!”
Luna scoffed. “In that case, I activate the Spell Spirit’s Call! This lets me Special Summon two Level 3 or lower LIGHT monsters from my Deck that each have 500 ATK or less! I Summon Kuribon and Dreamsprite!”
Kuribon
LV: 1
DEF: 200
Dreamsprite
LV: 2
DEF: 200
“However, this turn, the monsters Summoned by this effect cannot be used as Synchro Material. I’ll Set two cards face-down and end my turn!”
“That’s cute. Your Dreamsprite has the effect of redirecting my attacks and your Kuribon can also negate attacks in exchange for giving me Life Points. Prolonging your defeat, I see… except it won’t do you any good! It’s my turn!” Adelinde declared, drawing a card. “First, I activate the effect of Reptilianne Swamp! Once per turn, during my Standby Phase, if you have at least three face-up monsters with 0 ATK, I can draw a card. Next, I send a card from my hand to the Graveyard to activate the effect of Reptilianne Medusa!” Luna’s fairy quickly turned to stone.
Dreamsprite
LV: 2
ATK: 300 – 300 = 0
“Dreamsprite’s ATK is now 0 and can’t change Battle Position. On top of that, its effects are negated due to Reptilianne Swamp!”
“Is she… she gonna turn us to stone?!” a female filly whimpered. The young ponies still on the ground continued to cower in fear.
“Now, now…” Blue Melody said, trying to comfort them.
“They’re so adorable when they’re so full of fear,” Adelinde said. “Battle!”
“Not so fast!” Luna interrupted. “I activate the Trap Card Arms Exchange! This lets me take an Equip Spell on the field and equip it to a different target! I’ll take Horn of the Unicorn that’s equipped to Sunlight Unicorn and, instead, equip it to Dreamsprite!”
“What?”
The stone unicorn’s horn returned to its original shape. A gold horn appeared on Dreamsprite’s head as its body returned to normal.
Sunlight Unicorn
LV: 4
ATK: 0
Dreamsprite
LV: 2
ATK: 0 + 700 = 700
DEF: 200 + 700 = 900
“The monster equipped with Horn of the Unicorn gains 700 ATK and DEF! Since Dreamsprite’s ATK is no longer 0, its effects aren’t negated by your Reptilianne Swamp!”
“Not bad. Reptilianne Medusa, attack Dreamsprite!” the woman continued.
“I activate the second effect of Arms Exchange! By banishing it from my Graveyard, I can return an Equip Spell on my field into the Deck, then choose a different Equip Spell from my Deck and equip it to my monster! I’ll return Horn of the Unicorn to the Deck!” The gold horn disappeared from Dreamsprite’s head.
Dreamsprite
LV: 2
ATK: 700 – 700 = 0
DEF: 900 – 700 = 200
“Then I’ll equip it with Mist Body! A monster equipped with it cannot be destroyed in battle!”
Adelinde’s serpent bounced off the stone Dreamsprite and retreated to her side. “Fine, I activate the Trap Card Reptilianne Reborn! This Special Summons a “Reptilianne” monster from my Graveyard in Defense Position!”
Reptilianne Scylla
LV: 4
DEF: 1200
“Then I Summon Reptilianne Cobra!”
Reptilianne Cobra
LV: 2
ATK: 0
“Cobra’s effect! When it’s Normal Summoned, I can make the ATK of one of your monsters become 0!”
“Kuribon!” Luna gasped as her Kuribon fell to the ground encased in stone.
Kuribon
LV: 1
ATK: 300 – 300 = 0
“Now I tune Level 2 Reptilianne Cobra with Level 4 Reptilianne Scylla!”
2 + 4 = 6
“With your many heads, smash all your enemies that have been turned to stone! Synchro Summon! Come, Reptilianne Hydra!”
Reptilianne Hydra
LV: 6
ATK: 2100
The ponies shrieked as the new reptile emerged.
“Reptilianne Hydra’s effect activates! When it’s Synchro Summoned, all of the opponent’s monsters with 0 ATK are destroyed, then I draw one card for each one I destroy this way!” Adelinde’s creature charged towards Luna’s stone monsters.
“I activate the Trap Spiritual Resolve! This card protects my monsters from being destroyed!” A barrier appeared to repel the hydra.
Adelinde groaned.
“Then, since I control two or more monsters, I draw one card.”
“I hate prey that doesn’t know when to quit. I’ll Set a card face-down and end my turn.”
“Then it’s my turn! I Summon Fairy Archer!”
Fairy Archer
LV: 3
ATK: 1400
“I activate Fairy Archer’s effect! Once per turn, in exchange for not attacking this turn, you take 400 damage for each LIGHT monster I control!” Her fairy drew back her bow and took aim at Adelinde.
400 * 5 = 2000
“I activate my Counter Trap! Gorgon Stare! This negates the activation of your effect and makes your monster’s ATK become 0!”
“Not my Fairy Archer, too!” Luna responded.
Fairy Archer
LV: 3
ATK: 1400 – 1400 = 0
“Now all five of your monsters have been petrified. You’ll soon join them,” Adelinde grinned.
Luna grabbed the last card in her hand. “From my hand, I activate the Equip Spell Fairy’s Blessing, and I’ll equip it to Kuribon!” A light aura surrounded her Kuribon. “I can’t take Battle Damage except from battles involving the monster equipped with Fairy’s Blessing. In addition, once per turn, I can gain 300 LP for each LIGHT monster I control!”
300 * 5 = 1500
Luna
LP: 1100 + 1500 = 2600
“I end my turn.”
“My turn,” Adelinde declared. “With Reptilianne Swamp’s effect, I’ll draw one more!”
“What’s she smiling about…?” wondered Luna.
“I Summon the Tuner Monster Disharmony Fang!”
Disharmony Fang
LV: 2
ATK: 400
“Disharmony?” Luna stepped back, startled.
“I tune Level 2 Disharmony Fang with Level 6 Reptilianne Hydra!” The Disharmony Fang became two black rings while the hydra became six black stars. The stars lined up vertically within the rings and were immediately engulfed by a black pillar.
2 + 6 = 8
“Ruler of reptiles, come forth and let fear and despair petrify your enemies! Synchro Summon! Rise, Disharmony – Reptilianne Basilisk!”
A large creature slithered from the darkness. Its body surrounded the two female Duelists and the ponies. The head of the creature rose from behind Adelinde.
Disharmony – Reptilianne Basilisk
LV: 8
ATK: 2400
“A Disharmony Synchro monster…” Luna mumbled. “Does this mean… there’s a pony inside like before…?”
“Lu… na…” a voice said.
“Huh?” Luna was startled. “That voice… Regulus?”
“This creature again…?” shrieked Saffron.
“What do you mean?” asked Luna.
“This beast… first appeared in Canterlot when your kind attacked us!” answered Coriander. “It wasn’t until we saw this creature that my daughter saw lost fillies in the street.”
“Poor things,” chuckled Adelinde. “I suppose they are the children of the souls that had the misfortune of running into Carter and myself. Truly a shame that they’ll never be seen again.”
“How could you be so horrible?!” exclaimed Luna.
“Oh, the irony.”
“What?”
“It was we who were treated horribly! Even now, you and your pathetic Signer friends are too stupid to realize that.”
“But you’re going around attacking innocent creatures!”
“We were innocent, too, you know. Besides, how is it any different from our home world? Animals are no more than either pets or food to us humans. Why would it be any different here?”
Luna slowly looked back at the ponies behind her. Their gazes filled with horror and disgust focused on the two Duelists. “No… but what about the ponies working with you? Are they just ‘pets’ or ‘prey’ to you, too?”
“Honestly, I didn’t give it that much thought and, quite frankly, I don’t care. Though, I suppose I can give them special treatment,” Adelinde answered. “Regardless, that doesn’t change anything for these ponies you’re trying to protect. Not that they would want your protection anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
“I don’t want to be food!” cried a filly.
“I want my mommy!” shouted another.
“Easy there, nothing’s going to happen to you…” Blue Melody went from filly to filly to calm them.
Sour Note only shook his head as he watched his girlfriend comfort the fillies.
Sassy and Saffron began pulling on the branches holding up the young ponies above more frantically. “I’m starting to regret what I was doing earlier…” said the former.
Coriander gave nothing short of an angry look at Luna and Adelinde.
“When Disharmony Fang is used as Synchro Material, I can destroy a face-up Spell or Trap Card on the opponent’s field!” Adelinde continued. “Let’s get rid of that Fairy’s Blessing!”
The light aura surrounding Kuribon faded.
“Battle! Reptilianne Medusa, attack Sunlight Unicorn!” the woman commanded. Her smaller reptile smashed the stone unicorn into rubble.
2200 – 0 = 2200
Luna
LP: 2600 – 2200 = 400
“She… killed a pony!” shouted a young colt.
The fillies began crowding up in one spot.
“Reptilianne Basilisk’s effect!” Adelinde continued. “When a “Reptilianne” monster destroys one of your monsters by battle, I can destroy another monster! Good-bye, Regulus!” The reptile’s giant tail slammed into the stone lion.
“Regulus!” Luna screamed.
“Lu… na…” a voice said.
“…Regulus?”
“Don’t… worry… I don’t… sense… life… inside… that…”
“Inside what?”
The voice no longer responded.
“Since the monster I destroyed with this effect had 0 ATK, I can destroy one more!” Adelinde continued. “Dreamsprite is next!” The serpent’s tail crushed the small fairy. “Now to finish you. Go, Basilisk! Attack Fairy Archer!” The Reptilianne Basilisk opened its maw as its head approached Luna’s monster.
“From my Graveyard, I activate the second effect of Spiritual Resolve!” Luna declared. “By banishing it, I can negate your attack!” Another barrier appeared and blocked the serpent.
“Seriously?” Adelinde groaned, grabbing the last card in her hand. “I’ll Set one card face-down and end my turn. This will soon be over.”
“My turn!” Luna declared, drawing a card. “What was Regulus trying to say…?”
“Don’t… worry… I don’t… sense… life… inside… that…”
“He didn’t sense life inside that…?” Luna thought, looking up at the basilisk. “…That… that monster? Does he mean there isn’t a pony inside?”
“Out of options?”
“Not quite! I Summon the Tuner Monster Little Armorsmith!”
Little Armorsmith
LV: 3
ATK: 700
“I hope Regulus is right!” Luna figured. “I tune Level 3 Little Armorsmith with Level 1 Kuribon and Level 3 Fairy Archer!”
3 + 1 + 3 = 7
“The holy light of protection, shine now and become eternal life! Synchro Summon! A regal birth, Ancient Fairy Dragon!”
The ponies found themselves awestruck as a beautiful dragon emerged from the light above Luna and descended to her side.
Ancient Fairy Dragon
LV: 7
ATK: 2100
“So you’ve finally called your ace,” Adelinde commented. “But it’s too late! I Tribute my remaining Reptilianne Token and my Reptilianne Medusa to activate the Continuous Trap Card Endless Stare!”
“What is that?” Luna gasped as she saw her dragon become encased in stone like her previous monsters.
Ancient Fairy Dragon
LV: 7
ATK: 2100 – 2100 = 0
“Endless Stare makes the ATK of any monster you Summon become 0 while it’s face-up on the field!” Adelinde explained. “Your best monster has failed you.”
“Is that so?”
“What?”
“When Little Armorsmith is used as Synchro Material for a LIGHT Synchro Monster, I can add an Equip Spell from my Deck to my hand! I’ll add the Equip Spell Ancient Veil to my hand and equip it to my Ancient Fairy Dragon!”
“What good will that—your dragon…! It’s regaining its color?!”
A bright aura surrounded Luna’s dragon. “A LIGHT monster equipped with Ancient Veil is unaffected by the opponent’s Spell and Trap effects and also gain 400 ATK!”
Ancient Fairy Dragon
LV: 7
ATK: 0 + 2100 + 400 = 2500
“But that means…” the woman mumbled.
“I will protect everyone here! You won’t hurt these ponies anymore! I activate the effect of Ancient Fairy Dragon!” Luna continued. “Once per turn, I can destroy a Field Spell! Plane Back!”
Ancient Fairy Dragon rose and let out a roar that shook the ground. The swamp and trees shattered and vanished. The foals that were gripped by the branches screamed as they fell.
“Ancient Fairy, please!” Luna said.
The foals screamed until they noticed they were being carried. They looked up to see the dragon gently placing them on the ground.
“You… saved us…?” asked a young mare.
“Are you alright, little ones?” Ancient Fairy asked.
The ponies were taken aback by the dragon’s beautiful and soothing voice. At a loss for words, they simply nodded. The dragon then returned to Luna’s side.
“Thank you, Ancient Fairy,” Luna said gratefully.
“Of course,” the dragon replied. “I cannot stand for those who would harm others for their own evil purposes.”
“That monster that this woman uses… Regulus said something about sensing no life inside it?”
“That’s right. In Leo’s previous Duel, I sensed something from his opponent’s monster. However, I didn’t know what it was until that moment…”
“When we saw that pony during that Synchro Summon?”
“That’s right. However, I do not sense anything like that from this creature before us.”
“Alright,” Luna smiled.
“How dare you,” Adelinde groaned. “This Duel is not over yet!”
“Now that your Reptilianne Swamp is destroyed, I gain 1000 Life Points!”
Luna
LP: 400 + 1000 = 1400
“Next, I can add a Field Spell from my Deck to my hand! I’ll add the Field Spell Spirit Sanctuary to my hand and activate it!”
The ponies were startled as a gorgeous white platform appeared beneath them, with pillars surrounding them that had a remarkable sheen. Grass and flowers grew around the platform.
“While Spirit Sanctuary is face-up, all of my LIGHT monsters gain 500 ATK,” Luna continued.
Ancient Fairy Dragon
LV: 7
ATK: 2500 + 500 = 3000
“On top of that, once per turn, I can return any number of monsters in my Graveyard to the bottom of my Deck. This turn, all of your monsters lose 400 ATK for each one!” Six monsters popped out of the Graveyard slot on Luna’s Duel Disk.
“Six monsters?!”
400 * 6 = 2400
Disharmony – Reptilianne Basilisk
LV: 8
ATK: 2400 – 2400 = 0
Adelinde watched in shock as her reptile slowly turned to stone. “My basilisk! How dare you!”
Luna glared at her opponent. “Fall victim to your own curse. Ancient Fairy Dragon, attack Disharmony – Reptilianne Basilisk!” The dragon rose into the air once more. “Eternal Sunshine!”
Adelinde and the ponies shielded their eyes as the Ancient Fairy Dragon’s wings emitted a blinding light. The giant serpent was slowly reduced to dust.
3000 – 0 = 3000
Adelinde
LP: 1600 – 3000 = 0
As the light faded, Adelinde lay on the ground. A pool of darkness appeared beneath her, engulfing her.
“What is that?” Luna ran towards the woman, only to be pushed back. The darkness vanished and Adelinde was absent. “What just… happened?”
The young girl then looked back at the ponies, who glanced back at her with uneasiness and uncertainty. The dragon and the white platform and pillars had already disappeared.
“Is… everyone all right?” Luna asked, stepping towards them.
“Don’t you take a step closer!” shouted Coriander. “We’ve had enough of you here! Leave!”
“We don’t need your kind making things worse for us. For all we know, you could be plotting to kill us yourself,” added Sour Note.
“But I…” Luna said. “I’m not…”
“That’s enough,” Blue Melody interrupted. “I don’t know about you two, but I can see clear as day when someone is trying to protect us!”
“Sweetheart,” Sour Note responded. “We don’t know her. We can’t trust her. We should’ve just left Canterlot before all this started. Just the two of us.”
“You know I can’t do that. I can’t abandon other ponies. Helping others lets me earn their support. That’s what got me to where I am today. I would appreciate having yours, too, sweetie. I don’t want to lose you.”
“Like the others?”
“Sour Note!”
“Fine, fine.” Sour Note glared back at Luna. He pointed his hoof at his own eyes before pointing it at the human.
Luna stood in silence until she was approached by Sassy.
“Do you truly mean it when you say you won’t hurt us ponies?” the unicorn asked.
“Of course I do! I promise I’ll do what I can to protect you all!” Luna answered. “My brother, too!”
“Very well.”
“I suppose I’ll try as well,” Saffron added. “Right now, we’ve got to do something for these poor fillies.” She looked back at her father, who reluctantly nodded in agreement.
“I have a suggestion,” Blue Melody interjected.
“And what would that be?”
“I was originally scheduled to appear at an event here in Canterlot, but… obviously the event itself probably isn’t happening.”
“Are you saying what I think you’re saying?” asked Sour Note.
“Yes, sweetie, I am. I wish to perform so that I can raise the spirits of everypony in Canterlot.”
“You’re wasting your time. I still say we should go home.”
“Oh, stop it. I don’t know why you’ve been this way the past several weeks.”
“Fine. Have it your way.” Sour Note turned and walked away.
“I don’t know what his problem is…”
“Well, I’d like to pitch in however I can," said Luna. "My brother, too, once he meets up with us! You’re a singer, right? I’d love to see you perform!”
“Thank you.”
Slight Trace sat behind the corner of the building in its shadow, just out of sight of the ruins of the Tasty Treat.
“Those humans were worthless. Both of them were,” she commented. “On the other hoof… one of them did somewhat lead me to where I wanted to be. I found our second target.”