Chapter 3: Birthday

Hope and her friends were walking back towards her house, ready to sit and rest after a long day of dueling. Hope herself had to wait a few hours to duel again because of the duel against Discord, though she had to use her Photon's. She only used her Shadow Beasts once a week. Once she tried twice in one day, she nearly passed out and had to makeup an excuse about trying to teleport.

"I wonder what flavor of muffin Ditzy will make this year," Dusk said. Every year Ditzy made a special birthday muffin. Nopony was able to know what flavor it would be, not even Zach.

"I don't know," Hope replied, "But I may have an idea. Last week the twins told me that they overheard Pinkie getting an order for a pound of peanut butter." She licked her lips, "Peanut butter."

Blitz poked Turvy to get her attention, "Maybe you could get some so she can lick-"

Blitz was lifted up in the air by a white magic aura, "Shut up Blitz."

She put him down and opened the door to her home and smiled, "Dinky!"

Hope ran up to her older sister and gave her a hug. The purplish-grey mare smiled, "It's nice to see you too sis. You should say hi to another pony."

Hope pulled away and went to Dinky's side, which was extended, "Hi there future niece or nephew."

Hope looked up and motioned to her friends, "Come inside guys. Go and sit while I catch up with Dinky."

All of Hope's friends left the room.

"Where's Pip at?" Hope asked. Pip was Dinky's husband and had given up the name Pipsqueak years before, though he was still smaller than the average stallion.

"He's talking to Dad," Dinky replied, "He wanted some advice about foals."

Hope giggled a bit, "How's the Empire?"

Dinky was currently living in the Crystal Empire as a researcher. She chose the Empire because of the special knowledge crystals that could only be activated through crystal magic, which she could use.

"It's great. I got your present there too."

Ditzy walked into the room, a tray of muffins in one hoof, "Hey girls, I finished some peanut butter and chocolate muffins. You can have some if you give some to your friends."

Peanut butter muffins? There goes that idea.

"Thanks," Hope said, levitating the muffins, "Let's go into the living room and eat these."

The living room of Hope's house was painted a light green color, with pictures adorning the walls. The wall farthest from the door had a fireplace built in. Hope's friends and Halo were sitting on one of the couches while Zach and Pip were dueling on the coffee table.

Hope popped a muffin in her mouth and said, "I thought you were supposed to be giving him advice."

"I did," Zach replied, "Do you not think my fatherly knowledge can be summed up in two minutes. Now I believe it was Pip's turn."

Hope looked at the table. Both players' life points were even at 1500. Zach only had Utopia on the field while Pip's had a face-down.

"I flip my Renge, Gatekeeper of Dark World," Pip said, "Now I return him to my hoof to return Grapha, Dragon Lord of Dark World to the field (ATK 2700). Now I summon The Fabled Cerrburrel (ATK 1000)."

"You're using Dinky's deck?" Hope asked.

"I lent it to him," Dinky said, taking a muffin.

"Yes," Pip said, "Apparently my wife doesn't trust my deck. I tune Cerburrel to Grapha and Synchro summon Fabled Leviathan (ATK 3000). I attack Utopia."

"I use Utopia's effect to negate your attack," Zach said.

"I end my turn."

Zack levitated the top card of his deck, "I activate Rank-Up-Magic Astral Force to evolve Utopia into Number 39: Beyond the Hope (ATK 3000). I attack Leviathan and my monster's effect reduces your monster's attack points to zero (ATK 3000-0)."

Pip: 1000-0

Dinky put her forelegs around Pip's neck, "Nice try. You'll win next time." She looked at the clock "I'm heading to bed."

Hope sat down the muffins and asked, "I'm bit tired from the dueling I did today. I managed to beat Discord."

Zach blinked multiple times, "You dueled Discord? Did he use a Chaos draw?"

"Yeah. I was just too good. Could the girls stay in my room tonight?"

"Sure. Just make sure your door stays open."

"Thanks Dad." Hope hugged Zach. Daring gave her brother a wing bump and the three girls went upstairs."

-Timeskip-

Hope was in the middle of a duel. Her opponent was obscured by tendrils of red and black energy.

"I overlay my monsters," the figure said. Its monsters turned into overlay units and just hovered in midair. A glowing red ring appeared and the figure put it on and began to chant, "With blood and rage of crimson red, ripped from a corpse so freshly dead, together with our hellish hate, we will burn you all—that is your fate!"

The red aura around the figure began to solidify, giving the figure a demonic appearance.

"My rage shall consume you!" the figure cried out as it materialized a red energy weapon and slashed down at Hope.

"Hope! Wake up!" Hope opened her eyes and found that Turvy was violently shaking her.

Zach burst in and yelled, "What's going on?"

Hope gently pushed Turvy off of her and said, "I had a nightmare."

"You were screaming," Daring said, "I say that's a bit more than a simple nightmare."

Zach sat down on the bed, "I'm just glad your mother and siblings are heavier sleepers than I am. What was that dream about?"

"I was dueling somepony," Hope said, "They used the strangest summoning chant: With blood and rage of crimson red, ripped from a corpse so freshly dead, together with our hellish hate, we will burn you all—that is your fate."

"Were you looking at my Green Lanterns?"

Hope was confused. While she did know Zach had Discord bring a bunch of comics from Earth. She picked up one and was immediately disturbed by something ripping out another creature's heart, "I looked at one, but those words weren't in it."

Zach frowned for a moment, "Weird, but it's probably nothing. Just get back to- "Hope's alarm clock went off, "Or not. I'm going to get the others up."

After Zach left Hope said, "Thanks for waking me up Turvy."

Hope and Turvy hugged. After a minute Daring said, "Will you two just make out already?"

The two mares looked at their friend and smiled. They jumped on top of Daring and locked her in a group hug.

After about two minutes of being trapped in the embrace Daring managed to squirm out, "Let's have breakfast. I want to see what kind of muffin Hope gets."

The mares ran downstairs and found everypony else was already there. Dinky, Pip, and Halo were at the table; Zach was making pancakes; and Ditzy was standing around holding a muffin.

Hope quickly took her place at the table and asked, "Can I have my muffin?"

Ditzy placed the muffin in front of her daughter, "Try to savor it. Your brother helped me out this year."

Hope gave Halo a stare that would have made Fluttershy proud, "You knew what the muffin was and never told me?"

"Sorry sis," Halo said, holding up a plate as if to shield himself from his sister's wrath, "Mom swore me to secrecy."

"Well, it's time to see how you did."

Hope levitated the muffin to her mouth and right before she bit it the muffin said, "Yay! I get to die!"

Hope pulled away the muffin and saw that it had grown a little face and limbs. She looked at Turvy, who blushed and snapped her claws, returning the muffin to normal.

Hope laughed and sighed at the same time before biting into the muffin. She felt the taste of peanut butter on her tongue, which made her happy. Then she could taste maple syrup from northern Equestria. Finally, she found sweet, succulent, blueberries.

She devoured the muffin greedily before saying, "You have to let Halo work on the muffin every year. This was the best one yet."

Halo gave Ditzy a wing bump and said, "Thanks sis."

Zach flipped a pancake onto a plate and showed it to everypony. It was heart shaped.

"Don't forget that it's also the day your mother and I got married," he said, pulling Ditzy in for a kiss.

The other mares laughed as Halo covered his eyes and said, "Eww, Mom and Dad are kissing."

After they all ate and finished breakfast Pinkie and her daughters came over and began to help set up the party. They got up streamers, balloons, folding tables, and chairs out into the back yard. Pinkie even managed to create a cake that looked like a life-size version of Hope, right down to her glasses and different colored eyes.

It was about noon when guests began to arrive. First it was Twilight, Flutter Night, Dusk, and the twins.

"Hey," Night said to Zach and Ditzy, "Happy anniversary!"

"Thanks Night," Zach replied, "How've you been?"

"Great. I can't believe that Hope is seventeen already."

"I agree," Twilight said, "It seems like yesterday she was coming to the library for magic lessons."

Hope walked over to the adults, trying to shake Crescent, and Starlight, Dusk's little siblings, off her legs, "Where's Spike and Sparkler."

A few years previously, Spike got married to Hope's sister Sparkler. This could technically make Zach and Night related.

"They told me they would be here soon," Twilight said.

Zach looked at his leg watch and Starlight who was a little, yellow, unicorn filly, asked, "Zach, why are you looking at your watch?"

Instead of answering Zach said, "Three, two, one."

As soon as Zach stopped counting down Discord and Fluttershy appeared out of nowhere. Turvy ran over and hugged her parents.

Hope was about to say something when a voice behind her said, "Hello Hope."

Hope jumped and turned around to see Honeycrisp, "Don't scare me like that!"

"Sorry. Mother always says a lady has to be able to move with silence and grace."

"That's right," Rarity said as she and Applejack came around the house. Rarity was levitating a box.

Hope looked up in the sky and saw two Rainbows and a blue streak coming towards them. Hope stepped to her right and just avoided getting a face full of Rainbow Blitz.

"Hey Blitz," Hope said as he stood up.

"Hey Hope," Blitz said, "Happy Birthday."

"Thanks."

Rainbow Dash went over to the present table and set a small box with a bow down.

-Timeskip 'cause the author is tired of intros-

After everpony got to the house Zach got a random soapbox and stood on it.

"Hello everypony," he said, "First off, happy birthday Hope! Now, would you like cake or presents first?"

Hope pointed to the tables with presents and Zach nodded. She picked up a random box with a card on top of it. She opened the card and found a crudely drawn picture of herself.

"Thanks Sapphire," she said as a little filly ran up to her and hugged her leg. Sapphire was Spike and Sparkler's three-year-old filly. She was dark purple with a green mane. Her eyes and tail resembled those of a dragon.

She opened the box to find a necklace. It was shaped like a yin-yang. She pulled on and thanked her sister and Spike.

From Rarity, Applejack, and Honeycrisp she got a dress and a bottle of cider (non-alcoholic). Sweetie Belle sent seven tickets to her next Manehatten concert through the mail. From Rainbow's family she got some flight goggles. From Dusk's family she got Starswirl the Bearded's Art of Matter Manipulation (Twilight's idea). From the Pies she got an instant party in a box. From Turvy, Fluttershy, and Discord she got three cards.

"Turvy was going to give you a romantic picnic," Discord said, "But I figured you should have these."

Hope looked at the cards and saw that they were Sea of Chaos, Set, and Apophis. She looked up at Discord, "You're giving me these Chaos cards?"

"I think that since you beat them you should get them."

Everypony at the party gathered around the cards and marveled.

"Seriously?" Blitz said.

"Yeah," Daring agreed, "These are some of the most powerful cards ever."

"Well," Zach said, "We're going to have to take the cake to go because Hope's last present isn't here."

"What?" Hope asked, confused.

"Just come on."

The ponies grabbed some pieces of cake on plates and followed Zach. Eventually they made it to the turbo track.

Turbo dueling was something started about ten years previously. Duel runners were created, though made for the comfort of ponies instead of based on a human design. There were specific tracks designated for dueling, with their own garages.

Zach stopped at one of these garages and said, "Behold!"

The door stayed shut. Zach sighed and said, "Discord, I thought we discussed this. I say behold and the door raises."

"Sorry, try again."

"Behold!"

The door of the garage rose, revealing a duel runner. It was golden with blue lines. Hope ran up to the runner and pored over every inch.

"I've wanted one of these for ages," she said.

"We know," Zach said, "Your mother finally agreed."

"So you finally got a duel runner," a snooty voice said.

Everypony turned around to find Ruby Crown standing near the garage, pads on her body. Her duel disk was on her leg.

"I challenge you to a turbo duel," Crown said.

Hope pulled on the helmet that was on the runner and said, "Let's go then!"

"But you can't drive a duel runner," Turvy said. Dusk and the R&D twins face-hoofed.

"I'll duel you on the ground," Crown said.

Hope summoned her duel disk and removed her helmet.

Hope's Light: 8000

Ruby Crown: 8000

Ruby quickly took her turn before Hope could even draw, "I summon Psychic Commander (ATK 1400) and use Double Summon to summon Hushed Psychic Cleric (ATK 0) which is switched to defense (DEF 2100). I tune my Commander to my Cleric and Synchro summon Psychic Nightmare (ATK 2400). I end my turn."

Hope drew her six cards and realized her mistake. She had switched out her decks the day before and forgot to return them.

"Um, Crown," she said, "Can I switch decks? I accidently put an experimental one in my disk."

Crown shook her head, "There's no way you're backing out now. Play your cards."

"Fine." I hope this doesn't hurt too much.

"I activate the field spell Realm of Shadows (ATK 2400-1900)."

The field turned dark and Crown nervously said, "W-what kind of field spell is this?"

Hope didn't answer, instead looking at her father. Zach turned so pale that he made Rarity look dark, but he didn't say a word.

"While I have this on the field I can summon Shadow Beast Destroyer and it gains 500 points (ATK 3000-3500). Now I summon Shadow Beast Miasma, whose stats become the same as Destroyer (ATK 3500). I overlay my monsters to xyz summon Shadow Beast Dark Leviathan (ATK 4500)."

As the Leviathan appeared Crown took a step back in fear, "That's the monster used by Shadow Walker!"

Hope nodded, her eyes turning red for a split second. Zach noticed this and looked at Dinky, who was grinding her teeth to keep from crying out in pain.

"How in Equestria did she get these cards?" he thought.

Hope continued her turn, "I use the effect of my monster to destroy everything and I both me and my monster get points equal to the points of destroyed monsters (ATK 4500-4000-5900)."

Hope's Light: 8000-9900

"I now activate the equip spell Shadow Armor. It doubles the points of my Leviathan (ATK 5900-11,800). Leviathan, atta-"

Hope looked back in forth between the monster and Crown.

If my monster's attack can knock Discord to his knees, then this could seriously hurt Crown.

"This mare always makes fun of you for no reason. She deserves what she gets." Hope did not recognize the voice, but it seemed to come from Dark Leviathan.

I don't care. She could be seriously hurt and I don't want to.

"I surrender!" Hope called out, pulling every card from her disk. Dark Leviathan disappeared, its voice leaving her mind.

Hope began to run home and disappeared in a flash of light. All of her friends began to run after her, except Zach. He picked up her cards and teleported.

Zach appeared in Hope's room and found her on her bed, crying.

She noticed he was there and said, "I'm sorry I almost hurt Crown."

"It's alright Hope," he replied, "But how did you get these cards?"

A dark shape appeared from the cards and took shape in the center of the room.

"Hello Zach," the shape said.

"Darkness."