//------------------------------// // The Failure of Dreams // Story: My Little Pony: Dueling is Magic! // by Wolfgang //------------------------------// Author’s Note: The truth is, this whole thing has been something of a personal journey for me. It didn't start that way, but that's what it's become. To be honest... I agree with Darkness’ logic. I feel that our individuality gets in the way of us truly understanding one another. Without understanding, we can’t stop ourselves from hurting each other. We might be looking at the same rainbow, but never from the same perspective. We’ll never see it the same way as each other. But at the same time, I don’t agree with its methods. I don’t believe that this should be forced on anyone. But more than that, I want to believe that true harmony is possible, the kind of harmony that exists when we make the effort to understand each other, when we choose to not harm one another. I don’t know that I can believe it, but... I guess this story is my way of fighting for that belief. It isn’t just the duel, it’s the arguments against Darkness’ logic. And it IS logical. But I have to find a way to beat it. Because in the end, nothing has meaning without being chosen. Emotions, actions, harmony... they must be chosen to be worth anything. If they are imposed, they are false. That’s why I fight. I want meaning. /*********************\ The storm clouds had passed and the sun shined brightly, gleaming off the sides of KaibaCorp. Tower. The buildings had stopped eroding. Neo Domino City never looked as beautiful as it did today. And yet, it still felt as though something was missing. “Yusei...” said Aki. “He stopped the masked man for sure,” said Crow. “Yeah, but don’t you think he should have been back by now?” asked Luka. “You don’t think that he-” Lua started to say, but Jack interrupted him. “It would take a lot more than a time-jumping card thief to take down Yusei,” said Jack. “Don’t be ridiculous. He’s fine. I know better than anyone that he’ll come back.” After all, he and I still have a score to settle. “I’m still worried, though,” said Aki. “I hope he comes back okay.” Aki turned and looked out at the city from the rise they were at. The sunlight was warm against her face. A gentle breeze blew through her hair. ***** Life Point Count Darkness: 900 Yusei: 500 “My turn,” said Yusei. “I switch my Doppel Tokens to Defense Mode and summon Tricular in Defense Mode.” “That will not save you,” replied Darkness. “I activate Zero and Infinity!” “Oh no,” muttered Yusei. “They’re at the worst positions... all three ‘Darkness’ cards are between them!” “The first card I activate is Darkness One,” said Darkness. “And with Darkness Two and Darkness Three activated as well, I can destroy all three of your monsters.” Three blasts of dark energy struck Yusei’s monsters, obliterating each of them. Yusei shielded his face with his arms. When the smoke cleared and the wind died down, Yusei said, “I Set two cards face-down and end my turn.” “My turn,” said Darkness. “I activate the effect of Darkness Seed. During my second Standby Phase after it was sent to the Graveyard, I am allowed to Special Summon it.” The yellowing plant emerged once again from the stone floor, hissing as it rose up. Darkness continued to speak. “Because it was summoned this way, Darkness Seed cannot be destroyed by battle. Darkness Seed, attack Yusei directly!” “I activate Card Defense!” said Yusei. “I discard one card from my hand to negate your attack, and then I can draw a card to replace it!” Yusei slid a card into his Graveyard as Darkness Seed rushed forward with its roots and raised its scythe-like branches. Crisscrossing lines of cards appeared between Yusei and the wicked plant. The blades struck the cards and the creature reeled back. Yusei drew a new card from his deck afterward. “You are fighting in vain, Yusei,” said Darkness. “My world has become a peaceful rest for the inhabitants of this place, just as it was and will be for the people of your world. You do not know the pain of these ponies. Allow me to show you.” Darkness pointed a bony finger at Yusei. A stream of dark water fired from the tip and made contact with Yusei’s forehead. ***** Rainbow Dash collapsed, panting. She couldn’t go on... she’d failed so many times, she couldn’t possibly go on. The crowd glared at her, booing her, yelling for her to get out of arena. Tears welled up in her eyes. Three of the Wonderbolts came up to her. She looked up at them. “You’ve failed every single year you’ve auditioned, Rainbow Dash,” said Spitfire. “You’re just not good enough. Go home.” The Wonderbolts turned and left her. Rainbow Dash began to chuckle softly. Her Cutie mark began to fade away. “I’m free now,” she muttered. “I don’t have to try anymore...” Black waves washed over her. ***** Pinkie Pie sat alone in the bakery. Streamers and balloons littered the ceiling while confetti covered the floor. A large table of snacks sat on the far side of the room. Everything was gray and dull, and Pinkie sat alone in the middle of the floor. Her hair was straight and flat and lifeless. “Nopony came,” she said. “Nopony ever comes anymore. Maybe... maybe I don’t have to try so hard anymore. Maybe I don’t have to make everypony happy anymore. It’s so... relieving.” The waves came and enveloped her. He Cutie mark vanished from her flanks. ***** Dark clouds hung in the sky. Thunder rumbled slow and deep, but Fluttershy did not flinch. She kept a slow pace as she approached her cottage. She opened the door. It was dark inside. Nothing stirred. No birds chirping, no mice running about. No Angel Bunny impatiently tapping his foot... “They’re all gone,” said Fluttershy. The butterflies on her flanks slowly began to vanish. “I couldn’t take care of them... I wasn’t strong enough. I’m never strong enough...” And the waters came. ***** ”You’ve lost your touch, Twilight,” said Celestia. She sat upon her throne, her face hidden in shadow. Faint light beamed in from the tall windows, but did not spread through the room, leaving deep shadows between the light. “Your skill in magic has diminished greatly. I don’t know what happened, and I cannot help you. Please leave.” Twilight’s head sank and she turned around and slowly walked out of the throne room. Tears streamed down her face. She looked back at her flank and watched as her Cutie mark disappeared. “I was never good enough,” she said. “I’m used up... and there are no answers. It’s all... meaningless.” And the waters came. ***** Rarity used her magic to hang a small wooden sign on the door of her shop. It read, “Closed for business.” The sparkle in her eyes had disappeared long ago. They were now dull and lifeless She’d stopped styling her mane and it now hung straight around her head. “I’ve run dry,” she said as she shook her head. She had tried digging for gems to spark her imagination, but they all looked dull and colorless, like nothing more than regular rocks. Her Cutie Mark had disappeared with her drive. “I have no more ideas... and I can’t do this anymore. It’s all gone. All of it, just... I’m done. I’m finished.” And the waters came. ***** The trees were barren and dead. A strong summer wind blew threw the gray orchards. A single branch snapped off of a tree. Applejack sniffed and she turned away from the sight. “Big Macintosh, you take Granny Smith an’ Apple Bloom to Aunt and Uncle Orange’s place in Manehattan,” said Applejack. “I’ll... I’ll look for work here.” Big Mac nodded and started to walk in the direction of the train station. Then he stopped and looked back at Applejack. “Will you be okay, Sis?” asked the red stallion. Applejack swallowed the lump in her throat and nodded. Big Macintosh nodded in return and resumed walking to the train station. As soon as her brother was out of sight, Applejack fell to the ground and started sobbing. “I couldn’t do it,” she cried. “It was just too much, even for my family. And now it’s all gone... my home... the farm... I never deserved this.” As the orange mare cried, the apples on her flanks slowly faded out of existence, as if they had never been there. And the waters came. ***** It had been five thousand years. Discord had not been freed from his stone prison, but he no longer cared. He’d watched the march of time and progress. He had enjoyed the sight of the wars, but mourned when he remembered that he had not caused them. He watched as peace came to the entire world and all conflicts had stopped. There was no more chaos. There was only order. Discord no longer felt anything. He had become as he was imprisoned: Unfeeling stone. And the waters came. ***** Rain came down in sheets. The falling raindrops made a comforting sound, but it did not comfort Spike. As he looked out the window, he saw a Rarity dressed in a stylish but effective raincoat. Her horn was lit up and an umbrella hovered over her... and a stallion. The stallion said something and Rarity giggled. Tears ran down Spike’s cheeks as he remembered Rarity’s words. “Spike, I know you care about me, but I’m seeing somepony else,” she had told the dragon. “You’re a very dear friend, but I just don’t feel the same way as you do. I’m sorry, darling, but I’ve made my choice.” Spike hopped down from the windowsill and crawled into his bed, completely covering himself with his blanket. “I’ll never come out,” he said. “What’s the use? No one can compare to Rarity... if the best pony in Equestria doesn’t want me, then what good am I? “...I’m no good at all,” Spike muttered. And at last, the waters came. ***** “Do you now understand, Yusei Fudo?” asked Darkness. “They fear failure, and the possibility of failure is very real. Failure and rejection occur because of individuality. All living things are better off without this curse.” “That’s a lie!” shouted Yusei. He gripped the liquid tendril with his right hand and his Signer mark began to glow. Yusei ripped the tendril away from his forehead. “Without individuality there might not be conflict, but there wouldn’t be dreams and hopes either! There’d be no family, no friendships. There wouldn’t be love! How can you call that a better existence?” “The Living Singularity is perfection,” said Darkness. “The Living Singularity?” repeated Yusei. “Yes. The single existence that would be shared by all minds within my world,” Darkness explained. “Within this existence, there would be peace and understanding. Within my world, your race would not die.” “I won’t let you destroy what we’ve worked so hard to build, Darkness!” said Yusei. “And I won’t let the future Paradox talked about happen either!” “We shall see about that,” said Darkness. “I activate Darkness Eye’s effect, allowing me to see my face-down cards.” “I don’t think so, Darkness!” said Yusei. “I discard Effect Veiler from my hand to negate Darkness Eye’s effect!” A young girl dressed in white appeared. Two thin, white wings rested on her back. He green hair was tied back in two long pigtails. She flew over to the giant eye and wrapped her wings around it before vanishing. “Then I shall end my turn,” said Darkness. “During the End Phase, Darkness Seed’s second effect activates.” As it spoke, jets of black water shot out of the dark orb above the duel. They merged into a single stream that curved around Darkness and pierced it from behind, passing through its chest and connecting it to Darkness Seed. Darkness cried out. “When Darkness Seed... has been Special Summoned... by its own effect... it changes my Life Points to... four thousand... during each End Phase.” “No way!” said Yusei. The black waters vanished and a point counter appeared next to Darkness. Life Point Count Darkness: 4000 This is bad! thought Yusei. I was so close to beating him, and now I have to start all over! “My turn!” said Yusei. “I summon the Tuner Monster ‘Debris Dragon’ in Attack Mode! And when it’s Normal Summoned, I can Special Summon a monster with five hundred or fewer Attack Points from my Graveyard, so I’ll revive Tricular!” The stocky white dragon appeared on Yusei’s field with a growl. The orange gems on its chest lit up and Yusei’s three-wheeled robot also appeared on the field. “Next I activate Graceful Revival, which lets me Special Summon a Level Two or lower monster from my Graveyard in Attack Position,” Yusei continued. “Revive, Tuningware!” Debris Dragon ATK/1000 LV 4 Tricular ATK/300 LV 3 Tuningware ATK/100 LV 1 “Level Four Debris Dragon, tune with Level Three Tricular and Level One Tuningware,” said Yusei. Debris Dragon flapped its wings and shot into the sky. It disappeared and the four stars that remained drew neon green rings in the air. Yusei’s other two monsters were encircled by the rings and they too vanished, leaving only four stars behind. The stars moved themselves into a single-file line. “Gathering wishes will become a bright new star,” Yusei chanted. “Become the path its light shines upon!” A thin beam of light shot through the stars, then widened and engulfed the rings. “Synchro Summon!” said Yusei. “Take flight, Stardust Dragon!” Two white wings stretched out of the column of light. They flapped twice and the light began to melt away as Stardust Dragon rose into the air. It roared and did a back flip, coming to rest with its arms and wings thrown out to its sides and its head bowed, glaring at Darkness. Stardust Dragon ATK/2500 LV 8 “So this is your Ace monster, your spirit partner,” said Darkness. “The ancient servant of the Crimson Dragon.” “That’s right,” said Yusei. “With Stardust on my side, there’s no way you can win!” “We shall see, Yusei Fudo,” replied Darkness. “I activate Tuningware’s effect,” Yusei continued. “If I use it for a Synchro Summon, I draw one card. Now, time to battle! Stardust Dragon, attack Darkness Eye!” “I activate Darkness Eye’s effect,” said the robed creature. “This will allow me to see where my face-down cards are.” “Go, Shooting Sonic!” shouted Yusei. Stardust Dragon brought its head up as it inhaled, then threw its head forward and let loose a clear sonic beam. The giant eye glowed purple as the beam approached, but was soon engulfed and destroyed. Darkness growled. “I activate Zero and Infinity,” said Darkness, frustration laced in its voice. The two cards flipped up, but Yusei grinned when he saw them. “They’re right next to each other,” said Yusei, almost laughing. “Looks like you won’t be doing anything with them this turn, Darkness!” “It matters not. Stardust Dragon will not help you, not even against Darkness One. The activations of the other four cards are performed as part of the effect of Zero. You are a very knowledgeable duelist, Yusei Fudo, so I am sure you are aware that the cards and effects cannot be activated while an effect is resolving.” “Wait, you mean... I can’t respond to your other Traps because they activate while Zero’s effect is still happening?” “That is correct.” “Fine. I Set two cards face-down and end my turn.” “My turn,” said Darkness. “I Release Darkness Seed and Advance Summon Darkness Bramble.” Red vines and green thorns rose up from the ground and twisted around each other. A green bulb at the end of the plant blossomed and revealed a cluster of black berries within. Darkness Bramble ATK/2000 LV 6 “Darkness Bramble inherits the effects of Darkness Seed,” said Darkness. “Furthermore, it allows me to check my face-down cards, bypassing the effect of Darkness.” Yusei saw that the cluster of berries was actually a cluster of eyes as each one opened and began looking in all directions. Zero and Infinity flipped face-up. Only one card rested between them. If that card is Darkness Three, I’m done for! thought Yusei. The card was revealed to him then. “Darkness Two increases Darkness Bramble’s Attack Points by one thousand until the End Phase,” said Darkness. “Darkness Bramble, attack and destroy Stardust Dragon. When this battle concludes, Yusei, you will lose your remaining five hundred Life Points.” Green and red vines that were covered in thorns erupted from the ground around Stardust, moving to wrap themselves around the dragon. “I don’t think so, Darkness!” said Yusei. “I play the Trap ‘Miracle Locus’! Stardust Dragon gains a thousand Attack Points until the End Phase, and you draw one card, but you take no damage from Stardust’s battles.” Stardust Dragon ATK/3500 Darkness Bramble ATK/3000 Darkness held up its right hand and a card appeared in its bony fingers. “Very wise of you, Yusei,” said Darkness. “You avoided my attack.” Stardust Dragon spun around, firing its clear sonic beam at the vines, cutting them down. “However, Darkness Bramble cannot be destroyed by battle.” “Doesn’t matter,” said Yusei. “I play another Trap: ‘Insightful Cards of Reversal! When you add a card to your hand outside of your Draw Phase, I draw the same number of cards that are in your hand. Currently, you have five cards in my hand, so I draw five cards!” “I end my turn,” said Darkness. Zero, Infinity, and Darkness Two flipped face-down and Darkness’ Set cards were rearranged. “My turn!” said Yusei. “Stardust Dragon, attack Darkness Bramble!” “You will do no such thing, Yusei,” said Darkness. “I activate the effect of Darkness Raincrow in my hand.” A card in Darkness’ hand flipped around and a strange figure wrapped from head to foot in black cloth appeared hovering over Darkness Bramble. Two red eyes glowed beneath the wrappings. In its hand was a massive, black double-bladed scythe. The edges of the two blades were as red as blood. It swung the blade and sliced through the vines of Darkness Bramble’s body. Both creatures vanished. The remaining vines retreated into the earth and a giant pink flower bulb rose up in their place. The flower blossomed and black ooze spilled out between its petals. The ooze continued to bubble and flow out of the flower like a fountain, rising higher and higher and taking the shape of a human. The thing stood even taller than Darkness. It had long pink hair that seemed faded in the moonlight. Its skin was a grayish violet and its upper body was wrapped in thick gray vines, its lower half in a dark green skirt. The thing’s left arm was thick and horrible, with five giant claws where the fingers would be. On its back were two different wings. The left was leathery and black with three claws atop it, while the right was covered in bright white feathers. The creature was blindfolded, but two giant eyes on its body opened and began looking around. One was on the left side of its chest, and the other on the right shoulder. Darkness Neosphere ATK/4000 LV 10 “Your judgment is nigh, Yusei,” said Darkness. Yusei grit his teeth. “That must be his Ace,” he muttered. “I Set five cards face-down and summon Sonic Chick in Attack Mode.” Five face-down cards appeared before Yusei and a pink bird wearing red shoes ran onto the field and squawked several times. Sonic Chick ATK/300 LV 1 “I end my turn,” said Yusei. “My turn,” said Darkness. “I activate Darkness Neosphere’s effect. Now I am allowed to rearrange my Set cards as I see fit.” “I activate Card of Sacrifice!” said Yusei. “If the total Attack Points of my Attack Position monsters are less than the Attack Points of your weakest monster, I can draw two cards, but I can’t Summon or change battle positions this turn.” “It is a pity that you will not get the chance to use those cards,” said Darkness. “I activate Zero and-” “Not so fast, Darkness!” shouted Yusei. “In response to Zero, I activate Panic Wave! Now, by destroying a card on my field, the effects of all Continuous Spells and Traps, and the effects of Monster Cards are negated for the rest of the turn. I destroy Sonic Chick!” “What did you say?!” growled Darkness. Sonic Chick exploded and a shock wave raced across the duel field. Arcs of electricity flashed across Zero. “You can’t use your combo now, Darkness,” said Yusei. “It still does not matter! Your Stardust Dragon is in Attack Mode, and my Darkness Neosphere far surpasses it. Darkness Neosphere, attack Stardust Dragon!” roared Darkness. Darkness Neosphere’s head twisted around to face behind it, giving a sickening crack! It lifted its hands and used them to part its pink hair, revealing another giant eye on the back of its head, turned vertically. A purple beam of energy shot out of the eye at Stardust Dragon. “I activate Scrap-Iron Scarecrow!” said Yusei. A scarecrow made of metal bars and an old helmet appeared between the white dragon and the violet beam shooting toward it. The beam struck the scarecrow, but could not get past it. “This card negates your attack and then flips face-down so I can use it again later!” “I end my turn,” Darkness rumbled. “During the End Phase of your turn, I activate Stardust Mirage!” said Yusei. “Since I have Stardust Dragon on the field, every one of my monsters that was destroyed this turn is returned to the field.” “But Card of Sacrifice prevents you from Summoning this turn,” replied Darkness. “I know,” said Yusei, “but Stardust Mirage doesn’t Special Summon the destroyed monsters. I said they are ‘returned’ to the field. Come on back, Sonic Chick!” A slab of polished crystal rose up from the ground. Sonic Chick broke through it with a squawk. “Just what do you plan to do with those monsters?” asked Darkness. “Neither of them can hope to surpass Darkness Neosphere.” “Maybe not, but I’m not out of this duel yet,” said Yusei. “And besides, I’m not alone.” “‘Not alone’?” Darkness repeated. “Look around you, Yusei. This world’s inhabitants are gone. The only ones here are you and I, and you stand opposite me. You stand alone.” “You’re wrong,” said Yusei. “I have my friends! The mark on my arm keeps us linked, and the battles we’ve fought are the fires that forged our bonds!” The mark of the dragon head began to glow on Yusei’s arm and the Crimson Dragon appeared behind him, letting loose its whale-like cry. Suddenly the mark faded from Yusei’s arm. Yusei looked over his shoulder at his back, but saw nothing. “What the- what happened?” he said. “I don’t get it! Why didn’t the full Mark of the Dragon appear?” He looked up at the Crimson Dragon and it looked back at him. “Oh man... you can’t reach my friends from here, can you? We’re not just on another world, we’re in a different dimension, and you can’t get to the other marks from here!” “It would appear that you truly are alone, Yusei Fudo,” said Darkness. “But that will not last. You will return home to your friends, and you will not be alone when you do, for I will be with you. You will be my envoy to the human world, and you will aid in my mission to end human suffering. During the End Phase of my turn, Darkness flips Zero face-down and shuffles my Set cards. “Hope is worthless, Yusei. You toil in vain. You will be defeated in this duel, and I shall return to the world from which I was banished. I end my turn.” Life Point Count Darkness: 4000 Yusei: 500