“The KC Grand Championship is heating up!” said Roland. “After some incredible duels and stunning upsets, we’re moving into the semifinals, where Sweetie Belle, Trixie, Leon, and Vladimir will duke it out for a chance to duel against our top champion, Sunset Shimmer!”
“Congratulations, darling,” said Rarity.
“You were awesome,” said Scootaloo.
“Thanks,” said Sweetie.
Rarity’s phone rang. “Hello? Hi girls. It’s over? How did Twilight do? Oh, I see. Thanks, see you all later.”
“What happened?” asked Sweetie.
Rarity’s looked down. “Twilight lost to Vladimir.”
“Oh, poor Twilight,” said Sweetie.
“But it doesn’t matter,” said Rarity. “We’re all still her friends, and there’s always next time.”
“You’re right!” said Sweetie.
“Where’s Applebloom?” asked Scootaloo.
“She went to check on Granny Smith,” said Rarity.
Back at the Volcanic Pit, Twilight and the others got on the Blue-Eyes White Monorail and were let off at the Blue-Eyes White Dragon train station. Applebloom then rushed over.
“Applejack!” cried Applebloom. “Granny’s gone!”
“What???!!!!!” yelled AJ.
“What happened?” asked Twilight.
“I went to go see how she was feeling, but I got there, she was gone,” explained Applebloom.
“Oh my,” said Fluttershy. “I hope she’s okay.”
Applejack began to hyperventilate.
“Don’t worry!” said Pinkie. “I’m sure she’s just fine.”
“Well she’s got to be around here somewhere,” said Sunset. “Let’s spit up and find her.”
“Let’s get going ya’ll!” said Applejack.
“I’ll help,” said Flash.
“Me too,” said Applebloom.
“Alright!” said Roland. “It’s time to begin our semifinal round! Our first duel pits Vladimir against the Great and Powerful Trixie! These two will face off in Kaiba Corp's Galaxy Theater! Now, on to the next match, featuring the two youngest minors to ever enter a major league tournament, Sweetie Belle and Leon! These small fries will wage war in the Small Town USA!”
A few minutes later Sweetie Belle and Rarity arrived at the Small Town.
“This is so cool,” said Sweetie. “I feel like a giant.”
“Such amazing architecture,” said Rarity.
Just then a boy sat up.
“Hey, you’re Leon,” said Sweetie.
“Sorry, I just needed a quick nap,” said Leon. “You’re Sweetie Belle, right? Great to see you again.”
“You too,” said Sweetie.
“Aren’t you friends with Sunset Shimmer?” asked Leon.
“My sister is,” answered Sweetie.
“Is Sunset coming?” asked Leon.
Just then Rarity’s cell rang. “Hello? What?!!”
“What’s wrong?” asked Sweetie.
“Granny Smith is gone!” exclaimed Rarity.
“Oh my gosh!!” cried Sweetie.
“Holy cow!” said Scootaloo. “I hope they find her.”
“I understand,” said Rarity as she talked to her friends. “Best of luck to you all.”
“Not to worry,” said Rarity. “The others are splitting up and searching everywhere. They’ll find her.”
“I hope she’s okay,” said Leon.
Meanwhile the girls where running around the entire park. Fluttershy looked around the jungle. “Miss Smith! Where are you?!”
Pinkie searched near the train station, but didn’t find a trance.
Flash searched by the roller coaster. “Where could she be?”
Twilight searched by the Flower Garden.
Applebloom and Applejack were searching by the jungle ruins when an announcement came on.
“Attention Kaiba Land guests! A short elderly woman has been separated from her family. If anyone has lost a grandmother, she's waiting for them at the main gate.”
“That’s got be her!” cried AJ.
The gang all rushed to the main gate.
“You guys hear that announcement?” asked Sunset.
“Yep!” said Pinkie.
“So, where is Miss Smith?” asked Twilight.
“I don’t know,” said Applejack. “She supposed to be right here.”
“Hey look,” said Fluttershy. “That Blue Eyes statue, has a note on its claw.”
“Let’s see,” said Applebloom as she opened the note.
“It’s a map of Kaiba Land,” said Flash.
“There’s an X on the Asian cafe,” Pinkie pointed out.
“I guess someone wants us to go there,” said Twilight.
“I don’t like this,” said Sunset.
“Whatta mean, Sunset?” asked AJ.
“It sort of feels like we’re walking into a trap,” admitted Sunset.
“I really hope it isn’t,” said Fluttershy.
“We gotta go for it if we want to save Granny!” said Applebloom.
“She’s right,” said Applejack. “Let’s go ya’ll!”
(Later, at the Asian café)
“Well, here we are,” said Pinkie.
“I really hope Granny’s okay,” said Applebloom.
“Me too,” said AJ. “Come on.”
As Applejack opened the doors to the restaurant, the interior lights lit up, firecrackers went off and a huge gong was hit.
“My ears!” cried Fluttershy.
“My head!” cried Twilight.
“Wow!!” said Pinkie. The restaurant was several stories high inside, with balconies all around, and a huge dragon carving in the middle of the high ceiling. “This is the biggest Chinese restaurant I've ever seen! And look and that!” The tables are set with numerous Chinese dishes. “We’re just in time for lunch!”
“Welcome!” said a voice from above.
The gang looked up to see Garble doing a Kung Fu pose on the highest balcony in the restaurant.
“Garble?!” asked Sunset. “He led us here?”
“But why?” asked Twilight.
“Cause he’s crazy,” said Flash.
“Where’s our Granny?!” called Applebloom.
“You better get down here and start talking!” ordered Applejack.
“Okay,” said Garble and he flipped off the balcony.
The girls freaked out as he jumped.
“He’ll die from that height!!” called Flash.
But instead of falling, Garble was floating down very slowly.
“What the?” asked Sunset.
“How is that possible?” asked Twilight.
“Look!” said Flash. “Garble’s got a helper.”
An old woman lowering Garble down on a rope. She looked at the kids and gasped.
“Granny?!” asked Applejack.
“What are you doing here?” asked Applebloom.
“Huh, I can…explain,” said Granny as she let go of the rope. Garble then fell a short distance down.
“What’s a matter with you?!” yelled Garble. “Ya trying to kill me?!”
“Sorry,” said Granny.
“What the heck is going on here?” asked Applejack.
“Did you kidnap our Granny?!” asked Applebloom.
“Oh forget her!” said Garble. “Let’s talk about you and me, Sunset. Welcome to the real grand championship tournament, doll. Now you and I are gonna battle for the crown!”
“Forget it!” said Twilight. “Only the winner can battle Sunset and Sweetie Belle already beat you.”
“Didn’t you hear me?! I’m starting my own tournament, and the first match is Sunset against me! So let’s get it on.” said Garble as he winked at Sunset.
“Forget it,” said Sunset. “It’s against tournament rules.”
“Oh, come on!” said Garble.
“You’re making a mistake,” said Granny. “You’ve got to duel him.”
“What?” asked AJ. “Granny, did that freak hypnotize you or something?”
“Actually, it’s quite the amusing story,” said Granny. “I was just lying on my hospital bed, when Garble came in. With just one finger, he was able realign my entire back. If hadn’t been for this polite young man, I wouldn’t be standing, so I owed him a favor. That’s why I led you kids here.”
“And turned her back on her own granddaughters,” said Flash.
“How could you do that to us, Granny?” asked Applebloom.
“And to think we looked up to you,” said Applejack crestfallen.
Granny thought for a second and realized what she had done. “I’m so sorry, youngins. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
“So now you’re bailing on me?” asked Garble. “Fine.” With a single finger, he pushed Granny’s back out of alignment.
Granny yelled and curled up on the floor. “Not again.”
“What did you do to her?!” asked Applebloom
“Oops,” said Garble. “My finger slipped.”
“Granny! Are you okay?!” called Applejack.
“No,” answered Granny.
“I’ll make you a deal,” said Garble. “If you want your granny to walk up right again, then you’re gonna have to duel me, Sunset!”
“You back stabbing son of a bitch!” yelled Flash.
“Call me whatever you like,” said Garble as he jumped on top of a table. “But I’m only one here who can fix your grandmother. So do we have a deal or not?!”
“You’re on,” said Sunset. She then jumped on a table as well.
“No, Sunset!” said Twilight. “We can save Miss Smith without this guy.”
“The faster I win, the faster he’ll heal her,” said Sunset. “And I don’t plan on losing.”
“Okay,” said AJ in an unsure voice.
“Beat him quickly!” urged Applebloom.
“Cool,” said Garble. “If you win, I’ll heal the old girl, but if I win, then you have to go out with me.”
“I accept,” said Sunset.
“What??!!” cried the others.
“Like I said, I don’t plan on losing,” said Sunset confidently.
“Let’s duel” said the two.
Sunset: LP 4000
Garble: LP 4000
Turn 1: Sunset
“I’ll go first,” said Sunset.
“Go right ahead, baby,” said Garble.
“I’ll set a monster in defense mode and end my turn,” said Sunset.
“These noodles are fantastic!” said Flash.
“The dumplings are great too,” said Pinkie.
“How can you two being eating at a time like this?!!” yelled Applejack. “Sunset needs our support!”
“She doesn’t need us yelling in her ear,” said Pinkie.
“Hey sis, try the chicken,” said Applebloom.
“Applebloom!” gasped AJ. “Why you little…” Just then her stomach growled. “Never mind, what kind?”
“Orange,” answered Twilight.
Fluttershy picked up a bowl of white rice. She then added sriracha and soy sauce.
Turn 2: Garble
“My turn,” said Garble. “I play Stop Defense on your monster.”
“Fine,” said Sunset. “My monster is UFO Turtle.”
“Now I’ll summon Luster Dragon in attack mode,” said Garble. “Attack her little turtle!”
Garble: 4000
Sunset: 3500
“Now my turtle’s effect activates,” said Sunset. “It allows me to special summon a Fire monster with 1500 or less ATK points from my deck. Like Flame Ruler.”
“I activate Shard of Greed,” said Garble. “During my draw phase, I can place a Greed counter on this card, when it has two, I can send it to the grave and draw two more cards. That’s all for now.”
Turn 3: Sunset
“I draw,” said Sunset. “I’ll use my ruler’s effect, and treat him as two tributes to summon Sacred Phoenix of Nephthys. Attack his dragon!”
Garble: 3500
Sunset: 3500
“Dang, you’re good,” said Garble.
“Whatever,” said Sunset. “I end my turn.”
Turn 4: Garble
“My move,” said Garble. (Greed Counters: 1) “I play Ancient Rules so I can special summon my Blue Eyes White Dragon in attack mode!”
“What?!” gasped Sunset and the others.
“That’s right,” said Garble. “You would never believe what I have to go through to get this card. But enough about that, I’ll equip him with the Twin Swords of Flashing Light – Tryce. By discarding once card and giving up 500 ATK points, my dragon can attack twice. (Blue Eyes White Dragon: 3000 – 2500) Blue Eyes, attack her bird, then her life points!”
“Aaahhhh!” cried Sunset.
Garble: 3500
Sunset: 900
“Sorry, baby,” said Garble. “Sometimes love is tough. But I’ll must gentler on our date. I end my turn.”
“This isn’t looking good,” said Fluttershy as she chewed.
Turn 5: Sunset
“I draw,” said Sunset. “I summon Necro Gardna in defense mode. Then I’ll place one card face down and end my turn.”
Turn 6: Garble
“Now I draw,” said Garble. (Greed Counters: 2) “I’ll send my Shard to the graveyard so I can draw two more cards. Blue Eyes, attack!”
“I activate Mirror Force!” said Sunset.
“I play My Body as a Shield,” countered Garble. “By sacrificing 1500 life points, I can protect my dragon from your trap.”
Garble: 2000
Sunset: 900
“But I’ll also activate Forbidden Graveyard,” added Garble. “If I discard a card, I can negate all effects that happen in the graveyard this turn. Like your Gardna.”
“Damn,” said Sunset.
“Now that your Gardna’s out of the way, I’ll attack you directly!” said Garble. “I can’t believe it, I’m really gonna win.”
“She’ll lose!” cried AJ.
“Oh no,” said Fluttershy.
“Granny!” said Applebloom.
“I don’t think so,” said Sunset. “When you attack me, directly, I can special summon Gagaga Gardna in defense mode. Plus, by discarding a card (The Calculator), he can’t be destroyed in battle.”
“Shit!” said Garble. “I thought I had you for sure! Well, just you wait until next turn.”
“There is no next turn,” said Sunset as she drew her card.
“Huh?” asked Garble.
“Because I’m ending this right now,” said Sunset.
“How?” asked Garble.
Turn 7: Sunset
“I’ll show you,” answered Sunset. “I remove my Calculator and my Necro Gardna to special summon the Black Luster Soldier Envoy of the Beginning!”
“You gotta be kidding me!” said Garble.
“Am I laughing?” asked Sunset. “Now my soldier, attack his dragon, then his life points.”
Garble: “No!!!”
Garble: 0
Sunset: 900
“I knew she could do it!” said Twilight.
“Alright!” said the apple sisters.
“But I was so close,” wept Garble. “I can’t believe I was beaten, twice.”
“Time to pay up,” said Sunset. “Miss Smith is waiting.”
“Thanks kids,” said Granny.
(Meanwhile back at Small Town)
“Now duelists, begin!” said Roland.
“Let’s duel!” said Vladimir and Trixie.
Vladimir: LP 4000
Trixie: LP 4000
“Time to duel!” said Leon and Sweetie.
Sweetie: LP 4000
Leon: LP 4000
Turn 1: Sweetie
“Ladies first,” said Sweetie. “I summon Dewdark of the Ice Barrier in attack mode. Then I’ll place two cards face down and end my turn.”
Turn 2: Leon
“I’ll start things off by playing Heavy Storm,” said Leon.
“What?!” cried Sweetie.
“This destroys all spell and trap cards on the field,” continued Leon. “Now that the coast is clear, I summon Edge Imp Tomahawk in attack mode. Tomahawk, attack!”
Sweetie: 3400
Leon: 4000
“Dang,” said Sweetie.
“I place one card face down and end my turn,” finished Leon.
“Don’t give up Sweetie!” called Scootaloo.
“You can do it!” cheered Rarity.
Turn 3: Sweetie
“My move,” said Sweetie. “I summon Aquaactress Guppy in attack mode. Now I’ll activate her ability and special summon another Aquaactress from my hand, Aquaactress Arowana, also in attack mode. Then I’ll equip my Guppy with Stim-Pack which gives her 700 extra points. (Aquaactress Guppy: 600 – 1300) Now Arowana, attack his Tomahawk!”
Sweetie: 3400
Leon: 3800
“Guppy, attack him directly!”
Sweetie: 3400
Leon: 2500
“Woah,” said Leon. “You’re good.”
“Thanks,” said Sweetie. “I end my turn.”
Turn 4: Leon
“But you’ll do better than that,” said Leon. “I activate my trap, Needle Wall. Now, during my standby phase, I can roll a die. Then I count your monster zones from 1-5 starting from my right and I destroy the monster that’s in the same Monster Card Zone as my result. Here goes…” Leon rolled. “Yes! Three, there goes your Arowana.”
“Uh-oh,” said Sweetie.
“Dueling not the only thing I’m good at,” said Leon. “Now I summon Fluffal Leo in attack mode. Go Leo! Attack her Guppy! Oh, just so you know, when Fluffal Leo attacks, he gains 500 extra points.” (Fluffal Leo: 1600 – 2100)
Sweetie: 2600
Leon: 2500
“I end my turn.” (Fluffal Leo: 2100 – 1600)
Turn 5: Sweetie
“I draw!” said Sweetie. “I activate The Shallow Grave, this lets both of us special summon a monster from our graveyards to the field in defense mode. I choose my Guppy.”
“I choose my Tomahawk,” said Leon.
“Now I’ll tribute my Guppy,” said Sweetie. “To summon Mobius the Frost Monarch, which means your trap card is toast!”
“Darn,” said Leon.
“Now Mobius, attack his Leo!” ordered Sweetie.
Sweetie: 2600
Leon: 1700
“That’s enough for now.”
Turn 6: Leon
“Then it’s my turn,” said Leon. “I’ll equip your Monarch with Shooting Star Bow – Ceal, which decreases your monster’s ATK points by 1000. (Mobius the Frost Monarch: 2400 – 1400) Now Tomahawk, attack!”
Sweetie: 2200
Leon: 1700
“Next, I’ll summon Fluffal Wings in defense mode. I place one card face down and end my turn.”
Turn 7: Sweetie
“Wow, this kid is good,” thought Sweetie. “But I refuse to give up. I play Pot of Greed, so I draw two cards. Now I activate Hammer Shot, this destroys the monster with the highest ATK on the field that’s in attack mode. Say goodbye to your Tomahawk. Then I’ll play Monster Reborn to bring back my Mobius in attack mode. Now attack those wings!”
“Not if I can help it,” said Leon: “I activate Mirror Force to destroy your Monarch.”
“Shoot!” said Sweetie.
Turn 8: Leon
“Relax Sweetie,” said Leon as he drew. “It’s just a game, so try and have fun. You know what would really fun? Summoning my Edge Imp Frightfuloid in attack mode, attack!”
Sweetie: 900
Leon: 1700
“That’s it for me.”
Turn 9: Sweetie
“Then it’s my move,” said Sweetie. “I summon Star Boy in attack mode, and his ability increases the ATK of all Water monsters by 500, including himself. (Star Boy: 550 – 1050) Attack his Fluffal Wings! I end my turn.”
Turn 10: Leon
“My move,” said Leon. “Frightfuloid, attack her Star Boy!”
Sweetie: 650
Leon: 1700
“Now I’ll summon Fluffal Mouse in defense mode. Oh, and his effect allows me to special summon two more Mice to the field, and I’ll put them in defense mode as well. I end my turn.”
Turn 11: Sweetie
“Alright, my turn,” said Sweetie. “I summon Warrior of Atlantis in attack mode, attack his Frightfuloid!”
Sweetie: 650
Leon: 1100
“I end my turn.”
Turn 12: Leon
“Back to me,” said Leon. “I summon Edge Imp Chain in attack mode. Then I’ll play Polymerization to fuse my Chain with one of my mice together to form Frightfur Sheep. Attack her soldier!”
Sweetie: 550
Leon: 1100
“You’re up.”
Turn 13: Sweetie
“I draw,” said Sweetie. “I wish the others were here to cheer me on.”
“Hey Sweetie Belle!” called Applebloom.
Sweetie turned around to see her friend and the girls. “You made it!”
“Of course we did,” said Applebloom.
“You go girl!” said Pinkie.
“You can do it!” cheered Fluttershy.
“Now take him down,” said Rarity.
Sunset gave a thumbs up.
“Thanks everyone,” said Sweetie. “I activate Pot of Avarice, which lets me select five monsters from my graveyard and shuffle them back into my deck. (Aquaactress Arowana, Guppy, Dewdark of the Ice Barrier, Star Boy, and Warrior of Atlantis) then I draw two cards. Since I have no monsters on the field, I can activate Shuffle Reborn to bring back Mobius from the graveyard. Then I’ll summon an old friend, Dewdark of the Ice Barrier. Now I’ll tune my two monsters together to Synchro summon Graydle Dragon in attack mode! Now, I’ll activate his effect, when he’s Synchro summoned, I can destroy one card for every Water monster I used for his summon. I used two, so say goodbye to your two mice. Graydle Dragon, attack his sheep!”
Sweetie: 550
Leon: 100
“Yeah!” cheered the crusaders.
“Way to go!” said Rarity.
“I activate my sheep’s effect,” said Leon. “Once per turn, after it’s destroyed, I can bring it back to the field with 800 more ATK points.” (Frightfur Sheep: 2000 – 2800)
“Too bad your life points are so low,” said Sweetie. “Looks like you won’t be using that effect again anytime soon.”
Turn 14: Leon
“Oh yeah?” asked Leon. “Watch this! I activate Goblin Thief, which takes away 500 of your life points and adds them to mine.”
Sweetie: 50
Leon: 600
Sweetie Belle gasped.
“Frightfur Sheep, attack!” ordered Leon. “After it’s destroyed, it comes back, stronger.” (Frightfur Sheep: 2800 – 3600)
Sweetie: 50
Leon: 400
“Frightfur Sheep, end this duel!”
Sweetie: 0
Leon: 400
“Sweetie, no!!” said everyone.
Meanwhile, at the Galaxy Theater.
Vladimir: LP 4000
Trixie: LP 0
“And you call yourself a duelist?” asked Vladimir. “You should ashamed of yourself.”
“Screw you to hell!” yelled Trixie.
“And there you have it!” said Roland. “The winner is Vladimir!”
Back at Small World.
“Nice duel, Sweetie,” said Leon. “Hey, you really gave me a run for my money.”
“Thanks,” said Sweetie. “Good luck in the rest of the tournament.”
“Thank you,” said Leon.
“Good game,” said Sunset.
“Regardless,” said Rarity. “You were astonishing.”
“Totally,” said Scootaloo and Applebloom.
“Thanks,” said Sweetie. She then hugged Rarity and started crying. “I wanted win so badly, it’s not fair.”
“Don’t worry,” said Rarity. “You’ll get another chance. Just wait until the next tournament.”
“Young people are so dramatic,” said Granny.
“Look who’s talking!” said Pinkie, Twilight and Sunset. Fluttershy, Flash, and AJ stayed quiet.
“Who me?” asked Granny.
“Does this sound familiar?” asked Pinkie imitating Granny Smith. “My back is broken, oh the pain!”
“I’d like to see you try and play this game in 50 years!” countered Granny.