Chapter 13: Changing

Hope and Lightwing walked to the center of the arena. As Hope passed Dusk he whispered to her, "Good luck."

"Thanks." Hope replied.

As the duelists took their places Lightwing said, "I know I've already said it, but I am truly sorry for what the Element made me do."

Hope nodded, "Lightwing, the only thing you did was think something. The Element was responsible for everything. Now, let's have a fun duel."

On the screen above them, the artwork for Half Unbreak appeared. In his box Zach said, "It appears that both duelists will start with four thousand life points instead of the usual eight."

Hope's Light: 4000

Lightwing: 4000

"I'll take the first turn," Hope said as she drew, "I summon Photon Crusher (ATK 2000). I'll set two cards and end my turn."

"Hope, you removed all of my cards from your deck."

"I know. I don't want to use you unless facing an Element of Vice. And I think she might lose it if I use you."

Lightwing drew, "I activate the continuous spell Alchemy Kettle-Chaos Distill." A giant pot/kettle thing appeared behind Lightwing. "Do you know what alchemy is?"

"It's the practice of changing one base material into another," Hope replied, "But very few ponies outside of the princesses can do it."

"I was always interested in it because I could change forms, similar to the cards I have. I activate two spells, Lead Compass and Silver Key." A fancy compass and key appeared. "Now watch as I use the power of my Chaos Distill to change these spells to monsters." The items transformed into a lion and some sort of rock thing. "Say hello to Alchemy Beasts Leon the Lead and Moonface the Silver (ATK both 500). Both of my monsters can attack directly, so go!"

Hope: 4000-3000

"I'll set this and end my turn."

Hope drew and looked at the card, Mystical Space Typhoon. "Should I take out that face-down or her Kettle? If I were to get rid of the Kettle, I could lose my monsters. But Without the Kettle, she can't use any Alchemy Beasts."

"I activate Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy Alchemic Kettle-Chaos Distill," Hope decided.

"I activate Magic Jammer," Lightwing countered, "I discard a card to negate that card."

"Okay then. I activate Polymerization to fuse the Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon in my hand with the Photon Crusher on the field to fusion summon Twin Photon Lizard (ATK 2400). Now I tribute my Lizard to bring back my monsters. Return to me, Photon Crusher (ATK 2000) and Galaxy-Eyes (ATK 3000)." Hope's ace monster roared as it took the field.

"Photon Crusher, destroy Moonface the Silver!"

Lightwing: 4000-2500

After its attack, Crusher switched to defense.

"If this next attack works I'll win."

"Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon, attack Leon the Lead with Photon Stream of Destruction!"

"I activate the effect of Kuriboh," Lightwing countered. Kuriboh flew out of Lightwing's magic and blocked the attack.

"I'll end my turn."

Lightwing drew, "First off, I activate Card of Sanctity. Now I activate White Process – Albedo. This allows me to go into my deck and bring out my Golden Homunculus (ATK 1500)." A golem-like creature made entirely out of gold appeared on the field. "You had to have noticed that my Alchemic Kettle has been banishing every one of my cards. This is because my Homunculus gains 300 points for all of my removed from play cards. And I count nine (ATK 1500-4200)." A golden glow appeared around the homunculus. "I activate the spell Stabilization and equip it to your Galaxy-Eyes." A silver crest appeared and attached itself to Galaxy-Eyes. Its light faded.

"What have you done to Galaxy-Eyes?" Hope asked.

"I have negated its effects. Golden Homunculus, attack Galaxy-Eyes!"

The monster's fist came barreling towards Galaxy-Eyes, but one of Hope's face-downs rose, "I activate Photon Current. This increases Galaxy-Eyes' attack by your monster's (ATK 3000-7200)." Galaxy-Eyes gained its glow back and dodged the attack. It launched its own attack.

"I activate the effect of Honest to do the same thing for my monster (ATK 4200-11,400)." Homunculus punched through the attack and jumped towards the dragon.

"You're not the only one who has Honest. Go, Galaxy-Eyes (ATK 18,600)!"

Lightwing looked at her cards and grinned, "I activate Golden Blast. If I were to take damage from an attack involving my Golden Homunculus, you take the damage as well."

"I don't think so. I use the effect of my Kuriphoton. I discard him and pay 2000 points so that I don't take damage for the rest of the turn."

Hope: 3000-1000

Lightwing looked at the two monsters and closed her eyes, "Golden Homunculus, attack with Golden Harvest!"

"Galaxy-Eyes, Photon Stream f Destruction!"

The two monsters' attacks collided, throwing both duelists back.

Lightwing: 2500-0

The crowd was completely silent. Then, both Hope and Lightwing rose to their hooves, causing the crowd to burst into cheers.

While the others were being congratulated, Dagger sat at his seat, smirking, "That foal is stronger than expected. I may have a harder time defeating her." He looked up at the barrier around the Crystal Empire and smiled. "So Oblivion will have even more power for when it's time to raise him from Tartarus."