This chapter's featured card: Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier
Synchro Monster Level: 9 ATK: 2700 DEF: 2000 Attribute: WATER Type: Dragon
1 Tuner + 2 or more non-Tuner monsters
When this card is Synchro Summoned: You can banish up to one card each from your opponent's hand, field and Graveyard. (The card in the hand is chosen at random.)
Sammy and Maddie were sitting in the waiting room with their heads against the wall when Alex and Orion came in with Twilight. Sammy immediately ran over and hugged the crying mare. Twilight needed all of the emotional support she could get, but it still wouldn’t fully aid her. Maddie was still nervous. She knew that the winner of the next duel would go on to face Gilda and Trixie. She then evaluated the situation. She would be going on to face Rarity and Fluttershy now, and she knew that Fluttershy’s timidity would most likely get the best of her. Plus, if her friends knew that she threw the duel just to avoid facing Gilda and Trixie and left it to Rarity and Fluttershy only for them to fail and they lose their own lives, nobody would forgive her. Then she looked at Sammy comforting Twilight. Twilight has lost many friends over the course of the past 24 hours: Zecora, Spike Applejack- Applejack! Maddie’s look of worry then changed to anger. I won’t let your sacrifice go in vain, thought Maddie. “Sammy!” barked Maddie. “Maddie?” asked Sammy getting up. “We both have people to avenge here today,” said Maddie. “You want to save Spike. I want to save Applejack. We have one duel to decide who gets to face those two and I’ll be damned to see Fluttershy and Rarity face them. Let’s do this together.” Sammy then locked her hand into Maddie’s, pulled her in close, and hugged her. “Alright,” said Sammy. “Let’s go.”
“And now,” said the announcer, “this final duel will end the quarter-finals and decides who will face Gilda and Trixie in the semi-finals. Who will it be? Let’s find out. In the first corner, let’s introduce the impromptu duo from yesterday, Maddie and Sammy.” The crowd cheered supportively to the two, hoping it would give them the strength needed to face Gilda and Trixie. The two made their way to the inside of the ring. “In the other corner, the two masters of EARTH, Rarity and Fluttershy.” As the two walked forward, Maddie saw something that surprised even her. Normally, Fluttershy would be hiding behind Rarity after being shocked by the loud cheering of the audience. However, instead of fear and lack of anticipation, she looked the opposite. Stoic, calm, and determined. This might be harder of a duel than I thought, thought Maddie. The two met on opposite sides of the ring. “Let’s see how these quarter-finals shall close,” said the announcer. The spinner appeared, and spun rapidly. The marker slowed down and landed on the spot that said RR. Riding Relay. “Alright,” said the announcer. “It seems these teams will compete in a riding relay. Teams, pick your first duelist to go. Good luck to both teams.” He then scooted away on his cloud.
Sammy and Maddie both had flying pokémon on them, so they would not require flying assistance from Princess Celestia. Fluttershy was a pegasus and could already fly, but Rarity could not. Princess Celestia then casted a spell that gave Rarity temporary wings. Rarity saw the wings and saw that they resembled butterfly’s wings, much like the kind she had when competing in the Best Young Flyer competition. “Waha ha HA!” exclaimed Rarity in delight. She then pranced to the center of the ring, volunteering to go first. Maddie then took out a pokéball. “Come on out, Paice,” she yelled throwing the pokéball in the air. It opened up to reveal a large flygon. The sudden appearance of Maddie’s strange green dragon got the crowd excited. She then hopped on Paice and walked him towards the edge of the ring. Maddie and Rarity unsheathed their duel disks as Speed World 2 activated, encompassing the field in a holographic aura. The countdown then began, with the crowd cheering the numbers as they appeared. 10. 9. 8. 7. 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. BEEP! They both dove off into the inside of the ring, aiming for the small cloudy ring that would decide the first turn. Rarity, when she had wings, was only accustomed to showing them off in a graceful manner. She still had yet to use them for speed. Paice was more than comfortable going high speeds, and with it, Maddie easily took the ring for the first turn. Rarity then flew faster to catch up with Maddie. They each drew 5 cards from their decks and were ready to go. “DUEL!” they both yelled.
Maddie and Sammy vs. Rarity and Fluttershy
Round 1: Maddie vs. Rarity
Maddie’s Turn: M:1 R:0 Maddie summons Numbing Grub in the Ice Barrier in defense position (ATK: 1300 DEF: 1800). When summoned, Maddie chooses one monster zone on the field. While that card remains face up, that zone cannot be used.
Maddie places 1 card face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-4 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
“I have gotten better at this game, you know,” said Rarity. “It’s time that I proved it to you.”
Rarity’s Turn: M:1 R:1 Maddie activates the continuous trap Eisbahn. Rarity summons Gem-Knight Garnet (ATK: 1900 DEF: 0). With Eisbahn’s effect, if Rarity summons a monster that isn’t an EARTH attribute while Maddie controls a WATER type monster, the summoned monster is changed to defense position.
Rarity places 2 cards face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-3 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
“For as better as you may have gotten,” said Maddie, “I haven’t gotten any worse, and now I’m going to make sure that we win this match so we can save Applejack and the others.” “Don’t you see?” said Rarity. “Applejack’s my friend too. I’m going to fight for her survival and if I have to beat you to do it, so be it.” “Hmph,” said Maddie. “First, you’ll have to beat me.”
Maddie’s Turn: M:2 R:2 Maddie summons Dewdark of the Ice Barrier (ATK: 1200 DEF: 800). Maddie tunes Numbing Grub in the Ice Barrier with Dewdark of the Ice Barrier to synchro summon Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier (ATK: 2000 DEF: 1400). Maddie attacks Gem-Knight Garnet, but Rarity activates Negate Attack.
Maddie places 3 cards face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-1 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-3
Rarity’s Turn: M:3 R:3 Rarity places 1 card face down. Then she activates the speed spell High Speed Crash, destroying one card she controls to destroy one card her opponent controls, choosing Eisbahn. Rarity summons Gem-Knight Sanyx (ATK: 1800 DEF: 900). Rarity then activates Pyroxene Fusion, sending Gem-Knight Sanyx and Gem-Knight Garnet to the graveyard to fusion summon Gem-Knight Zirconia (ATK: 2900 DEF: 2500). Maddie attacks Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier, but Maddie activates its effect, sending cards she controls back to her hand to increase Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier’s ATK by 500 for each card sent that way until the end phase, choosing 2 of her face down cards (ATK: 2000 -> 3000). Rarity halts her attack.
Rarity places 1 card face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-0 Life-4000 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
Maddie’s Turn: M:4 R:4 Maddie places 2 cards face down. Next, she summons Defender of the Ice Barrier in defense position (ATK: 200 DEF: 1600). Maddie then sends her 3 face down cards from the field to her hand to increase Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier’s ATK by 500 for each card sent (ATK: 2000 -> 3500). Maddie attacks Gem-Knight Zirconia with Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier.
Rarity’s Life Points: 4000 -> 3400
Rarity activates her Card of Last Will, drawing 5 cards when a monster of hers is destroyed.
Maddie places 1 card face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-3 Life-4000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-1
Rarity’s Turn: M:5 R:5 Rarity activates the speed spell Angel Baton, drawing 2 cards and discarding 1. Next, she activates the effect of Gem-Knight Lazuli from her graveyard. When sent to the graveyard by a card effect, she can add one normal monster in her graveyard to her hand. Then, she the speed spell Dash Pilfer, taking control of one defense position monster on Maddie’s side of the field, choosing Defender of the Ice Barrier. Next, she activates the speed spell Speed Fusion, sending Gem-Knight Sanyx, Gem-Knight Tourmaline, and Gem-Knight Obsidian to the graveyard to fusion summon Gem-Knight Master Dia (ATK: 2900 DEF: 2500). When Gem-Knight Obsidian is sent from the hand to the graveyard, Rarity can special summon a level 4 or lower normal monster from her graveyard, choosing Gem-Knight Garnet. This card gains 100 ATK for each Gem-Knight Monster in the graveyard (5) (ATK: 2900 -> 3400). Rarity attacks Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier with Gem-Knight Master Dia, but Maddie activates Invincible Hero, negating the destruction of Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier. Damage is still applied.
Maddie’s Life Points: 4000 -> 2600.
Rarity ends her turn. Defender of the Ice Barrier is given back to Maddie.
Status: Hand-2 Life-3400 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-0
“You may have seen strong monsters from me in the past,” said Maddie, “but none of them compare to the strength of the monster I’m about to summon.”
Maddie’s Turn: M:6 R:6 Maddie activates the speed spell Downward Current, choosing a level between 1 and 3, and having one monster on the field become the level chosen, having Defender of the Ice Barrier become level 2 (Lvl.: 3 -> 2). Next, she summons Blizzed, Defender of the Ice Barrier (ATK: 300 DEF: 500). Maddie tunes Dewloren, Tiger King of the Ice Barrier and Blizzed, Defender of the Ice Barrier with Defender of the Ice Barrier to synchro summon Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier (ATK: 2700 DEF: 2000). When this card is synchro summoned, Maddie chooses a card in Rarity’s hand, field, and graveyard, and then she removes them from play, choosing Gem-Knight Crystal at random in her hand, Gem-Knight Master Dia on the field, and Gem-Knight Sanyx in her graveyard. Maddie attacks Gem-Knight Garnet.
Rarity’s Life Points: 3400 -> 2600
Maddie places 1 card face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-1 Life-2600 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
Rarity’s Turn: M:7 R:7 Rarity places 1 card face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-1 Life-2600 Monsters-0 Face Down Cards-1
Maddie’s Turn: M:8 R:8 Maddie summons one monster face down. Next, she attacks Rarity directly with Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier.
Rarity’s Life Points: 2600 -> 0
Maddie wins the round.
Status: Hand-1 Life-2600 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-1
Rarity will switch with Fluttershy, and will pass her face down card on to her.
Rarity swooped up into the coliseum and traded her card with Fluttershy. Fluttershy flew down to catch up to Maddie. “Good luck, Fluttershy,” called Rarity from the edge of the inside of the ring. Then, Rarity slipped and almost fell, had it not been for Rainbow Dash not grabbing her by her tail and pulling her up. “Let’s not go and do that again,” chided Rainbow Dash. “I’m fine,” said Rarity. “I could’ve flown with my-” Suddenly, Rarity noticed the wings on Rarity’s back disappeared. She groaned sadly. Fluttershy caught up to Maddie eventually and with her arrival the duel could resume.
Round 2: Fluttershy vs. Maddie
Fluttershy’s Turn: F:9 M:9 Fluttershy activates the speed spell Synchro Defuse, taking control of Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier. Next, she summons Naturia Horneedle (ATK: 1800 DEF: 100). Fluttershy attacks Maddie’s face down monster with Naturia Horneedle, which was a Pilgrim of the Ice Barrier (ATK: 1500 DEF: 1000). Next, Fluttershy attacks Maddie directly with Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier.
Maddie’s Life Points: 2600 -> 0
Fluttershy wins the round. Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier is given back to Maddie.
Status: Hand-4 Life-3600 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
Maddie will switch with Sammy, who will pass on Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier and her face down card on to her.
Maddie landed in the coliseum on Paice, calling him back to his pokéball, and trading her cards to Sammy. Sammy then took out her own pokéball. “It’s your turn, Tyson!” she called. Out came a charizard who let Sammy on its back and flew down to meet Fluttershy.
Final Round: Sammy vs. Fluttershy
Sammy’s Turn: S:10 F:10 Sammy summons Laval Cannoneer (ATK: 1600 DEF: 900). Next, she activates the speed spell Summon Speeder, special summoning a level 4 or lower monster from her hand, choosing Tender of the Laval Volcano (ATK: 100 DEF: 200). Sammy tunes Laval Cannoneer with Tender of the Laval Volcano to synchro summon Lavalval Dragon (ATK: 2000 DEF: 1100). Sammy activates Lavalval Dragon’s effect, adding 2 Laval monsters in her graveyard to the deck to send one card her opponent controls back to the hand, choosing Fluttershy’s face down card. Sammy attacks Naturia Horneedle with Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier.
Fluttershy’s Life Points: 4000 -> 3100
Sammy then attacks Fluttershy directly with Lavalval Dragon.
Fluttershy’s Life Points: 3100 -> 1100
Sammy places 1 card face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-2 Life-4000 Monsters-2 Face Down Cards-2
Fluttershy’s Turn: S:11 F:11 Fluttershy activates the speed spell Half Seize, halving the ATK of one monster on the field and gaining life points equal to its ATK, choosing Lavalval Dragon (ATK: 2000 -> 1000).
Fluttershy’s Life Points: 1100 -> 2100
Next, Fluttershy summons Naturia Pumpkin (ATK: 1400 DEF: 800). When it’s normal summoned, Fluttershy can special summon a Naturia monster from her hand, choosing Naturia Tulip (ATK: 600 DEF: 1500). Fluttershy tunes Naturia Pumpkin with Naturia Tulip to synchro summon Naturia Barkion (ATK: 2500 DEF: 1800). Fluttershy activates the speed spell Speed Energy, increasing Naturia Barkion’s ATK by 200 for each speed counter that Fluttershy has (ATK: 2500 + (200x11) = 4700). Fluttershy attacks Lavalval Dragon.
Sammy’s Life Points: 4000 -> 300
Fluttershy activates Speed World 2’s effect, removing 10 speed counters (SpC.: 11 -> 1) to destroy one card on the field, choosing Trishula, Dragon of the Ice Barrier.
Fluttershy places 2 cards face down and ends her turn.
Status: Hand-0 Life-2100 Monsters-1 Face Down Cards-1
Sammy’s Turn: S:12 F:2 Sammy activates the speed spell Gap Storm, destroying all spell and trap cards on the field when there is a difference of at least 10 spell counters between her and her opponent. Next, Sammy activates Speed World 2’s effect, removing 10 speed counters (SpC.: 12 -> 2) to destroy one card on the field, choosing Naturia Barkion. Sammy then summons Laval Lancelord (ATK: 2100 DEF: 200). Sammy attacks Fluttershy directly.
Fluttershy’s Life Points: 2100 -> 0
Sammy wins the round.
Maddie and Sammy win the match.
While Fluttershy obviously wasn’t injured from the last attack, she still fell down towards the ground. Tyson rode down as fast as he could to catch Fluttershy, saving her by just a few hundred feet. Tyson brought Fluttershy up to the coliseum and laid her down on the clouds. She wasn’t hurt, but she was crying. Charley rushed from the stands to her side. “Fluttershy, what’s wrong,” she cooed. “I couldn’t do it,” said Fluttershy in between sobs. “I lost, and now I can’t save my friends.” “Fluttershy,” called Rarity approaching her. “Maddie and I were talking about this earlier.” “We are all their friends and they want to save them no more and no less than we do. Fluttershy, have faith in our friends. I know they can do the right thing. I know they can beat them, but we need to give them hope.” Fluttershy was still upset, but it was evident from the slight smile that she knew that her friends could pull through for her. Charley picked up Fluttershy onto her feet and they both walked into the waiting rooms with Rarity to watch the semi-finals together