Darkness and light, into the chaos.

"So we were right." Andrew muttered. He had listened intently to Diamond and Silver's story about Osiris and looked grim as he heard about the Earthbound Immortal.

Matt came in. "Hey Silver, what's up?"

"The Dark Signers have returned." Andrew hissed. "We need to get word to the princesses. You find Lightning in case they target her. Don't want squat happening in her condition." Lightning Dust had been six months pregnant and had Matt worrying over her every day. It only made sense that Matt was gone before his brother finished. "Diamond, you and Silver find the kids and warn them."

"Right." both ran off.

"Do you think it wise to send Diamond and Silver together?" Flame asked. "I've observed the two of them and they seem to be getting unusually close."

"Relax Astral," Andrew snapped, "If what you're implying is true, I'll support her like the good father I am." In truth, Andrew had noticed how DIamond had been acting around Silver as well. He figured it was bound to happen with somepony, with the lack of stallions in the nation. Besides, Silver had turned herself around like Diamond. There was no issue with Diamond being with the earth pony.

...

A week later, all the mane 6, the brothers, and all their friends and family sat in the main living room of the castle. "Is Aunt Lightning coming down?" Destiny asked, her eyes changing from her happy pink to a concerned periwinkle. After word about the dark signers spread, Lightning had been on house arrest until something happened. After a nod from Matt, Destiny moved to her presents. "What do we have this year?" she asked, pulling down one from Diamond. "Hope this will help your game, love your big sis." Destiny opened the small box to reveal a Gem-Knight Crystal card within. "Diamond, thank you so much." She grabbed a box with Discord and Screwball's names on it. The box contained Chaos Draw, Chaotic Kuriboh(Screwball's Kuriboh deck), and an Xyz monster she didn't recognize. "Being of Chaos: Appopus." Destiny read aloud. "Awesome, thanks guys." She moved to the tiny box marked "OPEN LAST" and opened it to see a rod no longer than her forearm when transformed.

"Might want to take that outside before you finish opening it." Andrew said, lifting his wing to display a similar rod. A knock at the door turned everypony's attention to the gate control. Outside was a unicorn mare with a Yugioh card back on her flank came up on the little screen. "I didn't know Dinky was in town."

"Well, you should probably let her in." Matt said as his brother took the controls.

Dinky walked in five minutes later and was greeted by hugs from both her sisters. "It's good to see you two." she laughed. Looking to Destiny she smiled and said, "You got big since I was last here. How are you squirt?"

"I'm not a squirt." Destiny cried indignantly, "And fine. Thanks for asking."

"Poki. Poki." the little yellow dragon chirped next to its master.

"Hi Poki."

"So, after you see what that rod of yours turns into, what do you say you and I have a duel?" Dinky asked. Both her sisters knew her secret, but t hey kept secrets well enough.

"I was going to duel Dad first, but then sure."

"Are you crazy?" Dinky hissed.

"That's what Diamond said, and probably. I'm Dad's daughter." Destiny turned to Andrew, her eyes an uncertain sky blue. "Dad, you think you and I could have a duel outside after I've opened the rod?"

"Why not?"

...

Out in the Northern courtyard, Destiny opened the rod and it became an orange and silver duel runner. "But this was in my diary, how did you?" Destiny noticed the guilty look in her father's eyes. "You didn't." she said, her eyes turning purple.

"You left it open in the library, what did you expect?" Andrew replied evenly. "Now, Night King Transformation!"

"Shadow Guard Transformation! Dark Shield Disk, engaged!"

"Star-wing disk, engaged."

"Duel!"

Andrew:8000

Destiny's Hand:8000

"Ladies first. I activate the field spell Soul Arena-Lost Citadel!" The citadel took form and Andrew stood amazed. "I think you remember what it does. First, since I have no monsters in my graveyard, I can summon Guardian Eatos(ATK:2500). Next, since I have my field spell in play, I can summon Soulborn Wanderer-Zasalamel(ATK:2500-3000), then since I special summoned a Soulborn I can summon Soulborn Mimic-Charade(ATK:2300-2800). Now that I have Charade on my field, I can summon Soulborn Demon Inferno from my deck(ATL:3000-3500). I overlay my level eight monsters."

"No." Andrew gasped.

The Overlay network appeared and a pillar of darkness erupted. "Let the Darkness in my heart fuel your strength. I summon Nightmare the Soul Edge Vessel(ATK:5000-5500)."

"She summoned him?" Avid asked.

"Right in front of Andrew too." Stream agreed.

"And Nightmare gains 200 attack points for every dark monster on the field, including himself(ATK:5500-5700). I play two cards facedown and end my turn."

"My move." Andrew said. Nightmare, the real Nightmare! "First, since you're the only one with monsters on your field I can summon Cyber Dragon(DEF:1600), next since I have no monsters in my graveyard I can summon Guardian Eatos(DEF:2000). I summon Pursuit Chaser(DEF:600) and play two cards facedown. That ends my turn."

"My draw." Destiny looked to Nightmare. What do you think?

"He wants us to attack. when a defense position monster is destroyed by battle with him on the field you take 500 points of damage."

"My thoughts exactly. I play Shield Crush to destroy Chaser." the monster bike exploded. "Now I activate Nightmare's ability. By discarding one overlay unit I can summon two dark monsters from my deck. Come on out Soulborn Pirate-Cervantes(ATK:3000-3500) and Soulborn Golem-Astaroth(ATK:2000-2500) My Soulborns will destroy your monsters."

"Bad move. I activate Call of the Haunted. Since I only have one monster in my graveyard, you can guess who's coming back."

"Uh-Oh." Pursuit Chaser came from the card(ATK:1400) and both monsters were destroyed.

Destiny's Hand:8000-7000

"Nightmare attack the bike."

"I activate Negate attack."

"I end my turn." He's playing hardball.

"My move. I switch my Chaser into defense mode(DEF:600) and then I'll activate Ookazi."

Destiny's Hand:7000-6200

"Next, I'll summon Gem Armadillo(ATK:1700). Now I can add my Gem-Knight to my hand."

"So what? You still can't summon Zirconia without- the other facedown, hu?"

"Yup. I activate my facedown Polymerization. Gem-Knight Tourmaline and Gem Armadillo, combine into Gem-Knight Zirconia(DEF:2500). I end my turn."

"You're relying on defensive strategies to win. It won't work against us. I play Gravity Ax-Grarl and special summon Guardian Grarl(ATK:2500-3000). I play Soulborn Guardian Blitz. Now when I have one or more Soulborn and Guardian monster, I can sacrifice them both and hit you for both their original attack points. I choose Grarl and Cervantes. Nightmare loses some points(ATK:6300-5900), but it's worth the price." both the monsters Destiny named vaporized and the vapor hit Andrew dead on.

Andrew:8000-3500

"I end my turn since I can't attack after my Blitz's activation."

"That stung." Andrew whispered, clutching his stomach. "My move." Okay, defense isn't working and attack is out of the question. What can I do? he drew a card and grinned. "That'll work. I sacrifice Zirconia and Chaser."

"He's abandoning his strategy." Nightmare said in astonishment.

"Show them true Darkness. I summon Earthbound Immortal Aslla Piscu(ATK:2500). Attack Destiny directly with Hummingbird Harpoon." the giant speared the girl.

Destiny's Hand:6200-3700

"I end my turn there."

"Not good." Destiny panted.

"Especially since if Aslla Piscu is destroyed by anything other than its own effect, all our monsters are destroyed and we take 800 points of damage for each."

"What's his own effect?"

"No Earthbound Immortal can exist without a field spell in play."

"That gives me an idea. I draw." Destiny glanced at the card. "Perfect. I play Mystical Space Typhoon to destroy my Soul Arena." the arena and the Immortal exploded. "And since my Arena was destroyed, I can add another Soul Arena to my hand. I play Soul Arena-Clock Tower." The duelists and spectators found themselves in a clock mechanism. "And when I play it on the same turn I added it to my hand, you take 500 points of damage." a gear shook loose and struck Andrew.

Andrew:3500-3000

"Could Dad actually lose this?" Diamond asked nopony in particular.

"With how things are shaping up, it looks like he will. He has no monsters, no spell or trap cards, and no cards in his hand." Aquamarine replied.

"Of course, when you take damage due to Clock Tower's effect, my turn automatically ends."

"Gutsy move." Matt muttered.

Andrew felt the familiar glow. "Time to end this. I draw. I play the continuous spell Night Castle."

"Uh-Oh."

"Come forth Fabled Raven(ATK:1300), Gem-Knight Zirconia(ATK:2900), Winged Kuriboh(ATK:300), Divine Dragon Apocralyph(ATK:1000), and the Flame Champion(ATK:1900)."

"We're screwed."

"Go Super Synchro. I tune my five monsters together." A pillar of light erupted from the sky. "Bring hope with your celestial light. I summon Goramiti the Soul Calibur Vessel(ATK:5000-5500). Why did his attack points rise?"

"Clock tower has the same effects as Lost Citadel." Destiny explained.

"Well I activate his effect. Now by removing the monsters I used to summon him, he returns to the extra deck and they can return to the field." Andrew grinned, "And now for the fun part. Goramiti gains attack points equal to all my banished monsters. First up is Fabled Raven(ATK:5500-6800), then comes Winged Kuriboh(ATK:6800-7100), next up is Zirconia(ATK:7100-9000), now for Apocralyph(ATK:9000-10000), and finally, Flame Champion(ATK:10000-11900)."

"Go ahead. I want you to attack." Destiny taunted.

She's up to something. "Goramiti, Soul Calibur Slash!"

"I activate Soulborn Demon-Inferno's ability. By removing him from play, I can negate your attack and destroy your monster. Go Hellfire Gate!" Goramiti was enveloped, but not destroyed. "What?"

"Goramiti can't be affected by dark monsters. Your gate has no bite on him. Goramiti end it." he slashed at Nightmare.

Destiny's Hand:3700-0

"No." Destiny whispered, kneeling as the holograms disappeared. "No, how could I lose? I had Nightmare. I had my plans, everything was perfect."

"I forgot about Goramiti's immunity to the darkness. This is on my head." Nightmare replied, "You have nothing to be ashamed of."

"That's not like you, Nightmare." Andrew said, now standing over the two. He offered his hand and helped Destiny up. "You have some explaining to do. Inside now. All of you." he called to the ponies behind him.

Wow, I actually almost lost. How will Destiny explain this, and just what is the backstory?