Yu-gi-oh/MLP Season 1 Chapter 6
A New Leaf
As Ruby returned to the garage, she saw that Twilight was there, waiting with a worried look in her eyes. "Ruby, I have to ask you something." Twilight took a deep breath, having mentally prepared herself ever since the duel with Rainbow Dash a few hours ago. "Where are you from, and how can you do all those crazy things? How did you get so good at dueling?"
As Ruby took off her helmet and stepped off her duel runner, Twilight kept her hand on her duel disk, expecting the worst. Ruby sighed and shook her head. "You wouldn't believe me if I told you." "Try me." Twilight replied. "After the night I've had, I need answers." You and me both, Ruby thought. "Okay. You'll want to sit down. This is a long story."
The two retreated to Twilight's room up in the attic, eating the dinner Shining had prepared. "For starters, I'm what's known as a psychic duelist. That's how I can make cards real." Twilight raises her eyebrow. "I've never heard of psychic duelists before." "They're more common where I come from. As for how I got my experience as a duelist," Ruby stood up and turned around, pulling up her shirt, an act which confused Twilight until she saw the dragon mark.
"It's called a signer mark. A blessing from a being known as the Crimson Dragon, giving its recipients the power to fight evil. Before I got here, I only had part of it, the head. The rest was with the other four signers. Yang Xiao Long, my big sister. Blake Belladonna, a hardened duelist from Satellite. And Weiss and Whitley Schnee, twins from a rich family. Together, we fought many threats against humanity and grew stronger together."
Ruby put her shirt down and let Twilight take it all in. "So you've saved the world." Ruby nodded. "That's right. It wasn't easy or a pleasant experience, though." Twilight put her finished dinner plate aside and stood up only to start kneeling. "Please, teach me how to duel like you do. I'm in way over my head and I desperately need your help." Starswirl, who had agreed to Twilight's decision as they waited for Ruby to come back, was now only more certain of their decision.
Ruby was a little flattered that Twilight wanted to be her student, but she could tell that there was something else fueling Twilight's decision. Something related to how shattered her confidence seemed to be. "Okay. I'll teach you. But know that I won't go easy on you. If what you're facing is anything like what I've faced, I'm gonna have to put you through the ringer if you want to come out alive. Think you can handle it?" Twilight looked up and nodded, her determination steeled. "I have to do this. I can't just keep playing around anymore." Ruby offered her hand to help Twilight up. "Then get some rest. We start first thing tomorrow morning."
...
True to her word, Ruby's training was no cake walk. Over the course of several days, taking place at the same junkyard from before (which was now vacant since no-one from the former gang wanted to risk bumping into Ruby again), she pushed Twilight to her limit with various duel puzzles and tests. Ruby felt that Twilight was indeed very smart and capable, but was held back by both her lack of confidence and her bickering with Starswirl. To help remedy the latter problem, she repeatedly encouraged the two to work together, which was somewhat impeded by the fact that she couldn't directly communicate with Starswirl, or know his reactions to her words.
She also had Twilight change her deck up a little bit, both to have ways of summoning more numbers than just Star Sparkle, but also to incorporate traps as well, so that Twilight's deck wouldn't become easily predictable and vulnerable to counters. Both Twilight and Starswirl appreciated the training, seeing marked improvement in their new combined dueling style. Twilight learned how to trust in Starswirl's advice more, while Starswirl learned to trust in Twilight's skill as a duelist.
"Okay, you two. This is your final test. After this, the only way to improve is experience and experimentation." Ruby announced as she readied her duel disk and duel gazer. "You ready?" "Ready as ever!" Twilight declared as she did the same. "This time you'll go first." Ruby explained. "Show me a good defense." Twilight nodded as she drew her card. "Use Eda, then set those two cards." Starswirl advised, to which Twilight agreed. "I summon Eda the Sun Magician!" A witch in white robes carrying a staff appears. (Level 4/1500)
"When Eda is normal summoned, I can set a spellcaster with 1500 defense from my hand or deck." Eda twirls her staff, and Hiita the Fire Charmer, a witch carrying a flaming staff appears only to be turned face-down. "I set two cards face-down and end my turn." Ruby smiles in approval. Good. She's not only not committing to an xyz monster on the first turn, but using her knowledge of my deck to gain an advantage. But what will you do when things don't go according to plan?
"I draw! I summon Thorn Lancer!" (Level 4/1700) "Thorn Lancer, attack her face-down card!" Thorn Lancer charges towards Hiita, revealing the face-down card. (Level 3/1500) The attack is successful, piercing Hiita and Thorn Lancer's effect dealing piercing damage to Twilight. (Twilight 4000-3800) "When I successfully deal damage to you, I can summon Damage Weed from my hand, and it will gain attack equal to the damage deal." Out of the area where Hiita was destroyed, a bundle of red glowing weeds appears. (Level 3/0-200)
"I then activate my spell card Battle Tuning, performing a synchro summon using the tuner I just summoned during the battle phase!" "Now!" Starswirl told Twilight. "I activate my face-down Tower of Babel!" A large stone structure appears behind Eda with four sockets. "Whenever any player activates a spell, a spell counter is added to the tower. The player who adds the fourth spell counter will take 3000 damage!" The bottom-most socket lights up as Ruby's spell activates.
"Regardless, I tune my level 4 Thorn Lancer with my level 3 Damage Weed! Chilling flames engulf the entire world. Pitch-dark flower, set into bloom! Synchro Summon! Appear now, Black Rose Dragon!" Ruby's other dragon appears, which Twilight was ready for, as she had seen it before during training. (Level 7/2400) "I activate the effect of Black Rose Dragon, destroying all cards on the field. Black Rose Gale!" Black Rose roars, causing roses to start enveloping the field.
"I activate my face-down Forbidden Chalice!" Twilight counters. "Until the end of the turn, Black Rose gains 400 attack, but its effects are negated." Another socket is lit up to Babel as Black Rose stops its attack. (Black Rose Dragon 2400-2800) "Black Rose, attack Eda with Black Rose Flare!" Black Rose fires a destructive beam at Eda, causing the witch to be obliterated. (Twilight 3800-2500) "I end my turn. With that, the effect of Forbidden Chalice wears off." (Black Rose Dragon 2800-2400)
"Now is the time to go on the offensive." Starswirl says. "I draw!" Twilight replies. "I activate Gather Your Mind, which adds another copy of itself from my deck to my hand." The third counter is added to Babel. "I then activate the effect of Arcane Child in my hand, special summoning it by removing any number of spell counters from my field!" The lights on Babel gather into the air, forming a baby with a wizard's hat. (Level 1/500) "Then, Arcane Child's level is increased by the number of spell counters used." (Arcane Child Level 1-4)
"I summon Force Magician!" (Level 4/1800) "I overlay my two level 4 monsters in order to xyz summon Number 39: Star Sparkle!" (Rank 4/2500) "Star Sparkle, attack Black Rose Dragon with Star Power!" Star Sparkle fires a beam at Black Rose Dragon. "I activate the effect of Damage Weed in my graveyard, banishing it to keep a synchro monster I control from being destroyed." Black Rose is about to be destroyed by the attack, but various vines hold it together. (Ruby 4000-3900) "I set a card and end my turn." Twilight says. Ruby draws her card and smiles. It was time for the big guns.
"I summon Twilight Rose Knight!" (Level 3/1000) "When he is summoned, I can special summon a level 4 or lower plant from my hand. I choose Lord Poison!" (Level 4/1500) "I tune my level 4 Lord Poison with my level 3 Twilight Rose Knight! The bloom of evolution blazes forth. Grow and grow ever stronger! Synchro summon! Appear, Crescent Rose Dragon!" (Level 7/2400)
"When Crescent Rose is synchro summoned, I can destroy one card you control. I choose your face-down. Crescent Shot!" "I activate the effect of Star Sparkle, using one overlay unit to reactivate Forbidden Chalice. Magical Talent!" Star Sparkle absorbs an overlay unit into his staff as he forms a constellation in the form of a cup, blocking the shot from Crescent Rose. (Crescent Rose Dragon 2400-2800) As this happens, a spell counter is added to Babel.
"You're doing pretty good, Twilight." Ruby notes as she pulls out the blank number from her pocket. "But now the time for holding back is over." She takes the blank number out of its special case and instantly feels the power start to influence her as the card forms. Yes, Ruby Rose. Let the number take hold. "Ruby?" Twilight asks as she sees a glowing number 87 appear on Ruby's chest. "I use my two level 7 monsters in order to build the overlay network! The seed of a foreign world sprouts into a new power! Blossom and destroy all who stand against you! Xyz Summon! Appear, Number 87: Crimson Rose Dragon!"
A large dark red seed appears before planting itself into the ground. A large crimson dragon bursts out from where the seed was planted. (Rank 7/2400) "When did she get a number?" Twilight wonders. "It matters not." Starswirl replies. "We must win it off her, regardless. This fight has become very real, so be on your guard."
"I activate Black and White Revelation, drawing a card for every synchro monster attached as an overlay unit to Crimson Rose Dragon. Then I activate its special ability! By using an overlay unit, all other monsters on the field are destroyed and Crimson Rose gains their attack. Leech Vine!" Crimson Rose devours an overlay unit and fires several vines at Star Sparkle, destroying him. (Crimson Rose 2400-4900) "Twilight, your number cards are incredibly strong. If I have enough of them, I bet I could get back home! Surrender now!"
"Never!" Twilight responds. "I activate my face-down, Overlay Out. Since my xyz monster was destroyed by a card effect, not only do I draw two cards, but I take no damage this turn." "Don't think you're safe just yet, Twilight!" Ruby scolds. "I activate Burning Rose, equipping it onto Crimson Rose!" Crimson Rose's wings catch fire, and the dragon roars. Meanwhile, a second counter is placed on Babel. "Once per turn, I can deal damage to you equal to the equipped monster's level or rank times 200, but it can't attack the turn I do so. Take this!" Crimson Rose flies over the battlefield, nearly hitting Twilight in its path. (Twilight 2500-1100)
"Her power is unlike anything I've ever seen before." Starswirl remarks as his body begins to fade. "I set two cards face-down and end my turn. You may as well give up now, Twilight. I'm stronger and smarter than you, and you're nothing but a big scaredy-cat! After your turn, I'll wipe you out and take those numbers for myself!" Twilight winced as she got up, but kept a stiff upper lip.
"I can't give up. You taught me that. And you may be right, I may let every little thing scare me, but if I gave in to those fears, I'd never be able to do what is right or help those I care about. That includes you. I'm taking back that number and saving you as well. I draw!" Twilight and Starswirl both look at the card she just drew, then to each other. The plan was obvious. "I activate my second Gather Your Mind, adding the third copy to my hand." As she does, the third counter is placed on Babel.
"I then summon Overlay Recycler!" A man in black robes covered in electronic circuitry appears. (Level 1/300) "I activate his effect, banishing Star Sparkle from my graveyard in order to summon a level 4 or lower monster from my graveyard, then change Overlay Recycler's level to be the same." Hiita reappears from the graveyard. (Overlay Recycler Level 1-3) "I overlay my two level 3 monsters in order to xyz summon Number 17: Solar Flare!" (Rank 3/0)
"Pathetic." Ruby taunts. "I activate my face-down Xyz Response! When you xyz summon a monster, I can discard two cards to immediately xyz summon an xyz monster from my extra deck one rank higher using Xyz Response as material! Appear, Number 12: Full Throttle!" (Rank 4/3200) "Another number." Twilight marvels. "I still activate the effect of Solar Flare, using overlay unit to deal 500 damage to you!" Solar Flare grabs an overlay unit and throws it at Ruby. (Ruby 3900-3400)
"I then set two cards face-down." I'll have to be careful, Twilight thinks. Otherwise she'll run right over me. "I draw!" As Ruby does, she creates a shockwave from her psychic power that pushes Twilight back a little. "I activate the effect of Burning Rose to burn you away!" Crimson Rose flies towards Twilight, but Twilight is unfazed. "I activate my face-down Spell Refresh. By shuffling any number of spells from my graveyard back into my deck, I gain 300 life points for each." As Crimson Rose dives in, Twilight is bathed in a green light. (Twilight 1100-2000-600)
"I activate the effect of Full Throttle, using one overlay unit to allow it to attack twice this turn." Full Throttle's heads fight over the overlay unit, with the middle head winning it. "Full Throttle, attack Solar Flare with Triple Road Rage!" Full Throttle drives forwards, crashing through Solar Flare. "I activate the effect of Overlay Out in my graveyard, banishing it to re-summon Solar Flare since it was just destroyed." Solar Flare reappears from the graveyard.
"Full Throttle, attack Solar Flare again!" Full Throttle circles back around and destroys Solar Flare again. "Since Solar Flare was destroyed again, Overlay Out deals 500 damage to you." (Ruby 3400-2900) "I end my turn." Twilight looks over and sees that Ruby's expression isn't angry or cruel; just tired. "Twilight, please. Just give me your number cards. I want to see my home again." Twilight shakes her head as she draws. "I don't know if the numbers could bring you back to where you came from, but even if they could, would it be the same Ruby coming back?"
Ruby clenches her fist. "I don't care about that. I just want to go home. I activate my second face-down, Draw Seal! The card you just drew is banished!" Twilight watches as the card vanishes right in front of her. "In exchange, I not only discard my hand, but my next draw phase is skipped. But it's more than enough to keep you from making any kind of comeback. The only card left in your hand is Gather Your Mind, which you can't even activate without setting off your own Tower of Babel. Next turn, I win!"
Twilight smiles. "I activate the spell card Gather Your Mind, adding another copy of itself to my hand!" "What?" Ruby asks as the fourth and final spell counter is placed on the tower. The ground starts to shake and the tower starts to collapse. "I then activate my other face-down card Reflect Barrier, reflecting the damage back to you!" The falling pieces of the tower hang midair before flying towards Ruby. (Ruby 2900-0)
Starswirl wordlessly absorbs the two number cards as Twilight runs over. "Ruby! Are you okay?" Ruby giggles as she gets back up and tackles Twilight in a hug. "You did it! I knew you could!" "You're okay?" Twilight asks, slightly confused. "I always was!" Ruby answers as she releases Twilight. "I think my signer mark protected me from the full effects of those numbers. They still kinda pulled at my head, though, so sorry about calling you a scaredy-cat."
Twilight blinks in disbelief. "THEN WHAT WAS ALL THAT ABOUT? YOU ALMOST KILLED ME!" "I had to make it look good if you were going to give it your all for this final test. I mean, I realized you were probably scared of me after what happened when we fought those gangsters, so this seemed like the best way to help you get over that." Twilight, after hearing all of that, decided that she had enough and collapsed to the ground in exhaustion.