It was two days before the attack. Diamond walked into the library to find Andrew looking at one of his many books. "Andrew, can I ask you something?"
"I think you just did." Andrew replied, placing a bookmark and turning towards her. "What's up?"
"It's family appreciation day tomorrow, and it's my turn to bring somepony."
"I would be glad to come if that's what you're asking." Diamond sighed in relief. "I should probably pick a story suited for kids." Andrew thought for a second. "This is going to be harder than I thought." he said.
"Tell them about the attack on Canderlot with the Hero. That's not too bad." Diamond suggested.
"I think I'll do that. Making any new friends I should know about? Apple Bloom told me something about you and Snips spending time together."
"She said that would stay between us!"
"Got you. But really, don't be afraid to bring some friends around."
"And if I told you I was afraid they'd get lost?"
"I'd say stick close so that doesn't happen."
...
Andrew came into the class. "Everyone meet Mr.-"
"Andrew is fine." The Pegasus cut Cherrilee off. "Well, I have as told to bring a story about my history, thing is, my history is pretty dark. So, I was going-"
"To be defeated by our hands." A centarusus and a Cloaked unicorn entered.
"Tarlock. And who's this?" Andrew sniffed. "The Shadow. And here I thought today would be boring. Night King Transformation. Star-wing disk, engaged." Andrew stood and looked at the class. "Think we can take this outside?"
"I'm helping." Andrew whipped around to see Diamond standing. "Gold Digger engaged."
"Not a snowball's chance in the furnace." Andrew snapped. Diamond ignored him and came up.
"Very well." Tarlock hissed.
"Duel."
Andrew and Diamond:8000
Tarlock and Shadow:8000
"I'll go first." Diamond said. Andrew did a double take. Diamond, Tarlock, Sombra, then him. With Cyber Dragon and Guardian Eatos that worked just fine for him. "I summon Gem armadillo(ATK:1700). Now I can add one Gem-Knight to my hoof. I play my Gem-Knight Fusion. Now I fuse Gem-Knight Sapphire and Garnet in order to summon Gem-Knight Aquamarine(ATK:1400). I equip Gravity ax-Grarl and raise Aquamarine's attack points(ATK:1400-1900). I end my turn with a facedown."
"My turn." Tarlock drew. "I summon Karakuri Barrel 96 'Shinkuro' in defense mode(DEF:400). I play two cards facedown and end my turn."
"My draw. I summon Blizzed, Defender of the Ice Barrier(DEF:500). I end my turn with two facedowns."
Andrew smiled. Karakuri and Ice barrier decks. This'll be easy. "My draw. First, since you're the only ones with monsters on your field, I can summon Cyber Dragon(ATK:2100). Next, since I have no monsters in my Graveyard, I can summon Guardian Eatos(ATK:2500). Third, I play Photon Crusher(ATK:2000). I sacrifice Cyber Dragon and Photon Crusher. From two comes one and from one will come great cosmic might. I special summon Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon(ATK:3000). Galaxy-Eyes, Photon Stream of Destruction."
"Karakuri Barrel can't be destroyed by battle once per turn."
"Eatos, Guardian Fist." The mechanical barrel busted. "I end my turn with one facedown." No Soul Arena. That's good.
"My turn, I play Gem-Knight Alexandrite(ATK:1800), Now I sacrifice him in order to summon Gem-Knight Crystal(ATK:2450). Crystal, attack Blizzed."
"Now that he was destroyed, I can draw one card."
"Aquamarine, attack."
Tarlock and Shadow:8000-6100
"I end my turn."
"My move, I play Soul Arena-Inferno Fire."
Damn it.
"Next I summon Karakuri Watchdog 313 'Saizan'(DEF:1800). I activate the spell card Karakuri Cash Cache. Now I can add a level 4 or lower Karakuri monster by switching my Watchdog to Attack mode."
"You can't. Gravity Ax won't let you switch battle modes." Diamond smiled. The spell card shattered.
"I end my turn."
"I summon Dance Princess of the Ice Barrier(ATK:1700-2000). Now by revealing all the Ice Barrier monsters in my hoof, I can send the same amount of spell and trap cards back to your hoof." The Shadow revealed his entire hoof. "There are four, so I can send all your spell and trap cards to your hand."
"My Aquamarine!(ATK:1900-1400)"
"My Energy absorber!" Andrew cried.
"Princess, attack."
Andrew and Diamond:8000-7600
"Now I can send Princess back to your hand."
"I end my turn."
"Not good." Andrew said as he drew. "I summon Tour Guide From the Underworld(ATK:1000) Now I can summon one level 3 Fiend monster. I chose my Sangan(ATK:1000). I overlay level 3 Tour Guide and Sangan to Xyz summon Number 30: Acid Golem of Destruction(ATK:3000). Acid Golem, attack." Watchdog shattered. "Galaxy-Eyes, Photon Stream of Destruction."
Tarlock and Shadow:6100-3100
"Eatos, Guardian Fist!"
Tarlock and Shadow:3100-600
"That's my turn."
"My draw. I play Call of the Haunted. Return Gem-Knight Aquamarine(ATK:1400). Finish these fools off. Sapphire Slasher!"
Tarlock and Shadow:600-0
The arena closed in. "No, Take the weaker one, NOT ME!" the Shadow screamed.
"Well, I can just give some of my power and be fine."
Tarlock. A voice in his head hissed.
"Lady Talia."
You failed me Tarlock. You'll receive the same punishment as Shadow.
"No, please. It won't happen again. I swear."
No it won't.
"It's over Tarlock." Andrew said. Did he seriously say Talia? Andrew thought. He turned towards the class. "And that is my day-to-day life since I was twelve. Any questions?" The class busted up laughing.
...
"This is getting bad."
"We assumed Andrew would work alone. It seems he has changed since you last saw him." Nightmare replied.
"Our spy said he had a marefriend. Even if Andrew was to fight alone, we need to steer clear until we have him."
"Agreed. If that was him dueling with a cool head, imagine what damage he could do if he's angry."
The mirror split and a hooded figure came up. "Fly Brain reporting. The situation has been compromised. Sombra is in the castle."
"He won't know you. And don't worry, we'll steer clear of your marefriend until you can convince her to join us."
"Thank you, but was sacrificing Tarlock necessary? He was our best and Andrew had Diamond with him. She's young but skilled."
"We noticed. Tarlock failed in his most important mission. That will not be tolerated. Be ready to travel. Tomorrow you meet our high-class spellcaster."
"Already? You know if Andrew sees her, he'll go for the shard."
"Exactly. I want you to plant a card in his deck. Plant it and she can't lose." Talia related the card.
"Thy will be done." The figure blinked out.
"He'll beat her."
"Undoubtedly, but the plant will give us an eye on him when the Fly can't be around."
"Fair enough."
So that's the next chapter. Pay attention to the spy name and see if you can guess who. The next chapter takes place in the season 5 premiere. Guess who the Grimoire is. If there is a deck you would like to see, please write and send it.