//------------------------------//
// Episode 38: Loss or Gain 
// Story: Yu-Gi-Oh E-QUEST 
// by DakariKingMykan 
//------------------------------//


EPISODE THIRTY-EIGHT



The referee announced that the next duel would take place in ten minutes.

“Rainbow Dash will duel against Terra Markov. Prepare your decks and be ready in the ring.”

Rainbow was going through her deck card-by-card to make sure it was all set. She seemed a little disturbed though.

She was still horribly upset that Pinkie had lost to that brat, Karle, but the girl had already gone down below and into her room.

Now that Karle would be in the semi-finals, it really put a damper on things, especially the thought of Masquerade going as well, if he won, and knowing him it was very possible.


Then there was also the fact that she was about to duel Terra, and she thought very deeply about it.

“I’ve dueled against friends before, but never when the stakes were high. Of course, I know we’re all fighting for the same reasons, but it doesn’t make it any easier.”
 

“… Hey Rainbow!” called Applejack, snapping her out of her trance.

“You better get on up there or you’ll be disqualified.”

Rainbow looked up at the duel platform, and saw that Terra was already up there waiting for her.

Rainbow nodded and pulled herself together, but then she looked back at Pinkie.

“…I’m okay.” she assured her “Now go up there and have fun!”

Fluttershy nodded, “Remember, at least you or Terra will get to go to the next round, and that helps us. So, it’s not… too much if you lose.”

“Oh, thanks… real encouraging.” grumbled Rainbow.

She then noticed Sunset was deeply lost in her own trance. “…Sunset?”

She didn’t response, as she was still worried about the Prince Brothers and their big threat.

“…Sunset?!” Rainbow snapped making her jump and Rarity gave a small leap of fright, wrecking her powder work.

“Really, Rainbow Dash; look what you’ve made me do!”

“Well, sorry!” growled Rainbow. “I was just trying to tell Sunset that I’m going up and to wish me luck.”

“Good luck, Rainbow.” said Sunset, but she still sounded a bit distant and nervous.

“Are you feeling alright?” asked Celestia.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Nothing’s wrong.”

Celestia was not convinced, and a principal she could tell when students had something to hide.

Before she could ask again, the referee called for the duelists to take their positions, and Rainbow went off onto the platform.

At the same time, Twilight came up on the elevator and rejoined her friend.

“Where’d you run off to?” asked Applejack.

“Oh, I just stopped off in the bathroom.” she gave a small sniffle, the kind that Fluttershy would know all too well, especially the slight redness of her eyes.

“Twilight, were you crying?” she asked.

Twilight couldn’t hide that, “…A little.”

“Aw, we’re upset that I lost?” asked Pinkie.

“Huh? Oh, yeah… I was. You didn’t deserve to lose. Not like that.”

Pinkie felt touched, and gave her a soft hug. “It’s okay. I still had fun, and besides, all isn’t lost yet.”

Twilight still didn’t feel any better… for completely different reasons!

Celestia couldn’t help but catch a small glimpse of the third finger on Twilight’s left hand, and the strange tan-line where a ring would be, which she also noted wasn’t there five minutes ago when she left for the bathroom.

Twilight then sat down and her hand went out of view.


“Attention! Attention!” called the referee “The second duel of the quarter finals is about to begin!

To my right: Rainbow Dash!

To my left: Terra Markov!”

The two ladies stood at their posts, both of them looking a bit nervous and yet there was a sense of determination sparking between them.


Onboard the Titans’ camper, everyone was completely silent as they casually eyed one another, back-to-back, and then back again.

The Titans were hoping Terra would win, but at the same time they would feel awkward cheering against Rainbow. The school councillors also felt the same way, and couldn’t bring themselves to break the ice to say something, fearing of insulting their friends.

Finally, Robin, unable to take any of this, threw his hands up high and cheered “Go both!”

This sparked great inspiration for the others.

“Yeah, fight a good duel!” added Vic.

“Who cares who wins or who loses?” said Shining Armor “We’re all friends; we’re fighting for the same reasons.”

“Agreed…” said Kori.

Luna and Cadance nodded in agreement as well.


In his suite, Masquerade watched the happenings on his TV screen, and his hand was trembling softly with anger as he glared at the two duelists, but more so at Terra.

Looking at her seemed to bring a deep-seated amount of resentment-- so bad, that he crushed the soda can he was holding flat!

He then caught hold of himself and began to breathe softly but deeply. He even felt he was getting hot under his mask, and lifted it up slightly to let some more air in, but still kept it on firmly.

He then looked back up at the screen as the duelists were preparing to faceoff.

Her cast his gaze at Rainbow, and despite the history and resentment he had towards her and her other friends, and he couldn’t believe what he was about to murmur…

“…I hope she wins this.”


Terra put her first cards into her hand.

“Hey, Terra…!” Rainbow called to her.

Terra quickly gave her a sharp glare, “Look, Rainbow, I know this is pretty deep, since we’re friends and all, but don’t you be holding back on me.”

Rainbow blinked once.

“We should duel with everything we’ve got. After all, those who are going to next round won’t be any pushovers, and we can’t show how weak we are.”

Rainbow thought deeply, and of course she realized, “…You’re right, girl! So what do you say we quick yappin’ and start slappin’… cards that is?”

Terra nodded with pride.

“Begin the match!” called the referee!


“… LET’S DUEL!!”



Rainbow LP: 8000


 


Terra LP: 8000



As the duel disks glowed on with their power, Terra suddenly gawked at her duel screen with a little concern.

“That’s weird.” she thought, “According to my Deck Count, I’m down one card. 
 
Could the disk be malfunctioning?”
 
 
Rainbow looked down at her own hand. “Oh, snap!” she thought “I’m not off to a good start. I can’t summon much with all this in my hand.”
 
She then gawked over at Terra, “And if I know her, she’s sure to spring that trump card of hers on me-- “Change of Heart”-- and that’ll cream me if she plays just right.
 
I’ll have to play as safe as I can.”
 
She was snapped out of her trance when Rainbow made her first move.

“Here we go! I summon RAIDRAPTOR- NAPALM DRAGONIUS, in defense mode!”
 

(Def: 1000)


“I activate its special ability, which lets me deal you 600 points of damage!”

“Ah!” cried Terra, and she got hit by strong gusts of wind!


Terra LP: 8000 -----> 7400


 


 

“You damaged me already?!”


Rainbow nodded. “Now I’ll place one card facedown, and call it a turn.”


Everyone on the sidelines found this to be most peculiar for Rainbow.

“Defense, and then a facedown?” asked Pinkie “That’s usually not Rainbow’s style.”

“Darn tootin’.” agreed Applejack “Usually she goes all out to summon her big boys.”

Sunset looked up at Rainbow, and felt that she had to be up to something sneaky.


“It’s my turn now!” said Terra “I draw…!”

She then looked down at her six cards and thought, “I don’t know what Rainbow’s up to, but with all this in my hand I should be able to beat her anyway, and all I need is my trump-card.”
 
“Okay, Rainbow, get set. I activate SPELL SANCTUARY!”
 
Rainbow gazed at the image of the card played, and from it burst a streak of light that bathed the entire field, and then it all faded.

“What gives?” she asked.

Terra smirked, “This is a very rare and special spell card. When it gets played we each get to add one spell card from our deck to our hands, and then, as long as the Sanctuary is in play we can activate set spell cards even on our opponents turn… like traps.”

Rainbow was now astounded, “That’s some spell!”

Terra agreed, and then both she and Rainbow searched through their decks. 


Rainbow found the card she wanted right away. “Check it out; I got “Reload!”

Terra flipped through her card selection, all the way to the end.

Then she looked worried as she scrolled back to the front, and then back to the end again. “Where’s my “Change of Heart” card?!” she panicked in thought, and she kept scrolling and scrolling, but it was no good.

She felt as if she was slipping through a black hole of emptiness as the sickening feelings crushed her! “…I’ve lost Change of Heart?!”
 
She began to look quivery, and numb, and everyone could see it.


“What’s with her?” wondered Pinkie.

“She looks like she’s about to faint.” said Celestia.


The other Titans, watching from the camper, saw this too, and they felt worried for her…


…while Terra just stood where she was, perplexed and cold inside as sad memories began to flash by… when Beast Boy taught her about Duel Monsters and gave her the card.

“This card can reflect what’s in your heart.” he told her “If you feel lost, and you’re not sure of something, look in your heart, and you may find a chance to change your life!”
 
 
She almost looked near tears by now, and seemed totally lost!

“Terra…?” Rainbow called to her. “What’s the matter?”


Everyone began to chatter in confusion and concern, but the referee called to Terra, “You must continue your move or you will be disqualified.”

Terra couldn’t believe or understand this at all, and now she was totally unsure of everything.

“I was counting on that card to win it all for me!” she cried in thought “How could I have lost it?!”
 
“Ms. Markov!” called the referee “You have ten seconds, or you’re out!”


 
Seeing no other choice, she had to go for something else.

“Alright… I choose “Brilliant Fusion!”

Rainbow was confused and thought, “Why did she pick that and not “Change of Heart” card?”

She theorized maybe Terra already had it in her hand and was really plotting something big for later.

Still, she did note how suddenly tensed Terra seemed to be.

“Are you feeling alright?”

“… I’m fine.” she answered “Moving on, I activate the spell I just got! Go BRILLIANT FUSION! It allows me to Fusion Summon a “Gem-Knight” Fusion Monster by fusing together monsters from my deck!”

Rainbow’s eyes narrow and let out a soft growl.

“Now…” shouted Terra “I send GEM-KNIGHT LAPIS, TOURMALINE, and LAZULI to the graveyard!”

The images of the three monsters appeared and the immediately began to merge together.

“…I Fusion Summon GEM-KNIGHT LADY BRILLIANT DIAMOND!”
 

(Atk: 3400) -----> (Atk: 0)


 


 

“Her attack is zero because of Brilliant Fusion’s side-effect, but that doesn’t bother me, especially since I used Lazuli to summon her.

When it’s sent to my graveyard by a card effect, I get to add a Normal “Gem-Knight” from the grave to my hand, so I get back my Lapis!

Now I summon Lapis right to the field!”


 


(Atk: 1200)


 


“…And now I can use Lady Brilliant Diamond’s special ability, which lets me sacrifice Lapis so I can summon a “Gem-Knight” Fusion monster instantly without a single summoning requirement!”

Her Extra Deck glowed brightly and shot a beam of light onto her field as her monster appeared.

“…I summon GEM-KNIGHT MASTER DIAMOND!”
 

(Atk: 2900)


 


“Check it out!” cried Pinkie “Terra’s dueling just like Karle did-- Fusion Summoning like crazy!”

Rarity could only gawk at the beautiful monsters standing on the field and glimmering like the jewels they represented.


Terra smirked, “My Master Diamond’s power increases by 100 points for every “Gem-Knight” in the graveyard, and I count three!”


 (Atk: 2900) -----> (Atk: 3200)


 


 

“And I’m still not finished. Now I play the spell GEM-KNIGHT FUSION! Now I get to fuse GEM-KNIGHT AMBER and Lady Brilliant Diamond
 
The Two monsters appeared and vanished instantly-- merging together in the air.

“…Now I Fusion Summon GEM-KNIGHT PRISMURA!”
 

(Atk: 2450)


Rainbow gawked up at the three monsters glaring her down!

“You’re not going to break me that easily.” she warned “I play the trap RAIDRAPTOR – READINESS! So for the rest of this turn, my Raidraptor can’t be destroyed in battle!”

Terra snickered, “Who says I need to battle your monster to beat it?”

Rainbow blinked once.

“I use Prismura’s special ability, which lets me discard GEM-KNIGHT OBSIDIAN, and then I can instantly wipe out your overgrown turkey there!”

Rainbow growled as thunder and lightning shook from Terra’s monster, vaporizing her bird like that!

“And what’s more…” called Terra “When Obsidian is ditched from my hand, I get to summon one Level 4 or lower Normal from my graveyard, and since Amber is treated like a Normal monster, I’ll play her!”



(Def: 1400)


 

Rainbow was most impressed by Terra’s moves. “Gotta say, that’s pretty slick, but don’t count me out for a second, because now I can use the other ability of Raidraptor - Readiness.

…By banishing it from the graveyard while I have a “Raidraptor” chilling there, I don’t take any damage for the rest of this turn!”


 

Terra growled angrily!


On the Titans’ camper, Shining Armor was most surprised. “Terra would know Rainbow’s trap would do that, so why did she let her?”

“Maybe that was the whole idea?” suggested Robin “Maybe Terra figured Rainbow had that Readiness card, and got her to use it up.”

The others all felt it was possible.
 

Indeed, Terra thought silently, “I figured that’s what she played her monster in defense-mode, and now I got her to use up her card.
 
Oh, but still! If I only had “Change of Heart,” I could’ve taken her bird, and then she couldn’t use her trap, and I’d be able to wipe her out right here and now!”

She felt a little sick to her stomach again for having her entire strategy ruined, as well as missing her best card.
 

Nevertheless, she still had to keep dueling, with the fate of Jump City on the line and all.

“I’ll place two cards face down, and end my turn.”


Her hand was empty.

“It’s my draw…!” shouted Rainbow, and as she drew her fifth card, she couldn’t help but think. “All this trouble and she didn’t use “Change of Heart?”
 
Still she considered herself lucky, especially with all the monsters she was facing down, but at least now she felt she had a chance to fight back.


“Here goes. I play the card I got last turn; RELOAD! So now I send all four of my cards into my deck, shuffle and draw four new cards.”

She tucked her cards away and her deck automatically shuffled in the disk. Then she drew her four new cards, and smiled at them.

“That’s more like it!”

Terra didn’t like that sound of that!


“I play MONSTER REBORN! So now Napalm Dragonius returns to the field!”


(Atk: 1300)

 
“And now from my hand I activate INFERNO RECKLESS SUMMON! Which lets me summon every copy of the monster I just summoned right from my deck, so two more Napalms now rise!”


(Atk: 1000) x2


 

Her three birds fluttered up side-by-side.

“You forget…” called Terra “That spell lets me summon monsters too. So I get to summon two more Ambers to my field!”


(Def: 1400) x2


 


Terra’s field was brimming full with five monsters now!


“Talk about a Gem of a Lineup!” said Applejack.

Sunset narrowed her eyes at Rainbow, “…I see what she’s up to.”



“You may have five monsters,” called Rainbow “But remember, my birds here can use their special abilities and blast away 600 of your life points each!”

Terra cringed “That’s 1800 points of damage!” and she once again got blasted by the strong gales released from the monsters.



Terra LP: 7400 -----> 5600



“Huh!” Rainbow grunted “I now overlay all three of my Napalms to build the Overlay Network!”

Her monsters all vanished through the forming portal, and a bug burst of light shone through from the center.

“I Xyz Summon RAIDRAPTOR – RISE FALCON!”
 
Her monster appeared, and spread out its wings cawing madly!


(Atk: 100)


 


“I activate Rise Falcon’s special ability: By using one Overlay Unit, I target one special summoned monster you have and Rise Falcon’s attack increases by the amount of that monster’s attack points!”

Terra didn’t have to guess which card she would choose; her Master Diamond was her strongest monster, especially since she had five Gem-Knights in the graveyard, which boosted his attack to 3400, which meant Rainbow’s monster’s attack rose to 3500!

“And remember,” Rainbow called “Rise Falcon can attack all the monsters you special summoned, so I’m about to wipe them all out!”

Terra cringed, and Rainbow shouted out “Rise Falcon, destroy Master Diamond!”

Her monster charged forth, and struck Terra’s monster hard, destroying in a huge explosion!


(Atk: 3500) VS (Atk: 3400)


 



Terra LP: 5600 -----> 5500


 


Terra looked up from the waves, “You just set off my trap; BRILLIANT SPARK!”
 
“Huh?” cried Rainbow.

“Thanks to this trap, since you destroyed my Gem-Knight, you take damage equal to his original attack points, and that’s 2900!”

“Ah!” cried Rainbow, and the trap blasted her with a huge ray of light that forced her backward a few inches.



Rainbow LP: 8000 -----> 5100



Rainbow looked up, not amused!


“Wow! What a shot!” cried Pinkie.

“A clever move too.” agreed Twilight “Terra willingly let Rainbow destroy her monster, so she could spring her trap and make Rainbow take much more damage.”

Rainbow stepped forward, “Not bad, but now I’m going to blow the rest of your monsters to ash! Go Rise Falcon!”

Her monster prepared to charge!

“Oh, no you don’t!” snapped Terra “Thanks to my Spell Sanctuary, I now activate the spell EARTHQUAKE!”
 
The field began to rumble and shake, and everyone felt it, holding tightly to their seats so as not to fall off.


Raven even felt the rumbling from her room, which disturbed her meditation! “What’s going on up there?!” she called, even though no one would answer her.


The quake then ceased, and Rainbow looked up. “What have you done?”

Terra smirked, “The power of the Earthquake card forces all the monsters on the field to switch to defense-mode.”



(Def: 2000)


 


 


(Def: 1400)



“…And that brings your attack to an end!”

Now it was Rainbow who was smirking, “…Don’t think so!”

“What?”

“From my hand I play RANK-UP-MAGIC REVOLUTION FORCE! Which lets me rebuild the overlay network with Rise Falcon, and lets me summon a “Raidraptor” that’s one rank higher!

…GO, RANK-UP XYZ EVOLOUTION!”

The portal appeared and her monster glowed brightly as it was enveloped by the lights, and it began to transform into the new monster.

“…I Xyz Summon RAIDRAPTOR – BLAZE FALCON!”



(Atk: 1000)


Terra gawked up in horror at the new monster, and how it spread its blazing wings and cawed at her!

“Sorry to do this to you,” said Rainbow “… But it’s payback time for that hit you gave me, especially since my monster can attack you directly!”

Terra cringed, and Rainbow ordered her falcon to go for it, and it swooped in and dove straight at Terra hard!


Terra LP: 5500 -----> 4500



“And now I activate Blaze Falcon’s ability!” shouted Rainbow “By using an Overlay Unit, I can destroy every special summoned monster you have, and then for each one that bites the dust, you take a big 500 points of damage!”

“Ah!” cried Terra, and she could only watch as the falcon flapped its huge wings unleashing a burning wave of gales that blasted all four of her monsters to bits, and she took 2000 points of damage.


Terra LP: 4500 -----> 2500



“Whoa!” cried Vic as he watched everything “Terra just took a major slamming!”

“She’s down to 2500 life points, and she has no monsters to protect her next turn.” cried Cadance.

The others all felt hot and sweaty for both Terra and Rainbow.

“Is it getting hot in here?” asked Luna.

“I think it’s just the excitement.” said Shining Armor





Terra looked up from the waves, and while she was upset, she felt astonished as well.

Rainbow then ended her turn placing her last card face down, so now both duelists had empty hands, and looking just as mixed with upset yet astonishment.


“Look at them up there.” said Fluttershy “I can feel it-- like they’re both really trying to push one another to their limits.”

Rarity felt her hands quaking softly, “Oh, my! I can feel it as well. They both know that if any for them wins it won’t really put things in danger in our quests… but it still feels like it will.”

Sunset agreed, “It feels as if no matter which of them wins, the other will lose everything, and that’s what they’re using to keep motivated, to keep on dueling at their best.”


The Prince Brothers noted this too, and they also could feel the tense feelings between the two girls in the duel ring.

“Two friends now on opposing side.” said Rubeus “It’s practically a perfect test of their initiative, as well as their friendship.”

Loki agreed, but suddenly he began to feel something stirring up in the air. “Brother, can you feel that?”

Rubeus gawked at the feel, “What is this?”


Terra’s scowl faded into a cool smirk. “I have to admit, Rainbow; that was a cool move you pulled off there.”

Rainbow smiled, “Not so bad yourself, but if you think I’m going to start going easy on you, you’re so wrong.”

Terra tensed up, “I was thinking the same thing!”

Suddenly, the two ladies were surrounded in magical glowing aura.


“Oh, no, Rainbow!” cried Pinkie, but it was too late.

“She’s gone berserk!” added Sunset.


Onboard the camper…

“What’s with Rainbow?” asked Robin.


“It’s a little twist she has.” explained Luna, and she explained how Rainbow Dash, being fond of games, especially winning, that whenever she got into the game-- really, really into it-- she seemed to go into this deep state of pure determination, which can also sometimes go a tad overboard and affect her way of playing.

“…The glow is merely her inner Equestrian magic flaring off.” she looked on the screen at Terra, “Obviously she, too, has some sort of similar emotions?”

Kori nodded, “Terra doesn’t like to lose, fail, or even let others control her. She’s come a long way and learned to be more assertive when things get tough.

The glow you see is from her power within, but it’s a good thing the ship is made of metal, or she’d be causing an earthquake about now.”

“I’m just glad it isn’t Raven who’s dueling.” said Vic “If she let loose… ah, man!”

Cadance and Shining Armor blinked with wide eyes.


Regardless, the girls were both pumped up, and both looking ready to duel as hard as they possibly could!


Rainbow and Terra glared each other down, and their expressions made it hard to tell if they were really angry at each other or just so incredibly psyched to duel on.

Rarity wiped her brow with a hankie as she and the others watched with anxiety.


“It’s my move.” said Terra “I draw…!

And I play POT OF AVARICE. So now, five monsters in the graveyard get shuffled back into my deck, and then I draw two cards.”

She did just so, and she liked what she had drawn!

“Okay!!” she shouted, making her yellow aura flare up brightly, much to everyone’s worrisome. “Now I summon the elusive, but elegant, CRYSTAL ROSE!”


In a shower of sparkles bursting up from the field, a beautiful and shiny flower bloomed.



(Atk: 500)



“Aaahhh!” cried Rarity “My goodness! I’ve never seen such a thing in all of the game. Why I could see myself from every angle in it.”

Everyone else ignored her boasting and grandstanding, but they, too, were astounded by the rose…

…Except Rainbow.

“What good can such a weak thing like that do?” she asked.

“I’ll show you.” sneered Terra “I activate Crystal Rose’s special ability, which allows me to send Gem-Knight Lazuli from my deck to the graveyard, then by doing so… my Rose’s takes on the name of that monster!

“Say what?!” snapped Rainbow, and she could see the flower blowing brightly as an image of Terra’s monster appeared right above it.

“And not only that,” said Terra “Since Lazuli went to the graveyard, I get to add Lapis from the graveyard to my hand!

And now, do you remember the special power of my “Gem-Knight Fusion” spell?”

Rainbow’s eyes widened. “Uh-oh…!”

“Uh-oh” is right, for you, because I can banish Lady Brilliant Diamond from the graveyard, and add the spell right to my hand, just in time for me to use it!”

Rainbow growled softly!

Terra let out a loud roar, which made her aura flow strongly, “Go Gem-Knight Fusion, merge Crystal Rose with Lapis in my hand!

…I Fusion summon GEM-KNIGHT LADY LAPIS LAZULI!”


(Atk: 2400)


Her monster stood tall and beautifully.

Rarity gawked up in awe, and before she could cry out and boats anymore, Applejack covered her mouth. “We get it… you like the way she looks!”


Terra stood firmly, “Now I activate her special ability, which lets me send another Lazuli from my deck to the graveyard!”

“Not again!” groaned Rainbow!

“Oh, yes, and that means I get to add Lapis to my hand, but that’s the least of your worries, because now my Lady Lapis Lazuli will blast you 500 points of damage for both of our monsters in play!”

Rainbow gasped and braced herself as the monster unleashed a wave of dark wind at her!



Rainbow LP: 5100 -----> 4100



“Why you--!” she growled.


“Uh, uh, uhn-- I’m not done yet. Now I’m going to activate another effect of my Crystal Rose!

Once per turn, all I have to do is banish a Gem-Knight Fusion Monster from the graveyard, and I can summon my Rose back to the field.”

“Ah, come on!!” groaned Rainbow, but Terra banished her Master Diamond and re-summoned the rose as promised.

“And now, I get to use my Rose’s ability again, by sending GEM-KNIGHT TOURMALINE from the deck to the grave, it takes on that monster’s name!

Now, I’ll banish Tourmaline so I can get back Gem-Knight Fusion again, and I’ll use to fuse my Rose with Obsidian in my hand!

…I Fusion Summon GEM-KNIGHT TOPAZ!”



(Atk: 1800)



The two fusion monsters stood next to each other.

“And now…” Terra called “Thanks to my using Obsidian for the fusion, I can special summon Gem-Knight Amber from the graveyard!”


(Atk: 1600)



Rainbow couldn’t believe this as she stared down the three monsters glaring at her. She thought “She just went from having totally nothing to having a full force on her field.” and she could feel her own force within her intensifying. “I can’t lose this duel! I won’t lose! I can’t let down my friends!”

All this made her aura flare up, and her eyes began to blaze, and Terra looked the same way astounding everyone.


Even Masquerade was slightly impressed as he stared at the screen.

“What is with these two?” he wondered “And why am I even caring about them? It doesn’t matter which of them wins. I’ll crush anyone who gets in my way!”


Terra clenched her fists tightly while thinking, “I’m not going to lose this duel! I need to win for the sake of Jump City, whether I’m missing “Change of Heart” or not!”
 
She let out a loud growl as her aura flared up, “It’s go time! Gem-Knight Topaz, prepare for attack!”

Her monster looked ready to rush!

“And by the way… if he successfully destroys your monster, then you’ll take damage equal to your monster’s total attack points!”

“Ah!” Rainbow’s eyes bulged, and Terra ordered the attack!


“If Rainbow’s monster gets destroyed, she’ll be left wide open!” cried Fluttershy.

Twilight agreed, “And Terra still has two monster monsters to attack with! She’ll lose the duel!”


“I won’t let you!” shouted Rainbow “Thanks to Spell Sanctuary I play my face down, POT OF GREED! So now I can draw two cards!”


Everyone watching from the sides was confused.

“What good can drawing cards do her?” asked Fluttershy.

Sunset then realized, “Unless…!”


“Come Deck, work with me!” Rainbow said, and she let out a fiery roar as she pulled out her cards, making her aura flame brightly.

“Ha!” she called “I drew RAIDRAPTOR – BOOSTER STRIX! Now I banish it from my hand, and your monster hits the dirt!”

“No!” cried Terra, but indeed, her monster exploded, consumed by the spirit of Rainbow’s monster.

Terra growled, “Lucky shot, but I still have other monsters! Go Lady, attack!”

Her second monster rushed forth, and Rainbow was unable to block the attack this time!


(Atk: 2400) VS (Atk: 1000)


Her monster was reduced to nothing!



Rainbow LP: 4100 -----> 2700


Rainbow looked up!

 

“And now, Amber, attack her life points directly!” shouted Terra, and he last monster leapt up high and unleashed a bombardment of light shards to rain down on Rainbow.


Rainbow LP: 2700 -----> 1100


“I can’t take this!” shouted Rainbow.


Her friends all looked up and felt bad for her, but impressed with both her and Terra’s dueling at the same time.


Terra was more impressed herself as she thought, “I can’t believe it. I’m actually winning, and I never had to play my Change of Heart card even once.
 
Plus, with what I’ve got planned for now, there’s no way Rainbow can pull this one off.”

She continued with her turn.


“First I activate Gem-Knight Fusion’s ability again. I banish Obsidian to add it to my hand, and then discard it so I can add Brilliant Spark back to my hand!”

“Ah! Oh, no!” cried Rainbow; she gawked at the card as Terra held it while grinning sinisterly at her.

“And now, I’ll get back Gem-Knight Fusion by banishing Lapis.”

Rainbow was beginning to sweat.

“Now, I’ll both cards facedown, and end my turn!”


Rainbow clenched her fists hard, knowing what at least two of those cards were. “This is so not good!” she groaned.


Everyone else on the sidelines felt the same for her.

“Terra’s got Rainbow fully trapped!” said Sunset. 

“She certainly does.” Agreed Twilight, “With “Gem-Knight Fusion” facedown, and “Spell Sanctuary” still active; Terra will be able to Fusion Summon even while it’s Rainbow’s turn.

Plus, if Rainbow tries to destroy any of the Gem-Knights, Terra can use Brilliant Spark to blast away at her life points.”

Twilight cringed softly, “It’s worse than that. Even if Rainbow isn’t able to get rid of the Gem-Knight’s safely, Terra can attack her and wipe her all out.

It’s virtually a flawless setup, unless Rainbow can actually find a way to pull off a miracle.”


Rainbow was trembling, furiously but nervously.

“How could I let this happen?” she thought “If try to destroy those monsters, I’m busted. If I don’t, I’m still busted!”

She wiped the sweat from her brow. “Look at me! I’m sweating and trembling like crazy, and this doesn’t happen often.
 
This is probably the greatest duel I’ve ever had! I can’t quit now! There can still be a way out!”
 
She lifted up her disk, and with her determination going way berserk, she roared loud as she drew her card.

She looked at her lone card, and compared it to her other card. Then she peeked over both of them at Terra.


“It’s been a great duel, and you really rock, girl.”
 
Terra raised an eyebrow.

“…Much as I hate to do this to you, I have no choice, but it’s been real sweet playing with you!

I summon RAIDRAPTOR – RETROFIT LANIUS!”



(Atk: 800)


Everyone gazed at the tiny monster she played.

“And now watch as I activate the spell LEVEL AWARD!”
 
“Level-- what?” cried Terra.

Rainbow snickered “This spell is just what I need to finish you off and win this duel, because it lets me change my monster’s level from 4 to 8, just like that!

Also, if I use Retrofit Lanius to Xyz Summon, it counts as two monsters!”

Terra didn’t like where this was going.

“In that case, with Spell Sanctuary, I activate my face-down, Gem-Knight Fusion! I now fuse my two Gem-Knights on the field, with Lapis in my hand!”

The three monsters leapt up high into the air, and all merged together.

“…I Fusion Summon, once again, GEM-KNIGHT MASTER DIAMOND!”


(Atk: 2900)


“And that’s to his special ability, his attack increases by 100 points for every “Gem-Knight” that’s in my graveyard, and I have 7!”


(Atk: 2900) -----> (Atk: 3600)



Fluttershy was aghast “Thirty-six hundred?!”

“That’s a mighty heap of attack points!” added Applejack.


Rainbow didn’t seem the least bit worried.

“Pile up all the attack points you want, it won’t matter!”

She raised her arm up high, “I overlay my Level 8 Retrofit Lanius, as double the monsters!”

Her monster then shed a small holographic image of itself, and the two monsters jumped way up high into the forming the Overlay Network.


“I Xyz Summon one of my biggest and boldest bird-boys ever to grace the skies!” Rainbow called as a large burst light shone through the portal, and her large creature appeared, extending its huge wings and cawing loudly.


“…And there is it; RAIDRAPTOR – SATTELITE CANNON FALCON!”



(Atk: 3000)



Terra gawked up high at the monster. “That’s the card you used against Masquerade and Karle!”

Suddenly, her field began to rumble and quiver. “What-- What’s happening?!” Then right before her eyes, her face-down Brilliant Spark trap was destroyed and gone!

“No! My trap! What have you done?!”

Rainbow snickered, “That’s my Falcon’s special ability; when it’s successfully Xyz Summoned, all Spells and Traps you control get wiped out!

You just never got to see it before because I never got to use it, until now, but I’m sure you know its other special ability…!

By using an Overlay Unit, I can lower the attack of your monster by 800 points for every “Raidraptor” that’s in my graveyard!”

Terra gasped, and knowing the many Raidraptors that were in the graveyard, she looked up at her monster with horrors.


(Atk: 3600) -----> (Atk: 0)


“No…! This can’t be happening!” she cried.


“Her monster lost all its attack points!” cried Robin.

“There’s nothing she can do! She’s finished!” shouted Vic.

The others all gawked in sadness and fear for Terra.


The friends on the sidelines felt the same way.

“Rainbow did it!” cried Sunset “She actually pulled it off!”

“There’s no way Terra can counter this move.”


Terra fell to her knees. Her head dropped down softly with her eyes half open as if she were in a trance, and a small tear leaked out from one. All her aura of determination had faded away.


Rainbow was quivering softly, almost ashamed of what was coming, but she had to, and she earned the right to.

She shut her eyes and clenched her fists tightly, and shouted quickly, “Cannon Falcon Attack!”

She didn’t want to look as her monster swooped in, crushed Terra’s monster in its talons, and wiped out the rest of her life points, while Terra just sat where she was, still total dazed and upset as the shockwaves zoomed past her.