Applejack and Rarity pulled up behind Twilight and Ghost, looking up with wide eyes at Wisel. “What the hay is this thing?”

Rarity looked down at her D-Wheel, tuning her monitor to the duel. “It’s five different monsters?”

“Ah didn’t know monsters could combine like that,” said Applejack.

“I’m guessing Ghost’s victims didn’t either,” said Rarity.

“Be careful, Twi!” Applejack called.

“Girls,” Twilight smiled. “Good to see you here.”

“Hmph, an audience, huh?” Ghost muttered.

“Did you think you could get away with your attacks forever?” Twilight asked. “I set three cards and end my turn.”

“I don’t need to get away with them forever,” Ghost laughed. “My turn, draw! [Ghost: SPC 2. Twilight Sparkle: SPC 2] Go, Meklord Emperor Wisel! Attack directly!” Wisel raised its arm, the blade extending further, as it brought it down to slash Twilight.

“Trap activate!” Twilight countered. “Draining Shield! I negate your Monster’s attack and gain Life Points equal to its ATK!” A barrier appeared around Twilight, deflecting Wisel’s strike. [Twilight Sparkle: LP 4000 –> 6500]

“Hm, hm, hm,” Ghost laughed. “You won’t be able to hide forever. Turn end.”

“I won’t have to!” said Twilight. “My turn, draw! [Ghost: SPC 3. Twilight Sparkle: SPC 3] I activate my Continuous-Trap, Psychic Tuning! I Special Summon a Psychic from my Graveyard, however I’ll take damage equal to its level times 400 when it leave the field again.”

“So Twilight uses Psychic Monsters, now?” said Rarity. “Interesting choice.”

“I Special Summon Krebons!” said Twilight. The disjointed jester appeared in front of Twilight. [ATK1200. LV2] “Then, since I control a Psychic-Type Monster, I can Normal Summon this card without releasing. I summon Armored Axon Kicker!” A biped covered in green and purple metal appeared. Large, long tubes were hanging off it. [ATK2200. LV6]

“Twilight, AJ, Rarity!” Pinkie called, speeding up from behind them.

“Just in time, Pinkie,” said Rarity.

“Twilight’s about to teach this wacko a lesson, Ah reckon,” said Applejack.

“You’re right about that, Applejack!” Twilight smiled. “I tune my level 2 Krebons to my level 6 Armored Axon Kicker!” Krebons burst into two green Tuning Rings, lining up next to Twilight as they channeled the six level stars of Armored Axon Kicker. “Clustering wishes will create a shining new star! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Take flight, Stardust Dragon!” A burst of light shot through the rings, and Stardust Dragon flew out, a trail of sparkles falling off behind it into the wind, as its wings stretched. With a roar, Stardust spun around in the air, taking place above Twilight to fly over the highway. [ATK2500. LV8]

“Synchro Monster…” Ghost muttered.

“Ooh, Stardust Dragon’s here!” cheered Pinkie. “You’re going down, Ghostie! You and your… holy cow! What’s that giant robot!?”

“You only just noticed?” Applejack asked.

“First, since Krebons left the field, Psychic Tuning deals 800 points of damage to me” said Twilight. Energy enveloped Twilight, seemingly burning her. [Twilight Sparkle: LP 6500 –> 5700] “Ah! That stung… But that’s nothing compared to what I’m going to do to you! I activate my Trap! Synchro Striker Unit! I equip it to Stardust Dragon, raising its ATK by 1000!” [ATK3500]

“Go for it, Twilight!” Pinkie cheered.

“Stardust Dragon, attack Meklord Emperor Wisel!” said Twilight. “Shooting Sonic!” Stardust turned around to face Wisel, letting out a roar. She reared back, and let out a blast of white energy.

“Wisel Guard’s effect!” countered Ghost. “I redirect the your attack against Wisel Infinity to it!” [DEF1200]

“What!?” Twilight gasped. Wisel held its right arm up, the armor plating on the back of the hand glowing with energy. Stardust’s blast hit the energy, and the whole arm exploded. The rest of Wisel, however, remained untouched.

“So even though they combined they’re still different cards?” Applejack asked.

“And it seems each part is meant to compensate for something,” said Rarity.

“What do you mean by that?” Pinkie asked, a sly smile on her face.

Rarity’s eyes widened. “Nothing dirty! I meant effect wise! Get your mind out of the gutter, Pinkie Pie!”

“If you two are finished,” said Twilight, “I end my turn. During the End Phase, Synchro Striker Unit lowers the equipped Monster’s ATK by 800.” Stardust let out a roar that sounded almost of annoyance. [ATK2700]

“She’s still stronger than Wisel, at least,” said Applejack.

“Hm, hm, hm,” Ghost laughed.

“I don’t think you’re in a position to be laughing,” said Twilight.

“Don’t be so sure,” said Ghost. “My turn, draw! [Ghost: SPC 4. Twilight Sparkle: SPC 4] I summon Wisel Guard 3!” What appeared to be a white, metal snail, with black prongs on its bottom and claws clenched together to form a point for its head appeared. [DEF2000. LV3] It quickly bent and unfolded to form a new arm and hand, a much larger shield on the back of the hand, before snapping into place on Wisel.

“So he has parts to replace the ones Twilight breaks?” Pinkie asked.

“Twilight Sparkle, is it?” Ghost asked. “I heard you were regarded as a noble heroine. It seems those rumors were false.”

“False?” Twilight questioned.

“Look at that disgusting creature on your field,” said Ghost.

“Disgusting?” Pinkie questioned.

“Personally, I find Stardust to be beautiful,” said Rarity.

“Then you are no better,” said Ghost. “Synchros are proof of how self-centered you all are!”

“How does that work?” Pinkie asked.

“A Synchro Monster is nothing but a way for a duelist to surpass others in any way they can,” said Ghost. “They aspire to be better than others for no reason but to reign over their peers.”

“…Come again?” Applejack said.

“What are you talking about?” Twilight asked. “Synchros are about monsters resonating together, like friends! I would think you’d understand with how your monsters works together to act as one!”

“Hmph, as if a Signer could understand,” said Ghost.

“You know I’m a Signer?” Twilight asked.

“Twilight, quit wasting your breath on this lunatic!” said Rarity. “You can debate the philosophy of Synchro Monsters AFTER you stop his reign of terror!”

“Right,” said Twilight.

“You won’t be able to stop me,” said Ghost. “Not as you are. Behold the power of my Synchro Killer!”

“Synchro Killer?” Twilight, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie repeated.

“Meklord Emperor Wisel Infinity’s effect!” said Ghost. “Once per turn, I absorb an opponent’s Synchro Monster!” The cavity on Wisel’s chest opened, glowing as tentacles of light shot out and ensnared Stardust Dragon.

“Stardust!” Twilight gasped. Stardust Dragon let out a roar, as it struggled against her bindings. The tentacles reeled her in. With a final roar, Stardust collapsed into light, and was sucked into Wisel, the infinity-shaped cavity closing behind it.

“What just happened?” Pinkie asked.

“Stardust Dragon was…” Applejack began.

“Absorbed into Wisel!” Rarity finished.

“Wisel Infinity’s effect!” said Ghost. “Wisel’s ATK is increased by an amount equal to the ATK of the absorbed Synchro Monster!” [ATK5000]

“5000 ATK!?” Pinkie gasped.

“And Twilight’s wide open,” said Rarity.

“Stardust was taken just like that…?” Twilight mumbled.

“Twilight, stay focused!” said Applejack.

“Meklord Emperor Wisel, attack directly!” said Ghost. Wisel raised its hand, the blade on the back of its wrist extending, before slashing it down, striking Twilight across the back.

“Agh!” Twilight gasped. [Twilight Sparkle: LP 5700 –> 700]

“Twilight!” Pinkie gasped, as Twilight’s D-Wheel began swerving across the highway, scraping against the side.

“Gah!” Twilight gasped, as she pushed herself away from the edge, struggling to steady her D-Wheel. Blood trickled down from her back as her Signer Mark began burning.

“Twilight,” Rarity mumbled, her Signer Mark as well, as well as the Marks of the others began burning, too.

“It’s been over a year since Ah felt this thing burn,” said Applejack.

“Ghostie sure is tougher than we thought,” said Pinkie, a small frown on her face.

“My turn…” said Twilight. “Draw!” [Ghost: SPC 5. Twilight Sparkle: SPC 5] Without Stardust, what can I do? Even if I summoned another Synchro Monster, Wisel would just absorb it! Twilight slammed a hoof against her Duel Disk. “I can’t do anything!”

“Twilight, get ahold of yourself!” said Applejack.

“What can I do!?” Twilight cried. “This is my first time using Psychics, and my first time in a Riding Duel! I’m not used to any of this, and my first opponent under these conditions is somepony that deals real damage! Somepony that’s doing what only a Dark Signer was capable of, hurting me and making the Signer Marks burn!”

“Twilight,” said Rarity, “I understand this is a trying situation for you. But you can’t give up here!”

“Sure, Ghostie is tough,” said Pinkie. “But you’re tougher! We saved the world, after all!”

“Girls…” Twilight mumbled. “…I set a Monster, and two cards. Turn end!”

“Such a rousing speech to encourage her to stall?” Ghost asked. “Pathetic, grasping at survival like that! My turn, draw!” [Ghost: SPC 6. Twilight Sparkle: SPC 6]

“It’s not pathetic if it allows me to win!” said Twilight.

“Unfortunately it won’t!” said Ghost. “Speed World 2’s effect! I remove four Speed Counters to deal 800 points of damage for each Speed Spell in my hoof! In my hoof is Speed Spell – Lightning Rod, so you take 800 points of damage!” [Ghost: SPC 2]

“Trap activate!” Twilight countered. “Energy-Absorbing Monolith! I negate an instance of damage a player would take and increase my Life Points by an equal amount!” Lightning shot out of Ghost’s D-Wheel at Twilight, but a large, stone tablet appeared blocking it. The tablet glowed, enveloping Twilight in light. [Twilight Sparkle: LP 700 –> 1500]

“Hmph, you think that’ll help you?” Ghost asked. “You forget that I have Meklord Emperor Wisel on my field! And the Synchro Killer’s power will only increase further! Trap activate! Wise A3! I release Wisel Attack to Special Summon Wisel Attack 3 from my hoof!” Wisel’s left arm detached and vanished in a flash of light. [ATK3800] A white, metal machine appeared, blades jutting out of it from all sides. [ATK1600. LV3] The part quickly unfolded to form an arm with what appeared to be a crossbow made of blades sticking out of the back of its hand. The arm attached itself to Wisel, replacing the missing arm. [ATK5400]

“It’s even stronger now?” Pinkie asked.

“Wisel Attack 3’s effect!” said Ghost. “When Meklord Emperor Wisel attacks a defense position Monster my opponent controls, Piercing Damage is inflicted!”

“Piercing Damage!?” Applejack gasped.

“Go, Wisel!” said Ghost. “Attack Twilight Sparkle’s set Monster!” Wisel pointed at Twilight, and fired a blade off at her. On Twilight’s field, a small, bipedal girl with blonde hair and light yellow robes with inner red lining appeared. She wielded a staff with an electrified spike ball on the end. Cables extended out of the staff and seemed to plug into the girl’s back. [DEF300. LV2] The launched blade quickly sliced through her, continuing towards Twilight.

“Esper Girl may have been destroyed,” said Twilight, “but I won’t be just yet! Trap activate! Defense Draw! I reduce an instance of battle damage to zero!” A barrier appeared around Twilight, deflecting the blade.

“Persistent, little…” Ghost muttered.

“Afterwards,” said Twilight, “Defense Draw lets me draw a card!”

“Turn end,” said Ghost.

“My turn,” said Twilight. “Draw! [Ghost: SPC 3. Twilight Sparkle: SPC 7] Speed World 2’s effect! I remove four Speed Counters to deal 800 points of damage for each Speed Spell in my hoof! Since I have Speed Spell – Emergency Teleport, you take 800 points of damage!” [Twilight Sparkle: SPC 3]Twilight’s horn lit up, as she spun around to face Ghost. She sent out a shot of magic, striking him.

“Gah!” [Ghost: LP 4000 –> 3200]

“She finally damaged him, at least,” said Applejack.

“Then I summon Grapple Blocker!” said Twilight. A green and purple biped creature appeared. Tentacles grew from its back, the suckers glowing orange, as did spots on his legs. [ATK1200. LV4] “When Grapple Blocker is Normal Summoned, I target a Monster my opponent controls. As long as Grapple Blocker is on the field, that Monster can’t attack or be released. I target Meklord Emperor Wisel Infinity!” Grapple Blocker let out a growling roar, flexing his muscles and producing a shield of psychic energy, encasing Wisel in it.

“What!?” Ghost gasped.

“Alright, Twilight!” Pinkie cheered.

“If she can keep up this defense,” said Rarity, “she may be able to stall long enough to turn things around.”

“I end my turn,” said Twilight. “During each of my End Phases, I have to pay 500 Life Points for Grapple Blocker’s effect.” [Twilight Sparkle: LP 1500 –> 1000]

“My turn,” said Ghost. “Draw! [Ghost: SPC 4. Twilight Sparkle: SPC 4] I may not be able to attack, but I can still burn you! Speed World 2’s effect! I remove four Speed Counters to inflict 800 points of damage for the Speed Spell in my hoof!” [Ghost: SPC 0] Lightning coursed out again, striking Twilight.

“Gah!” Twilight gasped. [Twilight Sparkle: LP 1000 –> 200]

“Hm, hm, hm,” Ghost laughed. “Next turn’s shaping up to be your last, Twilight Sparkle. Turn end!”

“My last turn?” Twilight repeated. “I suppose… if I don’t get a good card now, I’ll… My turn, draw!” [Ghost: SPC 1. Twilight Sparkle: SPC 5]

“What did you get, Twilight?” Pinkie asked.

"A Speed Spell,” said Twilight. “One that could help me recover Stardust. But even if I did that…”

“Twilight, there’s no other choice!” said Applejack. “If you wanna win, ya gotta press on!

“We believe in you, Twilight!” said Pinkie.

“Now you need to believe in yourself!” said Rarity.

Twilight looked up, a smile on her face. “Girls… You’re right! I believe in myself, and my cards! Ghost! You may claim Synchros are proof that ponies are selfish, but I’m about to prove otherwise!” The Signer Marks burned brightly, and vanished, appearing on Twilight as the full Mark of the Crimson Dragon.

“W-what is this…?” Ghost asked.

“I activate Speed Spell – Reawakening!” said Twilight. “Since I have at least 3 Speed Counters, I can release a Monster I control to Special Summon all Monsters that are currently being treated as Spells or Traps to their owners’ fields!”

“What!?” Ghost gasped.

“I release Grapple Blocker!” said Twilight. Grapple Blocker vanished into a flash of light, and the panel on Wisel’s chest opened. “Only one Monster is in the Spell and Trap Zone, and it isn’t yours! Return to me, Stardust Dragon!”

With a roar, Stardust soared out of Wisel, stretching her wings as she took to the skies, before flying above Twilight again.

“Stardust is back!” Pinkie cheered.

“And since it’s no longer absorbed by Wisel…” said Rarity.

“It’s ATK drops!” cheered Applejack. [ATK2900]

“Even if you saved your Synchro Monster,” said Ghost, “it doesn’t matter! Wisel is still stronger, and on my next turn, I’ll just absorb Stardust again!”

“If you have a next turn, that is!” said Twilight. “Speed Spell – Reawakening’s other effect! For every Monster a player Special Summons by its effect, that player can draw a card!” The top card of Twilight’s deck glowed as she drew it. “This is the power of the Crimson Dragon! The power of my friends! I summon the Tuner Monster, Savior Dragon!” The sleek, pink dragon spun around, flying next to Twilight. [ATK0. LV1]

“Savior Dragon!” Applejack smiled.

“And with that last card in Twilight’s hoof,” said Rarity, “her victory is guaranteed!”

“Go for it, Twilight!” cheered Pinkie.

“I activate Speed Spell – Emergency Teleport!” said Twilight. “I remove four Speed Counters to Special Summon a level 3 or lower Psychic Monster from my deck! [Twilight Sparkle: SPC 1] Come, Doctor Cranium!” A tiny, purple biped in a white lab coat appeared, a metal helmet covered in light bulbs on his head. [ATK100. LV1] “I tune my level 1 Savior Dragon to my level 1 Doctor Cranium and my level 8 Stardust Dragon!” Savior Dragon flew up high into the air, expanding into a bright, pink light that enveloped Doctor Cranium and Stardust Dragon. “Gathering starlight will enlighten a new miracle! Become the path its light shines upon! Synchro Summon! Arrive in light, Savior Star Dragon!” The light dissolved in a blue burst that enveloped Twilight, lifting her into the sky as it faded away to reveal a streamlined, serpentine version of Stardust Dragon. Her wings grew to a much larger side, and seemed to be made of blades, while her legs lost their ability to hold her on the ground, and became clawless points to act as stabilizers in high speed flight. Savior Star’s whole body shimmered as if it was made of light itself as it rocketed over the highway, barely visible in the light of the rising sun. [ATK3800. LV10]

“This is the power of the Signers, is it?” said Ghost. “It’s not enough, though! Even if you attack Wisel, I’ll still have Life Points remaining!”

“If I attacked Wisel Infinity, maybe,” Twilight smiled.

“Tsk, you figured it out?” Ghost muttered.

“I activate Savior Star Dragon’s effect!” said Twilight. “Once per turn, I can negate and gain the effects of a Monster my opponent controls! I negate the effects of Wisel Guard 3! Power Drain!” A blue light shown down from Savior Star, and Wisel’s right arm seemed to go limp. “It’s over! Savior Star Dragon, attack Wisel Top! Shooting Blaster Sonic!”

“Wisel Top only has 500 ATK!” cheered Rarity.

“Twilight wins!” Pinkie cheered.

Savior Star rocketed down, and pierced through Wisel Top, slicing the head off of Wisel. The whole body exploded, knocking Ghost off the highway, and sending him careening down into the forest below.

“Agh!” Ghost screamed, his voice distorting into incoherent static. [Ghost: LP 3200 –> 0]

“Ghost!” Twilight gasped.

“He’s crashed!” said Rarity, as she brought her D-Wheel to a halt.

“After all he’s done, Ah hate havin to help him, but…” Applejack began.

“We can’t just leave him, either!” said Pinkie.

Ghost’s wreckage was spitting out sparks, the smashed D-Wheel resting against a tree. Decima stood over the wreck, his horn levitating Ghost’s deck and a piece of electronics out of the crash site. He looked up through the trees at Savior Star Dragon, as it placed Twilight back onto the highway.

“It took years to develop a machine as capable as this one, and you smashed it in a single duel… Interesting. So this is the extent of the Signers’ powers.” Decima looked at the electronic chip. “This Duel Data will be useful for us. Look forward to a rematch, Twilight Sparkle.”

Placing the deck and microchip into a pocket in his robes, Decima trotted away from the crash site, teleporting once he was safely obscured by the trees.

“Ghost!” Twilight called, as she, Applejack, Rarity, and Pinkie galloped up to the crashed duelist.

“Is he okay?” Pinkie asked.

“Hey,” said Applejack, poking Ghost with her hoof. His front leg detached, landing on the ground and sparking some more.

“Ah!” Rarity gasped, jumping backwards.

“It’s a… machine?” said Pinkie.

“W-what does this mean…?” Twilight asked.

“So Ghost was this pile of metal?” Adviser asked. He and the Signers had gathered at the library, where Twilight had placed Ghost’s wreckage on the table.

“It appears that way,” said Rarity.

“Well, you stopped him,” said Adviser. “I’m very grateful to you, Twilight Sparkle. Hopefully this will keep ponies from being turned off on coming to the WRGP.”

“Yeah, hopefully,” said Rainbow.

“Well, I’d best be off,” said Adviser. “The new Directors will need debriefing on this matter. Take care.”

“Bye, Adviser,” said Twilight, as Adviser trotted out the door, once again singing to himself.

“♪It don’t mean a thing, all you got to do is sing…”

“Seriously, how old is that pony?” Applejack asked. “That song was outdated when Granny Smith was a filly.”

“I think we have more important things to worry about,” said Fluttershy, looking down at the pile of scrap. “It took the full power of the Crimson Dragon to beat a robot?”

“Yeah,” said Twilight, “that is a bit strange, isn’t it?”

“It looks like the Duel Data is missing,” said Rainbow, poking around the scrap. “Did you leave any pieces behind?”

“No,” said Rarity, “we made sure we got everything.”

“Speaking of things missing,” said Pinkie, “where’s Ghost’s deck?”

“Yeah,” said Rainbow, “I want to know more about that Meklord Emperor thing.”

“That’s a good question,” said Twilight.

Rarity gulped. “Girls, I’d hate to jump to conclusions, but given that this pony wasn’t even a pony, and the missing deck and Duel Data…”

“Somepony was controlling Ghost,” said Fluttershy. “Somepony else was behind this.”

“It looks like I was wrong,” said Twilight. “I told Spike some random madpony couldn’t be that big a threat, but…”

“You weren’t wrong, Twilight,” Pinkie assured her.

“Because whoever was behind Ghost and Wisel,” said Rainbow, “is no random pony.”

Fluttershy pressed up close against Rainbow. “I thought our job as Signers was over after we beat the Earthbound Gods, but…”

“It looks like we have a new enemy to deal with,” said Twilight.