Upon Reese mentioning Kyle’s name, Alex and his human friends along with all of the ponies walked towards Reese to face the one named Kyle.
“Kyle,” growled Reese. “What are you doing here?”
“Oh,” chortled Kyle, “I just figure we’d have a nice little reunion-”
“Cut the crap. Why are you here?”
“Well, from what I hear there’s something here that’s very valuable to me and my employer.”
“Employer,” whispered Alex. Then he remembered Flim and Flam and how they referred to their superior the same way. He then addressed Kyle in a louder tone. “You want our Stones of Equus, don’t you?”
The crowd was visibly confused at the meaning of “Stones of Equus.”
“Hmph,” exclaimed Kyle. “So much for all the explanations. Yes, I seek your Stones of Equus, the mystical bastion of Equestria.” Twilight couldn’t contain her shock.
“How do you know about the story of the Stones?” asked Twilight. “That’s a legend only known by the princesses and the bearers along with my friends and I.”
“It would seem that my employer knows more about your homeland than you give them credit for.”
“What does that mean?” asked Twilight, audibly nervous. Could there really be someone who knows about Equestria that well?
“Never mind,” called Kyle. “I must attend to the task at hand.”
Suddenly, Kyle’s left forearm went ablaze, frightening many people, including Alex and his friends, human and pony alike. The fire on his arm formed into an oddly shaped red D-Pad. The tablet body was hexagonal in shape, but the top and bottom lines curved inwards, and the there was another edge that protruded along the lower left part of the tablet. The spell and trap zone appeared to be on the bottom side of the shape while the graveyard zone was on the lower right side. The blade on which the zones sat was very large and resembled the shape of a flaming comet.
“What the hell?” commented Tom.
“Oh, so it’s a duel you want?” asked Reese. “Fine then. Duel me, Kyle. Let me take my revenge on what you did to me and my sister.”
“No.”
“What? Fight me, you coward!”
“I watched you get defeated by that silly pink pony. Do you think I’d stoop so low as to waste my time dueling someone like you?”
“But I have a Stone of Equus! You have to duel me!”
“Maybe later. Right now, I have my sights set on someone else.” He pointed at Alex. “You.”
“Me?” he responded.
“Yes. From what I heard on the street, you usurped Reese as the best duelist at your school. If that’s the case, you must be the strongest duelist amongst the Stone bearers of your group.”
“Alright.” Alex then addressed his friends. “Everyone, get away. If he’s the duelist that Reese claims him to be, we can’t let him find the rest of us that easily.” Each human and pony, save Claude and Twilight, did as they were told and ran for safety. Tom even looked back, feeling guilty about leaving his friend out there like that. Alex just gave a nod, leaving Tom to run back to his fleeing friends. Kyle leapt from the top of the stone steps of the amphitheater and faced him from the east side.
“Let’s go then,” shouted Kyle. “Show me how well the chosen holders of the Stones of Equus fight.”
“A lot better than you,” responded Alex. He unsheathed his duel disk while both duelists drew five cards from their deck.
“DUEL!” they both yelled.
Kyle vs. Alex
Kyle’s Turn: Kyle summons Neo Flamvell Shaman (ATK: 1700 DEF: 200).
Kyle places two cards face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-3 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-2
***************************************************
Flamvells? thought Alex. I’ve heard of their swarming abilities. I should be very careful around them.
***************************************************
Alex’s Turn: Alex activates the field spell Dragon Ravine. Alex activates Dragon Ravine’s effect, discarding one card from his hand to add a level 4 or lower Dragunity monster from his deck to his hand. Alex summons Dragunity Phalanx (ATK: 500 DEF: 1100). Alex then special summons Dragunity Arma Mystletainn by tributing Dragunity Phalanx (ATK: 2100 DEF: 1500).
Alex attacks Flamvell Firedog with Dragunity Arma Mystletainn, but Kyle activates Negate Attack.
Alex places one card face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-2 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
***************************************************
“Did you really think that I would leave such a weak monster out in the open like that for you to destroy?” asked Kyle. “It’s as if you think I’m a novice or something; or more specifically, you.”
“I never thought that at all, Kyle. From what I heard from Reese, you are a very good duelist.”
“Please, tell me something I don’t know.”
“Oh. I was going to call you a dick, but I suppose you already know that too.”
The crowd around Alex made “ooo” sounds, which irked Kyle.
“Come on,” said Alex. “Just try and defeat a so called novice like me.”
***************************************************
Kyle’s Turn: Kyle summons Flamvell Magician (ATK: 1400 DEF: 200). Kyle tunes Neo Flamvell Shaman with Flamvell Magician to synchro summon Ancient Flamvell Deity (ATK: 2500 DEF: 200). When Ancient Flamvell Deity is synchro summoned, Kyle can make Alex banish cards in his graveyard up to the number of cards in his hand (2). For each card banished by this effect, Ancient Flamvell Deity gains 200 ATK (ATK: 2500 -> 2900).
Kyle then activates Rekindling, special summoning as many FIRE attribute monsters with 200 DEF from his hand as possible, choosing Flamvell Magician and Neo Flamvell Shaman. Kyle tunes Kyle tunes Neo Flamvell Shaman with Flamvell Magician to synchro summon Laval Stennon (ATK: 2700 DEF: 1800). When Laval Stennon is synchro summoned, Kyle must discard one card.
Kyle attacks Dragunity Arma Mystletainn with Ancient Flamvell Deity, but Alex activates Draining Shield, negating the attack and gaining life points equal to the attacking monster’s ATK.
Alex’s Life Points: 4000 -> 6900
Kyle then attacks Dragunity Arma Mystletainn with Laval Stennon.
Alex’s Life Points: 6900 -> 6300
Kyle places one card face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-0 Life-4000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-2
***************************************************
“Quit stalling and bring out your Stone of Equus!” called Kyle.
“I’ll do whatever suits me best, thank you,” remarked Alex. Alex could hear Twilight and Claude cheering him, giving Alex an extra boost of morale to fight.
***************************************************
Alex’s Turn: Alex activates Pot of Greed, drawing two cards. Alex activates Dragon Ravine, discarding one card to add a level 4 or lower Dragunity monster from his deck to his hand. Alex summons Dragunity Dux (ATK: 1500 DEF: 1000). When Alex normal summons Dragunity Dux, Alex can equip a level 3 or lower Dragon-type Dragunity monster to it from his graveyard, choosing Dragunity Phalanx. When Dragunity Phalanx is equipped to a monster by a card effect, Alex can special summon to his field. Alex tunes Dragunity Dux with Dragunity Phalanx to synchro summon Dragunity Knight – Vajrayana (ATK: 1900 DEF: 1200).
When Dragunity Knight – Vajrayana is synchro summoned, Alex can equip a level 3 Dragon-type Dragunity monster from his graveyard onto it, choosing Dragunity Phalanx. Alex activates Dragunity Knight – Vajrayana’s effect. By sending a card equipped to it to the graveyard, Dragunity Knight – Vajrayana’s ATK doubles (ATK: 1900 -> 3800).
Alex attacks Laval Stennon with Dragunity Knight – Vajrayana, but Kyle activates Shift, switching the attack target to Ancient Flamvell Deity.
Kyle’s Life Points: 4000 -> 3100
Alex activates Monster Reborn, special summoning Dragunity Arma Mystletainn from his graveyard. Alex overlays Dragunity Knight – Vajrayana and Dragunity Arma Mystletainn to xyz summon Jade Wyvern (ATK: 2500 DEF: 2100).
Alex places one card face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-1 Life-6300 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
***************************************************
The last attack seemed to weaken Kyle somewhat, as he limped slightly trying to get himself back up.
“What the…” muttered Kyle to himself. “What was that damage that I felt? No matter. Alex has summoned his Stone of Equus monster. Time to show him mine.”
***************************************************
Kyle’s Turn: Kyle activates his own Pot of Greed, drawing two cards. Kyle activates Xyz Plant, special summoning itself as a monster with the same level as a monster he controls (7). Kyle overlays Laval Stennon and Xyz Plant to xyz summon Olivine Dragon (ATK: 3000 DEF: 2500).
Kyle attacks Jade Wyvern with Olivine Dragon, but Alex activates Jade Wyvern’s effect. By detaching one xyz material, Alex can target a monster on the field and prevent its destruction by battle until the end phase, choosing Jade Wyvern. Kyle then actvates Olivine Dragon’s effect. By detaching one xyz material from it when an xyz monster that the opponent controls activates its effect, Kyle inflicts damage equal to the monster’s rank x 200 (6 x 200 = 1200).
Alex’s Life Points: 6300 -> 5100
The attack goes through.
Alex’s Life Points: 5100 -> 4600
Kyle places one card face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-0 Life-3100 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-2
***************************************************
Alex also looked weakened by the onslaught brought on by Kyle’s Stone of Equus monster, clenching his gut as he stood before Kyle with a small amount of soot on his face. The crowd looked a bit frightened by the damage that the monster caused him.
“This damage,” said Alex to himself. “It’s just like when I fought Reese on that planet. What is going on?”
“You now know the sheer prowess of my monster,” called Kyle. “Why don’t you give up now while you still have life to cling to?”
“Because I’ll never give up, especially to self-righteous pricks like you. I’m going to do everything in my power to protect the Stones of Equus, which includes beating you!”
***************************************************
Alex’s Turn: Alex activates Dragon Ravine’s effect, discarding one card to add a level 4 or lower Dragon-type monster from his deck to his hand. Alex activates the continuous spell Dragon Mastery, allowing him to equip a Dragon-type Dragunity monster to a monster he controls from his hand, equipping Jade Wyvern with Dragunity Brandistock. With Dragunity Mastery’s effect, all monsters equipped with Dragunity monsters gain 500 ATK (ATK: 2500 -> 3000).
Alex activates the effect of Jade Wyvern, detaching an xyz material from it to prevent a monster's destruction by battle until the end phase, choosing Jade Wyvern. Kyle activates Olivine Dragon’s effect, detaching an xyz material from it to inflict damage equal to an opponent’s xyz monster’s rank x 200 when it activates its effect.
Alex’s Life Points: 4600 -> 3400
Alex attacks Olivine Dragon with Jade Wyvern. Both monsters have equal ATKs, but Jade Wyvern can’t be destroyed by battle this turn, so only Olivine Dragon is destroyed. Reese activates Card of Last Will, drawing five cards when a monster he controls is destroyed by battle. When a monster is equipped with Dragunity Brandistock, the equipped monster can attack twice during the battle phase. Alex attacks Kyle directly with Jade Wyvern.
Kyle’s Life Points: 3100 -> 100
Alex ends his turn.
Status: Hand-0 Life-3400 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
***************************************************
Alex felt another small singeing feeling on his skin when Olivine Dragon activates its effect, but his clothes strangely were still intact. However, it looked as if Kyle fared off much worse. Having taken literally three quarters of his life points, Kyle stood before Alex very weakly, bruised and scratched.
“You…” growled Kyle. “You bastard.”
“Now do you see why I’m not someone you want to mess with?”
“SHUT UP!” Kyle's outburst scared many people, especially Twilight. “I won’t lose to the likes of you! I won’t allow it!”
***************************************************
Kyle’s Turn: Kyle activates his face down Xyz Reborn, special summoning Olivine Dragon from his graveyard and attaching Xyz Reborn to it as xyz material. Kyle then summons Laval Warrior (ATK: 1800 DEF: 500). Kyle activates Double Summon, summoning Flamvell Guard (ATK: 100 DEF: 2000). Kyle tunes Laval Warrior with Flamvell Guard to synchro summon Lavalval Dragon (ATK: 2000 DEF: 1100).
Kyle then activates Lavalval Dragon’s effect. By shuffling two Laval monsters from his graveyard to his deck (Laval Warrior and Laval Stennon), Kyle can return a card that his opponent controls back to the hand, choosing Jade Wyvern.
Kyle attacks Alex directly with Olivine Dragon.
Alex’s Life Points: 3400 -> 400
Kyle then attacks Alex directly with Lavalval Dragon, but Alex activates Immortal Dragon, special summoning Dragunity Arma Mystletainn from his graveyard. Kyle halts the attack.
Kyle equips Lavalval Dragon with Burning Spear, increasing its ATK by 400 while decreasing its DEF by 200 (ATK: 2000 -> 2400, DEF: 1100 -> 900).
Kyle places one card face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-1 Life-100 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-1
***************************************************
Alex was saved, but he took the same amount of damage that Kyle previously took from the last attack, causing Alex to suffer from the same injuries that befell Kyle. Despite them, Alex smiled. He knew that whatever card he drew now, he could swap for a Dragon-type Dragunity monster and equip it to Dragunity Arma Mystletainn with Dragon Mastery’s effect, giving him enough strength to take down Lavalval Dragon. Alex put his plan into action.
***************************************************
Alex’s Turn: Alex activates Dragon Ravine’s effect, discarding a card to add a level 4 or lower Dragunity monster to his hand from his deck. Alex uses the effect of Dragon Mastery to equip Dragunity Corsesca to Dragunity Arma Mystletainn and increase its ATK by 500 (ATK: 2100 -> 2600).
Alex attacks Lavalval Dragon with Dragunity Arma Mystletainn, but Kyle activates Dimension Trap, removing a monster that he controls from play (Lavalval Dragon) to activate a trap from his graveyard, choosing Negate Attack.
Alex ends his turn.
Status: Hand-0 Life-400 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-0
***************************************************
The crowd was shocked, but not more than Claude, Twilight, and Alex. Alex had nothing to protect himself with and he knew it. All he could do now was wait for Kyle’s inevitable final attack. Kyle laughed at Alex’s misfortune.
“So this is the strength of the bearers of the Stones of Equus? Pathetic.”
***************************************************
Kyle’s Turn: Kyle attacks Dragunity Arma Mystletainn with Olivine Dragon.
Alex’s Life Points: 400 -> 0
Kyle wins.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Alex couldn’t believe himself. He, being easily the strongest of his circle of friends with Equus cards, just lost to their enemy, an enemy who was stronger than he was. Alex knelt to the floor, not so much because of the exhaustion from the attack, but his shame had put its hold over him.
“Alex!” yelled Twilight, running to his side, prompting Claude to do the same.
“Now,” grunted Kyle, still weak from the duel, reaching his open palm towards Alex, “your Stone of Equus is mine.”
Kyle’s hand glowed slightly, causing Alex’s extra deck to glow. Before Kyle could continue stealing Alex’s card, the glowing stopped after Kyle made a pain-riddled face and falling to his knees.
“Im-” stuttered Kyle. “Impossible. Why am I so weak like this? There must be something special about this duelist. I… I need more time.” Kyle stood up again. “Don’t think this is the last you’ve seen of me, Alex Yuwell. We will meet again… I will defeat you again… and next time… your Stone of Equus will be mine.” Kyle then pulled a small green orb from his pocket and threw it on the ground, covering Kyle in a whirlwind of flames. Once they disappeared, so did Kyle. The crowd quietly dispersed, the show having been over.
“What are we going to do now?” asked Twilight, helping Alex stand up.
“I need to find my friends.” Alex pulled his phone out and called Tom.
“Alex? What happened?”
“Where are you guys now?”
“We decided to hang low at Mongolian. Can you come meet us there?"
“Yeah.”
“Is something wong?”
Alex thought about this. He was still healthy and his Stone of Equus was still safely on his person. The only thing that seemed to be a problem was their new threat: Kyle.
“I not sure yet.”
“What does that mean?”
“I’ll tell you about it. I’ll see you over there.”
“‘K man. Bye.”
*beep*
Claude approached the two, having stepped aside.
“I’ve called some of my friends. They’re out looking for Kyle, so hopefully he won’t bother us again.”
“Thanks Claude,” answered Alex.
With a few cautionary steps, Alex walked east alongside Twilight and Claude to the restaurant. From the southernmost part of the Riverwalk, stood a young man with a maroon colored duel disk in simple jeans, a black t-shirt, a white shirt jacket, and light brown hair. After watching Alex and his two friends walk together, the man decided to follow them.
