//------------------------------//
// Chapter 23: Seige of the School Part 5 
// Story: Twilight's Duel School of Friendship: Sophomore Year 
// by k00l 
//------------------------------//

Mistmane found herself approaching the School's auditorium. While the school is shrouded in the Shadows, She felt it was the perfect place for the Shadows to hide. She approaches the door and opens it, stepping inside. She walks down the empty rows of seats and approaches the stage. She walks up the steps and onto the stage. From here, she can get a better look at the entire room. She scans the rows closely for shadows. She felt she was about to catch one when she heard a noise behind her that sounded like a sneeze. She spins around to see where it might have come from. She sees the curtain move and is positive there is someone or something behind it. She lifts up her duel disk and prepares for any kind of confrontation.

"Alright Shadow, you are caught. No more hiding, show yourself!" Commanded Mistmane.

"...Misty?" A familiar voice is heard. Mistmane's eyes widen and she slowly stands down.

"Meadowbrook? Is that you?" Asked Mistmane. Mage Meadowbrook slowly steps out from behind the curtain. Mistmane was confused about why she would be hiding behind the curtain during an invasion by the Shadows.

"Misty, I sure am glad that it's you." Said Meadowbrook with a smile.

"Why are you hiding Mage? You are supposed to find the Shadows, not hide from them." Mistmane raises an eyebrow and Mage's smile disappears.

"I wasn't hiding from them, I was waiting for them." Meadowbrook explained

"Waiting?" Asked Mistmane.

"Yeah...Misty, you may need to prepare for this. I ran into Starswirl about 5 minutes ago. We both came across one of the Shadow Riders and...They had beaten Somnambula." Meadowbrook's voice went downcast.

"What?" Mistmane was shocked to hear this.

"Yeah, so we chased the shadow, but he sharply turned a corner. We turned down the direction it went, but was unsure where exactly it went." Meadowbrook explained. "We split up and I came in here to look for it, but that's when I heard you come in. I thought you were a Shadow. Your mane moves just like the shadows that surround them. So I hid behind the curtain so that I could take ya by surprise." 

"I see..." Said Mistmane still thinking about Somnambula. "Well then, you and I have always worked well together, how about we pair up?" Suggested Mistmane.

"That sounds perfect actually." Said Meadowbrook, her smile returning.

"So...A tag duel then." Said a third voice. Behind Mistmane and Meadowbrook could see a large black mast forming on the floor behind her. Mistmane turns to see it as well, the black mast almost seems to bubble and boil. Soon, two figures slowly climb out of it, like corpses rising from the grave. Both girls take a few steps back as both figures fully climb out and stand in front of them. Soon the darkness faded revealing their features, It was Enigma and Eclipse.

"You two!" Yelled Mistmane, spitting the words out like she was spitting venom.

"You got that right wrinkles. Us." Eclipse chuckled, showing his teeth.

"Which one of you hurt Somnambula!?" Demanded Mage.

"It matters not, you two are next!" Enigma spoke while adjusting his hood.

"What, you two want a tag duel?" Asked Mistmane as she narrowed her eyes.

"Of course, Me and Enigma are the best tag duelists ever!" Said Eclipse boastfully.

"Then you obviously have never dueled us! Let's take them on Misty!" Said Mage. Both of them activate their duel disks.

"A grave mistake you two will come to regret." Said Enigma as the Shadows manifested his and Eclipse's duel disks.

"DUEL"

[Mistmane and Mage Meadowbrook Vs. Eclipse and Enigma]

[Harmony 8000/ Shadows 8000]

"I will take the first turn, Draw." Said Eclipse. "First I activate the continuous spell Synchronized Realm, now every time I synchro summon a monster, you take 500 points of damage. Now I summon Junk Synchron! {1300atk. 500def. Lv3 Tuner.} I place one card face down, and I end."

"My turn. I will draw." Said Mage. "I set one monster face down and now I activate the continuous spell Seed Cannon. When a plant monster is summoned, I place a seed counter on this card. The max I can have is 5. That will be my turn."

"My move, Draw." Said Enigma. "I activate the spell Onomatopaira. I discard a card and I can add two cards from my deck to my hoof that have Gagaga, Gogogo, Dododo, or Zubaba in their names. I add the Gagaga Gardna and the Gogogo Golem! I now set two cards and end."

"My turn, I draw." Said Mistmane. "I summon Revival Rose! {1300atk. 1300def. Lv4.} Since I summoned a plant, Mage's Seed Cannon gets one counter. Now I activate the spell Rose Bell of Revelation! I add one plant monster with 2400 or more attack points from my deck, to my hoof. I add Queen Angel of Roses. Now Revival Rose, Attack his Junk Synchron!"
"They have the same attack, they will both be destroyed!" Said Eclipse.

"That's fine with me!" Said Mistmane. Revival Rose grows large thorns that are then fired at Junk Synchron. He is able to deflect a few before being struck. One of the thorns was also deflected back at Rose and both were then destroyed.

[Eclipse 3 cards/ Mage 4 cards/ Enigma 4 cards/ Mistmane 5 cards]

"My move, I draw." Said Eclipse. "First I activate my face down, Call of the Haunted. To bring back my Synchron. Now I summon Speed Warrior! {900atk. 400def. Lv2} Now I tune for 5, Synchro summoning Junk Warrior! {2300atk. 1300def. Lv5 Synchro.} Now the effect of Synchronized zone kicks in, zapping you both of 500 life points!" Both Mage and Mistmane let out a loud groan as an electric aura zapped away their life points. "Now Junk Warrior, attack her face down!" Junk Warrior flies into the air and then brings his foot down hard onto the card. It flips to reveal a jar with candles in it. 

"Sorry there hun, but once my Aroma Jar is flipped face up, It cannot be destroyed by battle." Said Mage.

"You lucked out, I now end." Said Eclipse. As soon as his turn ends, the candles in the jar light up. Mage smells the pleasant fragrance coming from the candles and smiles, both she and Mistmane soon have a healing aura around them.

"During each player's standby phase, we get a 500 point boost to our life points. Looks like your Synchronized Realm has been countered." Said Mage.

"Grr! Just take your turn Element!" Demanded Eclipse.

"With pleasure, draw!" Said Mage. I summon Glow-Up Bulb! {100atk. 100def. Lv1 Tuner} That is another plant for me, so that's another counter. Now I activate the spell Fragrance Storm! I destroy my glow up bulb to draw a card. I have drawn Aromage Jasmine! Since she is a plant monster, thanks to Fragrance Storm, I draw a second card."

"You may have filled your hoof, but for what? Look at your field, all you have is your jar left." Said Enigma.

"That's because I now activate this card's effect, Puppet Plant! By discarding it, I take control of one of your warrior cards this turn, your Junk Warrior will be perfect." Said Mage.

"Hey! My monster!" Shouts Eclipse as Junk Warrior slowly floats towards the other side of the field.

"Now Junk Warrior, attack them directly!" Yelled Mage.

"Not so fast! I activate the effect of Gagaga Gardna in my hoof! I special summon him in defense when you declare a direct attack! {1500atk. 2000def. Lv4} Now to protect him from being destroyed I discard one card!" shouted Enigma. 

"Excelent move Enigma!" Eclipse congratulated his teammate.

"Thank you Eclipse, now please prevent them from taking your monster in the future." Enigma said coldly.

"Fine, I end. Now your monster returns to you, and Aroma jar gives us another 500 lifepoints." Said Mage.

[Harmony 8500/ Shadows 8000]

[Eclipse 3 cards/ Mage 4 cards]

"Now, it is my move, Draw!" Said Enigma. "I now Summon Gogogo Golem! {1800atk. 1500def. Lv4.} I now build the Overlay Network with my two level 4s to Xyz summon Gagaga Cowboy in defense position! {1500atk. 2400def. Lv4 Xyz}. "Now, since attacking you is useless at the moment as you still have your jar out, I will instead use Cowboy's effect. By detaching one of his Xyz materials while he is in defense mode, He deals 800 points of damage to you!" Cowboy aims both of his guns at the two and fires, striking both of them. They both yell out painfully at the damage. "I now end."

"Guh, That's another 500!" Yelled Mage as they were healed immediately by Aroma Jar when Enigma ended his turn. 

"My move, I draw!" Said Mistmane. She smirks at what she drew. "First I summon Necro Fleur {0atk./0def. Lv1.}"

"A wilting flower? You cannot be serious." Enigma looked bored out of his mind when Mistmane played her next card. But a fourth counter was added to Seed Canon

"Even the weakest ugliest flower can grow up to be something beautiful and strong." Mistmane placed her hoof to her chest as she spoke. "And now I activate the spell, Dark Hole, to destroy all monsters on the field."

"Enigma! We can't be left open! You gotta do something!" Eclipse quickly called out, to which Enigma did not even bat an eye.

"I activate my face down, Utopian Aura! I will detach my second Xyz material from my Cowboy and all monsters we control cannot be destroyed by card effects!" Enigma countered as the black hole opened and swallowed the Aroma Jar and the Necro Fleur. But the Junk Warrior and Gagaga Cowboy Glowed a shiny aura and were left unharmed. "Looks like you only hindered yourself, Grandma. Better luck next time!"

"I wouldn't be counting your blessings so quickly Sonny." Mistmane smirked as the wind began to pick up. Both Eclipse and Enigma lost their smiles as a bright light flashed on the field. There standing on Mistmane's side of the field was a new monster.

"What on earth!? How did you do that!?" Demanded Eclipse.

"When Necro Fleur is destroyed by a card effect and sent to the graveyard, from my deck I can special summon Sorciere de Fleur! {2900atk. 0def. Lv8.} I told you every plant will grow up to be beautiful and strong, and now she will destroy your Junk Warrior!" Mistman stood tall as her monster twirled her flower staff and then pointed it at Junk Warrior. A rose-colored beam is fired from it, striking Junk Warrior and destroying him.

"GRR!!! I'll make you pay for that!" Eclipse hisses at the destruction of his monster.

[Enigma 4 card/ Mistmane 4 cards.] 

[Harmony 8200/ Shadows 7400]

"I now place one card face down, and end. During the end phase, if Sorciere de Fleur was special summoned due to the effect of Necro Fleur, then she is destroyed." As Mistmane ends, her monster slowly wilts and is destroyed.

"I will avenge my warrior element!" Eclipse hissed as he drew his card. "Enigma, will you allow me to use your monster?"

"I am out of Xyz materials, do with him as you'd like." Enigma said, his voice void of emotions.

"Very well, now watch Elements! I summon the Nitro Synchron! {300atk./ 100def. Lv2 Tuner.} With him on the field I now equip him with the Synchro Boost spell card! Now he gains 500 attack, and gains a level, making him level 3! Now with him and Gagaga Cowboy, I tune for 7! Synchro Summoning Nitro Warrior! {2800atk. 1800def. Lv7 Synchro.}" Eclipse smirks upon summoning his new monster, but Mage and Mistmane take a few steps back. "Since I synchro summoned him with my Nitro Synchron, I get to draw an extra card, and I will then attack you both directly!"

The Nitro Warrior's engine revs up and ignites. He dashes towards Mage and Mistmane and slashes both of them as he darts past them. Both girls let out cries of pain and fall to the ground. The Nitro Warrior then returns to Eclipse's side of the field. 

"I now end my turn by placing down one card, elements." Eclipse chuckles as his turn ends. Mage Meadowbrook was the first to her hooves after the brutal attack.

"My turn... and I draw!" Mage winced a bit but grew excited upon seeing her card. "I summon Evil Thorn! {100atk. 300def. Lv1} and that is the fifth plant summoned. With the max count of five seed counters, I now activate the effect of my seed cannon! By sending it to the grave, you lose 500 life points times the number of seed counters on this card!"

"That's 2500 points!" Yelled Eclipse in astonishment. The Seed Cannon explodes, sending sharp thorns at the shadows who wince at the massive loss of life points.

"I'm not done with you yet! Now I activate Evil Thorn's effect. By sending it to the graveyard as well, you lose an additional 300 life points and I can summon two more Evil Thorns to the field! I'll summon them in defense mode! With that, I end!"

[Eclipse 1 cards/ Mage 4 cards]

[Harmony 5400/ Shadows 4600]

"I'm growing bored of this." Enigma declared as he pulled out the last thorn out of his foreleg with his teeth. He narrows his eyes at the element bearers and draws his card. "I summon the Dododo Witch! {1200atk. 1600def. Lv4.} When she is successfully summoned, I can summon one more Dododo monster from my hoof, I summon Dododo Driver! {1800atk. 200def. Lv4.} Now I build the Overlay Network, by using my witch and driver, I Xyz summon Number 55: Gogogo Goliath! {2400atk. 1200def. Lv4 Xyz.}" 

The towering behemoth looms over the element bearers who look up at it with dismay. But by the way Enigma has displayed himself, he wasn't done with his turn.

"Are you afraid elements? You should be." Despite Enigma's ominous threat, his voice remained stoic and serious. "I discard one of my Xyz materials to add the Gogogo Golem back into my hoof. The discarded material was the Dododo witch. Now I activate my last face down, Halfway to Forever! I summon two monsters from my graveyard, the Dododo Witch, and the Gagaga Gardna! Now after the effect of my trap card, I am forced to Xyz summon with these two cards! I build the Overlay Network to summon Number 39: Utopia! {2500atk. 2000def. Lv4 Xyz.}" 

Utopia brandishes its sword that seems to glint under the light. It along with the Goliath stares down the element bearers like a hungry lion to a sick gazelle.  

"I shall activate one more card this turn. I activate the spell Utopia Buster! I destroy one of your Evil Thorns and you lose life points equal to its attack. Now, Goliath will destroy the second one, while Utopia attacks you directly!" The buster spell card destroys one of the Evil Thorns, but the damage from that was nothing compared to what was about to happen. As the Goliath brings its heavy fist down on the second Thorn, Utopia dashes right up to them. It raises its sword high into the sky, the blade glowing brightly, before. Bringing it down on both of them.  Mage and Mistmane feel their very souls being attacked as they wail in agony before collapsing to the floor.

"I end. Not take your move wrinkles, and make it quick." Enigma narrows his eyes at Mistmane as he ends. Mistmane, while on all of her knees looks at Mage Meadowbrook. She was on her stomach, still writhing in pain. Mistmane herself saw the ending in sight, the shadows were strong, too strong. Yet she remained defiant. She wasn't going to allow the shadows to have an easy victory. So she slowly rose to her hooves and stood in resistance to the shadows.

"I...Draw..." If this wasn't their duel to win, she would at least show up the shadows. "I summon to the field... Rose Girl. {800atk./ 600def. Lv3 Tuner.} And now I activate the spell Basal Rose Shoot. This card allows me to special summon a rose dragon from my hoof, I special summon the Blue Rose Dragon. {1600atk. 1200def. Lv4.}... And now, I tune for 7... Synchro Summoning, The Black Rose Dragon! {2400atk./ 1800def. Lv7 Synchro.}" 

Enigma's eyes widen at the sight of Mistmane's Ace. The Black Rose Dragon opens its elegant wings and roars a singing tune. Mistmane, despite what she was faced with, smiled. Smiled at her old-time friend who was by her side at last.

"I now activate my Dragon's effect." Mistmane, her voice though horse spoke loudly.

"You are a fool! Your card will be destroyed, and you will lose all defenses!" Enigma growled back.

"I have made peace with that. But your show of power ends here. With a single drawn card, a game can turn in an instant. Now watch as all the monsters you worked hard on bringing out are destroyed in the blink of an eye!" Mistmane said defiantly in the face of the shadows. Her Dragon spread its wings and a mighty gust of wind flew rose petals everywhere. The Rose petals cut both the Goliath and the Utopia as they flew past, causing both monsters to groan and finally be destroyed.

"Noooo! How dare you you bag of wrinkles!?" Enigma flares his nostrils angrily as both of his monsters are destroyed. While this happens, Black Rose Dragon then wilts away and is destroyed. Mistmane closes her eyes and feels content.

"I end my turn."

[Enigma 3 cards./ Mistmane 2 cards]

[Harmony 2800./ Shadows 4600]

"Eclipse!" Enigma barked, which drew his partner out of his awe. "Finish her now! I demand you end this duel now!"

"I'll try!" He shouted back looking at the lone card in his hoof. It all relied on this. He then drew and began to laugh. "This duel is over! I activate Monster Reborn, to resummon to the field, Junk Synchron! Now that I have a junk card on the field, Junk Servant is special summoned from my hoof! {1500atk. 1000def. Lv4.} Now I tune for 7, Synchro summoning Junk Berserker! {2700atk. 1800def. Lv7 Synchro.} Now with my face down, I will end this! I activate my final face down, Synchro Strike! This gives my Synchro monster 500 extra attack for each material used to summon him, making him 3700! Now finish this Junk Berserker!"

Junk Berserker lifted its large axe in the air, its shadow cascading over the two element bearers. Mistmane kept her eyes closed, while Mage shielded her face with her hoof. Finally it came down, and the shrieks of pain were deafening.

[Harmony vs Shadows: Winner Shadows.]

The shadows then quickly pounce on the two element bearers, Snaring them and forcefully ripping out their souls as they shriek in horror. Enigma, watches with a scowl on his face, while Eclipse keeps his distance. Once it was over, both Shadow Riders looked at each other.

"What now Shadow brother?" Asked Eclipse.

"We must call off this attack brother. We have weeded out their weakest links, now only their strong remain." Said Enigma still scowling at the husks of the Element bearers.

"Call off!? But we-" Eclipse was then cut off.

"Our master needs us to keep our souls!" Enigma quickly turned his head to growl at Eclipse. "That is no longer a possibility! If you had not drawn that perfect card, we were sitting ducks! I had nothing in my hoof! Nothing! And she blew off one of my strongest combos!" Enigma slowly looks back at the Element Bearers and narrows his eyes. "Call the rest of the Shadow Brethren, we need to leave. The master's plan is almost complete."


End of Chapter 23