Yu-gi-oh/MLP Season 1 Chapter 4

Twin Terror

As Ruby and Twilight were about to head home after school, Ruby looked over her shoulder and grabbed Twilight. "Someone's following us." The two turned around and saw Sunset Shimmer walking up towards them. "Twilight." She looked over to Ruby and smiled. "Between that pink psycho and this one, you seem to be growing friends like weeds."

Twilight crosses her arms. "What do you want, Sunset?" Sunset looked around, making sure nobody was watching them. "Follow me." She led the two over to an alley next to the school. "I know you're looking for people with number cards." Twilight groaned. Was there anyone who didn't know? "Well, I might have some useful information for you...for a price." Twilight sighed. "What do you want?"

"A thousand dollars." "A THOUSAND DOLLARS?" Sunset shushed her. "Hey, I have...bills to pay. I need the money and I know your brother is loaded. He won't mind if it's for a good cause, right?" Ruby shook her head. "We can find them on our own." Sunset pointed at Ruby's chest. "I wasn't talking to you." Ruby grabbed Sunset's arm. "Don't touch me, punk." The two glared at each other, all the while Twilight was sure she was going to pass out soon.

Eventually, Sunset pulled back her arm, and Ruby let go. "Eh, you're not worth my time. See you later, girl scouts." Sunset walked off and Twilight fell to the ground, all the breath out of her. "I thought she was gonna kill us. How did you stand up to her?" "I've faced scarier. Besides," Ruby pulled out her duel disk. "I slipped a little something on her, a trick my friend Blake taught me. If she really knows where someone holding a number is, she'll probably return to that person, and lead us right to her."

...

The two waited until later that evening, then followed the tracker. It lead them to an old junk yard, where the two waited near the front as they saw a bunch of other guys waiting there. "A gang." Ruby realized. "A big one, too. I'm not sure if we should continue here. Let's just wait until she leaves." Twilight shook her head. "I say we go in. I'm worried about Sunset. What's she doing, getting mixed up with this kind of crowd?"

"Didn't you say that she was a bully at your school?" Ruby pointed out. "Well, yeah." Twilight admitted. "But even still, I can't ignore someone in need, even if they wouldn't help me back. That's just not my family's way." Ruby rolled her eyes. Was this how the rest of the team felt when she was younger? "Okay, fine. But be quiet and be ready to run."

And so, the two sneaked in. It seemed to be pretty easy, as much of the gang was busy either being inebriated, playing cards with each other, or fighting each other because of the two previous reasons. In fact, it seemed too easy for Ruby. Was this a trap? Her suspicion was confirmed before she could act on it, as two gang members snuck up on them and grabbed them, dragging them over to what appeared to be the leaders of the gang, talking with Sunset.

"Look what we found, Boss! Two girlies out past their bedtime!" Sunset's eyes opened, her shock and ignorance obvious. "You know these two clowns, Sunset?" asked the gang leader with dreadlocks and a red shirt. "I was trying to lead them into the trap, like you asked, Scorch." "What?" Twilight protested, but the gang member holding her punched her in the gut, shutting her up.

"The problem was, I tried to get some money off them, and they refused." Scorch laughed and turned to the other gang leader, a bald man in a similar get-up to Scorch. "You hear that, Chills?" "Typical of a small fry." Chills replied. "Always trying to bite off more than they can chew. But that doesn't explain how they found us." Chills walked over to Sunset and patted her down, finding the tracker Ruby had placed.

"You idiot!" Scorch pushed her towards some other gang members, who held her. "We'll deal with you later. Now, what to do with you two." "Uh, I don't suppose you'll just let us go?" Twilight uneasily asked, which only caused the gang to laugh in a way that didn't make either her or Ruby want to join along.

"See, normally I'd let my boys...have fun with you. But you've got those number cards, right?" "Yeah, we do." Ruby replied before Twilight could talk. "You want them?" "Well, word on the street is that the only way to take a number from someone is to beat them in a duel. So why don't we have ourselves a nice friendly duel?" The two gang leaders readied their duel disks as their hands revealed a number for each of them; 61 for Scorch and 19 for Chills.

Ruby and Twilight were let go and, having no other choice, readied themselves as well. "I'm sorry, Ruby. This is all my fault." Ruby shook her head. "It's never the wrong decision to help people. If there's anything I've learned all my life, it's that." "I'll go first." Scorch interrupted. "I draw! I set a monster face-down and end my turn. You're up, pipsqueak."

Twilight, deciding it would be best not to protest that nickname, drew her card. "Remember, you can't attack on your first turn in a battle royale." Ruby reminded Twilight, who nodded in gratitude. "I summon Magician's Valkyria in attack mode!" (Level 4/1600) "I end my turn." Come to think of it, I've never seen Ruby duel. I wonder what her cards are like.

"It's my turn. I draw!" Chills declares. "I summon Pompadour Blizzardon!" A black dinosaur with ice on its head and arms appears. (Level 4/1400) "I set two cards and end my turn. Go on, then. Show us how brave you really are!" Ruby draws her card, ignoring his comment and evaluating her hand and the field.

"I summon the tuner monster Red Lotus!" (Level 3/1500) "Tuner monster?" Twilight repeated. "You haven't seen anything yet." Ruby replies with a grin. This was going to feel really good. "When Red Lotus is summoned, I can summon a level 4 plant from my hand. I choose Petal Shooter!" (Level 4/1800) "Once per turn, Petal Shooter can deal 500 damage to my opponent for every Fire plant I control. Petal Shot!"

The gunner fired two bullets at Scorch. (Scorch 4000-3000) "I'll help you, bro." Chills replies. "I activate my face-down Blizzard Egg Level 5! Since a player just took damage, they can summon a level 5 monster from their hand. If they don't, they take 500 damage." "Well thanks, bro!" Scorch returns. "I summon the level 5 Baggy Pants Lavasaurus." A large red monster with red crystals jutting out of its back appears. (Level 5/2100)

"I'll activate my own card, Flame Egg Level 5!" Scorch continued. "Since I just took damage, my opponent can special summon a level 5 monster from their hand. If they don't, they take 500 damage. Well, Chills?" "I do, in fact, have a level 5 monster; Icebergdon!" A turtle-like creature appears with large blue crystals atop its shell. (Level 5/2100) "Now as thanks for you enabling our little combo," Scorch told Ruby. "I activate Glare Level 5, dealing 500 damage to you for every level 5 monster I control."

Both of the recently summoned dinosaurs shoot stars out of their eyes at Ruby. (Ruby 4000-3000) "It would seem that they have exceptional teamwork together," Starswirl noted. "For them to know each other's decks so intimately." The two brothers laugh, causing the whole gang to join in. "You getting it now, little girl?" Chills taunted. "You're in over your head, and now you've stepped into a world of pain!"

As the dust cleared, Ruby was still standing, brushing dust off her shoulder. "You know nothing about pain. I tune my level 4 Petal Shooter with my level 3 Red Lotus!" As Red Lotus turned into three rings that enveloped Petal Shooter, Ruby could feel the mark on her back pulse with power. "The bloom of evolution blazes forth. Grow and grow ever stronger! Synchro Summon! Appear, Crescent Rose Dragon!" (Level 7/2400)

Everyone there marveled at the dragon, even Starswirl, who could feel its power. I'm so glad you're still here, Crescent Rose, Ruby thought. "When Crescent Rose is synchro summoned, I can destroy one card you control. Crescent Shot!" The dragon fires an energy bullet from its tail, destroying Chills' remaining face-down card. "I then activate Crescent Rose's second ability, banishing a plant from my graveyard to increase its attack by that monster's. Crescent Evolution!" The spectral image of Petal Shooter appears only to be eaten by Crescent Rose. (Crescent Rose 2400-4200) "I set two cards and end my turn."

Scorch recovered from his shock and resumed his grin. "So you got a big scary monster. I'll show you something even scarier! I draw! I flip summon my Flamesaurus!" Scorch's set monster is turned up to reveal a spiky dinosaur. (Level 4/1800) "When Flamesaurus is flip summoned, its level increases by one!" (Flamesaurus Level 4-5) "I use my two level 5 monsters in order to build the overlay network! I xyz summon Number 61: Volcasaurus!" A large red egg appears before cracking and shattering, revealing a large red monster with wings and spikes. (Rank 5/2500)

"Let's see how well your synchro monster does against my xyz monster. By using one overlay unit, not only is Crescent Rose destroyed, but you take damage equal to its attack points. Magma Max!" The monster ate one of the orbiting overlay units and spews fire at Crescent Rose. "I activate my face-down Thorn Barricade, protecting Crescent Rose from being destroyed by battle or card effects." A wall of thorns appears around the dragon, blocking off the flames.

"No matter. I'll just take down Magician's Valkyria next. Magma Max!" Volcasaurus devours its last overlay unit and destroys Twilight's monster. (Twilight 4000-2400) "Volcasaurus, attack Twilight directly!" "I activate my face-down Twin Mirror!" Twilight responds. "Not only is Magician's Valkyria revived, but another copy is summoned from my deck." The two monsters form a blockade, blocking the dinosaur's attack. "Whatever. I set two cards face-down and end my turn."

"This is not going well." Starswirl pointed out. "We are already behind and Chills has yet to bring out his number card. You must destroy his cards before he has the chance." "Okay, right." Twilight says as she gets back up. "I draw! I use my two Magician's Valkyria in order to xyz summon Number 39: Star Sparkle!" (Rank 4/2500) "Star Sparkle, attack Icebergdon with Star Power!"

"Not so fast!" Scorch intervenes. "Since you attacked while I control a Fire monster, I can activate my face-down, Smothering Smoke! Your attack is negated, and you take 500 damage!" A sudden gust of smoke pushes Star Sparkle's energy beam away and hits Twilight. (Twilight 2200-1700) "Nice going." Twilight ruefully whispered to Starswirl. "I set a card and end my turn." "It's my turn. I draw!" Chills declares. "First I switch Pompadour Blizzardon to defense position." (Pompadour Blizzardon 1400) "Now I can activate the spell card Frozen Ice Cave, increasing Pompadour Blizzardon's level by one!" (Pompadour Blizzardon Level 4-5)

"Now, I use my two level 5 monsters in order to build the overlay network! I xyz summon Number 19: Freezerdon!" A floating ice sculpture appears before shattering to reveal a blue counterpart to Volcasaurus. (Rank 5/2500) "I activate the effect of Freezerdon, spending one overlay unit to restore the overlay units of Volcasaurus!" Freezerdon grabs one of its overlay units and splits it into two, then throws them to Volcasaurus. "I set two cards and end my turn."

"I told you to stop him from summoning his number monster." Starswirl scolded. "Well, maybe if you gave me anything more helpful than just attack, I might have actually succeeded!" Twilight yelled. She then looked around, remembered that not everyone can see Starswirl, and gave a nervous chuckle. "I draw." Ruby said, noting the apparent discord between Twilight and Starswirl. "I banish Red Lotus to increase Crescent Rose's power. Crescent Evolution!" (Crescent Rose 4200-5700)

"Crescent Rose, attack Volcasaurus! Red Rose Flare!" Crescent Rose lets out a red shot of energy from its mouth, aiming straight for Volcasaurus. "I activate my face-down Volcanic Ash," Scorch counters. "switching Volcasaurus to defense position." Volcasaurus readies its arms and blocks the blow from Crescent Rose. (Volcasaurus 1000) "Of course, since your monster's not a number, it can't destroy mine."

"Then I'll just have to try again." Ruby replies. "I activate my face-down Revenge Thorn, letting my monster attack again, and this time inflict piercing battle damage. Red Rose Flare!" Crescent Rose fires again, the attack so strong that even the onlookers can feel the attack. "I activate Compensation Exchange!" Chills intervenes. "I negate your attack, but take damage equal to Volcasaurus' attack." The beam switches course, hitting Chills and knocking him off his feet. (Chills 4000-1500)

"Hey! No-one hurts my brother!" Scorch shouts. "I set a card and end my turn." Ruby says, her face inscrutable. "Scorch, we gotta take care of her." Chills says as Scorch helps him back up. "She's a whole new level of crazy." Scorch growls at Ruby. "You're gonna pay. I draw! I activate the spell card Hot Plate, destroying your Thorn Barricade and dealing 500 damage to you." The thorn barricade burns away, and Scorch grins as he can finally destroy that pesky dragon.

Ruby walks through the fire, much to Scorch and Chill's dismay. (Ruby 3000-2500) "I activate my face-down Spike Trap! Since a spell or trap I control was destroyed, I can destroy a monster you control and deal damage equal to your monster's attack. I choose Volcasaurus!" The scorched parts of Thorn Barricade start flying towards Scorch's monster. "I won't let that happen." Chills replies. "I activate Forced Change, switching the target to Freezerdon." The spikes shift course, piercing through Freezerdon and hitting Chills across his body as well. (Chills 1500-0)

"Chills!" Scorch cries out as he sees his brother collapse to the ground, bleeding in some areas. "That's not solid vision. What did you do, you witch?" Ruby cracks her knuckles. "Let us go, or the same will happen to you. This is your only chance." Scorch starts to consider, but the number on his hand flares. "I'll never forgive you for what you did. I activate the effect of Volcasaurus, spending an overlay unit to destroy Crescent Rose and deal damage equal to its attack! Magma Max!"

Volcasaurus consumes an overlay unit and spews fire at Crescent Rose. Ruby was about to activate her face-down, but Twilight beats her to it. "Since I control a spellcaster, I activate Stardust Cloak, negating an effect that would target a monster my team controls." Star Sparkle blocks the attack by forming a barrier of stardust.

"I activate the effect of Volcasaurus again! Magma Max!" Volcasaurus again uses an overlay unit and fires another molten volley at Crescent Rose. "I activate the effect of Star Sparkle! By using one overlay unit, I can reactivate Stardust Cloak. Magical Talent!" Star Sparkle twirls his cloak, forming a constellation in the form of Stardust Cloak, which again blocks the attack.

"Then I switch Volcasaurus to attack position. Volcasaurus, attack Star Sparkle!" Volcasaurus charges towards her monster, but this time Ruby is up to the rescue. "I activate my face-down Rose Wrath! When you declare an attack or activate a monster's effect while I control a Rose Dragon, I can negate the effect and destroy your monster." Crescent Rose shoots out many vines from its body that grab Volcasaurus, squeezing it until it is destroyed. "I-I end my turn." Scorch reluctantly replies.

"I draw!" Twilight declares. "Star Sparkle, attack directly. Star Power!" Star Sparkle fires an energy beam that Scorch is actually grateful for, considering what could have hit him. (Scorch 3000-0) As Starswirl absorbs the two number cards, Ruby keeps Crescent Rose active with her psychic power and has it give out a triumphant roar, scaring the rest of the gang members away, including Sunset. Twilight, meanwhile, wonders just who Ruby really is.

...

"You're certain?"

"Sure as I'm standing right here next to you." One of the gang members admits. "She did all this crazy stuff, and took out our leaders like they were nothing. It was like a horror movie!" The diminutive figure considers the account before turning around. "Very well." He snaps his fingers and a figure in a white cloak approaches the gang member. At first the gangster is wary after what just happened, but calms down after the figure hands over a briefcase full of money. "There's extra for your silence." As the gangster takes the briefcase, he makes a motion as if zipping his mouth shut and leaves.

"It would seem that my suspicions were correct about the newest visitor to Heartland City." the dwarf states before making a call on his phone. "Is the prototype ready?" "Yes sir. It just needs a test pilot." "Oh, I have just the man." The dwarf hangs up as he starts giggling, the laughter increasing to a maniacal cackle.