Yu-gi-oh/MLP Season 1 Chapter 26
Once and for All
Doctor Faker turned the communication interceptor off. He then pressed a button to communicate with his head of security. "We are expecting guests. Tell the men to ignore them unless provoked." Ruby looked at him surprised. "They'll get here, eventually." Faker answered her obvious question. "I don't want to waste their time or mine, or risk my officers getting hurt for no reason." He looked over the newly acquired numbers, deciding which to use.
…
"Allow me to help you as a small part of my penance." Tron tells Twilight. He waves his crest, creating a portal. "This will take you to Doctor Faker, so you can win back the number cards from him and save your friend." Twilight smiles at him. "Thank you." "Wait up!" Rainbow Dash descends down to meet them from Orbital's jet mode.
"My father has gone too far, and I helped him carry out his goals. If you're trying to stop him, then I'm coming with you." A low rumbling sound alerts them to Sunset riding up on her motorcycle. "Sunset?" Twilight asks. "You should be resting." Sunset shakes her head. "I'm fine. Besides, I want to help you after you helped me." The three walk through the portal together, ready to face Doctor Faker.
…
Faker is somewhat surprised to see the portal appear. It didn't seem like Byron would join forces with Twilight and Starswirl, but that changed nothing. They were getting here anyway. What did surprise him was seeing who accompanied her through the portal; Rainbow, his own daughter. "Rainbow, I expected this opposition from Twilight, and perhaps Sunset, but you dare oppose me?"
Rainbow readied her photon transformation. "Father! For too long have I aided and abetted your evil schemes. No more!" Sunset and Twilight also readied their duel disks and duel gazers. "Fine." Faker replies. "If you won't obey me, then you will be crushed under my foot all the same. Now, join me in witnessing the cleansing of Astral World!" Faker also readied his duel disk and duel gazer.
"Since I am dueling the three of you, I will have triple the usual life points and you will share 4000." Ruby quietly laughs to herself as she remembers the similar conditions in which she, Yang, and Blake dueled Cinder. "I shall also take the first turn. I draw! First, I activate the effect of Garbage Ogre in my hand, discarding it to add a Garbage Lord to my hand. I then activate the effect of my three Garbage Lords in my hand, paying 1000 life points for each to special summon them." (Faker 12000-11000-10000-9000)
Three copies of an imperial-looking robot in a robe appear. (Level 5/0) "Three level fives so quickly." Starswirl notes. "I use my three level five Garbage Lords in order to build the overlay network! I xyz summon Number 53: Heart-Earth!" A red, tower-like structure emerges from the ground. (Rank 5/100) "I set two cards and end my turn."
At this point, I'd be less worried if it had a bunch of attack points, Twilight mused. "I draw! I summon Star Mage!" A wizard in purple robes covered in stars appears. (Level 4/1000) "Star Mage can count as two xyz materials for the summon of a spellcaster-type xyz monster. So I use my level four Star Mage in order to build the overlay network!" The wizard duplicates himself before transforming into two overlay units that fly into the overlay network.
"I xyz summon Number 39: Star Sparkle!" (Rank 4/2500) "I activate my face-down, Battle Route!" Faker replies. "As long as I control a monster, your face-up attack position monsters must attack each battle phase." Twilight curses under her breath. There's no way the attack will go smoothly. But she has no other choice. "Star Sparkle, attack Heart-Earth with Star Power!" Star Sparkle fires an energy blast from his staff at the tower.
"I activate the effect of Heart-Earth, equipping a monster from my graveyard onto itself in order to gain Star Sparkle's attack." Garbage Ogre appears before being absorbed into the tower's core. (Heart-Earth 100-2600) "I activate my quick-play spell Power Steal! Since your monster just gained attack, my monster gains the same amount of attack." A second version of Garbage Ogre appears before being absorbed into Star Sparkle. (Star Sparkle 2500-5000)
"Impressive." Faker comments, a surprising sincerity to his voice. "I send Garbage Ogre to the graveyard to keep Heart-Earth safe." A shield appears around Heart-Earth, blocking Star Sparkle's attack. (Heart-Earth 2600-100) (Faker 9000-6600) "I then deal damage to all of you equal to half the difference between Heart-Earth's current and previous attack. Fake Burn!" The shield explodes, sending shards towards the others. (Heroes 4000-2750)
"I then activate the effect of Heart-Earth to use one overlay unit and gain life points equal to the damage I inflicted." An overlay unit is absorbed into Heart-Earth's core. (Faker 6600-7850) "I set a card and end my turn." Twilight announces. "During the end phase, the effect of Power Steal wears off." (Star Sparkle 5000-2500)
"It's my turn." Sunset declares. "I draw! I summon Pyro Candle!" (Level 3/1500) "When Pyro Candle is summoned, I can special summon a level 3 pyro-type monster from my hand. I summon Solar Marauder!" (Level 3/1700) "I overlay my level 3 Pyro Candle and Solar Marauder in order to xyz summon Solar Warrior Helios!" A large warrior made of flame appears, carrying a large sun on his back. (Rank 3/2200)
"I equip Helios with Xyz Family! Now, it has the same name as Star Sparkle and can use its effects." Helios gains the same translucent appearance as Star Sparkle. "Now Helios is a number monster, so it can destroy Heart-Earth. Attack with Sun Impact!" Helios holds the sun up and throws it at Heart-Earth. "Foolish girl." Faker chides. "I can simply equip Garbage Ogre again to gain your monster's attack." Garbage Ogre is absorbed into Heart-Earth's core again. (Heart-Earth 100-2300)
"I know." Sunset replies. "I activate the effect of Helios, detaching an overlay unit to activate Star Sparkle's Magical Talent ability and reactivate Power Steal!" Helios grabs Star Sparkle's staff and absorbs an overlay unit into it, recreating the spell. (Solar Warrior Helios 2200-4400) "Then I activate the effect of Heart-Earth, destroying Garbage Ogre in place of Heart-Earth." (Heart-Earth 2300-100) (Faker 7850-3550)
"I then use Heart-Earth's effect to deal damage to you." Again, the shield is destroyed and the shards sent to the three. (Heroes 2750-1650) "I use an overlay unit to regain life points." A second overlay unit is again absorbed into Heart-Earth's core. (Faker 3550-4650)
"I'll get you next time. I end my turn." As Sunset does, the effect of Power Steal wears off. (Solar Warrior Helios 4400-2200) Rainbow steps forward, silently looking at her father. She then draws her card without a word. "I summon Photon Crusher." (Level 4/2000) "Since my team controls an xyz monster, I can summon Photon Slasher from my hand in defense mode." A knight in glowing armor appears. (Level 5/1000)
"I tribute my two monsters in order to summon my strongest monster! Appear, Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!" (Level 8/3000) "What, no fanfare?" Faker taunts. "But then again, you've been spreading yourself thin lately. Can you keep this up?" Twilight looks over and notices Rainbow's hand shaking, but Rainbow clenches it into a fist.
"Like you care!" Rainbow spits out. "If you were actually concerned, you wouldn't have threatened Scootaloo in order to make me use this power. I activate Overlay Capture, taking the last overlay unit from Heart-Earth and giving it to Star Sparkle." The overlay unit flies over to Twilight's monster. "Galaxy-Eyes, attack Heart-Earth with Photon Stream of Destruction!"
Just as Galaxy-Eyes fires its attack at Heart-Earth, Faker snaps his fingers, causing the tower to explode. "When Heart-Earth is attacked while it has no overlay units, I can use it to xyz summon my true ace; Number 92: Heart-Earth Dragon!" Out of the shattered core, a long serpentine dragon flies out. (Rank 9/0)
"When Heart-Earth Dragon is summoned, all monsters you control are switched to defense position, and they can't switch out." The dragon lets out a shrill shriek, and each of the three's monsters back away. (Star Sparkle 2000) (Solar Warrior Helios 1700) (Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon 2500) "I then activate my face-down Fake Form, which will deal 400 damage to you for every monster changed this way."
Three blasts fire from the monsters. "I don't think so!" Rainbow replies. "I activate my own quick-play spell Photon Prevent, which negates the effect damage while I control a Photon Monster." Galaxy-Eyes flies up and intercepts the blasts. Meanwhile, Rainbow falls to her knees, causing Twilight to run over to her. "Spare me your pity!" Rainbow reflexively says, but recomposes herself. "I'm fine. Fine enough to finish the job. I end my turn."
"How doubtful." Faker comments. "I draw! When Heart-Earth Dragon battles, it can never be destroyed by that battle and you will take the damage instead. I attack Helios with Heart-Earth Dragon! Heartbreak Cannon!" Heart-Earth Dragon charges up a purple blast from its mouth and fires at Sunset's monster.
"I activate the effect of Kuriphoton in my hand," Rainbow replies. "discarding it and paying half our life points to take no further damage." Kuriphoton appears and blocks the beam. (Heroes 1650-825) "How noble of you." Faker says. "But do you think that will be enough to absolve yourself of the harm you've done? I may have commanded you to do so, but you still took the lives of so many number holders."
Rainbow glares at her father. "I know I'm too far gone by this point. So I may as well take you with me!" Faker frowns at her insolence. "I set a card and end my turn." Twilight looks at the two with a mixture of pity, frustration, and regret that she couldn't do more. "A new observation:" Starswirl points out. "Some families are close together, yet some would be better off apart."
Twilight sighs. "It all depends on the family, I guess. I draw! I use Star Sparkle in order to rebuild the overlay network!" As Star Sparkle retracts into its sealed form, Sunset's Xyz Family sends itself to the graveyard. "Appear, the strength of our bonds, Chaos Number 39: Star Sparkle Nova!" (Rank 4/2500) "Oh?" Faker asks rhetorically. "What good will that do you?" "Plenty! I activate the spell Overlay Martial Form. By detaching two overlay units from Star Sparkle Nova, not only does it deal damage to you equal to his attack points, but I can destroy one spell or trap you control. I choose Battle Route!"
Star Sparkle fires one overlay unit at Battle Route, destroying it, and another at Faker, pushing him back. (Faker 4650-2150) "I set a card and end my turn." "That means now you deal with me, asshole!" Sunset exclaims. "I draw!" "During the standby phase after you place cards on the field, Heart-Earth Dragon banishes those cards!" Faker interrupts. His dragon's ears glow and Star Sparkle Nova and Twilight's set Scrap-Iron Scarecrow disappear. "Your cards are like your bonds, meaningless!"
"We'll see about that!" Sunset remarks. "I activate the original effect of Solar Warrior Helios, spending an overlay unit to deal damage to you equal to its attack, but it can't attack that turn. Flame Fury Arts!" Helios absorbs an overlay unit into his sun, causing a flare of fire to shoot out towards Faker. "Useless." he taunts. "Since I control a higher rank xyz monster, I can activate my face-down Xyz Exile! It not only negates your xyz monster's effect, but banishes it and gives me life points equal to the difference in ranks times 500!"
The flare is pushed back and wipes out Helios. (Faker 2150-5150) "I set a card and end my turn." Sunset grumbles. Rainbow looks over to Sunset, wondering if she forgot about the banishing effect. However, Sunset's smirk to Rainbow tells her this isn't the case. "I draw!" "The effect of Heart-Earth Dragon banishes your face-down, you foolish girl." Faker announces.
"Just what I was waiting for." Sunset replies. "My face-down was Hidden Pyro Mine! When it leaves the field by your card effect, I can special summon two pyro-type monsters from my deck with their effects negated and unable to attack. I special summon two copies of Solar Colossus!" Two large flaming figures appear next to Galaxy-Eyes. (Level 8/3000)
"Thanks." Rainbow says, barely getting back up. "I overlay my level 8 Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon with Sunset's two level 8 Solar Colossi!" Rainbow's body glows bright red as Galaxy-Eyes turns into a spear which she catches. "Radiant galaxy, here and now become the striking light, and show yourself! Descend, My very soul!"
Rainbow throws the spear into the overlay network, causing it to explode. "I xyz summon Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon!" (Rank 8/4500) Rainbow wipes off some sweat from her brow as she continues. "Since I used the original Galaxy-Eyes, the effect of your Heart-Earth Dragon is negated. Photon Howling!" Neo Galaxy-Eyes lets out a mighty roar that makes the opposing dragon whimper in fear.
"I then activate the effect of Neo Galaxy-Eyes to detach an overlay unit and drain your overlay units." Neo Galaxy-Eyes reaches out its hand and pulls Heart-Earth Dragon's overlay unit to itself, then crushes the overlay unit in its hand. (Neo Galaxy-Eyes 4500-5000) "Attack Heart-Earth Dragon with Ultimate Photon Stream of Destruction!"
Neo Galaxy-Eyes fires a red laser beam that devastates Heart-Earth Dragon, the shockwave sending Faker near the portal. (Faker 5150-150) "Dad, please." Rainbow pleads. "Just stop this crazy quest. Come back to us, your family." As Faker gets back up, he looks to his side, as if something catches his eye.
"No! You can't! We had a deal! I can handle this!" He then convulses in pain as black and red wings sprout from his back and a strange emblem appears on his forehead. Once the transformation is complete, his body stops fighting and looms back up. "Finally, I'm in the human world after so long."
"Father?" Rainbow asks. "It's not your father anymore." Ruby warns. "I've seen this kind of thing before. Whoever he was working with decided to do things themselves. Your name's Jeze, isn't it?" Faker's body turns around and gives a wicked grin. "Why, yes. What a smart little girl you are." 'He' turns back around to face the three duelists.
"I am Jeze, a special agent of the Barian world. I'm making sure my plans go along perfectly. I activate Heart-Earth Dragon's effect! When it is destroyed while it has no overlay units, it revives itself in attack position." A dark portal appears, and Heart-Earth Dragon flies out of it. "Not only does it use its usual effect of switching your monster to defense position, but it gains 1000 attack for every card that is banished!" Heart-Earth Dragon lets out another shrill shriek, and Rainbow's monster steps back. (Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon 3000) (Heart-Earth Dragon 0-4000)
"I end my turn." Rainbow begrudgingly admits. As she does, the effect of Neo Galaxy-Eyes wears off. (Neo Galaxy-Eyes Photon Dragon 5000-4500) She then falls to the floor again, to Twilight's worry. "I draw!" Jeze declares. "I activate Barian's Gateway!" A portal with the same symbol on Faker's forehead appears.
"The turn I activate it, I can't summon or set at all, but on that same turn, if a card you control is destroyed, you take 800 damage! Heart-Earth Dragon, attack Neo Galaxy-Eyes with Heartbreak Cannon!" Heart-Earth Dragon charges up a purple beam that it fires at Rainbow's monster. "I activate my face-down Photon Escape, banishing my photon monster to end the battle phase."
Neo Galaxy-Eyes vanishes in a blink of light and Heart-Earth Dragon's beam fades away. (Heart-Earth Dragon 4000-5000) "I can then activate the effect of my Dimension Wanderer in my hand. By discarding it when a monster I control is banished, you take damage equal to the combined attack of two of our banished monsters. I choose Neo Galaxy-Eyes and Star Sparkle Nova. Now, give me my father back, you monster!"
A small glowing robot appears, carrying a knapsack. Behind it, Neo Galaxy-Eyes and Star Sparkle Nova appear and fire their attacks at Jeze. "I don't think so. I activate the effect of Barian's Gateway, sending it to the graveyard to negate Dimension Wanderer's effect." The portal moves to intercept both attacks, then disappears. "I set a card and end my turn."
Rainbow weakly looks over to Twilight. "It's up to you now. Please, save my father." She then sits down to rest, her transformation becoming undone. Twilight and Starswirl look at each other before deciding it was time. Both their bodies glow before flying into each other, forming Zexal. "It's our turn. Shining Draw!"
"I summon Zexal Weapon Mirror Chameleon!" A glass chameleon appears. (Level 3/0) "I then activate the spell card Dimensional Journey! Star Sparkle Nova returns to the battlefield!" Star Sparkle Nova steps out of a starry portal. (Heart-Earth Dragon 5000-4000) "In addition, it can attack directly for all my other banished monsters, but it will then be banished during the end phase." The translucent images of Helios and Neo Galaxy-Eyes appear behind Star Sparkle Nova.
"I then equip Mirror Chameleon to Star Sparkle Nova." Mirror Chameleon transforms into a glass shield that Star Sparkle picks up. "Star Sparkle Nova, attack directly with Flame Nova Power!" Star Sparkle and Helios both charge their attacks, then fire at Jeze.
"I banish Barian's Gateway in order to activate my face-down Barian's Battle Buster!" Jeze counters. (Heart-Earth Dragon 4000-5000) "Up to twice each turn, your monster's attack is negated." Two transparent images of the same symbol on Jeze's head appear, the first blocking Star Sparkle and Helios' attack.
"I attack directly again! Photon Nova Power!" This time, Neo Galaxy-Eyes joins Star Sparkle in breaking through the shield. "Alright!" Sunset cheers. "One more attack, and she's finished!" "Such a shame." Jeze says. "And you were so close. I activate the second effect of Barian's Battle Buster, sending it to the graveyard to force battle between our monsters. Heart-Earth Dragon, counterattack with Heartbreak Cannon!"
The dragon fires a purple beam at Star Sparkle. "I counter with the effect of Mirror Chameleon!" Zexal replies. "When Star Sparkle Nova battles your monster, I can discard a card to make it so that Star Sparkle isn't destroyed, and you take the battle damage instead." Star Sparkle raises his shield which absorbs the beam.
"No! This can't be!" Jeze replies, shocked that anyone could stop her. "It's time you paid for what you've done." Zexal declares. "Mirror Nova Power!" Star Sparkle fires the purple beam out of his shield to Jeze, who screams defiantly. (Jeze 150-0) Zexal splits back into Starswirl and Twilight, the former absorbing all the number cards from Faker, who is now freed from Jeze's possession, the symbol disappearing from his forehead.
Twilight and Sunset get a running start before jumping to the weapon, grabbing on next to Ruby. They quickly undo her bonds and the three jump off, down to the floor. "Nice job, Twilight." Ruby says. "You always had it in you. Now it's my turn to do something." She rushes over to where her duel runner is being held.
"What do you mean?" Twilight asks. "The people of Astral World are devastated by Faker's attacks." Ruby explains as she unlocks her duel runner. "I'm going to go through the portal and help them out." "So this is goodbye?" Twilight asks, despondent. She had just rescued Ruby, and now she's gonna be gone again. Ruby smiles at Twilight. "Nah, it's 'See you later!' I'll be back, I promise!" With that, she mounts her duel runner and races into the portal before it closes.
…
The next day, after everyone had rested up and gone their separate ways, Twilight attended an award ceremony where she was given a trophy by Mr Heartland for winning the WDC. "Congratulations, Miss Sparkle, on coming this far." The man announced. "Now, your next big decision. You will be granted any wish, as long as it's in my power. What do you want most?"
"I've already decided on my wish, Mr Heartland." Twilight answers. "My wish is not for myself, but for my friend, Sunset Shimmer. Her sister, Diamond Tiara, needs money for medical bills, so my wish is for them instead of me." "What a heartfelt wish!" Mr Heartland exclaims. "And you know we're all about heart here in Heartland City. I will personally make sure that Diamond gets no less than the best." Twilight smiles. "Thank you, sir. Thank you very much."
…
Ruby falls out of the portal, using Crescent Rose to cushion her fall. The area around her is beautiful, to put it mildly. A shimmering collection of clear blue crystals, formed into grand buildings and architecture. Behind her, a tall winged figure flies down. "Ruby Rose?" Ruby nods. "I am Celestia. We have much to discuss."
…
Somewhere in the Barian world, four cloaked figures gather. "It would appear that the human world is better defended than we fought." One of them says. "We will have to intervene personally." Another smiles to herself, grateful for her chance to shine.