Twilight found herself drifting high in the sky, surrounded by dark clouds. She glanced around in nervous confusion, as lightning struck around her. Looking down, she saw Equestria spread out beneath her. As if knowing she was now looking, Equestria began to tremble. Purple flames erupted from the ground, weaving themselves into a pattern, and taking care to destroy everything in their path.

“No!” Twilight cried out as she sat up, waking from her dream.

“Uh, yes?” said Spike, a confused look on his face.

“Huh?” asked Twilight, glancing around.

“I was just telling you to wake up, or you’d be late for Rainbow’s birthday party,” said Spike.

“Oh, right,” said Twilight, rubbing the back of her neck with her hoof. “I just had a bad dream, I guess.”

Spike groaned. “I told you to stop studying so late, but you never listen! Wouldn’t you rather sleep in your bed instead of these old books? So you’d actually wake up refreshed and ready to meet your friends at, say, Rainbow’s birthday?”

“Spike, don’t you realize the importance of these studies?” asked Twilight. “Duel Monsters may be older and more influential than those ruins first suggested! So many societies seem to have a link to them! Scandineighvia, Haygypt…”

“Rainbow’s birthday?” Spike cut in.

“Rainbow’s birthday?” repeated Twilight, slightly confused. “Oh, right! I’m late for her birthday! Thanks for the reminder, Spike!”

“It’s only the third time I’ve mentioned it,” said Spike, as Twilight strapped on her Duel Disk.

“Do you have those cards I found the other day?”

Spike nodded, opening a drawer, and pulling them out. “You said your research found nothing?”

Twilight nodded. “I traded one of those history books Celestia sent me with Cheerilee for a Card Guide. Apparently, these cards don’t exist.”

“But the Duel Disk still registers them okay,” said Spike.

Twilight nodded. “So they’re probably just really rare. I’m sure Rainbow will love it!”

“She’d really love it if she got it at her party,” said Spike.

“R-right,” said Twilight, levitating the cards from Spike. “Well, I’m off!”

“Have fun!” called Spike, as Twilight galloped out the door.

Twilight moved as quickly as she could without running into anypony on the streets. By the time she made it to Sweet Apple Acres, she saw that Rainbow Dash had already opened all her gifts and had moved on to dueling.

“Sorry I’m late, girls,” called Twilight, once she caught her breath. “I overslept.”

“No biggie,” said Rainbow.

“Yeah,” said Pinkie, “it’s not like we only get this chance once a year, oh wait, yes we do!”

“Pinkie, darling,” said Rarity, “what did I tell you about drinking too much sarsaparilla when you haven’t had a good night’s sleep?”

“It makes me too sassy,” sighed Pinkie. “I’m sorry, Twilight.”

“It’s quite all right,” said Twilight. “So, how’s the duel going?”

“Right now, Rainbow is winning, with Fluttershy tryin’ to stall,” said Applejack. “But the question is for how long?”

“Oh, Fluttershy finally got a deck?” asked Twilight, as she turned to watch the duel.

Rainbow Dash: LP 3400. Fluttershy: LP 2000.

On Fluttershy’s Field was Wattkiwi, Wattcannon, and Messenger of Peace. She had three cards in her hoof. On Rainbow Dash’s Field was a set card and Flamvell Uruquizas with 2400 ATK. She had four cards in her hoof.

“What, you think she’s going to win?” asked Rainbow. “She’s only safe because of that Continuous-Spell. Once I can destroy it, the duel is mine.”

“My turn,” said Fluttershy. “Draw. I pay 100 Life Points to keep Messenger of Peace on the Field. [Fluttershy: LP 2000 –> 1900] Then I summon Wattwoodpecker." A black, red, and yellow bird landed in front of Fluttershy, its beak twitching forward. [ATK1000. LV3] "By the effect of Wattcannon, once per turn, when I summon a Level 4 or lower Thunder-Type Monster, I inflict 600 points of damage to my opponent.”

“Uh huh,” nodded Rainbow, as the cannon burst hit her. [Rainbow Dash: LP 3400 –> 2800] “See? That’s all she’s able to do.”

“Um, Rainbow, dear,” said Rarity, “I’d hate to contradict you on your birthday, but she has a Tuner and a non-Tuner Monster on the field.”

“Huh?” asked Rainbow.

“I tune my Level 3 Wattkiwi to my Level 3 Wattwoodpecker,” said Fluttershy. “Electrical energy, gather and awaken these myths. Synchro Summon. Wattchimera.” A large beast, resembling a manticore, with a snake replacing the scorpion tail, leapt forward, electricity coursing over it. [ATK1400. LV6]

“Well,” said Rainbow. “Crap.”

“Oh, it’s even better,” said Rarity. “Since it has less than 1500 ATK, Messenger of Peace can’t prevent it from attacking.”

“It has less ATK than Flamvell Uruquizas, though,” said Pinkie. “So wouldn’t that hurt Fluttershy instead of Dashie?”

“Wattchimera can attack directly thanks to its effect,” explained Fluttershy. “Battle. Wattchimera, direct attack.”

“I was waiting for that!” smiled Rainbow. “Trap activate! Malevolent Catastrophe! When my opponent’s Monster declares an attack, I can destroy all Spells and Traps on the field!”

“So my Wattcannon and Messenger of Peace are destroyed?” asked Fluttershy.

“Wow,” said Twilight. “I’m impressed, Rainbow. That was pretty clever.”

“Why are you acting like that’s a surprise?” Rainbow muttered.

“Even with the Spells and Traps destroyed,” said Fluttershy, “the attack continues.”

“Gah!” [Rainbow Dash: LP 2800 –> 1400]

“When Wattchimera inflicts Battle Damage,” continued Fluttershy, “I place a random card from my opponent’s hoof to the top of their deck. I then set a card and end my turn.”

“My turn,” said Rainbow. “Draw! I summon Flamvell Baby!" A small cluster of flames ignited on Rainbow's field, taking the form of a small imp. [ATK800. LV1] "Battle! Flamvell Uruquizas, attack Wattchimera!” Uruquizas delivered a sudden, fiery punch to Wattchimera, destroying it and continuing on to hit Fluttershy.

“Ah!” gasped Fluttershy. [Fluttershy: LP 1900 –> 900]

“When Uruquizas deals damage, his ATK increases by 300. [ATK2700] Flamvell Baby, direct attack!”

“Gah!” flinched Fluttershy, as Flamvell Baby tackled her. [Fluttershy: LP 900 –> 100]

“I tune my Level 1 Flamvell Baby to my Level 6 Flamvell Uruquizas!” said Rainbow. Flamvell Baby dissolved into a green ring, while Flamvell Uriquizas became stars. The stars lined up in the ring's center, as Rainbow chanted. “Ancient god of fire, burn my adversaries to a crisp! Synchro Summon! Ancient Flamvell Deity!" A pillar of light shot through the center of the ring, and a large being made of stone and flames rose up out of it. [ATK2500. LV7] "When Ancient Flamvell Deity is Synchro Summoned, I banish cards from my opponent’s Graveyard up to the number of cards in their hoof! You have two, so I banish Wattchimera and Wattwoodpecker from your Graveyard! Then, since two cards were banished, Ancient Flamvell Deity gains 400 ATK!” [ATK2900]

“Oh, so close to winning, Dash!” called Pinkie.

“Turn end,” said Rainbow.

“My turn,” said Fluttershy. “Draw. I summon Wattgiraffe." A small giraffe, with light-bulbs for ears and electric prongs for horns appeared in front of Fluttershy. [ATK1200. LV4] "Then I activate my Continuous-Trap, Wattcannon.”

“Another one?” asked Rainbow, her eyes going wide. “How many do you have?”

“Uh,” said Fluttershy, “three, I think. I mean, the rules let you have up to three of each card, so…”

“Yeah,” nodded Rainbow. “Okay, so I take 600 damage, right?”

“Oh, right,” said Fluttershy. [Rainbow Dash: LP 1400 –> 800]

“Oh, I was looking at a guidebook last night about different cards and their stats,” said Twilight.

“No offense, Twilight,” said Applejack, “but why are you bringing this up now?”

“Because I saw Wattgiraffe and I remember its effect,” said Twilight. “It can attack directly. It’s also classified as Super Rare, but that’s beside the point.”

“Oh, so Rainbow’s going to lose, then,” said Rarity. “Go, Fluttershy!”

“Wattgiraffe, direct attack.”

“Gah!” gasped Rainbow, as she fell over from Wattgiraffe's lightning strike. [Rainbow Dash: LP 800 –> 0]

“Wow, way to go, Fluttershy!” said Pinkie.

“That was impressive,” said Twilight. “When did you find the time to build this deck, though?”

“I kept buying a few packs every so often,” said Fluttershy, “and traded with my customers for any other cards I needed. It took a few months, and I wanted to surprise you.”

“Well I am surprised,” said Twilight. “You beat Rainbow Dash in your first duel.”

“Uh, I let her win,” said Rainbow, as she sat up.

“Really?” asked Fluttershy, glancing over.

Rarity took a look at the cards Rainbow still had in her hoof, and shook her head towards the others.

“Well, thank you for letting me win, Rainbow!” smiled Fluttershy, and pulled her into a hug.

“Heh, no problem,” smiled Rainbow, returning the hug. “Figured a victory against me of all ponies would encourage you to keep dueling.”

Applejack facehoofed. “I can’t believe Shy bought that.”

Twilight smiled. “Her naivete is a part of her charm. Oh, Rainbow, I have a gift for you. Happy birthday.”

Rainbow grabbed the card. “Red Demon’s Dragon, huh? Never heard of it. Looks pretty cool, though. Thanks, Twi.”

“Well, come on then, Rainbow!” smiled Twilight. “Why not try it on me? And I won’t accept it if you ‘let me win’, alright?”

Rainbow smirked, as she slid Red Demon’s Dragon into her Extra Deck. “Bring it, Twilight!”

Above the party, on one of the branches of the apple trees, was a small spider web, with the spider seemingly staring at them. Through the eyes of the spider they were watched by three dark figures.

“It seems you were right,” one of them said in a bored voice. “The dragons seem to be gravitating towards those dweebs.”

“Of course I’m right!” laughed the second. “Twilight Sparkle and her little gang of friends are always the center of attention, so of course destiny would choose them!”

“How should we proceed, then?” asked the third. “Even with the dragon, they still don’t possess the marks. We’re merely speculating on whether they’re chosen.”

“Don’t sweat it, Chief,” said the first. “I’ll just manipulate some of the Ponyville drones to activate them. If they kill them too, that’s just a plus for us.”

“And you’re certain you can accomplish this?”

“I’m certain she can,” said the second. “The lesser ponies are but pawns in this game, their will easily bent to our will. Enact your plan.”

“As you wish,” smirked the first, as she resumed spying upon the party. “Enjoy your party, little ponies, for tomorrow is the beginning of the end for you."