Yu-gi-oh/MLP Season 1 Chapter 20

Master vs Student

Twilight couldn't believe it. Ruby Rose, the strongest duelist she had ever known, had just lost to Tron. "What do we do now?" Twilight asked Starswirl. "Ruby was ten times as strong as me. If she couldn't beat Tron, then what chance do I have?" "I believe the answer she would give," Starswirl answered, "is to keep trying anyway. Your only limits are the ones you place on yourself." Twilight sighed as she knew he was right, but it still felt too hard to accept.

…

Rainbow Dash knew that today would be a special duel against her opponent. Spitfire wasn't just any old duelist; before their fathers had their falling out, Spitfire taught Rainbow everything she knew. So this duel would be difficult for two reasons. The first reason was the obvious sentimentality of not wanting to face her teacher and friend. The second reason was that Spitfire knew her every move, being her teacher and all.

"IT'S THE BIG MATCH BETWEEN SPITFIRE AND RAINBOW DASH! BOTH DUELISTS SEEM READY TO BEGIN!"

Indeed, as both moved their duel runners to the starting line, they eyed each other with wariness and eagerness. "Spitfire" Rainbow said. "Does it have to be this way?" "You know the answer to that." Spitfire replied. Rainbow had to admit that she did; this was inevitable. Ever since her father's dumb decision all those years ago.

"RIDING DUEL, ACCELERATION!"

The two were off, and thanks to Spitfire's previous experience with the prototype, she was able to secure the first turn. "I draw! By discarding a machine, I can summon Deep-Space Cruiser IX!" A sleek space-ship appears through a portal. (Level 9/900) "Then, I summon Hologram Satellite!" A small spacecraft flies in. (Level 1/0)

"Once per turn, Hologram Satellite can copy the level of any other machine I control." The satellite displays a holographic display of Cruiser IX. (Hologram Satellite Level 1-9) "I use my level 9 Deep-Space Cruiser IX and Hologram Satellite in order to build the overlay network! I xyz summon Number 9: Dyson Sphere!" (Spitfire 0-3)

Rainbow looks around, puzzled. "Well? Where's your number?" Spitfire points up and Rainbow realizes why it seemed to grow darker. Spitfire's monster was a huge satellite, hanging overhead and seeming to eclipse the sun, its overlay units traveling its circuitry like electricity. (Rank 9/2800)

"WOWIE! THAT'S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST MONSTER I'VE EVER SEEN! WHAT A WHOPPER!"

"I set a card and end my turn. Now, don't insult me or either of our families by giving anything less than a hundred percent!" Rainbow swallowed, then drew her card. (Spitfire 3-4, Rainbow 0-1) "Since I control no monsters, I can summon Photon Thrasher!" (Level 4/2100) "I then summon Photon Crusher!" (Level 4/2000)

"I tribute both monsters in order to summon my ace!" A shuriken appears that Rainbow only barely manages to catch. "The galaxy that lurks in the darkness. Become the light of hope and my very servant." She throws it into the air, creating a brilliant explosion. "The embodiment of light, now descend! Appear now, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!" The dragon is revealed from the explosion. (Level 8/3000)

"That pile of space debris may be big, but it's just another number. Galaxy-Eyes, attack with Photon Stream of Destruction!" Galaxy-Eyes fires a beam of multi-colored energy straight up towards Dyson Sphere. Unfortunately, a black hole appears and absorbs the beam.

"When Dyson Sphere is attacked while it has overlay units, I can negate the attack." Spitfire explains. "Did you honestly think that I would have no countermeasures for the dragon that I gave you? I said not to insult me!" Spitfire then rams into Rainbow's duel runner, causing her to graze the side of the arena for a few seconds before recovering. "I set a card and end my turn." Rainbow says, embarrassed at her blunder.

"I draw!" (Spitfire 4-5, Rainbow 1-2) "I activate the effect of Dyson Sphere! By using one overlay unit while you control a monster with higher attack, Dyson Sphere can attack directly this turn!" An overlay unit alters its path to hit the center energy core, opening the panels to reveal a star. "Dyson Sphere, attack Rainbow directly with Brilliant Bombardment!"

This time a white hole appears, and fires a barrage of energy directly at Rainbow. "I activate my face-down Lumenize!" Rainbow replies. "Your attack is negated, and one Light monster I control gains your monster's attack!" Galaxy-Eyes moves in to intercept the attack. "How childish." Spitfire chides. "I activate my own face-down Space Gate, negating your trap since I control Dyson Sphere."

A portal appears and absorbs the attack, only for it to reappear in another angle, hitting Rainbow. (Rainbow 4000-1200) "If you're not going to take this duel seriously, then I suggest you do us both a favor and give up now. I set a card and end my turn."

"SPITFIRE HAS BACKED RAINBOW DASH INTO A CORNER! RAINBOW'S ONLY HANGING ON BY A THREAD!"

Rainbow calms herself down and reminds herself of her training: assess your opponent's strategy, then counter it. Don't just blindly charge in. "I draw!" (Spitfire 5-6, Rainbow 2-3) "I activate the quick-play speed spell Space Cyclone! Since I have 3 or more speed counters, I can detach one overlay unit on an xyz monster." The xyz material on Dyson Sphere stops, then dissipates into nothingness.

"Galaxy-Eyes, attack Dyson Sphere again with Photon Stream of Destruction!" Galaxy-Eyes lets loose another salvo of energy at Dyson Sphere. "Better," Spitfire admits. "but still reckless. I activate the final effect of Dyson Sphere. When it is attacked while it has no overlay units, I can reattach two monsters from my graveyard onto it."

Two new overlay units are placed onto Dyson Sphere's circuitry. "I then use Dyson Sphere's effect to negate your attack." The attack is absorbed into a black hole once again. "Damn it!" Rainbow curses. "I set a card and end my turn." How do I get over such a powerful card? It's like it's designed specifically against me!

"I draw!" (Spitfire 6-7, Rainbow 3-4) "I activate my face-down Gravity Chain!" Several dark chains burst from the ground and hold down Galaxy-Eyes. "This turn, Galaxy-Eyes loses 200 attack and defense times its level and its effects are negated!" (Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon 3000-1400) "Next time, don't disappoint me. Brilliant Bombardment!"

Dyson Sphere charges a shot before aiming it at Galaxy-Eyes. "I activate the effect of Kuriphoton in my hand!" Rainbow responds. "By discarding it and paying half my life points, I take no further damage this turn!" As Galaxy-Eyes is blasted by the attack, a small black thing like a missile with eyes appears and creates a protective energy shield around Rainbow Dash. (Rainbow 1200-600)

Spitfire raises an eyebrow. "I didn't give you that card." "No, you didn't." Rainbow replies. "I'm not just your student anymore. I've grown and learned on my own. And now, I think it's time I surpassed you. I draw!" (Spitfire 7-8, Rainbow 4-5) "I activate my face-down Desperate Rebirth! Since I have less than 1000 life points, I can special summon as many monsters from my graveyard as possible, but they'll be destroyed during the end phase!"

Galaxy-Eyes, Photon Thrasher, and Photon Crusher all reappear from the graveyard. "I then activate the speed spell Level Lead! By removing 4 speed counters," (Rainbow 5-1) "I choose one monster and have all other monsters I control become the same level!" Galaxy-Eyes gives a mighty roar, and the other monsters salute. (Photon Thrasher Level 4-8) (Photon Crusher Level 4-8)

"She's!" Spitfire realizes, remembering what Rarity and Fluttershy faced. "Oh, yes." Rainbow taunts as her body takes on a red glow. "I overlay my level 8 Galaxy-Eyes, Photon Thrasher, and Photon Crusher!" Galaxy-Eyes becomes a spear that Rainbow catches with ease, her body glowing with red energy. "Radiant galaxy, here and now become the striking light, and show yourself!"

She tosses the spear into the overlay network, creating a brilliant explosion. "Descend, my very soul! Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!" (Rank 8/4500) (Rainbow 1-4) "Since the original Galaxy-Eyes was used for its summon, Neo Galaxy-Eyes negates the effects of all other monsters. Photon Howling!" Neo Galaxy-Eyes lets out a primal roar, and all the circuitry on Dyson Sphere grows dark, its machinery stopping.

"I then activate the effect of Neo Galaxy-Eyes! I detach one overlay unit to remove all of Dyson Sphere's overlay units and have my monster gain 500 attack and an extra attack for each!" Neo Galaxy-Eyes devours an overlay unit and reaches out its hand, causing Dyson Sphere's overlay units to be pulled towards it. Neo Galaxy-Eyes then crushes them in its hands. (Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon 4500-5500)

"Neo Galaxy-Eyes, attack Dyson Sphere with Ultimate Photon Stream of Destruction!" The dragon flies up and fires a red beam of energy straight into Dyson Sphere's core, detonating the satellite in a fiery explosion. (Spitfire 4000-1300) "Now, finish the job by attacking Spitfire directly!" Neo Galaxy-Eyes flies down and fires another energy beam at the ground, stopping Spitfire. (Spitfire 1300-0)

"RAINBOW DASH HAS JUST MANAGED TO TURN THE DUEL AROUND IN A TRUE UNDERDOG STORY FOR THE AGES! SHE WILL MOVE ON TO THE NEXT ROUND!"

As the two stop their vehicles, Spitfire looks over to her student with a renewed sense of pride. "Not bad, kid. It's a shame things weren't better between our families. I've missed how far you've grown." Rainbow smiles back. "Thanks. And to be fair, I had a great teacher." After Spitfire handed over Dyson Sphere, the two walked away, a wish in their hearts that things could ever be different between them.

Rainbow shook her head. Sadly, you can't change the past, no matter how hard you try. Once she was out of the crowd, Rainbow allowed herself to succumb to the pain, and a worry started to grow in her head. Would the strain of her powers stop her before she could carry out her father's will?

...

Sunset held the card of Number 96 close to her. "Finally. No more games, no more waiting, no more stalling. I'll finally get revenge for what that bitch did to my sister." Her heart feels filled to the brim with hatred and pain, but at this point, Sunset has learned to embrace her anger. "Rarity, you're going to pay!"