"AAAHHH!" Cadance cried in frustration, as the screen she was looking at began to show multiple windows filled with either red or blue code. "I can't do it!"
Shining turned to her and frowned, "how bad is it?"
"Really bad," Cadance told him. Shining turned to the screen and saw some of the blue code turning red. "The generator's control systems are the most secure. But if the virus manages to infect the other systems, it'll be able to get through and shut them down. And if the generators shut down, the shields go."
Shining frowned. "We've already lost two of the generators. We can't afford to lose the last two."
"I know," Cadance frowned. "But the virus is just too ingrained in the system." She turned back to the Omega Field, "come on Sunset."
Within the Omega Field, we find Sunset and Skystar in the midst of a serious Duel.
Currently, Sunset had Sunset Unicorn, Princess Daydream and two face downs while Skystar had just summoned her deck's ace. "Amphitrite's skill!" She discarded another card. "I discard Neptabyss in order to change the Attribute of every monster on your field to Water." The queen raised her staff before the pearl on the end began to glow, the light flying out and hitting Sunset's monsters.
Daydream suddenly gained gills while Unicorn transformed into a sea-pony. "Seriously?"
"Oh yes," Skystar nodded. "Now, Amphitrite will attack your unicorn!" The oceanic queen brought her hands together as a bubble formed between them. "When she attacks, my mother gains two hundred ATK points for every other water monster on the field." (A3400/D2500/L8) Amphitrite fired the bubble at unicorn, ready to deal some serious damage to Sunset with her destruction. But before the bubble landed-
"I activate my Trap!" Sunset cried as her face down flipped up, "Interception!" Daydream flew up to the transformed unicorn and pushed her away before the bubble hit. Once inside, Daydream clutched her gilled throat before she exploded.
Sunset: 2200
Skystar: 2900
Skystar frowned. "Why would you give up such a strong monster for something so useless?"
"Well for one, I just saved myself some serious damage. And the other is that when times are tough, the strong will always stand up for those weaker then them. No matter what, things will always be better when you stick together."
Maybe," Skystar frowned. "But sometimes things won't and can't get better. No matter how many of you stick together, the world is a dark and dangerous place that will never let you find peace." As she said that, he mind flashed back to the day her brother was attacked. The day she and her mother vowed to find a way to free their people of the dark world. She wondered how many more of their citizens had been hurt or lost whilst she was one earth. "It won't be long now. Everyone, please stay strong." She ended her turned and as she did, Sunset's unicorn returned to normal. "I will free you from the curse of this world and deliver you to one where you can live in piece."
"I don't think so," Sunset told her while reaching for her deck. "It's my turn. I draw!" She did so, but then took a card from her hand and placed in on the deck. "With Squlder's Pendulum Ability, I can now shuffle a card back into my deck and draw again." The deck shuffled around before Sunset drew her card, a smile appearing on her lips as the portal began to form above her. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!"
The portal opened before a pair of fireballs shot out and hit the ground, exploding to reveal Sunset's ace. "Ignite your flame of victory, Solar Flare Phoenix." (A2500/D2100/L7/P4)
The second became a large robot that was basically two metal boxes standing at around seven foot high, a small yellow one on top of a big red one, with robotic eyes coming out of the smaller box. It had thin legs and a large riot shield like objects on the end of each arm instead of a hand. On its back was a jet-pack like device that launched fire. Its legs suddenly retracted into its body and it positioned the shields infront of it. "Corona Guardian, Protegetal!" (A500/D2800/L6)
"Those monsters can't scratch the queen!" Skystar told her, only to see Sunset smirk.
"Just wait until I activate the Continuous Spell Card, Flame Enforcer. Once per turn, I can increase the ATK of a Fire monster on my field by half the ATK of another Fire monster on my field. The only down side is I can't attack with the second monster." The card appeared before unleashing a burst of fire that struck Sunset Unicorn and then flew off to hit Solar Flare. (A3400/D2100/L7/P4) "ATTACK!" The bird flew up high before its body ignited and shot down towards the Atlantean Queen before smashing into and incinerating her.
"AUGH!"
Sunset: 2200
Skystar: 2500
"Amphitrite's skill!" A pillar of water exploded infront of her before vanishing to reveal Rhodos. "You also activated my Trap card," said face down flipped up. "Atlantean Salvage. This card activates whenever an Atlantean Monster is destroyed. Now I draw one card for every Level Four or below Atlantean in my graveyard." She drew three cards, smiling when she saw what one of them was.
Sunset didn't like the look of that, "I change Unicorn to DEF mode and end my turn."
"Then it's my go." She drew her card, "and with it I summon Atlantean Field Medic to the field in ATK mode." A pillar of water exploded to reveal a fish-women in a nurses uniform. (A1200/D1200/L3) "And then, I'll use Rhodos's skill to tribute them both." The pillar of water exploded behind her before both of them were sucked inside.
"I should have known," Sunset sighed. But then Skystar did something unexpected. Instead of taking the card from the graveyard, a card slotted out of her deck instead.
"Now I once again summon Amphitrite, the Atlantean Queen!" The pillar exploded to reveal Amphitrite once again. (A3000/D2500/L8) "What's more, Field Medic's skill activates since it was sacrificed to activate a Water Monster's ability. And now, I gain two hundred Life Points for every Water monster in my graveyard." Sunset's eyes went wide, trying to recall how many Water Monsters were in her graveyard right now.
"Seven...no, eight. So that's-"
"Sixteen hundred Life Points," Skystar smiled as she began to glow.
Sunset: 2200
Skystar: 4100
"Seriously?" Sunset asked. "Is that why you chose to leave your other Amphitrite in the graveyard?"
"Partially," Skystar smiled. "And the other reason was because I also have these cards!" She played one, "Salvage!" She removed two cards from her graveyard, revealing them as Neptabyss and Field Medic. "And my other card," she played another one. "Monster Reincarnation!" She discarded Field Medic before removing Amphitrite and adding it to her hand.
"Not good," Sunset realised. "Now she has everything she needs to summon her Zenith Dragon."
"Now I activate Amphitrite's skill and discard Neptabyss, in order to change all of your monsters into the same types as him." The queen raised her staff as it unleashed the wave of energy that struck Sunset's monsters. Sunset Unicorn transformed into her seapony form while Protegetal turned blue while his jet-pack became some kind of water jet, with Solar Flare Phoenix's feathers moulting off of it and being replaced by scales.
"Really not good," Sunset gulped as she watched Amphitrite form a bubble in her hand.
Skystar smiled "With three other Water Monsters on the field, the queen now gains an extra six hundred ATK points." (A3600/D2500/L8) "GO!" She fired the bubble at Solar Flare Phoenix, the giant scaly bird being sucked into the orb and quickly having trouble breathing until it exploded. The bubble popped and the water slammed down onto Sunset, almost knocking her off her feet.
"AUGH!"
Sunset: 1100
Skystar: 4100
"I end my turn." Sunset's other monsters returned to normal, Skystar smiling at the sight of Sunset soaked and barely able to stand. "It won't be much longer. Soon you were be stuck down by the tsunami of power that makes up my deck and be washed of the face of this pathetic planet." Sunset finally stood firm and glared at her. "You will fall and the virus will destroy your system. And once Gaia-Maiden has completed her task, nothing will stand in Lady Midnight's way. Not you or your pathetic friends."
"Don't badmouth my friends," Sunset told her before reaching for her deck and drawing a card. "When she saw what it was, she smirked as the portal form. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!"
The portal opened before a fireball flew out of it, hitting the ground and exploding to reveal the revived ace of her deck. "Ignite your flames of victory once again, Solar Flare Phoenix!" (A2500/D2100/L7/P4) "And since my life points are less then two thousand, her ability lets me double them!" The bird flapped its wings and unleashed a burst of fire that wrapped around her, healing her wounds.
Sunset: 2200
Skystar: 4100
"Then, I activate the Spell card Wildfire Draw!" She drew five cards, only for each one to suddenly be red hot and burn her hand. "Augh!" She cried, but fought through the pair. "This card lets me draw until I have six cards, then deals me three hundred points of damage for every card.
Sunset: 700
Skystar: 4100
"Are you insane?" Skystar asked, "why would you give up so many points."
'With what she has coming, I'm gonna need all the cards I can get.' She looked down at her hand and saw she had gotten three Traps, a Spell and a monster. And one of those Traps made her smile. "Perfect. I summon the Tuner monster, Sun-Ray Salamander!" In a burst of fire, the little yellow lizard with black spots appeared between Solar Flare and unicorn. (A100/D100/L1)
"Another tuner?" Skystar asked as Sun-Ray leapt into the air.
"That's right. Now watch as I tune level one Sun-Ray Salamander, with level seven Solar Flare Phoenix." The little lizard glowed before transforming into a fireball, which flew high up into the sky before carving a single flaming ring that Solar Flare Phoenix flew into. "Awaken the power sleeping within us all and allow your flame to burn brighter then ever." The Phoenix was consumed by a burst of light. "I SYNCHRO SUMMON!"
The light faded revealing Sunset's monster. "Solar Phoenix Rebirth!" (A3000/D2500/L8) "Activating the effect of Flame Enforcer!" Protegetal ignited before the flames flew off her and into Rebirth, increasing its ATK by half of his very low ATK points. (A3250/D2500/L8) "I switch Unicorn to ATK mode and attack with Solar Phoenix Rebirth!" The giant bird flew up before its body ignited and it shot downwards, preparing to strike the Atlantean Queen down. "Then I activate the Solar Flare Spell card!" Rebirth's flames grew hotter. (A4250/D2500/L8) The attack struck and with a massive explosion, the queen of the sea was incinerated and screamed as she did so.
"AAARRRHHH!" Skystar cried at the intense heat.
Sunset: 700
Skystar: 2850
"Gyah!" She panted, "skill activate!" The pillar of water exploded infront of her before Rhodos leapt out, floating down infront of her. (A1600/D800/L3)
Sunset smirked, "she won't be around for long. Sunset Unicorn, blast her!" The Corona Beast's horn ignited before it fired a fireball at the Atlantean Princess, causing her to be destroyed the same way as her mother while Skystar grunt.
Sunset: 700
Skystar: 2650
"I place three cards face down and end my turn," Sunset announced as Rebirth's ATK points returned to the normal amount. (A3000/D2500/L8)
Skystar looked at her empty field, then back at Sunset. She pointed at her, "you think you're at an advantage. But the fact is, you're not. You're merely grasping at straws, trying in vain to delay your inevitable destruction. You will fall and after that, I'll go find those girls that are here. The ones that stole the data that allowed you to destroy the Void." Sunset frowned, realising she was talking about Pinkie and Maud. "When they're dealt with, then I'll find Grand Hoof and make him pay for what he did to me. And then, I'll have all the time in the world to make Tempest Shadow suffer for the crime she committed."
"What crime?" Sunset asked.
"The crime of causing my mother harm!" Skystar almost screamed. She was panting like a made lunatic, her mind flashing back to the day Tempest had beaten Novo in a Duel and sent her back to their world. "You fools dishonoured the name of one who was precious to me. One who was a brilliant, shining influence in not just my life, but the lives of my entire people. My mother has only ever done what she thought was best for our subjects. When the world turned against us, she hid us under the sea and protected us. But even then, the world refused to let her efforts bare fruit."
She remembered back to the day her brother had been injured, causing her mother to see the truth. The utter despair she had endured for the sake of her people.
"Even then, she refused to give up and kept pushing to find a way to keep us all safe. And eventually, she found it." Skystar then pointed at Sunset, "BUT THEN YOU FOOLS STOOD IN OUR WAY! You sent her back before she could complete her mission. So now, as the new Omega Zealot of Water, I must complete it in her stead." She reached for her deck and drew, "I play the Spell card Pot of Greed!" She drew two more cards and when she saw what those were, she smiled.
Sunset felt a shiver run down her spine, having a feeling she knew what was coming. But how? She didn't have Amphitrite or Rhodos on her field.
"I activate the effect of Atlantean Field Medic from the graveyard," Skystar removed a card from her Duel Disk and placed it in her pocket. "By banishing her, I can summon a Level three or below Atlantean Sea-Serpent from my graveyard. This monster can't attack and is destroyed during the End Phase, but she won't be around that long." In a burst of water, Rhodos appeared once again. "Next, I summon Atlantean Marksman!" In another burst of water, the crossbow wielding fish-man appeared. (A1400/D0/L3) "And then, I'll sacrifice both these monster to activate Rhodos's ability!" The pillar of water exploded behind her before the two monsters flew into it, the pillar exploding to reveal the revived Atlantean Queen who floated down behind Skystar.
Sunset frowned, knowing what was coming next.
"Since Marksman was sacrificed to activate a Water Monster's effect, his skill now activates!" The ghostly image of Marksman appeared and fired its crossbow at Sunset's face down, destroying what was revealed to be her Defence Draw. "Then," Skystar held up a card, "I pay half my life points to activate this Spell card. Ascension from the Abyss!"
Sunset: 700
Skystar: 1325
"Now, I can add any Water Monster from my deck to my hand." Her deck slotted out a card that she took and held up. "I have it. The card that will help free my people from the utter despair they've suffered." Her marked glowed brighter then ever. "With the power entrusted to me by the queen of the seas, I will end this accursed world!"
"Here it comes," Sunset gulped.
"First, I must tribute a Water Attributed monster while also discarding a monster in my hand with the same name." As she did this, Amphitrite leapt up into the air before water exploded out of the void around them and began to wrap around her to form a sphere of water that grew larger and large by the second.
Sunset merely stared at the orb, genuine fear at what she was about to face swelling up within her. The shadow of the creature within the bubble appeared, its deadly eyes glaring down at Sunset
"Awaken," Skystar chanted, "beast of water!" She slapped her card down on the Duel Disk, the orb exploding as the monster inside was revealed. "Zenith Dragon of Bottomless Oceans, FABULAQUA!"
The Zenith Dragon floated down behind Skystar, unleashing a roar that sent a burst of air into Sunset's face that was so strong it made the girl almost fall over.
"A Zenith Dragon's ATK and DEF points are equal to the combined ATK and DEF points of the monsters used to summon it." (A6000/D5000/L12) "Not only that, his skill activates." Sunset looked up and watched as the dragon's four metal fins opened up, revealing the water cannons. Each one unleashed a blast of water that hit the none-existent ground and became a powerful tidalwave. It flowed forward and struck Sunset's field, washing her face downs and the cards in her Pendulum Zone away before hitting her.
"AUGH!" She cried, feeling herself get pushed backwards while her cards returned to her hand.
"And for every card returned to your hand, I can now summon one Level Four or below Water Monster from my grave by negating their effects." The pillars bent at shot down to hit the ground, exploding to reveal Rhodos, Dragoons, Attack Squad, Marksman. (A1600/D800/L3) (A1800/D0/L4) (A1400/D0/L3) (A1400/D0/L3)
"I can't keep up!" Cadance cried, still typing away. "We've only got a few more minutes until the system's completely fried."
"You can do it," Shining assured her. "I know you can. To protect Twilight, we have to keep those cards safe." Cadance knew that, though mentioning it did cause her to redouble her efforts.
"You foolish humans," Skystar announced as her monsters prepared to attack Sunset with a tsunami of power. "Trying to face such overwhelming odds is foolish. Against an obstacle like this, you have no chance!"
Sunset frowned. 'Obstacle? Overwhelming odds. You're the one who's foolish.' She shut her eyes, Skystar thinking she had given up. 'My life has been almost nothing but obstacles and overwhelming odds. I grew up on the streets and was met with many challenges as I tried to survive. It was hard, and many times I found myself failing. But I always picked myself back up, forcing myself to try again and do it better. So while those days may have been hard, they held shape me into the person I am today..
She remembered the day she had first met Cold, how he had beaten her so many times. But not once did she give up. His words of that day echoed in her mind. "Be like the Phoenix and rise higher then you ever believed you could be."
"And that's what I did," Sunset said allowed as he opened her mouth.
Skystar looked at her in confusion, but quickly shook it off. "Zenith Dragon of Bottomless Oceans, end this!" The dragon roared as the gem on its head glowed before sucking moisture into its mouth. "I dedicate this attack to my queen, Amphitrite!" She pointed as Sunset, "OCEANIC OBLITERATION!" The dragon shot a blast of water out towards Rebirth, ready to end wipe out Sunset's life points.
Sunset looked up at the water as it shot towards her, Skystar believing it was the end of this Duel. But she was wrong.
"Skill activate!" To Skystar's shock and horror, Protegetal flew infront of Rebirth and took the blast head on. "Once per turn, Protegetal can take the hit for any monster on my side of the field." Protegetal was ripped apart by the water, but Rebirth was completely unharmed while Skystar looked horror struck.
"Impossible," she whispered, "not again. The power of the Zenith Dragon, so easily stopped."
"Not stopped," Sunset smirked. "Just...redirected. I knew all about your Zenith Dragon's special abilities. Pinkie and Tempest told us all about it. So I added Protegetal to my deck to protect me." Skystar growled, clearly not thinking with what she did next.
"Dragoons, ATTACK!" The twin seahorse riders swam forward and struck Sunset Unicorn, the two monsters destroyed.
"Bad move," Sunset whispered as Skystar was forced to end her turn. As she did, the Zenith Dragon vanished along with her other monsters while Amphitrite replaced them.
"It's my turn," Sunset drew her card and smiled when she saw what it was. Perfect. Rebirth's skill!" The phoenix flapped it wings, unleashing flames that wrapped around Sunset and increased her Life Points.
Sunset: 1700
Skystar: 1325
"Then, I play Monster Reborn!" In a burst of fire, Sun-Ray Salamander reappeared. "Next, I summon Corona Beast, Sun-Heart Lion Cub!" In another burst of fire, the young lion cub appeared and landed besides Sun-Ray Salamander. (A800/D800/L2/P8) "Now I'm placing Rocket Smasher and Squlder back into the Pendulum Zone." The pillars of light appeared before the two monsters flew up into them, the portal forming above Sunset's head while Skystar stared in horror. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!"
The portal opened before a pair of fireballs flew out and struck the ground, exploding to reveal Sunset's monsters. "Ignite your flames of victory one last time, Solar Flare Phoenix!" (A2500/D2100/L7/P4)
"Corona Beast, Sunset Unicorn!" (A1800/D1300/L4/P7) "And with these two monster's special summoning, their abilities activate!" The two monsters unleashed flames from their wings and horn, which flew around Sunset and Lion Cub. (A800/D800/L1/P8)
Sunset: 3400
Skystar: 1325
"Two tuners," Skystar asked while Sunset smirked.
"That's right!" Sun-Ray and Sun-Heart leapt into the air. "Now watch, as I tune Level one Sun-Ray Salamander and Sun-Heart Lion Cub with Level eight Solar Phoenix Rebirth!" The two exploded into a pair of fireballs, which formed a pair of blazing rings. Solar Phoenix Rebirth flew inside the rings and began to glow.
"No," Skystar whispered in shock.
"Double Tuning!" Sunset screamed as her monster disappeared in an explosion of fire, which formed a blazing cocoon. "Appear, the embodiment of my new strength!" The flames of the cocoon faded, reveal Sunset's super monster. "Solar Monarch, FRIENDSHIP PHOENIX!" (A3500/D3000/L10)
"This can't be," Skystar shook her head.
"Friendship Phoenix's skill!" Sunset cried, "I can make the Life Points of any Duelist on the field four thousand!" The phoenix beat its wings, flames shooting off and wrapping around only Sunset.
Sunset: 4000
Skystar: 1325
"Next, I'll play Flame Enforcer and use its ability to power Friendship Phoenix up by half of Solar Flare's ATK points." The bird exploded into flames, which flew into its evolved form. (A4750/D3000/L10)
"No," Skystar shock her head in fear, "how is this possible."
"Through the hardships of life," Sunset replied. "Hardships are the driving forces of all evolution. We grow stronger to survive whatever life throws at us. Instead of giving up on the world and trying to start again, you should have worked to become someone that world couldn't hurt. But no, you just wanted the easy way out. Well this is what the easy way gets you."
"Shut up," Skystar cried. "You don't understand. You don't understand anything!"
"I understand that I've had a hard life as well," Sunset told her. "But I didn't let that stop me. I fought, even when my body screamed at me to give up. And because I kept fighting, I have everything I've ever wanted." She glared at Skystar, "and I am not gonna let you or your kind take that away from me." Skystar just glared at her. "Friendship Phoenix's skill!"
Sunset: 100
Skystar: 1325
"I transfer all but one hundred life point to it!" The giant bird's body exploded with flames, turning it into a bird shaped fireball. (A8650/D3000/L10) "It's time to send you back where you came from. And when you get there, trying doing the right thing and grow to be strong enough to lead your people into a bright future." She pointed at Amphitrite, "ATTACK!" Friendship Phoenix flew up before shooting down, the queen of the sea as its target.
Skystar could only watch in near horror as the attack came towards her mother's image, tears forming in her eyes. "Mother..." The attack finally landed and with a mighty explosion consuming the Atlantean Queen, obliterating her into nothing. "I'M SORRY-EEEEEEEEEEEEE!" She screamed as the shockwave struck her and sent her flying backwards.
Sunset: 100 (Winner)
Skystar: 0
Shining and Cadance suddenly began to hear a cracking sound and turned back to the Omega Field.
Large cracks began to appear on the orb before it suddenly shattered, sending pieces of the dome flying before they faded into smoke. The light unleashed by this blinded the two for a second, but then they saw Sunset standing over a downed Skystar
The girl was panting, but a smile was still on her face. "Sunset." She turned towards Shining, "you did it?" Sunset nodded back before hearing movement, turning back to Skystar as she started picking herself up.
"How...dare you," she growled before a light made her look down and gasp.
Her cards were all glowing a blue light before they flew out of her deck, graveyard, extra deck and pocket. Every single card she owned floated infront of her, including the Zenith Dragon. And then, they burst into flames.
"NOOOOO!" She screamed as all but the Zenith Dragon were destroyed. She didn't have long to process this before a crippling burst of pain exploded from her hand. "AAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRHHHHHHHHHH!" She clutched her hand as the mark slowly began to fade away, signalling the end of her Soulink. But despite this, she glared up at Sunset through tear filled eyes. "You may send me back. You won't be able to stop the virus from destroying your system."
Sunset merely glared at her before turning away from her and quickly taking a seat next to Cadance, where she started typing away. "Don't underestimate me."
Skystar shot daggers at her before another burst of pain made her scream again, causing her to fall to the ground. "It's hopeless. Hopeless. No matter what you do, Lady Midnight will awaken her full power." The Zenith Dragon fell to the ground infront of her. "May people's wish for a perfect world will come to pass." She looked up at the ceiling, "WE WILL BE GIVEN A NEW LIFE, FREE OF STRIFE AND PAIN! AND I AM THE ONE WHO DELIVERED US TO THAT PARADISE! I AM THE ONE-" She didn't get to say anymore, as the light vanished from her eyes.
The next thing anyone knew, she fell backwards.
What they couldn't see was the spirit of Rhodos, who was pulled from Skystar's body and began to float up to the ceiling. "I am the one who gets to enjoy this perfect world, whilst you must suffer utter oblivion." With that, she finally vanished as her host fell unconscious.
"That's not going to happen," Sunset announced whilst she continued typing. "No matter what, your sham of a perfect world will never come to be. Not as long as my friends and I have anything to say about it." With that, she pressed the enter button and sat back.
She waited several seconds and nothing seemed to happen, the many windows of code on the screen remaining and turning red. But then, one of the code streams that had just turned red changed back to blue. This was followed by another stream and then another and another until the whole window was blue. The same happened for the rest of the windows, the code inside changed back to blue until every red stream was gone. Virus...eliminated.
Sunset sighed in relief, Cadance and Shining both smiling. "Sunset," Cadance patted her on the shoulder, "you did it!"
"Yeah," Sunset nodded, "I guess I did. But it'll take some time for the system to repair itself." She frowned. "with the anti-teleportation system being the last one to come back online." She turned back to Skystar's unconscious body before getting up and moving over to a card that lay on the ground, the teen crouching down and picking it up. "Zenith Dragon of Bottomless Oceans," she whispered while standing up. "You won't be causing any more trouble."
"Maybe we should put it with the other ones," Cadance suggested.
"We shouldn't risk it," Shining told them. "Not until the teleportation barrier's back online. The moment we drop the shields, one of them could teleport in and hit us before we know what's going on. Then, we'll lose all the Zenith Dragons."
Sunset nodded, "then we'll have to keep it here until the barrier's back up." She turned back towards the monitors showing the other's Duels. "It's up to you guys now. Take them down."
Back in the corridor, Starlight and Sunburst continued to do battle against their own clones.
Both Starlights had Celestia Spirit Leo on their field, with the real one having a face down and Leo's ATK points increased to thirty seven hundred points. Sunburst had Sunburst Archmage on his field while his clone had Sunburst Paladin and no cards in his hand. And right now, it was the clone's turns.
"I now attack with Celestial Spirit Leo!" The fake lion man monster charged forward. "And with seven Celestial Spirits in my graveyard, Leo's ATK goes up by fourteen hundred." (A3900/D2200/L7)
Starlight just smirked as she activated her face down. "Go, Celestial Spirit Scutum!" A shield with the constellation appeared in Leo's hand and he used it to block the attack. "With this, I can negate your attack and then pump up Leo's DEF points by five hundred. (A3700/D2700/L7)
"Attack!" Sunburst's clone cried as Sunburst Paladin charged forward. "And with fifteen fire monsters on the field and in our graveyards, his ATK points increase by forty five hundred. (A7700/D2300/L8) The knight swung its blazing sword at Sunburst Archmage, but a shield suddenly appeared in its hand.
"Go, Draining Shield!" Sunburst's clone looked down at its hand, seeing it was empty and so he couldn't use Paladin's skill. The shield blocked the sword's swing and began to drain its power. "Now my life points increase by the ATK points of your monster." His Life Points grew until they outclassed anyone else's.
Both clones looked actually horrified that their attacks had failed, both unable to do anything except end their turns. This made Starlight and Sunburst smirk as they reached for their decks.
"I draw!" They both cried before Starlight continued. "I equip Celestial Spirit Leo with the Celestial Weapon, Orion's Sword!" Said sword appeared in Leo's hand, powering him up even more. (A4700/D2700/L7)
"I PENDULUM SUMMON!" Sunburst cried as the portal opened and a pair of fireballs shot out of the portal, revealing both Sunburst Enchanter and Coalizard. Seconds later, a giant flaming tornado exploded around his monsters and sucked them up. "Then, I tribute Sunburst Archmage, along with two other Fire monsters, to give birth to his ultimate form." He slapped his card on the Duel Disk, as the flaming tornado exploded to reveal Sunburst's ace monster. "Behold, the Great Sage of Sunburst!" (A3500/D3000/L10/P1)
"Leo's skill!" Starlight drew her cards and smiled before discarding three of them.
"Great Sage's skill!" The wizard raised his staff, "I can now summon a Sunburst monster from my graveyard and grant its ability to Great Sage!" Sunburst's own Sunburst Paladin appeared besides Great Sage, its power being transferred to the evolved Pendulum Monster.
"I attack with Celestial Spirit Leo!" Starlight cried as her monster charged forward, Orion's Sword primed and ready to attack. "And, with nine Celestial Spirits in the graveyard, Leo's ATK points go up by eighteen hundred." The nine constellations appeared around Leo before they flew into him, increasing his attack power to an insane amount. (A6500/D2700/L7)
"Great Sage of Sunburst, attack Sunburst Paladin!" The magician raised its staff and summoned a might blaze, which began to grow stronger and strong. "And thanks to my Paladin's ability, Great Sage gains forty eight hundred ATK points!" (A8300/D3000/L10/P1)
Great Sage and Leo before charged at their opponents, the Sunburst and Starlight clones having no way to protect themselves as their monsters were either cut in half or burnt alive. This caused a mighty explosion, which knocked the two fakes off their feet and caused their to melt back into slime as their life points dropped to zero.
"ALRIGHT!" The two cheered as they high-fived, happy they were able to beat...themselves.
"Come on," Starlight turned to rush down the hallway Trixie had gone down. "I'm not letting you get away."
"Starlight," she turned to Sunburst, "just be careful. I know you want to stop her, but you can't let yourself become blinded by that goal. That's what happened to Flash when he Duelled Midnight and we all know how that turned out."
Starlight sighed, "you're right." She turned back to the tunnel, "I need to stay calm." Her face got serious, "but I will still take her down." Sunburst nodded, though he was still glad he was going with her so he could help her if she did end up getting overwhelmed by the situation.
In another corridor, Pinkie and Maud continued their Duels against their clones.
Pinkie still had Balloonimal Kraken on her field along with a face down, while her clones field was completely empty. At the same time, Maud had Stone Serpent on her field along with a face down while her face down was a Trap that would deal her opponent serious damage when the clone attacked. Maud's clone had a completely empty field.
"I draw," the clones both stated as they drew their cards.
"I play Graceful Charity," Maud's clone announced before she drew three cards and discarded two. "Then, I activate the Spell card Monster Reborn!" In a flash of light, the giant known a Tectonic Colossal appeared behind her. Due too its immense size, it couldn't completely fit in the hallway and only its head, shoulders and upper chest were revealed. (A3500/D2000/L8)
"I play Fusion Pop!" Two portals appeared around Pinkie's clone, with Balloonimal Lion, Fish, Merlion, Hippo and Eagle appearing out of one before getting sucked into another. "With this, I can now banish Balloonimals in my graveyard and fuse them together." The five spiralled around one another from within the portal, which then exploded seconds later. "I Fusion Summon!"
The light from the portal faded to show one of Pinkie's best monsters that then floated down to the ground. "Balloonimal Chimera!" (A?/D?/L10) "Chimera's original ATK and DEF becomes the number of monsters used to summon it times eight hundred. (A4000/D4000/L10)
"Tectonic Colossal's skill!" Maud's clone announced as the giant's massive hand appeared in the hallway. "I skip my battle phase and destroy every monster on your field, then deal you two hundred points of damage for each one." Tectonic Colossal slammed its palm down on Stone Serpent, crushing it beneath its hand.
"AUGH!" Maud cried, despite only losing two hundred life points.
"Chimera," Pinkie's clone pointed at Kraken, "destroy her!" The Chimera bounced forward, preparing to crush its fellow Fusion. But the real Pinkie was having none of that.
"I activate my face down!" Her card flipped up, revealing a Spell card. "Super Polymerisation!" She discarded a card as a portal appeared between the two monsters, sucking them both inside. "Now I can Fusion Summon using monsters from both our fields, so now I'll be creating my own mega monster!" The portal exploded, unleashing a bright light onto Pinkie's field. "I FUSION SUMMON!"
The light faded to reveal another Balloonimal Chimera, though this one didn't have as many heads on it. "Since I only used two monsters, its ATK and DEF points are only sixteen hundred. (A1600/D1600/L10)
The clone frowned before it and Maud's clone ended their turn.
Pinkie and Maud both drew before Maud's Pendulum Portal opened. "I PENDULUM SUMMON!" Two lights shot out and struck the ground, revealing her monsters.
"Gaia-Rock Titan, Gaia!" (A3000/D3000/L8/P3)
"And Stone Serpent!" (A2100/D1500/L5/P3) "Then I activate Gaia's skill," the giant reached down and grabbed Stone Serpent before crushing it. "Now Gaia's power in increased by the ATK of Stone Serpent." Gaia began to glow with a green aura. (A5100/D3000/L8/P3)
The sisters turned to one another before sharing a smile and nodded. "For Marble," they said together before turning back to their opponents. "ATTACK!" Their monsters charged forward before slamming into the two or their monsters, wiping them out and reducing their life points to zero.
Pinkie and Maud sighed as they watched the two fakes begin to melt away, leaving them alone in the hallway while their monsters vanished. "No time to rest," Pinkie told her sister before they started running down the hallway. "We're coming Marble."
Applejack and Rarity were standing infront of their generator, the two on alert in case anything happened.
And then, a sound filled the air. The soft, rhythmic, clicking on heeled shoes on the metal flooring. The two turned towards the sound of the clicks and wait, until the cause of that sound appeared around the corner and smiled at the two of them.
"Hello," Marble Pie smirked before heading towards them. "I hope you don't mind, but I thought it would be fun to have a friendly Duel." With that, she held up two things. He hand with the mark on the back of it, and the Void Cube. "With a few raised stakes."
Rarity and Applejack frowned, both worried and curious about what Marble had in store them.