Yu-gi-oh/MLP Season 1 Chapter 16
Futility
Rainbow knelt on the floor in the warehouse, angry at herself. Everything was for nothing. Not only did Tron predict her every move, but despite winning the duel, she still didn't know where Hart was. Twilight, observing from the distance, felt the same helplessness as before, when she couldn't help Spike.
Both of their ruminations were interrupted by a portal appearing before them. Spitfire stepped out of the portal, with Scootaloo holding his hand. "Scootaloo!" Rainbow cried out, and Scootaloo let go of Spitfire's hand to run towards her sister. The two embraced, overjoyed to be reunited. "Your father gave in to our demands, so Scootaloo is returned to you. Never steal from us again." Rarity and Fluttershy slowly get up from the floor, nursing their injuries as they enter the portal with Spitfire.
...
Tron rubs his chin as he contemplates the report from Rarity and Fluttershy. "This Twilight bears more examination. Fluttershy, once you have rested up, I shall give you some new cards and powers. You will use them to capture her. I want her alive." Fluttershy nodded in obedience, though a part of her felt a twinge of doubt and guilt.
...
Ruby showed her complete heart-piece to Twilight like a trophy. "Now, we're both entering the next round!" Twilight didn't initially react, however. "Ruby, can I ask you something?" Ruby put her heart-piece away as she was ready to hear whatever was troubling Twilight. "What do you do when you just feel helpless? When nothing you do seems to matter or really help the people who need it?"
Almost instantly, memories rushed to the surface in Ruby's mind; when she first saw the machine emperors, when Yang and Blake were defeated by Cinder, when the Arcadia movement was destroyed. "You learn to focus on what you can change. The longer you dwell on those things beyond your control, the more it can drive you insane." Twilight smiled in appreciation, before reaching out to hug Ruby.
...
Twilight walked through the city, lost in thought. What could she do? It seemed as though she had just entered a conflict she knew little about. "Twilight Sparkle." Twilight turned to face the voice. Behind her, Fluttershy stood there, duel disk and duel tattoo already prepared. "You shouldn't have gotten involved in our affairs. Today you pay the price."
As Twilight readied her duel disk and duel gazer, she wondered what sort of person Fluttershy was. Was she cruel and sadistic, like Rarity? Or perhaps something else. "I'll go first. I draw!" Fluttershy announced. "I activate the field spell Critter Fighter Testing Arena!" All around them, the scenery changed into a futuristic arena, with many cages floating about.
"Once per turn, I can special summon a Critter Fighter from my hand or deck, but if I do, I must return a Critter Fighter I control to the deck during the end phase. I summon Critter Fighter Lion!" One of the cages lower to the ground, and Critter Fighter Lion was let out. (Level 5/2300) "I then summon Critter Fighter Rabbit!" A small bunny clad in battle armor appears. (Level 2/100)
"I use Critter Fighter Rabbit's effect to copy Critter Fighter Lion's level." The rabbit hops around Lion. (Critter Fighter Rabbit Level 2-5) "I now use my level 5 Critter Fighter Lion and Rabbit in order to build the overlay network! I xyz summon Number 33: Critter Fighter Chimera!" (Rank 5/2400) "She has already summoned a high-rank number monster." Starswirl marveled.
"I then activate the continuous spell Critter Fighter Front Lines! Once per turn, I can special summon a Critter Fighter token!" A panther clad in battle armor appears. (Level 4/1800) "The token can't attack the turn it was summoned, so I set a card and end my turn. During the end phase, I return my Critter Fighter token for the effect of Test Arena!" The panther is pulled into the cage Lion was let out of, and the cage ascends back into its proper place.
So that's how she's going to get around the cost of Test Arena, Twilight thought. "I draw!" Twilight declares. "I summon Double Mage!" (Level 4/1000) "I activate the effect of Double Mage, discarding a card to activate Mirror Mage on itself." Double Mage holds his mask into the air, creating a double of himself. (Level 4/0) "I overlay my level 4 four Double Mage and Mirror Mage in order to xyz summon! Appear, Number 39: Star Sparkle!" (Rank 4/2500)
Starswirl smiles; they were ready for this. "Star Sparkle, attack Chimera with Star Power!" Star Sparkle fires an energy beam at Chimera. "Foolish." Fluttershy responds. "I activate Chimera's effect! I detach one overlay unit and choose spellcaster!" Chimera absorbs an overlay unit into its body, and its body is covered in runes.
"I'll activate the effect of Star Sparkle!" Twilight counters. "By spending one overlay unit, I can activate the Forbidden Scripture from my graveyard, which not only negates all other cards effects and makes each monster use their original attack and defense. Magical Talent!" Star Sparkle absorbs an overlay unit into his staff and creates a constellation in the form of a book. The book opens and shines on Chimera, dispelling the runes.
The attack continues and Chimera is obliterated. (Fluttershy 4000-3900) "I activate my face-down Overlay Remainder. Since my xyz monster was destroyed, I can special summon a monster that was attached to it as an overlay unit." The overlay unit hits the ground and transforms back into Lion. "I set a card and end my turn." Twilight says.
"I draw. Using Critter Fighter Test Arena, I special summon Critter Fighter Squirrel!" (Level 1/500) "I then activate the effect of Critter Fighter Bee in my hand, discarding it to combine the levels of Lion and Squirrel." Both monsters are bathed in a golden glow. (Critter Fighter Lion Level 5-6) (Critter Fighter Squirrel Level 1-6)
"I now use my level 6 Critter Fighter Lion and Squirrel in order to build the overlay network! I xyz summon Number 6: Critter Fighter Dragon!" A large red eggs lands on the battlefield. Cracks form on the top of the egg, before a red dragon bursts out of the egg. (Rank 6/0) "I imagine this will be like the situation with Discord." Starswirl reminds Twilight. "Be on your guard."
Fluttershy looks to her hand, where her crest glows. Well, as good a time as any to use these. She then holds her hand up, activating her crest's power. Suddenly, a large green crystal appears from the ground next to Starswirl and Twilight, surprising the two of them. Various chains manifest from the crystal and entangle Starswirl, pulling him onto it.
"During our previous encounter, our scanners detected a third entity, Starswirl was it?" Fluttershy explained, while viewing the now visible Starswirl. "I have simply removed you from the equation. As for you…" Fluttershy points her crest towards Twilight, and a sudden nauseous feeling hits the latter. Various visions flash in her head, of Spike being attacked by Rarity, of Pinkie Pie being possessed by her number, and Rainbow Dash standing over her as her own life points hit zero.
"What have you done to her?" Starswirl demands. "All her deepest fears and worries are now bubbling up to the surface, leaving her powerless." Fluttershy answered. "Critter Fighter Dragon, attack Star Sparkle with Fiery Fury!" The dragon flies over to Star Sparkle. "I activate the effect of Critter Fighter Dragon! By absorbing an overlay unit when it battles, it becomes 100 attack points stronger than the strongest monster on the field. Draconic Dominance!" The dragon eats the overlay unit and roars, causing Twilight to squeal in terror. (Critter Fighter Dragon 0-2600)
The dragon releases a fiery assault, and Twilight can't bring herself to use Star Sparkle's effect to stop it. (Twilight 4000-3900) "And when Critter Fighter Dragon destroys a monster by battle, you take damage equal to that monster's attack." The dragon breathes out a barrage of fire that boxes Twilight in as she tries to retreat. (Twilight 3900-1400)
"How dare you!" Starswirl scolds Fluttershy. "You have no right to call yourself a duelist!" Fluttershy looks away from him. "I activate the effect of Critter Fighter Front Lines to satisfy the effect of Test Arena." A new token is summoned, only to be caged away. "I end my turn. You may as well give up now. You have no chance against my dragon."
Twilight is only barely able to draw her card, her hands shaking so much. She turns over to Starswirl, desperate for something to help her. Sensing her need, Starswirl beckons to her, "It's okay, Twilight. Just remember what Ruby taught you." Focus on what you can do, Twilight remembered. She took a deep breath, and while still in a state of panic, she manages to gain some small sense of control.
"I summon a monster face-down and end my turn." Twilight responds. Fluttershy sighs in disappointment. "This is the best you can do when your back is to the wall? Pathetic. I draw! I activate the effect of Critter Fighter Front Lines!" Another beast is summoned. "Critter Fighter Dragon, destroy her face-down with Fiery Fury!" The dragon reigns down fire on Twilight's face-down, which is revealed to be Apprentice Magician.
"The effect of Critter Fighter Dragon will deal damage to you now!" Twilight ducks as more fire is hurled at her. (Twilight 1400-1000) "I activate my face-down Broken Blocker!" Twilight replies with a faltering voice. "When my defense mode monster is destroyed by battle, and it had a higher defense than attack, I can special summon two more copies. So I summon two more Apprentice Magicians." (Level 2/800)
"I end my turn." Fluttershy says, somewhat frustrated. "I draw!" Twilight declares. "I summon Magical Pupil in defense mode!" (Level 1/500) "I then activate Level Feast, decreasing the levels of my Apprentice Magicians to one, then drawing a card for every two levels lost." (Apprentice Magician Level 2-1)
"I then use my two level one Apprentice Magicians and level one Magical Pupil in order to build the overlay network! I xyz summon Number 83: Galaxy Queen!" (Rank 1/500) "When Magical Pupil is used for the xyz summon of a spellcaster, I draw a card. I then activate the effect of Galaxy Queen, protecting itself for one turn." An overlay unit is absorbed into her staff and she creates a light that bathes herself in a holy glow. "I set a card and end my turn."
Fluttershy scoffs at the shameful display. "Your defense won't hold forever. I draw! I summon another token!" A second beast appears. "I then activate the effect of Test Arena, summoning Critter Fighter Tiger!" A white tiger in battle armor appears. (Level 4/1700) "Tiger makes it so that when any of my Critter Fighters attack a defense position monster, it deals piercing battle damage. Tiger, Attack Galaxy Queen!"
As the tiger is charging forward, Twilight shakes her head to work up some courage. "I activate my face-down, Spirit Barrier! While I control a monster, I take no battle damage!" Galaxy Queen blocks the attack with a magical barrier. Fluttershy smirks. "Dragon, attack Galaxy Queen!" Twilight gasps in shock as the dragon breathes out an onslaught of fire, blocked by Galaxy Queen.
"Why would you do that?" Twilight asked. "It did nothing." Fluttershy stares Twilight down. "Oh, I think it did. My two Critter Fighter Tokens attack as well!" The two beasts charge and are again blocked by Galaxy Queen, all the while Twilight has to look away. "How cruel." Starswirl replies. "You're attacking because you know it will still unnerve her. You truly are heartless."
Fluttershy glares at Starswirl and bares her crest. "Quiet!" A surge of electricity courses through the crystal, sending agonizing pain to Starswirl. "I set a card and end my turn, shuffling away a token." One of the tokens is locked away in a cage. "Do you see, Twilight? The more you struggle, the more Starswirl suffers. If you surrender, his death will be swift and merciful."
Twilight shakes her head. "I draw! I activate the effect of Galaxy Queen again, protecting itself for another turn." Galaxy Queen again creates a magical force-field. "I end my turn." Fluttershy draws, trying to ignore the increasing guilt growing inside. "I summon another token!" A new beast appears to replace the one caged last turn.
"I summon Critter Fighter Hound!" (Level 3/1700) "All my monsters, attack Galaxy Queen!" Dragon, Hound, Tiger, and her two tokens unleash their assault as Galaxy Queen holds them back. As the dust settles, Fluttershy sees that Twilight's hand is nearly on top of her deck, in order to surrender, but she pulls it back at last.
"Why?" Fluttershy demands. "Why do you refuse to give in? Your life points are almost gone, you have only one monster, and your precious Starswirl is locked away! How are you not terrified?" "I AM TERRIFIED!" Twilight screams, surprising Fluttershy. "I've lived with fear my whole life! All these years, I've been scared of my own shadow, always living like a prisoner in my own head! But Starswirl, Ruby, all my friends have shown me how to conquer that fear! So if I gave in again, that would be the worst betrayal of my life!"
Fluttershy grits her teeth, furious at her display of defiance. "If he's in the way, then I guess you won't need him!" She bares her crest again, causing even more pain for Starswirl, who cries out. "Starswirl!" Twilight cries as she rushes over to pull the chains off, but is shocked away. "No! I won't lose him again!" She grabs the chains and holds on, despite the pain, pulling on them with all her might.
Just then, a light shines from her necklace, starting out small and flaring out, breaking the chains and the crystal. Starswirl falls to the ground, strangely feeling no more of the pain. Twilight looks at her hands, amazed to see no burns or injuries. The two then look to each other and embrace, overjoyed at the development. "That's impossible." Fluttershy whispers, baffled. "How did you break through?" The two look over to her. "Our bond is indestructible." Starswirl answers. "No matter what you put us through."
Fluttershy clenches her fist. "I can't fail. I won't fail! I activate my face-down Barian's Portal!" A large purple portal appears behind Fluttershy. "When this card is activated, if two numbers battled this turn, your number is banished and your life points are halved!" A bolt of lightning hits the two, sending them flying back as Galaxy Queen fades away. (Twilight 1000-500) "During my standby phase, not only can I tribute Number 6 to deal damage to you equal to its attack points, but you will be sent to Barian World, never to return! I end my turn."
Both of them get up and nod to each other, then take on a gold and purple glow before flying into each other. The two collide in a brilliant explosion of light, leaving Zexal in their place. "This is our power, the power of Zexal! Shining Draw! I activate Monster Reborn, bringing back Star Sparkle!" Star Sparkle revives from a dark portal. "I then use Star Sparkle in order to rebuild the overlay network! Chaos Xyz Evolution! Appear, Chaos Number 39: Star Sparkle Nova!" (Rank 4/2500)
"Critter Fighter Dragon is still stronger, and its effect prevents you from attacking other Critter Fighters!" Fluttershy replies. "And if they battle, Barian's Portal will banish your monster afterwards and halve your life points, letting me attack directly next turn!" Zexal simply laughs. "I activate the effect of Star Sparkle Nova to gain 1000 attack for every spell in my graveyard. Magical Potency!" (Star Sparkle Nova 2500-6500)
"I then summon Zexal Weapon Rhino Hammer!" A shining rhino in silver armor appeared. (Level 4/1600) "I equip it to Star Sparkle Nova!" The rhino transforms into a large warhammer, which Star Sparkle wields. (Star Sparkle Nova 6500-8300) "I then activate the effect of Rhino Hammer! In exchange for Star Sparkle Nova being unable to attack this turn, it destroys all monsters you control with less attack points and deals damage to you equal to their attack points!"
Star Sparkle lets electricity course through its hammer before throwing the hammer into the ground, creating an electricity-powered shockwave that sends all of Fluttershy's monsters into the portal, creating a huge explosion. Fluttershy was knocked to the ground and try as she might, she couldn't get back up, the strain of her powers finally catching up to her. (Fluttershy 3900-0)
Zexal took the opportunity to absorb Fluttershy's two number cards, as her crest was broken. Spitfire, who was watching from afar, leapt in and picked her up. "This isn't over, for either of you." She said before leaping away with Fluttershy. Zexal split back into the two, who went back home, more resolved than ever.