Years ago.
A younger Sunburst and Starlight were sitting on a back porch, watching as Sunburst's parents packed his things into the car. Sunburst was leaving today, heading to another city where he'd be staying with relatives and going to a Duel prep-school in preparation of entering Duel Academy.
To say both of them were upset about him leaving was an understatement. Starlight had tried to apply for the same prep-school but hadn't been able to get a good enough score.
"You know," Sunburst said. "I don't...have to go."
Starlight shook her head. "No way. I don't want you to give up just because I won't be there." She turned to him, "don't forget about our promise. We're gonna meet again, on the Pro-Duel Circuit."
Sunburst smiled at this and quickly pulled her into a hug, she doing the same until his mother told him they had to head out.
They pulled apart and got up, Sunburst reaching into his pockets and fishing something out. "Here," he handed it to Starlight, "I hope this helps you get there."
Starlight took the card and saw what it was. "Celestial...Spirit...Leo."
Sunburst blushed. "I found it in a booster pack and it reminded me of you." He scratched the back of his head and smiled. "I know it's probably not gonna be of any use to you, since it's effect requires you having other Celestial Spirit monsters in your deck, but I thought you might like it."
Starlight continued to stare at the card, then smiled before holding it close to her heart. "Thank you. I promise, I'll always have it in my deck. I'll even get the rest of those Celestial Spirits so he can become my ace." Sunburst smiled and hugged her again, until his mother rushed over and grabbed his arm before pulling him away from Starlight towards the car.
Sunburst looked back at Starlight as he was pulled into the car, the two frowning before the car drove away and they finally lost sight of one another. At the exact same time, they both swore that one day they'd meet on the Pro-Duel stage.
Present day
And that day had finally come, as Sunburst arrived on the Duel Field Starlight was in.
He looked around and, for a second, wondered if it was suddenly night as the sky was filled with stars. And stars appeared to be the main theme of this field, as everywhere he looked there were stars. The leaves on the trees, tables scattered around the place and even some balloons. They were all shaped like stars.
Sunburst didn't have time to admire the scene for long, as in that moment his Raduel beeped to show his opponent's location. And so he rushed through the field, following the map that showed their markers getting closer.
And then, finally, Sunburst turned a corner and saw her. "Starlight!"
Starlight Glimmer stopped before turning towards the voice, looking surprised as she saw him head towards her. "Sunburst." She didn't have time to say anything else, as he closed the distance between them and thrust his arm in her direction. The found of their Raduels beeping singled the challenge.
"Let's Duel!" He said with great determination, causing Starlight to smile.
Celestia: You join us as the Double X Tournament's second round draws close to the end of day one.
Luna: For any Duellists that are currently playing, this will be their last match of the day.
Celestia: One Duel has gotten underway, just in time. Starlight Glimmer of team Dominator verses Sunburst of team V-Fighters.
Luna: It's been a good day for Starlight. She's collected a huge number of points. But if she's defeated, team V-Fighters will gain those points and storm into the lead.
Over in the VIP box, Spike's gaze shifted between two screens. One showing Flash's Duel against Heath, and the other showing Sunburst's Duel. This was gonna be a tough one, he knew from experience, but hopefully those two could pull it off. "Come on guys.
Back on the Star Field, Starlight and Sunburst activated their Duel Disks.
Starlight turned to Sunburst and gave him a curious look. "I must admit, I was surprised when I learned of your entrance into the tournament. After what happened with Duel Academy, everyone back home figured you'd give up the game."
"I did," Sunburst replied. "But I couldn't stay away and my friends helped me regain the confidence I'd lost." He frowned at that memory, of how weak he'd been. But now...now was different. "Let's do this!"
Starlight nodded and the two drew their cards.
"DUEL!"
Starlight: 4000
Sunburst: 4000
"I'll take the first move!" Sunburst drew his card, "I summon Blaze Wizard in ATK mode!" The fire magician appeared in a burst of fire. "And when he's summoned, I can add one Ritual Spell from my deck to my hand." His deck shuffled before slotting out a card, which he took before he placed three cards face down. "I end my turn."
Celestia: Sunburst, starting off strong.
Luna: How will Ms Glimmer counter?
Starlight smirked before she reached for her deck, "I draw. And I summon Celestial Spirit Aquarius, in ATK mode." A constellation appeared before her before exploding, the light fading to reveal a mermaid with a blue tail and hair that was carrying an urn and had armour around her chest. (A1500/D1200/L4)
Sunburst couldn't help but smile. "Looks like she actually did it."
"Aquarius's skill," Starlight placed a card in her graveyard before the mermaid swung her urn around. Doing so caused a torrent of water to fly out and head straight for Sunburst's field.
"What the?" He asked as the water shot passed his feet, washing two of his face downs along with it.
"Aquarius can destroy up to two cards in your Spell, Trap, or Pendulum Zones, and all it cost me was a card from my hand. Next, I play Celestial Device Sextans! With this, I can revive one Celestial Spirit monster in my graveyard. So say hello to Celestial Spirit Sagittarius!" Another constellation appeared before it exploded. This time, the light faded to reveal a centaur wearing green armour and carrying a bow and arrow. Its helmet was modelled after a horse. (A1700/D700/L4)
"Two monsters," Sunburst quickly rushed off in search of an Action Card.
Celestia: An impressive move by Starlight. Using Aquarius to reduce the risk of Sunburst's Trap card and using it to set herself up for summoning a second monster.
Luna: A great strategy to employ when using cards that require discarding cards.
"Sagittarius, attack Blaze Wizard!" The centaur drew its bow and aimed it at the magician, Sunburst spotting a card on the star-shaped leaf of one of the trees.
He reached out to grab the card and saw it was an Action Trap, one which forced him to give up the top three cards of his deck. And as he did so, Sagittarius's arrow struck Blaze Wizard and destroyed him.
Starlight: 4000
Sunburst: 3500
"You activated my Trap!" Sunburst announced before his face down flipped up. "Light the Beacons!" A bonfire suddenly appeared before him. "Since a Fire monster was destroyed, I can now summon one Level four or below Fire monster from my hand or deck." The bonfire exploded before Sunburst Familiar appeared in DEF mode. (A1200/D1000/L4)
Starlight smirked. "Well since Sagittarius destroyed a monster, his ability deals you four hundred points of damage." The centaur drew another arrow and fired it at Sunburst, striking him in the chest and making him cry out as she staggered back against the tree.
Starlight: 4000
Sunburst: 3100
The mermaid swung its urn around once again, unleashing another tidal-wave in Sunburst's direction. It then struck Sunburst's monster and washed it away, leaving him defenceless.
Sunburst groaned as he picked himself up. "When Familiar is destroyed, I can look at the top five cards of my deck and add any two Level four of below Fire monsters to my hand." He drew the cards and quickly took out two, the rest being returned to the Deck.
Starlight smiled before placing a card face down. "I end my turn."
Sunburst, still panting from the arrow to the chest, stood himself up. 'This is it,' he drew his card. 'The moment has finally arrived.' "I set the Pendulum Scale, with scale one Yellow Sun Magician and scale eight Pink Sun Magician!" The pillars of light flew up before the two magicians appeared within them. "Now watch, as I burn through space time and blaze the arc of victory!" The portal formed above his head, "I PENDULUM SUMMON!"
The portal opened before a single fireball flew out and hit the ground, exploding to reveal his monster. "Sunburst Guardian!" (A1400/D1800/L4) The knight took a defensive position, as Sunburst activated his next card. "Then, I'll activate the Sunburst Gate." The gateway appeared behind him. "And with Yellow Sun Magician's Pendulum Ability, I can banish Blaze Wizard and Sunburst Familiar to use them as the cost." The ghostly spirits of the two monsters appeared infront of the gate before exploding into six fireball, which flew into half the indents.
Sunburst closed his eyes and began to chant. "furious hellfire, that burns like the sun, give life to the demon whose fury cannot be extinguished!" The doors of the gate flew open and unleashed a giant fireball, "I RITUAL SUMMON!"
The flames faded to reveal Sunburst's monster. "Sunburst Ravager!" (A2000/D1800/L6) 'I was so disgusted with myself.' "Ravager, attack Aquarius!" The demon charged forwards, its axe ready to slice the mermaid in half. 'Disappointed that I allowed myself to stay down and not get back up.'
As the demon headed towards her monster, Starlight leapt onto Sagittarius's back before it galloped through the field. Soon, she spotted a star shaped table set-up for tea with an Action Card in one of the cups.
Sagittarius ran passed the table as Starlight grabbed the card, only for Ravager to reach Aquarius and slash it with its axe.
Starlight: 3500
Sunburst: 3100
"You activated my Trap," Starlight announced as her face down flipped up. "Stardust Draw. Now, I get four new cards." She drew them, as Ravager turned to the centaur.
"Ravager can attack once for every Fire monster on the field." The demon raised its monster hand as it set ablaze, the fiend leaping forwards to claw at the centaur.
"Go, Evasion!" The horse-man leapt up onto its back legs before kicking its front legs rapidly at Ravager, forcing it to stop and jump back to a safe distance.
Celestia: A lucky Action Card for Starlight. Now she doesn't have to go into the next round completely defenceless.
Sunburst frowned. "I place one card face down and end my turn."
"My turn," Starlight drew her card. "First, I'll play Celestial Device Telescopium. This card lets me take a look at a face down on your field." A telescope appeared in her hand and she used it to look at Sunburst's face down, the card flipping up to reveal a Trap. "Spirit Barrier," the telescope vanished. "A tricky card. But useless against this." She played another card, "Celestial Weapon Sagitta. I can only use this card when Sagittarius in on the field. It lets me hit you with a thousand points of damage." A golden arrow appeared in the centaurs hand before it drew its bow and fired, the arrow hitting Sunburst in the chest.
"Gah!" He clutched his chest again,
Starlight: 3500
Sunburst: 2100
"Next," Starlight jumped off her monster, "I sacrifice Sagittarius in order to summon Celestial Spirit Taurus!" The centaur disappeared and was replaced by a constellation, which exploded before the light faded to reveal a ten foot tall man in black bull themed armour carrying a massive battle axe. (A2300/D1800/L6)
Sunburst frowned at the monster, as memories flowed through his head. 'I never tried anything new after that, figuring I wouldn't be any good at it. I let my failures get the better of me and was overcome by fear.'
"Attack!" The bull-man rushed forwards and slashed at Guardian with its axe, cutting through the shield and destroying the knight. "And if Taurus destroys a monster whilst you have another one on your field, I can discard one Celestial Spirit from my hand an he can attack again!" She did so and Taurus turned to Ravager.
"I activate my Trap!" His face down flipped up. "Spirit Barrier!" Starlight's monster tore through his but he was safe.
Starlight stared at the boy and smiled, "I end my turn."
Sunburst drew his card but had nothing in his hand. If this had been a few weeks ago, he'd be to scared to move. 'However.' "I'm not the same," he announced. "I have changed!"
"Oh really," Starlight said. "Then show me."
Sunburst intended to do just that. "I activate Pink Sun Magician's Pendulum Ability!" His deck slotted out a card that he took. "By sending a Ritual Spell from my deck to my grave, I can activate its effect. Then I use Yellow Sun Magician's Pendulum Ability, to banish Sunburst Ravager and Guardian to fill in for the cost of the Ritual!"
Starlight watched as Sunburst Altar appeared between them, the ghostly images of Sunburst's monster appearing before exploding into fireballs that lit the candles. "Mystical fire, that burns like the sun, give life to the wizard whose intellect cannot be extinguished!" The fire on the candles shot up before flying into the basin, "I RITUAL SUMMON!"
The basin exploded, the fire shooting up and took form before fading. "Sunburst Magician!" (A2300/D2200/L7)
In a dark area, Starlight stood staring at a TV screen like opening that showed what the body was seeing. Coming out of Starlight's back were a pair of string like lights, both flowing towards the two other occupants of the space.
One was another Starlight, who was unconscious and chained to a giant stone slab. The other was a sphere of yellow light, which was staring at the screen. "Sunburst," it spoke in a female voice. Accessing the memories of her host, it saw many precious ones that included him. "He's a childhood friend of Starlight's. They haven't seen each other in years, but he's the reason behind Starlight's use of the Celestial Spirits. He's the reason she has such a strong bond with them, so the avatar won't get rid of them and use my card."
The light hummed, finding a sorrowful memory where Starlight watched Sunburst be pulled away by his mother. "I wonder what would happen if the avatar beats him."
As this was happening, the tied up Starlight's eyes began to crack open. "Sun...burst."
"Sunburst Magician's skill!" Sunburst announced before drawing five cards.
Starlight: 3500
Sunburst: 1800
Sunburst took out two of the cards before returning to others to the deck, then placed those cards on his Duel Disk. "I summon Sunburst Apprentice and Red Sun Magician!" A pair of fireballs appeared besides the magician before exploding to reveal the two monsters. (A1500/D1300/L4) (A1600/D1300/L4/P2) "Then I'll play the Spell card Blazing Aura and equip it to Sunburst Magician!" The veil of fire wrapped around his Ritual Monster. (A3300/D2200/L7) "Plus, Apprentice's ability increases the ATK of a fire monster on my field." The young magician pointed its staff at Red Sun Magician and unleashed a fireball that powered him up even more. (A2100/D1300/L4/P2) "Attack!"
Starlight watched as the magician pointed its staff at Taurus and unleashed a fireball, which struck the bull-man and destroyed it.
Starlight: 2500
Sunburst: 1800
"You activated my Trap!" Starlight's face down flipped up, "Starlight Path! Now, since you destroyed a Celestial Spirit, I can summon a weaker one from my hand or deck." Her deck slotted out a card, which she took before slapping on the Duel Disk. "I summon Celestial Spirit Virgo!" A constellation appeared before exploding, the light fading to reveal a pink haired woman in a dress appearing before her with chains wrapped around her body. (A2000/D1500/L5)
"Well she won't last long against Red Sun Magician!" The Pendulum Spellcaster pointed it staff at her, but Starlight had already run over to a tree and plucked an Action Card off its leaves.
"I play Wish Upon a Star. Now I can activate the effect of any Spell card in my graveyard. So I'll once again activate the effect of Evasion!" Virgo leapt out of the way of the fireball, completely unharmed.
Luna: Another lucky Action Card for Starlight.
Sunburst frowned. "Fine, then I'll play the Spell card Sunburst Barrage. Since Sunburst Apprentice hasn't attacked yet, I can now hit you with a hundred points of damage for every level star it has." The card appeared behind the young magician and fired a fireball into his back, said fireball flying through his body and multiplying by four before shooting out his stomach.
The fireballs flew towards Starlight and struck her, making her stagger backwards.
Starlight: 2100
Sunburst: 1800
"I end my turn," Sunburst announced. Red Sun Magician's ATK returned to normal. (A1600/D1300/L4/P2)
As the two of them continued to Duel, neither of them noticed Tempest Shadow arrive on the scene. After winning her last Duel, she saw her teammate was close and had decided to watch her crush this opponent. She watched Starlight reach for her deck, wondering how she would play this out.
'Interesting,' Starlight drew her card before turning back to her opponent. 'In the past, Sunburst barely won any of his matches. The fact he's made it this far, suggests there's something to his game after all.' "I activate the Spell card Painful Choice." Five cards slotted out of her deck, which she took and placed on her Duel Disk.
Sunburst looked up and saw the five cards materialise before him. Gemini, Libra, Pisces, Aries and another monster card together. "Now, pick a card and I'll add it to my hand whilst the rest go to the graveyard."
Sunburst frowned, but made his choice. "That one," he pointed at the far right card.
"Very well," Starlight took the card and sent the rest to her graveyard.
Celestia: A risky move. Will it pay off for Starlight?
"Now, I'll summon the card you chose. Celestial Spirit Capricorn!" A constellation appeared before her and exploded, the light fading to reveal a lanky man in goat theme armour. (A1600/D1400/L4) "Next, I activate Magical Mallet to return my hand to the deck and redraw." She did so, "Capricorn will now attack Sunburst Apprentice!" The Celestial Spirit rushed forwards. "Capricorn's skill. Discard a Celestial Spirit from the hand and increase his ATK power by the Level of the monster he's attacking times two hundred!" (A2400/D1400/L4)
The man reached Sunburst Apprentice and slammed his foot into his stomach, destroying it. Thanks to Spirit Barrier, Sunburst took no damage. But with one less monster on the field, Sunburst Magician's ATK power went down. (A2800/D2200/L7) Meanwhile, Capricorn's ATK returned to normal.
"Now, Virgo will attack Red Sun Magician!" The maiden rushed forwards. "Virgo's skill. Tribute a Celestial Spirit from my side of the field and increase her ATK power by its Level." She swung her chain around Capricorn and pulled, destroying him as the chain glowed. (A2400/D1500/L5) She then turned to the Pendulum magician before swinging her chain at it, destroying it and forcing Sunburst Magician back down to its base power. (A2300/D2200/L7)
"I place two cards face down and end my turn." Starlight turned towards Sunburst. "I admit you've got skill, but not enough. You should just go home, before you embarrass yourself...or your family."
Sunburst's eyes went wide at this, then frowned as he reached for his deck. "I won't!" He drew his card, as the portal formed above his head. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!" The portal opened before a fireball shot out, exploding to reveal his monster. "Red Sun Magician!" (A1600/D1300/L4/P2) "Sunburst Magician's skill!" He drew five cards.
Starlight: 2100
Sunburst: 1500
Unfortunately, none of the cards could help him right now. "I activate Sunburst Apprentice's ability, to revive him back to the field." The young magician appeared besides the other two, increasing Sunburst Magician's power. (A3300/D2200/L7) (A1500/D1300/L4) "Now for his other skill, adding five hundred ATK points to Red Sun!" (A2100/D1300/L4/P2)
He looked up at his monster, then towards Starlight. 'That's right.' His memory flashed back to first meeting Flash and Spike. 'Because of my friends, I've changed. I used to give up so easily, but they persisted with me. "Sunburst Magician, attack Virgo!" The Ritual monster pointed its staff at the Celestial Spirit.
"I activate my face down," Starlight's card flipped up to reveal a Trap. "Brittle Shield. With this, Virgo is now switched to DEF mode." The maiden knelt down, as Starlight began to run off, before Sunburst Magician launched a fireball that incinerated her.
As that happened, Starlight spotted an Action card inside a star shaped balloon that was floating by. "Sunburst Apprentice, attack!" The magician pointed it staff at her. "I'll defeat you and put my past behind me!"
Starlight grabbed the balloon and popped it in her hands, grabbing the Action card and smiling when she saw what it was. "Trap Summon!" Her face down flipped up before a constellation flew out of it, exploding to reveal the snake charmer and her serpent. "Celestial Spirit Ophiuchus!" (A1700/D1000/L4)
Sunburst Apprentice stopped its attack before it could destroy itself, as Red Sun pointed its staff at the beast and launched a fireball at it. Ophiuchus was destroyed, but her snake survived and slithered towards the Pendulum monster.
Starlight: 1700
Sunburst: 1500
Once there, it wrapped itself around Red Sun before biting into his shoulder. Starlight smiled at this. "Since you destroyed Ophiuchus, your monster will now by poisoned and lose one hundred life points for every Celestial Spirit in the graveyard."
Sunburst frowned, then placed a card face down and ended his turn. Red Sun Magician's ATK power returned to normal. (A1600/D1300/L4/P2)
Luna: Despite Sunburst's best efforts, Starlight remains one step ahead of him. This isn't looking good.
Sunburst panted, that last turn having taken a lot out of him. "Is that the best you've got?" He looked up at Starlight, who smiled as she drew her card. As she did, Red Sun's ATK power went down. (A500/D1300/L4/P2) "It's just as I thought. You're a disgrace as a Duellist and everyone knows it." Sunburst's eyes went wide at this. "Why else did your parent need to move away after you flunked out of Duel Academy. It's because they were to ashamed to show their faces after you did."
"That's...not true." Why was Starlight saying these hurtful worlds?
"Unlike you, I've actually been living up to our promise." She placed her card into her Duel Disk, "let me show you how. I activate the Celestial Device Circunis! And with it, I can add a Celestial Spirit from my deck to my hand." A card slotted out for her to take. "Next, I'll use the Action Spell I got last turn. Wish Upon a Star."
"Again?" Sunburst asked.
"Now I can use this to activate the effect of any Spell in my graveyard. So I'll activate the effect of Celestial Device Sextans, to revive Celestial Spirit Gemini to the field." The twin monsters appeared before her.
"Not good," Sunburst knew what was coming next.
"You started Duelling again. And you even made it this far into the Double X." She shot him a glare, "I was excited to see how much you'd improved. However," she smirked, "it seems you're as weak as you ever were." Sunburst frowned, as Gemini was engulfed in a bright light that became a familiar constellation. "I sacrifice Gemini in order to summon Celestial Spirit, LEO!" The constellation exploded and the lion themed knight jumped out and landed infront of her. (A2500/D2200/L7)
"There it is," the card that had linked them for so long.
"And by banishing Circunis from my graveyard, I can add Celestial Device Pyxis from my deck to my hand." A card shuffled out of her deck, which she instantly activated. "Now I activate Pyxis!" Leo glowed. "With this card, a Celestial Spirit monster on my field can attack one extra time for every three Celestial Spirits in the graveyard.
Sunburst's eyes went wide. How many Celestial Spirit were in the graveyard right now? He quickly counted eleven, so Leo gained three more times which meant he could attack four times.
Celestia: With only three cards on his field, Sunburst will lose if he's unable to stop this attack.
"GO!" The lion knight rushed forwards as his hands ignited, the flames taking the shape of lions. "And whenever Leo attacks, he gains two hundred ATK points for every Celestial Spirit in my graveyard. Twelve different constellations appear around the man before they exploded, the light flying into him and boosting his power (A4700/D2200/L7)
Sunburst rushed through the field in search of an Action Card, as the beast man reached Red Sun Magician and thrust his blazing fist into him. When the Pendulum Monster was destroyed, it turned towards Sunburst Apprentice and did the same.
Sunburst frowned as he removed the wizard from play. "You really are a disappointment," Starlight told him. "It's a shame too. Everyone had such high expectations for you." She remembered when Sunburst had been except into Duel Academy, how his family had thrown a massive party which ended with him being lifted into the air by the crowd.
Sunburst finally spotted a balloon and grabbed it, popping it to grab the card and finding it was a Trap. "Gah," he cried as it unleashed a powerful light, which blasted away five hundred life points.
Starlight: 1700
Sunburst: 1000
"So weak," Leo socked Sunburst Magician in the stomach and destroyed him. Now Sunburst's field was empty and Leo had one attack remaining. "FINISH THIS!" The lion knight rushed forwards, but Sunburst wasn't giving up.
"Trap summon!" His face down flipped up before a large red bulky wyvern appeared. On the end of its tail was a large round shield like pummel. "Sunburst Dragonoid!" (A500/D2000/L4) The dragon raised its tail to block the fist, but wasn't able to hold itself together and was destroyed.
Luna: Talk about a lucky. Sunburst was able to save himself from the attack, though he was unable to save his monsters.
"Dragonoid's skill. When he's destroyed, look at the top three cards of the deck and select one Spell or Trap to place face down on the field." He did so, selecting a card to place face down before putting the rest into his deck.
Starlight seemed surprise by this, but smiled all the same. "Lucky break. I end my turn." Sunburst looked up at Leo, expecting its power to go down but saw it remained at forty seven hundred.
"Not good," he said. "I'm gonna need something big to pull this Duel around." He felt himself panic, but shook his head. 'No, relax. You can do this. Remember what Flash taught you.' He had to believe in his deck and it'll come through for him.
Up in the VIP box, Spike watched the Duel unfold before turning to the screen showing Flash's match. Both were facing members of team Dominator, who had managed to knock out several of their friends. If they weren't careful, they'd be added to that list.
And seconds later, that match ended in his teammate's victory. "HE DID IT!" Spike yelled in joy, while the rest of the VIP box cheered for him.
With his victory over Heath, Flash was now rushing towards the field holding Sunburst has he saw both Starlight and Tempest were there.
He had a lot of questions for Tempest and helping cheer Sunburst on was a plus. But he had to hurry if he wanted to get there before the Duel ended. "Hang on Sunburst."
Sunburst looked down at his deck, knowing he only had one chance to pull off a turn around. It all came down to one card.
"Why bother," he turned to look at Starlight. "You know that no matter what you draw, you won't be able to beat me. Just like when we were kids." Sunburst frowned at this. "I was always the better Duellist, but you were always in the limelight because you knew about more cards then me. But everyone eventually realised their mistake. You were made into our homes golden boy and you eventually let them all down. But I wasn't given a single word of encouragement and look at me, I'm on the strongest team in this whole tournament and am set to win this whole thing. So why bother." She pointed at his Duel Disk. "Surrender."
Sunburst closed his eyes as he let her world sink in and he raised his hand above his deck, looking like he was about to do what she suggested. But before he touched the deck, his hand shifted so only two fingers touched it. "No," he opened his eyes and Starlight saw a fire of determination blazing within them. "I won't let it end like that." The images of his teammates flashed before his eyes. Everything they'd been through. Everything they'd worked so hard to accomplish. He couldn't let all that go to waste. "I told you," he drew his card. "I've changed since I was a kid!"
Starlight sighed with a roll of her eyes.
Sunburst looked at the card he'd drawn and smiled, as the portal opened above him. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!" The portal opened and a single fireball flew out, hitting the ground and exploding to reveal his monster. "Red Sun Magician!" (A1600/D1400/L4/P2) "Then, I activate my face down!" His card flipped up to reveal a Trap, "Ritual Spirit! Now I can revive a Ritual Monster in my graveyard, but it's ATK and DEF fall to zero and its Level becomes one."
Starlight frowned at his struggle, "that won't save you."
However, Sunburst just smiled. "Say that after you see this card. Rebirth Ritual!" A pillar of fire erupted out of the ground and engulfed Sunburst Magician, hiding him from view as the transformation began. "With this, Sunburst Magician can evolve to the next stage of his existence!" The pillar grew in size, until it eventually exploded and unleashed a powerful light. "RITUAL EVOLUTION!"
The light began to fade, reveal Sunburst's monster. "Sunburst...ARCHMAGE!" (A3000/D2500/L8)
Celestia: An excellent comeback. Will this allow him to finally take the lead in this Duel.
'The truth is, I'm not the same man I used to be. Because now-' the image of his teammates flashed before his eyes. "I'm part of a team with my friends." Starlight looked surprised by this. "With Rebirth Ritual's effect, Archmage gains one thousand ATK points." (A4000/D2500/L8) "Then I'll activate the skill of Archmage!" The evolved Ritual monster pointed his staff at Red Sun before the wizard exploded into fire, which wrapped around the head of the staff. "By tributing a Fire monster, I can burn away your monsters ATK and DEF points."
Starlight's eyes went wide at this. She watched as Archmage tossed the fire at her monster, who quickly found himself trapped in a cage of flames. Leo flinched at the intense heat of the flames, his ATK and DEF lowering by Red Sun Magician's. (A3100/D2200/L7)
"What's more, whenever a Fire monster is sent from the field to the graveyard, Archmage gains half its ATK points!"(A4800/D2500/L8) Sunburst turned to look at his monster and smile. Seconds later, the ghostly images of his monsters appeared around him. 'Look at you all. You've been waiting so patiently for me, all this time.' The images faded and both Sunburst and Archmage turned to Starlight. "I will not let you down." He pointed at Leo, "I am going to win and grasp my future! Sunburst Archmage, ATTACK!" The wizard raised its staff and began to build up power, which it was planning to fire at Leo.
Luna: If this attack lands, Sunburst wins
Starlight frowned at this, as if he would beat her, and began to run off with Leo in search of an action card. Sunburst and Archmage ran after her, ready to put an end to this.
Starlight and her monster ran around a corner and spotted a chinese gate with a star on it. And in that star was an Action Card
A moment later, Archmage launch a stream of fire towards Leo.
As it drew closer, Starlight reached the gate as Leo cupped his hands together. She jumped into his hands before he thrust them upwards, propelling her towards the card.
Time seemed to slow down as Starlight and the fire blast drew closer to their targets. As they got within inches of each other, time sped back up.
KABOOM!
The fire struck Leo and knocked Starlight back, causing her to hit the ground before she was covered by the smoke.
Everyone was on the edge of their seat as they waited to see whether or not Sunburst had beaten Starlight. And so, as the smoke cleared, their eyes were glued to the screen. And finally, the smoke vanished and revealed Starlight...standing limply with a smile on her face.
Starlight: 850
Sunburst: 1000
"What?" Sunburst asked, "how?"
"I got the Action Spell Star Guard. It might not have saved my monster, but it cut the damage I took in half." Sunburst frowned at this.
Celestia: A lucky Action Card saves Starlight.
Luna: But with that attack, Sunburst finally takes the lead. And with Starlight's best monster in the graveyard, will she be able to pull off a comeback.
"I end my turn," Sunburst smiled as Archmage's ATK returned to normal. (A3000/D2500/L8). He might not have been able to beat her, but all her monsters were now in the graveyard. And it was unlikely she'd get another Sextans or Wish Upon a Star card. He just had to make it passed this turn and he'd win.
He watched as Starlight picked herself up, getting shakily to her feet before looking up at him. "How pathetic." Sunburst's eyes went wide hearing this, as she reached for her deck. "Friends...future." She drew her card and smiled, "you're fooling yourself. You have no power of your own. NONE!"
Sunburst frowned. "Don't try and sound tough. All your best monsters are in the graveyard and you can't bring them back." But as he said that, he noticed Starlight smiling she held up the card she'd drawn.
"And did you ever think that maybe there was a reason I sent so many of them to the graveyard. True, it helped Leo power up but there's another reason."
"What reason?" Sunburst asked. But in that moment, several bright lights caught his attention and made him look up to see the twelve constellations floating above them. "What the?"
Starlight raised her card high, as the constellations exploded before the light flew into the card. "By banishing twelve different Celestial Spirit monsters from my graveyard, I can summon the ultimate Celestial Spirit!" The card fired a single beam of light into the sky, the light splitting into nine sphere before flying into formation and creating a new constellation. "Beast of the cosmos, with fury greater then a supernova, descend from the heavens and bath this world in your mighty light!"
Sunburst watched as each of the stars exploded, unleashing a light that flowed into one entity. Then when the light faded, Sunburst got a look at the new monster as it slithered downwards towards him. It was a Chinese dragon that was roughly eighteen meters in length. Its body was light blue and all along it were the twelve constellations of Starlight's other monsters. Its had a pair of long sharp horns coming out the back of its head, with a long mane of hair flowing between them. Finally, it was carrying a large blue orb in its hands that was almost as big as it was. "Behold, the ultimate Celestial Spirit. Draco...STARLIGHT!" (A4000/D4000/L12)
Sunburst looked up at the beast as it let out a mighty roar, which sent a blast of powerful air that almost knocked Sunburst off his feet. He managed to stay upright and began running away from them, needing to find an Action Spell that could stop his monster from being destroyed.
Starlight meanwhile, had leapt onto her dragon's head as it flew up into the air and watched the two try to escape. "Don't bother, you have no chance. You're a weak, incompetent being. Just like the rest of your lousy species." Sunburst heard this and wondered what she was talking about, but he had bigger issues right now. "Draco Starlight, attack Sunburst Archmage!" The dragon opened its mouth as a bright light began to glow and increase in intensity.
It was in that moment that Sunburst saw an Action Card in a tree and rushed towards it, leaping up and grabbing it just in time. "I activate the Action Spell Starlight To Bright! This card lets me halve the ATK points of one monster on the field." He pointed at the dragon, "and I choose your Draco Starlight."
A bright flash filled the field, blinding both Sunburst, Starlight and their monsters. 'This is it. With its ATK points halved, that dragon will destroy itself and the damage Starlight takes will mean I win.' But as the light faded and Sunburst could look up, his eyes went wide when he saw the monster looked completely fine. He then looked down at his Duel Disk's screen and saw her monster's point readout. (A4000/D4000/L12) "What...why?"
"Oh," he looked up at Starlight, "to bad. You didn't know about Draco Starlight's ability. During my turn, it's immune to all my opponent's Monster, Spell and Trap effects. That includes Action Cards."
Sunburst began to shake, unable to believe her monster could so easy protect itself from his card. As he could now do was watched as the beast took a deep breath before letting out another mighty roar, which launched the light out like a laser. The light hit the ground, ripping through the dirt, before it directed the blast in Archmage's direction
"Gah!" Sunburst cried as his monster was hit by the light, almost being blinded in the process, and was vaporised into space dust. Luckily, Sunburst still had Spirit Barrier so he was fine.
"It's over," he heard Starlight tell him. "When Draco Starlight destroys a monster, he deals you one hundred points of damage for every Celestial Spirit in my graveyard." Sunburst's eyes went wide hearing this, as the dragon pointed the orb it carried towards him. The sphere began to glow. "I never want to see you before me again." The orb fired a bright light that flew towards Sunburst, the teen gasping as the illumination consumed him.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!"
Starlight: 850 (Winner)
Sunburst: 0
Flash was running through the Star Field, just as a bright light illuminated the area and forced him to stop and shield his eyes. "What the?" A beeping noise made him look down and activate his Raduel screen. There he saw the outcome of his teammate's Duel and frowned when he saw the word loser under Sunburst's picture. "No." He started running again.
When he finally arrived at the spot, he gasped when he saw Sunburst laying on the ground with smoke coming off him. "Sunburst!" He rushed over to him and knelt besides him, seeing he was a little banged up but otherwise completely fine. "You okay?"
Sunburst moaned as he tried to sit up, Flash helping him do so. "I...I think so."
Before they could say anything else, they both heard footsteps and looked up to see Starlight stepping up to them. "How disappointing," she said. "I was expecting you to put up more of a fight. To think Starlight had such a weak friend."
"Friend?" Flash asked before watching as Starlight turned to walk away.
"I don't know why you started Duelling again. From the looks of things, you haven't gotten any better." Flash frowned at this, especially after looking down and seeing Sunburst begin to cry. He looked back at Starlight and saw her heading off, quickly getting up and running after her.
"HEY!" Starlight stopped and turned towards him, but before he could reach her someone else stepped out of hiding and got between them. Flash had to stop as he who was standing infront of him, "Tempest?"
Starlight raised an eyebrow at her leader's appearance, her confusion increasing as she saw the girl raise her Raduel arm and point it at Flash. She'd just challenged him to a Duel.
The remaining member of team V-Fighter went wide-eyed, unable to believe what had just happened.
Flash thought back to their last Duel and how utterly defeated he'd been. Did he dare try to face her now? But then again, this was what Flash had entered the Double X for in the first place. To Duel Tempest Shadow. "Let's do this."