Celestia: That was some Duel. Big Mac managed to overcome Thunderlane in this electrifying showdown.
Luna: I hope the other Duels today are just as charged as the last.
Up in the stands the group were still cheering loudly at Big Mac's victory.
"I can't believe the combo he managed to pull off," Spike said.
"I told ya'h," Applejack said, "ma'h brother doesn't go down without a fight."
"That's right," Applebloom said, "his Mecha Workers are a force to be reckoned with."
"Though luck had a small part to play in it," Twilight said, "the Duel could have gone either way if he hadn't drawn that Power Bond card."
"Yeah but luck plays a part in almost anything," Flash said, "especially Duelling."
"True," Twilight said.
Up in the box the VIPs were also impressed.
"That boy continues to amaze," Chrysalis said.
"Well he did teach Applejack," Cadance said, "so it stands to reason that he'd be just as amazing."
"Maybe," Chrysalis said, "but ones family and training do not fully depict ones skill."
"Maybe," Cold said, "but in this case both siblings are extremely talented."
"Talented yes," Chrysalis replied, "but that Applejack girl's deck doesn't really speak to me the way the others do. Not to be mean, but it lacks a certain...je ne sais quoi."
"Jen a see what?" Shining Armor asked.
"It means it's lacking something," Chrysalis replied, "I'm not sure what but I know it's missing."
"I'm sure whatever it is," Cold said, "Applejack will show she has it in time."
Celestia: It's time to select the next two Duellists for the second match.
Luna: Now only six remain in the A Block round. Let's see which of those six it will be.
She pressed the button of her remote, which caused the megascreen to shift to the images of the six remaining A Block Duelists. The images then spun around and began spinning around, until the first image shot out.
Celestia: Our first contestant is Vinyl Scratch!
"Oh sweet," Spike said, "she was great in her last Duel."
"Though she could do with turning the volume down a little," Twilight said, "my ears are still ringing."
"You kidding," Flash said, "the best part was the noise."
"Say that again when you go deaf," Twilight replied.
The second image appeared, spinning around to show her opponent.
Luna: Her opponent, Applejack! May both Duellists please make their way down to the Duel arena.
"Yeeha," Applejack said as she leapt to her feet, "I'm up."
"Good luck Applejack," Twilight said.
"Knock em dead," Flash said.
"You know it," Applejack replied. With that she left the seating area and made her way down to the stadium.
"Looks like we'll be seeing whether her deck actually has what you think is missing, sooner then we thought," Cold said.
"Maybe," Chrysalis said, "but the question is, does she have it?"
"The question is what is this it you're talking about," Thorax mumbled.
"What was that?" Chrysalis asked her son.
"Nothing," Thorax said sitting up straight, "nothing at all mother."
The rest of the adults smirked at this.
Applejack was walking down the corridor towards the arena, when she noticed Big Mac heading her way.
"That was a great Duel back there Mac," Applejack said once they were close enough.
"Eeyup," Big Mac replied.
"Wish me luck," Applejack then said.
"Eeyup," Mac replied again.
As the two passed each other, they both raised the arms as high as they could a high fived. With that Applejack broke out into a run, heading towards the exit out onto the field.
Celestia: It's time for the second round's A Block match two.
Luna: Once again two Duellists will fight it out for a place in the next round, but who will that be?
Celestia: Let's welcome them onto the stage. In this corner with have the high powered DJ Duellist, Vinyl Scratch!
From out of one opening, stepped a girl in white clothing. She had white skin and both light and dark blue hair. Her eyes were covered by a pair of black shades with purple glass and she wore a pair of lime green headphones.
Luna: And in this corner. This cowgirl know's how to Duel, it's Applejack!
Applejack also stepped onto the stage, waving as she made her way towards the centre.
"GO APPLEJACK!" Applebloom cheered.
"I hope she can keep up," Twilight said, "after seeing Vinyl's skills."
"She'll be fine," Flash said, "Applejack's no slouch."
"Eeyup."
They turned to see Big Mac take up Applejack's empty seat.
"Great Duel back there Mac," Applebloom said, "were you worried you wouldn't win?"
"Nope," Mac replied.
Down on the field, Applejack and Vinyl finally reached the centre, where the ref was waiting.
"Hey there," Vinyl said, "I saw you Duel last round. That was a killer move you pulled off."
"Thanks," Applejack said, "ya'h weren't half bad ya'h self."
"May the best Duellist win," Vinyl said.
"Same e'h," Applejack said.
"Heads or tails?" The ref asked as he held up the coin.
"Tails," Vinyl said.
"Then a'll have heads," Applejack said.
The ref nodded and flipped the coin, before checking the outcome. "Tails. Vinyl Scratch takes the first move."
The two nodded and turned to step to a fair distance.
Celestia: Now let's find out which Duel Field they'll be Duelling on today.
Luna: I couldn't agree more. Let's see, shall we?
She held up her remote and pressed the button, causing the floor to glow as it formed the Duel Field.
"AUGMENTED REALITY COMBAT SYSTEM ENERGISED."
In the blink of an eye, the two Duellists were transported to an unusual Duel field, which was a mountain range with vinyl records sticking out the side and acting like platforms. Applejack and Vinyl stood on opposing platforms, overlooking a large dip between mountains. [AN]
Celestia: It's Vinyl Mountain!
"Awesome," Vinyl said as she looked around.
"I'll say," Applejack said.
The two stared each other down and pulled out their Duel Disk, Vinyl's being white with a blue blade.
Luna: With nothing else to say, let's get this going.
Celestia: I couldn't agree more. In three!
Luna: TWO!"
Both: ONE!
"DUEL!"
Vinyl: 4000
Applejack: 4000
"ACTION CARDS DISPERSED."
"Here we go," Vinyl said as she reached for her deck, "I draw." Looking of her hand she smiled, "rocking. Now I'll summon my Disk Dude in ATK mode." A man appeared, wearing a black spandex suit and a pair of black headphones and shutter shades. Attached to each of his wrists was a single vinyl record, which was a large as his head. (A1800/D1600/L4) "I'll throw down a pair of face downs and call it a turn."
Celestia: Vinyl scratch his starting off strong. How will Applejack respond?
"It's ma'h turn," Applejack said as she went to her deck, "a'h draw and I'll start by activating the Spell card, Reseeding. Now by discarding a Plant-Type monster from my hand, a'h can summon Plant-Type monsters from ma'h deck whose combined Levels equal the monster a'h sent to the graveyard."
Luna: As impressive as ever. Applejack's fine tuning her field to help summon something big.
"Now I'll discard Level six Thorn Fighter, to summon Apple Paladin and Garden Knight." In a flash of light, two monsters appeared on the field. The first was a monster which looked similar to Apple Knight, but his armour was white instead of silver. The second monster was another knight, in silver armour and carrying a long shovel. (A1200/D600/L3/P8), (A1300/D900/L3/P3)
"So those are her new Pendulum Monsters?" Pinkie asked.
"Yeah," Applebloom replied, "aren't they cool?"
"They are," Flash said, "and what's cool is she didn't even need to Pendulum Summon them."
"Let's see what else she can do with them," Twilight said.
"Now I'll summon ma'h Maiden of Vines to the field," Applejack continued as her third monster appeared. (A1000/D1000/L3)
Vinyl knew what this meant, having seen her do it in her last Duel.
"And with these three monsters, I can now build the Overlay Network." The monsters shot into the air and then flew into the black hole as it appeared below her. "As the seasons bring fourth new growth, it can also bring fourth a new power," the black hole exploded in a burst of light. "I XYZ SUMMON!"
The light faded revealing AJ's Xyz monster. "Orchid Cowboy!" (A2100/D600/R3)
"Knew it," Vinyl said.
"Orchid Cowboy attack Disk Dude!" Applejack ordered as her monster loaded its revolver and then aimed it at its opponent.
"You activated my Trap card!" Vinyl said as one of her face downs flipped up, "Bass Drop! It has the power to negate your attack and deal damage to half of your monster's ATK points."
"It would," Applejack said, "if not for my cowboy's ability. Once a turn I can remove an Overlay Unit to negate a Spell, Trap or monster effect." One of the three lights flew into the cowboy's other revolver which he aimed and fired a blast that hit the Trap, destroying it instantly. "That means my attack's back on." Her monster fired its other gun at Disk Dude.
"Well I activate my other face down," Vinyl said, "Defence Beat! This card saves my monster from destruction."
Disk Dude raised one of its arm mounted records, which the blast struck and bounced off.
Vinyl: 3700
Applejack: 4000
"What's more it lets me draw one card," Vinyl said as she did so.
"I'll set a card face down and end ma'h turn," Applejack said as she placed one card face down.
Celestia: Both sides are seemingly even. Which Duellist will be the first to make a decisive move?
"It's my turn," Vinyl said, "I draw. Now I'll tribute Disk Dude, to summon Sound Shaker!" Her monster disappeared in a flash of light, which faded to reveal a large black humanoid robot with large sub-woofers on its shoulders. (A2500/1600/L6)
Applejack frowned seeing this.
"Now my Sound Shaker will attack your Orchid Cowboy," Vinyl said as her monster unleashed a pair of powerful sound waves from its shoulder speakers, which combined into a single blast.
Applejack and her monster leaped off the platform they were on and flew down the side of the mountain, landing on a lower platform and picking up an Action Card. "I activate the Action Spell Evasion!" As the blast drew closer, Orchid Cowboy leapt out of the way, causing it to fly under him and strike the disc platform.
Vinyl frowned at this, but smirked when her eyes caught the sight of something. She and her monster leapt off their platform and landed another, just about the on Applejack was on. These see picked up her own Action Card. "I activate Encore! Since my monster just attacked and there's still a monster on your side of the field, I can use this Action Spell to grant my Sound Shaker a second attack."
Applejack's eyes went wide hearing this.
Sound Shaker unleashed a second sound blast, which struck Orchid Cowboy and destroyed him.
Vinyl: 3700
Applejack: 3600
"Awe man," Spike said, "Vinyl's Action Spell pretty much cancelled out Applejack's."
"So what," Applebloom said, "my big sister ain't lost this yet."
"Eeyup."
"I activate ma'h face down," Applejack said as her card flipped up to reveal a Trap, "Overlay Recovery. With this I can summon any Overlay Units still attached to my Cowboy when it was destroyed. Plus their Levels will increase by one." The black hole opened once again as two lights shot out of it and landed on Applejack's field, revealing Apple Paladin and Garden Knight. (A1200/D600/L4/P8), (A1300/D900/L4/P3)
"Well I end my turn," Vinyl said.
Luna: Vinyl Scratch has taken a narrow lead. Will she be able to keep it going or will Applejack pull it back.
"Come on Applejack," Applebloom yelled to her sister, "get the lead out. Xyz Summon again."
"Relax Applebloom," Twilight told her, "you said it yourself, Applejack's no slouch. She'll be fine, we just need to keep cheering her on."
"Eeyup."
"You see what I mean," Chrysalis said, "her style is far to timid. She needs more brute force in her deck if she wants to win."
"I'll admit Applejack's play style is a little defensive," Sunset said, "but she wouldn't have gotten here if it didn't hold merit."
"We'll just have to wait and see how well she does," Cold said.
"It's ma'h turn," Applejack said as she reached for her deck, "I draw and activate my Garden Knights ability. By removing a Plant Monster from my graveyard, I can add another Plant Monster with less ATK from my deck to my hand. "I'll banish Thorn Fighter to add Red Apple Golem to my hand." Her deck shuffled before slotting out a card, which she took.
Vinyl knew Applejack was working to rebuild her hand to Xyz Summon more monsters, but she'd win this before she got the chance.
"And now," Applejack said, "I'll Overlay my two Level four monsters." Apple Paladin and Garden Knight both glowed, before shooting into the air and into the black hole. "He who watches over all growth, lend us your protection." The black hole burst in an explosion of light, "I XYZ SUMMON!"
The light faded, revealing Applejack's monster. "Orchid Defender!" (A1400/D2600/R4)
"Playing defence huh?" Vinyl said, "we'll see how long that lasts."
"I end my turn with a face down," Applejack said.
"Then it's my turn," Vinyl said as she went to her deck, "I draw!" She looked at her card and smiled, before turning to Applejack. "I summon Sound Synchron to the field," she said as a small robot appeared. It was white and had an instrument on its head designed to look like a pair white headphones. (A500/D500/L2)
"A Tuner Monster," Twilight said.
"That can't be good," Flash said.
"Applejack," Applebloom whispered in concern.
"And now," Vinyl said, "I tune Level two Sound Synchron with Level six Sound Shaker." Her Tuner transformed into a pair of lights, which carved a pair of circles which Sound Shaker leapt into. "Dance to the beat of my new sound. Raise the roof off this Duel," the monsters were consumed by a bright flash of light. "I SYNCHRO SUMMON!"
The light faded, revealing Vinyl's new monster. It was a figure in all white clothing, wearing a pair of large black shutter shades and large black headphones. He was sitting in a large machine that looked like a platform with four mechanical legs and a DJ rig on top, with large speakers on either side. "Sound Striker, DJ Pon-3!" (A2800/D2200/L8)
Celestia: Talk about a loud monster.
Luna: Wish I'd brought ear plugs.
Vinyl leaped up and onto the platform next to her monster, before turning down to Applejack. "DJ Pon-3," she then called out, "attack Orchid Defender!"
The DJ began playing its rig, unleashing a powerful sound wave from its speakers. Everyone had to cover their ears from noise.
"I activate Orchid Defender's ability," Applejack called out over , "by removing an Overlay Unit, I can negate your attack!"
"Maybe," Vinyl said, "if I didn't have my Sound Striker's ability. By paying five hundred life points, I change your monster's battle position."
Vinyl: 3200
Applejack: 3600
Orchid Defender raised from its defensive stance.
"Why'd she do that?" Scootaloo asked in confusion.
"Orchid Defender can only use it's ability when it's in DEF mode," Applebloom explained, "now it's in ATK mode, Applejack can't negate the attack."
"Plus she'll take battle damage," Flash said.
The sound wave struck Orchid Defender, destroying it and sending Applejack flying back into the mountain side.
Vinyl: 3200
Applejack: 2200
Applejack slowly got back onto her feet, before looking up at Vinyl.
"I end my turn," Vinyl said.
Once Applejack was steady on her feet, she reached for her deck. "It's ma'h turn, a'h draw!" She looked at her cards and smiled, having everything she needed. "First I'll summon Red Apple Golem in DEF mode." The large apple monster appeared before taking a defensive stance. (A1300/D1500/L4) "Now I'll activate my Golem's ability," Applejack said, "since it was Normal Summoned, I can add Green Apple Golem to my hand." Her deck shuffled out a card, which she took and added to her hand.
"What's she up to?" Vinyl wondered.
"And now," Applejack said, "I'll set the Pendulum Scale with scale two Blooming Daisy and scale six Seedling Sprite." She placed two cards on her Duel Disk as it lit up. One either side of her, two columns of light appeared as two monsters flew up into them. The first was a three foot plant like monster with a face on its flower, while the second was a fairy like create wearing floral clothing.
The two monster stopped flying up as they reached ten feet in the air, before numbers appeared below them. They then looked up as a beam of light shot out of their eyes, connecting above her head and opening the portal. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!"
The portal opened and shot out two beams of light, which struck the ground and took shape.
"Green Apple Golem." (A1400/D600/L4)
"Yellow Apple Golem." (A1200/D1200/L4)
Vinyl was still confused as she looked at the tree defending monsters. None of them stood a chance against her DJ.
"Now I'll activate my face down," Applejack went on as her card flipped up to reveal a Trap, "Bloomberg the Moving Forest!"
"What's that do?" Vinyl asked.
"What is does," Applejack said, "is transform into a monster and summon it to ma'h side of the field." From out of nowhere came a monster, that was a giant tree with legs and arms. It had a mouth carved out of the bark and a single giant eye above it, while the top of its head was adorned with bright green leaves. At the end of its arms were the same leafed bushels, with five finger like branches on each on. (ATK 0/DEF 2000/L4)
"A Trap that becomes a monster?" Flash said in amazement.
"There aren't a lot of them," Twilight said, "but that one's extra special for Applejack.
"That's it?" Vinyl asked, "it doesn't have any ATK points."
"Not yet," Applejack said, "but with all three of my golems on my field, I can increase Bloomberg's ATK points to three thousand!" Vines flew out of Bloomberg's tree, wrapped around the three Apple Golems and then pulled them up and onto its branches. (ATK 3000/DEF 2000/L4)
"Oh," Vinyl said.
"Bloomberg attack!" The tree monsters leafs began to glow, before unleashing a flurry of leaf blades which flew towards Vinyl and her monster.
"I activate Sound Striker's ability," Vinyl said.
"You can activate it during my turn?" Applejack asked.
"That's right," Vinyl said, "so I'll pay five hundred life points to switch your monster's battle position.
Vinyl: 2700
Applejack: 2200
The DJ unleashed a powerful sound wave, which stopped the leafs in midair and then sent them flying back out. Bloomberg was forced to take up a defensive stance,
Applejack groaned but was forced to end her turn.
"Man she almost had her there," Flash said.
"Vinyl's Sound Striker is a powerful monster," Twilight said.
"There has to be some way to take it down," Spike said.
"Applejack'll need to find a way to beat it without attacking," Twilight said.
"It's my turn," Vinyl said as she went to her deck, "I draw and summon Boombox Dragon in ATK mode." A large black and purple dragon appeared with giant round ears in the shape of speakers. (A2000/D100/L4) "Now I'll use DJ Pon-3's ability to switch your Moving Forest into ATK mode."
Vinyl: 2200
Applejack: 2200
Once again the Synchro Monster unleashed a powerful burst of sound, which caused Bloomberg to change its battle position once again.
"What's she up to?" Applejack wondered.
"And now I'll have Boombox Dragon destroy Red Apple Golem," Vinyl said as her dragon flew forward and unleashed a sound wave at the apple monster. The blast struck, destroying it.
"Oh no," Twilight said.
"What's the matter?" Spike asked her in confusion.
"Without all three Apple Golems," Twilight replied, "Bloomberg's ATK points return to zero."
"Meaning Vinyl can destroy it," Flash caught on.
"And wipe out the rest of Applejack's life points," Scootaloo finished.
"Applejack!" Applebloom called out.
Sound Striker DJ Pon-3!" Vinyl yelled, "attack!"
The Synchro Monster unleashed it sound attack, sending it flying at the Trap Monster.
Applejack looked around and saw an Action Card on a platform on another mountain side. With no time to got around, Applejack knew her only hope was to jump it. Running up at full speed, Applejack leaped off the record and flew through the air.
As the sound wave attack drew closer, Applejack came to a rolling landing on the platform. Seeing she'd made it she look up and saw the Action Card, which she leaped at and grabbed just as the attack struck Bloomberg.
"APPLEJACK!" Her friends all called out.
Vinyl smiled, believing she'd won. But as the smoke began to fade, her smile disappeared when she saw Applejack standing there.
Vinyl: 2200
Applejack: 200
"But how?" She asked.
"Ma'h Action Spell," Applejack said, "Amplify. By tributing monsters on my field, a'h got a hundred attack points for each Level star. Since a'h sacrificed ma'h two remaining Apple Golems, a'h get eight hundred points."
"Lucky," Vinyl said, "but you realise next turn I'm gonna wipe you out."
"Yeah," Applejack replied, "but a'h still got one turn and that's all a'h need."
"Then bring it on," Vinyl said, "I end my turn."
Celestia: Applejack is down to her last few life points. Can she make a come back?
Luna: Hard to say with such little options.
"Like I said," Chrysalis said, "she needs more power in her deck."
"Don't sell her short," Cold said, "this Duel's far from over."
Applejack was feeling nervous. The next card she'd draw would determine whether she'd make it to the next round or not. With nothing to lose, Applejack took a deep breath and said. "It's ma'h turn, a'h draw!" She looked at the card she'd drawn and seeing it, her eyes went wide.
"Well?" Vinyl said, "what'd ya get?"
Applejack didn't reply, instead she just smirked. "The card that'll win me this Duel."
"Is that so?" Vinyl said, "then bring it on."
"Oh a'h will," Applejack replied, "A'h activate the Spell Rank-Up-Magic Growth Force!"
"A Rank-Up Spell," Vinyl said, "but you don't have any Xyz Monsters to Rank Up."
"Don't a'h." Applejack said. In that moment there was a flash of light and when it faded, it revealed Orchid Cowboy.
"What?" Vinyl asked.
"Growth Force is a Spell that lets me revive an Xyz monster," Applejack said, "before using him to rebuild the Overlay Network!" Orchid Cowboy transformed into a stream of light, which flew up and into a black hole as it opened. "Power of nature, bursting with life. Unleash your true strength upon the world." she chanted as the black hole exploded. "CHAOS XYZ EVOLUTION!"
The light faded revealing Applejack's new monster. It looked like Orchid Cowboy, only his poncho was now a black cloak. Pinned to it was a sheriff star with an apple in the centre. He wore a ten gallon hat on his head and carried a pair of black and silver pistols. A single light flew around him. "Orchid Sheriff!" (A2800/D2300/R4)
Everyone watched on in wonder at Applejack's new monster.
Celestia: An impressive Chaos Xyz Summon. But will it help her achieve victory?
"Nice move," Vinyl said, "but it won't help you beat me. Our monsters both have the same ATK points."
"We'll see about that," Applejack said, "Orchid Sheriff attack Sound Striker!" The Xyz Monster aimed its pistol at the Synchro Monster."
"Not happening," Vinyl said, "by paying five hundred life point I'm changing your monsters position."
"I don't think so," Applejack said, "because I'm using my monsters ability. By removing an Overlay Unit, I can negate your monsters ability." The light flew into his pistol, which he fired at the DJ and caused it to not be able to play its music. "What's more," Applejack said, "it also lets me increase my monsters ATK power by your monsters ATK." (A5600/D2300/R4)
"No way," Vinyl said in shock.
The Xyz Monster fired his weapon, shooting it at Sound Striker destroying it and causing Vinyl to got flying.
Vinyl: 0
Applejack: 200 (Winner)
Luna: Victory!
Celestia: Applejack overcame the odds and managed a come from behind win. Truly impressive.
As the field dissolved, Applejack walked over to where Vinyl had landed and helped her up.
"Thanks," Vinyl said, "and thanks for the totally rocking Duel."
"Same here partner," Applejack said, "let's do it again some time."
"Totally," Vinyl replied.
With that the two turned to leave.
"That was awesome," Applebloom cheered, "I told you my sister wouldn't lose."
"Maybe," Scootaloo said, "but admit it. You were worried for a moment."
Applebloom blushed. "Maybe for a nanosecond."
Everybody laughed at this.
"So Ms Chrysalis," Cold said, "what do you think of the girl now?"
"I admit she did have enough power in the end," Chrysalis said, "hopefully next time she won't leave it so late."
"Well sometimes we can't bring our A game," Shining said, "even if we really want to."
"He's right," Cadance said, "it's all about what cards you're given."
Before they could say anything else, the Celestic Sisters came onto the stage.
Luna: It's time for the third match to begin.
Celestia: But first we have to decide who's going to be Duelling.
Luna: Let's find that out right now.
She pressed the button on her remote and the megascreen switched to the last four Duellists. The images then spun around and began spinning, until one picture shot out and showed the Duellist.
Celestia: Flash Sentry!
"Alright," Flash said as he got up, "my turn."
"Good luck," Twilight said.
"You'll do great," Scootaloo said.
Flash just gave a thumbs up before moving out of the seats.
Meanwhile the second image shot out, revealing Flash's opponent.
Luna: It's Maud Pie!
"Maud?" Pinkie said happily, before she realised something and her hair deflated while she frowned.
"What's up?" Spike asked her.
"How do I cheer?" Pinkie asked, "one's my sister and the others my friend."
"There's nothing wrong with cheering for both of them," Twilight said, "remember when Flash faced Spike."
Thinking this over, Pinkie smiled before her hair shot up again. They were right, she could cheer for them both and be happy doing it.
The Celestic Cup Finals continue, but could Flash overcome the rock wall that was Maud Pie?