The World Duel Championships X

by The Avenger

The Shocking Wild Fang

“You’re right,” Leone answered, turning toward Andromeda. “The only reason I entered this tournament was to show you more of my power. Listen well. There’s only one pony in the world I want to defeat: it’s you, Andromeda! You alone.” Leone said as he points a hoof at Andromeda. “I’ll give you some advice for when you enter the world championships. Number 1: always hold back unless necessary.”
“Wait, were you holding back when you fought Firestorm just now, were you?”
“Yes, I was. Number 2: create your own spells and moves for when you face the best in the world. And number 3: Andromeda, until you face me, don’t you dare lose to anyone. We’ll meet again, on that great stage known as the world.” Leone said as he leave, leaving behind a bewildered Andromeda. Suddenly, she hears a roar coming down the corridor. She then sees a full-grown lion charging right at her! She screams as it pounces on her.

Suddenly, Andromeda wakes up screaming. Her roommates, Radiance and Bismarck, startled by Andromeda’s screams, begin to panic. “What is it!? Is Wrango facing Bismarck in the next match!? Is my baby not gonna make it!?” A panicking Radiance said, only for Bismarck grab her as Andromeda calms down.
“Just … a dream?” Andromeda asked after about a minute of silence. She looks over to a nearby clock. It’s 6:00 a.m.
“That’s it?” Radiance asked as Andromeda gets up. “You nearly gave me a heart attack. You know perfectly well that both me and my foal need our beauty sleep.”
“It must have been one scary dream,” Bismarck added while Andromeda opens the blinds of their room, and looks out at the vast capital of Mexicolt: Mexicolt City.
“I wonder what Mexicolt has in store for us.”

Later that morning, its close to noon as Team Star Swill meet in the hotels lobby. “Oh! I wish I could’ve seen that!” A laughing Yu said after Radiance and Bismarck told them what happened that morning. “But I understand why Andrea is edgy. Today is the duel between Africa's representatives and Mexicolt’s representatives after all.”
“Andromeda, I don’t understand why you're getting nervous before Leone’s duel,” Bismarck said.
“Well, it’s true that Leone’s duel with Firestorm was amazing,” Sagittario began to say. “But if it were me, I finish a guy like that in one move! Bing, bam, boom!”
“Sagittario, you don’t understand,” Andromeda said. “I’m not sure why, but for some reason, every time I think of Leone’s names, I think of someone my mom once defeated in a regular magic duel.”
“Specking of Lelo-Lo, I never imagined that he would join the world championships through another country,” Yu said, referring to Leone. “Who would’ve thunk, huh?”
“I bet that, right now, it’s becoming big news back home if Equestria too.” Radiance added.

In Canterlot, its close to noon as Twilight, her family, her friends and her friends’ families, along with Spitfire, Soarin, and Blaze, enter the main booth of one of Canterlot’s stadiums, with Celestia, Luna and Discord waiting for them. “Ah. Twilight, so glad you could make it.” Celestia said when she sees her former student.
“Glade to have come, Celestia,” Twilight said. “So what is this all about?”
“Just look out at the spectators,” Luna said. Looking out the window, sure enough, all of the audience members are excited for something, but what?
“Why are they so excited?” Rainbow Dash asked.
“Look at this,” Discord said as he turns on a computer, and a news broadcast about the world championships begins.
“World Duel Championships X news!” DJ Pon-3 said as she appears on the screen. “Today, we have some hot world championships news, so listen up. Todays match,” she continued as two pictures of two different teams appear behind her, “the second round duel taking place today is the Mexicolt representatives, Team Elementales verses the African representatives, Team Wild Fang. But there is more to this story, my friends. Check out Wild Fangs leader, Leone!” She added, which shocks Twilight and her friends and family. “As you all surly remember, Leone won a spot as a member for Equestria’s representative team, but he refused the position. He is now participating in the world championships as a member of Africa’s team. Intriguing. We can only wonder what tricks he has up his sleeves for todays duel. The best news is that this much-anticipated duel will be broadcasted live, in Equestria as well.”
“Leone!?” Twilight asked. “No wonder everyone is pumped.”
“Indeed,” Celestia said as she looks at the audience members, all of them cheering and laughing. “I only see this much excitement for a duel in one of Equestria’s only.”
Suddenly, a ring is heard on the computer. Moving quickly, Bastion answers and a screen, showing Andromeda and her team, appears. “Andi! Guys!” A happy Orion said.
“Hey guys,” Tempest said.
“I take it that you already know about Leone, right?” Andromeda asked them.

“Of course we do!” Discord said.
“Right. And besides, there’s no way you don’t know about it,” Twilight said as she turns the camera towards the audience in the arena.
“Oh, wow! Everyone bcd home is getting into it, too!” A surprised Yu said.
“What’s so great about this Leone guy, anyway?” Sagittario asked.
“That’s a no brainer!” Tempest said. “He’s the real deal! I mean, pretty much everyone knows how epic Leone’s duels have been.”
“That’s true,” Twilight said.
“And best of all, the winner of this second round duel will face you in the third round,” Luna said to Team Star Swirl.
“So they will,” Radiance said.
“Then, if Wild Fang wins against Elementales…” Firestorm began.
“Then Andromeda will face Leone again,” Tempest finished.
“And to top it all off, the winner of that third round duel will move on to the A-Block Finals,” Discord added.
“Did you say the ‘A-Block Finals’?” Sagittario asked.
“The opposing team for the A-Block Finals will be decided between the third round duel between Team Excalibur, who won their second round duel with crushing strength, and the winner of the conciliation tournament who returns to the championships as the wild card.” Luna said.
“The duels to decide which team returns as the wildcard have already started, and they are hard-fought,” Celestia said.
“Here’s some video feed from three of those duels. You might recognize some of the competitors,” Discard said as the video feed is display, which makes Team Star Swill gasp in surprises.
“Aleksei!”
“Gasur!”
“Dashan!” Andromeda, Sagittario and Tempest all said.
“Talk about impressive duelist,” Andromeda said.
“I think Dashan is about to finish his duel?” Orion said. Not long after he said that…
“Crushing Blast!” Dashan suddenly shouted as a stream of fire is shot at his opponent.
“Oh, crankies!” The Austneighlia representative team leader said as he’s flown out of the stadium, while Dashan’s teammates cheer.
“We, Wang Hu Zhong, are gonna win the wildcard spot! Just watch,” Dashan stated. “Are you there? Do you hear me, Andromeda!?”
“Oh!” A surprised Andromeda said when Dashan said that.
“Oh, yeah!” A pumped Sagittario said. “Those guys sure rock! I want to duel with Wang Hu Zhong again!”
“But Excalibur’s strength is on another level altogether,” Firestorm pointed out. “Even if Wang Hu Zhong wins the consolation round, it remains to be seen whether or not they can get by a team like Excalibur.”
“You got a point there, Firestorm,” Tempest said.
“Whether it’s Wang Hu Zhong or Excalibur we face, they’re both really strong opponents,” Andromeda said.
“Not to mention that we have to win our third round match as well. Remember?” Yu pointed out.
“Yes,” Andromeda complied. “Let’s forces on today’s match between Mexicolt’s team and Africa’s team.”
“Well, it looks like the pre-duel press conference is about to start,” Luna said, which makes Firestorm grab a remote and turn on a nearby TV.
“Press conference?” Tempest asked as the screen displays a room in the arena where reporters are waiting.

“Thank you for your patine, everyone,” the unicorn stallion DJ said over a microphone. “We will now begin this official World Duel Championships X press conference. First off, please welcome our representatives, the amazing Team Elemetales!” He said as a curtain opens up, showing three ponies who the paparazzi quickly begin taking pictures of. “The steadfast rock, the master of precision, its Roca!” The DJ said, referring to an earth pony stallion with a dark brown coat, a sand brown mane and coat, and a rock for a cutie mark. “The whirlwind of Elemetales, the pegasus who strikes faster than lightning, its Tormenta!” The DJ said, referring to a pegasus with a navy blue coat, yellow eyes, a dark dray mane, and a storm cloud for a cutie mark. “And the team leader, the master of all things fire, its Fuego!” The DJ finished, referring to a unicorn with a dark red coat, an orange mane, black eyes and a flame for a cutie mark.

“So that's Team Elementales, huh?” Firestorm asked.
“Did you hear. Their names are Spanish for rock, storm and fire,” Yu said.
“Now then,” the DJ continued. “Lets ask the team leader, Llama, if he’s worried about todays duel.” The DJ said after Team Elementales takes a seat at a table.
“Ha! Me? Worried?” Fuego replied. “I don’t care if its Team Wild Fang or anyone else. They’ll just be weak, little kittens when they come to face us.”
“It seems that they have remained undefeated so far, but so have we. So what’s the big deal?” Tormenta asked, which surprises Andromeda and the others.
Without hesitation, Andromeda looks up Team Elementales’ record. “He’s telling the truth!” A surprised Andromeda said. “Team Elementales has won every duel they’ve been in since the qualifiers on. They haven’t even lost once!”
“Huh?”
“That’s unbelievable,” Yu said.
“Of course we’ll decide todays duel with two wins in a row as well,” Fuego said as he gets up. “We’ll make Wild Fang taste defeat for the first time. So keep your eyes open, everyone.”
“Oh, it is on!” Said the DJ. “Right away, we have a promise of two wins in a row. Let’s see how the other, undefeated team, responds to this deceleration of war! Give it up for Team Wild Fang!” The DJ said as he directs everyone's attention to another corridor with curtains.
“Leone!” Andromeda said under her breath a she, along with everyone else, is watching with great anticipation. When the curtains do open, it's not Wild Fang as a whole, but just one member, which surprises everyone. It’s a brown minotaur, wearing a white wrestling outfit with a mask.
“How are you all doing!?” The minotaur loudly asked through the microphone he was holding in his hand. “I’m Team Wild Fang’s newest, bestest member, the super sub-member Masked Bull!”
“It’s Taurus,” Andromeda said, instantly recognizing him.
“Taurus, yep.”
“Taurus, eeyup.”
“Teru, yup,”
“That guy.”

“I was just wondering where he went to. But how in the world did he get there?” Orion asked as he and everyone else watch, completely stunned by this.

“Hey, you guys!” The ‘Masked Bull’, AKA Taurus, said to Team Elementales. “Heres the scoop, so listen up. You can babble on all day long, but this duel will be decided by Wild Fang winning two in a row! Leone won’t be stopped by the likes of you! Understand me!?”
“It’s cute that they sent a delivery boy with this message, but I guess that mean you won’t actually be in the duel, isn’t that right Señor Mask Bull?” Fuego asked.
“So who cares!?” The Masked Bull yelled, making Elementales cower behind Fuego due to how loud he was. “It is my great honor to walk along with Leone, and when he wins to stand with him at the top of the world. Yes, that would be enough for me. For me it’s all good. That is the way that I, the amazing and anonymous Masked Bull, feels about it!”

“Taru's soooo cool!” Yu said while Sagittario looking in confusion, while Andromeda, Tempest, Bismarck, Radiance and Firestorm all sigh.

“Uh, we don’t care who you are,” the DJ said to the Masked Bull. “So, if you can go get the real members of the team, that would be swell and-”
“Leone will never participate in a free rate circus like this!” The Masked Bull yelled, causing the DJ to scream as he comers his ears. “You’ll understand everything, once the duel is over. Until then just prepare yourselves for defeat. Over and out!” The Masked Bull finished as he throws the microphone down, making a pricing noise as he leaves.

“Yeah! Taru is the man!” Yu cheered while Sagittario is looking on in confusion, while Andromeda, Tempest, Bismarck, Radiance and Firestorm have lowered their heads.

==================================================================

“Uh, princess…” Discord tried to say while every just hangs their heads low.
“Please, don’t say anything,” Celestia said.

“Grrrr! Well, no matter what their excuse is, in the end they wouldn’t come out because they were scared of us.” Fuego said. “Leaving a press conference to a clown like that? Wild Fang are nothing but a bunch of cowards with a cool name. Nothing more and nothing less.”
“Even without dueling, its like our victory has already been decided.”
“That’s the 4-1-1.” Tormenta and Roca both said, causing a frenzy in the paparazzi.
“There you have it. The duel that the entire duel is watching starts right now. Don’t you dare miss it!” The DJ said.

Later at the arena, it’s packed as everyone wants to see this match, despite that odd press conference earlier. Among them is Team Star Swirl, being in a low section of the stands. “So, Taurus just pops up out of nowhere and onto Leone’s team?” Andromeda asked.
“Yep, that’s Taru’s style all right.” Yu said.
“What matters is that you're okay, Andi," Radiance said to her unicorn friend. “We’ll finally have the chance to see Leone again. Don’t you want to meet with him?”
“There’s no need to do that,” Andromeda replied, making her teammates look at her in confusion. “Like Taurus said, we’ll understand everything when the duel is over. All I have to do is watch and see what happens.”
“Now, after that ridicules press conference, let’s watch Team Elementales vs. Team Wild Fang duel get under way! Give it up for Mexicolt’s representatives, our very own Team Elementales!” The DJ said as the doors of a corridor open, showing the three members of Elementales, who walk out into the stadium, causing the crowd to cheer loudly.
“We’re counting on you, Fuego!”
“Send those fake fangs flying!” Two members of the audience cheered.
“And next, mares and gentlecolts, please welcome Africa’s Team Wild Fang, and let's hope it's for real this time,” the DJ said, causing the crowd to calm down. When the curtains to the corridor open, however, no one is there. “Say what?”
“Huh?” Andromeda said, when she hears hoof steps slowly making their way to the stadium. Beginning to sweat, Andromeda hallucinates that a lion is running out to attack her, which makes her scream.
“Ah! It’s Lelo-Lo!” Yu suddenly said, snapping Andromeda out of her trance. Looking at the corridors entrance, sure enough, is Leone. Leone then, for some reason, glances over to where Andromeda and the others are.
“Leone?” Andromeda said as the rest of Team Wild Fang exit the corridor.
“He was looking over here,” Tempest said.
“Amazing! Even in this huge crowd, Leone was able to pick out Andromeda right away,” an astonished Radiance said.
“Hmm, I'm right here, Leone,” Andromeda said under her breath as Team Wild Fang reaches their booth.
“Boo!”
“Go back to Africa where you belong!”
“Humph! Howl at us as much as you want,” the Masked Bull responded to the booing from the audience. “We’ll take all of that negative energy and put it right into our attacks.”
“Humph! Still talking really tough right up to the duel, huh?” Fuego said.
“Enough talk!” The DJ said. “Time to find out which of these teams will continue down the undefeated path. In this first match someone must finally take a loss. Here are the parings. Tormenta vs. Nile!”
“Send him sailing down the Nile, Tormenta!”
“Without a paddle, if you know what I mean!” Two members of the audience cheered.
“Come on, leave it all out there, Tormenta!” Fuego said.
“I will. We’re gonna move on to the third round without losing. Mock my words,” Tormenta said before he leaves for the stadium.
“We’re counting on you,” Roca added.
On the other side of the arena, Nile and Leone do a hoof/fist bump before he leaves for the stadium. “Show ‘em who's boss, Nile! Make sure they’re on the ropes when you hand things over to Leone!” The Masked Bull said as he grabs Nge like a teddy bear and begins to squeeze him like one, while Sahara and Savanna look on in shock.
“It’s no surprise that Nile is going first,” Andromeda said as she checks her Zapple Brick. “That’s been their teams pattern from the African qualifiers on.”
“Nile always wins first, and then Leone cleans up in the second match,” Firestorm added.
“That Nile guy looks strong to, doesn’t he?” Yu said as the two fliers reach the ring.
“Let’s get this party started!” The DJ said when he sees that Tormenta and Nile are ready. “Three … two … one … GO!” At that, Tormenta quickly charges at Nile.
“¡Me voy a quedar a usted como hedor y enviaré a volar!” Tormenta said as he round house kicks Nile, but Nile just simply jumps back. Grabbing his staff, Nile points it at Tormenta. Suddenly, the ground begins to explode like a gun is fired at it. Then, somehow, Tormenta is sent flying back several feet.
“What was that!?”
“No!” Fuego and Roca both said.
“What the hay just happened!?” Bismarck asked when he and the others see this.
“He got sent flying without even being touched!” A surprised Sagittario added.
“What was that?” Tromenta asked as he gets up.
“Time to end this!” Nile suddenly said, which terrifies Tormenta. “Mystic Sun Zone!” Nile shouted as a circle of magic plates, all of them glowing gold, appear around him and Tormenta. The light is so bright that most of the audience can't see, while Leone and the Masked Bull just chuckle as the light fades. When it’s gone, Tromenta is outside of the stadium, completely in denial that he just lost.
“Unbelievable! In the blink of an eye, Tormenta has been thrown out of the stadium!” The DJ said while Team Elementales and Team Star Swirl all gasp in shock. “If you told me that Tormenta would be beaten so fast, I would’ve called you a gran mentiroso!” The DJ said as Nile returns to his teams booth.
“B-b-b-b-b-b-bull! Well, done, Nile buddy!” The Masked Bull said, having let go of Nge.
“It’s all yours, Leone,” Nile said.
“Okay.”
“It can’t be!” Tormenta said as he collapses to the ground.
“What happened out there!?” Tempest asked.
“The stadium was lit up for a moment, but…”
“It was way to fast to see what happen,” Firestorm and Yu both said.
“I didn’t even have time to analyze it,” Andromeda said, having only just got her Zapple Brick out.
“Well, let’s slap ourselves back to reality and begin the second match,” the DJ said as Leone walks out to the stadium. “Wild Fang is sending its leader, Leone. Just as they said at the press conference, they’re aiming for two wins in a row.”
“Course we are! Go, go, Leone!” The Masked Bull said as he hugs Nge again, squeezing him again.
“What next, Leone?” Andromeda asked as Leone reaches the stadium.
“It ends here and now!” A furies Fuego said as he quickly walks up to the stadium.
“Take no prisoners, Fuego!” Roca said.
“His opponent from our Team Elementales is the team leader, the one and only Fuego!” The DJ said. “Our teams winning streak was stopped but it will now begin again. This time, Wild Fang’s run of wins will end and fast.”
“Fuego! Fuego! Fuego! Fuego!” The audience all chanted.
“If he can defeat Leone, our team can charge down the undefeated path once again!” The DJ added.
“Humph! Things sure are getting lively,” Leone said.
“You better laugh it up while you can, okay Leone? I’ve been preparing this day for a long time. I have thoroughly analyzed all of your duels,” Fuego said.
“Goodie for you.”
“I am going to make you taste defeat for the first time, so get ready!”
“What fun. Go ahead and try,” Leone replied.
“Grrr! Three!”
“Two! One! GO!” They both shouted. “Lion Gale Force Wall!”
“Whoa! Right away!?” A stunned Fuego asked as Leone’s signature tornado appears. The force of the wind is enough to send Fuego back several feet.
“Oh, you’re still there, huh?” Leone said in a mocking matter from inside his tornado.
“I’m not going anywhere. Not until I beat you!” Fuego said as he prepare a spell. He fires a magical beam and the ground around the tornado, and it quickly catches fire. Suddenly, the tornado begins to waver.
“Oh, my. Now what’s up? The tornado Leone created has begun to waver. Is it because of the heat from Fuego’s flames?” The DJ asked.
“Ha-ha-ha! Hot enough for you?” Fuego laughed as he crates more flames.
“I get it!” Andromeda suddenly said. “Fuego’s flames are creating enough heat that it’s causing an updraft, which is weakening the tornado!”
“Huh?” The others said, when the tornado becomes weak enough for a small gap to open, which Fuego notices.
“Got ya! ¡Ardor Mirage!” Fuego shouted and he charges at Leone through the gape, and kicks him out, causing both the flames and the tornado to disappear.
“Where is Leone’s Lion Gale Force Wall?” Andromeda asked.
“Mexicolt’s team is better than I thought,” Sagittario said.
“How’s that?” Fuego asked Leone. “Your wind control techniques won’t work here. What did I tell you?”
“You’ve told me nothing!” Leone said, which surprises Fuego. “The opponent you're thinking of is the old Leone, not this one. Someone like you is no match for the new me!”
“Grrr!”
“Only one pony in the entire world can challenge me!” Leone added.
“What? Who?” Fuego asked.
Leone then abruptly turns around and looks up to the stands, where Andromeda is. “Andromeda!”
“Huh?”
“You and you alone!” Leone added, which makes Andromeda gasp in shock as every is now staring at her.
“Le-Leone!” The Masked Bull tried to say.
“In order to defeat you, I have world without rest for weeks to keep on improving my skills,” Leone continued. “What should I do to win against you? What do I need to finally beat you? I’ve found it. I’ve found those answers.”
“What?” Andromeda asked.
“Pay attention!” Fuego suddenly said. “You have to get by me first!” Fuego added as he charges at Leone. Suddenly, Leone stops him with one hoof and pushes him back.
“How did Leone get so much strength in such a short time!?” A surprised Bismarck asked.
“Ha! I’m virtually undefeatable now!” Leone said, which makes Firestorm gasp when he sees a familiarity.
I know that feeling, Firestorm thought. I felt the same drive and desire to win. A refusal to lose and it nearly destroyed me. If we end up having to face Wild Fang, what then?
“Not done yet!” Leone suddenly said as he teleports himself up high into the air.
“What now!?”
“Why did he teleport himself up there?” Sagittario and Andromeda both asked.
“Watch closely now, Andromeda. Watch and witness the lions new fangs!” Leone said as he creates a tornado that's facing downwards, towards the stadium, which shocks everyone.
“What is that!?” Fuego asked seconds before the tornado hits the ground.
“The tornado is facing downwards!” The shocked Andromeda said as Leone drops down the tornado he created and hits Fuego, sending him flying out of the stadium and into a concession stand above the stands.
“Holy Cinco de Mayo!” The stunned DJ said. “Even Fuego has been defeated. Just as the oddball bull predicted, Wild Fang has continued its run of victories with two wins in a row! With Leone’s easy victory, they’ve move passed the second round.”
“He totally smoked that guy,” an impressed Sagittario said.
“You’re awesome, Lelo-Lo!” Yu cheered.
“That’s my Leone! Yeah, baby!” The crying Masked Bull said as he squeezes Nge even tighter.
“This is only the beginning,” Leone said, which surprises everyone. “What you’ve seen here today was nothing at all! Hear me, Andromeda! I’m holding back my true strength for when I duel you!”
“Ha! I look forward to it! I’ll be ready for your challenge, Leone!” Andromeda said, making Leone smile.

Back in Equestria, everyone in the stadium is celebrating Leone’s victory. “That was awesome!” Peach Cobbler said.
“It truly was impressive,” Luna added.
“There you have it, folks!” DJ Pon-3 said to the audience. “Star Swirl’s next opponent has been decided. The sure to be amazing third round duel will be Star Swirl verses Wild Fang. The fateful stage for this showdown is right here in Equestria!”