"If life is a game, then death awaits those who lose"
The birdsong's harmonic melody was interrupted by the sound of a snapping branch, as Unique landed upon the forest floor, having flown over a fallen tree that was in his way. The serene song had been quite wonderful to listen to, so it was a little disappointing when it stopped so abruptly. Unique stood up and brushed a few leaves from off himself. He looked at his Duel Disk attached to his arm, checking to see if it had taken any damage from the landing. Its condition was fine. These Duel Disks were built strong, able to endure most punishment, but it was wise to be sure, just in case.
Unique carried on his way, his jet-black tail and blue scarf trailing behind him as he trekked through the forest, his ears flicking as he surveyed his surroundings. The sounds of the forest were all he heard, from the scurrying of squirrels climbing the trees, to the little woodland critters running around in the bushes and foliage close by. The scene seemed so peaceful, but if the stories he had heard had any truth to them, Unique knew this oh-so-peaceful image was a deception, a distraction from his goal.
His head quickly snapped to something on his right. From the corner of his eyes, Unique had sworn he saw something moving a few yards away from his position. Stopping and standing very still, Unique kept his eyes on the spot where he thought he saw movement, wondering if whatever - or whoever - it was would reveal themselves. Half a minute had passed, but no sign of anything or anyone made itself known. Suspicious, but deciding to let it go, Unique turned to continue his search.
He had only gone a few steps when he noticed a cloaked hooded pony several feet in front of him. Startled for a moment, Unique quickly regained his composure, and stood his ground, his eyes glued to the stallion before him. The stallion simply remained still, his cloak flapping in the breeze that rather conveniently choose that moment to come, as a pair of yellow piercing eyes glared at him menacingly from underneath his hood. The stallion's muzzle barely stuck out from underneath the hood, but enough that Unique could see his frown, and his dark crimson fur.
The stallion took one look at Unique's Duel Disk before speaking. "Have you come to seek my master, the Ancient One?", he questioned the pegasus. His voice was deep and harsh, the tone demanding.
Unique's ears twitched upon hearing that name. He nodded his head. "I've come to challenge him to a Duel," Unique responded, raising his Duel Disk in front of himself. "Take me to your master now!"
The stallion chuckled, as he smirked wickedly. "Little colt, one does not simply challenge my master to a Duel. He will only Duel those who are worthy of his attention." The stallion popped his neck, and gestured to the pegasus. "What is your name, Duelist?"
"Unique. My name is Unique."
The stallion chuckled again. "Of course it is," he said sarcastically. He hunched over slightly. "Well then, Unique. If you wish to Duel my master, you must prove yourself worthy of his attention."
Unique raised an eyebrow. "And how do I prove myself worthy?"
The stallion suddenly cast off the cloak wrapped around his body, revealing a black Duel Disk attached to his arm. With the cloak gone now, Unique could see the features and details of his opponent more clearly. The stallion was an earth pony of dark crimson color, with a mane that looked like jagged spikes running down his back to his tail, which had the same look. Much of his body was wrapped in brown cloth, some of which was torn or starting to wore away. His face held a nasty expression, a great snarling smile accompanying the piercing glare of his yellow eyes.
The stallion revealed his Duel Disk, causing the blade to spring out and attach itself together. The stallion assumed a battle stance, raising his Duel Disk up. "By defeating me in a Duel!", the stallion exclaimed.
Unique raised his fist at the stallion with a smile. "If it's a Duel you want, then it's a Duel you're getting!". Unique's own Duel Disk sprung to life as the blade formed, and both Duelists drew their cards from their Decks contained within the Deck compartments of their Duel Disks
When both earth pony and pegasus had five cards in their hand, the Duel had begun.
- - - - -
DUEL! UNIQUE vs. THE ANCIENT'S SERVANT!
"I'll play first!" Unique announced, drawing a card from his Deck. Looking at the card he had drawn, he saw it was a Spell card - Dian Keto The Cure Master. This Spell card can increase my Lifepoints by 1000 points, Unique thought to himself as he added the card to his hand. Gaining the advantage this early will be useful.
"I'll start by setting one card face-down!", Unique said aloud. He inserted one of the cards in his hand into a slot on his Duel Disk, and a large card materialized in front of him, face-down, just he had said. "Next, I'll play the Spell card, 'Dian Keto The Cure Master'!". Unique inserted the card into a slot next to his other card, and before his eyes, a larger version of his Spell card appeared. "This card increases my Lifepoints by 1000 points, which puts me on 5000 Lifepoints." Unique then took another card from his hand after removing his Spell card and placing it in the Graveyard slot on his Duel Disk, and played it on his Duel Disk blade. "Now I will summon my 'Mysterious Puppeteer' in Attack mode!"
Upon placing the card on his device, a bright light appeared in front of him, and when it dispersed a few seconds later, a most strange creature was revealed, garbed in purple clothing, masked with only its eerie yellow eyes visible, and conjuring some sort of weird wooden puppet in its hands, manipulating it somehow despite there being no visible strings.
"My 'Mysterious Puppeteer' increases my Lifepoints by 500 points whenever either of us brings a Monster into play," Unique explained. "And since this is the first turn of the Duel, my Monster is unable to attack you directly, so I'll end my turn." Unique pointed a finger at the crimson stallion. "Now, make your move!"
The crimson stallion smiled as he drew his card from his Deck. "For my turn, I'll place one card face-down," he growled as he inserted his card into the slot, resulting in his card appearing in front of him. "Then, I'll play a Spell card of my own - 'Reinforcement Of The Army'! This card allows me to take one Level 4 Warrior-type Monster from my Deck, and add it to my hand." The stallion took his Deck out from its compartment on his Duel Disk, and began to look through it. When he found the card he was looking for, he took it out and placed it in his other cards, placing the Deck back in its place after shuffling it.
"Next," he continued, "I'll play my Monster - 'Killer Needle'!". Setting his card on to his Duel Disk, the stallion grinned as a huge bee creature materialized out of thin air right in front of him. "Now, my Killer Needle'! Destroy the 'Mysterious Puppeteer' with your stinger!", the crimson stallion roared.
Heeding his command, the massive bee sprung to life, buzzing it wings wildly as it charged towards the puppeteer creature, its stinger presented and ready to strike.
"Not so fast!", Unique yelled out, turning over his face-down card. "Your Monster triggers my Trap card - 'Trap Hole'!". Upon turning his card over, revealing the artwork underneath, the ground beneath the 'Killer Needle' caved in, and a large thin hand shot out of the hole and grabbed the creature, which struggled in vain to escape its grasp. "My 'Trap Hole' card destroys your Monster if its Attack factor is higher than 1000 points, so your 'Killer Needle' is destroyed!"
The crimson stallion watched in annoyance as his Monster was dragged down into the depths of the earth, the hole sealing itself afterwards. With his Monster destroyed, he was defenseless. He closed his eyes. "Hmm...In that case...I'll have to end my turn," he said after a moment.
"Then it's my turn again," Unique said, drawing a new card from his Deck, a Monster card called 'White Magical Hat'. Unique added it to his hand, and checked his opponent's side of the playing field. Hmm. He hasn't any Monsters in play now to protect his Lifepoints, so I can go for a direct attack, Unique reflected in his mind. Placing the card he had drawn onto his Duel Disk, the white pegasus announced his move. "I'll set one card down." Inserting a new card into the slot which housed his 'Trap Hole' card, "And then, I'll play my next Monster, the 'White Magical Hat' in Attack mode!". Unique played his card, and a new monster materialized in front of him. The new monster that appeared looked like a white-skinned hairless monkey wearing a blue tuxedo of sorts. It also had a monocle covering one eye, and it wore a large white cape and a white top hat.
Unique pointed towards the crimson stallion, who had his arms crossed. "Now, since you've no Monsters protecting your Lifepoints, I command my 'Mysterious Puppeteer' and 'White Magical Hat' to attack you directly!" Unique exclaimed.
Both of the creatures brought into reality by Unique rushed forward toward the crimson stallion, who simply smirked. "Your attack will do no good this turn, fool!", he laughed. "Activating my Trap card - 'Impenetrable Attack'!". He turned his card over on his Duel Disk, causing the larger imitation out on the field to reveal itself. As it did so, the card released a massive force field, which surrounded the stallion. Unique's Monsters came into contact with the force field, and were thrown backwards.
The crimson stallion laughed as Unique's Monsters got up from the ground. "Ha ha ha ha! My Trap Card negates any battle damage your Monsters deal this turn! Your attack was pointless!".
Unique frowned, but kept his cool. His attack this turn would do nothing for him, so there was only one option left for him right now. "Well, if that's the case, I'll have to try again the next time. I'll end my turn"
The crimson stallion drew a card from his Deck and looked at it. He frowned. Grunting in annoyance, he said, "I won't play any cards this turn. I must end my move."
Unique smiled. Now that it was his turn, and since his opponent didn't have any cards on his side of the field, it meant he was free to go in for a direct attack. He drew his card from his Deck, and raised his fist in the air. "Since you don't have any Monsters in play, I order my 'Mysterious Puppeteer' and my 'White Magical Hat' to attack your Lifepoints directly!", Unique exclaimed.
At his command, the two Monsters made their move. The 'Mysterious Puppeteer' waved its hands in a strange pattern, and the wooden puppet came to life, charging towards the crimson stallion and leaping up to him to strike at him with its wooden fists. The stallion groaned as his Lifepoint counter began to decrease, 4000 Lifepoints now reduced to 3000. The 'White Magical Hat' creature then made its move, running straight towards the stallion and throwing a strong punch at him, cackling as its fist connected with the stallion's jaw. The stallion's Lifepoint counter was reduced by another 1000 points, putting him at 2000 Lifepoints.
"Since my 'White Magical Hat' dealt damage to your Lifepoints, one card from your hand must be discarded,' Unique said as his Monster returned to his side. The stallion growled as he regained his ground, the attacks having pushed him back a little. He took one of his cards from his hand, and placed it into the Graveyard slot on his Duel Disk. The card he got rid off wasn't anything important, luckily.
He stood there glaring at Unique with angry eyes, rubbing his jaw where the 'White Magical Hat' had struck him. It was fortunate that these Monsters could not inflict real harm to him - the Duel Disks were imbued with a special kind of magic that placed a warding spell around the Duelist, protecting them from being harmed by attacks during a Duel. Though a Duelist could and would feel a Monster's attack, no pain or wound would befall them.
Despite this, the stallion couldn't hep but imagine the look on the white pegasus' face if his Monsters were able to shred and tear him apart without the warding spell protecting him. How satisfying it would have been.
The earth pony smirked. "My turn, now. I draw." He looked at the card he took from his Deck. His smirk widened into a smile. "I'll start my turn with a Spell card, the 'Chorus of Sanctuary'. This card is a Field Spell, meaning it will affect both our Monsters." He placed the card in a slot on the side of his Duel Disk's blade, and the playing area between himself and Unique began to glow, as a serene little garden with a stream and several rose bushes appeared.
"Next, I'll set one card down, and put one Monster down, and that will end my turn," the stallion said, placing his cards into their respective slots. He pointed to the pegasus. "Go ahead, little fool. It is your turn now."
"'Chorus of Sanctuary'?", Unique muttered to himself, eyeing the card hovering in front of his opponent. "What does that card do? Hmm...he said it was a Field card, so its effect will work for my Monsters as well as his, but how does it affect my Monsters?".
Unique drew his card from his Deck and looked at it. A Spell card called 'Premature Burial'. Unique added it to his hand. There was no need to play it right now, it was probably best to save it for later. He looked at the cards he currently had in his hand, his eyes falling upon one of his Monster cards, 'The Little Swordsman of Aile'. Unique gave a little smile. This card isn't strong on its own, but if I offer one of my Monsters as a tribute, I can make it stronger for a turn. "Okay, servant of the Ancient One," Unique said aloud. "I'll set down one card down, and then I will summon 'The Little Swordsman of Aile'!". Another bright light flashed in front of Unique, and a few seconds later where it had been, there now was another creature similar to the 'White Magical Hat', but this one was smaller and more youthful-looking. It was wearing a brown tunic, and sat on the back of a rather large green reptilian beast. It glanced across the playing field at the crimson stallion, and raised its small sword up at him.
Unique pointed to a small screen on his Duel Disk as he spoke to the stallion. "Remembering my 'Mysterious Puppeteer's' effect, I gain 500 Lifepoints for summoning 'The Little Swordsman of Aile'." The white pegasus chuckled. "So long as I have him on the field, I don't have to worry about keeping my Lifepoints healthy," he said.
Unique gestured to the face-down Monster his opponent had set. "Now, I'll command my 'Mysterious Puppeteer' to attack the Monster you played!"
'Mysterious Puppeteer' began waving its hands about, pulling its invisible strings to make its wooden puppet spring to life, and rush towards the card. The wooden puppet leaped up, and struck the card with its little wooden fist, causing the card to turn itself over. As it did so, the card started to fade away, as a new creature started to emerge from the card's artwork. The creature looked like a floating ball of fire, its coloration a deep blue shade. The living ball of flame had a scowling face that glared down at the wooden puppet, which soon ran back to its master.
Unique stared at the creature in surprise. "What? That attack didn't destroy your Monster?"
The crimson stallion smiled. "The Monster you are looking at is 'Evilswarm Obliviwisp'. It's Attack points are low, but it compensates with a high Defense factor," he explained. "2050 points, in fact. Because your 'Mysterious Puppeteer's' Attack is lower than my Monster's Defense, it couldn't destroy it."
Unique frowned. "But if my Monster wasn't strong enough to break your Monster's Defense, then that means..."
"You lose Lifepoints equal to the difference between your Monster's Attack, and my Monster's Defense," the stallion finished for him. "But you lose an additional 500 Lifepoints on top of that."
Unique's eyes widened in shock. "I lose more Lifepoints? Why?", he yelled in confusion.
The stallion pointed to his 'Chorus of Sanctuary' card. "This Spell card increases the power of defensive Monster by 500 points. Since my 'Evilswarm Obliviwisp' was already in the Defense position, it gains the extra defense boost, so your Lifepoints receive additional damage."
Unique looked at his Lifepoint counter. It started to decrease, the numbers falling down as the damage was deducted from his score. What used to be 7500 Lifepoints had dwindled down to 6450. He still had plenty more Lifepoints than the Ancient One's servant, at least, but now he was faced with a new problem - ridding his opponent's new Monster so that his own Monsters could go in for the finishing blow. And right now, none of his Monsters were strong enough to break the 'Evilswarm Obliviwisp's' high Defense.
The only way I'll beat that Monster is with a stronger Monster, which I don't have right now, Unique thought to himself. I should probably try and hold out until I can draw a better card.. With a sigh, Unique shrugged. "I'll just have to end my turn."
"I draw my card," the stallion called out. Looking at the card he had drawn, he chuckled quietly to himself. So long as 'Evilswarm Obliviwisp' remains in Defensive mode, this little fool can't touch my Lifepoints. But what of that face-down card of his? Possibly a Trap. Let's see if it is so. "I'll play a new Monster, my 'Sea Serpent Warrior of Darkness'!".
Inserting the card into the blade slot, a large bulky armored creature wielding a staff of sorts appeared. It thrusted its staff into the air as it let out a mighty war cry, displaying its eagerness for battle.
Unfortunately for the creature, it would not see any fighting, as the ground beneath its feet suddenly caved in. The creature only had time to look down, before it disappearing down a large hole to the deepest bowels of the earth, its monstrous screams echoing as it plummeted deep underground.
"Your Monster is destroyed, thanks to my second 'Trap Hole'!", Unique said, showing the stallion the card in question. The stallion simply smiled, confusing the pegasus. "Why does he seem glad that I destroyed his Monster?", Unique asked himself.
"Actually, I was counting on you playing that card. Now that it is out of the way, I can focus on breaking you slow and steadily on my next turn.", the stallion said, his voice reeking of confidence, his face a smug expression.
Unique cocked an eyebrow. "What does he have in store on his next turn? Could he just be bluffing, or has he something planned?"
The stallion gestured to the pegasus with a grin not even a blind mother could love. "I will end my turn here. Go ahead and make your move, little fool." His voice held a tone of cockiness, leading Unique to wonder more now why his opponent was suddenly so sure of himself.
Unique drew his card from his Deck. It was another Trap card - 'Two-Pronged Attack'. When triggered, it would allow the white pegasus to tribute two of his own Monsters in exchange for the destruction of one of his opponent's, but that was a move he couldn't afford to do. While it would help in getting rid of the 'Evilswarm Obliviwisp' still in play, it would mean sacrificing two Monsters of his own to do it. Unique felt that if his opponent indeed did have a trick up his sleeve, then having plenty of Monster in play would be wise.
Still, Unique decided to set the Trap card down, in case it came in handy later on. He then set the 'Premature Burial' Spell card he had drawn earlier as well. Unique then switched his 'Mysterious Puppeteer' from its Attack position to the Defensive, the creature and its wooden puppet crossing their arms in front of themselves as he did so. He then ended his turn.
"I draw!", the stallion shouted, picking up his next card from his Deck. He took one look at it, and he began to shake with laughter, which to Unique, was a sound colder than the winds of the frozen wastelands of the north. When the stallions laughter calmed down, he stared at Unique straight in the eye with a menacing look. "Now it is time to make you wish you never came to this forest!", he cackled madly. He turned over his face-down card behind his Monster, and out on the playing field, the larger duplicate turned over as well, revealing its artwork.
"I will first activate my face-down Spell card, the 'Banner of Courage'!". As he said this, a massive banner bearing a strange insignia appeared behind him, towering over him with the sheet flapping in the breeze. "As long as this card remains active, my Monsters will be strengthened by 200 points when they attack!"
Unique looked at the 'Eviilswarm Obliviwisp' in play. The little fiery creature glared back at him. Surely he wasn't going to use this Monster to attack him? Even with the temporary increase in power provided by the 'Banner of Courage', his opponent's Monster wouldn't be strong enough to best any of his own Monsters.
Unless...it wasn't THIS Monster he was going to use...
"Now," the stallion continued, "I will offer 'Evilswarm Obliviwisp' to summon the Monster that will bring about your doom!". As the stallion removed his Monster card from his Duel Disk, so did the Monster itself disappear, right before Unique's eyes. As his opponent inserted the new Monster card into place, Unique gasped in amazement as the new challenger revealed itself.
It was a huge slime-green reptilian creature, with parts of its body seeming to have been replaced with complex machinery and steel. Large metallic spike jutted out from its knees and shoulders, and its wicked mechanical claws gleamed in the light Celestia's day. A pair of terrifying red eyes looked down upon the white pegasus, who took a step back, worry and fear transparent on his face.
"Behold the mighty 'Giga Gagagigo'!", the crimson stallion bellowed, as his Monster threw back its head and roared at the sky above. "With his tremendous power, your defeat is but inevitable, little fool!". The stallion laughed maniacally, as Unique was forced to look upon the beast that was likely to be his executioner.
END OF PART ONE