Alex could easily spot his friends inside the Mongolian Barbecue on Washington. Frankly, it would have been hard to miss several pastel colored ponies. Alex had been feeling slightly better after losing the duel, but it was merely because he hadn’t actually lost his Stone of Equus. He knew that Kyle would return, and next time, he wouldn’t be so lucky. Neither would any of his friends for that matter.
“Alex!” called Tom, putting him at an open chair. “What happened?”
“First off,” said Alex. “I want to say that my Stone of Equus card is safe and I am alright, despite the cuts on my face.” There was a sigh of relief from everyone.
“So you won?”
“…No.”
Everyone’s relief had turned to unpleasant surprise.
“How did he not get your Stone of Equus then?” asked Fluttershy.
“As we dueled, we inflicted damage onto each other, not just in terms of life points, but physically too. Reese should know about this more than anyone; it was exactly like the first time that we dueled. The point is, that Kyle tried taking my card after the duel but he was apparently too weak to do so because of the duel.”
“What do you suppose it means?” asked Rarity.
“I’m not sure,” said Alex. “The only thing that I’m concerned about right now is making sure he doesn’t beat me again. I suggest that after we eat, we should get some cards so we can better prepare ourselves.”
“I think I can be of some help with that,” said a young man approaching from behind. It was the skinny young man that was following Alex.
“Hey,” said Alex. “I know you. You’re-”
“John Terrence,” he said waving at everyone else as his introduction. He then went to shake Alex’s hand.
“Who the hay is that?” asked Rainbow Dash, confused and annoyed.
“He’s one of Naperville Central’s, our rival school’s, top duelists. I’ve never dueled him at all, but he’s fittingly one of Reese’s biggest rivals.” Despite that revalation, John and Reese clasped hands, greeting each other warmly. “His parents also own the local card shop, the Terrence Dueling Terrace.”
“Speaking of,” said John, “would you like to come to the shop after lunch?”
“Why?” asked Emma from the side.
“I heard you needed some help. I watched your duel with Kyle. Needless to say, you were ill-equipped.”
“Hey,” Alex defended. “I did the best as I could with my deck.”
“And yet it still wasn’t enough. You had your ace field spell, your ace continuous spell, and your new ace monster, and still he still beat you.”
“…What do you want?”
“Come to the shop in no more than an hour. That should give you plenty of time for lunch.” Without awaiting an answer, John left the restaurant.
“So what’s with that guy?” asked Tom.
“I don’t know,” Alex responded, “but I feel like I can trust him. If he was alluding to helping us, and that’s going to help us defeat Kyle, then it’s a risk I’m gladly willing to take.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Alex and his friends arrived at the shop on time as instructed. The shop was small enough that the store would be considered crowded with all of Alex’s friends inside it, but it didn’t require a whole lot of room to sell playing cards anyways. On the window read in bright window paint, “We have Numbers!”
Behind the counter was a middle aged man. He was balding with a crown of black hair and a black goatee. Stocking the shelves was a woman the same age as the man behind the counter and she had curly brown hair. Upon seeing us, the man called for John.
“John, they’re here.”
“Yeah, I’ll be down in a minute.”
For the time being, Alex decided to introduce himself to these people.
“You must be the John’s parents.”
“Yes sir,” said the man, shaking Alex’s hand. “John Terrence Sr.” The woman followed suit.
“Trish Terrence,” she said. She then directed her gaze at the ponies, clearly interested in them. “And you must be Twilight Sparkle and her friends.”
“That’s correct, ma’am,” Twilight answered.
“It’s an honor to have you in our store. In fact as a present to the ponies and the bearers of the Stones of Equus, I’m allowing you to take out some free cards in the store, whichever ones you like.”
“That’s very nice of you, but- Wait, how did you know that they had the Stones of Equus?”
“I think I can answer that,” said John, coming from downstairs.
“John,” asked Reese, “how is it that your parents know about the Stones of Equus?”
“Because… I have one too.”
“What?”
“I’ll explain on the terrace. Follow me.”
Alex and his friends followed John up the spiral staircase that led them to the titular rooftop terrace of the building, the dueling field in the center being surrounded by lawn chairs and circular glass tables on the corners for people to lounge and watch duels as the occurred.
“I’ve actually never been up here,” commented Alex. “You get a great view of the city.”
“Yes,” said John, “but you and I both know that we’re not here to sightsee.”
“Yes,” agreed Alex. “What connection do you have to the Stones of Equus that your parents know of us?”
“Well, for starters,” said John, pulling an xyz monster card from his deck case, “I have one.”
Everyone stared at his card. Lapis Lazuli Roc. On the card’s artwork featured a brilliant blue eagle-like creature. Unlike Emma’s Sapphire Serpent, the stones that embroidered the bird were more rocklike in appearance than the serpent, which were very gem-like in appearance.
“Where did you get a card like that?” asked Rainbow Dash.
“I’ll tell you,” began John. “Last night, as my family was closing shop, I noticed a bright light from my room, out home being comprised of the next two floors. Upon going inside, there were these two large horse-like creatures that stood before me. They called themselves Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. I assume you know what they look like?”
Twilight and her friends nodded her head. Alex and the other humans did not know what they looked like, but they let John continue.
“After introducing ourselves, she told me she had a task for me. In my awe of her, I just said ‘Shoot.’ She then glowed her horn brightly, forcing me to shield my eyes. By the time the brightness subsided, both of my parents were behind me. Also, floating in front of me was an xyz monster I had never seen before. Lapis Lazuli Roc.
“After telling me the tale behind these monsters, which I’m sure you were told I hope, she told me that she observed as her student, named Twilight Sparkle, along with her friends and the other Stone of Equus bearers were attacked at one of their homes. Despite winning, Celestia was worried that their enemy had Stones of Equus too, so she made me an offer. She told me that I could keep the Stone of Equus card if I agreed to help you and your friends to defeat this menace. That’s when I asked her, ‘Why me?’
“She answered that she can sense a powerful spirit from me all the way up in her home world, much like the spirits that led the Stones of Equus to choose you. Also, she said that with being in an abundance of cards by owning a card shop, I could offer ample support for you when I gathered you hear. She even compensated my parents for any money they’d lose doing this. Then, I asked her how I could help.
“She told me the names of all the people who had received Equus cards so far in my general vicinity. In fact, I was quite happy to hear that Reese had gotten one.” Reese smirked. “She told me that they would more than likely be at the competition today and they would eventually gather. When they did, I was to find you and bring you here. I have done my job… partially.”
“What?” Alex asked. John tossed Alex a small stack of cards. “What are these?”
“My other job was to give you more support for your decks. In your hand, Alex, is the Hieratic archetype. It will help speed up your xyz summoning to get your Stone of Equus on the field faster. However, I can’t just give these to you. You’ll have to earn them.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’ll allow you fifteen minutes to sort and add whatever cards are in that pack into your deck. You will duel me with them in your deck. If you win, the cards are yours. If you lose, you get nothing. If you can’t even beat me with new cards in your deck like that, you won’t stand a chance in front of Kyle when you face him again.”
“Don’t even consider that,” stated Tom, “because Alex is going to cream you.”
“Yeah,” agreed Rainbow Dash. “Kick his butt, Alex!”
Alex went to a table and quickly ran through his new line of cards. After choosing his new additions, he stood in front of John on the dueling field.
“Alright,” said Alex. “I’ve got a lot riding on this duel. There’s no way I’m going to lose to you.”
“We’ll see,” said John. Both duelists unsheathed their duel disks and drew five cards from their deck.
“DUEL!” they both yelled.
Alex vs. John
Alex’s Turn: Alex places one card face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-5 Life-4000 Monsters-0 Face Down Cards-1
***************************************************
John’s Turn: John sets one monster.
John places one card face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-4 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
***************************************************
Well that’s not going to help me, thought Alex. Alrighty. Let’s see what my new comrades can do.
***************************************************
Alex’s Turn: Alex special summons Hieratic Dragon of Tefnuit, as his opponent controls a monster while he doesn’t (ATK: 2100 DEF: 1400). Next, Alex normal summons Dragunity Corsesca (ATK: 800 DEF: 700). Alex then special summons Dragunity Arma Mystletainn by tributing Dragunity Corsesca (ATK: 2100 DEF: 1500). Alex overlays Dragunity Arma Mystletainn and Hieratic Dragon of Tefnuit to xyz summon Jade Wyvern (ATK: 2500 DEF: 2100).
Alex attacks John’s face down monster, but John activates Card Defense, discarding one card to negate the attack, and drawing one card. John activates the effect of Blackwing – Breeze the Zephyr, special summoning from his hand when it was added to his hand by a card effect (ATK: 1100 DEF: 300).
Alex ends his turn.
Status: Hand-3 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
***************************************************
“I bet those new cards of yours are coming in handy, aren’t they?” asked John.
“Yes,” Alex answered, “they are. Thank you.”
“Don’t thank me just yet, because in the blink of an eye, I can easily take them away from you.”
***************************************************
John’s Turn: John activates Graceful Charity, drawing three cards and discarding two. John flip summons Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow (ATK: 1400 DEF: 1000). Next, John normal summons Blackwing – Ghibli the Searing Wind (ATK: 0 DEF: 1600). John activates the trap Delta Crow – Anti Reverse from his hand, as he controls exactly three Blackwing monsters, destroying all face down spell and trap cards Alex controls. John overlays Blackwing – Kalut the Moon Shadow, Blackwing – Ghibli the Searing Wind, and Blackwing – Breeze the Zephyr to xyz summon Lapis Lazuli Roc (ATK: 2200 DEF: 1300).
John activates Lapis Lazuli Roc’s effect. By detaching one xyz material, John can send the top card on his deck to the graveyard, which is Wulf, Lightsworn Beast. With Lapis Lazuli Roc’s effect, if the card sent from the deck to the graveyard was a monster card, John can special summon a monster from his graveyard with a level equal to or lower than the monster sent to the graveyard, choosing Blackwing – Breeze the Zephyr. When Wulf Lightsworn Beast is sent from the deck to the graveyard, John can special summon it (ATK: 2100 DEF: 300). John tunes Wulf, Lightsworn Beast with Blackwing – Breeze the Zephyr to synchro summon Blackwing Armor Master (ATK: 2500 DEF: 1500).
John attacks Jade Wyvern with Blackwing Armor Master, but Alex activates Jade Wyvern’s effect. By detaching one xyz material from it, Alex can prevent one of his monsters from being destroyed by battle until the end phase, choosing Jade Wyvern. Both monsters have equal ATKs, so no battle damage is calculated, but with Blackwing Armor Master’s effect, it cannot be destroyed by battle. Also, when Blackwing Armor Master attacks a monster, a Wedge counter is placed on that monster. John removes that Wedge counter to reduce the ATK and DEF of Jade Wyvern to 0 (ATK: 2500 -> 0, DEF: 2100 -> 0). John attacks Jade Wyvern with Lapis Lazuli Roc.
Alex’s Life Points: 4000 -> 1800
During the end phase, Jade Wyvern’s ATK and DEF returns to normal (ATK: 0 -> 2500 DEF: 0 -> 2100).
John places two cards face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-0 Life-4000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-2
***************************************************
“Blackwings and Lightsworns?” questioned Alex. “I've never heard of such a combination.”
“This is my new deck,” said John. “Those Hieratics I gave you were actually my original cards, but after meeting the princesses, I realized fate had different plans for me.”
“What do you mean?”
“Princess Celestia told me about you and the deck you apparently used, I figured that the best way to help you was to give you my old deck, seeing as how it would wonderfully compliment your Dragunities.”
“But why would you give me your own deck?”
“I was so marveled by the mere presence of both Celestia and Luna, that I decided to make a new deck that represented my loyalty to both the light and dark rulers of Equestria. My Lightsworns representing Celestia’s light, and my Blackwings representing Luna’s darkness. With my new power, I will be able stand against Kyle and whatever allies he has. Hopefully, your new power can do the same.”
“Believe me, it will.”
***************************************************
Alex’s Turn: Alex activates his own Graceful Charity, drawing three cards and discarding two. Alex summons Dragunity Legionnaire (ATK: 1200 DEF: 800). When Dragunity Legionnaire is summoned, Alex can target one level 3 or lower Dragon-type Dragunity monster in his graveyard and equip it to Dragunity Legionnaire, choosing Dragunity Aklys. Alex activates Dragunity Legionnaire’s effect, sending an Dragunity monster in the Spell/Trap card zone to the graveyard to destroy one face up monster on the field, choosing Blackwing Armor Master. When Dragunity Aklys is sent to the graveyard while equipped to a monster, Alex can destroy one card on the field, choosing one of John’s face down cards.
Alex attacks Lapis Lazuli Rock with Jade Wyvern.
John’s Life Points: 4000 -> 3700
Alex attacks John directly with Dragunity Legionnaire.
John’s Life Points: 3700 -> 2500
Alex ends his turn.
Status: Hand-3 Life-1800 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-0
***************************************************
“Are you kidding?” asked John. “I give you a new set of cards and you won’t even use them?”
“I’m not going to use them recklessly,” Alex snapped. “The point of this is to beat you with my deck, not yours. I’m thankful for your help, but you should understand that I will win with my smarts and my power, not just yours.”
“I like the way you think, but it still won’t make your deck stronger than mine.”
“What?”
***************************************************
John’s Turn: John activates Pot of Greed, drawing one cards. John activates his face down Xyz Reborn, special summoning Lapis Lazuli Roc from his graveyard and attaching Xyz Reborn as xyz material. John activates Lapis Lazuli Roc’s effect, detaching its last xyz material from it to send the top card on his deck to the graveyard, which is Mirror Force. If the card sent to the graveyard by Lapis Lazuli Roc’s effect was a trap card, John can set a trap card from his graveyard onto his field. John equips Lapis Lazuli Roc with Elf’s Light, increasing its ATK by 400 and decreasing its DEF by 200 (ATK: 2200 -> 2600, DEF: 1300 -> 1100).
John attacks Dragunity Legionnaire with Lapis Lazuli Roc, but Alex activates Jade Wyvern’s effect, preventing a monster he controls from being destroyed by battle, choosing Dragunity Legionnaire. Battle damage is still applied.
Alex’s Life Points: 1800 -> 400
John sets one monster.
John ends his turn.
Status: Hand-0 Life-2500 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-1
***************************************************
“Alex!” called Alex’s friends from the sidelines. Alex was far from giving up. He had a perfect shutdown set-up in his hand, but he needed to draw the right card. Alex drew.
“Are you ready to see what your help has done for me?” asked Alex. John smiled in anticipation.
***************************************************
Alex’s Turn: Alex activates Hieratic Seal of Supremacy, special summoning a Hieratic monster from his hand, choosing Hieratic Seal of the Sun Dragon Overlord (ATK: 0 DEF: 0). Alex then activates Monster Reborn, special summoning another Hieratic Seal of the Sun Dragon Overlord from his graveyard. Next, Alex normal summons Dragunity Darkspear (ATK: 1000 DEF: 1000). Alex overlays both Hieratic Seal of the Sun Dragon Overlords to xyz summon Hieratic Sun Dragon Overlord of Heliopolis (ATK: 3000 DEF: 2400).
Alex activates Hieratic Sun Dragon Overlord of Heliopolis’ effect. By detaching one xyz material from it, Alex can tribute any number of monsters from his hand and/or field to destroy that many cards on the field, tributing Dragunity Darkspear and Dragunity Legionnaire to destroy Lapis Lazuli Roc and John’s face down card.
Alex attacks John’s face down monster with Hieratic Sun Dragon Overlord of Heliopolis, which was a Jenis, Lightsworn Mender (ATK: 300 DEF: 2100). Alex then attacks John directly with Jade Wyvern.
John’s Life Points: 2500 -> 0
Alex wins.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Alex stood triumphantly still as Alex’s friends stood around him to congratulate him. John walked up to Alex.
“Alex Yuwell, you have proven yourself worthy of using my deck. I hope that it serves you well in the future.”
John put his hand out, which Alex grasped as a gesture of friendship.
“Thank you for everything John. For what its worth, we’d like you to join us in our circle of friends: the bearers of the Stones of Equus.”
“I’d be more than happy to join you,” said John. “Now come on. Your friends still have to pick out their cards.”
Alex and his friends made their way downstairs. The ponies eyed the cards on display like kids in a candy store while the humans looked more mature as they browsed. Alex didn’t need new cards. He had some.
_________________________________________________________________________________________________
In the forest near the northern end of the Riverwalk, at least a dozen suited men lied unconscious on the ground. The incapacitated agents all surrounded a weak and panting Kyle, duel disk on wrist, but a satisfied smile on his face.