//------------------------------// // Sunset vs Rainbow II // Story: An Equestrian Element // by Quillion9000 //------------------------------// Domino City:Park Rainbow Dash activated her duel disk in response to Sunset doing the same. As they faced off, the rest of the Rainbooms, CMC, Flash, and Twilight gathered to watch. No one quite knew what this duel would do, but it seemed to be their only hope. Well, the only hope for the Rainbooms and CMC given Twilight sort of just popped up while Flash had already been forgiven. As things stood for Sunset, she currently had no plans on this changing anything, but regardless of that, she did need locator cards. “Let’s Duel!” (Sunset 4000/Rainbow 4000) “I’ll take the first move.” Rainbow drew. “Well, this should seem familiar. I summon Crystal Beast Peridot Cobra(LV 3/1100/900).” A pink cobra with a peridot gem appeared. “I’ll end my turn there.” “While your hand may contain the same card as our prior duel, mine is completely different.” Sunset drew. “This next card might help me pull off something I saw today.” She took it form her hand. I activate Hand Destruction forcing us to discard two cards before drawing two.” “At least I can start building up my Crystal Beast.” Rainbow thought, discarding two monsters. “Next, I’ll activate Graceful Charity allowing me to draw three cards before discarding a further two from my hand.” Sunset proceeded. “Now, I’ll summon Elemental Hero Striking Sparkman(LV 4/1900/1500).” A hero in blue and chrome armor appeared. “I don’t get it.” Apple Bloom stated, doing her best to move past the lecture they all received. “Sunset did all that with her hand just to summon a level four monster.” “Given she was runner up in Duelist Kingdom, I’m certain there’s a point.” Flash voiced. “Now, I’ll equip my monster with Rainbow Veil before attacking your Cobra.” Sunset declared. “Before you say anything, Rainbow Veil’s effect activates. During the Battle Phase, any monster the equipped monster battles has their effects negated.” Striking Sparkman blasted the opposing monster (Sunset 4000/Rainbow 3200). Rainbow flinched at that since such an effect utterly stonewalled her monster. He couldn’t protect himself from destruction, the damage wouldn’t be halved, and she couldn’t place it in her spell/trap zone. “When Sparkman destroys a monster by battle and sends it to the grave, I can add any Hero I wish from my deck to my hand.” Sunset declared. “I’ll then set one card to end my turn.” “Rainbow, you can’t afford to play like this.” AJ called out. “We’ve seen how far Sunset has come, so if you want to win, you’ll need to give it your best.” “Well, she is right.” Sunset voiced. “You can’t think to beat me with plays I’ve seen before.” “Alright, you want me to take it up a notch?” Rainbow drew before nodding. “I can do that. I’ll summon Crystal Beast Carbon Wolf(LV 4/1350/1300).” A gray wolf with carbon in his shoulder appeared. “When he is summoned, I can special summon a Crystal Beast from my hand. I choose Crystal Beast Beryl Boar(LV 1/800/800).” A red furred boar with beryl gem stones all around its head appeared. “A tuner monster.” Sunset noted. “Not just any tuner monster.” Rainbow declared. “Once per turn, I can declare a level from 1 to 4, and that will be his level until the end of the turn. I’ll declare 2.” Crystal Beast Beryl Boar(LV 2/800/800 effect). Now, Boar will give wolf a tune up to synchro for 6. Synchro summon Crystal Beast Aquamarine Imugi(LV 6/2300/2100).” A long, blue serpentine animal with an aquamarine in its back appeared. “Once per turn, Imugi can target up to 3 Crystal Beast in my grave and return them to my deck. Then, I can draw one card for each Crystal Beast returned through this effect. I’ll return Cobra, Boar, and Wolf allowing me to draw the maximum 3. Now, Imugi will attack and destroy your Sparkman.” “I reveal my face down Fusion Barrier.” Sunset countered as a purple barrier appeared to absorb the attack. “This negates your attack and gives me two choices. Firstly, I could conduct a Fusion summon by banishing the attacked monster and one monster from my hand. Secondly, I can take damage equal to half the attacking monster’s original ATK to perform a Fusion summon using the attacked monster and 1 monster from my deck. In this case, both materials go to the grave. I’ll take option 2.” Purple energy flowed from the barrier and washed over her (Sunset 2850/Rainbow 3200). “Now, I combine Striking Sparkman with King of the Swamp from my deck. Equivalent exchange of destruction, Fusion summon Elemental Hero Plasma Vice(LV 8/2600/2300).” “Sunset found a card that allows her to fusion summon on other people’s turn?” Rarity questioned, stunned. She wasn’t the only one. Back before Sunset’s change, the students of Canterlot High agreed Sunset’s fusions were more powerful while Rarity had greater. As things stood now, Sunset had Polymerization, Miracle Fuson, Fusion Barrier, and likely other such cards. This upped Sunset’s versatility to, as things stood, be on par with Rarity’s. With versatility to access her powerful fusions, it was clear this duel was going to be more difficult than any of them initially assumed. “Since I only had the one monster, I guess I got to end my turn.” Rainbow took a card from her hand. “Before that, I will set one card.” “My move!” Sunset drew. “I’ll set one monster and follow it up by using Plasma Vice’s effect. By discarding 1 card from my hand, he can destroy one ATK position monster you control. Go, Plasma Sphere!” Plasman vice summoned a sphere of plasma and fired it at Imugi destroying him. “Now, he’ll attack directly with Plasma Slice!” “If this gets through, Rainbow won’t have many life points left.” Scootaloo declared, worriedly. “Nice try, but I’m not ready for this to be nearly over.” Rainbow declared. “I activate my face down Rainbow Life. I now discard a card of my own. This trap then sees me gain life points, this turn, from anything you may try to damage them (Sunset 2850/Rainbow 5800).” “Well, you managed to secure your life points for now.” Sunset declared. “I’ll end my turn.” “Alright, this is the time to give this everything I got!” Rainbow drew. “Perfect. I activate Crystal Fusion allowing me to Fusion summon with monster from my hand or field. I’ll combine Crystal Beasts Amythest Cat and Garnet Hirocloros. Fusion summon Crystal Beast Alluring Amythest Cat(LV 6/2000/1000).” A dark purple furred cat with an amethyst gemstone in its chest appeared. “Even with the three Imugi returned, I’ve now assembled seven Crystal Beast, with different names, between the field and grave. Crystal Beasts Alluring Amythest Cat, Amythest Cat, Hirocloros, Cobalt Eagle, Alexandrite Gorilla, Topaz Tiger, and Amber Mammoth. When I gather seven Crystal Beast, the greatest light in history resurrects! Meet the all powerful Rainbow Dragon(LV 10/4000/0)!” A colossal white dragon with multiple gems embedded within his body appeared. “Whoa, she managed to summon her strongest main deck monster!” Scootaloo declared amazed. “Don’t remember her ever having to summon that against Sunset before.” Pinkie noted. “Looks like Rainbow has really gotten serious.” AJ declared. “Before we battle, I’ll utilize Crystal Fusion’s graveyard effect.” Rainbow declared. “Since you control a monster from the extra deck, I can add this card back to my hand form the grave. Now, Rainbow Dragon, Rainbow Refraction on Plasma Vice!” All the gems along Rainbow Dragon’s body glowed before Plasma Vice was bombarded by lasers of different colors and destroyed (Sunset 1450/Rainbow 5800). “Next, Alluring Amythest Cat can attack you directly, but the damage dealt will be halved. Let her have it!” Alluring Amythest Cat lunged over the face down monster and attacked the opponent (Sunset 450/Rainbow 5800). “When she deals any battle damage, I can destroy one card you control, and you only have that face down monster.” Sunset’s field was cleared. “I now end my turn.” Rainbow was confident she had this. Even if Sunset mounted a comeback, the life point difference was too large, and that wasn’t even accounting for the two monsters she had on the field. “With only two, soon to be three cards, in her hand, there’s little chance Sunset can bust out Shining Flare Wingman.” Rainbow thought. “Even if she manages to destroy the monsters on the field, Crystal Fusion and the monsters in my hand should be enough to wrap this up.” “Rainbow just took full control of the whole duel.” Sweetie Bell marveled. “Well, she is the top duelist of CHS, so it’s not too surprising.” Fluttershy chimed in. “I wouldn’t be celebrating just yet.” Twilight voiced. “Yeah, just look at Sunset.” Flash added. “She’s shown no terror at what’s on the field.” Indeed, Sunset was calm as ever while facing down the two monsters that just flipped the due. “I’ll admit Rainbow, you’d have gone pretty far in Duelist Kingdom, but I was the runner up.” Sunset drew. “Let me show you just how much of a difference that makes here. First, I activate the graveyard effect of Breakthrough Skill.” “Breakthrough Skill?” Rainbow asked. “I don’t…wait, you must have sent it through one of your first two spells!” “That’s right.” Sunset voiced. “Provided it’s not the turn it was sent to the grave, I can banish it to negate the effects of one monster you control until the end of the turn. I choose Rainbow Dragon. Now, I’m going to end this.” “Can Sunset really manage that?” Apple Bloom asked. “Between the cards in the grave and three cards in the hand, it’s possible.” Flash voiced. “You’re bluffing.” Rainbow declared. “No duelist is that strong.” “I’ve seen a guy with rituals strong enough to the point no duel he participated in last past his turn if he goes second. Seto Kaiba used all three summoning methods in one turn only for his opponent to defend against them. If anyone wants to keep up, denial is not going to help. As for this situation, let’s just see. First, I’ll activate Miracle Fusion which allows me to banish Elemental Heroes from the field or grave to perform a Fusion summon. I’ll banish Elemental Heroes Gusting Avian and Blazing Burstinatrix. Fusion summon Elemental Hero Flame Wingman(LV 6/2100/1200).” A green hero with a red dragon arm appeared. “Next, I’ll equip him with Favorite Hero before moving into the Battle Phase which is where this really begins.” “What are you talking about?” Rainbow questioned. “Your monster, at best, can defeat my cat, but even with effect damage, I’ll still have more than enough life points to weather this turn.” “That would be true if not for Favorite Hero.” Sunset voiced. “At the start of the Battle Phase, I can play a field spell from my deck. Say hello to Skyscraper 3-Hero Association.” They now stood on a large, white walkway, over the ocean, which led to a doomed building. “This field has effects, one of them I shouldn’t need to get to at this rate, but first Favorite Hero activates further. Since there is a Field Spell on the field, the monster is equipped with it gains ATK equal to their original defense.” Elemental Hero Flame Wingman(LV 6/3300/1200 effect) “Rainbow Dragon is still stronger.” Rainbow retorted. “One of Skyscraper 3’s effects is the same as the original Skyscraper except that it works for every Hero.” Sunset declared. “Flame Wingman, destroy Rainbow Dragon with Sky Dive Scorcher.” Elemental Hero Flame Wingman(LV 6/4300/1200 effect) lept back and atop the nearby building before cloaking himself in fire. In one leap, he came down upon the opposing dragon destroying him (Sunset 450/Rainbow 5500). “Now comes Flame Wingman’s effect dolling out damage equal to the ATK your monster has in the grave.” Sunset continued. Elemental Hero Flame Wingman(LV 6/3300/1200 effect) moved before Rainbow and spewed out flames from his dragon arm (Sunset 450/Rainbow 1500). “I still don’t see how this is the end.” Rainbow declared. “Simple.” Sunset responded. “Favorite Hero has one last effect, aside from you being unable to target it with card effects if a Field Spell is up. Whenever the monster equipped with this card battles and destroys an opponent’s monster, I can send this card to the grave to attack again.” Elemental Hero Flame Wingman(LV 6/2100/1200) Everyone from CHS was stunned while Rainbow stared on in shock. “No way…” “Flame Wingman, destroy Alluring Amythest Cat with Skydive Scorcher!” Sunset declared. Once again, he lept atop the nearby building before cloaking himself in fire and smashing down atop Alluring Amythest Cat (Sunset 450/Rainbow 1400). He followed it up by stopping before Rainbow and blasting her with fire again (Sunset 450/Rainbow 0). “The tides of a duel can shift from one turn to the next.” Sunset informed, as she approached the Crystal Beast user. “Even in the direst of situations, one turn can be the difference between victors. A friend of mine is great at pulling off seemingly impossible victories. Now, our duel is concluded, so I’ll take the locator and prize cards. Though, I know your rarest card must be Rainbow Dragon, so I’d much rather the two cards you owe me be those which my deck can use.” “Here, these should do.” Rainbow responded, handing over the locator cards with a trap she got from her grave and one of her Xyz monsters. “Rainbow Life and Crystal Beast Rainbow Monkey.” Sunset took her prizes before looking at the cards. “Yeah, these will do.” “So, what is the verdict?” Rainbow asked. “You’re dueling spoke volumes, but it doesn’t change what I said before.” Sunset voiced. “Sunset…” Rainbow tried. “It does tell me I need to say a little more.” She walked away from Rainbow before turning to face everyone. “Back when I divided the school, the people who were friends prior, the initial incident was all me. The fact that it continued lies, in part, with all of you. All I gave anyone was a push while you kept along the path I wanted. I wouldn’t have been nearly as successful had the school not lacked one thing, communication. If you’d talked with one another, I’d have failed sooner. Honestly, how can you expect to receive my forgiveness when you never truly addressed the problem? Far as I know, you were all content to forgive and forget. From what I got in that duel, it’s all many of you want now. You want things to return to a normal that no longer exists. On some level, you thought I’d return to Canterlot, but Domino City is my home. Things can’t go back to the way they were, but they can get better. Right now, you’re all lucky to be in High School because none of what’s happened will fly in the real world. Maybe one day, I can genuinely forgive the eight of you I haven’t, but it won’t be today. If you don’t want to repeat this a third time, in whatever way it happens, then you can’t take for granted those around you. Now, I’m going.” With that, Sunset turned and walked away until she was eventually out of sight. This time, no one had attempted to stop her. The eight she hadn’t forgiven were thoroughly chastised twice now and left in deep contemplation over her words. Even Flash and Twilight were left to contemplate things on some level. The former because he was directly involved with both incidents. The later had simply heard about them and saw all this. It got her thinking more about where she went to school than ever before. In the end, Twilight and Flash took off separately while the eight truly chastised eventually, slowly began making their way back to the hotel. Those still in Battle City simply did not feel like dueling anymore today. Sunset’s Apartment Sunset had walked into her apartment and collapsing onto her coach with a heavy sigh. Despite standing by everything she said, that didn’t mitigate how emotionally draining it had been. At the same time, Sunset felt lighter. Learning the truth and getting to unload everything took away weight she’d never realized was there. After all that, as well as the truths she saw, Sunset was more appreciative of the group that thought she could use a friend. Just as she was thinking this, there was knocking at her door. Sunset moved to answer it only to find Tea on the other side. “Tea, good to see you.” Despite feeling drained, she wouldn’t turn away a friend right now. “Come on in.” “Good, you were here.” Tea took the offer, and the Hero user closed the door. “I was worried when Yugi and Joey both stopped in at the hospital to tell me about their run-ins with your former friends.” “They both ran into them as well?” Sunset asked. “As well?” Tea was concerned at that. “Are you saying they already found you?” “I just got back from dealing with them.” Sunset responded. “It was pretty heavy, to be honest, but I feel better now.” “Well, that’s good.” Tea then grabbed her arm. “Now come on.” “Whoa, what?” Sunset question stunned. “What’s going on?” “I told Yugi and Joey to wait at the card shop while I saw if you were home.” Tea declared as she threw open the door. “With any luck, as Tristan should be with Mr. Muto, he’ll return there as well. Tonight, we’re having pizza together.” “Okay, at least let me lock my apartment first.” Sunset declared. Fortunately, Tea did stop and allow her to do that before they walked together. Sunset should have known her friends wouldn’t let her linger on everything by herself. The thought of hanging with them was enough to stave off Sunset’s prior exhaustion at what happened.