“More coffee, Princess Celestia?”

Celestia sat by the table in the castle’s banquet hall, having just returned from Ponyville. As it was morning, Luna felt her duties were done for now and went to bed. As Celestia and Luna had spent the whole night in Ponyville, Luna’s decision to sleep has left Celestia with an entire day and night’s worth of papers and meetings to deal with.

“Yes, thank you,” Celestia answered, smiling to the maid. “It’s going to be a rough day, I feel.”

“Forgive me for asking,” said the maid, “but why don’t you leave some work for Princess Luna to handle when she wakes?”

“I would,” said Celestia, “it would make for some due payback for her leaving me with all this. However, I can’t deny that I would have done what my sister did in a reversed situation, so I will…” The rest of her sentence died in a yawn.

The maid refilled Celestia’s cup with coffee, and returned to the kitchens as Celestia herself tried focusing on her work. It was under an hour, before she caught herself dozing off. She took a quick glance around to make sure she was alone, before letting out a very unprincesslike groan. “Ugh, this is killing me…”

At that moment, the floor began to tremble beneath her. She looked around in alarm, as Royal Guards rushed into the room. “Your Highness!”

“What’s wrong?” Celestia asked. “Is it an earthquake?”

“No,” the guard responded, “it seems to be some sort of disaster in Ponyville.”

“A disaster in Ponyville?” repeated Celestia, feeling her tiredness being replaced with dread. She rushed out to the nearest balcony, and looked out through the clouds towards Ponyville.

A large geoglyph of purple flames could be seen, its spider shape reflecting in the sky. “Dark Signers…”

“I’m sorry, princess?” one of the guards asked. “What did you say?”

“It doesn’t matter,” said Celestia. “Though it may be futile, ready a squadron of guards! We’re moving out to lend Ponyville aid immediately!”

“Yes, princess!”

“Are you ready to join your sister, Rarity?” Gilda asked with a taunting sneer.

“How dare you…”

“Rarity!” Applejack called. “Stay calm. Ah’m suffering just as much as you, but ya need to be level headed to stand a chance!”

Rarity took a deep breath. “You’re right, Applejack. Still, even if I stay calm, can I really…?”

“You can,” said Applejack. “Hold on, Ah think Ah’ve got a card that can help. Rainbow, can you get it to her?”

“Unlikely,” laughed Gilda. “In case you can’t tell from those flame spurts over in the distance, you can’t just hop in and out of the geoglyph whenever you want.”

“Maybe I can’t,” said Rainbow, taking the card, and flying up. “But perhaps a card can. Rarity, catch!” Rainbow flung the card down over the flames at Rarity.

Rarity caught it with her magic, levitating it in front of her face. “This will do nicely. Thank you, Applejack. Rainbow Dash. I promise, I’ll end Gilda right here for Apple Bloom and Scootaloo in addition to Sweetie Belle!” She slid the card into her deck, which auto-shuffled before she drew her first five cards.

Gilda snickered, drawing her first five as well. “Trust me, you shouldn’t make promises you can’t keep. It will only serve to hurt you’re friends. Isn’t that right, Rainbow Dash?”

“Gilda…” Rainbow mumbled. “I…”

“Save it, Rainbow Crash,” Gilda replied, as she stretched, laying down on her back. “Are you finally ready to start, Rarity? Or am I wasting my time?”

“Well, if you’re in such a hurry to die, I suppose I should stop stalling and end this, shouldn’t I?”

Rarity: LP 4000. Gilda: LP 4000.

“You can take the first turn, since you’re so eager,” sighed Gilda, examining her talons as opposed to actually looking at Rarity.

“Fine,” said Rarity. “Draw! I activate Card Destruction! We each discard all cards, then draw cards equal to the discarded amount! Since each of us are discarding five cards, we draw five!”

“I can count just fine, you know,” said Gilda. “This may surprise you, but unlike Rainbow Crash and Klutzershy, I’m not a high school dropout.”

“Fine,” said Rarity. “I summon Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus!” The large, white pegasus, with the sapphire blue horn on its head flew out, stretching its pale golden feathered wings dramatically. [ATK1800. LV4] “Sapphire Pegasus’s effect! I place a Crystal Beast from my deck to my Spell and Trap Zone! I place Ruby Carbuncle!” Sapphire Pegasus’ horn glowed, and a chunk of ruby appeared, levitating on its own in front of Rarity.

“This is going to be a long duel, isn’t it?” Gilda groaned, lying down on her back to stare up at the clouds.

“Don’t worry,” said Rarity, “it’ll be quick. Though I only have two Crystal Beasts on the field, when I activated Card Destruction, I sent the other five to the Graveyard. And when I have all seven Crystal Beasts on the field or in the Graveyard, I can Special Summon Rainbow Dragon from my hoof!”

A pillar of red light shot out from the chunk of ruby, indigo light illuminated and shot up from Sapphire Pegasus, and from Rarity’s Graveyard came pillars of orange, yellow, green, blue, and purple light. The seven streams of light coiled around each other, combining to form a ribbon of white light. The light spread out, and died down, revealing a long, white dragon with scales like armor. Gold protrusions that looked like angelic wings came from its lower neck, while its actual wings were large, and off white on the back, and teal underneath, spreading from its back. Along its sides, with gold trim, were crystals of ruby, amber, topaz, emerald, cobalt, sapphire, and amethyst. Smaller, bat-like wings spread out near the lower part of his tail, while protrusions of a similar appearance spread from near its head, one on each side of it’s sharp, teal horn. It coiled around in front of Rarity, letting lose a roar at Gilda. [ATK4000. LV10]

Gilda looked away from the sky, gazing at Rainbow Dragon. “It’s not a Signer Dragon, but it is still rather impressive for a pansy like you.” She leapt up back into a standing position. “This duel might actually be fun.”

“Sorry, Gilda,” spat Rarity, “but you’ll be dead long before you’ll be able to get any enjoyment out of this duel. I’ll end you before you can call out those Dark Synchros of yours!”

“Is that a challenge?” asked Gilda, with a smirk. “My turn, draw! As you control a monster, and I don’t, I can Special Summon to the field Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon!” A black spider, whose body and legs were disconnected at the joints, seemingly magnetized to dark yellow spheres crawled forward. It’s abdomen was a pitch black sphere, glowing with dark energy. [ATK0. LV5]

“A Dark Tuner?” Rarity mumbled, her voice getting caught in her throat.

“Careful, Rarity!” cautioned Twilight.

“You still have your Rainbow Dragon, right?” said Pinkie. “You’ll be fine!”

“Yes,” said Gilda, “she’ll be as okay as those three fillies.”

“Shut up!” snapped Applejack.

“You all have really short tempers today,” said Gilda, with a fake frown. “Oh well. I summon Dark Spider!” A spider with black, scythe-like legs, and a tall, green body scuttled out, its red eyes trained on Rarity. [ATK0. LV1] “Dark Spider’s effect! I can increase the level of another Insect-Type Monster by 2 until the End Phase! I increase Spider Cocoon’s level from 5 to 7!” [LV7]

“It’s coming, isn’t it?” Rainbow mumbled. “Those Dark Synchro things…”

“I’m dark tuning my level 7 Dark Tuner Spider Cocoon to my level 1 Dark Spider!” smiled Gilda. Spider Cocoon’s abdomen burst open into 7 stars, which proceeded to pierce into Dark Spider. One of them shattered, before the remaining 6 burst out, spinning around with black lightning coursing between them. “When darkness overlaps with darkness, the doors of the underworld will open to a world without light!” The lightning and stars were consumed by a pillar of dark energy. “Dark Synchro! Show yourself, Underground Arachnid!” A black and red spider, with black scythe-like legs, and an upper body that, similar to Applejack’s Tytannial, seemed to be the upper half of a primate. However, this one had a more demonic, arachnoid look to it, with smooth, hard skin, and claw-like extremities. Her eyes were red, and her mouth, when open, looked like a gaping hole. Two ribbon-like strands flowed from her red-haired head. [ATK2400. LV-6]

“So that’s a Dark Synchro?” asked Pinkie, shuddering slightly. “I’ll admit it’s scary, but…”

“It still is no match for my Rainbow Dragon!” boasted Rarity.

“Is that so?” asked Gilda. “Underground Arachnid’s effect activates! Once per turn, I can target one monster my opponent controls and that monster will be Equipped to her! I target your precious Rainbow Dragon!”

“W-What!?” Rarity stuttered, as Underground Arachnid opened her mouth and shot out strands of web. In seconds, Rainbow Dragon was completely ensnared. With a tug, Underground Arachnid dragged Rainbow Dragon to the ground, and over to Gilda’s field, leaping on top of her prize.

“No way…” said Applejack.

“Rarity’s ace monster was taken down just like that!?” gasped Pinkie.

“Battle!” laughed Gilda. “Underground Arachnid, take down Rarity’s remaining monster! Attack and destroy Sapphire Pegasus!” Another shot of spider web left Underground Arachnid’s mouth, this time sticking to form a blunt end that smashed through Sapphire Pegasus and hit Rarity right in the chest.

“Ah!” Rarity gasped, the air being knocked from her lungs, before momentum from the hit sent her body tumbling back across the ground. [Rarity: LP 4000 –> 3400]

“Rarity!” Fluttershy gasped. “Are you alright?”

“I…” Rarity groaned, pulling herself back to her hooves. “I’m fine…”

“But for how long?” Gilda smirked.

“Sapphire Pegasus’ effect!” Rarity said, ignoring Gilda’s taunt. “When destroyed, instead of being sent to the Graveyard, I place him in the Spell and Trap Zone instead!” A chunk of sapphire appeared, hovering in front of Rarity.

“Hmph,” snorted Gilda. “Whatever. I set one card end my turn.”

“My turn,” said Rarity. “Draw! I activate Rare Value! As I have 2 Crystal Beasts in my Spell and Trap Zone, you choose one to send to the Graveyard. In exchange, I can draw two cards!”

“Before I do that,” said Gilda, “I’d like to activate my Continuous-Trap, Coffin Seller! When a Monster is sent to my opponent’s Graveyard, my opponent will take 300 points of damage!”

“Damn,” muttered Applejack. “Hang in there, Rare!”

“Send your Sapphire Pegasus to the Graveyard,” said Gilda. “I’ve had enough with pegasi, personally.”

“And I get to draw 2 cards!” said Rarity, as the chunk of sapphire crumbled away.

“You also get to take 300 points of damage!” said Gilda.

“Agh!” [Rarity: LP 3400 –> 3100] Rarity winced in pain as a sudden burst of dark aura cut into her. She stumbled briefly, before shaking it off. “This hurts a lot more than I expected…”

Gilda laughed. “Of course it does! This is a true duel of darkness! Fitting for a fight with a true Dark Signer, isn’t it?”

“In that case,” said Rarity, “I’ll be hurting you a lot more than I first thought. I activate Crystal Blessing! I place 2 Crystal Beasts from my Graveyard into my Spell and Trap Zone! I place Amber Mammoth and Topaz Tiger!” A lump of amber and a lump of topaz appeared, levitating in front of Rarity.

“And what will that accomplish?” asked Gilda.

“I’ll show you,” smiled Rarity. “I activate Crystal Promise! I target a Crystal Beast in my Spell and Trap Zone and Special Summon it! I Special Summon Crystal Beast Ruby Carbuncle!” A small, furred, four-eared quadruped with ruby red eyes, a small ruby in its forehead, and a sphere of ruby on its tail burst out of the chunk of ruby in front of Rarity, curling up playfully in front of her. [ATK300. LV3]

“Oh no, a cutesy little rodent,” said Gilda in a bored voice. “How incredible.”

“It is incredible,” said Rarity. “Because when Ruby Carbuncle is Special Summoned, I can Special Summon as many Crystal Beasts from my Spell and Trap Zone as possible!”

“What?” asked Gilda, snapping out of her boredom.

“I Special Summon Amber Mammoth!” said Rarity, as the ruby on Carbuncle’s tail began glowing. A large mammoth charged forward, its yellow eyes glaring at Gilda. On its forehead was a large oval of amber. [ATK1700. LV4] “And Topaz Tiger!” A white saber-toothed tiger with black stripes and a blade-like horn on its head leapt out in front of Rarity, growling at Gilda. On its neck was a chunk of topaz. [ATK1600. LV4]

“A bit more impressive,” said Gilda, “but unfortunately they’re all far too weak to defeat my Dark Synchro Monster, now aren’t they?”

“I’m not done yet!” said Rarity. “I activate the Equip Spell, Crystal Release! I can only Equip it to a Crystal Beast! The Equipped Monster gains 800 ATK! I Equip it to Topaz Tiger!” [ATK2400]

“If Topaz Tiger attacks Underground Arachnid,” said Applejack, “both cards will be destroyed and Rarity will be free to attack directly!”

“It’s better than that, Applejack,” said Twilight. “Topaz Tiger gains 400 ATK when it declares an attack on an opponent’s Monster. Ergo, only Gilda’s Monster will be destroyed.”

“And Gilda will take damage, too!” cheered Pinkie. “Go, Rarity!”

“One more thing, first,” smiled Rarity. “I activate Monster Reborn to Special Summon Crystal Beast Sapphire Pegasus back to the Field!” Sapphire Pegasus emerged from the clouds, flying a circle around the duel field, before landing in front of Rarity. [ATK1800. LV4]

“If my math is correct,” said Twilight.

“I'm sure it is,” Pinkie cut in.

“Then,” Twilight continued, a smile forming on her face, “Rarity will, assuming Topaz Tiger destroys Underground Arachnid, deal a total of 4200 points of battle damage this turn!”

“A One Turn Kill,” said Rainbow.

“Finish this, Rare!” cheered Applejack. “Pay her back for what she’s done!”

“I shall,” said Rarity. “Battle! Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger, attack Underground Arachnid! Topaz Bite!” Topaz Tiger bared its fangs, which glowed topaz, as it lunged forward towards Underground Arachnid’s neck. [ATK2800]

“Underground Arachnid’s effect!” countered Gilda.

“W-what?” stuttered Rarity.

“If Underground Arachnid is going to be destroyed,” smiled Gilda, “I can destroy the Equipped Monster instead! I use your very own ace, Rainbow Dragon, as a shield!” Underground Arachnid ducked out of the way of the attack, pulling the web wrapped Rainbow Dragon up in Topaz Tiger’s path. Topaz Tiger tore through it, and slashed Gilda. “Agh!” [Gilda: LP 4000 –> 3600]

“No…” mumbled Rarity. “That was my one chance…”

Gilda burst out laughing. “Oh, you have no idea how hard it was to keep a straight face as you all kept going on about how this was her victory! Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha! Oh, and before I forget, your Rainbow Dragon was just sent to the Graveyard, wasn’t it? Take 300 points of damage from Coffin Seller’s effect!”

“Agh!” gasped Rarity, as the dark aura cut into her again. [Rarity: LP 3100 –> 2800]

“Keep it together, Rarity!” said Rainbow.

“You can still win this!” said Applejack. “You have to!”

Rarity nodded. “I set a card, and end my turn!”

“My turn, then,” smiled Gilda. “Draw! Underground Arachnid’s effect! Once per turn, I can Equip an opponent’s Monster to it! I Equip your Crystal Beast Topaz Tiger!” Underground Arachnid shot another blast of webbing at Topaz Tiger, ensnaring it, and dragging it over to rest on the ground in front of her.

“Since Topaz Tiger left the Monster Card Zone,” said Rarity, “the Equipped Crystal Release is destroyed.”

“Battle!” laughed Gilda. “Underground Arachnid, attack Ruby Carbuncle! Bet you wish you didn’t summon that runt in attack position now, huh?” Underground Arachnid blasted another blunt shot of webbing towards Ruby Carbuncle.

“Actually,” said Rarity, a small smile on her face, “I did plan for that. Amber Mammoth’s effect! If my opponent targets a Crystal Beast for attack, I can change the attack target to Amber Mammoth!” Amber Mammoth charged forward, intercepting the blast of webbing.

“Damn,” muttered Gilda. “It doesn’t matter! You’ve only lessened the damage!”

“Ah!” Rarity felt the air get knocked from her lungs again as the webbing broke through Amber Mammoth and hit her, sending her tumbling backwards again. [Rarity: LP 2800 –> 2100] “When Amber Mammoth is destroyed, I can place him into the Spell and Trap Zone instead of sending him to the Graveyard…” A chunk of amber appeared, floating in front of Rarity.

“Rarity!” gasped Fluttershy.

“Gilda!” Rainbow called. “Please, stop doing this!”

Gilda glared at Rainbow briefly, before turning her attention back towards Rarity, who pulled herself to her hooves again. “I activate the Field Spell, Spider Web!” From the center of the geoglyph, strands of webbing shot out, forming a large, intricate web over the entire area. “I set a card, and end my turn.”

“My turn,” said Rarity, looking down. “Draw.”

“Seems your motivation is as dead as Sweetie Belle,” said Gilda.

Rarity looked at the only card in her hoof, before gritting her teeth. “Gilda… It’s over for you.”

Gilda laughed as Rarity glared up at her. “Oh yeah? You’ve only got one card in your hoof. What are you possibly going to do to me?”

“My friends are counting on me,” said Rarity. “To avenge Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. And I would be unable to live with myself if I were to fail them, or fail Sweetie Belle. Lucky for me, my friends and my deck answered to my will to win.”

“What do you mean?” asked Gilda, before noticing a red glowing coming from Rarity’s right flank. “Wait, what’s happening?”

The Signer Marks on Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight began glowing, as the Mark of the Crimson Dragon’s tail appeared on Rarity, replacing her right flank's three gems.

“What’s going on?” asked Pinkie.

“Rarity’s a Signer,” said Twilight.

“I’m a Signer?” asked Rarity, glancing back at her new mark.

“When a Signer’s life is in danger,” said Gilda, her eyes wide, “all the Signer marks burn. Since yours are all burning, then the mark on your flank is legit. Which means…”

“You’re doomed,” said Rarity. “Thanks for the card, Applejack! I summon the Tuner Monster, Buten!” A cute, stylized pig with big blue eyes, and small white wings fluttered out in front of Rarity. [ATK200. LV1] “I tune my level 1 Buten to my level 3 Ruby Carbuncle and my level 4 Sapphire Pegasus!” Buten turned into a green Tuning Ring, while Ruby Carbuncle and Sapphire Pegasus became stars that channeled through the center. “Darkened gales, become the wings that soar from resolved hope! Synchro Summon! Soar, Black Feather Dragon!” A large, legless, black dragon, with four blade-like appendages soared out of a pillar of light. Long, ribbon-like tail feathers uncoiled behind itself, as it stretched its large, off white wings. It’s yellow face opened in a roar, as it’s black mane of feathers fluttered in the breeze behind it. [ATK2800. LV8]

“Another Signer Dragon,” said Fluttershy. “I recognize it from my dream…”

“…I’m not wasting my time,” Gilda mumbled to herself, finishing her earlier thought. “Excellent! Let’s fulfill the destined battle of Signer and Dark Signer!”

“Destiny is funny, isn’t it,” said Rarity. “I received my Signer Dragon as payment for a dress, which I thought my whole life was my destiny. Was what I was meant to do. I never thought I was actually meant to save the world from the forces of the underworld. Or that making a dress would lead me to that.” She paused, and took a breath. “And I never thought I’d lose Sweetie Belle…”

“You’re about to lose some Life Points, too,” said Gilda. “As your Synchro Summon sent Monsters to your Graveyard, Coffin Seller will deal another 300 points of damage!”

“Wrong!” said Rarity. “Black Feather Dragon’s effect! If I would take effect damage, I reduce that damage to zero and place a Black Feather Counter on Black Feather Dragon! For each Black Feather Counter on him, he loses 700 ATK!” Some of the white feathers on Black Feather Dragon turned black with a blood red stripe along the bottom, as the dark aura from Coffin Seller was sucked into his mouth. [Black Feather Counter: 1] [ATK2100]

“So you’ve dodged a minimal amount of damage at the cost of your monster’s effectiveness,” laughed Gilda. “Great work, Signer.”

“Trap activate!” said Rarity. “Crystal Raigeki! I send the Crystal Beast Amber Mammoth from my Spell and Trap Zone to the Graveyard to destroy Underground Arachnid!”

“Underground Arachnid’s effect!” countered Gilda, as shards of amber went flying towards it. “I destroy the Equipped Topaz Tiger to negate her destruction.” Underground Arachnid tugged on the webbing, lifting Topaz Tiger up as a shield. “And, since two more Monsters went to the Graveyard…”

“I negate the damage again with Black Feather Dragon!” finished Rarity. The dark aura from Coffin Seller was sucked into his mouth again, and more of his feathers darkened. [Black Feather Counter: 2] [ATK1400]

“Well, that was pointless,” said Gilda. “Are you done, Rarity?”

“Far from it,” Rarity replied. “I activate Black Feather Dragon’s other effect!”

“Other effect?” repeated Gilda.

“I remove all Black Feather Counters,” Rarity explained. “For each one removed, a monster my opponent controls loses 700 ATK! And then, my opponent takes damage equal to the total ATK lost! Black Burst!” Black Feather Dragon’s wings whitened again, as it channeled black electricity between its four appendages. It launched the orb of dark energy at Underground Arachnid and Gilda, zapping them. [Black Feather Counter: 0]

“Agh!” winced Gilda. [ATK1000] [Gilda: LP 3600 –> 2200]

“And since the Black Feather Counters are gone,” smiled Rarity, “Black Feather Dragon regains his ATK!” [ATK2800]

“Go for it, Rarity!” cheered Applejack.

Rarity nodded. “Black Feather Dragon, attack Underground Arachnid! Noble Stream!” A burst of red and black energy was shot out of Black Feather’s mouth, incinerating Underground Arachnid, and sending Gilda flying backwards.

“Agh!” Gilda screamed, bouncing along the ground, and skidding to a halt. [Gilda: LP 2200 –> 400]

“You did it!” cheered Pinkie.

“Her ace monster is finally gone!” cheered Twilight.

“Way to go, Rare!” smiled Applejack.

“Thanks,” Rarity smiled back.

“Spider Web’s effect,” coughed Gilda. “When a monster attacks, it is forced to defense. And until the End Phase of the controller’s next turn, it will be stuck in defense!” [DEF1600]

“Damn,” said Rarity.

“Is Gilda trying to stall for time, now?” asked Fluttershy.

“As if I’d ever need to resort to such a lame tactic!” laughed Gilda. “Trap activate! Dark Matter! I can only activate this card when a Dark Synchro Monster is destroyed! I Special Summon two Dark Matter Tokens in defense!” Two bursts of dark purple energy appeared on Gilda’s field, giving off an eerie green glow. [DEF0. LV1]

“What’s this all about?” asked Pinkie.

“What good would these Dark Matter Token things do ya if you’ve already lost your Dark Synchro Monster?” asked Applejack.

Twilight’s eyes widened. “Unless… Gilda, don’t tell me…”

“The Dark Synchro Monsters aren’t the true aces of the Dark Signers?” Gilda finished. “Afraid you’re right, egghead. What do you think this mark represents, anyway?” Gilda gestured back towards the glowing purple spider on her flank.

Rarity’s eyes widened. “T-then, that means…”

“You wasted all of your resources in defeating a mere drone?” Gilda finished. “That’s right. An awful lot like how much effort it took your loser friends to defeat Mayor Mare and Redheart, isn’t it? My turn, dr-”

Gilda was suddenly cut off as a blast of magic shot down from the sky at her. “What the hay!?”

Twilight looked up, and her face lit up. “Princess Celestia!?

“Celestia?” repeated Gilda, looking up with the others.

Flying high above the geoglyph, surrounded by guards, was Celestia, she glared down at Gilda, before motioning to the guards. At once, they all flew down, dodging the rising flames and landing inside the geoglyph.

“Guards!” Celestia called. “Fan out and lend aid to anypony caught in the flames! I can handle things here!”

The guards saluted, before spreading out. Celestia, looked around, and saw the red glow from Rarity. “Rarity, I see you’ve awakened as a Signer. Are you alright? What’s happening?”

“P-Princess,” Rarity stuttered. “She, the Dark Signer…”

“I killed her sister,” Gilda said. “Applejack’s sis, too. And that little twerp that idolizes Rainbow Crash.”

“So you’re one of the Dark Signers?” Celestia asked, her voice icy and angry.

“Celestia, be careful!” called Twilight.

“Didn’t you say only the Signers can fight the Dark Signers?” asked Rainbow.

Celestia nodded. “That’s true. However, I may still yet be able to assist in lowering casualties. Dark Signer! You will not take the life of another citizen of Equestria! Do you hear me?”

“I hear ya, Princess,” said Gilda, a smile on her face. “And I hate to disappoint you, but you have no authority over me. I answer to the King of the Underworld, not you.”

“Gilda!” Rainbow called. “Please, just stop! It’s for your own good!”

“Is that right?” asked Gilda.

“Gilda, is it?” asked Celestia, as she trotted towards her. “I recommend you listen to Miss Rainbow Dash. Surrender, before its too late.”

“No can do, Princess,” said Gilda, glancing back at the mark on her flank. “The gods won’t be too happy with that.”

“I can help you,” said Celestia. “Help you shake the control of the underworld’s gods. Just end this duel.”

Gilda looked up at Celestia. She paused in thought, before nodding. “Okay. I will end this duel, and you will help me.”

Celestia smiled. “I’m glad we could come to an-”

“Draw!” Gilda smiled, interrupting.

“What are you doing?” asked Celestia.

“Ending the duel, of course,” smiled Gilda. “And you’ll help. You’re soul will be most valuable for the Dark Signers’ plan!”

“What is that supposed to mean?” asked Rainbow.

“What do you think this geoglyph is?” asked Gilda, gesturing around. “It’s a prison the Crimson Dragon imposed upon the gods of the underworld! And to open it, the souls of those losers trapped within its borders will be offered as tribute!”

“Celestia, get out of there!” screamed Twilight.

“You’ll regret interfering in our war, Celestia!” said Gilda. “I release my two Dark Matter Tokens!” The two tokens fused together, and rose up above the geoglyph, forming a stone heart. It began pulsing, and screams could be heard echoing throughout the geoglyph.

“W-what’s happening!?” Fluttershy stuttered, ducking behind Rainbow.

“Are those… souls?” Rarity asked, her eyes widening looking at the orbs of purple light that were now being sucked into the stone.

The more lights sucked in, the less screams could be heard. Celestia’s legs buckled, and she fell forward. With the last of her strength, she turned to look at Twilight through the geoglyph’s flames. “T-Twilight… I’m sorry I couldn’t help more…” Celestia faded away, turning into an orb of light, which was swiftly sucked into stone heart.

“PRINCESS CELESTIA!” Twilight screamed.

“It’s all over!” laughed Gilda. “Behold, the power of the Dark Signers! The power of the underworld! Descend! Earthbound God Uru!” A pillar of light shot down from the heart into the geoglyph. The flames danced wildly, and the ground cracked as a shadow loomed upwards. Uru was a large, black spider with red eyes larger than Celestia’s body and red markings decorating its body and legs. As it stood, it quickly towered over everything. Rarity found herself trembling, as Uru reached full height, standing higher than the entirety of Ponyville. [ATK3000. LV10]

“E-Earthbound God...?” Rarity stuttered.

“No…” Applejack mumbled. “It can’t end like this…”

“Earthbound God Uru’s effect!” said Gilda. “It can bypass your pathetic defenses, and attack you directly!” Uru reared up, readying its assault. The pressure placed on the ground caused more cracks to appear.

“Sweetie Belle…” Rarity mumbled, tears falling from her eyes. “I… failed…”

“Perish, Signer!” said Gilda. “Earthbound God Uru, direct atta-” Gilda was cut off as the ground beneath suddenly began to give way. “Damn! Did offing Celestia damage the ground’s stability?”

“Rarity!” Pinkie gasped, as the unicorn began to fall into the opening crevasse.

Uru sank back into the ground, as the flames died. Gilda spread her wings, and flew up into the air. “We’ll settle this next time, Signers. But know this, Rarity! This was your defeat!” She flew off into the clouds, laughing to herself.

“Gilda!” Rainbow called, beginning to fly after her.

“Rainbow!” Rarity screamed, as the ground she stood on gave way completely.

“Rarity!” gasped Rainbow. “Damn!” Rainbow flew down in a flash, grabbing Rarity, and pulling up out of the crumbling ground, hugging her tightly.

Rarity sobbed into Rainbow’s chest. “Rainbow Dash… I’m sorry… I failed…”

“It’s not your fault,” said Rainbow, as she gently flew down to rejoin the others. “It’s okay…”

Gilda strutted back into the hideout. “What’s happening, gang?”

“You didn’t kill her,” the buffalo said.

“We’re more outnumbered than before,” their leader complained.

“We are?” Gilda asked, looking around. “But… I thought the duel would have bought enough time for them to arrive… Did I underestimate them?”

“You didn’t,” a voice answered.

“Who’s there?” the three Dark Signers said at once.

Four cloaked figures trotted into the room, sitting down by the table. “Your new allies.”

“Four new Dark Signers?” the leader asked. “I stand corrected, Gilda, you did spectacularly!”

“Better than I thought,” said Gilda, blinking in surprise. “I only expected three.”

“You have the Signers to thank for the unexpected extra,” one of the new figures said.

“Now, do ya have a plan?” another asked.

“Or are we just going to blindly attack?” said a third.

“Oh, I have a plan, alright,” the Dark Signer’s leader answered, laughing to herself. “Twilight Sparkle and her Signer friends can wallow in despair for now. Thanks to Celestia’s soul being sacrificed, we can begin the final phase of the Dark Signers’ mission.”

“You mean…” Gilda began.

The leader laughed. “That’s right! It’s time to set into motion the final battle between the Signers and Dark Signers! It’s time to revive the King of the Underworld, and end the Crimson Dragon once and for all!”