Yu-Gi-Oh/MLP Season 1 Chapter 11

Begin the Festivities

Ruby sat on the couch in their living room, contemplated Twilight's account of what had happened during her battle with Rainbow Dash. Not only had she and Starswirl fused together, but they had made an entirely new card, one specifically made to support Star Sparkle Nova. While this proved that the two of them were connected, which Ruby had always suspected, but it also proved that Star Sparkle was connected as well. But why? Was it because it was a number created by Twilight herself?

Her theorizing was interrupted by Twilight bursting through the door, carrying two small boxes. "They arrived!" Twilight cheered before placing one of the boxes on the table next to Ruby, then carrying the other to the kitchen. "What arrived?" Ruby asked, picking up the box to examine it. "Well," Twilight began, getting out a pair of scissors from the drawer. "Do you know about the World Duel Carnival?"

Ruby shook her head. She had heard others talking about it, but couldn't think of a way to ask without sounding like a crazy person. "It's this big event that will take place all over Heartland, with thousands of duelists involved. The big prize for the winner is to be granted any wish they want! Well, any wish the mayor can grant, of course."

Twilight walked over to Ruby, having opened her box and pulling out a small golden band in the shape of a heart. Set in the band was a small piece of ruby stone. "The way to get in is these Heart-Pieces! When two duelists taking part in the Carnival duel each other, they'll wager their Heart-Pieces, and you need a full heart to enter the next phase."

As Ruby handed her box for Ruby to open, she thought about the wish Twilight mentioned. Getting home was probably off the table, but she could probably get some answers. They definitely knew something about her. "It is a little weird that you got a Heart-Piece, even though you arrived here after the application period was over. Do you think that this is their way of saying 'Hello'?"

Ruby shrugged as she accepted her Heart-Piece from Twilight. "Whatever their intentions are, I'm definitely taking part. Someone high up in Heartland's government knows about me, and one way or another, I'm getting answers." Ruby's mind drifted back to that night she dueled Spitfire. Her duel runner was crude, but she doubted that they would take that lying down. She'd need to be ready.

Just then, they both got a notification on their phones, a video posted by Mayor Heartland on his official channel. Ruby played hers, and Twilight got behind her to watch. "Good morning, Heartland!" The bombastic man announced in his iconic blue suit. "The day has officially begun! It's the start of the World Duel Carnival! In the spirit of things, all classes have been put on hold for the festivities. So even you youngsters in school can take part! Good luck and have fun!"

...

After Rainbow was finished giving her report to Doctor Faker, she expected him to be furious at her for her loss to Twilight. Instead, he seemed contemplative, thoughtful. "Thank you for your report, Rainbow. For the time being, your duties shall be directed towards the WDC, where there will no doubt be many numbers for you to collect. That will make up for the loss of those Twilight has."

Rainbow got up from kneeling and bowed. "Yes, Sir." She turned to walk away when he spoke up. "Oh, and Rainbow? Next time, do NOT lose your Orbital robot so carelessly. It took a considerable amount of subtlety and money to recover him this time." "Yes, Sir. Sorry, Sir." Rainbow left, considering herself quite lucky this time. But her luck wouldn't hold out forever. She needed to be stronger so that this wouldn't happen again.

...

Twilight and Ruby were walking through the streets, looking for duelists to fight. There were plenty to choose from, as after the announcement, several had begun patrolling the streets for the same purpose. Their search was interrupted by a large explosion right behind Twilight, knocking her and Ruby to the ground. "TWILIGHT SPARKLE!"

The two of them got up and looked back, seeing a country girl riding what looked like a flying cannon. And yet this isn't the craziest thing I've ever seen in my life, Ruby thought. "AH GOT A SCORE TO SETTLE WIT YA!" The two started running as she continued her barrage of cannon blasts. "Who is that?" Ruby asked Twilight, who shook her head. "Never seen her before in my life!"

This chase continued for several hours, ranging practically all across the city. No matter how fast they ran, where they hid, or what disguises they used, their pursuer would always find them, and resume blasting. It was near evening when they had made a last ditch effort to crawl on top of the tallest water tower they could find.

"There." Twilight said, exasperated and just a tad crazed. "She can't find us HERE, can she?" Starswirl and Ruby both pointed up to where the pursuer was hovering overhead. "OH, COME ON!" Twilight yelled as she flopped to the ground in defeat. "Could you at least tell me who you are before you blow me to kingdom come?"

"Five years ago, Sunshine camp. Remember?" The pursuer said as she hopped off the aircraft. This sparked a memory in Twilight, prompting her to get back up. "Applejack?" "Wait, you do know her?" Ruby asked. "Five years ago," Twilight explained. "Shining made me attend a summer camp to get me to stop being cooped up inside all day. Applejack was just about the only friend I made there."

"Except you betrayed me!" Applejack yelled. "We were going to take part in the Big Wilderness Treasure Hunt, but you backed out at the last minute! I was robbed of any chance of victory!" Twilight hung her head in shame. "I'm sorry. I was, and to an extent still am, a coward. I thought I would have been murdered by a bear or gotten lost. But are you really gonna kill me over it?"

"You abandoned me when I needed you!" The country girl complained. "But now I've found you, and I can get my revenge!" As she put on the duel equipment, Starswirl noticed a glowing 27 on her. "Twilight, she has a number card. You must challenge her to a duel." Twilight thought of how best to attempt that.

"Okay, I get it. I hurt you." Twilight said. "But will destroying me with that thing get you any satisfaction? You know that I'm a duelist, so why not beat me at the thing I love most?" Applejack stared at Twilight, causing no small amount of unease in the latter. "Yeah, sure." She pulled a duel disk and duel gazer out of a compartment in the cannon. "But knowing you, this'll be over in five seconds."

Twilight also readied her duel disk and duel gazer, while Ruby watched on from the sidelines, hoping her student's training would pay off. "I'll go first. I draw!" Applejack announced. "Since I control no cards, I can special summon Rocket Arrow Express!" A wide portal lets in a train carrying a jet, the whole thing riding on rails surrounding the tower that they are standing on. (Level 10/5000)

"Whoa!" Twilight exclaims. "That's quite a payload!" "Since I can't set any cards while I have Rocket Arrow Express out, I end mah turn right here." Applejack chuckles. "Well, go on. Show me something really funny on your turn." Twilight draws her card silently. "Ignore her goading. It would be best to go on defense for now." Starswirl comments.

"I set a monster and a card, then end my turn." Twilight says. "Ha!" Applejack laughs. "A chicken to the end. I draw! During the standby phase, I have to either send five cards from my hand to the graveyard or lose Rocket Arrow Express. I choose to keep my cards." The train explodes in a violent display. How reckless, Starswirl wonders. Yet was it calculated?

"I then summon Tin Goldfish." A metallic fish swims in. (Level 4/800) "When it's normal summoned, I can special summon a level 4 monster from my hand. I choose Express Train Trolley Olley!" A red trolley appears next to Tin Goldfish. (Level 4/1800) "I now use my level 4 Tin Goldfish and Express Train Trolley Olley to build the overlay network! Appear, Number 27: Dreadnought Dreadnoid!" A large warship appears, "swimming" in the air around them. (Rank 4/2200)

"And when I use Express Train Trolley Olley as an overlay unit, the lucky xyz monster gains 800 attack!" The trolley is hauled into the ship on a cargo container. (Dreadnought Dreadnoid 2200-3000) "Dreadnought, attack her face-down monster with Maritime Fire!" The cannons on either side position themselves towards Twilight.

"I activate my face-down Gamushara!" Twilight counters. "This switches my defense position monster to attack position upon it being targeted for an attack. Appear, Curse Magician!" A small impish wizard in a black robe appears. (Level 1/0) "When Curse Magician is flip summoned, it gains your monster's attack and name." The imp pulls out a mask with the number 27 on it. (Curse Magician 0-3000)

"Not only will Curse Magician's effect ignore the number's battle immunity," Starswirl comments. "But when Curse Magician does destroy Number 27 by battle, Gamushara will deal damage equal to its attack. This will be over shortly." "Don't count yer chickens just yet!" Applejack replies. "Dreadnought Dreadnoid can use one overlay unit to prevent its own destruction."

As Curse Magician pulls out several guns to fire on Dreadnought Dreadnoid, one of the latter's overlay units flies over to block the former's salvo. This leaves Curse Magician vulnerable and it is swiftly destroyed. "One more thing." Applejack says with a smile. "If Dreadnought destroys a monster by battle, then at the end of the battle phase, I can turn it into a rank 10 or higher xyz monster. So I'm rebuilding the overlay network!"

Twilight and Ruby stare in disbelief as the battleship is bathed in a blue aura before flying into the overlay network. "I xyz summon Number 81: Superdreadnought Rail Cannon Super Dora in defense position!" A huge metallic core appears before glowing red with energy. The core explodes, revealing a large rail cannon with three barrels. (Rank 10/4000) "I end my turn."

"She has two number cards." Twilight says in awe. "Just like Jin." "This time, however, the focus seems to be on large, bombastic plays." Starswirl points out. "If we can find a way to interfere with her play style, we may just win the day." "I draw!" Twilight takes another look on the imposing rail cannon, then steels herself.

"I summon Raigeki Magician in defense position!" A magician in yellow robes appears. (Level 3/1300) "Once per turn, I can discard a spell card to have Raigeki Magician destroy one monster you control. Thunderbolt Judgement!" The magician charges up a thunderbolt before firing it at Dora.

"Ha!" Applejack laughs. "Dora's not going anywhere. I activate its effect to spend one overlay unit and make one monster on the field unaffected by any card effects except its own this turn. I choose Dora. Everlasting Shield!" As an overlay unit is absorbed into Dora's armor, a blue holographic shield appears covering it, which blocks the lightning attack.

This will be harder than I thought. Twilight thought. "I recommend protecting Raigeki Magician with Stardust Protection, so that you can use its effect again next turn." Starswirl advised. "I set a card face-down and end my turn."

"I draw!" Applejack declares. "I switch Rail Cannon Dora to attack position!" The main cannon of Dora aims towards Raigeki Magician. (3200) "I then activate Special Schedule, bringing back Rocket Arrow Express in defense position, but it can't change its battle position." A purple portal appears, from which Rocket Arrow rides out. (0)

"Next, I normal summon Night Express Knight without tributing by reducing its attack to zero." A knight riding a rail cart appears. (Level 10/0) "I overlay my level 10 Night Express Knight and Rocket Arrow Express in order to xyz summon Superdreadnought Cannon Gustav Max!" Another rail cannon appears, this one having only one barrel. (Rank 10/3000)

"How many xyz monsters does she have?" Twilight complains. "I activate the effect of Gustav Max, using one overlay unit to deal you 2000 damage! Gustav Max, Fire!" An overlay unit is absorbed into Gustav Max's cannon, before being fired right at Twilight. (Twilight 4000-2000) "Now, Gustav Max, fire on Raigeki Magician!"

"Not so fast!" Twilight says while getting up from being blown away. "I activate my face-down Stardust Protection, preventing Raigeki Magician's destruction." Applejack shakes her head. "Oh, darling. I activate the effect of Dora, this time on Raigeki Magician." The last of Dora's overlay units flies into the magician, trapping it into a blue sphere.

"Why would you protect my monster?" Twilight asks before seeing the reason why. As Raigeki Magician is stuck in the sphere, the mist created by Stardust Protection can't reach it. "Dora's effect stops all card effects from affecting the target, even ones you would like." Starswirl comments. "Now Raigeki Magician is helpless."

Gustav Max's attack continues, destroying Raigeki Magician. "Twilight, now!" Starswirl warns. "Before Dora can attack!" "I activate the effect of my Rebirth Magician from my hand, discarding it to bring back Raigeki Magician as it was destroyed." A magician in white robes appears, only to wave the ankh it's carrying and revive Raigeki Magician.

"Dora, take Raigeki down as well." Applejack orders. Dora fires on Raigeki Magician, destroying it once more. "I activate the spell Overlay Regen, which attaches itself to Dora before ending my turn." Applejack felt pretty confident, having two large monsters and one overlay unit left on both monsters. Twilight looks over to Ruby, hoping for some advice or at least encouragement. Ruby smiles before saying "You got this, Twilight! Just remember not to rely on Star Sparkle! You have other monsters!"

Twilight looks through her extra deck, seeing what could help her right now, then grins with excitement. "I draw! I summon Union Magician!" A rather girlish magician in pink comfy clothing appears. (Level 4/0) "I then activate the effect of Rebirth Magician, banishing it from my graveyard to summon another spellcaster from my graveyard. Return, Raigeki Magician!"

Rebirth Magician reappears, reviving Raigeki Magician again. "I then activate the effect of Union Magician, combining its own level with Raigeki Magician's!" The girly witch blows a kiss, which creates a floating pink heart that flies over to Raigeki Magician. (Raigeki Magician Level 3-7) (Union Magician Level 4-7)

"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!" (Rank 7/2400) "You've got numbers too?" Applejack replies in disbelief.

"I activate the effect of Crimson Rose Dragon! By spending one overlay unit, all other monsters are destroyed and Crimson Rose gains their attack. Leech Vine!" Crimson Rose devours an overlay unit before firing vines at both of Applejack's cannons. "I activate Dora's effect to protect itself. Everlasting Shield!" Dora creates a shield that protects itself while Gustav Max is torn apart. (Crimson Rose Dragon 2400-5400)

"Crimson Rose, attack Dora with Crimson Rose Flare!" Crimson Rose fires a beam of black and red energy which devastates Dora. (Applejack 4000-1600) "I then activate Xyz Victory! When my xyz monster destroys your monster in battle, I can detach an overlay unit to allow Crimson Rose to attack again! Crimson Rose Flare!" Crimson Rose fires again, this time on Applejack. (Applejack 1600-0)

Starswirl absorbs the number cards from Applejack while Twilight rushes over. "You okay?" She asks while helping her friend up. Applejack, slowly recovering her senses, crosses her arms indignantly. "I guess you're not the same coward I met all those years ago." Twilight shyly laughs in admittance. "By the way, I guess you now owe me a heart piece." "A what?" "You know, for the World Duel Carnival?" "Never heard of it."

...

Sunset looked over the various duelists she had just beaten with a sense of satisfaction. "Okay, maybe you're not too bad." Discord laughed as he flew around her. "My, with that attitude, it's a real wonder how you have no friends." The conversation was interrupted as Sunset heard clapping behind her. She turned around to see a woman in a white dress. "Rarity." Sunset growled.

"Sunset, it's been a while." Rarity remarked. "Why, I haven't seen you since that one tournament. Weren't you disqualified? And for looking at your opponent's deck, no less. For shame." "I was set up!" Sunset snapped. "Well, of course you were, darling." Rarity replied. "After all, I was the one who set you up. Maybe you'll have better luck this time. You'll have to enter the Duel Carnival for that." Rarity walked away with a mocking laugh.

Sunset punched the wall next to her. "I knew it! And now I have someone to blame." "Oh, yes." Discord said. "But before you do, we need to get stronger. And that means more prey. Let's get hunting."