The train laid wrecked at the bottom of a hill in a river.
Back on Dartz’s island, his monitor lost its signal.
“I’ve lost contact with the Princess!” said Dartz.
“Maybe she didn’t make it,” said Adagio behind him.
“She made it!” said Dartz. “But something or someone is concealing her!”
“Then let me be your eyes, master,” said Adagio. “I’ll find the Princess and make up for my mistake.”
Twilight woke up in what appeared to be a teepee, Fluttershy were resting next to her.
“Fluttershy, wake up!” called Twilight.
“Were are we?” asked Fluttershy.
“I don’t know,” said Twilight. “But are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” assured Fluttershy.
Suddenly, a gray timber wolf ran in and leaped on top of Fluttershy.
“Fluttershy!!” cried Twilight.
But the beast was just licking her face like a pet dog. Fluttershy giggled. “Thank you girl, nice to meet you,” said Fluttershy.
The wolf then jumped on Twilight and began licking her. “Hey, stop it,” Twilight laughed.
“Sky! Get back here!” said a young female voice. A little girl walked into the teepee. “That’s no way to treat our guests! Sorry if she woke you up.”
“Who are you?” asked Twilight.
“My name is Strongheart,” said the girl. “Little Strongheart. You’ve already my pet, Sky. She’s the one who found you two.”
Outside, a tall, buff old man with a staff was gathering up Twilight’s scattered cards. He paused when saw The Eye of Timaeus. “How interesting.”
The girls and Strongheart walked up to him. “Hi, grandpa,” said Strongheart.
“Hello, Strongheart,” said the old man. “I see you met my granddaughter, I’m glad your strength has returned.”
“Yes, thank you,” said Twilight.
“Thank you very much,” said Fluttershy.
“My pleasure,” said the man. “By the way, the name is Chief Thunder and I believe these belong to you.” Chief Thunder handed the assembled deck to Twilight.
“Thank you,” said Twilight.
“Pardon my curiosity,” said Chief Thunder. “But I couldn’t help noticing you possess the Eye of Timaeus, such a rare card.”
Twilight handed the card to the man. “Take it, I don’t deserve it,” said Twilight.
“That’s not true, Twilight,” said Fluttershy.
“I’ll hold onto it, until you’re ready,” said the Chief.
“Excuse me,” said Fluttershy. “Did you happen to find a boy around here?” asked Fluttershy. “He had red hair and a black shirt with scissors on it.”
“No, I’m afraid you two are the only ones we found,” said the Chief. “Maybe your friend jumped clear or something.”
“I doubt it,” said Twilight. “I’m afraid there’s an even greater power at work here.”
“You seem to possess a great deal of wisdom, young lady,” said the Chief. “Now we have encountered many people, but there's something about you I’ve never seen before. I also sense you hold a great deal of loneliness in your heart.”
“Yes, I just lost one of my best friends,” said Twilight. “Now I’m on a journey to find her.”
“What will you do if you find this friend of yours?” asked the Chief.
“Apologize for betraying her trust and abandoning her,” replied Twilight.
“Hmm, I think I might be able to help,” said Chief Thunder. “Follow me.”
The girls followed Chief Thunder, Strongheart and Sky to a small canyon. “Where are we going?” asked Fluttershy.
“To a sacred place that my people guard,” said Chief Thunder. “Where wandering spirits are said to dwell.”
“You think my friend is there?” asked Twilight.
“Perhaps,” said the Chief. “Finding the spirit you seek is easy, but leaving with your own, is another thing.”
Fluttershy gulped.
Adagio arrived at the train wreckage and searched everywhere for the Princess. “How did she escape?” she asked. “You can’t hide forever, Princess!”
Inside the canyon, Chief Thunder led Twilight and Fluttershy to a valley with encircling rings in the center. “This is it,” said the Chief.
“So, what do we do now?” asked Twilight.
“Not we, you must enter the Sacred Circle alone,” said Chief Thunder. “This is your journey.”
“Very well,” said Twilight. She then ran down into the valley.
“Wait up!” cried Fluttershy.
“Stop!” called Strongheart.
“Why?” asked Fluttershy.
“Only one soul seeker is permitted to enter at a time,” said the Chief. “If you go in after her, the evil spirits will sense you.”
“Okay,” said Fluttershy. “Be careful, Twilight.”
Once Twilight was at the bottom, she walked toward the center circle. She began to hear evil laughter around her, telling her to turn back. “Who’s there? Show yourselves!” No one answered, so Twilight continued walking. Small balls of light begin to swirl about the circle.
“What’s happening?” asked Fluttershy.
“Your friend is attracting lost souls that seek revenge,” said Chief Thunder.
As Twilight neared the circle, spirits of her past enemies appeared around her, in human form. First was Tirek and the Flim Flam Brothers, then was Queen Chrysalis and King Sombra. Trixie and Sunset’s inner demon were next. Last was Snips. He appeared in form of Twilight, but she walked right through him.
Finally Twilight reached the spirit circle. “Twi!!” She called. The lights from earlier began to coalesce.
“You see that?” asked Strongheart.
“Y-yes,” said Fluttershy.
“It means a spirit is crossing over into our world,” said Strongheart.
As the souls combined, Sci-Twi appeared. “Huh? It that really you, Princess?”
“Twi! I can’t believe it,” said Twilight.
“Hey look it’s her!” cried Fluttershy.
“I finally found you,” said Twilight. But as Twilight tried to hug her other self, she pasted right through her as if she were a ghost. “What the?”
“You came all the way here, just to see me?” asked Sci-Twi.
“Of course,” said Twilight. “And to say how sorry I am.”
“I’m sorry too,” said Sci-Twi. “I wish this whole thing never happened.”
“No, it’s my fault,” said Twilight. “I gave in to my inner darkness, I allowed my anger to take control and you paid the price. I’m so sorry. I should have been locked away.”
“Well, what good is that now?” asked Sci-Twi. “I’m the one who’s been locked away forever, not you!”
“I am so sorry,” said Twilight on the verge of tears.
“Well the last thing I want is your pity!” said Sci-Twi. “If you’re as dark as you say you are, there’s only one thing to do.”
“What do you mean?” asked Twilight.
A duel disk appeared on Sci-Twi’s arm. “You said it yourself, didn’t you? Your spirit should be locked away with mine, and I’m here to take it.”
“W-what are you talking about?” asked Twilight.
“You don’t deserve to be a part of this world!” said Sci-Twi. “You don’t even belong here! It’s time you started taking responsibility for what you’ve done. There’s only one way to settle this and you know it! You need to grow up, and face me in a duel!”
“No,” said the Twilight.
“Too late!” yelled Sci-Twi. “If you’re really sorry, you’ll do this!”
“Fine,” said Twilight as she activated her duel disk.
“It’s time to duel!” called Sci-Twi.
“Wait, so she’s going to duel herself?” asked Fluttershy.
“This the only way,” said Chief Thunder.
“That’s why we brought you two here,” said Strongheart. “So the Princess can face her other self. She has to do this if she wants to move on. A prophecy was foretold in our village, that a magical maiden would come to save the world from evil, as soon as we found you two, we knew that she was the one.”
"Prophecy," said Fluttershy. "Just like her deck. Wait, so what’s Twilight supposed to do?” asked Fluttershy.
“Her first step is to face her inner fear,” said Chief Thunder. “If she loses, her spirit will remain here, with the others, forever.”
The two girls drew their cards.
Sci-Twi: LP 4000
Twilight: LP 4000
Turn 1: Sci-Twi
“I’ll go first,” said Sci-Twi. “I’ll set a monster and end my turn. Now let’s see what you’ve got. Unless you’re scared?”
Turn 2: Twilight
“Very well,” said Twilight. “I summon Fool of Prophecy in attack mode. Now, attack her face down monster!”
“My face down monster in also a Fool,” said Sci-Twi.
“They played the same card?” asked Fluttershy.
“It’s because their hands are identical,” said the Chief.
“Wait Twi!” called Twilight. “We’re holding the same cards, aren’t we?” Twilight’s hand contained Hermit of Prophecy, Reaper of Prophecy, Dark Magician Girl, Monster Reborn, and Spellbook Magician of Prophecy.
Turn 3: Sci-Twi
“Let’s find out,” said Sci-Twi. “I summon Spellbook Magician of Prophecy in defense mode, now I can add a Spellbook spell card to my hand, meaning I have to shuffle my deck. I select Spellbook of Miracles, and I end my turn.”
Turn 4: Twilight
“Does this look familiar?” asked Twilight. “I play Monster Reborn to bring back your Fool. Then I’ll tribute him to bring out my Dark Magician Girl. Now I’ll attack your Spellbook Magician with my Fool! Then I’ll attack you directly with my Dark Magician Girl!”
“Ah!” cried Sci-Twi.
Sci-Twi: LP 2000
Twilight: LP 4000
“That’s strange,” thought Twilight. “If we are holding the same cards, then why didn’t Twi play Monster Reborn? For some reason, Twi is holding back. Is she trying to lose on purpose? Or is she trying to throw me off guard with a different strategy?”
Turn 5: Sci-Twi
“My turn,” said Sci-Twi. “I place one card face down, then I’ll activate Card Destruction! Now I can start over and our hands will be different, now you can’t cheat anymore.”
“Why are you acting like this?” asked Twilight.
“I’m just a reflection of you,” said Sci-Twi.
“What?” asked Twilight.
“You don’t get it, do you?” asked Sci-Twi. “We’re completely the same. So the darkness in your heart is also inside mine!”
“I wish I could take this all back,” said Twilight.
“It’s too late. Face it!” yelled Sci-Twi. “You didn’t care what happened to me, just as long as you won! Now it’s my turn.”
“Wait!” called Twilight. “Are you holding the card I think you’re holding?”
“Seems you’re starting to catch on, your highness,” said Sci-Twi. “This duel is a chance to look at yourself from the outside, and there’s only one card that can do that. The Seal of Orichalcos.”
“Twi, no!!” cried the Princess.
It was too late. Sci-Twi happened already placed the card in her disk. The Seal then appeared around the two girls and on Sci-Twi's forehead; her eyes then glowed red.
“It’s payback time,” said Sci-Twi. “For taking my soul!”
“Please, Twi. Don’t make the same mistake I did!” said Twilight.
“Too little, too late,” said Sci-Twi. “I reveal my face down, Monster Reborn to bring back my Reaper of Prophecy. Then I’ll summon my Justice of Prophecy in attack mode, and thanks to the Seal, they both get 500 extra points. (Reaper of Prophecy: 2000 – 2500) (Justice of Prophecy: 1600 – 2100). Now Justice of Prophecy, attack her Fool! Reaper of Prophecy, attack her Magician Girl! I end my turn.”
Sci-Twi: LP 2000
Twilight: LP 3000
Turn 6: Twilight
“I activate Mooyan Curry!" said Twilight. "This card gives me 200 extra life points."
Sci-Twi: LP 2000
Twilight: LP 3200
"Next, I summon Charioteer of Prophecy of Prophecy in defense mode. Then I’ll place one card face down, and end my turn.”
Turn 7: Sci-Twi
“That’s all?” asked Sci-Twi. “I summon Strength of Prophecy in attack mode. (Justice of Prophecy: 1500 – 2000)
“Hold on!” called Twilight “I activate my trap, The First Monarch. It specials itself to the field as a monster with 1000 ATK points and 2400 DEF points.”
“So what?” asked Sci-Twi. “I activate my Strength of Prophecy’s effect. I take one Spellbook card in my graveyard and shuffle it back into my deck, then my monster’s ATK increases by 500. So I’ll return the Spellbook of Miracles that I sent to my graveyard with Card Destruction. (Strength of Prophecy: 2000 – 2500) Now I’ll attack your Charioteer with my Justice of Prophecy! Now Strength of Prophecy, attack her First Monarch! Now it’s your turn, I attack with my Reaper!”
“Ah!!” cried Twilight.
Sci-Twi: LP 2000
Twilight: LP 700
“It won’t be long now, Princess.” said Sci-Twi.
“Twi, please. Don’t do this!” said Twilight.
“It hurts, doesn’t it?” asked Sci-Twi. “And it’s only gonna get worse. Soon you’ll be the one locked away!”
Turn 8: Twilight
"I summon Amores of Prophecy in defense mode," said Twilight. "Then I’ll place one card face down and activate the Swords of Revealing Light! This gives me three turns to talk some sense into Twi.”
Turn 9: Sci-Twi
“Your swords mean nothing!” called Sci-Twi. “I have a card that can blast right through them. Remember this?” Twi held up Magical Blast.
“Oh no!!” gasped Twilight. “This is what I did.”
“Exactly,” said Sci-Twi “It’s time to experience the consequences of your own evil. It’s all over. First, I summon Stoic of Prophecy in attack mode. (Stoic of Prophecy: 300 – 800) Then I’ll activate Magical Blast! I have four Spellcasters, so you lo-"
“I hate to do this to you Twi!” interrupted the Princess. “But if I don’t, I can’t save you or our two worlds! I activate Just Desserts! Since you have four monsters, you lose 2000 life points!”
Sci-Twi’s eyes widen with joy. “She did it.”
Sci-Twi: LP 0
Twilight: LP 700
“What have I done?!” asked Twilight. “Twi!!”
“What’s going to happen to her?” asked Fluttershy.
Twilight rushed over to her doppelganger. “Twi, speak to me, please.”
“You passed the test,” said Sci-Twi.
“What do you mean?’ asked Twilight. “Did you plan all this?”
“It was the only way,” said Sci-Twi. “By defeating me, you were able to destroy the darkness inside you. I know it wasn’t easy, but you did the thing was best for me and the world. You acted like a true heroine.”
“But, now what?” asked Twilight.
“Don’t give up this fight,” said Sci-Twi weakly. “Remember… I’m... always… with… you.” Sci-Twi’s spirit then dissipated.
Tears rolled down Twilight’s cheek. “I’ll save you, Twi! No matter what!”
Back at the tracks, Rainbow, Applejack and Sunset were trying to get phone reception.
“Anyone got a signal?” asked Rainbow.
“Not yet,” said Applejack.
“Up here!” called Sunset. She got up on a hill and got a signal bar on her phone. “Here goes.” She called 911 and the operator picked up.
“Yes!” cried Rainbow and AJ.
Sunset relayed the info about the train crash and the police sent out a rescue chopper.