//------------------------------//
// Chapter 14: Old Friends Unite 
// Story: Twilight's Duel School of Friendship: Sophomore Year 
// by k00l 
//------------------------------//

Back to Baltimare, it was the next day after Somnambula's duel. They were all sitting in the same hotel again, as the others were getting the full story from Somnambula and Sandbar.
"It sounds like your opponent, despite being consumed by shadows, was severely inexperienced." Said Starswirl.
"He was, it may have made him insecure which is the emotion the shadows latched onto." Said Somnambula.
"You two were really shook up when you guys got back. How come?" Asked Rockhoof. Somnambula and Sandbar looked at each other and were almost hesitant to answer.
"After my victory, we unmasked the Shadow Rider...who it was, was...upsetting." Said Somnambula.
"Who was it?" Asked Smolder.
"....It was Prince Blueblood." Said Sandbar. This reveal rendered the room speechless, everyone was knocked into awe.
"...Prince Blueblood? THE Prince Blueblood? The Nephew to Princess Celestia?" Asked Gallus.
"...Yeah." Said Sandbar.
"How...How is that even possible?" Asked Smolder.
"The Shadows can infect anyone, even royalty it seems." Said Starswirl approaching the huge window in the hotel room. "This situation is getting more and more dangerous everyday. We Should all just sacrifice ourselves again to trap the Pony of Shadows in the Shadow Realm again."
"We can't now Starswirl." Said Somnambula.
"Yeah, now that pony souls are unfairly trapped there as well, they'll parish if we don't free them before we leave." Said Rockhoof.

Starswirl sighs heavily as he rests his head against the glass. Slowly he turns back towards the group. "I know...I know." Starswirl looks back at Somnambula. "Where is Prince Blueblood now?" 
"He is at Baltimare Hospital. With my authority as a Pillar, I got him secretly admitted." Said Somnambula.
"Good, good. When I can, I'll notify the Princess on her... troubled nephew." Said Starswirl. "We are far from done, however, we must get back onto the train." 
"What!?!?" Yelled Gallus. "But we just got here Yesterday!"
"And our business here is done. I no longer sense the shadows anywhere close here." Said Starswirl.
"Aye, me neither." Said Rockhoof.
"Then we must get packing." said Somnambula. All the students groan and groggily get up to go to their room to pack. Within 30 minutes, Everyone was packed and ready to go. They all head down to the front desk and check out and are soon on their way. They exit the hotel and begin walking towards the train station. As they were walking, The students looked down an alleyway and see a bunch of kids dueling each other. They all stop to watch for just a moment with smiles on their faces. Quickly however, they were told to keep up by Starswirl prompting them to quickly catch up.

They make it to the train station and buy their tickets. They had to wait for the train to pull into the station as the train wasn't there yet. Eventually, other ponies begin to arrive at the train station, some looking like important business ponies. The students sit waiting in boredom as they and the pillars wait patiently. Among the chatting ponies however, Starswirl eventually could feel a feeling of darkness approaching. A cold breeze hits all six of them which perks all of them up. They quickly get to their hooves/claws and re-group.
"Do you all feel that?" asked Starswirl.
"Aye!" Said Rockhoof.
"What do we do?" Asked Smolder.
"Watch your back, there are a lot of ponies here." Said Somnambula. They all begin to look around them, trying to spot the Shadow Rider, or Riders. As Sandbar was looking around, in his peripherals, he sees somepony in a cloak, but when he turns his head back, they are gone.
"AH! I saw one!" Said Sandbar.
"Quiet, don't draw attention to yourself." Said Starswirl.
"I think it's too late for that." Said Somnambula pointing forward.

There standing in the middle of the station were Four hooded figures. Everyone held their breaths, there were four this time. Two of them step forward till they were only 10 feet away.
"Heh, hello Starswirl. Long time no see." Said one of them.
"You, I remember you!" Said Starswirl, recognizing his voice. They both pull down their hoods to reveal they were Enigma, and Eclipse. The students gasp in surprise and back up fearing the both of them.
"What are you two doing here?" Said Somnambula with an angry expression.
"Our Master believes you six are the bigger threat than the others back at that pathetic school." Said Eclipse.
"So he sent us here to see if our fellow riders could use some back up." Said Enigma.
"We saw how you took down Freed, now we plan to take you out." Said Eclipse.
"In a tag duel." Said Enigma.
"A 4 vs 4!?" Exclaimed Rockhoof."
"No, two of you will take on two of us, then the winner faces the other two." Said Eclipse.
"We are being cordial about this Elements, We suggest you take us up on our offer, or this will get ugly." Said Enigma.

The Pillars turn to face the students to discuss the duel with them.
"One of you three must help us with this duel." Said Rockhoof.
"But, why can't two of you three duel?" asked Gallus.
"We are all gonna duel, but one of you needs to be the fourth." Said Somnabula.
"We promise, Nothing bad will happen to you." Said Starswirl reassuringly. The students were very skeptical, except for Smolder, who gave it great thought. 
'You're a dragon!' She thought to herself. 'Dragons are not scared of anything!' "I will" She finally said allowed. The two boys look at her weird.
"Very well young Smolder, you will be my partner." Said Starswirl.
"Why you and me?" asked Smolder.
"I wield the Dark Magician. You wield the Red-Eyes Black Dragon. These two monsters are ancient allies. We will perform well together." Said Starswirl. Smolder sighs heavily and then nods. She then steps forward with Starswirl.
"Heh, you and a child? Very well. You two will be facing those two behind us first. " Said Eclipse.
"Cowards, you avoid me?" Said Starswirl.
"Oh no Starswirl, We'll face you very soon. Hehehe." Said Enigma.

The two back up as the other two step forward, their close hiding all features of who or what they are.
"Are you ready, Elements!?" One of them barked.
"We are as ready as can be." Said Starswirl. He opens one of his tomes, his horn then glows as he casts a spell to form a magical duel disk on his foreleg. Smolder gulps and activates her own.
"Hehehe, your doom is sealed!" Said the second Figure. They rip off their cloaks to reveal themselves. One of them was a Dragon with dark red scales and the other appears to be an unreformed Changeling, like their predecessors, they wore masks and had duel disks made out of Shadows. The remaining four pillars and students were a bit surprised that these Shadow Riders were not ponies. By now, most of the business ponies were drawn to them as they were making a lot of ruckus. upon seeing a duel was about to start, they all gave them some space.

"DUEL!"

[Shadow Riders Vs. Elements of Harmony]

[Shadows 8000/ Elements 8000]

"Prepare yourselves Shadows, I am starting this, Draw!" Said Starswirl using his magic to hold his cards. "I summon the Magician's Rod! {1600atk. 300def. Lv3}."
"What is a rod without the Magician?" Questioned the Dragon.
"Be patient, as its effect activates. I can now add one spell or trap card that mentions the Dark Magician, I add, Magicians Navigation. Now I set two cards and activate the Spell Ledger of Legerdemain! I banish the top 3 cards of my deck face down, then three turns after this card's activation, I add them to my hoof. That is my turn." Said Starswirl.
"My turn! Draw!" Said The Changeling. "I summon Drill Bug! {1100atk. 200def. Lv2.}" The first card of the Shadow Riders was played, and now the purple mist slowly began to appear. This causes the ponies around them to whisper amongst each other. "Now, I equip him with the spell Insect Armor with Laser Cannon! Now he gains 700 attack making him 1800! Now, Attack his Rod!" The Drill Bug uses the canon to destroy the magical floating rod. "Hehehe. When Drill Bug deals damage, I target one Parasite Paracide in my deck, I shuffle then place it on the top of my deck, Hehe, I now end."
"M-My turn, Draw." Said Smolder. "All I can do this turn is set one monster."
"And I thought these Element Dorks were gonna put up a good fight. They are playing so lamely." Said the dragon as he drew. "I summon Gagagigo! {1850atk. 1000def. Lv4} I set one card and I will attack your face down with Gagagigo!" Gagagigo gets low and then launches in the air to pounce onto the card, It soon flips to reveal a half dragon hybrid who swiftly defends himself and knocks Gagagigo back.
"You attacked my Keeper of the Shrine! He has 2100 defense points!" Said Smolder
"Why you little...! GRRRR!! Fine, Drill Bug, attack the pony whose old as dirt!" Said the Dragon.
"No you idiot!" Yelled the Changeling.
"I activate my face down, Magicians Navigation! I first special summon, the Dark Magician! {2500atk. 2100def. Lv7}" Yells Starswirl. The Spellbinding Circle forms on the ground, and slowly, the Dark Magician rises from it, with his arms crossed and holding his staff tightly. The Dark Magician then glances behind himself to look at Starswirl. Starswirl sighs lightly in relief. "Hello old friend." Says Starswirl. Dark Magician nods and turns back towards the riders. Now from my deck I can special summon one level 7 or lower spell caster, I chose the Dark Magician Girl! {2000atk. 1700def. Lv5}" From the same Spellbinding Circle, the Dark Magician Girl also rises up and joins her teacher with a smile on her face.

[Shadows 7750/ Elements 7800]

[Starswirl 3 cards/ Smolder 5 cards/ Changeling 4 cards/ Dragon 4 cards]

"Now he has both of his magicians on the field! You happy you dumb oaf!" Said the Changeling.
"They were gonna come out eventually, besides, I got a counter ready for them, hehehe." Said the dragon to his teammate quietly.
"If you two are done bickering, I do believe it is my turn." Said Starswirl as he drew. "I set two more cards and my Magicians will destroy your monsters!" Both Magicians aim their staffs at the monsters as a magic blast was fired from both of them.
"Not So fast, Beardy! I activate my Trap, Mirror Force!" Yelled The Dragon.
"Oh no!" Yelled Gallus as the card flips and stops the attack and prepares to fire them back.
"Unfortunate, but Anticipated." Said Starswirl. 
"Anticipated!?" Yelled the Dragon.
"Yes. Since Magician Navigation was sent to the grave last turn, it's second effect is available to me. I can banish it from my graveyard and one spell or trap card has it's effect negated this turn. Unfortunately, My Magicians will be destroyed when I end, but their attacks will deal a great damage to your life points!" The Magicians smirk and then send out another magical attack where each one destroys both monsters. The Two Riders groan in pain as they lose their points. "Now...I must end." Said Starswirl, closing his eyes. Mirror Force pops back up and unleashes a devastating blast on the magicians, destroying them. "You will be brought back my friends."

[Shadows 6800]

[Starswirl 2 cards]

"HISSSSSS My turn! Draw!" Yelled the Changeling. "I activate the Spell Shard of Greed! Every time I draw a card I place one greed counter on this card. When I have two I can send this card to the grave to draw two cards. I also set one monster and one other card and end!"
"Watch yourself Smolder." Whispered Starswirl. "That has be Parasite Paracide he set. It is a very tricky monster, take caution."
"I will, thanks for the heads up." Said Smolder. She turns her attention back to the Shadow Riders before drawing her card. "Keeper of the Shrine can be used as 2 tributes when Summoning a Dragon type monster, I summon Red-Eyes Black Dragon! {2400atk. 2000def. } Red-Eyes is summoned and lets out a mighty roar. "Man, it's so good to see you buddy!" Said Smolder. Red-Eyes looks at her and bellows. Then however, he begins sniffing the air and begins looking around him.
"He was here Ancient one, but he is in the grave, You two will be united soon." Said Starswirl, knowing Red-Eyes smelled the Dark Magician.
"Red-Eyes, attack his face down!" Commanded Smolder. Red-Eyes looks down at the card and goes to bite it, However, a large bug is summoned as the card flips and catches Red-eye's maw. "That's not Parasite Paracide!"
"Hehehe, no, it's Man-Eater Bug! When He is flipped summoned, one monster is destroyed, Say bye bye to your Red-Eyes!" Snickered the Changeling. Red-Eyes and the bug soon shatter into pieces and destroyed.
"No! We're defenseless!" Panicked Smolder.
"Calm down little one, we are far from out." Said Starswirl remaining stoic. Smolder gulps and then looks at her claw.
"I set one card and I end..." Said Smolder

[Changeling 2 cards/ Smolder 4 cards]

"My turn! Draw!" Said the Dragon "Heh, I activate the Spell Cost down to mark down one monster's level by two in my claw. This allows me to normal summon Giga Gagagigo! {2450atk. 1500def. Lv5}. I will set two cards and Giga Gagagigo will attack you directly!" With nothing to protect them, Giga Gagagigo let's out a loud roar before slashing both Smolder and Starswirl. Smolder let's out a pained yell and is knocked back, but Starswirl stays where he is. He closes his eyes tight as he was attacked but slowly opens them back up and glares at the two Shadow Riders.
"Still standing huh? You're either brave or foolish. It doesn't matter which, as both of your best monsters are in the grave, nothing will stop us." Said the dragon.
"That is where you are wrong, Shadow. As long as we have Life Points, we won't back down, and we will not show fear. As soon as those banished cards are added to my hoof, your fate will be sealed." Said Starswirl Stoically.

[Elements 5350]

[Dragon 3 cards]

"My turn, I draw!" Said Starswirl. "That was my second standby phase after Ledgerdomain's activation, my next turn will give me my cards. Now I activate the continuous spell, Dark Magical Circle! A powerful mystical circle forms around both Starswirl and Smolder. "When this card is activated, I look at the top three cards in my deck., Then I reveal one that is either a Dark Magician, or mentions the Dark Magician and I add it to my hoof. The last two cards are put back on the deck in any order I choose. Now, let's see...hmmm... I will add Eternal Soul to my hoof, as it mentions Dark Magician. I set one monster and one card and I end."
"My turn! Draw!" Said the Changeling. "Hehehe, I activated the ritual spell Javelin Beetle Pact! This ritual card allows me to use the materials in my hoof to summon Javelin Beetle! I use Metal Armored Bug as a tribute to summon Javelin Beetle! {2450atk. 2550def. Lv8 Ritual}. Now Javelin Beetle will attack your face down card while Giga Gagagigo attacks you directly again!" The Beetle uses his Javelin to destroy the face down monster. Giga Gagagigo then charges them preparing to attack. Smolder was about to flip her face down but Starswirl holds out his hoof towards her, signaling her to halt. 
"Hold on child, that card will come in handy later." Said Starswirl. Smolder looks at him with a confused look before turning back to Giga Gagagigo just as he attacks them. Causing Smolder to cry out again, and Starswirl to get down to his knees.

[Elements 2900]

[Starswirl 1 card/ Changeling 0]

Each attack seemed to get more and more painful as their life points deplete. 
"This is far easier than I expected, especially out of you beardy! I end my turn!"
"M...My turn... I draw." Said Smolder drawing her card. "Come on... I need my Red-Eyes..."
"Patience, young one. Trust me... We have them right Where I want them. Your Red-Eyes will be much more valuable to us on my next turn, just trust me." Said Starswirl still on his knees.
"...Ok, I trust you...I place a second card face down and I end!" Said Smolder.
"They have lost their will to continue! We got this!" Said The Dragon as he drew. "Giga Gagagigo and Javelin Beetle will attack you directly for game!" 
"No! I activate my face down threatening roar! You can't attack this turn!" Said Smolder.
"Delaying the inevitable huh? Pathetic. I end." Said the dragon.
"My turn..." Said Starswril, getting to his hooves and drawing. "That's three turns after I have activated Ledger of Legerdemain! Now I recieve my three banished cards! Ah-ha... Smolder. You may flip your card now." Said Starswirl.
"um... Ok. I activate my face down, Red-Eyes Spirit! This summons my Red-eyes back to the field from my graveyard!" Yelled Smolder as Red-Eyes is re-summoned to the field and roars angrily.
"Perfect, Now watch closely shadows, the start of your end begins now! I activate my own face down, Eternal Soul! One of the many effects of this card allows me to resummon the Dark Magician from my grave to the field!" Yelled starswirl. Once again, The Dark magician Emerges on the field and stands next to the Dark Magician and stands next to Red-Eyes. Both the Dark Magician and Red-Eyes look at each other, as Red-Eyes coos, The Dark Magician smirks. "As friends unite on the field, so will they in another way, as I activate the spell Polymerization! Now watch as our monster become one!" Red-Eyes and The Dark Magician merge into one before forming a huge and heavily armored monster. "The Red-Eyes Dark Dragoon!" {3000atk. 2500def. Lv8 Fusion}

Everyone looks at the monster with interest except for the Shadow Riders who recoil.
"Whoa... It looks like the Dark Magician is wearing the Red-Eyes as armor!" Said Gallus.
"That looks like an unstoppable monster!" Said Sandbar.
"What in Equestria does that monster do!?" Cried the Changeling.
"Many things shadow, for starters, It cannot be destroyed or targeted by card effects. Now, I will activate one of his many effects to destroy one monster on your side of the field, I will destroy your Javelin beetle!" Yelled Starswirl. Dragoon raises his bladed staff and slashes the beetle and destroying it. "When A monster is destroyed by Dragoon's effect, you lose life points equal to the original attack of that monster, that's 2450 points of damage!" Dragoon then slashes the Shadow Riders as they both cry out and stumble back. Starswirl smirks as he wasn't through yet. "Unfortunately for you, I can activate this effect as many times in one turn equal to the number of normal monsters used to summon this card, Since both the Dark magician and the Red-Eyes Black Dragon are both normal monsters, I get to use this effect again! Now Dragoon, Destroy Giga Gagagigo for another 2450 life points!" Dragoon then destroys Giga Gagagigo and thrn slashes the Shadow Riders once again causing both of them to collapse to the ground.

[Shadows 1900]

The crowd of ponies watching the duel begin to clap for Starswirl and Smolder as together they pulled off an incredible play.
"Dude! Did you see that monster take out both of theirs!?" Yelled Gallus.
"Yeah I did! Starswirl just took away nearly 5000 of their life points, and he still has an attack!" Said Sandbar. The Shadow Riders stay on the ground as they look up at a very angry Starswirl.
"This is your chance to repent. Call off the Shadows, and you will be shown mercy." Said Starswirl. The Changeling hisses as the Dragon growled. 
"Never!" They both said at the same time.
"Pity, then off to the Shadow Realm with you! Dragoon! Finish them off with a direct attack!" Commanded Starswirl as Dragoon slashes them one more time, finishing them off.

[Harmony Vs. Shadows: Winner Harmony]

Dragoon Seperated into the two monsters used to summon it. Smolder quickly grasped ahold of Red-Eye's leg as the Dark Magician floated beside Starswirl. The Two Shadow Riders then began to cry out. as if they were talking to someone in their head. Within seconds, the purple mist forming the shadow games pounced on both of them like wild hungry animals. they begged for their lives before slowly going limp. It was a disturbing sight, one Smolder didn't like to see again. but Starswirl watched til the very end. Slowly the monsters began to dissipate.
"Wait! Red-Eyes..." Said Smolder as he soon faded away.
"Until we meet again old friend." Said Starswirl. Dark magician gave him a nod before he too faded away. "Enigma! Eclipse! We have won! Now it's your turn!" Starswirl looked around them, but they were gone. "Enigma!!! Eclipse!!! By the Shadows, they are gone!"
"Cowards! They said they would duel!" Yelled Rockhoof!
"We can't worry about them now, we must go!" Said Somnambula.
"Why?" Asked Gallus.
"AAAAAALLLLLLL ABOARD! NEXT STOP PONYVILLE!" Yelled a conducter on a train that was at the station. It had a dark black paint job on it, different than most trains.
"Gah, The train is going to Ponyville. Perhaps we should return to the school, we managed to trap 3 Shadow Riders while out here." Said Starswirl. he turns next to a gentleman in the crowd. "You sir, call an ambulance, these two need to get to the hospital." Starswirl pointed to the two shadow Riders as the crowd began to check on them to see if they were alright.
"Uh... ok, will do." Said the Stallion.
"Come on, get aboard, I don't want to miss that train." Said Starswirl urgently.
They all rush towards the train as Smolder met ran alongside her friends.
“That was so awesome! Did you see that monster the Red-Eyes and Dark Magician made!?” Said Sandbar.
“Yeah! That was totally Awesome!” Said Smolder.
“I am never tag dueling you and Beardy with that thing in your arsenal!” Said Gallus.


End of Chapter 14