//------------------------------// // Chapter 22: The Sealed Crystal Beasts - Break Through, Twilight! // Story: Dueling is Magic! Many Futures // by Wolfgang //------------------------------// Dueling is Magic! Many Futures Chapter 22 The Sealed Crystal Beasts - Break Through, Twilight! /*********************\ Aporia knelt before the looming shadow of his master. “The resistance is weakened,” said the shadow. “They are afraid. Go, envoy of despair, and tighten fear’s grip.” “Yes, Black King,” said Aporia. He stood and left. After Aporia left, the Black King stood and looked out the window. The image of a cloaked figure appeared behind his reflection. “The preparations for your return are almost complete,” said the Black King. “You’ve done well,” the figure replied. “Your reward will be the survival of your people.” “...in silence,” muttered the Black King. “Darkness is what will become the eternal realm. Those that are silent are those that will survive. You have seen for yourself what the pursuit of light does to life. Light is destruction and death. Darkness is silence, but it is ultimately preservation.” He stood in silence, staring at the reflection of someone who wasn’t there. His insides burned. ***** Rainbow Dash pushed a small cloud down to the roof of the base, landed on top of it and flopped onto her stomach. She inhaled deeply and sighed heavily. She looked up. The hole she created in the cloud cover was quickly filled. She sighed again and returned her gaze to the dead city. Why did it have to be like this? she thought. The one way I had of really fighting in this world, and I can’t do it anymore! Why? Just... why couldn’t it just be a card game? She heard hoofsteps behind her. She looked over her shoulder. “Whataya want, Twilight? she said. “I just wanted to talk, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight said. The purple unicorn walked up to Rainbow Dash’s cloud and sat beside her on the roof. “We’ve got nothing to talk about,” Dash said with a huff. A wisp of cloud escaped and drifted off. “That’s not true, Dash,” said Twilight. “Look, just... hear me out, okay?” Rainbow Dash snorted. “Fine.” “Thanks. Look, Dash, I’m sorry about keeping that a secret from you and letting you duel. I should have told you girls right from the start.” Rainbow Dash remained silent. “I know what you’re going through right now, Dash,” Twilight continued. “I went through it after Princess Celestia told me-” “Told you that Duel Monsters are our own kind, yeah,” Dash interrupted. She sat up and glared at Twilight. “Maybe you do know what I’m going through, but that’s just one more reason you should’ve told me that we were ordering our own kind to fight our wars for us. It’s wrong, Twilight, it’s all wrong!” “Dash, I-” “No, Twilight, listen! I have nightmares! The Crystal Beasts, they... they just look at me! They try to say things too, but I cover my ears so I can’t hear them asking me why I do that to them, or telling me how awful and cruel I am! Even Rainbow Dragon... I can’t bear the way it looks at me, Twilight!” “Dash-” “And what about Spike?! I can’t even imagine how badly this is messing with him! He’s just a baby dragon! How do you think this will affect him?” “Rainbow Dash, please, just listen!” “No, Twilight!” yelled the pegasus. She drew a deep breath and let it out. “Look,” she said calmly, “thanks for the apology, but this doesn’t change the fact that you should have told us sooner. You should have told me before I dueled Jack. But you know what really kills me?” Twilight said nothing, tears welling in her eyes. “Not only did you not stop me, but you offered to make a Duel Disk for me,” Dash continued. “You knew what Duel Monsters are... but you would’ve made a Duel Disk for me to use anyway.” Rainbow Dash leapt off the cloud and slammed her front hoof into it, destroying it. “That’s what my deck does, Twilight,” she said. “That’s what my strategy does to the Crystal Beasts. And you would’ve helped me do that.” Rainbow Dash landed and began walking toward the door. “We’re not friends anymore, Twilight,” said the pegasus as she walked. “When we get home, I don’t want anything to do with you anymore.” Rainbow Dash walked through the open door, pulling it shut behind her. Twilight began sobbing. ***** Six ponies and a baby dragon walked into the council room. Yeager and the others were already there, sitting behind their tables. “My little ponies,” said Yeager, “we face a crisis. The attack on the convoy has left us weakened, and the morale of our men is low. What’s more, a scout has reported back that a large force of Dark Troopers is approaching, and they are being led by an enormous man in white.” “Aporia!” said Twilight. “Correct,” Yeager continued. “It doesn’t look like they’re carrying weapons this time, so it may be a dueling force. Every available duelist we have needs to be out there. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, that means you too.” “I can duel!” said Spike. “Twilight just needs to make a Duel Disk for me!” “If Twilight creates a Disk for me as well, then I’ll also volunteer,” said Rarity. “Excellent,” said Yeager. “Pinkie Pie, Applejack, I need the two of you to set up defenses. Turn this place into a fortress. Don’t let anyone in until we sound the all-clear.” “Roger that,” said Applejack. “You got it!” said Pinkie. “Fluttershy,” said Aki, “I’ve left one of my nurses in charge, but I need you to stay in the clinic and help out, alright?” “Of course,” said Fluttershy. “I’m happy to help.” “Are we all set then?” said Yeager. “Excellent! Then-” “No.” Yeager blinked. Rainbow Dash had spoken out. “W-what was that?” “I said no.” “What do you mean by that?” “It means NO!” Dash shouted. “I can’t duel them! I just can’t!” “If your Disk isn’t working, I’m sure Twilight can-” Rainbow Dash’s Duel Disk appeared on her foreleg. “Oh.” “The Disk isn’t the problem,” said Dash. “The problem is that Duel Monsters and my kind are the same! I can’t just send them off to battle anymore! I’m sorry, Yeager, but I can’t duel them. I can try to fight in other ways, but I won’t duel!” “Rainbow Dash, as difficult as this may be for you, the safety of this base is more important,” Yeager said. “I’ve seen your duels. You are one of the strongest duelists I’ve ever seen. We need you on this!” “I can’t!” “Duel me, Dash,” said Twilight. Silence once again gripped the room as all eyes turned to the lavender unicorn. “You're joking, right?” said Dash. “I’m not,” Twilight replied. “There’s a truth about dueling that you’re missing. And if you’d just listen-” “I don’t want to listen to you, Twilight,” said Dash. “Didn't you hear me the first time? I said I’m done with you.” An audible gasp escaped Fluttershy’s mouth. “You are a duelist, Rainbow Dash. You need to hear this.” “I’m not a duelist anymore.” “Yes you are! That Duel Disk is proof of that! Those cards are proof! They are a part of you, and they always will be. Rainbow Dash, you’re a duelist whether you like it or not! Now duel me!” Twilight’s horn lit up and her own Duel Disk flashed into existence. "You know what? Fine! I owe you a thrashing for what you did anyway!" ***** Twilight and Rainbow Dash stood on the roof, far from one another, facing each other. The wind whipped through their manes as clouds billowed over head. Thunder growled in the distance. Fluttershy shuddered and Rarity patted her head softly. Five cards floated out of Twilight’s Duel Disk and stopped in front of her, floating in the pink energy of her magic. Rainbow Dash put a hoof to her deck and pulled it away. Five cards followed her hoof, a faint gold light outlining the edges. She moved her hoof down her left foreleg and the five cards rested there. “DUEL!” shouted Twilight and Dash. Life Point Count Rainbow Dash: 4000 Twilight: 4000 “I’ll start,” said Dash as she drew a new card. Wait a minute, she thought. What am I doing? No, I can’t do this to them! ...but I can’t back out either. Maybe I can play it safe... “I Summon ‘Crystal Beast Emerald Tortoise’ in Defense Mode and Set one card face-down,” said Dash. An ancient tortoise with massive emerald crystals growing from its shell appeared in front of Rainbow Dash. A giant card appeared behind the tortoise face-down as the animal withdrew into its shell. Crystal Beast Emerald Tortoise DEF/2000 LV 3 “My turn!” said Twilight. “I activate ‘Terraforming’, which lets me add a Field Spell to my hand of cards. Next, I activate that Field Spell: ‘Magical Citadel of Endymion’!” A massive citadel appeared behind Twilight, rising up from behind the resistance HQ building. Mystic runes written in light circled around the towers of the city, rising up from the outer wall and disappearing into the belfry of the central tower. “Next, I’ll give it some protection with the Continuous Spell ‘Field Barrier’,” Twilight continued. “Now that I’m done setting up my protections, it’s time to attack! I summon ‘Crusader of Endymion’ in Attack Mode!” A tall, thin warrior wearing blue armor over a brown suit emerged from a blue portal. Two massive gauntlets floated around his arms, held in place by circles of magic. Crusader of Endymion ATK/1900 LV 4 “I activate ‘Double Summon’, which lets me Normal Summon a second time,” said Twilight. “And whenever a Spell is activated, like Double Summon, a Spell Counter is added to my Citadel. Now, I Gemini Summon Crusader of Endymion, turning it into an Effect Monster! Then I activate his effect, placing a Spell Counter on the Citadel and increasing his Attack Points by six hundred!” Crusader of Endymion ATK/2500 LV 4 “Crusader of Endymion, attack Crystal Beast Emerald Tortoise!” ordered Twilight. “Light of Selene!” “I activate ‘Crystal Flash’!” said Rainbow Dash. “This lets me place a ‘Crystal Beast’ from my hand into my Spell Zone as a Continuous Spell, and also protects Emerald Tortoise from being destroyed by battle for the rest of this turn.” Twilight’s monster threw both of its arms forward. White beams of energy erupted from the four jewels on the ends of each gauntlet and converged into one, focusing on the Tortoise. A massive amber crystal appeared in front of the turtle and blocked the attack. When the beams faded, the crystal floated around behind the Tortoise. “Crystal Flash was a Quick-Play Spell, which means my Citadel has gained a fourth Spell Counter,” said Twilight. “Let’s make it two more. I activate ‘Spell Power Grasp’, which places a Spell Counter on the Citadel and adds another copy of ‘Spell Power Grasp’ to my hand. And since it’s a Spell Card, that brings the Citadel up to six Spell Counters. That ends my turn.” That was close! thought Rainbow Dash. Still, I was able to hold her off. Let’s see if I can do that until I can summon Rainbow Dragon. “My turn!” said Dash. “I equip Emerald Tortoise with ‘Golden Rule’. This lets me put two Level Three ‘Crystal Beasts’ from my deck onto the field as Continuous Spells.” An amethyst and a ruby appeared on the field. “I activate ‘Crystal Promise’, and Special Summon ‘Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle’ from its crystallized form!” The giant ruby shard began to crack. Light flashed from within the cracks, and a small, purple animal burst out of the ruby. Four large, floppy ears waved in the wind. A thick tail with a ruby orb at the end waved behind the creature. Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle DEF/300 LV 3 Magical Citadel of Endymion Spell Counters: 8 “Ruby’s effect activates!” said Dash. “When it’s Special Summoned, I can Special Summon as many ‘Crystal Beasts’ as possible from my Spell Zones.” The giant amethyst shattered as an enormous, pink cat burst onto the roof. A gray wooly mammoth erupted from the amber gemstone. Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth DEF/1600 LV 4 Crystal Beast Amethyst Cat ATK/1200 LV 3 “Amethyst Cat, attack Twilight directly!” Dash ordered. “Amethyst can bypass your monsters, but you’ll only take half the damage if she does. Go, Amethyst Power Pounce!” The large cat darted forward, sidestepping the Crusader, and leapt claws first at Twilight. Twilight saw red lines flash before her. The cat ran back to her spot next to the tortoise. Life Point Count Rainbow Dash: 4000 Twilight: 3400 “After the Battle Phase, I’ll activate Emerald Tortoise’s effect and switch Amethyst Cat to Defense Mode,” said Rainbow Dash. “I’ll end my turn with two face-down cards.” “My turn,” said Twilight. “I activate ‘Spell Power Grasp’ from my hand to place two Spell Counters on my Magical Citadel and add the final copy of ‘Spell Power Grasp’ to my hand from my deck. Next, I activate Crusader’s effect to place another Spell Counter on the Citadel and increase his Attack Points by six hundred.” Three shining orbs appeared and flew off to the citadel in the distance behind Twilight. Magical Citadel of Endymion Spell Counters: 11 “Now I remove six of those Spell Counters to Special Summon from my hand ‘Endymion, the Master Magician’!” said Twilight. Six of the lights raced off to the top of the central tower. A bright beam of light shone from where the lights had joined, creating a blue portal in front of Twilight. Through the portal stepped the master of the citadel, a tall man in an elaborate black outfit, lined with purple, trimmed with gold, and decorated with countless purple jewels that held within them the three triangles of the Spell Counter symbol. A gold and silver ring rested on the magician’s back, Spell Counter jewels running all along its body. The light faded away and the magician slammed the butt of his staff onto the ground. Endymion, the Master Magician ATK/2700 LV 7 “Twilight’s ace has appeared,” said Rarity. “This might not go well...” “For Rainbow Dash?” asked Fluttershy. Rarity shook her head. “For Twilight,” she said. “She told me that she was having nightmares about what happened to him during her duel with the princesses. I hope that she’ll be okay...” Endymion turned around and looked down on Twilight. She looked up at him and gulped. “Endymion,” she said. “I haven’t played your card since we fought Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. I... I felt guilty about letting you get destroyed over and over.” Endymion turned back to face Rainbow Dash. “Endymion... can you forgive me?” Endymion spun his staff swiftly, stopping it with the head pointing at Rainbow Dash. Twilight smiled. “Then let’s do this! When Endymion is Special Summoned by removing Spell Counters from his Citadel, I can add a Spell Card from my Graveyard to my hand. Now it’s time to battle!” “No you don’t, Twilight!” said Rainbow Dash. “I activate ‘Crystal Fortress’! Since I have four ‘Crystal Beasts’ in play, anything you have with four thousand or less Attack Points can’t attack this turn!” “Rats! And here I was ready to go,” said Twilight. “I activate Endymion’s second effect. By discarding a Spell Card from my hand, I can destroy one card on the field. I’ll destroy Amethyst Cat!” “No you won’t!” said Rainbow Dash. “I activate ‘My Body as a Shield’! I pay fifteen hundred Life Points to negate Endymion’s effect and destroy him instead!” Rainbow Dash ran in front of her monsters and extended her wings in front of herself. A blast of energy shot from the end of Endymion’s staff and struck Dash’s wings. She pushed against it and soon threw it back at its source. Endymion was struck with the energy and destroyed. Life Point Count Rainbow Dash: 2500 Twilight: 3400 “I’ll end my turn there,” said Twilight. “My turn!” said Rainbow Dash. “I play ‘Swords of Revealing Light’. This card stays in play for three of your turns, and stop you from attacking while it’s there!” Three swords of pure light dropped down from the sky in front of Twilight. “Dash, you can’t defend forever,” said Twilight. “I’m going to break through eventually.” “This isn’t about defending myself, Twilight,” said Rainbow Dash. She pointed a hoof at her monsters. “It’s about defending them! I switch Amethyst Cat to Attack Mode and attack directly with her!” Amethyst Cat jumped high into the air and came down on Twilight with furious swipes of her claws, then bounded back to her place. “Emerald Tortoise switches Amethyst Cat back to Defense Mode. Your turn.” Twilight drew a card. “I don’t think it’s about defending them at all,” she said. “It’s about defending yourself... and punishing yourself. You feel guilty for your past duels. Especially the one where you borrowed Nightshroud’s power and turned your Crystal Beasts dark. So you’re punishing yourself by trying to take the attacks for your monsters.” “Don’t get all headshrinker with me, Twilight!” yelled Rainbow Dash. “You think you can just-” “But you’re also trying to defend yourself!” Twilight yelled back. “I hurt you, Rainbow Dash. I hurt you worse than I ever have before and I’m so, so sorry. I wish you could forgive me as easily as Endymion has, but I know that’s asking too much.” “You’re right about that,” muttered Rainbow Dash. “But listen!” Twilight continued. “There’s something about Duel Monsters that Spike learned. We aren’t just their ancestors. We evolved into something else, something more. Now they’re born from our hearts, just like with the humans. They are our souls, Rainbow Dash! They aren’t the same as us; they are us!” “Shut up,” said Rainbow Dash. “Shut up, shut up, shut up!” She flapped her wings and rose into the air. She put her hooves to her ears and shook her head. “You’re fighting with your own soul, Rainbow Dash! This is you fighting! And this is me! I remove six Spell Counters from the Citadel and Special Summon ‘Endymion, the Master Magician’ from my Graveyard! And since he was summoned this way, he gives me back a Spell Card from my Graveyard, which I will immediately use for his effect! Endymion, destroy Swords of Revealing Light!” Endymion swung his staff and released a wide arc of energy from the jewel at the end. The arc hit all three swords of light in front of him and caused them to shatter. “I activate Crusader’s effect to place a Spell Counter on the Magical Citadel and increase his Attack Points to twenty-five hundred,” Twilight continued. “Battle! Crusader of Endymion, attack Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth! Endymion, the Master Magician, attack Crystal Beast Amethyst Cat!” Beams of light flashed away from the two magicians. The kneeling mammoth and cat were struck by them and shattered. Smoke rose up and was blown away by the wind. Giant crystals stood where the animals had been. "Amber Mammoth! Amethyst Cat! No!" shouted Rainbow Dash. “I activate ‘Spell Power Grasp’ and target the Citadel,” said Twilight. “That ends my turn.” Magical Citadel of Endymion Spell Counters: 4 Rainbow Dash drew a card. Oh no, she thought. ”Rare Value”? I can’t play this. I can’t do this to them! I can’t! “I Set one card face-down,” said Dash dejectedly, “and end my turn.” “Rainbow Dash,” said Twilight with a sigh. “My turn,” she announced. “I activate Crusader’s effect. Endymion, Crusader, attack!” Light again flashed across the field. Two more monsters were destroyed and replaced with an emerald and a ruby. “Rainbow Dash... you’re better than this!” shouted Twilight. “No, no I’m not,” said Rainbow Dash. “You’re holding yourself back!” “Of course I am! This isn’t just a game anymore, Twilight! Duel Monsters Spirits are alive! We used to be the same kind!” “Exactly, Rainbow Dash! We’re not the same anymore.” “What difference does it make? They’re still alive! And we’re still using them as weapons and shields! The fact that we used to be from the same world just proves that!” Twilight looked up at Endymion, the Master Magician. “Even if that’s true, that doesn’t make what Spike told me any less true. They’re alive, but they’re still a part of us. Endymion forgave me. The Crystal Beasts will do the same for you.” “How could they?” Dash cried. “They still come when you call, don’t they?” Twilight said. Rainbow Dash noticed that she was still hovering in the air. She lowered herself back to the roof and gazed at her Duel Disk. “Twilight... I...” her hoof reached for her deck. “I’m sorry... I can’t do this anymore. I... I forf-” Rainbow Dash... She stopped. Someone had called her, they must have. But who was it? She looked around. It didn’t sound like any of her friends. It sounded like an old stallion with a nasally voice. The emerald in front of her flashed and caught her eye. The Emerald Tortoise appeared inside the gem. He was smiling softly. ***** The Trinidart Ouroboros roared along the highway, its wide frame scraping its wheels against abandoned cars. Aporia towered above everything at the top of the massive D-Wheel. Dozens of trucks and smaller black D-Wheels followed behind him. This time, there would be no mistakes. The resistance movement would end on that day. The plan was coming together. ***** Crow’s footsteps echoed throughout the empty hallway. There were no working lights overhead, and the windows barely provided enough light for him to see. Even the doors left ajar by former inhabitants seemed shrouded in darkness. This was the last known location that Paradox had been spotted around. Crow had been wandering up and down the halls of the apartment building for an hour, but had found no sign of the man. Crow sighed and leaned against a wall. Yusei had never struck Crow like that before, even when Crow was sure he would have deserved it. But this time... “I know I didn’t deserve that,” said Crow. He sighed again and stared up at the ceiling. “You are a long way from your nest, little bird,” came a monotonous voice. Crow pushed himself off the wall and faced its source. “Paradox!” he said. “How did you find me?” asked the strange man. “By looking,” Crow replied. “You and I need to talk.” “What could we possibly have to discuss?” Paradox asked. “You need to tell me what happened to Yusei,” Crow answered. Paradox shook his head. “I pity you,” he said. “You are loyal to a lost soul.” He turned around and started walking. “Follow me if you want your answers.” Crow followed him. ***** Sherry’s eyes flashed open as the door to her cell announced the entrance of a visitor. “Come on,” came Ushio’s gruff voice. “We need all the help we can get.” “So you trust me now?” Sherry said as she stared at an empty wall. “I don’t think Yeager or the others are sure about you,” Ushio replied. “But if you want us to trust you, now’s your chance to prove it. The Black King’s forces are closing in, and they’re being led by Aporia. We’re crippled right now, and you’re one of the strongest duelists I’ve ever seen.” Sherry turned her gaze to the large man. “Aporia is coming, is he?” she said. “Then you are doomed either way.” She stood up. “I will help you, but it is a lost cause. Aporia will no doubt have increased his power since we last met.” Ushio held out Sherry’s Duel Disk. She took it and put it on her arm. “It took the combined efforts of myself, Leo, and the purple unicorn to take him down last time,” Sherry said as her Duel Disk activated. “Then it’s a good thing we’ve got you and Rainbow Dash too,” said Ushio. “Come on, let’s go!” /*********************\ Next time on Dueling is Magic! Many Futures Rainbow Dash’s defense has been worn down to nothing, and only one option is left to her: To fight back by any means. After receiving encouragement from the Crystal Beasts, Rainbow Dash begins mounting a counterattack against Twilight! But Aporia and his army are closing in and will be upon the base in mere moments. Meanwhile, Crow and Paradox have a talk about Yusei, and what happened to him after he and Paradox returned to Neo Domino City... Chapter 23 Best Friends /*********************\ Featured Card Crystal Beast Emerald Tortoise WATER Level 3 Aqua/Effect Once per turn: You can target 1 monster you control that attacked this turn; change that target to Defense Position. If this face-up card is destroyed while it is in a Monster Card Zone, you can place it face-up in your Spell & Trap Card Zone as a Continuous Spell Card, instead of sending it to the Graveyard. ATK/600 DEF/2000