We find ourselves in a circular room with three rows of wooden benches lining the walls.
Sitting in that room were three people, Lightning Dust and the Flim-Flam Brothers. They seemed to be doing their own thing, Lightning was laying on one spinning a soccer ball on her fingers while Flim and Flam both held a tablet and were reading off them.
Suddenly a door opened and Chrysalis stepped inside, looking around to see the three. "Good," she said, "you're all here."
"Can I asked why we're all here?" Lightning asked her, "you told us to come and then you leave us waiting for an hour."
"As much as I hate to agree with the child," Flim said, getting a glaring look from Lightning in return, "she does have a point."
"Indeed brother of mine," Flam said before turning to Chrysalis, "so what's the situation."
"The situation," Chrysalis said, "is that Doom Raizer's Ener-D extraction lab was just destroyed."
That got the three's attention.
"What happened?" Lightning asked.
"A Duel," Chrysalis said, "we hacked into the labs security cameras and saw the whole thing. Four young girls found their way in and discovered the Duel Spirits he's gathered. They wanted to free them and challenged Doom to a Duel, which he accepted and then lost."
"And those four girls destroyed the lab afterwards?" Flim asked.
"No," Chrysalis replied, "the Duel damaged the Duel Spirit containers and allowed them to brake free. They destroyed the lab."
"And Doom?" Flam asked.
Chrysalis just shrugged her shoulders, showing she didn't know and frankly didn't care.
"So what now?" Lightning asked, "we need Ener-D to summon the final monster. How do were gather it without Doom's lab?"
Chrysalis just smiled. "We don't. The Duel I mention, generated more then enough Ener-D to summon the final Monster. I'm here to tell you that we'll be moving onto the final stage soon enough."
The three all smiled at this, happy it was almost time.
"King Sombra is preparing for the summoning," Chrysalis said, "it's in an hour and he asked you all be there for it." With that she turned and headed towards the door, only to stop and turn back to them. "Oh that's right," she said as she reached into her pocket and pulled out three cards. She turned back to them and threw a card at each of them, which they caught perfectly. "The king had those made for you. He said since you'll be facing old opponents who know your stratagy, it would be best that you evolve your strategies." And with that she turned again and finally left the room.
Once she was gone, the three looked at their new cards and all smiled.
"She's right," Flim said as he stood up, "we will need to improve our skills if we want to succeed."
"To true brother," Flam replied as he to stood up, "but by the looks of this card, we won't need to change our decks around at all to use it.
"Same here," Lightning said as she stood up, "we got some time to kill. How about one of you test it out against me?"
"I have to say I like the sound of that," Flim said.
"Then you can be my opponent," Lightning replied as she walked into the centre of the room.
"Very well then," Flam said, "good luck brother."
Flim nodded and stepped over to Lightning.
The floor between them suddenly opened up, as a mechanised table folded out and transformed into a Duel Console.
The two took out their decks and added the new cards to them, before placing them on their sides of the console.
"You ready?" Lightning asked him.
"I am," Flim replied.
"DUEL!"
Lightning: 4000
Flim: 4000
The console activated and lit up, while holes in the roof and wall opened up to reveal strange projector like devices which pointed at them.
"I'll take the first move," Lightning said as she drew her first card, "and I summon Lightning Wing Burst, in ATK mode." The projectors lit up and suddenly a gold jet with blue trim appeared above her. (A1600/D1200/L4) "When this card is summoned, I can ditch a card and then add a Spell card from my deck to my hand." Lightning discarded a card before picking up her deck and shuffling through it, until she found what she was looking for and added it to her hand. She then shuffled her deck and placed it back on the console. "I'll end my turn there."
"I see," Flam said from the sidelines, "her style involves searching her deck for the cards she needs to summon Jetstream Thunderbird, which can paralyse an opponent's monster and lower their ATK points to zero. But with that new monster, how will her stratagy change?"
"It's my turn," Flim said as he drew his card. Looking through the cards in his hand, he formulated a plan. "I summon Forbidden Summoner," he said, "in DEF mode." The projectors lit up again and a man wearing armour similar to Exodia's body appeared, carrying a staff with a key for the head. (A1000/D1000/L4) "I place one card face down and end my turn."
"Forbidden Summoner," Lightning said to herself, "obviously a card designed to help him summon Exodia. How does it work though? Only one way to find out. I draw and I'll play Stop Defence, which switches your Forbidden Summoner from DEF mode to ATK mode." The crouching man stood up, as the jet monster aimed its weapons at him. "Now I attack with Lightning Wing Burst!" The jet burst into life, flying towards the man and launching a missile at him. It struck him and exploded, the force of which caused Flim to cover his face.
Lightning: 4000
Flim: 3400
"You activated my Summoner's ability," Flim said, "which lets me search my deck for a Forbidden monster and add it to my hand." He picked up his deck and shuffled through it before finding the card he was looking for, which he added to his hand before shuffling his deck and placing it back on the console.
"So that's how it works," Lightning said to herself, "is it Exodia, or that new monster? I end my turn."
"Then I'll go," Flim said as he drew "and now the time has come to try this new monster out."
"Here it comes," Lightning said.
"To summon this monster, I must shuffle every monster in my graveyard back into my deck." Flim took Forbidden Summoner off the discard pile and put it on top of his deck, which he then shuffled.
"How is that fair?" Lightning asked.
"Oh it's fair," Flim said, "because this monster's power hinges on having monster in the graveyard. Allow me to show you, I summon Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord!" The projectors activated and created a new monster. It looked like Exodia, but its armour was black with gold trim and a blue skirt. (A?/D0/L10)
"Whoa," Lighting said in amazement, "sweet card."
"Why thank you," Flim said, "I must thank his majesty for it. Another gift he's given me and my brother, even after everything he's done for us."
"You never told me how you two ended up here," Lightning said, "I'd love to find out."
Flim and Flam both sighed. "It was back in a dark time of our lives."
<Flashback>
Flim: My brother and I were once the most famous Tag Duellists in the world. The two of us couldn't even walk down the block without being recognised.
Flim and Flam were walking down the street, as they did so the people around them all stared in wonder at them being there.
"Hey look," someone said, "is that who I think it is?"
"It is," another said, "but I can't believe it."
"Does anyone have a pen," a woman said, "I just have to get their autograph."
"I can't believe their walking down the street like regular guys," A teen boy said to his friend.
"Yeah," his friend said, "you'd think they'd have a limo or something."
Flam: Life was great. We were living he high life. Commercial deals, interviews on talk shows, everything was going our way.
The two brothers stepped out of a restaurant when a young teen boy rushed up to them. "Excuse me," he said, getting their attention. The two turned towards him. "You're the Flim-Flam Brothers right?" He asked as he held out a large notebook, "I was wondering whether you'd be willing to sign an autograph?"
"Why of course," Flim said, as he took the notebook and signed it.
"Anything for an adoring fan," Flam said as his brother handed him the notebook and he to signed it.
"That's awesome," The teen said as he reached out to take it, but in that second Flam held the notebook out of his grasp.
"Now hold on," Flim said, "we never said it was free."
"But I don't have any money," the teen replied.
"What about your rarest card?" Flam asked.
The teen looked uneasy but pulled out his deck, followed by showing them his rarest card, a Red-Eyes Black Dragon. The two smiled and snatched the card away, before tossing the notebook in the air so the boy barely managed to catch it.
"Pleasure doing business with ya," Flim said as he and his brother walked away.
Flim: Life was good, but that streak didn't last. We entered the Celestic Cup hoping to increase our fame, and then we entered the Survival Duel.
"Magna Champion Assault Striker attack," Flash ordered as his Synchro Monster launched itself at Flim. Assault Striker raised one of its blades and slashed down his chest.
Flim: 0
Flash: 500
Flam: 2500
Applejack: 400
The Synchro Monster then turned to Flam raising its other blade, slashing him as well.
Flim: 0
Flash: 500 (Winner)
Flam: 0
Applejack: 400 (Winner)
Flam: And just like that, everything changed.
The brothers were at an outdoor cafe, when people spotted them.
"Hey look," someone said, "its the Whim-Wham Brothers."
"Can't believe they're showing their faces," another said.
Flim: All it took was one lost and they turned on us.
"I can't believe it!" Flim screamed as he kicked a trashcan over. They were in an alley way while it rained. "We were beaten by a couple of no names!"
"No more commercials," Flam said, "no more endorsement deals and no more adoring fans."
Suddenly a voice spoke out. "Are you the Flim-Flam Brothers?"
The two smiled. Finally their fans had returned. "Of course," Flim said.
"What can we do for you?" Flam asked.
"NOTHING!" Before the two knew what was happening, they found themselves on the floor with bruises and bloodied noses. Their decks were scattered on the floor. They both looked up and saw a trio of bulky men, one holding up a particular card. "Is this it?" He asked as he handed the card to the boy the Flim-Flam Brothers had taken Red-Eyes from.
"Yeah," the boy said, "thanks bro." They began to walk off.
"What did you do with those autographs anyway?" The bulkier one said.
"You kidding," the teen said, "I couldn't even give them away."
The two tried to pick themselves up, but their injuries made it difficult.
"This is all that boys fault," Flim moaned, "Flash Sentry. He did this to us."
"No," Flam moaned, "he may have been the one who beat us, but it was that girl, Applejack, she did this. That boy was beat, but she talked him into stopping us. We need to get even with her."
"And I can help you get it."
The two turned to see a dark figure standing at the entrance of the alley.
<Flashforward>
"It was on that day that the me met the king, who promised us not only the chance to get even, but also to stand atop everyone else in this world."
"Impressive," Lightning said, "An interesting story."
"Why thank you," Flim said, "and now he has given me this. Exodius the Ultimate Forbidden Lord."
"Time to see what it can do," Lightning said.
"Agreed," Flim replied, "I'll start by activating Foolish Burial, which lets me send a monster from my deck to my graveyard." He took his deck and once again searched through it until he pulled out Millennium Shield, which he discarded. "Exodius gains one thousand ATK points for every Normal Monster in my graveyard." (A1000/D0/L10) "Now I'll attack Lightning Wing Burst!"
"But my monsters got more ATK points?" Lightning asked
"For now," Flim explained, "but that won't be the case after Exodius's effect. Whenever he attacks, I can send a monster from my deck to my graveyard." He picked up his deck again and pulled out Left Arm of the Forbidden One, which he discarded. "With another Normal Monster in my grave, Exodius's ATK power goes up." (A2000/D0/L10) Exodius punched Lightning's jet, destroying it.
Lightning: 3600
Flim: 3400
"There's more," Flim explained, "if five different Forbidden One cards are sent to the graveyard by this effect, I can activate Exodius's ultimate ability and automatically win the game."
Lightning smiled at this. Now that was a good ability.
"Let's see if I can beat you before that," she said as she drew her card and smiled. "I activate the Spell card Disassembly, which let's me discard a machine monster from my hand and then summon machine monsters from my deck whose combined Levels equal the discarded one's. I discard Level ten Rocket Arrow Express, to summon five new Lightning Wings!"
Five rays of light appeared around her, before transforming into five different monsters.
"Lightning Wing Soar!" (A500/D500/L2)
"Lightning Wing Thrust!" (A500/D500/L2)
"Lightning Wing Boost." (A500/D500/L2)
"Lightning Wing Jet!" (A500/D500/L2)
"And Lightning Wing Glide!" (A500/D500/L2)
"Impressive move," Flim said.
"You haven't seen nothing yet" Lightning said, "now I use my five monsters to build the Overlay Network." Her five jets shot into the sky before zooming into the ground as the black hole appeared, "now watch as a storm of power begins to take shape." the black hole exploded in a burst of light, as a new monster flew out. "I XYZ SUMMON."
The light faded, revealing Lightning's monster. "Jetstream Thunderbird!" (A500/D500/R2)
"Nice card," Flim said.
"Thanks," Lightning said, "but even with his ability, I wouldn't be able to beat you before you can send the cards you need to win to the graveyard. I gotta power him up," she pulled a card from her hand and placed it on the console, "so I activate Rank-Up-Magic Lightning Force! With this I can Rank-Up a Machine Monster on my field." A bolt of lightning flew out of the projector and struck Jetstream Thunderbird, the electrical energy surging around it causing it to transform. "Now watch as the storm of power evolves to its highest level of power," Lightning chanted as the monster finished transforming. "CHAOS XYZ EVOLUTION!"
The light faded, revealing the monsters new form. It looked like Jetstream Thunderbird, but its paint was now dark blue and it had a lightning shaped double edged horn. It now had two sets of wings, which were larger and created an X shape when the monster spread all four. It had a third leg and foot with lightning shaped talons. "Blitzkrieg Thunderbird!" (A500/D500/R3)
"So that's your new card," Flim said.
"An impressive monster," Flam agreed, "but it's not that powerful."
"We'll see about that," Lightning said.
"We will," Flim said as he looked at here, "so tell me. How did you end up here?"
Lightning frowned at the thought. "Well," she said, "this you told me your story. I'll tell you mine."
<Flashback>
I was always the best, ever since I was a kid, no matter what I tried to do. Soccer, Duelling, anything. I could do something for the first time and still be the best. It seemed like no one could match me, until I met her.
Lightning was at soccer camp and had just completed the dribbling obstacle course. She headed over to the board where the coach had pinned the results and tried to see, but there were to many kids there. Suddenly a rainbow haired girl pushed her way to the front and looked at the sheet.
"Alright," she said, "I came...second? Who came first?" She looked up at the name above her and read it aloud. "Who's Lightning Dust?"
The young girl just smiled. "That would be me."
The girl looked around and saw her.
"So you're my competition," Lightning said with a smirk on her face, "think you can keep up?"
"Of course," she replied, "I'll soon have my name atop that chart."
Lightning hated her attitude, but decided to play it cool. "That's good," she said, "it wouldn't be any fun if I didn't have someone who actually was a threat around." She held out her hand, "may the best player win."
Turns out there was someone almost as good as me, and that made me furious. I'd spent my whole life at number one and here was some loser who thought she could overthrow me. I remained on top but Rainbow was always there, threatening to take my place the second I messed up. Eventually, I did.
"Now attack!" The bird man took to the sky and raised his sword, before diving down and slashing towards Jetstream Thunderbird.
"NO...WAIT" Lightning tried to say, but Rainbow didn't listen as her monster destroyed the mechanical bird.
Rainbow: 1500 (Winner)
Lightning: 0
I'd been beaten, by her. I couldn't believe it. How dare she defeat me at anything. And that wasn't the worst of it.
"What do you mean I can't play?" Lightning asked her coach.
Her coach in turn pulled out a tablet, which showed an image of the Phantom. Suddenly parts of the Phantom's costume disappeared until only the mask was left and when that disappeared, Lightning could be seen.
No one wanted to be affiliated with the Phantom, I was rejected from every team I tried to join. My life was in ruin.
Lightning walked down the street in the dead of night. She was shaking, not from the cold, but from the anger of what had happened. "Rainbow," she said as she fell to her knees, "you did this to me. I'll make you pay if it's the last thing I do!"
Suddenly the presence of somebody caught her attention. Looking up she saw a dark figure looming over her.
"Phantom," the figure said, "I have need of your skills."
<Flashforward>
"He brought me to this place and offered me the chance to rise above everyone else," Lightning said, "and now we're so close to that goal."
"Agreed," Flim said, "soon the Shadow Gate will open."
"And we will stand above everyone else," Flam finished.
"But first things first," Lightning said, "let's finished this Duel. Since I summoned Blitzkrieg Thunderbird with Rank-Up-Magic Lightning Force, my Spells second effect grants my monster five hundred extra ATK points." (A1000/D500/R3) "Now I activate my Thunderbird's ability," One of the six Overlay Units flew into Thunderbird's horn, which unleashed a surge of electrical power that spread throughout its body. "This ability allows me to double my Thunderbird's current ATK points once a turn," Lightning explained. (A2000/D500/L3)
"I see," Flim said before doing some basic math, "so if you're able to use all your monsters Overlay Units, the resulting ATK points would be almost a hundred and thirty thousand."
"Exactly," Lightning said, "this is Blitzkrieg Thunderbird's power. Hope you're up for it."
"Always," Flim said.
"Well then," Lightning said, "I end my turn with a face down."
"Then it's my turn," Flim said, "I draw and I'll attack your Blitzkrieg Thunderbird with Exodius, the Ultimate Forbidden Lord!" The Exodia fake pulled back its fist and unleashed a powerful punch, which flew straight at Blitzkrieg Thunderbird. "Now I'll use Exodius's ability to send the Right Arm of the Forbidden One to the graveyard." He picked up his deck and shuffled through it until he found what he was looking for and placed it in the discard pile. "Now Exodius will gain an additional thousand ATK points!" (A3000/D0/L10)
"I activate my face down," Lightning said as she flipped the card around, "Negate Attack. With this I can stop your attack and end the Battle Phase." A force field appeared and deflected Exodius's attack.
"Very well," Flim said, "but I'm only three cards away from victory. I place one card face down and end my turn."
"Then it's my turn," Lightning said as she drew, "and I'll activate Thunderbird's ability." Another Overlay Units shot into its horn, causing a surge of energy to gather around the bird and increase its power. (A4000/D500/R3) "Now attack!" The bird flew up and spread its wings into an X formation, as they each opened up and folded out a bunch of lightning lasers. They shot off and unleashed a burst of electrical energy which flew at Exodius.
"Think not," Flim said as he flipped his card around, "because I have my own Negate Attack." A force field appeared around Exodius and blocked the attack.
"Alright," Lightning said, "well I end my turn with a face down."
"Then it's my turn," Flim said, "I draw and I'll have Exodius attack." The giant turned to the robot and raised its fists in a boxer manor. "Now to send the Left Leg of the Forbidden One to the graveyard and increase Exodius's ATK power to match your monsters." (A4000/D0/L10) The two monsters stared each other down, ready to do battle.
"Both monsters will be destroyed," Flam said, until he remembered they both had a face down card. Which one would activate theirs.
As the two monsters drew closer, and the two Duellists reached for their face downs, a loud voice called out. "ENOUGH!"
The two monsters vanished as the three turned to the door, where Chrysalis was standing with crossed arms.
"I thought I told you to be in the main lab right now?" She asked.
The three looked at the time and realised that fifty minutes had passed since they started the Duel.
"Those backstories really eat up the time," Lightning said.
"You're just lucky I came to make sure you weren't late," Chrysalis said, "now come on."
The four headed down to the main lab, where the hypnotised Adagio was waiting.
They stood next to her in a line, as an opening in the floor appeared and Sombra was elevated up into the room. "Welcome," he said, "the time as come to summon the final monster. With it we can build the Crystal Tower and open the Shadow Gate."
The four nodded, happy that the time drew near.
Sombra turned to the main part of the lab, which was set up the same way as his last on.
A glass window showing a room with walls that were covered in metal dishes. A single blank card floated in the centre of the room. Seconds later a computerised voice spoke from out of some speakers.
ENER-D CONVERGENCE STEADY!
Sombra sat back in his throne, as a pair of metal orbs flew up from the floor and into his hands which gripped them. The next second an opening in the ceiling opened and out of it came a metallic bowl like helmet, which landed on his head.
TRANSDIMENSIONAL LINK READY!
He took a deep breath and spoke. "Begin."
Suddenly the orbs and helmet began to spark, causing the figure to shake and scream as the energy flowed through him. Inside the room the metal dishes began to glow, before beams of light shot out and struck the cards.
All over the city, lights flickered before going out.
"Not again," Shinning said. The group had been visiting Flash is his room, when the lights went out.
"Oh no," Cold said. He'd realised the cause of the multiple blackouts after their failed attempt at capturing Sombra. If this was the same, then Sombra was making his move.
Back at the lab, the beams of light continued to strike the cards. It began to glow as images and words appeared on the surface. Eventually the machine finally shut down and Sombra gasped for breath as he began panting.
TRANSFER COMPLETE!
The window opened and the card flew out, into Sombra's hand. "Finally," he said before turning back to his minions. "It's time."
Back at the Freeze Stadium, the lights switched back on and everyone sighed in relief. All accept Cold.
"This is bad," he said, "Sombra's summoned the final monster. He'll be moving onto his ultimate goal."
"And we don't even know what that is," Twilight said.
"We need Sentry," Cold said as he moved over to the bed. "Come on," he said, "you were so eager to help stop Sombra, well then you need to wake up."
Flash didn't respond, causing Cold and the rest of the group to sigh in disappointment.
Scootaloo watched her brothers face, a frown burnt onto her lips. It seems they wouldn't have Flash for this final battle after all.
"Scootaloo."
The teen's head shot up, as the weak voice struck her hears. "What," she said.
"What's up?" Sweetie asked as she noticed her friends sudden reaction.
"I can help."
Scootaloo looked around, not sure where the voice was coming from.
"I can wake him up. But I need your help."
"Where are you?" She asked, making everyone stare at her in confusion.
"I'm in the room, right next to you."
Scootaloo looked to her side and saw Flash's Duel Disk on the desk next to him. Picking it up she pulled out his cards and began shuffling through them until the voice cried out.
"THAT ONE!"
Scootaloo stared at the card, Vail Pixie, and wondered how she could help.
"Hold my card over him."
Scootaloo still wasn't sure how this would help, but did as she was told and pulled out the card. She stepped over to Flash's bed and held Vail Pixie above him. Suddenly the card began to glow, causing everyone to step back in shock. The light enveloping the card spread to Flash and Scootaloo, causing them to glow.
Scootaloo was amazed at this, until the light suddenly faded and her eyes went blank.
"Scootaloo!" Applebloom called out as they saw the teen fall back.
Rainbow moved quickly and managed to grab her, before she got a concussion from the fall.
"What happened?" Grand asked as he looked over his granddaughter.
"I don't know," Cold said as they slowly moved her to the empty bed, "but hopefully it will lead to them both awakening."
"Let's hope," Twilight said.
Would Flash and Scootaloo awaken? And what was Sombra planning? Only time would tell.