//------------------------------// // Reach Out to Somepony // Story: Masters of Magic: The Gathering // by Mod On Death //------------------------------// Spike had been trying to figure out what kind of deck he should use against Fluttershy. He had no idea of what kind of player she was, so he couldn't come up with a counter deck. He thought that maybe she'd choose creatures that looked soft and cuddly. After all, this was Fluttershy he was dealing with. She was probably like Rarity when it came to cards. The only difference was that Fluttershy was into animals, so maybe she'd focus on non-threatening creatures. That, or Spike had no real idea what he was talking about and was making random guesses. While looking through his box of cards, Twilight passed by, giving him a glass of orange juice. "Saw you were busy and thought you might like something to drink," she told him. "Thanks!" Spike was actually surprised by the gesture. Normally he was the one who needed to get ponies drinks, so this was something of a treat to him. "Say, you have any suggestions on how I could deal with Fluttershy? I have no idea how she plays and I'm trying out a new deck." "Well, maybe you should try a deck that's made specifically for taking out lots of small creatures. Perhaps she'll try to swarm you," Twilight offered. "I'm just guessing that she wouldn't try to play-" "Gross creatures? I thought the same to." Spike pondered this idea and said, "You know what? Sure. After all, this is all about experimentation. I think I'll go red with some blue as well, just to see how it works out." "Sounds interesting." Twilight said as she walked away. Ever since her incident she'd been trying to get away from the game as much as she could. She was worried she could go into relapse and didn't know if she'd be able to block it out easily. "Oh! One other thing; Shining Armor will be here later on tonight." "Wait, really?" Spike was surprised by this news. This was the first time he'd been told about this. "Yeah. I guess I forgot after dealing with that whole Magic fiasco. Anyway, would you mind cleaning up before going out to challenge Fluttershy? It'd be really helpful." "Fine," he said, resentment in his voice. He'd enjoyed playing his game so much that he'd actually forgotten about most of his chores. Twilight had gone easy on him since this was the first time she'd really seen him interacting with other kids his age, but now she needed help to get things ready for company. "Say, is Cadance joining him?" "Nah. He says that he wants some alone time with me. Seems like forever since we could hang out without some big disaster happening." "Cool. So what needs to be done?" "Well, it'd be great if you could sweep around the house, do the wash, clean the dishes, and I think that'll be all. I need to run some errands before he gets here. You think you can do that?" "Obviously." Twilight left and Spike started to put aside his box of cards. "Hope I can get this done quickly. Wanna play-test this thing before I head over." He got out the broom and started sweeping when there was a knocking at the door. "Twilight, did you forget your keys?" Spike opened the door to find that it was Apple Bloom, followed by her two other friends. "Hey Spike! You ready for your next match?" "Not right now. I have to do some chores." He sighed at that last word. "Wish I didn't though." "What's the hold up?" Sweetie Belle asked, not hearing what he just said. "He's busy with chores," Apple Bloom explained. "Looks like we won't be going for a while." "What? No!" Scootaloo bellowed out. "Spike, what needs doing?" "Well, there's sweeping, then washing, then cleaning the dishes, and that should be it." "Alright then. Come on, girls! Nopony wants to do chores forever!" "Wait, you'll be helping me out?" Spike was so happy to have somepony that would actually help him out around the place. Felt like it never happened to him. This was turning out to be a unique day. "Sure. Everypony take a chore and get going. Spike, make your deck. The longer you take the longer we wait." Without hesitation the three went to the broom closet and grabbed whatever they needed to get the chores done. Scootaloo decided to sweep, moving the broom back and forth, spreading dirt everywhere. Sweetie Belle decided she would wash the dishes and started grabbing them all from the sink and dumping them into the dishwasher. "I'm not sure where I'm supposed to place this stuff," she said as she examined the soap bottle, "but I think the more the better." She poured the soap over the dishes and turned the knob all the way to the right, assuming that longer they washed the better. Apple Bloom took on the wash, gathering what little clothes were worn by them. Doing it the way her family taught her, she got a nearby bucket, an old washing board (somehow laying around), and decided to scrub them with her bare hooves. She then hung them up outside on one of the nearby tree branches. Satisfied, she went back inside to report her job finished. "Clothes are drying," she told them. "Floor's spotless," Scootaloo told them, coughing a little. "Dishes are being done as we speak," said Sweetie Belle. "What?" her two friends asked, trying to hear her over the washing machine as is started to grow louder and louder. "They're getting done!" she yelled back. "Anyway, let's see how Spike's doing." They went over to Spike as he was picking up the cards he had just played. He was also putting them into one of his deck holsters. It looked like he was ready. "Let's go," he said in his most intimidating voice. Instead of coming off as a strong loner however, the girls thought it was funny how was acting tough and giggled. Seeing as he couldn't just recover from that, he decided to head off to Fluttershy's to play card games. "Now, how does this work again?" Fluttershy said to herself as she looked at her old cards. It'd been so long since she played and she could barely recall the game. In fact, she really didn't remember why she'd stopped playing in the first place. What she can remember was having lots of fun, but everything also being very loud. It was a very odd memory for her to have, but as she remembered it she noticed that her hooves moved on their own, flipping through her pile of cards. "What's going on?" she asked, noticing herself glance at cards and set them aside while creating a neat pile. "Am I...making a deck?" Fluttershy felt herself going through motions she hadn't performed in years. What felt like long-lost knowledge a few moments ago now felt like information she'd known all her life. "Guess I still have it," she told Angel, who was currently watching Fluttershy with disinterest. "Now I just need to wait for Spike and then we can play. Oooh, this will be so exciting!" She went outside and set up a table for them to place their cards, along with mats on opposite sides to keep them clean. While waiting she practiced her shuffling techniques, enjoying the unique ways she could get the cards in different orders. When she finally saw Spike arrive, she felt something change inside of her. "Hey Fluttershy. You ready to play?" asked Spike. "I sure am! I have everything set up right here. Let's cut our cards and begin," she told him. The two exchanged decks and started cutting, Fluttershy moving cards around like a card dealer. Spike saw this and sighed, knowing that it was probably gonna be one of those duels. "The more I play these ponies, the more I think I should've just played against one of the girls' classmates," Spike mumbled to himself as he wondered what kind of odd twist he'd be dealing with now. "Alright. You wanna play or draw?" "I'd like to draw," she told him. The two of them drew their seven cards, Spike taking the lead. "I play Izzet Guildgate and end my turn." "I draw and play a Forest. I then tap to summon Scute Mob, ending my turn." "What did you play?" Scootaloo asked. "I played a Scute Mob. Whenever I control five or more lands at the beginning of my turn, I can put four +1/+1 counters on it." Fluttershy explained. "Oh. Thought you said something else," Scootaloo admitted. "Alright then. I draw and play an Island, followed by Stream Hopper. I then end my turn," Spike told her. "Okay then." Fluttershy drew and said, "I play a Forest, followed by Deadly Recluse. This creature has Deathtouch, meaning any amount of damage it deals is enough to destroy a creature, along with Reach, meaning that it can block flying creatures as well. That ends my turn." "Darn," Spike mumbled. His Stream Hopper actually had the ability to fly if he tapped one his his lands, but didn't stand a chance against that flying creature. "I'll draw and play a Mountain. I then summon Goblin Electromancer to the field. While this creature is on the field, all Sorceries and Instants cost 1 mana less to cast. That'll be all." "Oh. That does look like trouble," Fluttershy commented. "I guess I'll just have to do more then. I draw and play a Forest. Tapping two of them, I play Explore, allowing me to play an additional Land and draw a card." Fluttershy then placed the Land down, bringing her total to four. Spike did not like the looks of things. Once she got to five Lands, her Scute Mob would start to become a real powerhouse. "Guess I need to play fast. I draw and play a Mountain. I then cast Flame Slash against your Scute Mob, not having to pay anything thanks to my Goblin Electromancer. Also, I tap to summon Crackleburr and end my turn." Spike was feeling good thanks to that draw. He'd eliminated that annoying creature and summoned his own that had the abilities to deal damage to a creature or return creatures to their hand. Looked like an early win. "Well, that does suck," Fluttershy said, shocking the others. "Oh, did I say that? Sorry. Anyway, I cast Khalni Heart Expedition, along with Rampant Growth, allowing me to play a Land from my Library. I then play a Forest from my hand, putting two tokens on my Khalni Heart Expedition. When I get to three counters, I can play two Lands from my Library tapped. Your move." Fluttershy noticed that she was not only feeling more confident as she played, but a bit more aggressive. "Okay. I draw and tap my creatures to allow Crackleburr to deal 3 damage to your Deadly Recluse, destroying it." Spike said, noticing Fluttershy grumbling as she placed it in her graveyard. "That's my turn." "Okay. I draw and play another Forest, placing the third and final counter on my Khalni Heart Expedition, allowing me to play an additional two lands tapped. Tapping my available lands, I cast Howl of the Night Pack. This spell gives me a 2/2 Green Wolf for each Forest I control. Since I have nine Forests on the field, I get nine Wolves." She placed down nine tokens, smiling insanely as she placed them down. "That's all for now. What've you got?" "Um, well, I draw and play an Island. I also tap to place the Enchantment Clout of the Dominus on Stream Hopper and Goblin Electromancer, ending my turn." Spike had to play on the defensive. He was quickly being overrun my creatures and needed a miracle to happen fast. "Well, if that's all, I think I'll just move onto my Attack Phase," Fluttershy said in a creepy manner. "Wolves, attack!" Swiping her hoof across her side of the field, she tapped all her tokens. "Choose your defenders. It won't matter for long." "I block two of your wolves with my Stream Hopper and Goblin Electromancer." Fluttershy discarded two of her tokens while the rest went to deal damage straight to him, dealing a total of 14 damage to him, reducing his Life Points to 6. "Is that the end of your turn?" "Yeah. I think we know how this is gonna end." Fluttershy was now leaning back in her chair, placing her hind legs on the table. "Alright. I draw and, woah. I totally forgot this card. Oh well. I cast Volcanic Fallout, dealing two damage to each creature on the field." "WHAT?!" she yelled, falling back in her chair. "No! Shut up! I'll win this game you little punk!" Everypony there was scared of how Fluttershy was reacting. Spike was starting to wonder if her should throw the game just so Fluttershy didn't go on some sort of rampage later on. "Hey! You leave him alone," demanded Sweetie Belle. "Yeah. You can't just bully somepony while you play. That's just wrong," Apple Bloom added. "Pfft. Whatever. You're still gonna be dead meat when I'm through. Oh, and your Crackleburr gets destroyed as well." "I know," Spike said, his confidence returning thanks to his friends. He discarded the card while Fluttershy cleared her field of the tokens. "Oh, I also attack with my Stream Hopper and Goblin Electromancer, dealing 7 damage to you." "I know how to count, Bucker," Fluttershy mumbled. The four were shocked to hear such language from Fluttershy. Apple Bloom couldn't help but giggle though. "Yeah. I'm just saying this out so everypony else know that you're at 13. Anyway, your move." "Alright. I draw and...prepare to cry. I tap to summon Spearbreaker Behemoth, along with the Enchantment, Canopy Cover! Not only is he Indestructible, but this Enchantment prevents abilities and spells from affecting him! You wanna quit?" "Not so fast!" Spike through down a card and said, "Swerve! This spell directs one spell you cast to a new target of my choice, this situation being the Goblin Electromancer." Fluttershy seemed to make a noise that sounded like 'Nyargh' when he said this. "Is that your turn?" "Sure." "Very well. I draw and play a Mountain. Tapping all my lands, I summon Mindwrack Liege, granting my Red/Blue creature +2/+2. Looks like I won't have to worry about your Indestructible creature now." "Don't worry. There's plenty more where that came from. I draw and play Terra Stomper! That's all for now." Fluttershy was now waiting to gain her most powerful creatures. If she managed to draw her Wolfbriar Elemental, the game was as good as over. "Okay." Spike drew and struggled to keep his smile to himself when he saw his card. "I summon Dominus of Fealty and end my turn." "Alright. I draw and attack with Spearbreaker Behemoth and Terra Stomper." Fluttershy was beginning her final strike against Spike. "I block your Behemoth with my Goblin Electromancer and your other creature with Stream Hopper. Since Stream Hopper has 5/5 for stats, it gets destroyed, along with myself receiving 3 damage directly because it has Trample." Spike was now down to 3 Life Points. If he didn't finish this quickly he knew he'd lose. "Is that your turn?" "Yes. Yes it is. Just try and beat me." "I will, seeing as I'll be taking that Terra Stomper of your thanks to my Dominus of Fealty." Fluttershy's eyes opened up when she heard this. She hadn't bothered to check the ability of that card. With it, he could choose any card during his Upkeep and control it for his turn. Spike then drew his card and knew that the game was over. "I tap to summon Hypersonic Dragon! Now, Hypersonic Dragon, Goblin Electromancer, and Terra Stomper, attack!" "Wait!" Fluttershy screamed out. "You just summoned that creature!" she said in response to the dragon attacking. "He has Haste, so that doesn't matter. Also, your Behemoth won't be able to block the first two creatures since my dragon has flying and Goblin Electromancer has that Enchantment of yours. "Then I"ll block my Terra Stomper then!" "Okay. With the buff my Mindwrack Liege gives my two creatures, along with my goblin's Clout of the Dominus, both deal 6 damage each. Along with Terra Stomper's Trample ability, even with your Spearbreaker Behemoth blocking, I do 3 damage to you directly, making a total of 15 damage. With that attack, Fluttershy, you lose." "NO! You @## lizard! I don't lose! I never lose! I-" Fluttershy's rage suddenly stopped right as she was about to flip over the table. She calmly returned to her seat and said, "I think I remember why I stopped playing this game. Spike, I'm so sorry for my language. Please, accept my apology." "Okay," Spike replied quickly, still a bit in shock of what he had just been called. Apple Bloom and the others had moved a good three feet away from them to avoid getting in the way of her rampage. "No! It's not okay. Here," she said, pulling something from her bag. "I've had this card for a while now and never used it. Didn't want to ruin it's value, but I think it fits you're theme." Spike took the card from Fluttershy and saw that it was the Planeswalker Nicol Bolas. "Wow! This is a really good card! Thanks alot, Fluttershy!" "No problem. Now, if you don't mind, I've got some animals to feed. Take care!" She trotted away from the table, her deck in her pack. The four others took a moment to recover from that scene before leaving. The four decided to go back to Twilight's Library, surprised at the duel today. "Can't believe that Fluttershy was a trash-talker," Sweetie Belle told them. "Yeah. Glad you finished it before she got into some really gross stuff," Scootaloo said, thinking about how her own experience on the playground had resulted in her learning a couple new phrases. "I haven't dealt with players that bad before. Surprised Fluttershy would take the cake." "Well, since she's normally so calm, makes sense her actions would have the most impact," Apple Bloom told them. "That is true. Anyway, I should see if Shining Armor is here yet. Wanna greet him and relax after that game." "Can we say 'hi' as well? We haven't seen him since the Wedding," Apple Bloom asked. "Sure. He'd like to see you girls again." Spike opened the door to find Shining Armor already there with his luggage. "Hey, Shining! You need help?" "Hey, Spike! Sure! Just grab whatever you can." Spike went and grabbed the nearest bag while the three girls entered the library. "Hey, are you three who I think you are?" "Yeah! I'm Apple Bloom. This is Scootaloo, and the other one is Sweetie Belle. We were the Flower Girls at your wedding," she reminded him. "Wow. Didn't expect to find you guys here. You want to stay here or head on out? Twilight apparently had to leave right as I got here. Something about needing to find a Dishwasher Repair Pony fast. Apparently she shielded it off since now it's literally bouncing around the kitchen." Spike gave Sweetie Belle a glare as she tried to whistle innocently. "Anyway, I'm just setting up for now. I don't have that much, so I guess we can kill some time with talk." "I'd like that. After all, I just spent my afternoon playing this really intense Magic: The Gathering game." "Oh, really?" Shining Armor asked, his eyebrow arching. "Yeah! You should have seen him! He was just one step ahead of her and managed to win by controlling her creature," Apple Bloom said excitedly. "She even gave him this really cool card after he won." "Oh. So it sounds like you've got experience with the game then, huh?" Shining Armor asked this as he rummaged around in his luggage. "Yeah. I've had several years of experience. I hope to say that I'm good," Spike said, grinning at the thought of his recent victories. "So," Shining said, throwing his deck holder with pinpoint accuracy on the table, "you think you can take on Dauntless Defender, Number 5 in the world?"