A pink party pony sits at a table across from a white tricorn pony. Blue eyes scan the cards in her hooves. Since her opponent did not play anything last turn, she has all her mana remaining along with four weak red creature cards. Pink brows furrow at the red enchantment on her opponent’s field. None of the cards in hoof can get rid of the enchantment and the fact that she has not pulled the cards that can get rid of it adds to her brow deepening. A smirk from her opponent's tantalizing lips distracts her.

“Pinkamena. Diane. Pie.” Shade speaks as she lays down her cards and taps her forehooves together. “There is no shame in admitting defeat. Especially, to a master.”

Pinkie scowls at Shade. After a few seconds she giggles, “Oh, Shadey-wadey, you nervous?”

A white hoof tugs down the black aviators resting on a white muzzle. Glowing yellow serpentine eyes appear above the platinum frames. “I know all of my parent’s cards and there is no way Grey would give you his legendary chaos cards that can affect my enchantment.”

Pinkie finally draws a card from her library. She glances at the card then at Shade with a frown. “You should be nervous, Shadey-wadey. You know I don’t make a bet unless I know I will win.”

“Ditto,” is Shade’s even response.

Apotheosis: the Trading Card Game is a trading card game based off the novels originating in Tricorntopia one hundreds years ago. The trading card game comes along twenty years later. The popularity of both has waned in recent years, especially since the exiled rulers of Tricorntopia loved and endorsed the game.

Pinkie had found a box of Death’s cards in the attic. She immoderately shows Shade the box and Shade’s love of the game rekindles. The next week Shade and Grey teach Pinkie how to play the game. Grey even gives Pinkie all his high tier chaos cards, figuring Pinkie will enjoy playing that style. She does.

Pinkie wants to go to a party convention while Shade wants to go to a Oubliettes and Ogres convention. On the same day. At cities on the opposite coasts of Equestria. The two decide on a one round winner gets to decide match of Apotheosis: TCG.

“I tap four mana and play,” Pinkie pauses and can no longer hold back her grin, “Kyllo’s Prank.” Shade’s jaw hits the table. “All creatures turn into zero attack and one health gray ooze creature tokens until end of turn. All other non land, non creature cards on the battlefield return the the bottom of their controller’s library. All players shuffle their cards in hoof with their library and draw seven cards.”

Shade frowns. She picks up her enchantment and shuffles her cards with crimson magic. Pinkie smiles and shuffles her cards.

Pinkie furrows her brows after she draws her first card. “Hey, Shade, can you tell me what this card does?” She shows the card to Shade.

Shade looks up from her cards to the card in Pinkie’s hoof. She watches as Pinkie’s face morph from confusion to wicked glee.

“Buck off!” Shade cries and slams the card on the table. Pinkie beams with a muzzle splitting smile. Shade huffs a hot breath. “Your back was itching today...”

“Yup! Yup! Yup!”

“Best two out of three?” Shade grins sheepishly.

“Nope! Nope! Nope!”

Shade deflates. She perks up remembering her trump card. “Pinkie.., If we go to the O&O convention... we can do that stuff in bed you wanted to do...”

Pinkie gasps. “Even the whip cream?”

“Yes...”

“And the banana?”

“...yes.”

Pinkie leans over to Shade and wriggles her brows, “Even the strawberries?”

The blush on Shade intensifies. “With the chocolate syrup and cherries...”

“Deal!” Pinkie locks her lips with Shade’s as they share a passionate kiss. “Just so you know...” Pinkie sits on Shade’s lap and circles a pink hoof around Shade’s barrel, “I was going to pick the O&O convention.”

“What?”

“I’ll go get the strawberries!” Pinkie chimes as she disappears in a cloud of confetti.

Shade blinks. “What?”