From where she sat, Twilight watched as the robed figures dragged Pinkie Pie away from the dueling arena, one on each of her arms. They held her back, far from where Twilight herself was being held. She wanted to do something – to run, to warn Celestia, to fight, to do anything at all before these lunatics hurt someone not themselves. But even beyond the pair of robed goons hovering above her, there were literally hundreds of hostages on hand if she tried anything.
What could these fools think they have to gain? Twilight wondered. They must know that Celestia will be here in a measly few hours. Then they’ll have to deal with the most powerful sorceress in the world. Do they seriously believe that playing a card game will free some demon queen? And even if it does, do they really believe that some Queen of Nighmares will do anything to help them? I just pray they don’t hurt anyone when this comes crashing down… and I hope Spike is ok.
A glance around confirmed that none of the cultists had dragged her young charge in, and Twilight allowed herself the slightest modicum of relief. That lasted approximately three seconds, at which point the man with the strange blue finger had found another contestant.
“Our next honored duelist is to be the girl called Fluttershy.”
Two large men in robes seized the girl and ripped her from her seat, whereupon she promptly began shaking, head bent low.
“M-Me? Oh n-no, you don’t w-want a little thing l-like me, I’m t-too-”
“You’re coming with us,” said one of the cultists, tugging roughly.
The two men unceremoniously dragged the shivering, crying Fluttershy through the frozen crowds and up to one of dueling arenas. She was roughly tossed onto one of the platforms, which began to rise almost immediately. Another woman in a standard dark robe stood atop the other. Fluttershy hadn’t even stood up.
“P-Please,” she whimpered, tears falling down her cheeks. “Don’t h-hurt me. I’m n-not-”
“We obey the Queen’s will,” the woman answered coldly. “Now get on your feet and duel or perish on the spot.”
“I-I…”
“We have no time to waste.”
Down below, several cultists drew knives.
“EEP!” Tears still streaming down her face, Fluttershy managed to force herself to her feet. She slipped her deck from a handbag and onto her platform’s card receptacle, and then drew her opening five cards with a trembling hand.
“My move,” the other woman declared, drawing a card. “Excellent. I play my Feast of the Wild LV5, which allows me to summon my Swamp Battleguard and Lava Battleguard directly from my hand!”
Two massive, club-wielding ogres appeared on her side of the field. One red and one green, they tested their weapons and leered menacingly.
“And next I shall sacrifice both of my creatures to summon the Mosaic Manticore!”
Both ogres vanished into columns of light. In their place rose a yellow-furred, black-winged, scorpion-tailed monstrosity. Electricity crackled from its body, and it opened its mouth to reveal long rows of razor-sharp fangs. The ferocious beast unleashed an earsplitting roar.
“My manticore will soon feast on the puny flesh of your monsters. But in the meantime I’ll place one card face-down and that shall end my turn,” the woman grinned. “Your move.”
A trembling hand drew a card. Twilight could see that the other girl could barely bring herself to look at the arena or her opponent.
“I d-draw” Fluttershy squeaked. “And s-summon Revival Jam in defense m-mode.”
The little blue goo monster appeared on the field, looking decidedly small next to its opponent.
“And that’s i-it.”
“Hah!” the cultist laughed as she drew. “I knew the other’s victory against our sister was just a lucky fluke! I’ll destroy you here and now to prove the futility of resistance to one and all. And it will begin with these two.”
Her ogres reappeared on the field in a flash, both on one knee.
“Look familiar?” she grinned. “My beast’s special ability revives any monsters I sacrifice to summon it on my next Standby Phase! Next I play Pot of Greed to draw twice.” The woman drew her cards. “The Queen does favor me. I equip my Manticore with Fairy Meteor Crush, which allows him to inflict the difference between his attack points and your monster’s defense points in damage every time he attacks! So go, my beast! Eviscerate her Revival Jam and devastate her life points!”
The manticore pounced onto Revival Jam, slashing it into little chunks of slime with one mighty claw.
Fluttershy
1700
Revival Jam promptly reformed itself on the field, apparently no worse for the wear.
“And next I think I’ll reveal my face-down card, Ectoplasmer! You’re finished, little girl!”
Her card rose up, revealing the image of spiritual energy rising from a man’s back.
“This Spell Card forces me to sacrifice one of my monsters during each End Phase. In return, I can drain its soul to inflict damage to you equal to half of its original attack points!”
“You’d d-drain your own m-monsters’ souls?”
“Why not?” she shrugged. “They’re only tools, just like all of you. For the Queen I’d drain a thousand souls, be they monster or human! And I’ll start with my Swamp Battleguard!”
Her green ogre screamed in pain, its body slumping to the ground as its soul raced into the Spell Card. A moment later a blast of pure white energy crossed the field, striking Fluttershy dead-on. She toppled over backwards, barely managing to cling to the platform.
Fluttershy
800
“Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha!” the cultist woman laughed as her opponent hoisted herself to her feet. “Just look, it’s your second turn and already you’re down to a measly 800 points! This was even easier than I thought!”
“I p-play my Pot of G-Greed,” Fluttershy stuttered, drawing two cards. “Then I activate D-Double Summon, which lets me c-call out my friends Fox Fire a-and Des Wombat.”
A small red fox with a flame on the tip of its tale appeared. Next was a slightly-larger grey wombat.
“Pitiful. None of those creatures can even hope to save your life points!”
“Then I p-place three cards face-down and that’s i-it.”
“Oh?” the cultist grinned. “Is it?’
“Huh?”
“My Ectoplasmer works both ways, foolish girl. At the End Phase of every one of your turns you must sacrifice one monster and deal damage to me equal to half of its attack points!”
“W-What?!” Fluttershy’s bloodshot, teary eyes widened. “But I d-don’t want to sacrifice my f-friends!”
“Too bad! You don’t have a choice!”
“B-But… but…”
“Duel or else,” another cultist on the ground cut in. “This is your final warning.”
“I… I…” still more tears poured down the pink-haired girl’s cheeks.
The little fiery-tailed fox chose that moment to turn around, leaping onto its mistress’ shoulders. It nuzzled the girl gently.
“R-Really?” she managed after a moment. “Are you s-sure?”
The tiny fox nodded.
“Alright,” Fluttershy sniffed. “I s-sacrifice my Fox Fire…”
The little animal on her shoulder squealed and writhed as its own soul burst from its back, racing across the field to strike its opponent in the chest.
Cultist
3850
“That attack was as pitiful as your monster,” she brushed her shoulder, ignoring Fluttershy’s weak sobs and drawing a card.
"I r-reveal one face-down card, S-Spirit Barrier," Fluttershy managed. "This p-protects me from all battle d-damage while I control a monster."
“It won't matter. Now, let me show you a real turn, little girl. Mosaic Manticore, attack her Des Wombat now!”
The great beast pounced again, mouth wide and claws extended.
“R-Reveal face-down card, Jam Defender!”
Revival Jam flung itself into the beast’s path, being cut to ribbons immediately. Behind it, though, Des Wombat stood safe.
“And b-because of my Spirit Barrier, I t-take no damage.”
Revival Jam promptly reassembled itself in front of her.
“That may be the case, but my Ectoplasmer will devour my Lava Battleguard’s soul to drain your life points!”
This time her red ogre’s body hit the ground as its soul went screaming across the field. The white lance tore right up to Fluttershy… and then stopped an inch short, dissipating into nothingness.
“M-My wombat’s effect protects me from all effect d-damage!”
“…It doesn’t matter. The big brute couldn’t attack anyway, so he’d outlived his usefulness.”
“H-How can you be so cruel?” Fluttershy said. “Your m-monster just gave up its soul for y-you and you don’t even care!”
“My monsters are my tools. They will make every sacrifice I command of them because I am the mistress and they are the slaves. They don’t matter except to bring myself and my Queen victory.”
“You’d even sacrifice your m-manticore?” Fluttershy asked as she drew.
“To win? In a heartbeat.”
In front of her, the great beast stiffened.
“That’s h-horrible! Your monsters should be treated with love and care, like people!”
“I assure you that I treat my monsters exactly how I would treat you or anyone else. Now hurry up and make your move so I can crush you already.”
“You’re awful!”
“Your opinion is of no concern to me. Go.”
“You’re all just a bunch of big bullies!” Fluttershy’s expression was surprisingly stern. “You hurt people and treat them like they were nothing! You treat your own monsters like they were nothing! You don’t deserve to have them!”
“Only words.”
“Then let’s see what my cards have to say! Reveal face-down card, Change of Heart!”
Her card rose, revealing the image of a half-demonic, half-angelic woman.
“This card lets me switch control of one of your monsters over to my side of the field! So, Mosaic Manticore, come over to me!”
The great beast shimmered and vanished, reappearing on Fluttershy’s side of the field. The card itself vanished from the cultist’s platform to reveal itself on her’s.
“There there,” Fluttershy cooed, stroking the card. “I’ll take good care of you. The mean lady won’t take your soul, I promise. Because we’re ending this duel together, now.”
“W-What do you mean?”
“I mean,” Fluttershy stood up straight and pointed. “Des Wombat, direct attack now!”
Her small marsupial darted quickly across the field, leaping onto the cultist’s platform. It swiped her roughly with its tiny claws.
Cultist
2250
“And now, Mosaic Manticore, attack her life points directly!” Fluttershy commanded. “End this duel with your claw and fang!”
The powerful beast crouched low and then pounced. It crossed the field with ease to land directly atop its former mistress. The manticore smashed her from her platform with a single swipe of its claws.
Cultist
0
The dark-robed woman hit the ground below with a dull thud. She lay there in an unmoving heap, the slow rise and fall of her chest the only thing telling Twilight that she let lived. There was a reason for the safeguards implemented on dueling holograms.
“Again?!” the woman behind the podium growled. “Bah, never mind! Get our sister medical attention and get the girl down from there! The Queen is waiting and the duels must go on!”
“Our next duelist,” the odd man said a few moments later. “Shall be the girl called Rarity.”
As before, Twilight watched as a pair of robed figures marched out to one sitting figure and ripped her from her seat. This time, though, the reaction was little different.
“Get your filthy hands off of me, you ruffians!” Rarity snapped, managing to rip one of her wrists from a robed man’s grasp.
In response, the other simply punched her in the face. Rarity hit the ground with a muffled thump.
“Get up,” barked the first man, drawing a knife. “I won’t ask a second time.”
“Hmph!” Rarity snorted, pushing herself onto her knees. “Fine. Keep your hands off of me! I’ll go to your duel myself. I won’t be dragged like an animal!”
With that, Rarity hoisted herself back onto her feet. Though the two cultists surrounded her carefully, they made no move to grab her again as she began walking. Despite the red mark on her cheek and the general situation, the girl managed a stiff upper lip and kept her head held high. Twilight was surprised and impressed, considering how she’d overreacted to her monsters getting destroyed.
Swiftly Rarity and her opponent, a cloaked man this time, reached platforms on either side of the dueling arena. Both rose to their full height, hologram projectors firing up. The adversaries faced one another, shuffling their decks and drawing five cards.
“I shall begin,” the man said calmly, drawing a card. “First I shall discard my Warrior of Atlantis from my hand to add the Field Spell known as A Legendary Ocean from my deck to my hand.”
The cultist looked through his cards, took one, and reshuffled before continuing.
“Next I will summon the Deep Sea Diva, in defense mode.”
A mermaid-like creature with a pink lower half and light pink fins for hair appeared in front of him.
“Whenever she is summoned I can automatically Special Summon a Sea Serpent monster from my deck with three stars or less. And I choose my Atlantean Heavy Infantry, also in defense mode.”
A green fish-monster with a towering two-part shield took up position on one knee.
“His effect also allows me to summon one additional monster with four stars or fewer from my hand. I choose to add my Atlantean Marksman to the lineup, again in defense mode.”
Another green fish-monster appeared, this one wielding a vicious-looking trident and a nasty set of teeth.
“Finally I shall place two cards face-down, and that shall end my turn.”
He didn’t play that Field Spell he acquired, Twilight realized. What’s he scheming?
“What?” Rarity said as she drew. “No boasting about your superiority? No praises to whatever insane thing you think you’re serving? No assurances that I’ll soon be crushed? I’m almost disappointed.”
“After what became of the last two of our competitors,” he replied coolly. “Underestimating you would be an obviously foolish thing to do.”
“That’s the first sensible thing any of you has said all night,” she retorted. “Now if you’d just be so kind as to realize how moronic your plan is and surrender peacefully, you might yet be salvageable.”
“I’m afraid that that isn’t going to happen.”
“I didn’t think so,” Rarity sighed. “Well, when you’re all rotting in prison, you can’t say I didn’t try. I summon my Etolie Cyber!”
A blue-skinned woman in a skintight red suit appeared to her side of the field.
“Next I play Polymerization to fuse the Etolie Cyber on my field with the Blade Skater in my hand to summon my Cyber Blader!”
Rarity’s monsters vanished into a dimensional tear. The familiar-looking red and purple woman flew out a second later, striking an elegant pose before performing a picture-perfect spin on the spot.
“Isn’t she just divine?!” Rarity clasped her hands together. “And she’s powerful too! Since you have three monsters on the field, she negates the effects of all your Spell, Trap, and Monster cards! So if you thought you were going to catch me in a trap, think again!”
The robed man said nothing.
“The silent treatment, eh? Fine. I equip my Cyber Blader with my Fairy Meteor Crush, allowing it to-”
“Deal damage to my life points equal to the difference between its attack points and my creature’s defense points whenever it attacks,” he cut her off. “I am aware.”
“Don’t you know that it’s rude to interrupt a lady while she’s speaking?” Rarity huffed. “Honestly, you demon-worshipping cultists have no manners.”
There was no response.
“Now them, where were we? Ah yes, I remember,” Rarity smiled. “Cyber Blader attack his Atlantean Heavy Infantry now!”
Her monster spun around and took off with the speed of an Olympian. In one graceful, fluid movement it skated right by the kneeling fish-creature and sliced it smoothly in half.
Cultist
3500
“It may not have done the most damage to your life points,” Rarity explained. “But destroying that monster prevents you from using its effect to summon another monster from your hand next turn! Plus,” she shuddered a bit. “That grotesque creature was simply appalling! It completely clashed with the surrounding environment! No sense of aesthetics whatsoever!”
“Are you done yet?”
“As a matter of fact, no. I place the last two cards in my hand face-down on the field,” she said. “And now, I am done.”
“Using up your entire hand?” he drew. “Questionable.”
“We shall see.”
“Indeed we shall. I-”
“Hold on!” Rarity raised a hand. “Reveal face-down card, Spatial Collapse! As long as this card remains on the field, neither of us can control more than five cards at any one point in time! So sorry if this spoils any of your plans.”
“Plans can be changed,” the man shrugged. “So I think I will play my Field Spell A Legendary Sea right now, raising the attack of all my Water monsters by 200 points! Next I switch my Atlantean Marksman to attack mode.”
Behind the man, a mighty palace structure arose, gushing forth water. In moments the entire dueling arena was covered with holographic liquid, leaving every single monster and card underwater. The trident-wielding fish man stood up, facing down Cyber Blader.
“You know of course that he’s hardly a match for her.”
“He doesn’t need to be. I reveal my face-down card, Shrink!”
“Hah!” she retorted. “Cyber Blader’s attack points are doubled whenever you only control two monsters! That means even cutting them in half won’t make your creature strong enough!”
“Don’t be so sure,” he smiled. “Who told you I was after your Cyber Blader?”
“You’re not?” her eyes widened.
“No. I’ll use Shrink to cut my Atlantean Marksman’s attack in half, to 800!”
“Why would you weaken your own monster?!”
“So I can play my other face-down card, Secret Passage to the Treasures! This allows one monster on my side of the field with less than 1000 attack points to attack you directly, and I choose my marksman! Now go!”
The fish creature tilted back and, with a gurgling battle cry, hurled its trident across the field. The weapon flew above Cyber Blader’s head before arcing downwards. Rarity threw herself to the floor in an undignified heap.
Rarity
3200
“Next comes my Atlantean Marksman’s special ability. Whenever he damages your life points, I can summon one Atlantean monster from my deck with four stars or less. So I choose my Atlantean Attack Squad!”
A quartet of fish warriors wielding shields and curved swords joined the cultist’s lineup.
“Now, with three monsters on my field, your Cyber Blader’s attack points are no longer doubled!”
“Your monsters are still too weak to defeat her!” Rarity shot back. “And Cyber Blader’s special ability negates all of their effects because you have three monsters on the field!”
“Then it’s a good thing I have this! I sacrifice all three monsters to summon Poseidra, the Atlantean Dragon!”
The water soaking the battlefield reared up into a whirling tornado, which rapidly sucked in Armed Sea Hunter. The monster disappeared into the depths as the whirlpool grew larger and larger, reducing the vast ocean to a tiny puddle at Cyber Blader’s feet. Abruptly, the tornado exploded, drowning the battlefield beneath a localized tsunami. Rarity’s monster was bowled over an enormous blue behemoth appeared beneath the waves. Easily three times the drenched Cyber Blader’s height, the dragon was bedecked in jeweled armor, matching the flawless rows of ocean-blue scales running up and down its body.
“Oooooh…” Rarity gawked a little, hands clasped. “That, sir, is one absolutely fabulous monster! I’m seeing whole new lines of summer clothing just from looking at it! You must tell me where you got such a card!”
“From our Queen,” he answered with a hint of pride. “But don’t be fooled by its breathtaking appearance, my dragon is quite dangerous, especially with his special ability. When summoned by sacrificing three monsters, he sends all Spell or Trap Card back into our hands and then cuts your monster down by 300 attack points for each! So, my Sea, your Fairy Meteor Crush, your Spatial Collapse, and your face-down all return to your hand, then your Cyber Blader drops to a measly 900 attack points!”
“Not that!” Rarity reeled as the waves washed over every card on the field. “My Astral Barrier returns to my hand!”
“Yes, that,” he grinned. “But fortunately for you I’ve already conducted my Battle Phase for this turn, so Poseidra can’t attack quite yet. So I’ll simply place my Field Spell back onto the board and end my turn.”
“…Fine. I draw.” Rarity looked at the card. “And play Pot of Greed, so that I might draw twice more!” she studied her two cards. “I shall place two cards face-down, and that shall end my turn!”
“Very well,” he drew. “I activate Monster Reborn, bringing my Atlantean Attack Squad back from the Graveyard!”
His quartet of fish soldiers reappeared beside his dragon.
“Sure it may double your monster’s attack points back to 1800, but my creatures have a special ability as well! Whenever I control another Fish, Aqua, or Sea Serpent monster, they gain 800 attack points, bringing them up to 2400!” he pointed across the field. “And now I’ll attack with Poseidra! Destroy her Cyber Blader!”
The great dragon reared up, jaws opening wide to reveal glistening white fangs. A torrent of deep blue energy raced outwards.
“I reveal my face-down, Doble Passe!” Rarity cried. “This protects my monster from your attack!”
Cyber Blader nimbly dodged that oncoming tide.
“By redirecting that attack to you.”
“I’m willing to give up something for someone else,” Rarity countered.
Rarity barely had time to brace herself before the energy stream was upon her. The enormous beam consumed her platform utterly, the woman herself vanishing entirely from sight.
Rarity
200
By the time the gushing torrent was over, Rarity’s dress had been torn, her arms covered in bruises, and a not inconsiderable chunk of her hair had simply been sheered away by the dragon’s might.
“Ugh…” she groaned, pulling herself back onto her feet.
“Very well then. I’ll accept decimating your life points.”
“My… coiffure…” Rarity moaned. “My beautiful hair… ruined…” her eyes began to water. “This is the worst. Possible – no,’ she sniffed. “There are more important things at stake than my hair. And besides, giving it up was the right thing to do. I shall… have mourn its loss at a more appropriate time.” Rarity sniffed again.
“How terribly sad,” the cultist said flatly.
“Have you no sympathy, sir?!”
“No.”
“Fine then, you uncivilized brute! Doble Passe allows me to hit your life points for Cyber Blader’s attack points right now!”
Cyber Blader raced across the field, so fast that it seemed almost to skate atop the water. She leaped upwards at the last second, slashing the braced cultist across the chest.
Cultist
1700
“Fine, but you won’t be around much long to talk about it. Atlantean Attack Squad, destroy her Cyber Blader!”
The four fishmen raised their swords, charging across the field.
“Wrong!” Rarity shouted. “Because I activate my Trap Card, Mirror Wall!”
A huge wall of mirrored crystal erupted from the ground in front of Rarity’s monster, just as the swords fell.
“It attacks your beast with its own reflection, cutting its attack points in half! Cyber Blader, finish off his Attack Squad!”
Cyber Blader sliced and diced each one of the four fish monsters.
Cultist
1100
“You could have played that during Poseidra’s attack,” the cultist noted. “And destroyed him on the spot. Doble Passe was unnecessary.”
“I happen to disagree,” Rarity said as she drew. “That dragon is simply amazing! Inspiring! Beautiful! I must have one!”
“Your Mirror Wall Trap requires you to give up 2000 life points every Standby Phase or else send it to the Graveyard.”
“Yes, yes,” Rarity moved the card to her Graveyard. “I don’t so it goes away. Now, about that dragon…” she sighed.
“What about it?”
“I simply couldn’t bear to see something that beautiful besmirched by destruction!”
“Are you… serious?” he blinked.
“Indubitably, my good sir,” she answered. “Fortunately for me, it appears that I won’t have to! I summon my Cyber Tutu in attack mode!”
A pink-haired girl in her own bodysuit and tutu appeared and struck a pose.
“First off, Doble Passe’s effect also allows Cyber Blader to attack your life points directly this turn! So go!”
Cyber Blader danced around the dragon and delivered another blow straight to the cultist.
Cultist
200
“And now for the grand finale!” Rarity smiled. “My wondrous ballerina’s special ability allows her to bypass your monsters, assuming that every one of them has more attack points than she does.”
The cultist paled, then gripped the sides of his platform.
“Cyber Tutu, attack his life points directly! End this duel!”
The ballerina took a flying leap, landing atop Poseidra’s head and racing down the back of its long neck. The dragon snapped at her, but the graceful girl simply couldn’t touched. At last she used its tail for a springboard, jumping right up at the platform to deliver a flying kick straight to the man’s face.
Cultist
0
Though the man’s head snapped back, his grip was firm and he just barely managed to keep his feet. From the way that he immediately doubled over, clutching his nose, it was clear that he hadn’t escaped unscathed. Twilight could faintly make out blood running through his fingers. It was probably broken.
Serves him right, she thought.
“So, another victory for our honored duelists,” the woman still behind the podium visibly fumed. “Well, we’re not even close to through!”