Flash stared at his hand, the omega symbol glowing back at him.
He couldn't tell why, but something felt...different about it. He was probably imagining it, but he could swear it felt different now. It probably didn't help that Twilight and Spike were still not responding to anyone's calls, no matter how many times they tried to reach them.
"Anything?" He asked Starlight as she tried to call Twilight, but the girl shook her head.
"Nothing."
"What the heck could be going on with them?" Sunburst asked, right when Flash's phone suddenly started ringing.
Flash grabbed it, hoping it was Twilight, but sighed seeing Sunset's name on the screen. "Hey," he answered on speaker, "find anything?"
"Nothing," Sunset replied, "and that's what's worrying us."
"What do you mean?" Scootaloo asked.
"I mean there's nothing. No sign of them. We tried tracking their phone signals but they completely vanished in the middle of town. The same thing with their Duel Disks. The tracking signals on them vanished in the same spot. One minute they're there, the next they blip out of existence."
"So what does that mean?" Sunburst asked, worrying at the answer.
"It means someone or something is blocking their signals to stop us from tracking them, the same way we haven't been able to track the Zealot's Duel Disks." Everyone quickly realised what that meant.
"The Zealots are doing this," Flash sighed.
"Why?" Scootaloo looked to the others as Starlight explained.
"It's obvious. They must be planning to use them as bait," she turned towards Flash. "In order to lure you out into the open."
Flash's entire body began to shake in anger. "Damn them."
"Calm down," Sunburst told him. He tried to put a hand on Flash's shoulder, but the teen pulled away and rushed towards the door. "Hey!"
Starlight quickly jumped infront of him, "what are you doing?"
"I'm not just gonna sit here while my friends are put in danger," Flash told her.
"If you leave, the Zealots will take you and turn you into the vessel of Zeronull. You have to stay here."
"Why? I'm gonna have to go to them anyway." The others looked confused. "If the Zealots do have Twilight and Spike, you know they'll order me to meet them. If I don't, who knows what they'll do to them. It's better if I head out there now before the Zealots can do anything to them."
"You make it sound like they'll just lay down and let themselves be caught," Starlight reminded him. "Don't forget, they're strong Duellists. Even if the Zealots do try to catch them, there's every chance they'll beat them."
"Well, I'm not just gonna sit around and wait to find out if they did or not!"
"You have too!" The two stared at one another for several seconds before Flash finally let out a sigh and slumped his body.
"Fine." He turned away from the door and headed back towards the living room, only to stop and look up at one of the walls. "Hey, what's that?" The others all turned to where he was pointing and saw nothing, their distraction giving Flash the opening he needed to sidestep around Starlight and rush for the door.
"HEY!" The three yelled as Flash leapt out into the world, all rushing after him as he headed for the stairs.
"Hang on guys," he told them. "I'm coming."
Meanwhile, Twilight and Spike both stared down the Omega Zealots of Wind and Earth.
The two had just announced how they were intending to protect Flash from them, no matter what the cost. However, as they said this, a familiar mark appeared on their hands without them noticing. But that was no the only reaction gotten from their outcry.
Skystar had been staring at them while this was going on, only to then notice a strange glow coming from her left. She looked down and her eyes went wide when she saw the Void Cube, which was beginning to emit a red light from the gaps between the four sections.
"No way," she stated as she picked the cube up. "Glorianna, look at this." Trixie looked around and spotted the glow, her eyes going wide at the sight.
"Impossible," she stated. "That's only supposed to happen in the presence of..." She turned back to the siblings and focused on their hands, gasping when she saw the marks. "Come on!" She jumped out and rushed out from behind the ramp barrier, alerting Twilight and Spike to their location.
"What are you doing?" Guto asked as the two girls ran over to him and Marble.
"Look!" Trixie pointed to Twilight's hand, making everyone look down at it.
"What?" Twilight asked in shock seeing the mark, then looked over at Spike and saw the same image on his hand.
"What's going on?" Spike asked, trying to rub the mark to see if it went away.
"This can't be real."
"Oh, it's very real." They looked up at Guto as he pointed to the cube. "This devices contains the remaining energy of Void, meaning Zeronull's power resides within it. The fact you two both hold those marks means there's still a chance you can become the vessels."
"No," Twilight her head. She looked down at her hand and saw the symbol was just under halfway full. "This can't be happening."
"Oh," Marble smirked, "it's happening. All we have to do is keep Duelling and you two will become suitable vessels."
"Not if we quit," Spike was about to place his hand on his deck to forfeit only to then stop. "But then..."
"Then there's nothing stopping us from taking you hostage and using Sentry," Guto smiled.
"We're trapped," Twilight shook in fear. But then she realised something. "We'll be safe if we win." The Zealots frowned, "I thought so." She turned to Spike. "We just have to beat them and we'll be fine."
Spike nodded back. "Yeah. We'll save Flash and ourselves."
"I don't think so," Marble told them. "You're strong Duellists but nothing compared to us."
"Others have beaten you," Twilight told her. "And we'll do the same. Zeronull's reign of terror ends here and now!" She drew her card and smiled seeing what she'd gotten. "I'll start by resetting the Pendulum Scale, with scale one White Wing Magician and scale eight Magi-Beast, Dracoteen!" The pillars appeared on either side of them before the two monsters flew up into them, the portal beginning to form above their heads. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!"
The portal opened before a light shot out of it, revealing Twilight's monster. "Twilight Warlock." (A2500/D2100/L7/P4) "Then, I'll use his ability to search the top five cards of my deck for a Spellbook." She drew five cards and smiled when she saw one, taking it and adding it to her hand. "So now, I'll play Spellbook of Secrets!" Another card slotted out of her deck, Twilight taking it and instantly playing. "And with that, Spellbook of Power is activated."
"She's powering up her wizard?" Skystar asked.
"That's right," Warlock glowed with power as his ATK rose. (A3500/D2500/L7/P4) "Now attack!" The wizard pointed its staff at Ouravas and unleashed a magical blast, hitting the griffon and destroying it while Guto was zapped.
Spike: 3000
Guto: 2300
Twilight: 2900
Marble: 3300
"I activate my face down," his face flipped up to reveal a Spell. "Rival's Stand. With this, I select a monster in my graveyard and a monster on your field with less ATK points. Then I can revive my monster, but his ATK points drop to equal the ATK of your monster." A portal opened up and Ouravas flew out of it, though he was looking a little tired as he panted while his ATK points dropped. (A2500/D2500/L8)
Twilight frowned. "Well since a monster empowered by Spellbook of Power destroyed a monster, I can now add a Spellbook from my deck to my hand." Her deck slotted out a card that she took before pointing at the revived Ouravas. "Blazelord!" The giant dragon raised his blazing sword and attacked, slashing the Griffonic Sky Commander and destroying him while unleashing a wave of heat that struck Guto.
Spike: 3000
Guto: 1800
Twilight: 2900
Marble: 3300
"I place one card face down and end my turn." Spellbook of Power's effects wore off, Warlock's ATK points returned to normal. (A2500/D2100/L7/P4)
"Then it's my turn," Marble smirked as she drew her card. "And since two turns have now elapsed, I can use Reincarnation of Hope's effect to add a monster to my hand." She did so as a tornado exploded infront of her, "Then I'll add a counter to Griffon's Horde in order to summon back Griffonic Sky Commander!" The tornado exploded, the armoured griffon hovering above them. (A3000/D2500/L8) "Then, I'll activate the Spell card Painful Choice." The siblings frowned as Marble selected five cards from her deck, those cards appearing as holograms infront of her and Guto. "Pick one. The rest, go to the graveyard."
The two looked them over, seeing they were all Rock-type monsters. Spike turned to Twilight and nodded, leaving it to her to decide. She nodded back before pointing at one of the cards. "I pick that one, Gaia-Knight Coal."
"Alright," Marble placed that card into her hand while ditching the others. "Doesn't matter either way," she held up a card. "All that matters is I can now play this card!" As she did this, the concrete that made up the parking structure began to shake before breaking off and forming a giant moon. "Queen of the earth, grace us with your glorious majesty!" An opening appeared in the moon that then transformed into a staircase like construct, with a familiar monster stepping out of the moon to make her way down them.
"Great," Spike sighed as she stepped onto the battlefield.
"Gaia-Maiden, Lady Marble!" (A3000/D2500/L8) "Now, witness her skill." Gaia Knight Sapphire appeared infront of the Gaia-Maiden before breaking into eight pieces flying through the air. Those pieces struck Dragonic Blazelord, each rock powering it down. (A2200/D2000/L8/P4) "And with that, I'll now attack!" The monster tapped her staff onto the ground and caused a large chunk of earth to break off, then be sent flying towards Blazelord.
It struck the dragon, shattering into pieces that flew through it as it was destroyed and began to rain down on Spike. "Augh!"
Spike: 2200
Guto: 1800
Twilight: 2900
Marble: 3300
"Spike!" Twilight cried as she watched him stagger backwards.
"You're next," she then heard Marble announce. She looked around just in time to see Ouravas fly forward and impale Twilight Warlock, destroy it.
Spike: 2200
Guto: 1800
Twilight: 2400
Marble: 3300
Marble smirked, "I think I'll place one card face down and end my turn there."
"Then it's my turn!" Spike drew his card and nodded. "And I'll start by play the Spell card Emergency Provisions!"
Skystar smirked, "you sure you wanna do that? With if your sister needed that card she put face down."
"Who said I'm using Twilight's face down?" Skystar raised an eyebrow. "Are you forgetting that Pendulum Monsters count as Spell card," Skystar's eyes went wide before she looked up at Mystic Dracoteen. The dragon exploded as Spike regained his life points.
Spike: 3200
Guto: 1800
Twilight: 2400
Marble: 3300
"Haaa," he sighed in relief before focusing on the Zealots. "With that out of the way, I can now place Repulser Dracokid back into the Pendulum Scale." The gun-wielding dragon flew up into the pillar as the portal began to form up above their heads. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!"
The portal opened before a fireball and a light shot out and struck the ground, revealing the sibling's monsters. "Dragonic Blazelord!" (A3000/D2000/L8/P4)
"Twilight Warlock!" (A2500/D2100/L7/P4)
"And Soulburner Dragon!" (A2300/D1500/L6/P2) "And since Blazelord was special summoned, his ATK goes up for every Dragon in my graveyard." (A3600/D2000/L8/P4) "Now, Blazelord will activate his special ability!" The dragon swung his blade around, unleashing a wave of fire that flew towards Ouravas and Gaia-Maiden.
"Trap activated!" Marble's face down flipped up, "Destruction Jammer! By Discarding a card, I can protect both Lady Marble and Griffonic Sky Commander from being destroyed by a card effect." A shield appeared around the two that blocked the flames, reflecting them back towards Blazelord. "Not only that, but it also destroys the card that unleashed that effect." Blazelord was struck and destroyed, leaving the siblings with only Twilight Warlock and Soulburner Dragon."
Spike sighed before placing a card face down. "I end my turn."
Marble smirked before turning to Guto. "You're welcome." Guto and the others just rolled their eyes
Meanwhile, Flash and the others continued their search for Spike and Twilight.
"Flash!" Starlight cried out from behind him, "will you just stop!"
"No way!" Flash yelled, "I won't let Twilight or Spike be hurt because of me."
"Even if it means you might get taken over by Zeronull?" Sunburst asked.
"I won't," Flash told him as he finally came to a stop before pulling out a card. Everyone caught up to him and saw he was holding his Flash Heart card. "I don't know what, but somehow I was protected before from being Dominated. And it has something to do with Flash Heart."
"Really?" Scootaloo asked.
"Yeah. Somehow, Flash Heart disrupted the Soulink. And if he was able to do it once, I can do it again. That means I can fight."
"That's a nice theory," Starlight told him. "But you don't have any proof. Why take this risk?"
"Because it's something I have to do," Flash told her. "I'm the Pendulum Singularity. I'm the one who helped the Zealots get her so I'm responsible for stopping them from hurting anyone." He rushed forward again, "you can't stop me."
"ARRRRRHHHHH!" Starlight screamed in frustration, "he's too stubborn for his own good."
"Come on," Sunburst told her. "If he's gonna be an idiot, he'll need us there to help him." The three followed after the Pendulum Singularity.
"It's my turn," Guto reached for his deck. "I draw. And first I'll activate my face down Spell, Dian Keto the Cure Master!" The women appeared before holding the orb of light she carried above Guto's head, the ball exploding and raining light down on him.
Spike: 3200
Guto: 2800
Twilight: 2400
Marble: 3300
"Then I'll use Griffon's Horde to pay for Ouravas's ability, allowing me to add a Spell to my hand." The number in the crystal rose to two as his deck slotted out a card, which he instantly used. "Now I'll play Shrink and use it on your Twilight Warlock!"
"Not happening!" Twilight cried as her face down flipped up, revealing a Spell. "Say hello to Spellbook of Wisdom, which protects any Spellcaster on my field from the effects of either Spell or Trap cards. And I pick Spell cards." Warlock began to glow as Guto's Spell exploded, leaving the magician unaffected.
Guto frowned. "Fine, but I've still got Gaia-Maiden's ability!" Lady Marble tapped her staff on the ground before Blast Stone Wyvern appeared, the dragon then exploding into seven pieces that flew forward and struck the magician. With each strike, its power decreased. (A1800/D2100/L7/P4) "GO!" The two monsters launched their attacks, Gaia-Maiden tossing a giant rock at Twilight Warlock while Ouravas flew forward and impaled Soulburner Dragon.
The two monsters exploded, their owners grunting as their life points dropped.
Spike: 2500
Guto: 2800
Twilight: 1200
Marble: 3300
Guto smirked. "Then I'll use Ouravas's skill once again." The crystal number rose once more, a card slotting out of his deck. "The card I selected is called Griffon's Amulet, which I'll be equipping to Gaia-Maiden." A necklace appeared around the monster's neck, being that of a griffon's head with a jewel in the forehead. "Now, Gaia-Maiden can't be destroyed by a card effect."
"Thanks," Marble smiled, "I always adore a good accessory."
"Just paying you back for earlier," Guto told her. "With that, I'll place one card face down and end my turn." Twilight and Spike both swayed from side to side but eventually managed to regain their balance, Twilight looking up and frowning.
"This Duel isn't over," she assured him while reaching for her deck. "I draw." She still didn't have anything that could get rid of Griffon's Horde, but the card she did get could be useful. "I play Pot of Greed," she drew two new cards and smiled. "Perfect. I play Pendulum Roulette!" The others looked confused. "This card lets me swap a Pendulum Monster in my Extra Deck with one in my hand that has the same level. So I'll be swapping Twilight Unicorn for Magi-Beast, Mystic Dracoteen."
"What?" Skystar asked.
"Don't forget about their Pendulum Monsters," Trixie told her.
"I use the Pendulum Ability of Repulser Dracokid, to discard Dracoteen and draw four cards." She did so and smiled. "Perfect." The portal formed above their heads, "I PENDULUM SUMMON!"
The portal opened before three lights and two fireballs shot out, exploding and revealing an army of monsters. "Twilight Warlock!" (A2500/D2100/L7/P4)
"Dragonic Blazelord!" (A3000/D2000/L8/P4)
"Twilight Unicorn!" (A1800/D1300/L4/P7)
"Soulburner Dragon!" (A2300/D1500/L6/P2)
"And Shadow Charmer!" (A1200/D700/L3)
"Quiet the menagerie," Guto told him. "But do you really think they'll be enough to stop us?"
"We'll see," Twilight told him. "First, Blazelord's ATK points rise." The giant roared as the ghostly dragons appeared and were absorbed into him. (A3800/D2000/L8/P4)
"Yeah!" Spike cheered, "go for it."
"You bet!" Twilight cried as Unicorn and Shadow Charmer leapt into the air. "Now watch, as I tune Level Three Shadow Charmer with Level Four Twilight Unicorn!" The wizard transformed into a trio of lights, which carved three circles that Twilight Unicorn leapt into. "It's time to embrace the power given by those we call friends and ascend to a higher plain of life." Instead of disappearing in a flash, the light was infused into Twilight Unicorn as two new appendages appeared on its back. "I SYNCHRO SUMMON!"
The light faded from the monster's body, revealing Twilight's other ace monster as it fluttered down towards the ground. "Twilight Alicorn!" (A2600/D1900/L7) "Now for Twilight Warlock's ability!" She drew five cards and smiled seeing one, taking it and placing the others into her deck. "I now Equip Twilight Warlock with the Magic Tome of Starswirl!" The book appeared in the wizard's hands, powering him up. (A3000/D2100/L7/P4)
"That won't be enough," Guto told her.
"But this will. Twilight Alicorn's ability!" Twilight removed a card from her graveyard as the winged horse's horn began to glow. (A3600/D1900/L7) "By banishing a Spellbook from my hand, I can power her up by one thousand points."
"Though your Warlock's power now decreases," Marble told her. (A2900/D2100/L7/P4)
"Wait for it," Twilight smiled as the book in his hand glowed. "I'm using the Magic Tome of Starswirl's effect to send a Spellbook to the graveyard and activate its effect." Her deck slotted out a card, which she placed in her graveyard as the power activated. "Spellbook of Power." (A4000/D2100/L7/P4) "Now, ATTACK!" Twilight Warlock unleashed a magical blast that struck Ouravas, destroying him.
"Augh!" Guto cried, taking the damage.
Spike: 2500
Guto: 1800
Twilight: 1200
Marble: 3300
"Blazelord!" The dragon flew forward and slashed at Lady Marble, but the Gaia-Maiden lifted up her staff and blocked the attack.
Spike: 2500
Guto: 1800
Twilight: 1200
Marble: 2500
"Gaia-Maiden's skill!" Guto cried, Marble removing a card from her graveyard. "Banish a Rock-type and negate her destruction."
"I'm still got Twilight Alicorn!" She explained as the winged unicorn fired a magical blast, hitting her and dealing more damage to Marble as Guto activated her ability again.
Spike: 2500
Guto: 1800
Twilight: 1200
Marble: 1900
Twilight sighed, "I place three card face down and end my turn." Her monster's ATK points returned to their normal totals. (A3000/D2100/L7/P4) (A2600/D1900/L7) (A3000/D2000/L8/P4) As her turn ended, she suddenly felt a burning pain in her hand. "Ahh!" She clutched it while seeing the mark on her hand had increased. "No."
Marble smiled. "The hard you Duel, the more Zeronull's power overwhelms you." She reached for her deck and drew a card, "My turn. I activate Ouravas's skill!" The crystal's number rose again as the tornado appeared infront of her, the griffon flying out of it. "Then, I'll activate the card Guto left me." Her face down flipped up to reveal a Trap. "Sixth Sense." A Die appeared in her hand. "With this, I select two numbers on this die and roll it. If it lands on that number, I can draw the same number of cards." She hummed and nodded. "Six and five."
They watched as she tossed the die into the air, the cube hitting the ground and rolling until it came to a stop. And the side it stopped on had five dots on it.
"Well, what do you know," Marble drew. "Just what I needed." She looked down at her hand and her eyes went wide seeing it, a smile creeping on her face."
"I don't like the look of that," Spike told Twilight."
"Me neither," she nodded. She knew that only meant one thing. "Zenith Dragon."
"Next I'll play Graceful Charity," Marble went before drawing three cards and ditching two. "Then I'll have Lady Marble use her skill to banish Gaia-Knight Emerald, to de-power your Twilight Alicorn." The knight appeared before exploding into eight rocks, which struck the Alicorn and weakened it. (A1800/D1900/L7) "Now, Gaia-Maiden, attack that oversized donkey."
"I don't think so!" Twilight cried as her face down flipped face-up, "Spellbinding Circle!" Said circle shot out of the Trap and encased the Gaia-Maiden within it. "Now your monster can't attack."
Marble growled. "Fine, then Ouravas will take you down!" The Griffon flew forward and prepared to impale the alicorn, only for it to suddenly be replaced by Warlock. "What?" She gasped as Ouravas stabbed the Spellcaster, who fired a magical blast point-blank. This caused both monsters to be destroyed, "how?"
"My other Trap," Twilight smiled as her other face down flipped up. "Magician's Trick. It lets me swap the target of your attack from one Spellcaster to another."
"Nice!" Spike cheered while Marble just frowned.
"I place two cards face down and end my turn."
"Then it's my turn!" Spike drew his card and smiled. "Alright." The portal began to form above his head as he cried out, "I PENDULUM SUMMON!"
The portal opened before a light shot out, hitting the ground and revealing their monster. "Twilight Warlock!" (A2500/D2100/L7/P4)
"And Underling Dragon!" (A500/D500/L2) "Now I can use Scorcher Dragon's ability!" The tuner dragon appeared before exploding into a pair of fireballs. "He's usually Level three, but by dropping it to two, I can Synchro Summon with him from my hand." They all watched as the fireballs carved a pair of rings that Underling Dragon flew into. "Ignite the flame of potential and shower the world in the fire of hope!" His two monsters were consumed in an explosion of fire. "I SYNCHRO SUMMON!"
The flames receded and showed Spike's Synchro Tuner. "Mystic Flame Dracokid!" (A1500/D1300/L4) "And since he was Synchro Summoned, his skill lets me add a Level four or below Dragon monster from my deck to my hand." His deck slotted out a card that he took.
"This isn't good," Skystar turned to Marble and saw the worried look on her face. "Do something!"
Spike smirked as his Synchro Tuner leapt into the air. "Now watch!" Mystic Flame burst into a quartet of fireballs, which carved four fire rings. "As I Synchro Tune Dragonic Blazelord and Mystic Flame Dracokid together!" The Synchro Pendulum flew up into the rings, Spike beginning to chant as the flames expanded. "Blaze the path to victory and burn away all who stand before you." The flaming rings exploded, wrapping Blazelord into a ball of fire. "GO ACCEL SYNCHRO!"
The flaming sun began to extinguish, revealing Spike's Accel Synchro monster in all its blazing glory. "Dragonic Blazemaster...VICTORY ACE!" (A3300/D3200/L12)
"So what," Trixie smirked, "that's the only monster that can hurt Gaia-Maiden and it'll only deal three hundred points of damage."
"Don't forget about Twilight Alicorn," Spike told her as Twilight removed a Spellbook from her graveyard to power it up. (A3600/D1900/L7)
"Alright," Skystar did the math, "nine hundred points of damage. Big whoop."
"Then I'll summon the Dragon Mystic Flame Dracokid gave me," Spike announced as a new dragon appeared. This was a red serpentine dragon with a metal blade coming out of the tip of its tail. "Meet my Neo Sabre Dragon." (A500/D500/L3) "And the best part is when he's summoned-" The dragon suddenly started glowing before the light shot off and hit Victory Ace's sword, causing it to transform. "He can equip himself to another dragon on my field." The light faded to reveal a new sword in Victory Ace's grasp, looking like Neo Sabre only the blade on its tail was now coming out of its mouth with the rest of its body being the handle. (A3800/D3200/L12)
Trixie and Skystar looked between the giant dragon and Marble, seeing the horror apparent on her face. "No," she shook her head, "no."
"It's over!" Spike told her. "Victory Ace, ATTACK!" The dragon shot forward and prepared to slash right through Gaia-Maiden.
Marble had two choices. Protect Lady Marble and have the rest of her light points taken out by Twilight Alicorn, or let it be destroyed and allow the other monsters to attack her and Guto head-on.
"Marble might be freed," Twilight smiled. But that all changed when she spotted Marble's fear vanish, replaced by a smirk.
"Fooled ya'h," she cried as her face down flipped up. "I play Waboku!" The three women appeared as a shield appeared infront of Lady Marble, Victory Ace's attack bouncing off it and leaving her fine. "Denied!"
Spike frowned at this. "She played me."
Marble laughed, "I love that look. The look that appears when the hope you have shatters. Thank you for that. I needed it after your friends Pinkie and Maud denied me it."
The siblings frowned as Spike ended his turn. "You're not welcome." Twilight Alicorn's ATK points returned to normal. Spike then felt a pain in his hand, making him cry out and clutch it.
"Spike!" She looked down and saw the mark on his hand fill out more and more. "We're running out of time."
"My turn." Guto drew his card as a tornado exploded, Griffon's Horde raising once again in number. The tornado exploded, revealing Ouravas. (A3000/D2500/L8) "Gaia-Maiden's Skill!" Lady Marble tapped the ground, Gaia-Knight Diamond appearing before shattering into eight pieces that flew forward and struck Soulburner Dragon.
The beast roared as its power dropped. (A1500/D1500/L6/P2)
"GO!" Guto cried, the Griffonic Sky Commander flying forward and impaling the dragon as Spike cried out.
Spike: 1000
Guto: 1800
Twilight: 1200
Marble: 1900
"Then I'll use Ouravas's ability, to add a card from my deck to my hand." Griffon's Horde increased to six. "I place one card face down and end my turn."
"Then it's my turn!" Twilight drew her card and nodded before playing it. "Go, Magical Mallet. Now," she placed her hand into her Deck, "I can add the cards in my hand back to my deck, then shuffle and redraw." Her deck shuffled around before she drew four new cards, gasping at what she saw. "This is it."
"Wotcha get?" Spike asked as Twilight raised a card above her head.
"Just watch!" She cried as her Synchro Monsters shot into the air, "I tribute Twilight Alicorn and Twilight Warlock!" Twilight Warlock then transforming into a stream of light which spread around Alicorn and encased it in a cocoon-like form. "By tributing her and a Synchro Spellcaster Monster, Twilight Alicorn's true power is revealed!"
The cocoon broke open, revealing one of Twilight's best monsters as it soared above her before landing next to her. "Arise, Perfect Harmony Alicorn!" (A3500/D3000/L10) "That's not all. Perfect Harmony Alicorn's ATK power rises by half of Warlock's ATK points." (A4750/D3000/L10) "But I'm not done!" She cried as the portal began to form above their heads. "I PENDULUMS SUMMON!"
The portal opened before a fireball and two lights shot out of it, hitting the ground and revealing her monsters. "Twilight Warlock!" (A2500/D2100/L7)
"Twilight Unicorn!" (A1800/D1300/L4/P7)
"And Soulburner Dragon!" (A2300/D1500/L6/P2) Twilight smiled at the army of monsters standing around her, knowing that with them they had a shot at winning. "Ahh!" She cried as her hand burned again, looking down and seeing all but the right foot of the symbol was now filled. "Not yet," She growled before playing another card. "I play Magic against Magic!" The Spell activated as Twilight Warlock, Twilight Unicorn and Perfect Harmony glowed. "With this card, I can destroy the same number of Spell cards on your field as the number of Spellcaster on my field."
Guto watched as the three monsters shot a blast of magic from their horns and staff, one heading for his Griffon's Horde and the other heading for his face down. However, instead of looking worried, he smirked. "Trap card, open!" The face-down flipped up, "Griffon's Vault. I pay five hundred life points and negate the destruction of a Spell or Trap on my field." Griffon's Horde's number went up to seven before a barrier appeared infront of it, blocking the magical blasts.
Twilight frowned, "I'm not done yet! Perfect Harmony Alicorn, attack Lady Marble and wipe out the last of her life points!" The winged unicorn flew up, its horn glowing. "Perfect Harmony's skill!" Warlock and Unicorn glowed. "Plus one thousand power for every other Spellcaster on the field." (A6750/D3000/L10)
With that, the alicorn unleashed a rainbow blast that headed straight for Marble's monster. If it hit, her life points would be wiped out.
"NO!" Trixie cried, the two having no cards to save them. Or so they thought.
"Trap activate!" Guto cried, as the robed women appeared infront of Gaia-Maiden and summoned the barrier to protect them.
"What?" Twilight asked as Perfect Harmony's attack bounced off it. "How?"
"Griffon's Vault," Guto explained. "It had another effect whilst its in the graveyard. I pay a thousand life points and banish it, then I can activate a Trap in our graveyard." Griffon's Horde's number rose to eight.
"No," Twilight whispered as her battle phase ended. "I...I place two cards face down and end my turn." Perfect Harmony's ATK returned to normal. (A3500/D3000/L10) "I'm not done," she told herself. "Even if it seems impossible, I'll find a way to win and send you all back to your world." But as she said this, her hand exploded with pain once again. "AUGH!" She clutched it and stared at the symbol, gasping when she saw it was now complete. "No."
Guto smiled seeing this. "Finally. The vessel is ready."
"Now we must take her," Skystar cracked her knuckles.
"Hold on," Trixie told her. "Even if she's now a suitable vessel, her will is too strong. If she is to be taken, first we must break that will. And to do that, she must lose."
"No problem," Marble smiled as she drew her card. And when she saw what she'd gotten, she gasped and smiled. "Finally." The tornado exploded infront of her as Griffon's Horde increased its number, "arise Ouravas!" The griffon appeared as Griffon's Horde's number rose again. "And now I'll use his ability to add a Spell to my hand." Her deck slotted out a card that she took.
"I don't the look in her eye," Spike told his sister.
"Now I play the Continuous Spell card, Dark Prophecy!" Said card appeared before he and unleashed a wave of dark energy. "With this card, I can pay a thousand life points in order to announce a card's name. And if that card happens to be in the hand or deck of any Duellist except me, it's added straight to my hand."
"What?" Guto cried as the young girl smiled at him.
"What are you scheming," Skystar cried but Marble kept her focus on Guto.
"I'll be using Griffon's Horde to pay the cost," she told him as the number in the crystal increased into the double digits. "And I think I'll pick...Griffonic Sky Commander, Ouravas!" Guto's eyes went wide before he glared at her, his deck slotting out a card. He then took it and tossed it towards Marble, the girl catching it with ease. "Thank you. Now I think I'll use Griffon's Horde to pay for its cost again."
"She can use it more than once a turn?" Spike asked as the number increased yet again.
"Oh yes," she turned to Guto again. "And I think you know which card I want. Zenith Dragon of Limitless Skies, Marventus." Guto's eyes went wide before he shot a glare at her, his deck slotting out that precious card. Once again, he threw the card at Marble, the girl catching it with each and smiling. "Finally, I have what I need."
Twilight suddenly felt a twinge of fear fill her. "You're not doing what I think you're doing, are you?"
"What do you think I'm doing?" Marble asked before holding up a card. "Could it possibly be...this." Her hand's marking glowed brighter, "I now put my entire future on the line."
"Here it comes," Spike gulped as Marble discarded a card.
"First, I must tribute an Earth Attributed monster while also discarding a monster in my hand with the same name." The pieces of rock that made up the parking structure began to break off the building and formed a moon around Lady Marble, destroying Twilight's Spellbinding Circle, the cocoon flying into the air as it grew larger and larger.
"Where are they?" Flash asked as he and the others continued to look around, trying to find where Spike and Twilight were.
"LOOK!" He suddenly heard Sunburst yell, causing him to turn towards where he was pointing. And he soon saw what he was pointing at, seeing a giant rock moon appearing above a building that was growing larger and larger.
"is that..." Starlight couldn't finish her question.
"Yeah," Flash nodded, "Greaterra." He quickly began to rush off in that direction, the others following after and praying they weren't too late.
"Awaken," Marble cried as the rock egg began to break apart, "beast of the earth!" The rocks fell away, revealing the tortoise-like Duel Monster that hovered above the building. It stared down at them, ready to crush them under its enormous bulk. "Zenith Dragon of Unbreakable Continents, GREATERRA!" (A6000/D5000/L12)
"No way," Spike whispered in fear.
"That's the monster that beat Flash," Twilight told herself. As she said that, the giant dragon unleashed a roar that sent a bunch of rocks flying down towards their field. "Oh no." Before she could react, every card in their Spell and Trap Zone was buried under a bunch of rubble. Even White Wing Magician and Repulser Dracokid were trapped beneath the rocks.
"And I'm not done yet," Marble smiled as she discarded another card. "By ditching a Wind monster and sacrificing one with the same name on the field, I can summon my partner's ultimate creature." Ouravas leapt into the air as a powerful gust of wind blew across the rooftop. All everyone could do was brace themselves so they weren't blown off the roof, while Ouravas was surrounded by the spiralling wind that took the form of a sphere that flew up into the air while growing larger and larger each second.
"What the?" Scootaloo asked as they spotted the wind sphere appear besides Greaterra, growing larger and larger by the second.
"A second Zenith Dragon," Starlight whispered in almost horror. This didn't stop Flash at all, the teen only redoubling his efforts to get there as fast as he could.
"Hold on guys."
"Awaken," Marble cried as a shadow appeared within the wind sphere, "beast of the winds!" The last of the gale faded, the dragon within finally breaking free and beating its giant winds so much it unleashed a gust that swept over the whole city. "Zenith Dragon of Limitless Skies, MARVENTUS!" (A6000/D5000/L12)
Twilight and Spike could only stare in horror at the sight before them. Two Zenith Dragon, ready to wipe them out and turn them into the vessels of Zeronull.
"Now, for Marventus's ability!" The dragon beat its wings and unleashed a powerful gust of wind, which blew all the cards trapped beneath the rubble away. "Return all Spell and Traps to your hand!" The siblings saw their hands now much heavier, nothing now protecting them against the Zenith Dragon's oncoming assault. "What's more, all Wind monsters gain five hundred ATK points for every card returned. (A8500/D5000/L12)
"No way," Spike whispered as he turned to his sister. "T-Twilight.
"Zenith Dragon of Limitless Skies!" he turned back to see Marventus raise its tail before a bolt of lightning flew down and struck it. "Attack Dragonic Blazelord!" The lightning sphere formed in its mouth before Marble cried out the attack's name. "RAGING WONDERBOLT!"
The electro-ball flew forward, causing the building to shake as it approached, Victory Ace shooting forward to protect its friends. The dragon collided with the attack and both exploded, the shockwave flying down towards the siblings. Twilight was knocked off balance but left relatively unharmed. But her brother-
"AUGH!" He screamed as he was sent flying backwards, the static surging around his body as his life points were obliterated.
Spike: 0
Guto: 1800
Twilight: 1200
Marble: 1900
"SPIKE!" Twilight cried, seeing him hit the ground rolling.
"Worry about yourself!" She turned back to Marble as she gave her next command. "Zenith Dragon of Unbreakable Continents, ATTACK!" The beast opened its mouth as a giant rock appeared within it, Greaterra roaring with enough force to send the rock flying out and rocketing towards Perfect Harmony. "CONTINENTAL CRUSHER!"
The giant rock struck the rooftop, crushing all of Twilight and Spike's monsters beneath it, with so much force that the ground beneath everyone's feet to crumble.
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Twilight screamed as the entire building shattered, she and Spike falling down the hole beneath her feet while the Zealots leapt to safety.
Spike: 0
Guto: 1800 (Winner)
Twilight: 0
Marble: 1900 (Winner)
"NOOOOOOOOOO!" Flash cried as he watched the building implode, crumbling beneath the force of Greaterra's attack.
"Twilight," Starlight whispered in shock.
"Spike," Sunburst did the same.
Flash didn't wait around any longer. He rushed towards the building as fast as he could, praying that they were okay. If they weren't... "Please be okay," Flash begged as he and the others rushed down the street. "Twilight...Spike."
Spike moaned as he felt himself coming around.
The first thing he noticed when his brain finally rebooted was intense pain, flowing through his body but mostly focused in his right leg. He opened his eyes and tried to look around, finding he was no longer on the roof of the parking structure. It appeared that the Zenith Dragon's attack had sent him down to the ground floor.
The building was a complete mess, having been ripped to shreds with pieces of debris scattered everywhere. And that included on top of him, Spike only now noticing his bottom half was buried beneath some rubble.
But all the pain in the world wouldn't make him forget about the danger his sister now faced. And as he continued to look around, he finally spotted Twilight and the Zealots up above.
Twilight had landed one level above Spike, on a piece of still secure flooring, while the Zealots stood opposite her. Twilight stood there, staring at the completed insignia on her hand.
"So," She looked up to see Guto take the cube from Skystar, "the time has finally come." He, Skystar, Trixie and Marble took out their Zenith Dragons, the four cards glowing as the cube began to float out of his hand. "The time when our mission is fulfilled."
"The resurrection of the Omega Deity of Destruction, Zeronull!" Skystar screamed as the cube suddenly split into its four pieces. As they moved further and further from one another, blackish-red energy could be seen connecting them. And as they shot outwards, Twilight and Spike suddenly found a wall of that energy flying towards them.
Soon enough, the entire destroyed building was encased inside the energy cube.
"What the heck is that?" Flash asked as they arrived at the building, only to see it completely surrounded by the energy.
"This can't be good."
Over at Freeze Industries, Sunset and several scientists had just detected something.
"There's a big distortion in space-time," one of them announced while Sunset stared at the screen. Finding the point of origin and frowning at the sight of the energy being given off.
"What could be causing it?" She asked as the power continued to rise. "What is going on?"
"AAAAARRRRRHHHHH!" Twilight screamed, clutching her hand in pain.
She then felt a presence, causing her to look up and gasp. There, floating above the remains of the destroyed building, was the being she'd been told about. The monster behind all of it. Zeronull.
The giant figure stared down at her, terror gripping her body as she watched him move. Each of its wings raised to pull length as the orbs on them glowed before unleashing the light of a different colour, which moved towards Twilight like a tentacle and began to wrap around her body. "No!" She cried as she tried to fight them off, but couldn't and was soon lifted off the ground. "Get off me!"
"Twilight!" Spike screamed as she was pulled closer and closer to Zeronull. He tried to pull himself free, but that did nothing but cause him more pain.
Twilight felt her strength begin to leave her as she was pulled towards the gem in the monster's chest. But despite feeling her consciousness fade, her mind continued to cry out. "You may Dominate me, but you'll never win." She looked up into its eyes, "you'll never defeat Flash. Never. Nev...er." With that, her eyes went blank as her body was pulled into the crystal and a dark light explode out of it as she was absorbed by it. Her last thoughts as she was Dominated were of the person she knew would save her, "Flash."
The owner of that name suddenly looked up, swearing he had just heard Twilight whisper his name.
But before he could comprehend this, he clutched his hand as a strange feeling flew through it. Not pain, but something different. He looked down at it and was surprised to see the omega symbol completely vanish off his hand. "What?" This was all he needed to be pushed into action, teen rushing towards the encased building.
"Flash!" Starlight cried as the other followed him, "what are you doing?" Flash didn't answer, his goal squarely focused on getting inside.
What he didn't know was that inside his pocket, in his Duel Disk, the Zenith Dragon card began to glow. And as he reached the energy field, he simply phased right through it without issue. Something that could not be said for Starlight and the others, who were forced to jump back as the slightest touch of the field caused them to cry out in pain.
"FLASH!" They screamed, unable to see what was happening.