Chapter 18: Vice

Hope slowly walked onto the dueling field. On her way she passed Dusk.

"It was a great duel," Hope whispered, "He just got lucky."

When Hope and Crown stood across from each other, Crown stated, "So, it is back to us."

"It appears so," Hope agreed, "We've been dueling for as long as we've had decks. But why have you had to be so hateful about it? We could have been friends."

Crown shook her head, "I can't. In life you can't rely on others. If you want something, you have to obtain it yourself. Now let's duel!"

Hope's Light: 8000

Ruby Crown: 8000

"I shall take the first move," Crown said as she drew six cards, "I activate Foolish Burial. This allows me to send a monster straight from my deck to the graveyard. I'll send Wulf, Lightsworn Beast. From duel against your friends, you should know what happens when Wulf gets sent from the deck to the grave." The creature arose from a graveyard portal (ATK 2100). "I set my left pendulum scale with scale three Haos, Lightsworn Purity. I set a card and summon Jain, Lightsworn Paladin (ATK 1800). I end my turn, so I have to mill two cards. Then, due to Haos' effect, you have to mill the same number of cards if you don't control a light monster."

Hope sent the top two cards of the deck to the grave, one of which was Oberon. She frowned; she had his ritual in her hoof.

Hope drew, "I use my own scale three pendulum monster, Shadow of Yin. While on the field, it counts as Realm of Shadows. Since I do have Realm of Shadows now, I can special summon Shadow Beast Destroyer (ATK 3000). Now I summon Photon Crusher (ATK 2000). Shadow of Yin allows me to normal summon twice, so long as it's a Shadow Beast. I summon Shadow Beast Necromancer (ATK 0)."

The monster that appeared was similar to Photon Circle, except that all of the bluish white was replaced with dark purple. "I can tribute Necromancer to bring out any Shadow Beast from my grave, thanks to you. Come forth, Shadow Beast Miasma (ATK 0). I use the effect of Miasma and make it level eight. I sacrifice these two monsters to bring forth the spirit of darkness. Xyz summon, Shadow Beast Dark Leviathan (ATK 4000)."

As soon as Darkness appeared, ponies began to panic. They remembered the sight of the creature seventeen years previous.

"Cease your panicking!" Darkness' voice boomed throughout the stadium, quieting ponies, "I am not here to destroy you! I work with the mare known as Hope's Light. She has accepted me and my abilities. I promise you all that I shall not inflict harm to any pony, dragon, changeling, or griffon."

Celestia slowly rose and used the royal Canterlot voice, "I DO NOT LIKE THIS CREATURE, BUT I TRUST IT. IF ANY OF YOU HAVE OBJECTIONS, SAVE THEM FOR AFTER THE DUEL."

The crown began to calm down some. Knowing that it was alright, Hope continued her turn, "I acti-"

"Nope," Crown interrupted, "I activate Shadow Spell. This shall keep your beast from attacking or using its abilities, along with stripping it of 700 attack points (ATK 4000-3300)."

"Well, I can still attack Jain with my Crusher!"

Crown: 8000-7800

"My monster switches to defense mode (DEF 1200) and I end my turn."

Crown drew, "I return one card from my hoof to the top of my deck and summon Plaguespreader Zombie (ATK 400). I tune my level two Zombie to my level four Wulf and synchro summon Celestial Wolf Lord, Blue Sirius (ATK 2400). Sirius, attack Crusher."

The cerberus bit through Crusher, destroying it."

"I'll end my turn."

Hope drew, "I summon Maiden with Glowing Eyes (ATK 0)." A monster that appeared to be a woman wearing a white and red work suit appeared. Her hair was purple and black and, like her name suggested, her eyes glowed. "You know the card Maiden with Eyes of Blue? This is the version for my Galaxy-Eyes. I end my turn."

Crown drew, "I summon Lyla, Lightsworn Sorceress (ATK 1700). I'll set a card and end my turn, so I mill three cards."

Hope drew and grinned, "It looks like I'll be the first one to pendulum summon in this duel. I set my right pendulum zone with scale nine Light of Yang. When Light and Darkness swing together, they can bring forth Chaos. Pendulum summon, Light Galaxy Knight (ATK 2800). Galaxy Knight, attack-."

"If you attack Sirius, your monster will lose most of its attack points."

"That doesn't matter to me. You'll lose a level six monster. Galaxy Knight, attack Sirius."

Crown: 7800-7400

When Sirius was destroyed, chains appeared and wrapped around Galaxy Knight (ATK 2800-400).

"I'll end my turn."

Crown drew, "I banish Lumina, Lightsworn Summoner and Chaos Necromancer to special summon Chaos Sorcerer (ATK 2300). Now I return a card in my hoof to the top of my deck and bring out the second Plaguespreader Zombie. I switch Lyla to defense mode and destroy Yin."

Crown switched her monster to defense mode, but nothing happened.

"When both of my pendulum monsters are on the field, they protect each other," Hope explained, "Also, they protect my monsters."

"But not you, I tune my Zombie to Lyla and synchro summon Gravity Warrior (ATK 2100). Chaos Sorcerer, Gravity Warrior, attack Galaxy Knight!"

Not even Hope's monster could protect her from the full assault of the monsters. She slid back a couple feet.

Hope: 8000-6100-4400

"And I end my turn."

Hope drew, "I activate Card of Sanctity. Now I activate Luminous Dragon Ritual. I'll send the Shadow Beast King Oberon in my hand to the grave to bring out Paladin of Photon Dragon (ATK 1900). Now I tribute him to reach into my deck and bring out Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon (ATK 3000)." Galaxy-Eyes roared proudly as it took the field.

"I overlay Galaxy-Eyes and Galaxy Knight and xyz summon Number 62: Galaxy Eyes Prime Photon Dragon (ATK 4000). Galaxy-Eyes, attack-"

"Wait," Darkness whispered into Hope's ear, "We need to defeat Envious Archfiend if we want to free Crown. This could end the duel too fast. Overlay Galaxy-Eyes and me to call forth Apophis."

Hope internally nodded. Her blue eye glowed purple and her cutie marks glowed as she spoke, "I overlay Galaxy-Eyes and Dark Leviathan. Light and Darkness, alone they are powerful. But together they are unstoppable. Come forth, Apophis the Chaos Snake (ATK 3000)."

A huge portal opened underneath Hope and Crown. Apophis' head rose out of the center of the field. The beast roared loudly, causing some of the audience to hold their ears.

"I use two overlay units, Apophis, attack directly!"

Apophis fired a stream of energy at Crown, knocking her back against the wall. But despite the power behind the attack, she was unharmed.

Crown: 7400-4400

"I end my turn."

Crown drew, "I activate Monster Reborn and bring back Sirius. Now I overlay Sirius and Chaos Sorcerer to summon Photon Strike Bounzer (ATK 2700). Now I pendulum summon Kora, Lightsworn Avatar. I overlay my three monsters; come forth, Element of Vice – Envious Archfiend (ATK 3200)!"

Envious Archfiend appeared. Then, despite the fact that she was looking at one of the most dangerous beings in the world, Hope burst out laughing. The jaws of everyone in the crowd dropped.

"Why are you laughing?" Crown demanded.

"During the beginning of this duel you told me that you believed in using your own power, not anyone else's," Hope began to explain, "Yet you plan to use that demon to win."

Crown looked between Envy and Hope, appearing very confused.

"Come on Crown," Hope encouraged, "The Ruby Crown I know wouldn't use anything she wasn't born with to win. The advantage I've had over you is that I've had friends to cheer me on. Come on; prove you can beat me entirely on your own."

Within Crown's mind she was standing in front of Envious Archfiend.

"Do not listen to her," Envy objected, "You will only win if you use me."

"But I have a card in my hoof that can win me the duel this turn," Crown objected, "I will use that card."

"Don't do this!"
In the real world Crown took two cards from our graveyard and threw tm on the ground, "I banish a light and dark monster from my graveyard to call forth Chaos Emperor Dragon – Envoy of the End (ATK 3000). I now use its effect to destroy everything on the field and in our hooves."

Crown: 4400-3400

Chaos Emperor Dragon's blast consumed the field. As Envious Archfiend was destroyed, it called out, "Don't do dis!"

A ball of dark energy hung in the center of the field. It began to pulsate and Crown said, "Sixteen cards were destroyed. That turns out to more than enough to defeat you."

The ball of energy flew at Hope and exploded in her face. But when the smoke cleared, Hope stood behind her KuriShadow card.

"Sorry Crown," Hope said, "But my monster prevents all damage. And since you have no moves left, I draw! I summon Galaxy-Eyes Cloud Dragon (ATK 300). I tribute Cloud to return Number 62 to the field (ATK 4000). The small dragon quickly matured into its ultimate form. "Galaxy-Eyes, attack Crown and use our effect (ATK 4000-4800)."

Crown: 3400-1000

When Crown saw she hadn't lost, she was confused, "Why am I not done?"

"Galaxy-Eyes only does half damage when it doesn't have Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon as an overlay unit," Hope explained, "I end my turn."

Crown drew, "I have four Lightsworns in my grave, so I can bring out Judgment Dragon (DEF 2600). I've only destroyed your Prime Photon Dragon once ever. And now I want to do it during the tournament."

"Crown?"

"If you draw one of most of your monsters, you'll win anyways. I know when I've been beat."

"Wait, if I don't have Galaxy-Eyes on the field-."

"I use the effect of Judgment Dragon. Judgment Cannon!"

Crown: 1000-0

As soon as Crown's points dropped to zero, a dark aura surrounded her.

"No!" Hope cried out as her eyes began to glow. A beam of light and dark energy shot from her horn and connected with Crown's chest. Hope retracted the beam, taking Envy with it.

The crown was silent until Discord announced, "It appears that Hope's Light has won the duel. Then final duel of the tournament will be between her and Dagger in two hours!" Somepony walked up to Discord and whispered something, causing him to correct himself, "It appears that Apophis may have potentially caused a few structural integrities. We'll have to examine the building and postpone the duel until tomorrow."

Dagger pulled the red card from his extra deck and looked at it, thinking, "It is time for the plan to move to the final stage. Tonight, Wrath will find its owner and Oblivion will rise."

This would have been done yesterday, but my computer messed up and everything after Crown summoned Envious Archfiend got deleted. Also, I have decided the title for the story, yay!