Hope's Light just activated the field spell Realm of Shadows, the same card used by Darkness while in control of Lux's body. The glow around her horn and her cards turned black.

"While I control this field spell I can special summon Shadow Beast Destroyer (ATK 3000). When my Realm of Shadows is on the field all my Shadow Beasts gain 500 attack points (ATK 3000-3500) while yours will lose the same amount. I summon Shadow Beast Harpy (ATK 1300-1800).

A black Harpy with purple armor appeared on the field.

"I set two cards and end my turn."

Discord raised his lion arm and a yin yang appeared on it. The light side extended outward and Discord drew, "I summon Red-Eyes Black Chick. Now I banish it to summon Red-Eyes Darkness Metal Dragon (ATK 2800-2300). I now summon Blue-Eyes White Dragon (ATK 3000-2500). I activate Burst Stream of Destruction to destroy all your monsters."

Blue-Eyes shot a beam of energy that vaporized both Shadow Beasts.

Hope pulled out her deck and looked through it, "When my Harpy is destroyed by battle or card effect I can summon two more (ATK 1300-1800x2)."

"I still attack one with my Red-Eyes."

Hope's Light: 8000-7500

One of Hope's face-downs raised, "I activate Shadow Summoner to special summon three Shadow Tokens with attack points the same as the damage I took (ATK ?-500x3)."

"Since I used Burst Stream of Destruction I can't use Blue-Eyes to attack," Discord said, "I set two cards, but before I end my turn I must ask, how did you get those cards."

Hope sat there for a moment, He's already seen my deck, it's not like there's much of a point to keep it a secret.

"It all started about two years ago…"

[Flashback]

Hope, Dusk, Turvy, Blitz, Daring, Honeycrisp, and two other mares were walking through the Everfree, hope and Turvy cutting through the occasional vine.

"Are you sure we're going the right way?" Turvy asked.

"Of course I'm sure Turvs," Hope said as she held up a piece of paper, "I took a map from the library."

"Technically I took the map," Dusk corrected, "And I'm not sure it was right to take it from Mom's special safe without asking."

"Come on Dusky," one of the other mares, Cherry Pie, said, "It can't be that bad…"

"…if the map wasn't in the Canterlot archives," the other mare, Cinnamon Pie, finished."

"Yeah," Hope continued, "Besides, we'll put it right baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack!"

As she was walking hope fell down a small ravine. She looked up and saw a light coming from a nearby cave, "I think I found it guys."

"But how do we get down there?" Turvy asked.

"Turvy," Daring said, "You do realize you can fly, right?"

"We found some stairs!" the Pie twins yelled in unison.

Once the others went down the stairs the group went to the cave. Inside was a giant crystal tree.

"The Tree of harmony," Hope muttered in wonder. Her eyes, unnoticed by the others, began to turn red as she began to walk towards the tree.

"Perhaps you shouldn't go towards the giant crystal tree," Honeycrisp said.

"It'll be fine," Hope absentmindedly said as she reached out to touch the tree. As soon as she touched the tree, the crystal pedestal the second set of the Elements of Harmony* came from began to glow black. Everypony turned towards the pedestal as the dark glow solidified into a deck of cards. Hope picked up the cards with her magic and went through them.

"These are… the Shadow Beasts," Hope said, her eyes widening.

[End Flashback]

"Interesting," Discord said, "But now I wonder how you touching the magic tree gave you these cards."

Hope shrugged and drew a card, "I have no idea but they're strong. I activate my face-down Dark Rebirth to bring back my Harpy (ATK 1300-1800). I now activate Shadow Calling to send to the graveyard my remaining Tokens and my Shadow Beast Stalker to summon Shadow Beast King Oberon (ATK 2500-3000). When Oberon is summoned I can bring back the monsters used to summon it, so return Shadow Beast Stalker (1200-1700). I now overlay my two level four Harpies and my level four Stalker!"

The monsters turned into black overlay units and flew into the shadows. A human in jet-black armor riding a horse rode into the dim moonlight.

"Come to me Shadow Beast Knightmare (ATK 2400-2900). I attack Blue-Eyes with Oberon."

The fairy-ish fiend slashed through the dragon and destroyed it.

Discord: 8000-7500

"I now attack with Knightmare!"

"I activate Scrap-Iron Scarecrow," Discord countered, "This stops your attack."

Hope grumbled before saying, "I activate the effect of Shadow Beast Knightmare, by using an overlay unit I can add a Shadow Beast from my deck to my hand. I end my turn."

Discord drew, "I activate the effect of Red-Eyes to bring back Blue-Eyes (ATK 3000-2500). Now I use my face-down Level Returner to make my Red-Eyes level eight. Now I overlay my Red and Blue-Eyes dragons to xyz summon Set, God of Chaos (ATK 3500-3000)."

A human wearing a loincloth and with the head of a creature nopony recognized appeared. Discord raised his arm, his final card in hand, "I activate the field spell Sea of Chaos!"

The world turned from a black area to a rock outcropping surrounded by black and yellow 'water' in the center of this sea was an obelisk.

"Because of this card the points of all monsters returns to normal (ATK 3000-3500)(3000-2500)(2900-2400). Also, I only need Set to bring out my ultimate monster. I overlay Set to perform an Extend Xyz Summon!"

Hope gasped a little. An Extend Xyz Summon was when two or more xyz monsters were used to xyz summon. The cards were rare, and Discord undoubtedly had a really powerful one.

"Come forth Apophis the Chaos Snake (ATK 3000)."

Hope looked around but saw no monster. Perhaps it was a dud?

"I now use two overlay units to be able to attack you directly. Attack with Chaos Devouring!"

A giant snake rose out of the Sea of Chaos. It was blood red and had long fangs and black eyes. It lunged at Hope, who was flung several feet.

Hope's Light: 7500-4500

"Hope!" Turvy cried out as she ran over to her marefriend.

Hope stood up, using Turvy as a crutch, and said, "Hey Turvs, how come you never told me your dad was such an awesome duelist? But my dad is better."

Discord pretended to be shocked and said, "I am hurt. Your father may be a good duelist, but he has never faced the likes of me. I end my turn."

Hope picked her cards beck up and drew. The new card was Shadow Beast Miasma.

I could summon Dark Leviathan, but Dad might see it. My other card is Shadow Beast Goblin though, and he can't do anything right now. But on the other hoof, if I use Leviathan's effect I can win this.

"Hey Discord," Hope called out, "Can you put a barrier around the field? I'm gonna try something I haven't before."

Discord snapped his talons and a pink barrier appeared, separating the duelist from their observers.

"Thanks. I summon Shadow Beast Miasma (ATK 0). Now I use its effect to copy the stats of Oberon (ATK 0-2500). I overlay Miasma and Oberon…"

The two monsters transformed into overlay units and flew into a black vortex that appeared on the ground.

"I sacrifice these monsters to bring forth the spirit of Darkness itself. Come forth, Shadow Beast Dark Leviathan (ATK 4000)!"

The Leviathan began to appear, rising out from the overlay network until it was only about sixty feet high. The rest of it was still in the network.

Hope felt a rush of power as she looked at her monster. It was almost as if Darkness was still within the monster, willing her to use its power.

"I use the effect of Dark Leviathan, by using an overlay unit I can destroy every card on the field and for every monster destroyed I get life points and my monster gets attack points equal to the combined points of monsters (ATK 4000-9400)."

Hope's Light: 4500-9900

When Apophis was destroyed, a black shadow stayed behind. It flew and destroyed Dark Leviathan.

"What the heck?"

"When Apophis is destroyed by an effect I can banish all monsters that are left on the field," Discord explained, "And considering that was probably the only move you could think of I'll go now." Discord drew, "I activate the spell Card of Sanctity to so both of us can draw until both of us have six cards."

Discord's claw glowed white as he placed it on his deck, "Go, Chaos Draw!"

"A Chaos Draw?" Hope was confused.

"Why are you doing that Dad?" Turvy asked, "That's cheating!"

"Come on Turvy, it's not an official duel. And to answer your question, a Chaos Draw allows me to choose the cards I want to draw, as long as they're in my deck. I activate Monster Reborn to bring back Apophis (ATK 3000). I now activate the spell Chaos Shift. This allows me to use Apophis as an overlay unit for a Chaos Xyz or a Chaos Number, but you get to choose which one."

Discord materialized some cards and they floated over to Hope. Two were Numerronius the Divine Giant and Numerronius Numeronia. The third was Barian, the King of Wishes. Hope chose Barian because the other two could take her out in one turn.

"I summon Chaos Xyz Barian, the King of Wishes (ATK 0)."

The giant Barian warrior appeared and roared.

"Barian's attack points are equal to the number of overlay units it possesses (ATK 0-1000) so I activate two copies of Overlay Regen (ATK 1000-3000). I attack with Barian!"

Hope's duel disk blocked most of the impact, but she still stumbled, panting.

Hope's Light: 9900-6900

"Are you alright Hope? I'll stop the duel right now."

Hope stood back up, "No way Discord." She looked over to her friends, "Sorry guys, but nopony's given me this much of a challenge beside Dad."

-Location Shift-

Zach was sitting in his store, waiting for customers.

"Achoo. Weird, there must be a lot of pollen today."

-Location Shift-

She was met with a bunch of 'none takens' and she turned back to Discord, "I've not lost yet. I draw and activate the spell Different Dimension Reincarnation to discard a card and bring back Dark Leviathan (ATK 4000). I now use my own copy of Overlay Regen to allow Leviathan to use his effect one more turn (ATK 4000-7000)."

Hope's Light: 6900-9900

"Not Barian!" Discord cried out dramatically.

"Yes! Now Dark Leviathan, attack with Total Darkness Destroyer!"

"I'll still have points!"

"Nope, I activate Ego Boost to give Dark Leviathan another thousand attack points (ATK 7000-8000)."

Dark Leviathan shot out a beam of energy that hit Discord.

Discord: 7500-0

Discord fell to his knees from the attack and Turvy ran over to him. He just waved her by, "That card is powerful Hope, be careful when you use it."

Hope nodded and sat down, "That was the first time I ever got the nerve to summon it."

Everypony looked around for a moment before Hope said, "Who am I going to duel next?"

-Location Shift-

Deep within Tatarus, there was a crystal that looked like a creature was inside. The crystal cracked slightly.

"So much power. But I need more. Though the doings of the human and his daughter will give me the strength I need."

UK: So Hope has use of Dark Leviathan now. And just who is this mysterious creature in Tartarus?

?: I am-

UK: Shut it! Now I should do the disclaimer: I only own my OCs, original cards, and storyline.

Authors notes:

*That's my headcanon for the box.

^The real-life Card of Sancity sucks, so Zach had Discord pull the anime version into Equestria.