Chapter 12: Greed

Hope was in a hospital room. The monitors she was hooked up to beeped softly. Asleep on a chair next to her was Zach.

Hope opened her eyes and looked around the room. She looked over at Zach and whispered, "Wake up."

Zach jumped and muttered, "Sea pony's got my money!" He looked at Hope and smiled, "Morning."

"What happened after I passed out?"

Zach got out of the chair and stretched, "I heard the commotion and ran in. Lightwing started flipping out and apologizing for what the Element made her do. We got Darkness and Lux to confirm everything."

"Is Lightwing out of the tournament?"

Zach shook his head, "She isn't being punished, though we had Lux examine her to make sure that thing was out of her." He peered over at a wall clock. "Speaking of which, the opening ceremonies are in two hours. Do you have anything you want to talk about?"

Hope remained silent for a while before answering, "Is mom alright?"

"She's fine. I had to force her to go and get some food and sleep."

Hope let out a sigh of relief, "Thank Celestia. Now, can I get a long shower?"

"Of course."

Hope smirked a little as she thought, "And now I want to ask Turvy to do some things."

After a long shower and some breakfast Hope was with her friends on the way to the Crystal Stadium. They were talking, and it was nice to have somepony to talk to.

"I'm so sorry about what happened to you," Honeycrisp said.

Turvy huddled up to Hope, "I'm so happy you're alright."

Hope wrapped a leg around Turvy, "I'm just happy I let loose Darkness when I did."

Daring flew over hope and said, "I wish I could unleash awesome dark magic blasts. You totally wrecked that bathroom."

The entire group laughed as they reached the entrance to the stadium. Turvy and Honeycrisp split off to the spectator's entrance.

"Good luck," Turvy called out as Hope turned to walk away.

The group met up with the rest of the finalists. Lightwing walked directly to Hope and began to apologize, "I am so sorry for what happened. I never had any intention-"

"I know," Hope interrupted, "I know it wasn't your fault." Hope looked suspiciously at the other group of. She was already feeling a bit weak from the close proximity, but she took some pills for the stomach sickness earlier.

Zach's voice came through the intercom, "Thank you all for coming here today. I don't want to spend all day talking so let's see our finalists."

The ponies, and changeling, and dragon walked out of the room as their names were called. The stadium floor had been totally redone to suit the tournament. There were white lines to mark the duel field. There was a clear section of the ground that was clear, revealing some machinery. There was also machinery around the wall.

The finalists sat down in the ten seats on the edge of the stadium. Discord and Zach teleported in the center of the stadium, along with a monitor floating above them. It activated, making an image of them appear.

"Now, everypony," Zach said, his voice amplified, "It is time to see who will be dueling first."

The screen turned into two blank squares. Pictures of the finalists started to roll across the screen. They finally stopped on Dusk and Blueblood.

"It appears the first duel will be between Blue Dusk and Blueblood. A battle of the blues." Nopony laughed. "Well, every duel will have the choice of certain conditions. Let's see what this one will be."

The backing of a card appeared, but it was different then a normal card. There was a stylized A on the card.

"It appears the duel is an Action Duel. In this duel type there will be an indestructible field spell constantly active and the duel will have a bit more…. feeling. Just make sure to find the quick-play Action spells and avoid the traps."

Discord and Zach teleported back to their observation box while Dusk and Blueblood walked to their spots on the arena. Discord held a card in his claw and said, "Let's get this duel started with the field spell Parkour Palace."

The stadium became filled with large pillars, all at different heights. A swirling ball of cards appeared over the stadium.

"Let's get this started," Discord snapped his claws and the cards scattered all over the field.

Blueblood: 8000

Blue Dusk: 8000

Dusk got the gist of how they were supposed to duel and jumped up to the first pillar. Blueblood, however, was his usual difficult self.

"I will not jump around here like some sort of monkey," the unicorn stated.

"Suit yourself," Dusk replied, gliding through the pillars, "I'll go first. I draw! I summon Constellar Aldebaran (ATK 1300)." As the monster appeared Dusk missed the ledge of the nearest pillar and fell onto his monster. "Well, that's cool." Dusk hooped back onto the ledge and continued, "When Aldebaran is summoned, I can special summon Constellar Leonis (ATK 1000). Now I activate Constellar Star Chart. I overlay Constellar Aldebaran and Leonis to xyz summon Constellar Hyades (ATK 1900). Now I draw a card. I'll set two cards and end my turn." The two face-downs disappeared almost as soon as they were set.

Blueblood drew his card. Dusk noticed a card laying on one of the ledges and began to fly towards it. Blueblood grinned and used his magic to pull the card towards him just as Dusk was about to grab it.

The when Blueblood looked at the card a blast of wind shot out of it and knocked him into a pillar.

Blueblood: 8000-7500

"It looks like Blueblood activated the Action Trap Tornado Punch," Discord announced as most of the audience laughed

"That was incredibly stupid," Blueblood said, "I activate Painful Choice. I choose five cards from my deck and you choose one for me to add to my hoof. The rest are discarded. Now get down here and choose."

Dusk flew back down to Blueblood and looked at his card choices. They were three copies of Sillva, Warlord of Dark world and two copies of Ceruli, Guru of Dark World. Dusk chose a copy of Sillva and flew off.

"Thank you," Blueblood sneered, "Now I get to special summon two copies of Sillva (ATK 2300) to my side of the field and a two copies of Ceruli to yours (DEF 300)." The two fiends appesared and flew over beside Dusk. "Now I get to discard two more cards, so why not two copies of Goldd, Wu-Lord of Dark World, which of course get special summoned back to me (ATK 2300), and also destroy my two Cerulis." The two golden fiends took their axes and slashed through the two Cerulis. "Now, Sillva Number 1, attack Constellar Hyades."

Dusk: 8000-7600

"I activate Constellar Meteor," Dusk called out, "When one of your monsters battles a Constellar monster but isn't destroyed, it gets returned to your hoof."

Up in the VIP box both Lux and Zach sighed with relief.

"Why are you so glad that monster got removed?" Night asked.

"He can't bring out his Element of Vice," Lux answered, "He requires an xyz monster and two other monsters with a level the same as that monster's rank."

"The holograms are obviously somewhat solid," Zach continued, "But with the Element, it could be the same or even worse than when we dueled Blueblood."

Night gulped and whispered, "Be careful Dusk."

Back in the duel Blueblood was grumbling about the loss of his monster, "I attack with my other Sillva."

Dusk countered, "I activate Magic Cylinder." Sillva went into a tube in front of Dusk and came out one that was in front of Blueblood. The Unicorn was smashed against the same pillar once again."

Blueblood: 7500-5200

Blueblood stood up and growled, "Goldds, get him."

Dusk noticed another Action Card on a pillar next to him and jumped. He picked it up and called out, "Action Spell, Avoid!" Dusk dodged one axe to fly right into the other.

Dusk: 7600-5300

As Dusk landed Blueblood set one card and ended his turn. Dusk drew his card, "I activate Constellar Star Cradle."

"I activate Dark Bribe," Blueblood countered, "Your card is negated, though you have to draw a card."

Dusk drew, "I activate Swords of Revealing Light. I set a monster and one card and end my turn."

Blueblood drew, "I activate Dark World Lightning. I destroy that monster of yours." Lightning struck the monster, revealing Sombre and destroying it. "Now I get to discard a card. Guess who." Sillva returned to the field (ATK 2300). I overlay my two Goldds to xyz summon Adreus, Keeper of Armageddon (ATK 2500)." A black fiend rose from the overlay network and materialized a red dagger in its hand. "I activate the effect of Adreus. I use an overlay unit to get rid of the swords." Adreus threw its blade at the swords surrounding it, shattering them. "Adreus, attack that Pegasus directly."

"I activate Negate Attack!"

Blueblood smirked, "It looks like you are going to meet my beast sooner than I thought. I overlay my level five Goldd, Wu-Lords of Dark World and my Adreus."

The overlay network appeared on the ground. Clouds began to swirl over the field, causing Dusk to land on the ground to avoid lightning.

"Appear here, embodiment of my driving greed, Element of Vice – Relic of Greed (ATK 3000)." The monster that appeared looked like a giant, golden insect statue with a hole in its abdomen. "I set a card and end my turn."

Dusk drew, "I activate Constellar Star Cradle. So I add The Constellar Algiedi and Constellar Sombre. Now I summon Algiedi (ATK 1600) which allows me to summon Sombre (ATK 1550). I overlay my two monsters to xyz summon Constellar Praesepe (ATK 2400). I end my turn."

"You attempted to use an xyz monster while I have a monster meant to combat them," Blueblood scoffed, "What are you thinking?"

"I know the general effects of the Elements of Vice," Dusk replied, "And I've beaten stronger monsters than that. Just make your move."

"Okay then, I draw! I summon Brron, Mad King of Dark World (ATK 1800). Relic of Greed, attack Constellar Praesepe with Avarice Ray!"

Dusk smirked, "I activate the effect of Constellar Praesepe, I detach an overlay unit to give him a thousand more points (ATK 2400-3400)."

"Relic! Stop!" Blueblood looked around for an Action Card, but there were none near him. The warrior jabbed its blades into the statue.

Blueblood: 5200-4800

When the monster was destroyed, Blueblood's cutie mark turned into the mark of Oblivion. His eyes turned blood red and he roared, "How dare you destroy me!"

Dusk gulped as he drew his card, "I summon Constellar Pollux (ATK 1700). Now I can summon Constellar Siat (ATK 100) and use his effect to make him level four. I overlay Constellar Pollux and Constellar Siat to xyz summon Constellar Omega (ATK 2400). Omega, attack Brron!"

Blueblood: 4800-4200

"Praesepe, attack him directly. I use Praesepe's effect to raise his points (ATK 2400-3400)."

"I activate Xyz Reborn!" Blueblood countered, "Return to the field."

Praesepe slashed the Relic, destroying it before it was fully formed.

Blueblood: 4200-3800

"I end my turn."

Blueblood drew, "I activate Premature Burial. Return, Relic of Greed."

Blueblood: 3800-3000

"Relic of Greed, attack Constellar Praesepe. I use his effect to save your monster and give it to me."

Blueblood: 3000-2400

"Praesepe, destroy yourself along with Omega!"

Both monsters collided, stabbing each other.

"I'll end my turn. Now you have no way to win."

Dusk drew and grinned, "That's where you're wrong. I activate Super Rebirth! By paying half of my life points I can return as many of my monsters in the graveyard as possible."

Dusk: 5300-2650

Omega, Praesepe, Pollux, Hyades, and Aldebaran returned to the field.

"What use will those monsters do?" Blueblood asked.

"I overlay Constellars Omega and Praesepe to Extend Xyz Summon! Come forth, Number 24: Twilight Blaze Lord (ATK 2500)."

As the violet warrior appeared, a break in the clouds caused sunlight to shine on it.

"I use Number 24's special ability. I use two overlay units to attack directly."

Twilight Blaze Lord slashed at Blueblood, knocking him back.

Blueblood: 2400-0

The duel field dissolved, except for Relic of Greed. It turned into ball of light and flew away.

Blueblood looked at the clearing sky and cried out, "No! Come back!" Then he passed out.

"And it looks like Blue Dusk has won the duel!" Zach and Discord announced.

Some ponies entered the arena and carried the blubbering Blueblood away. Dusk walked back to the sidelines and hoof bumped his friends.

"Why didn't Blueblood disappear?"

"I don't know. Perhaps it rejected him."

Discord and Zach were announcing the next duelists.

"The next duel is between… Hope's Light and Princess Lightwing!"