Yugioh: Worlds Collide

by ShootingStar25

Chapter 40: Applejack v. Sugarcoat- Round 2

The second duel of the Friendship Games was about to start. Currently in the lead it was Crystal Prep with a score of 1-0; now it was time for another duel as the second competitors from each team squared off against each other. Applejack was facing off against Crystal Prep's Sugarcoat, as she looked to get CHS back on the winning track.

"Time to tussle, partner!" said Applejack.

“And now let the second duel begin!”

"Opponent detected. Streaming data. Duel mode set. Initiating. Commencing duel." said the mechanical voice of their duel disks.

Sugarcoat's Life Points: 8000-

Applejack's Life Points: 8000-

Turn 1: Applejack

"Time to get a victory for me and my school. Hope you're ready because you're dueling one of the best duelist in Canterlot High, draw!" She looked at her cards and grabbed one. "Here Ah go! Ah summon Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio(1200/800)!" A black scorpion appeared in front of Applejack, roots on its back running up to a plant sprout behind its stinger tail. "Now the effect of my Scorpio activates, when he's summoned I can send 1 monster from my hand to the grave and in exchange I can special summon 1 'Predaplant' monster from my deck. So an' send my Predaplant Cordyceps to my grave and special summon mah Predaplant Darlingtonia Cobra(1000/1500)." A snake with a body like a plant vine slithered in front of Applejack, its jaws patterned like flower petals.

Sugarcoat just simply had a straight face. "As expected. Standard move."

"I know you and your buddies over there did some research on us; so I'd expect you to have some fancy new tactics to throw us off our game. Well lets set the record straight, we've got own bag of tricks and we're going to show you why we deserve to be here."

"Are you done with the standard raw-raw speech? Seriously, it's been overdone and overused so many times. Let's try not to bore everybody with talking. As for me, I'm not a slight bit worried."

"You should be."

"I think not." Sugarcoat pushed her glasses up her nose. “Continue, please.”

Applejack’s grin faded. “Just ribbin’ ya a bit. But fine, if that’s what ya want. Since Ah summoned Darlingtonia Cobra from mah deck, I can use it's ability. Now I can add one 'Polymerization' from mah deck to mah hand." Applejack's duel disk then slotted out the card for her to grab. "Ah then set one card facedown and end my turn. Now let's see what you've got, partner."

Turn 2: Sugarcoat

"Solid accent, now then." Sugarcoat stiffly drew, slid her card into her hand, and withdrew another. "I'll start by playing the field spell Magnetic Field, now with this card in play I'm allowed to revive a level 4 or below 'Magnet Warrior' from my graveyard. As long as I control an Earth-Attribute Rock-type monster." Pillars of shining grey steel rose in the shape of a cross around Sugarcoat, sparks coursing along their length. Sugarcoat held up another card. “I'll then summon Delta the Magnet Warrior(1600/1400).” Trails of electricity rose from the ground, tracing out the image of a monster that solidified in a flash of silver light. It was a spindly robot, limbs of circular steel cable connecting hands, feet, and a head of silver-blue metal with magnetic bars running along the edges. A horseshoe magnet around a triangular prism of metal made its head, yellow eyes blinking on the metal.

"Now Delta's ability activates, when he's summoned I can send a Magnet Warrior from my deck to the graveyard. I choose Alpha The Electromagnet Warrior(1700/1100). I then immediately use the effect of Magnetic Field to revive Alpha to my field.” he pillars of steel shot bolts of lightning to the ground next to Delta. Another robot manifested, covered in bulky grey armor with magnets on its joints. It held outs its hands and summoned a shield with a magnet, and a staff consisting of a magnet and two long electrical coils, and swung them out.

"Alpha The Electromagnet? Don't you mean, Alpha the Magnet Warrior?" said Applejack.

"You country folk really aren't that bright?" said Sugarcoat as her comment made Applejack angry.

Sunset and the rest of their friends turned to Isaac to see if he could shed some light on what was happening. "Isaac, mind telling us about these Electromagnets?"

"Don't know much about them, but I do know they're different from the ones I use. The ones I use are Alpha, Beta, and Gamma the Magnet Warriors. However, there's also been some new cards that are added to the Magnet warriors that it's become viable as a deck archetype. Not to mention that the Magnet Warrior deck shines the most when bring out some powerful monsters; I just hope Aj can handle what Sugarcoat throws at her."

"Now's a good time to tell you about Alpha's special ability; when he's summoned I add a ‘Magna Warrior’ monster from my deck to my hand. I choose this, Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior.” She placed the offered card in her hand, and then pointed forward. “And now, I attack Ophrys Scorpio with Delta The Magnet Warrior!” Delta swung its hands together and created an electrical field between its magnetic limbs, sending a surge of lightning across the field.

Applejack flung her hand up. “Ah activate mah trap, Plant Food Chain! This gives Ophrys Scorpion an extra five hundred points!” Yellow tendrils sprouted from the scorpion’s back and entwined around its tail. Delta’s attack struck the scorpion and it recoiled. The electricity traveled along its body, collected at the plant tip of its tail, and fired back. Delta convulsed with the impact and exploded.
Sugarcoat's Life Points: 7900-

Sugarcoat frowned. “All part of my plan. I'll now activate the second effect of Magnetic Field. Since a monster that battled with an Earth-Attribute Rock-type monster of mine was not destroyed, it returns to its owner’s hand.” Applejack’s Scorpio turned into an orb of light and lowered into the ground, its card on Applejack’s duel disk lighting up.

“Phooey.” Applejack grumbled and picked up the card.

Sugarcoat smirked. “You won’t defeat my deck with tricks like that so easily.”

“Ah hope not, you’re Crystal Prep after all,” Applejack said with a smirk of her own.

"You're finally right about something. We're Crystal Prep and we're going to win; might as well name us the winners, it will save time from unnecessary dueling like this." Applejack got a bit heated at hearing that.

"Now then I'll continue my turn and have my Alpha The Electromagnet Warrior attack your Darlingtonia Cobra." Alpha ran forward, spinning its sword of magnetic coils in the air, and brought it down on the Cobra. The snake cringed and lit up in lightning before exploding.
Applejack's Life Points: 7300-

“I set two cards and end my turn.” Sugarcoat crossed her arms. “Make your move.”

Turn 3: Applejack

"Ah will!” Applejack drew with a flourish. “Ah’ll start by activatin’ Predapruning. Ah use it to revive Darlington Cobra from the Graveyard!” Applejack’s field shook and ripped open a chasm; Darlingtonia Cobra slithered out from within it. Applejack picked a card from her hand and swung it into her duel disk. “Next, Ah activate Polymerization! Ah fuse Darlington Cobra with Ophrys Scorpio!” The crowd cheered as Applejack’s two monsters swirled together in a vortex of green light. “Ah combine mah stinging predator and mah venomous predator, and let a vicious new plant bloom!” Applejack took the card her duel disk ejected as she held it up high. “Ah Fusion Summon Predaplant Chimerafflesia(2500/2000)!” A large coil of vines burst from the chasm and splayed out on the field. A large circular mouth ringed with teeth and surrounded by plump pink petals was at the end of the largest of the vines, and two smaller mouths rose up beside it on smaller vines.

Applejack pointed at Alpha on Sugarcoat’s field. “Ah activate Chimerafflesia’s effect; Ah can target any monster on the field with a lower level than it, and banish it!” Chimerafflesia lashed out its two mouthed vines towards Alpha.

“I chain your ability with Alpha The Electromagnet Warrior’s effect.” Sugarcoat snapped her fingers and Alpha shattered into scrapings of metal and sparks of light. “By offering Alpha as Tribute during either of our turns, I can summon a Level 4 Magnet Warrior from the deck. I choose another copy of Delta the Magnet Warrior and summon it in defense mode.” The shrapnel of Alpha’s destruction congregated in an orb of metal and lightning, reforming into a new Delta, kneeling with a barrier of electricity around it. “Since the target of your effect has left the field, it is nullified.” The mouths of Chimerafflesia struck Delta’s barrier and recoiled with high-pitched shrieks. “I also get to activate Delta’s effect since it was summoned. I send ‘Beta The Electromagnet Warrior’ from my deck to the graveyard.”

Applejack pouted and shook her head. “Fine then, Ah’ll just get rid of your monster the hard way. Chimerafflesia attacks Delta!” Chimerafflesia lashed outs its tentacles again and shattered Delta into shards of metal. “Ah end mah turn.”

Turn 4: Sugarcoat

"Nice play on Sugarcoat's part. She was able to use her monster's ability to avoid Aj's move. In the process, she also set herself up for next move. I'm impressed." said Isaac as he was watching the battle.

"My turn again, draw." Sugarcoat drew and tapped her duel disk screen. “I’ll begin by activating my trap card Magnet Conversion. This lets me select up to three Magnet Warriors in my Graveyard and return them to my hand.” She tapped three more times, the cards sliding out of her duel disk as she did, and then held them up. “I’ll take back Beta and my two Deltas. And then, I’ll summon Delta to the field.” As the silver magnetic robot appeared in front of Sugarcoat in a shower of sparkles, she ignored it in favor of pressing tool prompts that popped up on her duel disk. “I activate Delta’s effect to send Gamma The Electromagnet Warrior(800/2000) from my deck to the Graveyard, and then use the effect of Magnetic Field to revive Gamma.” Sugarcoat’s newest monster manifested from the lightning of Magnetic Field. It was a short, stocky robot with thick armor in dull gold, a magnet forming its collar and a magnet mounted on the back of each large fist.

"Now Gamma's ability activates, when he's summoned I can also bring out a level 4 or lower 'Magnet warrior' from my hand. I'll choose to summon Beta The Electromagnet Warrior(1500/1500). But I'm done, because like Gamma, Beta's ability activates the moment he's summoned. So I'll then use its effect to add one level 4 or lower 'Magnet Warrior' from my deck to my hand. I choose to add an original, Alpha the Magnet Warrior." Sugarcoat smiled and looked up at her three monsters hovering in front of her. “And now, all the pieces are in place.” She pulled a card from her hand and held it up. “I banish Alpha The Electromagnet Warrior from my Graveyard, and Beta and Gamma The Electromagnet Warriors from my field, to Special Summon!” Her two monsters on the field turned into orbs of lightning and began to swirl around her, Alpha’s hologram emerging from her duel disk and turning into lightning to join them. “Come forth, Berserkion The Electromagna Warrior(3000/2800)!” She slammed her card onto her duel disk.

The orbs of lightning around her circled higher into the air and collided in a flash of light. The orb grew larger, the air crackling, sparks shooting out of it. It gleamed and then exploded outward to reveal a massive robotic monster. Its limbs were armored in red, silver, and blue, the metal curved and gleaming. Sparks flew from electrical coils embedded in its shoulders and running along its arms. A sword formed from a metal rod with electrical coils appeared in its hand, and it thrust the blade up to summon lightning to it, a metallic clang echoing across the field.

"That thing is massive!" gasped Applejack.

"Impressed, well it's nothing compared to this." The robot thudded down in front of Sugarcoat, the ground shaking. She held her hand up. “I’m sure you know what happens next.” She flipped her hand out to direct her monster. “Berserkion, destroy Predaplant Chimerafflesia!” Berserkion leapt into the air and stabbed its sword down.

Applejack shook her head. “Not today! I told you Crystal Prep students that we have a few tricks of our own, so let me show you. Ah activate Chimerafflesia’s ability! When it battles, the monster it fights loses a thousand points, and Chimerafflesia gains it back!” Chimerafflesia’s two vine mouths swung forward towards Berserkion.

"Luckily, I came prepared for such a scenario." Sugarcoat pushed her glasses up to her nose once again. "I chain with my trap card Magnet Force.” The Magnetic Field pillars around Sugarcoat lit up blue and shot beams of energy toward Berserkion. “During the turn I activate this card, my Rock and Machine-type monsters are unaffected by your monster effects.” Sugarcoat gave a small snort. “My attack continues.” Berserkion swatted aside Chimerafflesia’s vine mouths and impaled its sword into the main growth, shattering it in a spray of electricity. “And next, Delta attacks!” Delta held its hands up and fired an orb of lightning at Applejack. She raised her arm and braced herself as the attack hit.
Applejack's Life Points: 5200-

"I'll then set one card facedown and end my turn."

Turn 5: Applejack

Applejack lowered her arm from her face to reveal a small smirk. “Not bad. Ah was expectin’ a bigger hit, though.”

Sugarcoat frowned. “Pardon me?”

Applejack stood upright. “It was pretty obvious you were gearin’ up for somethin’ big, with how you kept searching out all those different monsters. A deck like that doesn’t focus on gettin’ all kinds of monsters into play without somethin’ to do with them. Sure enough, there he is.” She put a hand on her hip. “But only 3000 points? Ah hope he’s got a heck of an effect, because that’s plain underwhelming.”

"Oh, I think Applejack might what to take that last part back." said Isaac as he knew Applejack was in trouble if she didn't prepare for what's to come next.

Sugarcoat was simply unfazed by Applejack's comment. “As a matter of fact, he does,” Sugarcoat replied, giving a small snort. “Now, will you take your turn or will you continue to insult my monster?”

“You’re right. Wonder if he can stop himself from bein’ destroyed? Only one way to find out.” Applejack drew. “First, Ah use the effect of Chimerafflesia in the Graveyard. The turn after it gets destroyed, Ah can add a Fusion card from mah deck to mah hand.” She then touched her screen and searched for the card she wanted from her deck and then clicked on it as it slid out for her to grab. “Ah’ll take Fusion Recovery and activate it immediately to get Polymerization and Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio back to mah hand. And then Ah’ll summon Scorpio to the field.”

Applejack flipped a card out from her hand as her scorpion appeared in front of her. “Ah’ll use Scorpio’s ability and discard Rose Lover from mah hand, to summon Predaplant Flytrap(400/800) from the deck!” The ground in front of Applejack cracked open. A small spindly vine with hand-like leaves and a pair of jaws formed from two large leaves grew up from the crack. Applejack smiled. “See that there? That’s the monster that’s gonna take out your Berserkion.”

Sugarcoat frowned. “You must be joking. How is that little thing going to take down my mechanical metal monster."

"Why don't I show you'll? Ah use Predaplant Flytrap’s special ability and place a ‘Predator Counter’ on your monster.” Flytrap opened its jaws and shot a glowing purple seed at Berserkion. The seed landed on Berserkion’s shoulder and sprouted into a tangled mass of green and purple vines, a growth in their center pulsing with purple light. “As long as that Predator Counter is on your monster, its level is sapped down to 1.” Applejack pointed. “And now, Predaplant Flytrap attacks Berserkion!” Flytrap lowered to the ground and slithered like a serpent toward Berserkion.

Sugarcoat scowled. “Please tell me, that you're not that stupid?”

“Nope. Flytrap’s got a special ability. See, any time it battles a monster with a lower level, that monster gets destroyed instantly.”

Sugarcoat’s eyes widened. “No!”

Flytrap stopped in front of Berserkion, raised up, and opened its jaws. The Predator Counter on Berserkion glowed brighter and exploded in a cloud of green spores. The spores fell around Flytrap and it took on the same glow as the Counter. Before Sugarcoat’s eyes, Flytrap grew taller and bigger, until it towered over Berserkion and its jaws were as large as a person. It dove down and snapped its jaws over Berserkion’s head. The robot convulsed and exploded in a spray of purple and green spores. Applejack smiled. “When Flytrap destroys a monster with that effect, its level increases by its level. So now my Flytrap gains 8 levels which makes him become level 10.” Flytrap slunk back to Applejack’s field, still glowing.

Sugarcoat narrowed her eyes. "Remember when you asked if my monster had a special ability, well time to show it off. When he’s destroyed, his component monsters are returned from my banished zone. I summon back my three Electromagnetic Warriors in defense.” The pillars of Magnetic Zone around Sugarcoat conjured three orbs of electricity and sent them floating down in front of her to reform Alpha, Beta, and Gamma. Sugarcoat began tapping on her duel disk screen. “With my monsters summoned their effects activate. Alpha lets me add another copy of Berserkion from my deck to my hand, Beta lets me add ‘Gamma The Magnet Warrior’ to my hand, and Gamma lets me summon another Alpha The Magnet Warrior from my hand, in defense mode.” Another robot knelt in front of Sugarcoat, slender and grey with a shield and sword, the sword handle shaped like a magnet and an emblem of the same on the shield.

Sugarcoat now had almost a full field of Magnet Warriors staring down Applejack. Despite having more monsters, Aj couldn't help but smile at how cunning Sugarcoat was for thinking 2 steps ahead. It kinda of reminded her of whenever she was engaged in a duel with Isaac and how he would always try to not only think of his current move but also setting up for his next moves.

Applejack nodded. “And on your next turn you’ll get rid of the three of them to bring Berserkion back. Heck of a combo.”

“Indeed.” Sugarcoat pushed her glasses up. “And if you destroy that Berserkion I’ll just bring back my Magnet Warriors again and search out another Berserkion.”

“Yup.” Applejack put a hand on her hip. “Ah figured you had something like this planned. Searchin’ out all those different monsters with themed names? You were building up to something big.”

Sugarcoat nodded. “And you allowed me to do it because you knew you had the means to get rid of whatever it was I summoned.”

“Not a foolproof plan, but it worked.” Applejack held up two more cards. “Ah set two cards and end my turn.”

Turn 6: Sugarcoat

Sugarcoat took a minute to access the situation as she looked at her monsters and then looked at Applejack's field to see what she had planned. “Shall I presume those cards are something to stop me from calling Berserkion back to the field, or are they to defend your Flytrap so you can use it to destroy Berserkion on your next turn?”

“Maybe. Or ah could be bluffing both ways. It’d be right silly of me to make moves that obvious, wouldn’t it?”

Sugarcoat stared at Applejack evenly. Slowly, she smiled. “No. You’re no fool. Even if I knew what kind of cards those are, those are your best options for a move, so of course you’d take them.”

“Just as ah know you’re probably gonna call out Berserkion on your next turn because that’s your best move.” Applejack nodded. “But that’s the kind o’ game this is, ain’t it?”

“Move and counter-move, anticipate and intercede, until one of us can’t do it any longer and falls behind.” Sugarcoat nodded back. “For a Canterlot duelist, you’ve done a decent job keeping up with me so far. I must commemorate you for that. Next to Isaac, I feel like you're an individual who give me a decent fight. I respect you, but I still must beat.” Sugarcoat had the a tiny genuine smile.

“Ya ain’t seen nothin’ yet, sugarcube.” Applejack raised her duel disk in front of her and leaned forward. “If you wanna win this thing, you gotta come at me with everything you’ve got!”

“And when I do, you’d better be prepared to handle it!” Sugarcoat drew with a flourish and a smirk. “This duel is only just getting started!” Sugarcoat drew and slid her card into her hand, and then took a moment to look over the array of cards. She thought for a moment before lowering her cards and looking at Applejack evenly. “The trick now is, figuring out what manner of protection those face-down cards offer you.”

“Ain’t it?” Applejack nodded.

“Due to the rulings concerning Berserkion’s summoning, were you to negate it, if you attempted to destroy it as I summon it, its effect to revive its parts would trigger again. I would search another copy of Berserkion with the effect of Alpha The Electromagnet Warrior, and summon it back immediately. Additionally, you have already seen that destroying my Electromagnet Warriors on the field is pointless, since I can banish them from the Graveyard to summon Berserkion.” Sugarcoat shook her head. “I’d wager then your face-down cards are more to protect your Predaplant Flytrap, so you can use it to destroy Berserkion on the next turn.”

Applejack held up her hands. “Ya got me there, hun.”

Both teams were confused with what Sugarcoat and Applejack were talking about, all except Isaac and Twilight.

"Uhmm, anybody want to translate what she just said?" Rainbow had a confused look.

They all turned to Isaac who still had his arms crossed as he had a small smile on his face. The girls hoped that their captain could simplify what was said. Isaac didn't say anything as he told them to just watch would happen.

“However you plan to protect it, I won’t hesitate any further.” Sugarcoat flipped out a card from her hand. “I banish Alpha, Beta, and Gamma The Electromagnet Warriors, to Special Summon Berserkion, the Electromagna Warrior!” The three robots broke apart and combined into Berserkion once again, the magnetic robot knight raising its sword and bellowing. “I'll then activate the spell card Monster Reincarnation, and discard Delta the Magnet Warrior to return Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior to my hand.” Sugarcoat held out a hand. “Then, I activate Berserkion’s effect! I banish Delta The Magnet Warrior from the graveyard, and destroy Flytrap!” Berserkion pointed its sword out toward Flytrap. The ghostly image of Delta appeared over the sword and turned into a field of lightning that condensed at the tip and shot a lightning bolt.

Applejack smirked. “See, ya made a mistake there, hun – y’all think destroyin’ Berserkion is the only way to stop it. Ah reveal mah trap card Fiendish Chain!” The trap card flipped up and four black chains emerged from it. They snapped around Berserkion’s limbs and pulled tight, sparking. “With this card in play, Berserkion can’t attack and his effects are negated.”

Sugarcoat scowled. “There were any number of ways you could have halted Berserkion. Effect negation wasn’t one I considered likely. Tell me, did you think of that yourself?"

"Maybe." smirked Applejack as she was enjoying herself messing with Sugarcoat.

"No matter, though. I have two other monsters.” She pointed. “Delta The Magnet Warrior attacks Predaplant Ophrys Scorpio!” Delta ran forward, lightning sparking over its right-hand magnet.

“Ah reveal mah second trap Bamboo Scrap.” Scorpion shimmered and exploded, leaving behind two orbs of green light. Delta stopped as it reached the orbs, its magnet striking air. “By offering Scorpio as a tribute, Ah Special Summon two ‘Plant Tokens(800/500)’ to your field.” The green orbs floated in front of Sugarcoat and turned into a small growths of grass, eyes peeking out from them.

"So what's the reason behind you doing that? These monsters are practically useless." Sugarcoat folded her arms. “I cannot attack your Flytrap safely, so I’ll end my turn.”

Turn 7: Applejack

Applejack drew, looked at her card, and pointed across the field. “Once more ah use Flytrap’s ability and put a Predator Counter on Delta.” Flytrap opened its jaws and spat a green spore onto Delta; the spore struck its chest and grew into a glowing purple and green vine. Applejack swung her hand out. “Ah attack Berserkion with Flytrap!” Flytrap chittered and slithered across the field. It reached Berserkion, grew tall enough to overshadow it, and snapped down to bite its head. Berserkion exploded, the chains binding it fading into smoke.

"Just like earlier Berserkion’s effect activates, returning Alpha, Beta, and Gamma to my side of the field.” Sugarcoat’s duel disk beeped and flashed red. “What?” As she scowled at it, she saw movement on the ground and raised her eyes. She gasped. “Those!?” At her feet, the two Plant Tokens Applejack had summoned danced in front of her, jumping back and forth.

Applejack grinned. “Sorry, but with those two tokens on yer field along with Alpha and Delta, you have too many monsters. Berserkion’s effect is a package deal, ya summon all of its pieces or ya summon none of them.”

Sugarcoat gave a sharp nod. “So that was the point of those tokens. Clever. But it won’t be enough to shut me down yet.”

"I know, so that's why ah set one card facedown and end my turn."

Turn 8: Sugarcoat

Sugarcoat took the card that ejected from her deck. “You shut down my Berserkion summon loop. Impressive. But that won’t be enough to win.” She smiled and reached to her hand. “My deck is full of variable options. I’ll show you one now. I banish Berserkion in the Graveyard, as well as Alpha The Electromagnet Warrior and Gamma The Magnet Warrior in my hand, and Special Summon Block Dragon(2500/3000).” Sugarcoat’s three monsters appeared in front of her and burst into shrapnel. The shrapnel turned vibrant colors and gathered together, forming a dragonoid monster made of plastic building blocks, sitting upright on its hind legs with claws of steel held out

"Then I'll switch my Alpha the Magnet Warrior into attack mode. Now Block Dragon, take out her Predaplant Flytrap!" Block Dragon drew backs its snout and then snapped it forward, spitting out a cloud of blocky, pixelated red fire.

"My monster's ability makes it to where they'll both be destroyed."

"Yeah, not gonna happen. See Block Dragon has an ability that allows my Rock-type monsters to not be destroyed by card effects. Since your Flytrap can't use its effect, the battle resumes and your monster is gone." Block Dragon’s flame reached Flytrap and the monster exploded in a ball of fire.
Applejack's Life Points: 3100-

Sugarcoat snorted. “You’re wide-open to attack now. I’m sure you know what comes next. Delta the Magnet Warrior, attack directly!” Delta charged forward, a magnet hand held out.

"Not this time! Ah activate my facedown Counter Gate!" Applejack’s card flipped over to reveal a mirrored panel. "Ah can play this when you declare a direct attack. So now ah negate your attack and draw 1 card. Should it be a monster, ah can summon it in attack position." She drew her card and flipped it open. “Ah got Predaplant Spinodionaea(1800/0), so Ah summon it.” The mirror displayed an image of a large green lizard, its skin vibrant green like a vine. The mirror shattered and the lizard leapt onto the field with a growl. A mouth formed of plant leaves sprouted on its back and opened, the maw quivering.

"I'll end my turn." Sugarcoat frowned.

Turn 9: Applejack

Applejack drew her card, looked at it, and smiled. "Ah activate Fragrance Storm. This lets me destroy a Plant monster on the field and draw a card. Ya don’t seem to want those Plant Tokens, so let me get rid of one.” Sugarcoat looked down as the token dispersed into leaves. Applejack drew and flipped her card over. “Ah drew Predaplant Moray Nepenthes, so the effect of Fragrance Storm lets me reveal it to draw again.” She drew her second card, looked down at it, and grinned. “Well now, lookie here.” She raised her eyes to Sugarcoat. “Here’s an oldie but a goodie. Ah activate Mystical Space Typhoon! Ah use it to destroy Magnetic Field!”

Sugarcoat turned her head to either side as the pillars of Magnetic Field were engulfed in three localized wind storms, the metal crumbling and being drawn into a vortex overhead.

“Now ah’m free to attack you.” Applejack said with a grin.

"So you manage to get rid of my field spell, however there's a flaw in your plan. You still don't have a monster that can take down my Block Dragon." Sugarcoat replied.

"Well that's all bout to change." Applejack reached to her hand. “Ah summon Predaplant Moray Nepenthes(1600/1000) from mah hand.” A growth of dark brown roots sprouted in front of Applejack, two vines on the top blooming into twin mouths. Applejack waved the last card in her hand at Sugarcoat. "Now for one final card, ah activate Polymerization and with I'll fuse together my Spinodionaea and Moray Nepenthes!" A purple vortex with tendrils of green energy appeared behind Applejack and drew in her two monsters. The vortex spun and flashed, its light growing. “Ah combine mah reptilian predator and my twin-headed predator, and unleash a vicious botanical nightmare!” Applejack held her card up. “Ah Fusion Summon Starving Venom Fusion Dragon(2800/2000)!” She slammed her card on her duel disk, the card tray lighting up purple.

The ground shook as a massive plant bud grew behind Applejack and rose into the air. It shone purple and burst apart, a dragon flying out of it and circling the field. Its body was lithe and green, armored in hardened purple growths with thorns emerging from them. Orbs of orange light lit up on its claws, shoulders, and wings, pulsing with energy. The dragon stopped its flight above Applejack, a vine-like tail lashing the air, and roared.

Sugarcoat and the rest of the Shadowbolts were shocked that Applejack had played a card that they didn't account for. "Impossible! Our data shows that you've only been using Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon. When did you have time to get your hands on that card?"

"That's the thing, see while y'all were busy coming up with counters to take us down, we've been changing up our decks and play styles. As for this card, well let's say I know somebody." Applejack tipped her hat in Isaac's direction as his plan to catch Crystal Prep off guard worked.

The crowd cheered wildly as Applejack pumped her fist. “Since Ah just Fusion Summoned mah dragon, he gets an attack boost equal to a Special Summoned monster on your side of the field for the rest of the turn. Ah choose Block Dragon. So now its attack rises to 5300!” An aura of purple energy lit up over Block Dragon and trails of it swirled into Applejack’s dragon. The orbs on its wings grew brighter.

"Nice, now it's Aj who has the upper hand." shouted Sunset.

Applejack thrust her hand out. “Starving Venom Fusion Dragon, attack Block Dragon!” Starving Venom Fusion Dragon swooped down and flew forward. The orbs covering its body sent streams of energy curling into its mouth, congregating into a large fireball. The fireball launched and engulfed Block Dragon, a plume of smoke shooting into the air. Sugarcoat looked away, teeth gritted, as her monster melted and exploded.
Sugarcoat's Life Points: 5100-

Sugarcoat looked back at her. “The effect of Block Dragon activates when destroyed. I can add up to three Rock-type monsters from my deck whose total levels are eight.” Her card ejected. “However, I’ll only be needing one: Valkyrion the Magna Warrior.”

Starve Venom descended back behind Applejack. “Ah end mah turn. Starving Venom loses its attack boost now.”

Turn 10: Sugarcoat

"We're nearly at the end of this battle. Like I said you're definitely someone not to be taken lightly; but today I proved I was the better duelist. Now then." Sugarcoat drew, looked at her card, and set it on her duel disk. "I'll activate the spell Trade-In, now I discard Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior in order to draw two cards.” She looked at her two cards and smiled. “I place one card face-down. Next, I offer three monsters as Tribute.” The image of a pink robot with magnetic wings appeared in front of her. “I combine ‘Beta The Magnet Warrior’ and ‘Gamma The Magnet Warrior’ in my hand with Alpha on the field!” They lit up blue and broke apart. Within the blue field, the pieces of the three began to gravitate together, connecting in new ways. “I Special Summon, Valkyrion the Magna Warrior(3500/3850)!” The blue energy field faded around a gigantic steel robot, magnets set into its joints and forming horns on its head. A large pair of wings spread in the air behind it, and a sword with a magnet for a handle was in its hand, the blade gleaming.

Now here was a monster that Applejack knew about. Thankfully due to all her practice dueling with Isaac, she knew how to handle this type of monster and she also knew about its special abilities.

Sugarcoat snapped her fingers. “Valkyrion, attack and destroy Starving Venom.” Valkyrion leapt into the air and held up its sword. Lightning struck the blade, casting it in a yellow glow. Its wielder flew forward and impaled the dragon, lightning shooting into its body. “Delta the Magnet Warrior, direct attack!” Delta held up a magnet arm and shot a blast of electricity at Applejack. She did her best to put her arm up to minimize the impact as she was pushed back a couple of feet.
Applejack's Life Points: 800-

Applejack shook her head as the smoke of the attacks cleared, the air crackling. “Ah ain’t goin’ without a fight. When Starving Venom is destroyed, he takes all your Special Summoned monsters with him.” The ghostly image of Starving Venom flew out of Applejack’s duel disk and into Valkyrion. It convulsed and shattered, its pieces raining to the ground and fading. The Planet Token in front of Sugarcoat caught flame and withered to ash at her feet.

Sugarcoat narrowed her eyes. “Very well. I end my turn.”

Turn 11: Applejack

Applejack put a hand on her duel disk. This is mah last card. It's all or nothing! "Ready to lose, partner?"

"Hardly. This duel was entertaining, and you put in an admirable performance. But the result is decided. Now we’re just playing it out. So draw your card and face your fate!”

“Ya think so?” Applejack tensed her arm. “Let’s just see then!” She drew with a flourish, holding her card out. She drew it back, looked at it, and grinned. “Well, let’s see how this factors in your victory plans.” She placed her card on her duel disk. “Ah activate Dragon’s Mirror!” A large mirror appeared in the air, the wings, claws, and tail of a dragon carved from its frame. “This lets me banish the Fusion parts needed to summon a Dragon-type Fusion monster from mah Graveyard, and summon it. Ah banish Predaplant Flytrap and Starving Venom Fusion Dragon!”

The mirror pulsed and glowed purple, its surface cloudy. Applejack reached to her duel disk, fingers poised. “Ah combine mah botanical nightmare and mah carnivorous predator, to bring out a toxic terror like no other!” The mirror cracked down the center, the image of glowing purple eyes appearing in either half. “Ah Fusion Summon Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon(3300/2500)!” The mirror shattered and a massive dragon flew out of the frame. Its serpentine body was glowing blue, purple, and yellow, streaks of light along its limbs. Wings like the growths of a plant spread behind it, crackling with energy. It circled to float in front of Applejack, roaring down at Sugarcoat.

“Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon, destroy Delta!” Greedy Venom drew back its mouth and fired a jet of purple energy. Sugarcoat raised her arm and braced herself as the blast struck Delta, washing it away.
Sugarcoat's Life Points: 3400-

“Ah end mah turn.”

Turn 12: Sugarcoat

Sugarcoat lowered her arm. “You were able to get off some good hits with those dragons. And to use monsters in your graveyard for the Fusion? You’re either very lucky to have drawn that card, or very skilled to have it in your deck at all.”

“Ah prefer to think the second one, thanks.” Applejack put a hand on her hip and gave a small smirk.

“Perhaps. Fusing monsters in the graveyard is quite clever of you.” Sugarcoat smiled. “Please excuse me for copying you!”

Applejack’s smirk vanished. “Say what?”

“Before you end your turn, I reveal my trap card Necro Fusion.” The students of Crystal Prep began to cheer as Sugarcoat’s card flipped up, glowing blue. “This trap lets me conduct a Fusion Summon, by banishing the materials for it from my Graveyard.” The card generated a blue vortex, electricity crackling. “Thus, I banish Berserkion the Electromagna Warrior, and Valkyrion the Magna Warrior!”

Sugarcoat leaned forward, light reflecting off her glasses. “I combine the energy of the magnetic valkyrie and the electromagnetic berserker, to bring forth the ultimate electrical marvel of battle!” She grabbed her card from her duel disk. “I Fusion Summon Imperion Magnum the Superconductive Battlebot(4000/4000)!” She placed the card on her holographic card tray and it lit up in rays of blue light. The fusion vortex in front of her widened as her new monster stepped out of it. The components of both its Fusion materials – rather, the pieces of the six individual Magnet Warriors – had merged to form a robotic centaur knight, hooves beating at the ground. A massive sword with a guard shaped like a magnet was in its right hand, and a pronged cannon emerged from its left shoulder, electricity coursing along its length. Imperion Magnum swung its sword and sent out waves of energy along the ground, bellowing.

"Like I said this duel is over and victory is just but a few moments away. Now Imperion Magnum, destroy Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon!" Imperion Magnum drew back its sword and galloped forward. It jumped up above Greedy Venom and descended, swinging its sword to point down. The blade impaled Greedy Venom between the shoulders and pinned it to the ground, Imperion Magnum leaning over it. The cannon on its shoulder hummed and fired a beam of blue energy into the dragon’s head, obliterating it.
Applejack's Life Points: 100-

The force of the attack was enough to cause Applejack to fall on her back. It took a while but, she eventually got back up and had a smile on her face. "Thanks for assist, partner. Cause you just activated Greedy Venom Fusion Dragon's special ability; when it gets destroyed I can wipe out your entire field as well as get rid of all your monsters!" From the smoke of Greedy Venom’s destruction, a beam of purple energy erupted over Imperion Magnum, the robot exploding.

"Applejack, no!" shouted Isaac, as she didn't realized that she made the ultimate mistake. It was too late.

The girls all looked at Isaac with concern as they heard Isaac's scream. Sunset then asked Isaac to find what the problem was.

"What's the matter? Why shouldn't Applejack have done that?"

"Because she just fell for a trap. It's over." said Isaac as they turned back to the field.

Sugarcoat smiled. “Thank you.”

Applejack recoiled. “What?”

The smoke began to clear, revealing two large silhouettes where Imperion Magnum was destroyed. Sugarcoat raised a hand to pushed her glasses up her nose. “When Imperion Magnum is removed from the field because of an effect of your cards, I can summon its material components from my deck.”

Applejack stepped back. She realized what this meant as she brought her arms to her side and let out a few tears. "Then that means...." She didn't even bother finishing that sentence as her fate awaited her.

“Indeed.” Sugarcoat raised her head to look up at the smoke. It dispersed, revealing the forms of Berserkion and Valkyrion towering over Applejack.

Applejack grit her teeth and turned her head away. “Get it over with.”

“You dueled well, Applejack. But not well enough. It's like I told, Crystal Prep can't be beaten. Still not bad.” Sugarcoat thrust her hand out. “Berserkion, Valkyrion, direct attack!” The two magnetic warriors put their swords together and sent an entwined beam of blue and yellow electricity towards Applejack. The attacks hit and shot up into the sky in a column of light. Sparks in the air as the light receded, Applejack collapsed to her knees, her hat falling from her ground as she let her head fall forward.
Applejack's Life Points: 0-

Winner: Sugarcoat

Luna's voice was then heard. "The winner of the second duel in The Friendship Games is Sugarcoat. Crystal Prep now gains another point as they massively take the lead." The scoreboard updated as it was 2-0. Sugarcoat's portrait lighted up and Applejack's picture was greyed out.

The holograms faded away. Sugarcoat gathered her cards from her card tray and the hologram retracted. “There is no shame in losing to a superior foe. At least you made me work for my victory.”

Applejack reached out to pick up her hat, brushing it off. “Yeah. Ya got me right good. Don’t make swallowin’ it any easier. Know what I mean?”

“No, not really.” Sugarcoat strode back to the Crystal Prep bench, not looking at Applejack any further as she passed her.

Applejack then made her way to her side of the field where the students of CHS were also clapping her for putting forth her best effort. She just slightly tipped her hat to them; her friends did tried their best to comfort her.

“You did great, AJ.” Rainbow grinned and held out her fist.

Applejack bumped her fist and nodded. “Thanks, Rainbow. Ah got no regrets. Played the best game I could.”

Fluttershy bit her lip. “We’re down two games, though. We both lost.”

Sunset, her eyes narrowed and her arms crossed, nodded. “Yeah, because you guys were outmatched. Their decks just move too fast and hit too hard to stand up to them.” The other six all turned their heads to look at her. Sunset’s expression softened and she shook her head. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it like that. It’s just… this isn’t right. Applejack, you’re one of the best duelists in the school, and if you hadn’t pulled out those dragons at the end, she would have crushed you.”

"And yet in the end, Sugarcoat showed that she was just that much better. Even if it's small amount; ask anybody here Sunset, they'll tell you the same thing. It doesn't matter if you win by an inch or by mile, winning is winning." said Isaac as he still had his arms crossed.

Sunset more than anybody else understood that based on how she used to be. "I know, but it's just wrong. We're fighting to save our school and show Crystal Prep that we're not someone they can push around. All they care about is stroking each other's egos. That's not what dueling is about!" Sunset had vented all the stress/conflicted feelings she had inside.

Isaac heard Sunset's statement and he too agreed with her. Eventually she calmed down as she took deep breaths while they sat down. Isaac then faced them as they started to figure out what to do.

"So what do we do now? Crystal Prep is up 2 points, if we don't manage to win a single duel in these next two bouts, then we can forget about competing tomorrow." said Rarity.

"Might have to change that victory party into a 'Sorry we failed you' party." Pinkie put her head down and her hair lost all of its puffiness.

"Come on, guys! We're still in this. It's like you said, Rares. We just need to win a single duel in these next few rounds and we'll get a point. From where I'm standing we still got a chance; sure it may seem bleak and small, but it's still better than nothing. Remember what I keep telling you guys, as long as you have life points left, you can still mount a comeback. So let's focus on winning and showing Crystal Prep just who the hell we are!" Isaac was doing his best to motivate his team.

"You're right, Isaac. We've still got hope, especially in this next round!" Rainbow now had huge confidence on her face.

"Why's that Rainbow?" spoke Fluttershy softly.

"Because look who's up next." Rainbow then pointed to the screen for their friends to see and the result was surprising for everybody.

Isaac turned around and the moment he saw it, he was the one who was the most shocked. He couldn't believe it, but the fact wasn't changing. Soon everything came rushing towards him as he tried to understand the atmosphere surrounding him. Then the microphone was heard as Luna spoke into it.

"The third duel of the Friendship Games has been decided. It will be Canterlot High's champion Isaac facing off against Crystal Prep's #1 duelist Shining Armor!"

Not a sound was made by anybody as both team captains looked at each other from afar and gave intense stares at each other.

Comments

[Fluffy-Boi]

Damn it! So close Applejack. Well.. Issac has to win against Shining Armor

[Fluffy-Boi]

You did well Applejack. Still giving ya hugs

[nightshroud96]

Another intense duel there.

Only error I see is Magnet Force actually doesn't protect Thunder-types there. In place of that it protects Machine-types there.(It does protect Rock-types too, so that part was correct)