Reese and Jenny’s cars were still stranded in the fog. Ever since the Riverwalk Competition, Reese and Emma had exchanged their contacts with Alex and Tom so they could stay in touch. Despite this, there was strangely no service to allow either of them to call Alex or Tom.
“Dammit!” exclaimed Reese in frustration.
“Calm down,” cooed Emma. “We’ll find them.”
“How? The fog’s thicker than all hell, and I don’t have any way to contact them.”
“Let’s think,” said Emma. “Whatever dragged them away couldn’t have been far.”
“But where do you think they could have gone? They’d have to go to someplace secluded…” Reese finally got it. He slammed the brakes, causing Jenny’s car to stop behind them. Reese put the car in park and ran to Jenny’s car.
“Jenny,” said Reese as Jenny rolled the window down.
“What?” she answered.
“I think I know where Alex and Tom are. Follow me.”
Reese got back into his car and led Jenny to where he thought their friends were.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Trixie vs. Alex
Trixie’s Turn: Trixie activates Photon Lead, special summoning a level 4 or lower LIGHT attribute monster, choosing Arcana Force IV – The Emperor (ATK: 1400 DEF: 1400). A coin is tossed. It comes out tails. With Arcana Force IV – The Emperor’s tails effect, all Arcana Force monsters lose 500 ATK (ATK: 1400 -> 900). Trixie tributes Arcana Force IV – The Emperor to normal summon Darklord Desire with its effect (ATK: 3000 DEF: 2800).
Trixie places one card face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-2 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
***************************************************
“Crap,” commented Tom. “A 3000 ATK point monster?”
“Does this frighten you?” asked Trixie. “This is only a fraction of the skill Trixie possesses. You have a lot more to fear than this.”
I should build up some defense, thought Alex. She may be boastful of her skill at this game, but if she’s really an agent of Rae Sulfa Tun, then I should have every reason to be cautious.
***************************************************
Alex’s Turn: Alex activates Graceful Charity, drawing three cards and discarding two. Alex special summons Hieratic Dragon of Asar by banishing a LIGHT attribute Dragon-type monster and a normal Dragon-type monster in his graveyard from play (ATK: 2600 DEF: 700). Alex normal summons Dragunity Dux (ATK: 1500 DEF: 1000). Alex then special summons Dragunity Arma Mystletainn from his hand by sending Dragunity Dux to the graveyard (ATK: 2100 DEF: 1500).
Alex places 2 cards face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-1 Life-4000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-2
***************************************************
Two cars came speeding into the parking circle of Burlington Park. Each person and pony in each car got out as quickly as possible and ran to where the Emmitts were.
“Alex!” called Reese.
“Guys!” responded Alex.
“Oh, how wonderful,” mocked Trixie. “Your friends have decided to come and see the show.”
“Can it, you charlatan,” snapped Applejack. “Don’t forget how Twilight wiped the floor with you after your visit to Ponyville.”
“You don’t need to remind Trixie, Applejack. Trixie knows full well of what happened that day, and she made a promise to herself.”
“And what’s that?” asked Alex.
“That it would never happen again.”
***************************************************
Trixie’s Turn: Trixie activates her face down Lucky Chance, allowing her to draw one card if she calls the coin toss from a monster’s effect correctly. Trixie activates Monster Reborn, special summoning Arcana Force IV – The Emperor from her graveyard. A coin is tossed. Trixie calls heads. The coin lands on heads (ATK: 1400 -> 1900). With Lucky Chance’s effect, Trixie draws one card.
Trixie then activates her spell Inferno Reckless Summon, special summoning as many monsters with 1500 or less ATK from her hand, deck, or graveyard that share the same name of a special summoned monster, special summoning two more Arcana Force IV – The Emperors from her deck (ATK: 1400 -> 1900) (ATK: 1400 -> 1900). Two coins are tossed. Trixie calls heads for the first one and calls tails for the last one. The first coin lands on heads while the last one lands on tails (ATK: 1900 -> 2400) (ATK: 1900 -> 2400) (ATK: 1900 -> 2400) (ATK: 2400 -> 1900) (ATK: 2400 -> 1900) (ATK: 2400 -> 1900). Trixie draws two cards through Lucky Chance’s effect. With Inferno Reckless Summon’s effect, Alex can choose one monster he controls and special summon as many monsters with the same name from his deck, hand, or graveyard, special summoning two Hieratic Dragon of Asars.
Trixie tributes her three Arcana Force IV – The Emperors to special summon Arcana Force EX – The Dark Ruler (ATK: 4000 DEF: 4000). A coin is tossed. Trixie calls tails. The coin lands on tails. With Lucky Chance’s effect, Trixie draws one card. Trixie activates Darklord Desire’s effect. By reducing its ATK by 1000 (ATK: 3000 -> 2000), she can send one of her opponent’s monsters to the graveyard, choosing one of Alex’s Hieratic Dragon of Asars. Trixie overlays Darklord Desire and Arcana Force EX – The Dark Ruler to xyz summon Cobalt Ursa Minor (ATK: 3000 DEF: 3000).
Trixie activates Cobalt Ursa Minor’s effect. By detaching one xyz material from it, she can choose one of two effects. She chooses the first. Trixie draws one card. She draws Arcana Force IV – The Lovers. Since the drawn card was a monster, Cobalt Ursa Minor can attack a number of times equal to the level of the drawn monster (4).
Trixie attacks Dragunity Arma Leyvaten with Cobalt Ursa Minor.
Alex’s Life Points: 4000 -> 3100
Alex activates Card of Last Will, drawing five cards when a monster he controls is destroyed by battle. Trixie attacks one of Alex’s Hieratic Dragon of Asars with Cobalt Ursa Minor.
Alex’s Life Points: 3100 -> 2700
Trixie attacks the last Hieratic Dragon of Asar with Cobalt Ursa Minor.
Alex’s Life Points: 2700 -> 2300
Trixie attacks Alex directly with Cobalt Ursa Minor, but Alex activates Card Defense, discarding one card to negate the attack. Then, he draws one card.
Trixie activates Second Coin Toss. Trixie sets one monster.
Trixie places two cards face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-1 Life-4000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-2
***************************************************
“I don’t believe it,” gasped Twilight, mouth agape.
“She’s controlling an Ursa Minor!” gasped Rainbow Dash.
“I told you not to underestimate the talents of the great and powerful Trixie," the cyan unicorn bellowed.
“You’re right,” said Alex. His response had a surprised gasp from the ponies, including Trixie.
“What did you say?” she asked, almost confused.
“It takes a lot of skill to do what you just did. Why are you using that skill for evil? Why don’t you use your given talents to do good?”
“You foal! There is no longer any good! The damage Twilight and her friends have inflicted onto Trixie and her status as Equestria’s greatest magician is done. All that’s left is my revenge!”
“Trixie, I–”
“It’s your turn.”
“Hmph. Suit yourself.”
***************************************************
Alex’s Turn: Alex summons Hieratic Dragon of Gebeb (ATK: 1800 DEF: 400). Next, he tributes Hieratic Dragon of Gebeb to special summon Hieratic Dragon of Su (ATK: 2200 DEF: 1000). When Hieratic Dragon of Gebeb is tributed, Alex can special summon a Hieratic normal monster from his hand, deck, or graveyard, special summoning Hieratic Seal of the Dragon King from his graveyard (ATK: 0 DEF: 0). Alex overlays Hieratic Dragon of Gebeb and Hieratic Seal of the Dragon King to xyz summon Jade Wyvern (ATK: 2500 DEF: 2100).
Alex activates Dragon Mastery, allowing him to equip a monster he controls with Dragon-type Dragunity monster from his hand, equipping Jade Wyvern with Dragunity Brandistock. With Dragon Mastery’s effect, all monsters equipped with Dragunity monsters gain 500 ATK (ATK: 2500 -> 3000). With Dragunity Brandistock’s effect, a monster equipped with it can attack twice during the battle phase.
Alex attacks Trixie's face down monster with Jade Wyvern, which turns out to be a Arcana Force VI – The Lovers (ATK: 1600 DEF: 1600). A coin is tossed. The coin lands on tails. Trixie activates Second Coin Toss’ effect, negating Arcana Force VI – The Lovers’ effect and re-doing the coin toss. A coin is tossed. Trixie calls heads. The coin lands on heads. With Lucky Chance’s effect, Trixie draws one card. Trixie draws one card with Lucky Chance’s effect. With Arcana Force VI – The Lovers’ heads effect, it can be treated as two tributes for an Arcana Force monster.
The attack continues, but Trixie activates Attack Invulnerability, preventing her monster’s destruction by battle. Alex activates Jade Wyvern’s effect. By detaching one xyz material from it, Alex can choose one monster on the field and have it not be destroyed by battle this turn, choosing Jade Wyvern. Alex attacks Cobalt Ursa Minor with Jade Wyvern, but Trixie activates Invincible Hero, preventing her monster’s destruction by battle. Since both monsters have equal ATKs, no damage is inflicted.
Alex places one card face down and ends his turn.
Status: Hand-2 Life-2300 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
***************************************************
“Like Trixie said before. You have no chance of winning. It can all be over if you just hand over that monster of yours now.”
“You can take my Stone of Equus when you pry it from my cold, dead hands!" remarked Alex.
“That can be arranged.”
***************************************************
Trixie’s Turn: Trixie tributes Arcana Force VI – The Lovers to summon Arcana Force XVIII – The Moon (ATK: 2800 DEF: 2800). A coin is tossed. Trixie calls tails. It lands on tails. With Lucky Chance’s effect, Trixie draws one card. Trixie activates Reversal of Fate, having its tails effect become its heads effect. Trixie activates the field spell Luminous Spark, having all LIGHT attribute monsters gain 500 ATK and lose 400 DEF (ATK: 3000 -> 3500, DEF: 3000 -> 2600) (ATK: 2800 -> 3300, DEF: 2800 -> 2400).
Trixie activates Cobalt Ursa Minor’s effect, detaching an xyz material from it activate its first effect. Trixie draws one card from her deck. She draws Darklord Asmodeus. With Cobalt Ursa Minor’s first effect, it can attack a number of times equal to the level of the drawn monster (8).
Trixie attacks Jade Wyvern with Cobalt Ursa Minor, but Alex activates Jade Wyvern’s effect, detaching an xyz material from it to prevent a monster’s destruction in battle, choosing Jade Wyvern. Also, Alex activates Damage Diet, halving all of the damage that he takes this turn.
Alex’s Life Points: 2300 -> 2050
Trixie attacks Jade Wyvern with Cobalt Ursa Minor for a second time.
Alex’s Life Points: 2050 -> 1800
Trixie attacks Jade Wyvern with Cobalt Ursa Minor for a third time.
Alex’s Life Points: 1800 -> 1550
Trixie attacks Jade Wyvern with Cobalt Ursa Minor for a fourth time.
Alex’s Life Points: 1550 -> 1300
Trixie attacks Jade Wyvern with Cobalt Ursa Minor for a fifth time.
Alex’s Life Points: 1300 -> 1050
Trixie attacks Jade Wyvern with Cobalt Ursa Minor for a sixth time.
Alex’s Life Points: 1050 -> 800
Trixie attacks Jade Wyvern with Cobalt Ursa Minor for a seventh time.
Alex’s Life Points: 800 -> 550
Trixie attacks Jade Wyvern with Cobalt Ursa Minor for an eighth time.
Alex’s Life Points: 550 -> 300
Trixie attacks Trixie attacks Jade Wyvern with Arcana Force XVIII – The Moon.
Alex’s Life Points: 300 -> 150
Trixie activates Overlay Regenerate, attaching it as xyz material onto Cobalt Ursa Minor.
Trixie places 1 card face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-1 Life-4000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-1
***************************************************
The barrage of attacks left Alex battered and lying on the ground. It was beginning to scare his friends and family that he wasn’t even moving.
“Alex!” yelled Twilight. “Get up!”
“Get up, man!” yelled Reese.
“Dude, kick that bitch’s ass!” ordered Tom.
With the encouragement of his friends, Alex found enough strength to wake up and get back on his feet. Everyone, minus Trixie, was relieved to see Alex get up to carry on the fight.
“Trixie still doesn’t understand why you continue to kill yourself like this. You have less than 5% of your life points left while I have all of mine to spare. I have two strong monsters on my side while you have one with no xyz materials on it. What hope do you have to defeat me?”
“Enough,” was all Alex responded.
***************************************************
Alex’s Turn: Alex activates Giant Trunade, sending all spell and trap cards on the field back to the owners’ hands, including Luminous Spark (ATK: 3500 -> 3000, DEF: 2600 -> 3000) (ATK: 3300 -> 2800, DEF: 2400 -> 2800), Dragon Mastery, and Dragunity Brandistock (ATK: 3000 -> 2500). Alex summons Dragunity Militum (ATK: 1700 DEF: 1200). Alex activates Orichalcum Chain, allowing him to xyz summon a monster with one less xyz material than required. With his life points below 500, Alex overlays Jade Wyvern to xyz summon Shining Platinum Dragon (ATK: 3500 DEF: 2500).
Alex activates Dragon Mastery again, equipping Shining Platinum Dragon with Dragunity Brandistock (ATK: 3500 -> 4000). Alex activates Shining Platinum Dragon’s effect, detaching all xyz materials from it to reveal a number of cards on the top of his deck equal to the number of xyz materials detached (1). Shining Platinum Dragon gains 500 ATK for each Dragon-type monster revealed by this effect. The card revealed is Dragunity Corsesca (ATK: 4000 -> 4500).
Alex attacks Arcana Force XVIII – The Moon with Shining Platinum Dragon.
Trixie’s Life Points: 4000 -> 2300
Alex attacks Cobalt Ursa Minor with Shining Platnum Dragon using Dragunity Brandistock’s effect.
Trixie’s Life Points: 2300 -> 800
Alex attacks Trixie directly with Dragunity Militum.
Trixie’s Life Points: 800 -> 0
Alex wins.
_________________________________________________________________________________________
“Impossible,” moaned Trixie. “How could you beat the great and powerful Trixie?”
“Not great and powerful anymore,” retorted Alex, walking towards her.
“Alex!” called Twilight. “Careful!”
Before Alex could respond to Twilight, the fog from earlier began to roll in from behind Trixie, who merely scowled at him.
“Wait!” yelled Alex. “I’m not done with you!”
Alex was inches from Trixie’s face when the fog covered her. Instead of hitting her, he merely hit the clouded air. Realizing that under this cover, she could strike back at any time, Alex backed away about a yard from the fog.
“Where did she go?” thought Alex aloud.
“Perhaps I can be of some kind of assistance,” called a feminine voice from Alex’s right.
Alex, along with his group of friends turned towards the direction of the source of the voice. Standing behind the wall of fog was a woman in a red woman’s suit, knee high black socks, red slippers, black, bobbed hair, and white mask.
“Are… you Rae Sulfa Tun?” asked Alex.
“I am.”
“Who in the hay do you think you are?” shouted Rainbow Dash. “I’m going to teach you a thing or two about messing with my friends.”
Rainbow Dash flew at high speed towards Rae, but upon colliding with her, Rae dissolved into a puff of fog.
“Hmhmhmhmhm,” giggled Rae, now appearing further left. “You’ll have to try harder than that.”
Rainbow Dash, thickheaded as ever, made another lunge, which only garnered the same results. This time however, Rae quickly reappeared behind Rainbow Dash and grabbed hold of the pegasus’ wing. Using inhuman strength, she tossed Rainbow into a tree, shattering the bark and leaving Rainbow Dash defeated and sprawled on the grass.
“Rainbow Dash!” yelled Tom.
Everyone rushed to her aid to see if she was alright. Rainbow had collided her shoulder into the tree, and judging from the speed at which she collided, it was most definite that it was broken.
“How dare you?” seethed Jenny at Rae.
“How dare I?” mocked Rae. “She was the one who attacked me.”
“And you sent your goons to attack us.”
“Rae!” interrupted Alex. “Who are you, how do you know so much of Equestria, and why do you want to destroy it?”
“Perhaps this will make a better answer,” said Rae.
Rae snapped her fingers, bringing out four creatures as they entered from the thick haze, one being Trixie, and another one of them being a human. Alex and everyone else easily recognized the human as Kyle. His face was strangely blanker than usual. But upon seeing the other two creatures, the ponies plus Spike gasped in shock.
One creature was a griffon, whom Rainbow Dash recognized by the three long, white feathers with purple tips that hung from her head. However, each of the ponies gasped at the sight of the other creature, which resembled a black, insectoid alicorn.
“Missed us?” asked the griffon.
“Gilda?” gasped Rainbow Dash, still weak from her broken shoulder as she stood on her three functioning legs. “What are you doing with Rae?”
“It’s good to see you too, Lame-bow Dash.”
“Lame-bow Dash?” snickered Tom. “Seriously?”
“Shut up,” spat Gilda. “Element of Loyalty, my hide.”
“Wha–” stammered Alex. “Who are you?”
Twilight stepped in to explain.
“These are our enemies. That griffon there is Gilda. She used to be one of Rainbow Dash’s friends until she treated Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy terribly. Let me tell you more about Trixie. She was a traveling showpony whose act was nothing more than boastful insults to her audience along with her tall tales to boost her massive ego. When we exposed her for the fraud that she was, she left in a huff.”
“Don’t tell me you’ve forgotten about me,” said the black alicorn.
“I’d never forget someone like you, Queen Chrysalis.”
“Who?” asked Reese.
“Queen Chrysalis is a creature known as a changeling, a parasite that feeds off of the love of another pony by disguising as their mate. She, in particular, disguised herself as my old foalsitter, Cadance, and tried to feed off the love of my brother, Shining Armor.”
“Such fond memories, aren’t they?” asked Chrysalis.
“What about Kyle?” asked Alex. “What reason would he have to attack a world so foreign to him?”
Rae teleported behind Kyle.
“Let’s just say his service to me transcends simple revenge,” she said, stroking his hair.
“Simple?” yelled Twilight. “You’re talking about the bringing the deaths of millions of innocents.”
Alex then directed his attention to Trixie, Gilda, and Chrysalis.
“What would you even hope to gain from destroying your home world like that?” he asked.
“The construction of a better world,” answered Rae.
“Better for whom? You?”
“Now you’re getting it.”
“Well, we won’t let you!” yelled Twilight.
“As long as we stick together…” began Tom.
“…wherever you and your minions may be…” continued Reese.
“…we’ll be there to stop you,” finished Alex.
“You don’t seem to understand the gravity of the situation, do you?” asked Rae. “If you thought Kyle was a powerful duelist, you haven’t seen anything yet. Prepare yourselves, bearers of the Stones of Equus. We will have our revenge. Anyone who stands in our way will stand no more.”
Without moving their bodies, Rae, Kyle, Gilda, Trixie, and Chrysalis shifted backwards into the mist. Once they were invisible, just as quickly as it came, the fog vanished, making the night as clear as night could be. With Rae gone, everyone put their attention back to the still injured Rainbow Dash.
“Pinkie, I hate to say this,” said Alex, “but the party’s canceled. Right now, we need to get Rainbow Dash to a hospital.”