The World Duel Championships X

by The Avenger

Yu Departs for the Front

In Canterlot, Twilight storms out of one of the labs. “For the last time, Bastion, it’s completely impossible for the changelings magic to be connoted to King Sombra’s dark magic or to the Alicorn Amulet!” Twilight nearly shouted as Bastion follows her.
“But, Princess Twilight, the evidence I have collected so far shows a connection of some kind.” Bastion argued.
“And I’m telling you that the evidence is inconclusive! Just because Queen Chrysalis, King Sombra and Trixie looked so much alike when Trixie had the amulet, doesn’t mean that there is a connection. And that is final!” With that, Twilight storms off down the hallway, where her husband is waiting. “Got off early today?”
“Yeah,” he said. “You might want to control the volume of your screams.”
“It was that loud?”
“Yep,” he said as the two laugh a little, while Bastion goes back into his lab, where there a stacks after stacks of files, all labeled ‘The Dark Power.”
“Believe what you want, Princess Twilight,” Bastion said as he plays a disc in his computer, which shows the Changeling Invasion of Canterlot that took place over 30 years ago. “But I know I’m right. And I’ll prove it, one way or another,” he said as he puts in another disc, showing something far more recant.
“Win! I want to win! Win. Must win!” Firestorm said in a completely different voice, an evil one, as he gives off the darkness from different parts of his body, his eyes glowing blood-red.

Back in Russia, the crowd in the stadium is watching a rerun of Tempest’s victory. “In the first match of the World Duel Championships A-Block round 2, Team Star Swirl claims victory and volted into the league,” the DJ said. “So, what happens next? How will our a Lovushka respond to this? We have to watch the next match to find out!”

In Team Star Swirl’s waiting room, they are all discussing on what to do in the next match, when Andromeda’s computer beeps, indicating she has an e-mail. Quickly, she runs over and opens it and checks her mail, and gasps. “The International Police sent us an urgent e-mail. Sagittario has finally contacted them,” she said to the relived team, except for Yu.
“That’s great!” Tempest said as Radiance rubs some muscle relaxant on his back.
“Awww!” Yu whined.

At a train station close to the Russian border, Sagittario is holding the headset for a pay phone, shivering as he talks to someone at the headquarters of the International Police. Suddenly, he sneezes as snow begins to fall. “It’s so cold!”

“He said that he found a train going to the stadium so he’ll be back soon,” Andromeda added.
“Whatever! How soon is soon?” Yu asked.
“That’s a good point, how soon?” Bismarck asked.
“I don’t know.”

In Team Lovushka’s room, Nowaguma is growling in anger at his defeat. “Don’t get so bummed out, Nowaguma. Snap out of it,” Lera said.
“It’s not the end of the word just because you lost.” Aleksei pointed out.
“That is correct,” Anton suddenly said as he walks in. “Your defeat was not such a shock to me.”
“Huh?”
“Tempest is the son of the Element of Loyalty, so it would be expected that he would not be an ordinary pegasus,” Anton continued. “I was fully prepared for the chance that Nowaguma would lose. Unfortunately, he became a sacrifice.”
“Huh? I-was-a-sacrifice?” Nowaguma asked.
“Thats right,” Anton answered. “Now we turn the tables and simply win the next two matches in a row. Now then, I wonder who we will be facing next?” Nowaguma said as he looks at a small device and turns it on, getting a video feed from Team Star Swirls room.

“Its just about go time,” Tempest said as he looks at the clock.
“We don’t have time to wait for Sagittario any longer,” Firestorm said.
“No biggie! ‘Cause I’m ready to go!” Yu said with a chuckle.
“Huh?”
“There’s no problem, right?” Yu asked.
“But if Firestorm wins, that’ll be two wins in a row and we can move on to the third round. Maybe we should leave this match to Firestorm,” Andromeda said.
“Awwwwww! But that means I won’t get a turn!” Yu complained. “Even if Firestorm loses, Sagittono might be back by then. And knowing him, he’ll get to compete in the third match. So no matter what, I get ripped off! I’m part of the team! I want to duel in the world championships! Please! Please! Pretty please!”
“I got an idea, let Firestorm decide,” Tempest said. “So, what do you want to do?”
“It’s a big decision.” Firestorm said as he remembers the last time he dueled.

“I want to win. I will win!” Firestorm shouted as a dark presence begins to take over. “Win! I want to win! Win. Must win!” Firestorm said in a completely different voice, an evil one, as he gives off the darkness from different parts of his body, his eyes glowing blood-red.

“Its fine with me,” Firestorm said, having decided, which surprises the others. “Just like with Tempest, letting Yu experience the world championships will be good for the team.”
“Yeah baby! I can’t wait to get out there and send them flying to Siberia! Thank you Firestorm!…”

“…I will not to let you down. I promise.” Yu said, when Anton turns off the device.
“So, the second duelist we’re going to face is Yu. Okay, then who are we going to send in against him?” Anton asked.
“Me. I should go.” Aleksei suddenly said.
“Huh? Aleksei?”
“I’m the one who rigged the stadium for Yu specifically, so it must be me,” Aleksei continued. “I’m nowhere near proud of what I’ve done here at all, but it’s the only way to save our dream.”
“You understand the situation well,” Anton chuckled.
“You’ll have to take care of controlling the stadium.”
“Of course, it’ll be my great pleasure,” Anton said to Aleksei.

Elsewhere, Sagittario’s train is making a rapid pace, but it’s not fast enough for the impatient unicorn. “Come on. Come on. Hurry up,” he said in his car. Suddenly, the train comes to a screeching halt, throwing Sagittario out of his seat. Quickly, Sagittario exits his car and runs to the front, where two of the train conductors are standing.
“Я не могу в это поверить.” One said in Russian.
“What’s going on?” Sagittario asked them.
“Look,” the other said as he points ahead. Sagittario gasps in shock as he sees that the tracks have been blocked by a giant pile of snow, although some workers are doing their best to dig it up. “The track has been blocked by an avalanche. Snow truly is a mischievous monkey.”
“How long till that track is cleared?”
“Это будет несколько минут, за час не более.” One said.
“What he say?”
“It will be a few minutes, maybe an hour, if we’re lucky.” The other translated.
“Aw, man!”

Back at the arena, everyone is shouting over the excitement and anticipation for the upcoming match. Team Star Swirl and Team Lovushka are already at their respective platforms. “Boom! Its time for the second match, everyone,” the DJ said. “From our Team Lovushka, it's our team leader; Aleksei! He’s a cosmonaut who is one smart space cookie,” the DJ said as Aleksei walks out toward the stadium. “He’s a real genius, let’s see if he solves the equation for victory.”
“Uh, oh. This guy’s a genius?” A nervous Yu asked.
“You know, we have two geniuses on our team,” Andromeda said.
“Really, Andrea? I’m pretty sure your one, but who’s the other?” Yu asked, which make Andi chuckle nervously.
“All right then, let’s meet the representative from Equestria,” the DJ continued. “He goes by the name of Yu.”
“That’s me!” Yu said as he quickly runs out toward the ring, without a second thought.
“Yu is Star Swirl’s sixth member, and we all know what that means,” the DJ said as Yu reaches the ring. “It means that he is their sub-member. After winning the wrist match, are they now trying to make fun of our home team?” The DJ asked as the crowd begins to boo Yu.
“Huh? Why are they booing me?” A surprised Yu asked.
“They’re setting him up as a villain,” Radiance said.
“Yu, now do you understand how tough it is to play at the world championship level?” Tempest asked the little colt.
“No, I don’t. Nothing’s happened yet.”
“Now, get ready to see the stadium for the second match!” The DJ suddenly said.

Meanwhile, below the ring, Anton, with a sinister look on his face, is at a computer where 6 different rings are on displayed. “Okay, kiddies, check this out,” Anton said as he pulls a switch, which makes the now destroyed Cage Stadium move, being replaced by a 50 foot ring that has a slight dip to it. A bunch of wires are connected to it also. It then begins to rise up to the floor above, which opens.

Up on ground level, Yu yelps as the floor opens as the stadium rises. “That looks like a standard stadium,” Tempest said.
“It defiantly looks normal, the only thing off about it is that dip.” Andromeda added.
“Aw! I was hoping for something freaky like in Tempy’s match. This is lame!” A disappointed Yu said.
“Is that so? Well, I’m a bit relived, so thanks,” Aleksei said, which confuses Yu.
“Huh? For what?” Yu asked.
“Because, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed.” Aleksei said.
“Huh?”
“Let’s get this party started!” The DJ suddenly said. “Everyone, are you ready to go? Three … two … one … GO!”

Right outside of the arena, the train that Sagittario is on has finally arrived. As soon as it stops, Sagittario jumps off and runs toward the arena. “Here I come everyone! But which way?” He said as he goes down a flight of stairs.

The duel begins and Aleksei is able to avoid Yu’s standard power laser blasts. “Hey, you're pretty good.” Yu said as he stops for a moment.
“I’ve calculated the level of power and his speed, and it matches my calculations exactly.”
“Huh? What does?” Yu asked.
“Your power,” Aleksei answered, though the threat goes one ear and out the other with Yu.
“Just a bunch of mumbo jumbo,” Yu said as he prepare another spell. “Sonic Wave!”
“That won’t work,” Aleksei said as the light green colors sonic wave races toward him. Suddenly, the wave ceases and disappears, which shocks both Yu and his team.
“What’s going on, Yu?” Andromeda asked.
“I just made a little boo-boo is all,” Yu said as he tuns towards his team for a moment. “Lets try that again. Sonic Wave Barrage!” Yu shouted as he tries again with more than one wave, but before they could hit Aleksei, they are all canceled out. “Huh!? What!?” Aleksei, taking the moment charges and attacks Yu, sending him flying.
“Aleksei’s fierce attack hits the unguarded Yu,” said the DJ. “Is Yu nervous because this is his first world championship duel?”
“Take it easy out there!”
“Just take a big breath!” Andromeda and Radiance both said.
“I don’t need a deep breath! Just quit bugging me!” Yu yelled. Ugh! I don’t get it. What is this guy up to? Yu thought.

“Let the bells ring! I’m baaaaack!” Sagittario happily said as he opens a door that he thinks leads to the stadium. “Everyone doesn’t have to hug me at once,” he said as he opens his eyes, and sees two mice staring curiously at him. “Oops, wrong place,” he said when he realizes that this is a storage area.

“Yu seems paralyzed,” the DJ said. “This duel is turning one-sided. Will Yu go down without even bothering to fight back?”
“No more fooling around! Time to use my full power!” Yu shouted as he prepares another spell. “Inferno Blast!” He shouted as the ground around glows a bright green as a giant geyser of bright green supersonic light erupts from that spot and shoots up into the sky, creating a pricing noise. However, the Inferno Blast, for some reason, dissipates. “What!?” A shocked Yu asked, while his team all gasp in complete shock.
“Yu’s Inferno Blast disappeared,” a stunned Tempest said.
“What the hell is happening here?” Yu asked.
“This is happening! It’s my turn!” Aleksei said as he prepare a spell also. When he casts it, nothing happens, at first. Suddenly, Aleksei begins to float up into the air, much to everyone's surprise.
“Huh? No way!” Yu said.
“Amazing!” Tempest said.
“What’s going on?” Andromeda asked.
“No way! Aleksei is actually flying through the air!” The amazed DJ said.
“The fact is that he’s not flying at all, he’s just floating in the air.” Firestorm pointed out.
“That spell he casted defiantly was not a levitation spell,” Andromeda added.
“So how the hay is he doing that?” Bismarck asked.
“That’s it!” Yu suddenly said. “I know what’s going on.”
“Huh? You know already?” A worried Aleksei asked.
“You have physic abilities, don't you!” Yu said as he points accusingly at Aleksei, who’s 4 feet above the stadium now. “You're making yourself float with your mind, right?”
“No! That’s not it! It’s just science,” Aleksei countered.
“What science?” Yu asked.
“Your spells, specifically the Inferno Blast, are incredibly powerful,” Aleksei said.
“Well … that’s true.”
“According to the assembled data, you’ve defeated most of your opponents using the Inferno Blast.”
“That’s because I’m so strong,” a smug Yu said.
“However, the data also shows that, because you relied too much on your Inferno Blast, that the two times it was broken through led to your intimidate defeat.” Aleksei said.
“Huh? What do you mean?!” A nerves Yu asked.
“It means that, without your Inferno Blast, you’re simply a normal unicorn colt,” Aleksei said. “Which means that you're no threat at all to me!”
“Don’t short change me!” Yu yelled, refusing to believe Aleksei can win in such a way and attacks him by leaping strikes, but Aleksei floats horizontally to dodge it.
“Even if a fully grown unicorn acts recklessly like this, he’ll just wast valuable energy.” Aleksei pointed out.
“Agh! I wont quit!” Yu shouted as he tries to hit Aleksei in the air, but is unsuccessful. “Just stay still, will you!”
“You are just waiting your time.”

“Greetings, my friends!” Sagittario said as he opens another door that leads to where he thinks the stadium is, but he’s wrong again. “Ugh. This is getting old,” he said when he sees that he’s not in the right place, but then he notices something. “Wait! That’s a stadium, right?” He asked when he sees what’s left of the Cage Stadium. “Hey! There’s 5 stadiums here. Huh?” He said when he sees Anton across the room, working some kind of control panel.
“Ha-ha. Those Star Swirl kids don’t have a clue to what is really going on up there,” Anton said as he makes some adjustments to the stadium currently being used. However, he doesn’t notice Sagittario walking up to him.
“What are you doing?” Sagittario asked, which scars Anton half to death as he turns around, screaming, not expecting anyone down in the lower levers except himself.
“Sagittario Armor! What are you doing here?” Anton demanded.
“Yeah, yeah. You see, I got lost and-“
“You’ve come here to find out the secret behind this stadium! Isn’t that the truth?” Anton accusingly said.
“What are you babbling about?”

Meanwhile, Yu once again tries to attack Aleksei by leaping into the air, but Aleksis moves horizontally once again. “Aleksei evades Yu’s attack yet again. It effectively hits nothing but air,” the DJ said.
“Inferno Blast!” Yu shouted as he does his spell again, but it disappears again. “Agh! This is not possible!”
“What the hay is goin’ on out there?” Bismarck asked.
“There is a way to make sure that Yu’s sonic based magic is ineffective,” Andromeda said as she scans Aleksei and Yu with her computer. “It’s by releasing wave interference.”
“Wave interference?” Radiance asked.
“Yes, but I see no signs that any wave interference is being released by Aleksei, so what could it be?” Andromeda asked.
“This is boring! Don’t just run. Come down here and fight!” Yu yelled.
“Wait a sec!” Firestorm suddenly said as he pulls out a small device that has two antennas and a needle gauge from his suit.
“What’s that?” Bismarck asked as Firestorm turns the device on. Soon, the needle starts going nuts as it makes noise.
“Andromeda’s right! There is wave interference being released, and it’s coming from the stadium!” Firestorm said.
“From the stadium?!” Andromeda asked.
“Hey, remember those giant dishes outside?” Radiance said. “I notice that one was missing as we headed in.”
“They must’ve repurposed that dish and turned it into this stadium,” Firestorm correctly assumed.
“Aleksei!” Andromeda shouted. “Just what is up with this stadium?”
“What? Wait! What do you mean?” Aleksei said.
“Don’t play innocent with me!” Andromeda yelled. “There is strong wave energy coming from the stadium, and you know it.”
“Ah-ha! You're a cheat! A cheat! A cheat!” Yu shouted.

“Aleksei is truly a genius!” Anton said as he and Sagittario look up at the stadium currently being used. “He was able to create this stadium using technology originally meant for space development.”
“Space development?”
“There are parabolic antennas outside. Don’t you remember seeing them?”
“Oooh. You mean those really big dish thingies out there? But, what do they have to do with anything?”
“We’re using those big dish thingies to release wave energy.”
“Wave energy? So, what’s that?”
“The wave energy released from the stadium disrupts Yu’s sound based spells, and Aleksei is then able to use what is known as a repellent force, and by doing so it appears that Aleksei can float in mid-air.”
“That sucks! You mean that it gives you an advantage but places us at a disadvantage?!” Sagittario shouted.
“That’s correct.”
“Fat chance! I’m not gonna let you cheat, bird brain! Get out of my way!”
“I will not let you interfere with my plans!” Anton said as the two get ready for a fight.

Back on the topside … “Stop this now! Now, Aleksei!” Andromeda demanded.
“I can’t fool you, can I, Andromeda.” Aleksei cooly said. “Things are just as you guessed them to be.”
“Then fix it!” Andromeda demanded, while Lera runs up to the stadium.
“I must do the right thing,” Aleksei said, when…
“So what if there’s wave energy coming from the stadium!? Big deal!” Lera suddenly said, getting everyone's attention. “What difference does it make anyway?!”
“Lera!”
“This is simply a stadium to gives off wave energy,” Lera pointed out. “The conditions are exactly the same for Aleksei.”
“The conditions are not the same, Lera,” Aleksei said.
“I know that!” Lera said. “I’ll handle this, so just be quiet Aleksei.”
“What!?”
“We aren’t doing a single thing that’s against the rules, so grow up purple puss!” Lera yelled.
“What’d you say!” Andromeda yelled as she gets ready to get down to the stadium, but Tempest, Firestorm and Bismarck manage to stop her. “Let me at her! I’m gonna kill her. I’m gonna kill her!”
“Hey, you little boy!” Lera said to Yu. “Just lose already. Everyone is waiting for my duel in the third match which I’m gonna clean up in!” Lera added, which makes the crowd all cheer.
“Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! That’s nonsense! Agh! This duel is not fun! I’m getting really cranky!” Yu yelled.
“Calm down Yu!” Andromeda said. “We know that the stadium is rigged, so you just have to fight your way out.”
“How do I do that?” Uu asked.
“How am I supposed to know that!?” Andromeda shouted. “Figure it out!!”
“Andrea, you're really bugging me!” Yu yelled.
“What if I said you can do this!” Andromeda shouted. “You’re a duel genius after all.”
“Huh?”
“When we first meet, I knew right away that you were a genius,” Andromeda said in a more calm tone.
“I’m the other genius you were talking about?”
“Yeah, but that’s not enough! You got to make an effort! Get it?” Andromeda added.
“Andrea,” Yu began to say with a smile. “Andrea, what’s ‘effort’?” Yu asked, which shocks his teammates to the point that they nearly fall to the ground.
“This is hard to believe,” Firestorm said.
“It really is difficult to deal with a genius,” Andromeda said.
“You should know. You are one,” Tempest said.
“But I understand,” Yu suddenly said, which gets the teams attention. “A scientific genius is no match for a duel genius, isn’t that right?”
“Huh? I’m sorry, but the possibility of you winning is zero,” Aleksei suddenly said. “The scientific data proves that beyond a doubt.”
“Hmm! Well, what about the warriors spirit?” Yu asked, which puzzles Aleksei.
“Huh? What did you say? Warriors spirit? What is that?” A confused Aleksei asked.
“Can you measure the spirit of the duelist with science?” Yu asked. “Your feelings toward the duel and to your friends? The excitement?”
“Huh? There is no such thing as a ‘warriors spirit’! That’s unscientific!” Aleksei said.
“Grab a notebook then, because todays lesson is on warriors spirit!” Yu said as he fires a magical beam up into the sky, and it soon begins to fall bcd to the ground.
“Whoa! What in the world is Yu up to this time?” The DJ asked as the magical beam falls back to the stadium.
“Even if you do something like that, it’s no use!” Aleksei said as he moves to the right of where the beam will hit. When it does hit, a 5 foot wide depression is made in the stadium.
“I got a really fun idea!” Yu happily said as fires more magical beam up into the air, all of them eventually falling back to earth at random places, each one making a 5 foot depression in the stadium.
“What is he doing?” Aleksei asked. Suddenly, Aleksei begins to wobble in the air. “Agh! The waves are becoming unsteady!”
“What is Yu up to?” Radiance asked as Andromeda cheeks her computer.
“Oh! I get it!” Andromeda suddenly said. “Yu warped the stadium, so now the wave energy is disturbed. Aleksei can’t remain stable now.”
“Aleksei!’
“You-can-do-it-Aleksei!” Lera and Nowaguma both said as all three members of Lovushka realize what Yu did.
“What’s wrong with Aleksei?” The DJ asked. “If this keeps up, he’ll defeat himself in a self-stadium out.”
“I have to make an emergency landing,” Aleksei said as he slowly floats back down.
“Once he stops floating, Aleksei is just an ordinary unicorn,” Yu said. “And now I can do this! Sonic Wave!” Yu shouted as he fires a light-green colored wave of super sonic vibrations at Aleksei, and it actually hits him!

“Oh, no!” Anton said when he sees the warped depressions in the stadium. “I have to fix the unsteady waves right away!” He said as he runs to the control panel, but he has forgotten about something.
“Oh rose boy!” Sagittario called out, which makes Anton turn around in fear as he sees Sagittario prepare a spell. “Crystal spell: Flash of Lightning!” He shouted as he charges at Anton, giving him the shock of his life as he’s sent flying back to the control panel, which electrocutes him as it explodes, shutting down the dish.

On the upper level, Aleksei lands outside of the stadium after having been hit by the sonic wave. “Oh yeah, baby!” Yu happily said.
“Great job, genius!” Andromeda cheered, which makes Yu blush.
“I did it, you guys!” Yu said.
“The winner is Yu,” the shocked DJ said. “After giving it their all, our Lovushka has been defeated."
“Aleksei!” Lera said as she and Nowaguma run toward the panicking Aleksei.
Suddenly, one of the doors that leads to a corridor bursts open, and Sagittario runs out. “Hey, thanks for waiting you guys!” He said, getting everyone’s attention. “Everyone, please listen to me! The Russian team was using some sneaky device on the stadium. But I caught them. I destroyed it all by my lonesome. Now I, the number 1 duelist, Sagittario, will defeat them in battle. So how do you like that, you guys?” Sagittario asked.
“Hey, it’s already over!” Tempest said, which confuses Sagittario.
“Tempest and Yu got us two wins in a row.” Firestorm added.
“What!?” Sagittario asked.
“You’re too late, Sagittono!” Yu teasingly said.
“Hey, why were you even dueling at all?” Sagittario demanded, but Yu just ignores him.
“Hey, Andrea, do you still think I’m a genius still?” Yu asked.
“Yes, and I’m glad you’re on the team, Yu,” Andromeda added.
“Uh, guys?” Radiance suddenly said as she points toward Team Lovushka, who are all looking depressed.
“It’a all my fault,” Aleksei said. “We lost because I made mistakes in my calculations.”
“Uh-ell-i-oh-auyer-sdw,” Nowaguma mumbled.
“Nowaguma is saying that you didn’t do anything wrong, absolutely nothing,” Lera translated. “We tried with all of our might to win.”
“But now our dream has come to an end as well.” Aleksei pointed out, which depresses his teammates.
“Okay, now listen up everyone,” the DJ suddenly said after he gets a small note. “I’ve just received news. It’s from our space training center,” the DJ said, which gets Lovushka’s attention. “It says ‘Now that you’ve lost, hurry up and come back here. We’ve gotten a sponsor for your research, Aleksei.’”
“Ah!” All three members said. “Aleksei!”
“Ha-ha-ha!” Lera and Nowaguma both said, having sparkles in their eyes now.
“Yes!” A very happy Aleksei said.
“Aleksei, that’s great!” Andromeda cheered.
“Way to go!” Tempest added.
“Did I miss something?” A confused Sagittario asked, while Aleksei looks up towards the sky, tears appearing in his eyes.
“We’re still cosmonauts!” He said.

Later at the train station, Team Star Swirl is at one of the doors for their train, except, for some reason, Sagittario, while Lovushka says their goodbyes. “We were so focused on keeping our dreams that we did many unfair things to you all,” Aleksei said. “We are truly sorry.”
“It’s okay,” Andromeda said. “You were forced to do by Anton, weren't you?”
“Yes,” Aleksei reluctantly answered.
“And it made it interesting,” Yu added.
“Well, that is very kind of you to say,” Aleksei said.
“And Anton has been both fired and banished to Siberia for the horrible way he acted,” Lera added.
“As-all-noen-so,” Nowaguma mumbled.
“Nowaguma is wishing you all the very best of luck,” Lera translated.
“Thank you, and we wish you luck with your dream,” Tempest said. The trains whistle then sounds, signaling that the train is about ready to depart.
“Well, it looks like this is goodbye,” Andromeda said.
“Take care.” Aleksei said.
“Hold on, what about Sagittario?” Bismarck asked.
“Hey! Wait for me!” Sagittario suddenly yelled out as he runs down the stairs, carrying a bag full of Russian bread, while the two teams laugh.
“Hurry up, Sagittono!”
“Or we’ll leave you behind!”
“You don’t want to get lost again, do you?”
“Noooooooooo!”