Alex’s friends continued to browse through the cards on display. Applejack looked at the sign on the window that read “We have Numbers!”
“Now what in tarnation is a Number?” she asked.
“I know you’re new here,” responded Trish, “but there are these new cards that have been released just about a week ago. They’re very popular, but they’re quite expensive. If you want one, I can let you have one as your free card.”
“That’s very kind of you, but I don’t seem to see anything that would work for my deck. I’ll holler when I find something.”
“Okay dear. Take your time.”
Rainbow Dash looked around the store at the various cards on display. She then happened upon a picture hung up on the wall of a woman. She had pale white skin and straight, medium length red hair. She wore a collared white shirt with vertical red stripes and a pair of blue jeans. She was sitting in an office chair and was leaned over at her desk, her elbow on the desk with her fingers supporting her smiling face. She looked quite young for her age. The picture had a signature on it that simply read "L. Faust."
“Who is this?” asked Rainbow Dash to no one in particular. John happened to be nearby when the question was asked.
“That’s Lauren Faust. She’s the CEO of Faustian Industries, the leading card producing company in the world. She actually even designs many of the cards that their company releases. So as you can tell, she’s a very good artist.”
“Wow. She must be really busy.”
“Less than you’d know,” said John. “She spends a lot of her time at conventions and large tournaments around the world. She attended a con in Chicago once, where I got her to sign this picture for our shop as a blessing of sorts. She even wished me the best of luck with our endeavors.”
“Wow. She sounds really cool. I’d love to meet her.”
“Well, she’s doing a meet and greet in Chicago for the big tournament this summer.”
“What tournament?”
“The Chicago World Dueling Championship. It’s a massive competition held where the best duelists in the world compete against each other.”
“And guess what?” chimed in Tom, “Alex is in it.”
“No way!” said Rainbow Dash. “Really?”
“Yeah. That duel that Alex and Reese had where they were transported to your world? It was a duel to see who’d represent our school’s dueling club in that tournament.”
“That’s great,” said John. “Anyways, how’s your search holding up?”
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Within the hour, no one left the store empty-handed. Each person and pony had new cards which they were itching to try out.
“There you are!” called a voice.
Sarah was the one to turn around, as it was her friends, Jenny and Lisa, that were calling her. Sarah was relieved that they were alright. When Alex’s friends left as he dueled Kyle, Sarah and her friends had parted ways in the scuffle.
“Are you alright?” asked Lisa.
“Fine,” responded Sarah.
“So,” Jenny asked Alex, “how did your duel with that creep go?”
“I lost.”
“Crap, I’m sorry. What did he even want?”
“Could we possibly talk about this more in private?”
“Why?”
“Because I don’t think this is the best story to share in public”
Alex and his friends along with Jenny and Lisa moved to the top of a parking deck where there were few people around that wouldn’t even be able to hear their conversation anyways. Upon pulling out his Jade Wyvern card, Alex told them all about the Stone of Equus cards; their origins, their appearances, and Kyle.
“You mean, you’re all the chosen ones or something?” asked Lisa, still trying to take everything in.
“In a word,” confirmed Twilight, “yes. Right now, they are being hunted by this Kyle person and John gave us cards to assist us.”
“Wow,” Lisa sighed. “I’d say you’re nuts, but it certainly helps that the existence of unicorns and pegasi coming from a planet that’s literally orbiting around Earth right now can vouch for your story.”
“So that’s the situation. If you feel the need to protect yourselves by avoiding us in case Kyle or anyone else attacks you, we’d understand.”
“Are you kidding?” asked Jenny. “Tom and Sarah are almost like siblings to me. Like hell I’m just going to stick my head in the sand while my friends get hammered on.”
Twilight couldn’t be happier that the world they had ended up on was full of such friendly creatures willing to stand up for each other.
“I can’t even thank you enough for all the support you’re willing to give us, but it can’t be that simple.”
“How so?”
“I want to see how well you two can handle yourselves, so I propose we duel you.”
“Duel? I almost beat Fluttershy, isn’t that good enough?”
“I’m sorry, um…”
“Jenny. And my other friend is Lisa.”
“Thanks. I’m sorry Jenny and Lisa, Fluttershy doesn’t have an Equus card. If you want to test yourselves, test one of the humans.”
“How about we double duel it? It’ll save us some time.”
“I don’t see how that wouldn’t work.”
“Alright!” cheered Jenny. The two young women did a secret handshake, making Twilight smile a little with nostalgia over when she used to be with her foalsitter. The two girls then did synchronized movements with their bodies as they both unsheathed their duel disks in tandem.
“How about you and me Twilight?” asked Alex.
“What?” protested Lisa. “You just said she doesn’t have a Stone of Equus card.”
“Lisa, Jenny, Twilight is an exceptional duelist, even without the card she just received. If there’s one duelist among us who can hold her own in a battle, I can safely say that it’s Twilight.” Twilight was enamored by Alex’s kind words. “So what do you say?”
“Alex, I’d be honored to duel by your side,” she answered.
Alex and Twilight stood next to each other as they faced their two test subjects.
“Depending on how well you duel,” said Alex, “we’ll let you know if you’re strong enough.”
“Sounds good to me,” said Jenny with a cheesy smile and an outstretched thumbs up. Pinkie Pie couldn’t help but laugh at her enthusiasm.
Alex and Twilight unsheathed their duel disks. All 4 duelists drew 5 cards from their deck.
“DUEL!” they all yelled.
Alex and Twilight Sparkle vs. Lisa and Jenny
Alex’s Turn: Alex summons Dragunity Pilum (ATK: 1400 DEF: 1000). When Dragunity Pilum is normal summoned, Alex can special summon a Winged Beast-type Dragunity monster from his hand and equip it with Dragunity Pilum, choosing Dragunity Militum (ATK: 1700 DEF: 1200). Alex activates Dragunity Militum’s effect, special summoning a Dragunity monster from his spell and trap card zone, choosing Dragunity Pilum. Alex tunes Dragunity Militum with Dragunity Pilum to synchro summon Dragunity Knight – Trident (ATK: 2400 DEF: 1700).
Alex places one card face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-3 Life-8000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
***************************************************
“Strong monster on the first turn?” commented Lisa. “Your ambitions don’t scare me. Just try and keep up with us.”
***************************************************
Lisa’s Turn: Lisa activates Graceful Charity, drawing three cards and discarding two. Next, she special summons two Cloudian – Storm Dragons from her hand by banishing two Cloudian monsters in her graveyard (ATK: 1000 DEF: 0). Lisa then activates the two Cloudian – Storm Dragons’ effects. Lisa places a Fog counter on a monster on the field twice, placing them both on Dragunity Knight – Trident (FoC.: 0 -> 2). Next, she activates Lucky Cloud.
Lisa places one card face down. During the end phase, with Lucky Cloud’s effect, if Lisa summoned two or more Cloudian monsters with the same name, she draws two cards.
Lisa ends her turn.
Status: Hand-4 Life-8000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-1
***************************************************
Are they setting up for an xyz summon? thought Twilight. Must be. If Lisa has two monsters of the same level like that yet doesn’t xyz summon, they must be trying to get something strong. With Alex’s help though, we should be able to summon something stronger.
***************************************************
Twilight’s Turn: Twilight summons Gagaga Magician (ATK: 1500 DEF: 1000). Twilight activates Gagaga Magician’s effect, making its level anything between 1 and 8, choosing 7 (Lvl.: 4 -> 7). Twilight activates Xyz Plant, special summoning it as a monster with the same level as a monster she controls (7). Twilight overlays Alex’s Dragunity Knight – Trident, Gagaga Magician, and Xyz Plant to xyz summon Number 7: Lucky Straight (ATK: 700 DEF: 700).
Twilight activates Number 7: Lucky Straight’s effect. By detaching one xyz material from it, she can roll a die twice. The highest result will become its ATK times 700. She rolls a 5 and a 3 (5 x 700 = 3500, ATK: 700 -> 3500). Twilight activates her effect once more. She rolls a 1 and a 4 (4 x 700 = 2800, ATK: 3500 -> 2800). Twilight detaches Number 7: Lucky Straight’s last xyz material to activate its effect once more. The result is a 6 and a 1 (6 x 700 = 4200, ATK: 2800 -> 4200). Twilight activates Number 7: Lucky Straight’s second effect, special summoning a monster from her hand, choosing Endymion, the Master Magician (ATK: 2700 DEF: 1700).
Twilight places two cards face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-1 Life-8000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-2
***************************************************
“Alright,” said Jenny, shadowboxing as a warm-up, “let’s get this party started.”
“Party?” chirped Pinkie Pie loudly. “If I'd known there would be a party, I would have brought some cake and punch. Or maybe since you were boxing, some punching bags.”
Lisa couldn’t help but laugh at the pink pony’s response.
“Well, that was fun,” Jenny muttered to herself.
***************************************************
Jenny’s Turn: Jenny summons Vylon Charger (ATK: 1000 DEF: 1000). Jenny overlays Vylon Charger and Lisa’s two Cloudian – Storm Dragons to xyz summon Vylon Disigma (ATK: 2500 DEF: 2100). Jenny then activates Photon Lead, special summoning a level 4 or lower LIGHT monster from her hand, choosing Vylon Soldier (ATK: 1700 DEF: 1000). Jenny equips Vylon Soldier with Vylon Material, increasing its ATK by 600 (ATK: 1700 -> 2300). Jenny then activates Vylon Disigma’s effect. By detaching one xyz material from it, she can target an attack position effect monster her opponent controls and equip it to Vylon Disigma, choosing Number 7: Lucky Straight.
Jenny attacks Endymion, the Master Magician with Vylon Soldier. When Vylon Soldier declares an attack, she can change the battle positions of her opponent’s monsters up to the number of cards equipped to it, choosing Endymion, the Master Magician. Alex activates Waboku, preventing Endymion, the Master Magician’s destruction by battle and negating the battle damage.
Jenny ends her turn.
Status: Hand-1 Life-8000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-0
***************************************************
“Woohoo!” cheered Jenny, jumping up and down. “I just OWNED your monster! I OWNED it!” she yelled, pointing to Twilight at the word “owned.” Pinkie continued to laugh at Jenny’s high energy.
“Early celebrations,” said Alex. “My favorite thing to see before I defeat an opponent.”
***************************************************
Alex’s Turn: Alex special summons Hieratic Dragon of Tefnuit from his hand, as he controls no monsters while his opponent controls one (ATK: 2100 DEF: 1400). Alex then activates the Star Changer, reducing the level of Endymion, the Master Magician by one (Lvl.: 7 -> 6). Alex overlays Twilight’s Endymion, the Master Magician and Hieratic Dragon of Tefnuit to xyz summon Jade Wyvern (ATK: 2500 DEF: 2100). Alex activates Jade Wyvern’s effect. By detaching one xyz material from it, Alex can choose one monster on the field and it cannot be destroyed by battle until the end of this turn, choosing Jade Wyvern.
Alex attacks Vylon Disigma with Jade Wyvern, but Lisa activates Attack Invulnerability, preventing Vylon Disigma from being destroyed in battle. Since they both have equal ATKs, no battle damage is inflicted.
Alex sets one monster.
Alex ends his turn.
Status: Hand-1 Life-8000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-0
***************************************************
“Now to bring the thunder!” rasped Lisa, fingers wiggling, followed by a crash sound effect from Jenny. “Literally.”
“Doubt that,” commented Rainbow Dash.
***************************************************
Lisa’s Turn: Lisa activates Pot of Greed, drawing two cards. Next, she activates Summon Cloud, allowing her to special summon a Cloudian monster from her hand, choosing Cloudian – Cirrostratus (ATK: 900 DEF: 0). Lisa normal summons Cloudian – Turbulence (ATK: 800 DEF: 0). When Cloudian – Turbulence is normal summoned, a Fog counter is placed on it for each Cloudian monster on the field (2) (FoC.: 0 -> 2). Lisa activates Cloudian – Turbulence’s effect. By removing one Fog counter from it, she can special summon a Cloudian – Smoke Ball from her deck or graveyard (FoC.: 2 -> 1) (ATK: 200 DEF: 600).
Lisa then activates Fog Control, tributing Cloudian – Smoke Ball to place three Fog counters on a face up monster, choosing Cloudian – Turbulence (FoC.: 1 -> 4). Lisa activates the effect of Cloudian – Turbulence again, this time removing three Fog counters to summon two Cloudian – Smoke Balls from her deck and one from her graveyard.
Lisa overlays Cloudian – Turbulence, Cloudian – Cirrostratus, and Jenny’s Vylon Soldier to xyz summon Number 16: Shock Master (AT: 2300 DEF: 1700). Lisa then overlays her three Cloudian – Smoke Balls to xyz summon Mira the Giant Star in defense position (ATK: 1100 DEF: 1000). Lisa activates Number 16: Shock Master’s effect. By detaching one xyz material, she can choose one type of card, and she chooses monster. Until her opponent’s next end phase, monster effects cannot be activated. Lisa then equips Number 16: Shock Master with Malevolent Nuzzler, increasing its ATK by 700 (ATK: 2300 -> 3000).
Lisa attacks Jade Wyvern with Number 16: Shock Master.
Alex and Twilight’s Life Points: 8000 -> 7500
Lisa places one card face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-0 Life-8000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-1
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Alex was stunned at their level of technique with their monsters. It was clear to him. Just as Twilight was about to make her draw, Jenny shouted in glee.
“He surrendered! He surrendered!”
Twilight looked to Alex, who confirmed her statement by having his hand clasped over the deck slot of his wrist dealer.
“Alex, what in Celestia’s name are you doing?”
“The point of this was to test them. Not only were they able to hold their own without taking a single point of damage, but they destroyed my Equus card like it was any other monster. If that doesn’t qualify them to be our allies, I don’t know what is.”
Twilight sighed.
“I understand, Alex. They dueled admirably. I can safely say that they will be valuable allies with us and even better friends.”
Pinkie pulled her party cannon seemingly out of thin air and blew a blast of confetti in the air. Lisa and Jenny did a celebratory dance, which Pinkie Pie joined in to the delight of their new friends.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Cont. from Kyle vs. Opponent
Cont. from Kyle’s Turn: Kyle attacks Shining Elf (ATK: 1600 DEF: 1000) with Olivine Dragon (ATK: 3000 DEF: 2500).
Opponent’s Life Points: 1000 -> 0
Kyle wins.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
The opponent stood up near immediately.
“Great duel, man!” complimented the opponent, approaching him for a handshake.
“Novice,” he said, turning on his heel and walking away.
It was late in the afternoon now, and the competition was drawing to a close. Not much later, a bell went off from the Carillon bell tower. Alex and his friends along with hundreds of other duelists walked to the Rotary Hill where a stage was set up at the bottom. The news was then revealed to John Newton Howard’s score to The Hunger Games for added drama.
“Everyone,” called a voice from an intercom, “that bell signals then end of the Riverwalk Dueling Competition. We shall now announce the eight quarter-finalists for the big tournament tomorrow, whom had the best win-to-loss ratios amongst everyone who dueled. Our first contestant to advance has a whopping no losses on his record. Please welcome to the stage, Kyle Penn!”
Alex and everyone else stared daggers as the blue-coated man walked the stage to be awarded his entry card for the tournament.
Kyle walked offstage and away from the ceremonies and continued to walk down the Riverwalk, calling the limousine to drive him back to the hotel.
“Our next quarter-finalist is… well, one of the ponies who hails from the land of Equestria! Please welcome, Twilight Sparkle!”
Alex and his friends cheered as the unicorn graciously accepted her entry card on the stage. She instead stood onstage to join the other six competitors when their names were called.
“Moving on, we’ll just announce the names of the other ponies who were skilled enough to have their names called, the first of which is Applejack of Equestria!”
Applejack took her card with a nod of her cowboy hat and joined Twilight on stage.
“The last pony to make it to the stage is Rainbow Dash!”
“Aw yeah!” she exclaimed. She quickly flew up onstage and took her card doing a dance in the air as well.
“What a showoff,” mouthed Applejack to Twilight.
“Now, we have 4 other humans that will join us for tomorrow’s event. The first of which is Naperville North’s very own Reese Miller!”
Reese walked up, took his card, and blew a kiss to the audience, making them scream in excitement.
“Sheesh,” whispered Rainbow Dash, “and you thought I was bad.”
“You still are, sally,” said Applejack.
“The next person to continue onwards is Naperville Central’s John Terrence!”
John, not the showboat, took his card, shook the announcer’s hand, and joined the Reese and the ponies.
“Next, we have Thomas Emmitt of North!”
Sarah cheered the loudest for her brother as he ran onstage and to the announcer. He handed him his card, shook Tom’s hand, and watched as he joined his friends.
“Last, but certainly not least, we have yet another who hails from North. And that is… Alexander Yuwell!”
The music went from the Cm to Gm upon mentioning Alex’s name. Alex’s remaining friends around him cheered loudly as he made his way to the stage. Upon being given his entry card, he quickly grabbed the mike from the announcer and shouted into it.
“Kyle!” he yelled.
Kyle could hear his voice clearly as Alex called him out as the music changed keys again.
“You hear me? We will fight again, and next time, I will destroy you!”
The crowd cheered at his enthusiasm as Alex handed back the mike and stood with his friends on the stage. They all waved to the crowd, pumping them up until the music finally ended.
“Good luck,” said Kyle aloud as he continued walking to the limo, the driver opening the car door for him.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Kyle got to the Holiday Inn on Naper and Diehl as the sky had a creamy orange tint to the sky. After setting his briefcase on the bed inside his comfortable-enough looking room, he decided to make a video call from his laptop. The receiver of the call answered almost immediately. It was the masked woman from the night before.
“Rae,” he began.
“Kyle,” Rae responded, “well if it isn’t my trusty hunter. I assume your hunting went without a hitch?”
“I must be honest and say that it, in fact, did not go as planned.”
“What?!? What happened?”
“That Alex kid that the Flim Flam brothers dueled last night, there’s something… strange about him.”
“Just man up and say that you lost, would you?”
“That’s just it!” Kyle cleared his throat and spoke softer. “I won, but throughout the duel, the damage I felt from the battle was real. I was so weakened by the outcome that I didn’t have the strength to extract his Stone of Equus card. I wouldn’t even have the strength to face the others that were there.”
“I am… disappointed,” sighed Rae. “I thought you of all my hunters would be able to have the strength to resist such… minor injuries.”
“It felt like a train hit me, Rae! I-”
“I will not tolerate your raising your voice to me. Hang tight. I’ll be with you momentarily.”
Kyle then observed his face in his camera. He saw the camera pick up a masked person behind him. Upon turning around, Kyle found Rae right in front of him. She reached at him, placing her palms on the side of his head and her thumbs over his eyes. Kyle seemed strangely passive as his superior grabbed him.
“If you can’t fight on your own strength,” said Rae, “then perhaps I need to lend you some of mine.”
The area around her thumbs began to turn green, and she pushed them into Kyle’s eyes. He let out a blood-curdling scream as Rae transferred a bright yellow aura into him. Upon finishing, she laid the unconscious Kyle on his bed. There was then a knock on the door.
“Is everything alright?” called a random male voice. “I heard a scream coming from your room.”
“Everything’s fine,” answered Rae, impersonating Kyle’s voice perfectly. “I just stubbed my toe… very badly.”
“Need a doctor?”
“Sorry. I just have a very low tolerance to pain.”
“Whatever man.” With that, the male left.
Rae turned off Kyle’s computer and closed it. She then began to slowly fade away.
“Sweet dreams,” she said with a sinister tint in her normal voice. Not much longer after her farewell, she completely disappeared.
