"So, what exactly has the Order done to make them so formidable to the point you need help from other universes," I asked as myself, the four princesses, and one queen walked though Canterlot gardens, a place Chrysalis had suggested. I sat on one of the benches, looking over my deck, and trying something out. Machine Empire, I thought, and, like that, all the cards changed to match those in one of the decks I had form my most recent Yu-gi-oh Ds game, the two thousand and eight championship one. I liked to call this one Machine Empire, as it was focused all on machines, and had the more military themed ones in there.

"They use the ancient magic we mentioned earlier to summon monsters," Celestia said, sitting on an opposite bench next to Luna and Twilight. "Recently, they have begun to use devices like that on your arm to focus their power, making them even more deadly. Not even my defensive spells are able to stop their monsters."

"We were, however," Luna interjected, "able to capture on of their cards, which I have on me," she said, pulling a card out of thin air, and showed it's face to me.

It showed a satellite with a red tip in space over the earth. I knew the card, though it wasn't in my current deck. Satellite cannon, one devastating card, as it couldn't be destroyed by any level six or lower monster, and for every one of your end phases that pass, it gets a thousand attack and defense.

"We lost many guards defeat this cards owner, and even then, nearly lost it," Twilight said, clenching her hands again. "Applejack was the one with the card. I tried to reason with her.

"She tried to blast me with that thing."

"I am sorry, Twilight, that she did," I say. "But she won't anymore, I swear it."

"But how?" Cadence asked. "No spell we know of can defeat it."

"Spell," I say, holding my deck up, smiling. "I don't use spells, I use my wits, and my friends." Yeah. Here, I figured duel monster spirits here existed. And it was here I was proven right.

"He is correct," a deep, robotic voice said, making all of us jump, before another card I knew well, enough to make it the key card in my deck appeared.

His coloration was red and white, with green lightning around him, and had white sheets of metal meant to resemble a robe a king would wear. Makes sense, his name is "Perfect Machine King," after all. "Looks like I was right," I muttered to myself.

"What is that?" Chrysalis asked, charging her horn.

"No need to become violent, your majesty," the duel spirit said. "I am the spirit of one of the cards in Josh's cards. I am allied with him, as is each card in that deck. We will not harm you or your subjects. My name is Chrono, but I am also known as 'Perfect Machine King'."

"So the cards have spirits inside them," Twilight asked, her eyes lighting up. Here we go.

"All monster cards," he said. "Before you ask, whether or not those under the command of the Order are doing so willingly is unknown, but possible."

As Chrono explained duel spirit rules, I felt a heat from my deck, and looked at it, and saw one of my best universal cards pop up from the center of it. "Hello, Josh," the Spirit inside said to me. "I imagine you did not expect this to happen to you?"

Not really, I replied mentally. You had something to do with it, didn't you?

"Perhaps," was all the spirit said on that matter. "I did so because, out of all the people of your particular universe, you are among the only who understands the value of every card, and that every card is a force unto itself when used properly."

Well, coming from you, that's definitely a compliment. Thanks, I say.

"Of course," the spirit said as Celestia spoke to me.

"Josh, even with the fact you know how to duel, we can not see how Chrono can defeat Applejack's card."

I grinned. "That is why I plan on teaching you guys on this shit once I show the Order there's a new duelist in town that can and will kick their asses." As I said this, three of my other monsters appeared. One was beige colored, and had propellers on its shoulders, and its legs looked like they could fold up.

Another was green colored, its arms looking like wings that had segmented but remained attached, and had two turrets attached to its chest sideways.

The last was red colored, and had a face that looked like a bird, complete with the beak, and razor sharp point that could have been teeth if it were alive. Its arms ended in razor sharp claws, and, under the main part of its body, it had a rack of orange missiles.

Three other monsters that had an important place in my deck. Summon Reactor-SK, Trap Reactor Y FI, and Spell reactor RE. For those who have watched 5d's, you'll know why. I liked referring to them as the King's second in command, also, because the three of them are beasts when on the field together.

Chrono turned and looked at the three other machine spirits. "Ah, my Lieutenants," he said. "It is good to see you!"

"Thank you, highness," Summon Reactor said, putting his right arm across his torso as he spoke in a deep voice. "It has been too long."

"That it has been, SK," Chrono said before turning to face the pony and changeling royalty. "These are my Lieutenants. Summon Reactor SK, or just SK, as I call him, Trap Reactor Y FI, or just Y FI, and Spell Reactor RE, or just RE."

"Why are they your Lieutenants?" Twilight asked.

"That's a secret," I say. "Don't want to risk any invisible Order agents overhearing what makes them so powerful, now do we," I add with a smirk. Given what I've been told of his Order, the leader seems like a smart asshole, seeing as how he turned Twilight's friends against those they were once loyal to. Need to be careful right now. "So, what else do you know about the Order?"

"Not that much," Chrysalis said. "Simply that they seem to strike any where with out our knowledge, and quite suddenly, as if they simply appeared."

"And they finish what they wish to quite quickly," Luna said. "Even if we knew where they were going to strike, we wouldn't get there in time. The few times we did, it was because they wished for us to get there, and they always won."

"Really?" I asked. "Not for long," I say as I notice a slight distortion behind the royals. I gestured o it subtly as possible, pointing at it, then thumbs down. The spirits saw it, and if they had mouths, I'm sure they would have smiled. They always did like a challenge. There was a flash and a pop, which got the attention of the others.

"What was that," Celestia asked, worried.

"I imagine an Order spy that decided to leave and tell his leader about me," I say. "Now, we wait, and then we'll show them who they're dealing with, and make sure they don't try it again once they're defeated." My deck, and the monster spirits within, glowed in agreement with my proclamation.

Time for war, motherfuckers.

Unknown location

A stallion, wearing a yellow cloak that let only a small part of his muzzle, a dark blue, be revealed, sat on a golden throne, a deck of duel cards in hand, his duel disk yellow and looking as if it was made of golden fire on his right arm. A small pop sounded form behind him, and he turned his throne around, revealing to his sight seven he had personally converted to the Order's cause, and his agent that had just teleported in, a mare wearing a similar cloak. "Lord Osiris," she said, taking a knee, and with a slight, but noticeable, Prench accent.(1) "I bring news from Canterlot."

"What," Osiris asked.

"The four have summoned a duelist from another world to aid them."

"I already knew of that plan," Osiris said with a wave of his hand. "They are not as clever at hiding things as they think they are."

"But, my lord, he can also see the spirits," the mare said, which got Osiris' attention. "Speak with them, even, and they trust him."

"Then he is touched?"

"So it would seem, my lord."

"Then we must bring him to the Order, and expose him to the light of Ra," Osiris said before looking at the seven. More accurately, the first he had converted, and one of the best duelists the order had. "Lady Applejack, what do you say to attacking Ponyville to draw him out?"

Applejack, wearing a similar cloak to Osiris', her hat off, and her hair no longer in its tail, stepped forward, and bowed.

"It would be an honor to serve the Order," she said. "For the glory of Ra," she said.

"For the glory of Ra," Osiris repeated, as well as the other seven, all but one of which were mares.