Celestia: It's time for the Celestic Cup's third match.
Luna: Let's welcome the two Duellists onto the field.
The two openings opened up, releasing a vail of smoke as the two Duelists stepped onto the field.
Celestia: First up we have the Pendulum Duellist. He won his spot here by defeating Shining Spoon and his Xyz Dragons, Flash Sentry!
Flash stepped out onto the field, waving at all his fans as he did.
"Go get em Flash!" Scootaloo cheered.
"I'm worried," Twilight said, "Maud's an incredibly powerful Duellist. Can Flash beat her?"
"No worries," Spike said, "Flash has Duelled powerful Duellists before and always come out on top."
"Si" Tidal said, "our Amigo won't be beaten so easily."
"If you say so," Twilight said.
Luna: And his opponent. Getting here required defeating her sister, but she did and is looking to repeat her performance. It's Maud Pie!
Maud stepped out onto the field, slowly walking towards Flash and the ref.
"It amazes me that someone who's usually so quiet," Chrysalis said, "could Duel so ferociously."
"Duelling allows one to truly be themselves," Cold explained, "much like how Big Mac is so shy but gains incredible confidence when he Duels."
"I guess," Chrysalis said.
"I hope Flash can beat her," Thorax said.
"Picked your favourite have we?" Sunset asked with a smirk.
"Flash is awesome," Thorax said, "his deck is so diverse."
"But you've only seen it once?" Chrysalis asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well..." Thorax thought, "the way he Duelled before just gave that impression."
"I see," Chrysalis said.
Flash and Maud finally met in the centre of the field, where the ref was waiting for them with his coin.
"Heads or tails?"
"I'll take....heads," Flash said, with Maud just nodding in agreement.
The ref flipped the coin and looked at the outcome. "Heads, Flash Sentry will take the first move."
The two nodded and stepped back to a reasonable distance.
Celestia: Now it's time to see which field our competitors will be Duelling on.
Luna: Agreed. 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 a large rocky terrain. There were multiple large rocks of different shapes and sizes, with Flash and Maud each standing on a large rock stack.
Celestia: It's Grand Canyon!
Luna: Our Duellists our gonna have a rocking time on this field.
Flash looked around and sighed. "Maud'll have home field advantage on this field," he said as he attached his Duel Disk to his arm, "but that won't stop me."
"We'll see," Maud said as she attached her own Duel Disk.
Celestia: Our Duellists are ready to throw down.
Luna: Then what are we waiting for. Let's get this Duel started.
Celestia: In three!
Luna: TWO!"
Both: ONE!"
"DUEL!"
Flash: 4000
Maud: 4000
"ACTION CARDS DISPERSED."
"My turn," Flash said as he reached for his deck, "I draw and start by setting the Pendulum Scale." He took two cards from his hand and placed them on his Duel Disk. "I'm setting scale one Magna Caster Lunara and scale eight Magna Caster Solaris, to set the Pendulum Scale." The two columns of light appeared besides him, as the magicians flew up and into them. "Cut through space time and carve the arc of victory," Flash said as the magicians fired the beams of light out their staffs and formed the portal above his head. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!"
The portal opened and three beams of light shot out, striking the ground as they did.
"Spark up, Volt Edge Dragon." (A1500/D1200/L4/P5)
"Surfs up, Magna Fighter Light Boarder." (A1300/D1100/L3/P3)
"Flare up, Blazing Light Dragon." (A2600/D1900/L7)
Maud frowned seeing the three monsters in DEF mode.
Celestia: Flash seems to be going with a defensive stratagy.
Luna: No doubt he remembers how Maud's deck works and what a certain monster can do.
"I end my turn with a face down," Flash said.
"Flash must be trying to hold out until Maud summons Tectonic Colossal," Twilight said, "once that's out he'll go one the attack."
"But will Maud fall for that?" Scootaloo asked.
"We'll see," Tidal said.
"GO MAUD!" Pinkie screamed.
"It's my turn," Maud said as she reached for her deck, "I draw!" She looked at her deck and nodded, before taking cards from her deck. "I'm setting my Pendulum Scale, with scale three Stone Serpent and scale seven Stone Eagle!"
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 Flash had seen before, but the second was a new monster that looked like a giant bird made of stone.
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 two beams of light stone out.
"Stone Sentry." (A1400/D1300/L4)
"Granmarg the Rock Monarch." (A2400/D1000/L6)
"Now I'll have my Stone Sentry attack Magna Fighter Light Boarder!" The stone monster charged forward, before using its giant arms to smash the Pendulum Monster and destroy it. "Now Granmarg attack Blazing Light Dragon!" The larger stone monster charged forward, doing what Stone Sentry did and smashed the dragon destroying it.
The force of the attack forced Flash to lose his footing and be thrown off his rock stack, landing on the ground with a thud.
"And now," Maud said, "I'll sacrifice my two monsters to summon the mighty Tectonic Colossal!" The two monsters were consumed by a brilliant burst of light, which quickly faded to reveal Maud's best monster. (A3500/D2000/L8)
"Oh great," Flash said as he watched Maud leap onto her monster's shoulder.
"I end my turn with a face down," Maud said.
Luna: Her first turn and Maud's already called upon her deck's heavy hitter. Can Flash find a way to topple this Goliath?
"This is it," Twilight said, "Flash needs to defeat that monster or it'll annihilate him."
"He can do it," Spike said, "Flash's deck is prepared for anything."
"We'll see," Tidal said, "our amigo's got a serious wall to break down."
"That monster can destroy any other monster in ATK position," Sunset explained, "meaning that Flash has to either destroy it, or continue playing defence and hope Maud makes a mistake."
"Flash can do it," Shining said, "he's no coward. He'll find a way to destroy that monster."
"Yes," Cadance said, "he'll be fine. Like Thorax said, his deck is incredibly diverse. Somewhere in there's a way to win."
"We'll see," Chrysalis said.
"It's my turn," Flash said as he reached for his deck, "I draw!" He looked at the card and smiled, seeing just what he needed. "I activate Stardust Reload, which let's me banish Blazing Light Dragon to draw seven cards." He drew his cards and seeing what they were made his smile grow bigger. "And now my Pendulum Monsters will once again carve the arc of victory," he said as the portal formed once again, "I PENDULUM SUMMON!"
The portal opened and two beams of light shot out and struck the ground.
"Surfs up, Magna Fighter Light Boarder." (A1300/D1100/L3/P3)
"Shields up, Magna Fighter Arma." (A1800/D0/L4)
"Shine your light of victory, Flash Heart Dragon." (A2500/D2000/L7/P4)
"Alright!" Everyone who saw it said.
"That's just what he needs," Twilight said.
"Why try and destroy it when he can just send it to the bottom of her deck," Spike said.
"Don't be so sure," Tidal said making them turn to him. "Senorita Pie will no doubt have been expecting this, so she must have a plan to deal with it."
"Flash Heart's skill," Flash said, "Tectonic Colossal to the bottom of your deck."
"I don't think so," Maud said, "because I'm activating my face down." Her card flipped up revealing a Trap, "Dragged Down! With this I can sacrifice my Tectonic Colossal and then send a monster with less ATK points to the graveyard."
"WHAT!" Flash said.
As Maud jumped off her monsters shoulder, Tectonic Colossal reached out and grabbed Flash Heart before the ground below him began to crack and smashed. The giant fell into the abyss, bringing Flash Heart with it and soon the ground closed in around them and sealed it shut.
Flash growled seeing this.
"Next," Maud said, "I can summon a monster from my deck whose ATK points are equal to or lower then the difference between our destroyed monsters. Your monster was a thousand points weaker then mine, meaning I can summon something with one thousand or less ATK points. I summon Golem Sentry, in DEF mode." A creature that looked like a large wooden door with legs and arms appeared on her field. (A800/D1900/L4)
"This is bad," Twilight said, "with Flash Heart in the graveyard, Flash can't Pendulum Summon it next turn."
"It's fine," Spike said, "it's not like Flash hasn't faced this problem before."
"Yeah," Scootaloo said, "he's got this." She then turned back to the field, looking nervous. "I hope."
"You may have sent my ace to the graveyard," Flash said, "but my monsters are still stronger then your Golem. Volt Edge attack!" The dragon's armour sparked as it leaped forward, aiming at the rock monster. "When Volt Edge Dragon attacks," Flash said, "he gains six hundred ATK points!" (A2100/D1200/L4/P5) The dragon struck the monster, causing it to crack and turn to rubble.
"Now Light Boarder attacks you directly," Flash said as his monster hoped on its board and flew at Maud. She aimed her pistols at Maud and fired a pair of lasers, which struck the girl in the chest.
Flash: 4000
Maud: 2700
"Now Arma attacks!" The shield carrying girl leapt forwards and slammed her weapon into Maud.
Flash: 4000
Maud: 900
"I end my turn with two face down," Flash said.
Celestia: Despite losing his best monster, Flash Sentry has managed to claim the lead over Maud.
Luna: What will Maud do to fight back?"
"It's my turn," Maud said, "I draw and thanks to Stone Sentry's ability, I can banish him and draw two new cards." She did do and drew, looking at her cards she smiled.
"I pay three hundred life points to activate the Spell card Excavation!"
Flash: 4000
Maud: 600
"Now I can take a Spell card in your graveyard and add it to my hand," Maud said.
Flash frowned, knowing there was only one card in his graveyard.
"I select Stardust Reload," Maud said, "hand it over."
Flash removed the card from his grave and tossed it at her, which she caught and then placed in her Duel Disk. "Now I'll activate Stardust Reload, to banish Tectonic Colossal!"
"Wait," Spike said, "what level is Tectonic Colossal again?"
"Eight," Twilight said, "meaning she card draw eight. Combined with the two card's she already has makes..."
Celestia: Ten cards. What will she do with them?
"I draw," Maud took the top eight cards of her deck, adding them to the two in her hand. "Perfect," she said, "now I'll summon the monster whose potential is practically limitless!"
Flash frowned at this. What was this monster.
"I summon Muka Muka!" Maud yelled as a monster appeared on the field. It was a giant crab like creature, with purple claws and legs. Its body was green, with a rock like shell on top which had holes that smoke was coming out of. (A600/D300/L2)
"That's your monster with limitless potential?" Flash asked, "it's only got six hundred ATK points."
"Don't judge a rock by its mineral composition," Maud said, "you haven't even see Muka Muka's ability."
"Which is?"
Maud just smirked. "Muka Muka gains three hundred ATK and DEF points, for every card in my hand."
Wait," Flash said as his eyes went wide, "how many cards are you holding?"
"Nine," Maud said, "times three hundred is twenty seven hundred. Added to Muka Muka's currently points makes." (A3300/3000/L2) Muka Muka slowly began to grow, until its body was the size of a bulldozer."
"You've gotta be kidding me!"
"Muka Muka," Maud ordered as she leaped onto her monsters shell, "attack Volt Edge Dragon!" The giant crab raised its colossal claw and swung it at the dragon, who's own power lowered due to its effect. The claw struck and Volt Edge was destroyed, while the force of the attack sent Flash flying back and crashing into one of the rock stacks.
Flash: 1900
Maud: 600
As Flash pulled himself up, he activate one of his face down. "Go Stardust Draw. Now I can draw four cards."
"Well I'm activate a Spell card from my hand," Maud said as her monster was weakened. (A3000/2700/L2) "Infinite Cards. Now my hand's limit is removed, meaning I won't discard any cards during my end phase."
"This is bad," Twilight said, "with each turn that monster's gonna grow stronger and stronger."
"Flash can beat it," Scootaloo said, "I think.
"Without Flash Heart," Tidal said, "he'll have a tough time."
"It's my turn," Flash said, "I draw," he looked at the card he drawn and thanked his good luck. "I activate Mystical Space Typhoon," he said, "to get rid of your Infinite Cards."
A tornado appeared on the field, which began spinning towards Maud's card. But just as it was about to be sucked up, a strange looking barrier appeared around it.
"What?" Flash asked as he watched the tornado disappear.
"Sorry," Maud said, "but my Stone Bird's Pendulum Effect's cancelling out your spell. Once per turn, I can negate the destruction of a face up card on my field."
Flash frowned seeing his plan be foiled. "I'll switch my monsters into defence mode, then use my Pendulum Scale to Pendulum Summon my Volt Edge Dragon in DEF mode." The portal opened and shot out a card, which became Flash's Pendulum Monster. "I end my turn."
"Then it's my turn," Maud said, "I draw and activate the Spell Heavy Storm."
Flash's eyes went wide seeing this, knowing what it meant.
"With this," Maud said "I can destroy every Spell or Trap card on the field. But I'll also be using Stone Bird's Pendulum Ability to protect Infinite Cards."
A powerful gust of wind blew through the field, sucking up Flash's face downs and Pendulum Cards along with Maud's Pendulums. The cards where all sucked up and sent flying into oblivion.
"Now Flash can't Pendulum Summon any more," Applebloom said.
"Now I attack Volt Edge Dragon," Maud said as Muka Muka attack and once again destroyed the dragon. "I end my turn."
"It's my turn," Flash said, "I draw." he looked at the cards in his hand, but none of them could beat Muka Muka. "I summon Flash Knight in DEF mode," he said as his monster appeared before him. (A1800/D600/L4/P7) "I end my turn."
"Then it's my turn," Maud said, "and I play Pot of Greed, to draw two cards." She drew as her monster grew stronger.(A3600/3300/L2) "And now I place another copy of Stone Bird into my Pendulum Scale." (A3300/3000/L2) One of her light columns reappeared and the monster flew back up. "Now I can protect Muka Muka from this card," Maud said, "Quick Sand." (A3000/2700/L2)
Suddenly the ground bellow the monsters transformed into a whirlpool of sand, which all of Flash's monsters began to be sucked into. Muka Muka was shielded by the magic barrier, keeping it from being sucked in but Flash's monsters weren't so lucky and were all destroyed.
"GUYS!" Flash yelled seeing his monsters disappear.
"Quick Sand is a Spell that destroys every Monster on the field," Maud explained, "but with Stone Bird's ability Muka Muka was saved."
Celestia: Sentry's in trouble. With no monsters he's in danger of a direct attack."
"Which is coming right now!" Maud called out. Her monster raised its claw and swung it at Flash.
Flash looked around, and saw exactly the thing he needed to protect himself. "An Action Card," he said as he ran towards the nearby stone stack, which he leaped onto just as Muka Muka struck it. "I discard my entire hand to activate the Action Spell Trap Exchange," he said, "now I can activate a Trap Card in my graveyard. I select the Defence Draw your Heavy Storm destroyed earlier." A force field appeared around Flash, shielding him from Muka Muka's attack. "Now I can draw one card."
"Fine," Maud said, "I end my turn.
Luna: Flash saved himself, but with no monsters on the field and only one card in hand he'll have a tough time beating her.
"It seems young Flash is out of the tournament," Chrysalis said.
"It's not over yet," Thorax said, making his mother turn to him suspiciously. "He's still got a chance to beat her."
"He's right," Shining said, "I don't know how but Flash can find a way to beat her."
"I agree," Cadance said, "there's a way and he'll find it."
Cold didn't say anything. Instead he simply continued to watch, waiting to see if Flash could Duel his way out of this mess. "There is a way," he said quietly, "you know what it is."
As Flash stood up he looked down at his card and saw it was Crossbolt, which didn't stand a chance against Muka Muka. "There's gotta be something I can do," he said, "but what?"
It was then that he felt it, a familiar feeling coming from his deck. It was as if something was calling out to him, but what. Suddenly his Extra Deck shot open as a light burst out coming from one of the cards. Flash removed the glowing card, finding it to be one of the Xyz cards.
Suddenly the light grew so strong that Flash to shut his eyes or risk losing a retina.
When Flash opened his eyes he found we wasn't in the Duel any more. He was back in the ancient ruin, where he'd been before.
"Wait," he said, "am I...back in the Duel Monster Spirit World?" Before he could think, he felt a new presence. Spinning around he saw Flash Heart Dragon flying down into the ruin, before turning to him. "Flash Heart," he said as he rushed over to him, "you're here. But why are we here?"
Flash Heart said nothing and instead turned towards the statue on the fair side of the ruins. He pointed to it and Flash felt he wanted him to stand next to it, which he did. Once there he turned to his partner.
"Now what?" He got his answer when the statue began to move. The ground Flash was standing on sunk into the ground, as he and the statue descended downwards like some kind of elevator.
As they continued to go lower and lower, the day light from above growing dimmer. Eventually the platform came to a halt and Flash looked around, but all he could see was darkness. "Okay," he said, "what now?"
Suddenly a light appeared in front of him, causing him to turn and see it was originating from a torch that was inside a long corridor which Flash hadn't noticed before. More torches lit and illuminated the corridor, as Flash and Flash Heart traversed it. They came to a large stone door, which opened as soon as Flash Heart touched it. It lead to a room which was illuminated by more torches.
It was then that Flash saw it. A giant stone statue in the centre of the room, in the shape of a four legged dragon with large wings and spikes covering it.
"What is this?" Flash asked as he turned to his dragon. Flash Heart didn't reply and simply pointed towards it. Flash turned back to the statue and decided to check it out, by floating up towards the face and touching it.
The second he did, he felt some kind of warm coming from it. It was as if something was inside the statue, some resting spirit from long ago. He then felt something he could almost mistake for a heart beat, which repeated and then again making him realise it was a heart beat. This made Flash realise what this statue was. It wasn't a statue at all, but a monster and it was asleep.
"This is a friend of yours isn't it?" Flash asked his ace, who nodded in return. Flash looked back at the statue and placed his hand on it again. "I don't know you, but if Flash Heart trusts you then I know I can too. I need your help, so will you please lend me a hand."
Suddenly a crack appeared from where Flash was touching, making him smile.
"I know you've been sleeping for a long time," he said, "so why not wake up and join me?"
More cracks appeared and began to spread around its body.
"Come on out," he said, "come join the adventure!"
With that the stone shattered, realising a burst of light which caused Flash to shield his eyes.
"RRRRRAAAAAOOOOORRRRR!"
The cry of a new monster made Flash try to see what was happening, but he saw only light.
Flash opened his eyes and found himself back in the Duel, Muka Muka staring down at him.
"What's the matter?" Maud said, "giving up?"
Flash just smirked. "No chance," he said, "I'm still planning to win this." He reached for his deck, "My turn, I DRAW!" Seeing what he'd drawn, a plan formed in his head. "I activate the Spell Pendulum Loader. With no cards in my Pendulum Zones, I can add two Pendulum Monsters from my Extra Deck to my hand." His Extra Deck opened and slotted out two cards, which he took and then slapped down on his Duel Disk. "Now I'll reset the Pendulum Scale with scale three Magna Fighter Light Boarder and scale five Volt Edge Dragon." The columns of light appeared, with the two monsters flying up into them. "Cut through space time and carve the arc of victory," he said as the portal formed. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!"
The portal opened and two lights shot out.
"To arms, Flash Knight!" (A1800/D600/L4/P7)
"Ready aim fire, Magna Fighter Crossbolt." (A1400/D1400/L4)
"What will those two do?" Maud asked, "neither's strong enough to take down Muka Muka."
"Maybe not in their current form," Flash said, "but once I Overlay them."
This caught everyone's attention.
"Wait," Scootaloo said, "Flash is Xyz Summoning?"
"Since when could he do that?" Spike asked.
Twilight just smiled. "He did it."
Flash Knight and Crossbolt glowed before flying into the air and into the black hole, which opened at Flash's feet. "Destiny is the thing that binds us together, now new bonds will be formed and grant unbridled power." Flash's Extra Deck opened and he pulled out the new card, as the black hole exploded and released a new monster onto the field. "I XYZ SUMMON!"
The light faded, revealing Flash's newest monster. It was a four legged dragon that was the same size as Muka Muka, with black scales hidden beneath bronze armour. It had a pair of robotic wings in the shape of semicircles, and large spikes running down its back to its tail. It had ten eyes, five on each side of its face, and giant horns on its head. His wings, knees and tail tip were adorned with purple crystalline spikes and two lights floated around it body. "DESTINY BOUND DRAGON!" (A2400/D2100/R4)
Everyone was in awe at Flash's new monster, which he leapt onto and sat down on its neck.
"I attack Muka Muka," Flash said as his monster raised its wings.
"Are you nuts?" Maud asked, "my monster's way stronger then your's."
"Not once I activate his Special Ability," Flash explained. "When Destiny Bound Dragon attacks a monster, whose ATK points are higher then their origanal value, I can remove an Overlay Unit and increase his ATK points by the same amount."
Maud's eyes went wide hearing this.
Destiny Bound Dragon bite down on one of its Overlay Units, as the crystal spikes began to glow. (A4800/D2100/R4)
"GO!" Flash called out, "Fate Rider Missiles" Several slots on Destiny Bound Dragon's wings flipped open and from fired a barrage of rockets, which flew into the air and then back down towards Muka Muka.
Maud looked around for an Action Card and saw one one a rock stake, but as she leaped off her monster. The first of the Missiles struck Muka Muka, causing an explosion as the rest of the missals struck. Muka Muka was completely engulfed by the smoke, as Maud was sent flying by the explosion.
Flash: 1900 (Winner)
Maud: 0
Celestia: He did it! Flash Sentry has defeated Maud Pie and will be moving onto the next round.
Luna: He's overcome the great wall that is Maud.
"HE DID IT!" Scootaloo and Spike screamed.
"Excelente!" Tidal said.
Pinkie was also clapping, thought she did look a little disappointed. She was happy for Flash, but still sad that Maud had been defeated.
"It's okay Pinkie," Twilight told her friend, "Maud was great and has nothing to be ashamed of."
Pinkie nodded, a smile on her face. "You're right, she did great."
"You see," Shining said happily, "I told you he could do it."
"Yes you did," Chrysalis said not looking very impressed.
"So he can Xyz Summon as well," Thorax said.
"It seems so," Sunset said with a smirk, "wonder what else he can do?" She turned to Cold, but found he was gone.
Down on the field, Flash moved over to where Maud had landed.
The girl was now standing, while her face had returned to the usual stoic expression.
"That was a great Duel," he said, "I wasn't really sure if I was gonna win it."
"You're welcome," Maud said, "I enjoyed myself."
"Thanks," Flash said, "maybe we can Duel again?"
'Maybe," Maud said, "but if you really want to test your skills, you should duel my sister Marble. Not even Pinkie, Limestone and I in a three on one have ever beaten her."
"Really?" Flash asked, "Is she older than you?"
Maud shuck her head. "No, Marble is the baby of the family"
"Whoa," Flash said, "cool. Well I hope I get the chance to Duel her."
"I hope so to," Maud said. With that she turned and headed back to where she'd origanal come out of.
Celestia: And with that we move onto the final match.
Luna: Cloak N Daggers will face off against Amethyst Star, before we go into our lunch and then the B Block tournament.
As Maud made her way through the corridor, she stopped when she saw someone leaning against the nearby wall.
"Ms Pie," Cold Steel said, "I'd like to talk to you about something important."
<Ten Minutes Later>
Cloak and Amethyst had just started their Duel, which was taking place of the Duel Field known as Gem Cave.
"This Cloak guy's good," Applejack said.
"Yeah," Flash said as he stepped up to them.
"Flash," Twilight said, "you were great."
"Thanks," Flash said, "it was a close one."
"Where'd you get the Xyz card?" Applebloom asked.
"From Cold," Flash said as he pulled out the new card, "I just got it to wake up."
"That's great," Scootaloo said, "that means you can Xyz Summon."
"You know it," Flash said as he sat down, "but I've still got a way to go."
"You'll get there," Twilight said with a smile.
Flash nodded and turned to watch the remainder of the Duel.
It went on for another ten minutes, until finally a winner was declared.
Celestia: And with that, Cloak N Daggers will be moving on to the next round.
Luna: The A Block tournament has come to a close, we'll be stopping for an hour long lunch. When we return, we'll be beginning our B Block tournament.
Celestia: Until then, we thank you for coming.
"Anybody up for a big lunch?" Applejack asked, "I could eat a whole horse after that Duel."
"Same here," Flash said as they stood up and headed down to the arena cafe.
The Celestic Cup's second round is now half over, but what will be on the horizon for the second half?