Dueling is Magic!

Many Futures

Chapter Four

To Stop the Sun

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No! thought Twilight. I was so close! She sighed. At least I was right about that counter.

“My turn,” said Celestia. She drew her card. While she examined it, she stole a glance at Luna. “It’s getting worse...” she muttered. She closed her eyes to regain her focus. “During the Standby Phase after it was destroyed, Sun Dragon Inti’s effect activates. I Special Summon Moon Dragon Quilla to the field.”

“I equip Endymion with ‘Darkworld Shackles’,” said Celestia. A black shackle and chain appeared around Endymion’s leg. At the end of the chain was a black iron ball, a sinister grinning face carved into its surface. “While equipped with this card, Endymion’s Attack and Defense Points become one hundred and it cannot attack. Quilla, attack Endymion with Lunar Flame!”

“I play the Trap ‘Collected Power’!” said Twilight. “All Equip Cards on the field are now equipped to Moon Dragon Quilla.”

The ball and chain vanished from Endymion’s leg and reappeared beneath the Moon Dragon. The shackle had been attached to the neck of the bottom head.

“Clever, Twilight,” said Celestia. “I Set a card face-down and end my turn.”

“My turn,” said Twilight. “Instead of drawing, I’ll use Magical Blast’s effect to add it to my hand.”

“During your Standby Phase, I activate ‘Battle Mania’,” Celestia said. Her face-down card flipped up. “All of your monsters are changed to Attack Position and they all must attack this turn.”

Crusader of Endymion had been kneeling his arms crossed in front of his chest, but now stood ready for battle.

“Trust me, Luna,” replied the taller alicorn. “Come at me with everything you’ve got, Twilight!”

“If you insist,” said Twilight. “I activate my final Spell Power Grasp, placing two Spell Counters on the Citadel.” Twilight’s remaining face-down card flipped up and two lights raced off behind her toward the Citadel. “I’ll also activate Crusader of Endymion’s effect to place a Spell Counter on the Citadel and increase his Attack Points by six hundred.”

“Now I activate the Quick-Play Spell ‘Mystical Space Typhoon’! This destroys one Spell or Trap on the field. I destroy Temple of the Sun!” A massive cyclone appeared and struck the Continuous Spell on Celestia’s field, tearing through it and destroying it.

“I activate Magical Blast and inflict four hundred damage to your Life Points,” said Twilight as she played the card. Endymion fired a blast from his staff. Celestia folded her wings in front of herself, but was still pushed back by the blast.

“Is that all you’ve got, my student?” asked Celestia with a flare of her wings.

“Not even close,” Twilight replied. “Your Battle Mania card forces me to attack, but that’s just fine. Endymion, attack Moon Dragon Quilla with Dark Magic Mastery!” Endymion aimed his staff at the moon effigy that was the dragon’s body and fired a black and purple beam from the jewel on the end of the staff. The beam pierced the moon and destroyed the creature.

“Moon Dragon Quilla’s effect,” said Celestia as the smoke cleared. “Our Life Points are increased by thirteen hundred and fifty points, half of Endymion’s Attack Points. In addition, since you destroyed it, Sun Dragon Inti is revived!”

I still have to attack with Crusader, thought Twilight. I should have attacked Quilla with the Crusader! If Endymion were attacking Inti, I’d only take three hundred damage. Plus, I still have more than enough Spell Counters on the Citadel for Endymion to bring himself back and give me a Spell Card. She shook her head quickly. No, there’s no point in thinking about what could have been. It is what it is. I made a mistake, so I have to-

“I activate ‘Alchemy Cycle’!” announced Celestia. “This card reduces the Attack Points of all monsters I control to zero!”

“Are you insane?!” roared Luna. “How can you say she has passed the test when you handed victory to her on a silver platter?”

Celestia did not answer. She simply gave Twilight a determined look that said, Come at me if you think you can.

“Crusader of Endymion, attack Sun Dragon Inti with Light of Selene!” said Twilight. I can’t believe Princess Celestia would make a mistake like this! I know I messed up, but- wait... oh no! “Crusader, stop!”

“You cannot stop it, Twilight,” said Celestia with a smile. “Remember Battle Mania?”

“Not just yet, Luna,” Celestia replied. “I activate Defense Draw to negate the damage from this battle and draw one card.”

The pale beams from the Crusader’s gauntlets pierced the sun effigy in the center of the dragon’s body. As the beams faded, however, bright orange fire flowing like liquid blasted out of the dragon’s wounds and overwhelmed the Crusader, completely destroying him. The plasma continued and struck Twilight, throwing her to the ground.

“Sun Dragon Inti’s effect,” said Celestia. “When it is destroyed in battle, the monster that defeated it is also destroyed, and its controller receives its attack points as damage.”

Twilight groaned and moved her hooves to get them beneath her. She stood up and shook her head lightly. Maybe it wasn’t a mistake, the unicorn thought. If that were Endymion instead of Crusader, I’d only have six hundred points left!

“There’s one other thing,” Celestia added. “When a monster affected by Alchemy Cycle is destroyed in battle, I draw one card.”

“I Set a card and end my turn,” said Twilight. She was shaking again. What is this? Why am I... quivering?

“My turn!” said Luna loudly. “During the Standby Phase, Sun Dragon Inti’s effect activates, reviving Moon Dragon Quilla.”

The lunar dragon arose from behind a blanket of night-tinted clouds. Deep growls rumbled in its four throats.

“But my precious moon will not stay for long. I activate the Spell Card ‘Dark Hole’, which destroys all monsters on the field!”

“You foolishly risked our victory last turn, Celestia,” Luna snapped. “So I am ending this duel before you can make the same mistake again! Revive, Sun Dragon Inti!”

The Sun Dragon descended to the field, roaring from each of its four heads. Twilight took a step back.

“Power is what matters at this point,” said Luna. She narrowed her eyes. “And you do not have the power to defeat me! Sun Dragon Inti, attack Twilight Sparkle directly! Solar Prominence!”

Amidst the oncoming fire, Twilight saw a flash. A dark flash. For a brief moment, she thought she saw...

Worry about that later! she thought. “Counter Trap, ‘Negate Attack’! This stops your attack and ends the Battle Phase!”

The massive plasma arch struck a distortion in space and was sucked into a vortex, swirling around until it vanished.

“Dodging attacks is all you can do, Twilight Sparkle,” said Luna, her voice deep and menacing. “But you cannot hold on forever. I Set four cards face-down and activate my own Temple of the Sun card.”

Four face-down cards, Twilight thought. And another Temple of the Sun... is she setting up the field for Celestia to finish me? Their Life Points are at nineteen hundred. Even if they have another Destruct Potion- and given the nature of those dragons, it wouldn’t surprise me if they did- I can win this if I attack with Endymion and Crusader. I just have to use Endymion’s effect to destroy Inti. Quilla won’t come back for another turn if I do. A Destruct Potion would take them to fifty-two hundred points- Endymion’s attack strength plus Crusader’s powered up.

But four face-downs... my attack is likely to fail. And if that happens and I’m not prepared, I’m done for. I’m barely hanging on as it is! Twilight shook herself. Think, Twilight! I have two Traps in my hand that I can use to defend myself. But just defending won’t be enough either. I have to attack sooner or later. I need to spring whatever trap Luna’s set up for me. I’ll attack and then defend.

“You plan to attack and win the game,” said Luna. “With Endymion, Crusader, and Magical Blast, you can inflict a total of fifty-six hundred points of damage, taking into account a possible second Destruct Potion. Well, I won’t let you! During your Standby Phase, I activate the Trap Card ‘Thunder of Ruler’! This turn, there is no Battle Phase!”

Twilight gasped. She figured it out?! Twilight shook herself. A thousand years to master quick calculations in her head, maybe more... I shouldn’t be surprised. Okay, Twilight, time to play defense.

“The Magical Citadel currently has fourteen Spell Counters,” said Twilight. “I’ll remove six of them to Special Summon Endymion, the Master Magician from the Graveyard. Return, Endymion!”

“Endymion’s effect activates, letting me retrieve Card of Sanctity from the Graveyard,” Twilight continued. “I Set three cards face-down and activate Card of Sanctity. Now we both draw to six cards.” Twilight had emptied her hand and drew six cards. Luna still held one, and only drew five.

Twilight looked over each of her cards. No ‘Assault Teleport’. That’ll be a problem with that in my hand. One other monster, three Spells... wait, what’s this? This Trap... hey! That’s it!

“I Set one more card face-down and end my turn!” said Twilight. Now it’s Princess Celestia’s turn. If I can make it through this...

“During the End Phase, I activate Destruct Potion,” said Luna, “destroying Sun Dragon Inti and increasing our Life Points by its thirty-three hundred Attack Points!”

“I leave it to you, sister,” hissed Luna. Her eyes flashed black and red. “Finish this duel. You know what must be done if you truly want success out of your protege.”

“I am well aware of what needs doing, Luna,” said Celestia calmly, her eyes closed. “You misunderstood my intentions in my last turn. I was trying to teach Twilight a lesson, not give her an easy victory. But if you are not convinced that I brought us closer to victory, then watch me carefully.”

Celestia’s eyes snapped open, fierce determination burning in her eyes. “My turn!” she announced, a card being swiped away from her deck by magic. “During my Standby Phase, Moon Dragon Quilla is revived!”

“I believe it’s time for a change of scenery,” said Celestia. “I activate the Field Spell ‘Ancient Forest’, replacing the Magical Citadel!” The air around them changed from an almost magical haze to a clear, sunlit atmosphere, flowing over the image of the Magical Citadel of Endymion. Twilight looked around her and could see tall, ancient trees, spaced far enough apart to walk between with room to spare. The grass beneath her hooves waved gently in a light breeze.

But as beautiful as it was, she had a sudden realization. “Oh no!” said Twilight. “I can’t use Endymion’s effect to Special Summon him without the Citadel!”

“It doesn’t end there, Twilight,” said Celestia. “I activate ‘Lightning Vortex’! By discarding one card, Lightning Vortex destroys all face-up monsters you control. You’ve lost the Citadel, and now you will lose its steward!” Thunder roared in the throne room and lightning flashed overhead. A bolt of electricity struck Endymion and destroyed him in an instant.

“Battle! Moon Dragon Quilla, attack Twilight Sparkle directly! Lunar Flame!” ordered Celestia. Blue fire swirled ahead of the dragon and blasted away toward the lavender unicorn.

“Now I know why I was trembling,” she said. “Creating complex combinations, fighting on the edge of defeat... I was trembling because I was excited! Something about a duel is just... indescribably fun! I activate ‘Mirror Force’! This Trap is set off when you declare an attack, and destroys all Attack Mode monsters you control!”

Twilight’s far left card turned up on its edge. The blue fireball struck a barrier in front of the card and began to disperse. The barrier curved outward around the flames, spreading them back toward Moon Dragon Quilla. The dragon was quickly enveloped by its own fire and was destroyed.

“It doesn’t matter, Twilight,” said Celestia. “I activate Moon Dragon Quilla’s effect and revive Sun Dragon Inti!” Inti reappeared onto the field, roaring as it did.

“Sun Dragon Inti, direct attack! Solar Prominence!” barked Celestia. Inti formed the massive loop of plasma and flame, pouring strength into it until it began racing toward Twilight out of sheer expansion.

“I play the Trap ‘Dark Magic Retribution’!” said Twilight. “When you declare an attack, I can use this card to Special Summon a Spellcaster from my Graveyard, but it’s destroyed during the End Phase. Come back to me, Endymion!” she cried. Black smoke erupted from the floor before her and Endymion reappeared from within, dispersing the fumes with a wave of his staff. He knelt and crossed his arms in front of his chest.

“There is no escape from my attack, Twilight!” said Celestia. “I play the Continuous Trap ‘Final Attack Orders’! All monsters in play are changed to Attack Mode!” Endymion’s eyes glowed bright as he stood up, ready to battle.

“Endymion!” cried Twilight as her monster was destroyed by the plasma storm.

“This is the finishing move, my student!” said Celestia boldly. “I activate ‘Synchro Overlimit’! When my Synchro Monster destroys one of your monsters in battle, it can attack a second time. Sun Dragon Inti! Solar Prominence!”

Twilight stared up at the oncoming plasma arch bearing down on her. Her horn was still aglow.

“A Trap Card called ‘Iron Resolve’,” said Twilight. “By paying half my Life Points, I can negate the damage I take from one battle.”

“Well done, Twilight,” said Celestia. “At the end of the Damage Step, Synchro Overlimit destroys the monster that attacked with its effect. Before I end my turn, however, you should know that your next turn will be your last. If you attack with a monster while Ancient Forest is in play, it is destroyed at the end of the Battle Phase.”

“And with Final Attack Orders in play, my monsters are forced into Attack Position,” Twilight added.

“Do you understand what it will take to win this duel, Twilight?” asked Celestia.

“Yes, Princess Celestia,” said Twilight. “It’ll take the power to stop the sun!”

“Then come at us, Twilight!” Celestia said. “Come at us with that power!”

“I will,” said Twilight. “Instead of drawing, I add Magical Blast from my Graveyard to my hand.”

“It won’t stay for long,” said Twilight. “I Summon ‘Arcane Apprentice’ in Attack Mode.”

A short wizard wrapped head to toe in robes emerged from a blue portal before Twilight. A pointed hat rested on his head and concealed his face in shadow. Only two red orbs were visible beneath the hat.

“Next, I activate ‘Double Spell’! By discarding a Spell Card, Double Spell lets me pick a Spell in your Graveyard and follow its text as if I’d played it myself. I discard Magical Blast and choose Lightning Vortex, discarding a card to destroy Moon Dragon Quilla!”

The lunar dragon was struck by a spiraling bolt of lightning and immediately destroyed.

“Moon Dragon Quilla’s effect activates!” said Celestia. “If it’s destroyed, Sun Dragon Inti is immediately Special Summoned!”

Deep roars were heard as the red dragon descended to the field, its four serpentine necks writhing about.

“Just what I was waiting for,” said Twilight. “I play the Trap ‘Dark Renewal’! When you summon a monster, I can send one monster you summoned this turn and one monster I control to the Graveyard, and then Special Summon a Spellcaster from my Graveyard!”

A large gold and violet coffin emerged from a dark portal on the floor. It opened and an invisible force pulled Twilight’s and Celestia’s monsters into it. The doors slammed shut on them, then slowly reopened.

“Be reborn, Endymion, the Master Magician!” shouted Twilight excitedly. Endymion flew out of the coffin, striking a pose in midair.

“You were wrong about me, Princess Luna!” Twilight said. “I do have the strength to win this duel, and I have the power to stop the sun itself! I activate ‘Double Attack’! I discard ‘Arcanite Magician/Assault Mode’ from my hand to the Graveyard to allow Endymion to attack twice this turn!”

“Battle! Endymion, the Master Magician, attack Celestia and Luna directly!” Twilight ordered. “Dark Magic Infinity!” Every Spell Counter jewel on Endymion’s armor began to glow. The ring on his back vanished and reappeared in front of him, each of its own gems shining brightly. The ring turned so that its edge faced Endymion and then began spinning like a wheel Endymion aimed his staff at the ring. The crystalline spikes on the back flashed with bolts of magic. The gem in the staff launched a spiralling beam of energy that struck the edge of the massive ring. The beam split in two and sped toward the two alicorns, striking them square in the chest and knocking them both to the ground.

“Princess Celestia! Princess Luna!” cried Twilight as she ran over to the royal sisters. “Are you two alright?”

Celestia looked up and smiled, then stood, brushing herself off with her wings. “We’re fine, Twilight,” she said. “That was a good duel. Congratulations on your victory.”

Luna also stood up, but said nothing. She shook her head roughly, then looked around, confusion clouding her face. “What happened? Did Twilight win the duel?” she asked.

“She was under a dark influence, Twilight,” said Celestia. “She remembers nothing of the last few turns.”

“Because there are dark things happening in the human realm. That is what we called you hear to tell you, Twilight. Our realms share a connection much deeper than you know. I believe it was no accident that Nightshroud came here. The same darkness that makes that creature what it is affects all realms.”

“It’s simple, my faithful student,” said Celestia. “We ponies were once Duel Monster Spirits, and our world was once a part of the Duel Monsters Spirit Realm.”

“There was a calamity eons ago that separated us from the other worlds in the Spirit Realm,” Celestia explained. “One Spirit made a choice that has affected us everything in every realm. The darkness of Nightshroud, the evil of Nightmare Moon, they both come from the same place. And whatever happens in one realm will affect all the others.”

“It is impossible for the darkness to make isolated moves. Whatever it has touched is affected every time something happens, unless they are purified. Twilight, you and your friends must travel to the human realm to find the source of the darkness and purify it.”

“Then it is up to you to save our world, and Yusei’s. But I have absolute faith in you. You and your friends, without a doubt, can save us all.”

“Twilight, there’s one other thing,” Celestia continued. “It may be best not to tell your friends about our connection to the Duel Monsters Spirit Realm or the human realm. I don’t know if they will take it as well as you have."

"I guess it does pose some ethical problems," said Twilight. "But I should tell them eventually."

Twilight had asked her friends to meet her in the fields outside of Ponyville. She explained the situation as best she could to the five ponies and Spike.

“So something that’s happening in Yusei’s world is affecting Princess Luna?” asked Fluttershy.

“Um... well, she is over a thousand years old,” Twilight said. “She must have seen something like this before.”

“Well, we know what we’ve gotta do,” said Applejack, “but how’re we gonna get to Yusei’s world in the first place?”

“I believe I can be of some assistance.” Twilight looked up. Standing behind her friends was none other than...

“I think I can open a... somewhat stable wormhole into the other dimension,” said Discord. “It won’t last long and will collapse behind you.”

“Aren’t these wormhole things what made everything go crazy when that Paradox guy was here?” asked Rainbow Dash.

“Those were rips in time and space, Rainbow Dash,” Discord answered. “A wormhole is merely pushing space aside and making a temporary tunnel rather than destroying the barriers in your way. It’s a tad dangerous for those wishing to travel through the tunnel since it could collapse on them, but not nearly as dangerous for the rest of reality.”

“We’ll be fine, Fluttershy,” said Twilight. “If the tunnel starts to collapse, I think I can push it back long enough to get us through to the other side.”

Discord snapped his fingers and a portal appeared next to the group. Applejack and Rarity stepped through. Pinkie Pie hopped in. Rainbow Dash shoved Fluttershy through and then dove in herself.

It had been several minutes. Though the scenery was beautiful, Twilight wondered how much longer until they would reach the end of the tunnel.

“I was just wondering the same thing, Dash,” said Twilight. “But no, we’re not. And I don’t know how much longer it’ll-”

There was a sound of thunder behind her. Twilight looked back. The tunnel seemed to be folding in on itself.

“No, I have a better idea,” said Twilight. “Dash, Fluttershy, gather all of us together. Everypony, hang on tight!”

Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash pushed the others into a small cluster. Twilight instructed them to put her at the back and turn her to face the collapse. Her horn lit up and she formed a bubble around her friends. Then she pushed her horn through the shield.

“Getting us out of here,” said Twilight. Her horn lit up again and a large, pink band appeared. It expanded until it touched the walls of the tunnel. “That should hold the collapse in place long enough for us to get out of here. Rainbow Dash, get out and give us a push.”

“On it!” said Dash. She flew through the bubble and pushed both hooves against the back, flapping her wings hard and fast. The bubble began to move forward.

“Mostly,” she said. “As long as that band holds, we should get out of here safely at our current pace.”

There was a crack and a twang. Twilight looked over Rainbow Dash’s shoulder. The magical ring was breaking.

Twilight sighed. “Of course,” she grumbled. “Rainbow Dash, can you get us to sonic rainboom speed?”

“I’m already trying!” shouted Dash. The cracking was getting louder. Dash and Twilight looked back.

Rainbow Dash spun around and kicked the ball as hard as she could with her back hooves. Then she took off after it.

The band had completely shattered and vanished. The tunnel was folding faster than before.

“Oh no,” said Twilight. “Holding the collapse back must have strengthened it! Rainbow Dash, hurry!”

Rainbow Dash flapped her wings as hard as she could. She and Twilight made eye contact for a split second.

“Sonic rainboom time!” she whispered. There was a colorful explosion and Dash blasted forward. her front hooves made contact with the bubble. They quickly gained speed and soon they were outflying the collapse.

“Look!” said Spike. “There’s a light! We must be getting close to the other side!”

He had found them again. The resistance was constantly on the run, always finding some new place to hide, some new building to use as a fortress. They always failed, always were found. Every time he found them, they always lost soldiers, weak minds that would serve the Black King’s purposes far better.

He watched on the holographic screen from his throne. His dark troops approached the stronghold from the shadows.

Suddenly there was a light, a blinding light. The Black King shielded his eyes. He could hear the hologram projectors overloading, popping and sparking. The light finally faded and he looked back at the image. It flickered in and out sporadically and the picture had become fuzzy. But there, unmistakable, lying on the ground were...

TO BE CONTINUED

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Next time on Dueling is Magic! Many Futures

Twilight and her friends have finally arrived in Neo Domino City, but it’s not what they were expecting. Amidst the war torn streets, Twilight is forced into a duel to save her friends! Soon after, they meet a group of humans who may be able to tell them what happened. What is the meaning of the war they are fighting? Just who is the Black King?

Chapter 5

The Resistance

Dueling is Magic! Many Futures

by Wolfgang

Chapter 4: To Stop the Sun