Chapter 1
Marik Ishtar and Joey Wheeler were about to have the duel of the tournament.
Something Joey was waiting for a long time, waiting to kick his evil butt to the ground.
The pedestals dropped down to the floor.
"Come on Joey, you can do it!"
"Beat that jerk Joey"
"Go big bro!"
The shouts of support echoed through his body, but doubts started to spring up in his mind; what strategies did Marik have in mind? Would he have to battle Kaiba or his best friend even he got through? And even if he got through, would he do it in one piece?
Joey felt the tension rise up in him, he felt faint. As he approached the duelling arena, he swayed to the side.
"Whoa!" shrieked Joey, as he fell on his stomach.
Yugi raced to his side.
"Joey is something wrong?" Asked Yugi.
"Nah, nah I'm fine, I just need to get back up." He answered back.
"Ok, let me help you"
Yugi sent his hand in Joey's direction; Joey looked at it and immediately took it with generosity.
"Joey, you can do this, we all know you can do this!"
"Thanks Yug, I just wish I had the same courage as you" He smiled.
"What do you mean?" Yugi puzzled him.
"Inside I'm terrified, I couldn't do this without all your support… So thanks"
Using Yugi's helping hand, Joey stood up again.
"You lot better say your goodbyes to Joey because you'll never see him again!" Marik laughed.
Yugi was still holding Joey's hand when he felt him shudder.
"Joey, you can do this, we're all here for you!" He spoke.
"Ok, I'll see you later then" Joey chuckled.
"Yeah" Yugi chuckled back.
Now reassured, Yugi slipped something in to his pocket.
"Hmmm?"
He dived his hand into his pocket and pulled out a card.
"The Dark Magician! But Yugi if I lose you might never see this card again!" Joey cried.
Yugi stared right into Joey's eyes.
"I know, that's why I'm giving you this card. That's how sure I am that you're going to win the duel"
Marik interrupted the conversation with his dark, shadowy voice.
"Joey, I know what's going through your mind. You know you can't win this duel, give back the card, you won't need it where you're going" He sneered.
Yugi stormed in front of Joey, distracting his attention towards him instead of Marik's threats.
"Joey will win this, you'll see!" Yami Yugi came forth.
"Fine," He blurted out "Let's see how good he really is." Marik snorted.
Joey brushed past Yugi like a zombie. Yugi grabbed Joey's arm as he walked by.
"Joey?" questioned Yugi.
Joey snapped out of his mummy-like trance.
"Huh?" Joey exclaimed, turning towards Marik, "Marik! Stop controlling me! I want to get rid of you more than you want to get rid of me"
Yugi looked up at Joey, tugging his arm for attention.
"Do it in your own time"
Joey sighed as he stepped up to the platform, it rose steadily and tiringly slow.
Looking across the empty field, he stared at Marik, trying to freak him out, just like he did to him; possessing his mind, telling him what to do and treating his friends like puppets in his cruel game.
Finally the traitor muttered his last words before the match.
"Let's duel" he softly spoke.