Chapter 1: A new Journey

Mai looked around and saw nothing but darkness. "Hello?" Footsteps echo in the distance. "Hello!!" Shadow's seemed to close in. "What's going on!?" She felt an unbearable pain, "No!" Suddenly a hand reached for Mai. "Ahh!!"

"Mai wake up!" Mai!" Mai lifted her head.

"What is it Tea?"

"It looked like you were having a nightmare."

"Oh, don't worry… it was nothing."

"Good, now get up, we have to meet the boys at the café. Come on!" Mai got out of bed lazily. She went into the bathroom and turned on the shower; she slipped out of her nightgown and stepped in.

When she got out of the shower she used a towel to dry off and slipped on her underwear and bra, then she started to apply her makeup. After that she went over to her closet, she pulled out her white corset top, "Tea! Can you help me with this?"

"Sure!" Tea ran over and helped her with the strings. Then she slipped on her skirt and her purple jacket. She started to walk out the door but before closing it reached in and grabbed her purse. Tea locked the door behind them and together they started to make their way to the café.

Tea, anxious to get there, hurried on ahead skipping.

It had been two months since Battle city. She had nightmares about Marik ever since the day Yugi set her free. It was then she moved in with Tea, and with her help the nightmares got better. Things were getting better in general too. She started hanging around Yugi and Joey, they were always talking about new strategies and cards… everything was going great.

"Mai are you coming in?!" Tea stood holding the door open. Mai hurried through.

The café looked the same way t always did. A few tables in the corners, some couches in front of the T.V., overall it was a great place to hang out. "Mai over here!" yelled Tea. Mai made her way over to a table in the corner and plopped down by Joey who started to get a bit red in the face, as she sat really close to him.

"So Mai did you hear?" asked Yugi.

"Hear what?"

"Apparently some guy is holding a tournament for the top 16 duelists world-wide!" Joey replied, "Isn't that awesome!"

"Yeah! When are the invitations being sent out?"

"They were sent out yesterday and should be arriving today," said Yugi. "I hope we get invited."

"Well of course I'll be invited," boasted Joey, "and Yugi, you're the King of Games, you're a shoe in as well!"

"Don't be so sure guys," said Tea, "we're talking world-wide here!"

"Duelist Kingdom was world-wide!" retorted Joey.

"Joey, you weren't invited to duelist kingdom remember?"



"Oh yeah."

"Excuse me," said a frustrated looking waitress, "are you going to order anything?"

"I almost forgot!" exclaimed Tea. "I'll have a piece of toast and a fried egg, and to drink I'll have orange juice."

"I'll have the special with a Mountain Dew," said Tristan.

"Could I have the same?" asked Yugi. The waitress nodded. "Then I'll have that same drink too.

"I'll have two fried eggs, two pieces of toast, four bacon slices and a Mountain Dew to drink," said Joey, "Is that ok?" The waitress scrambled writing it all down.

"It should be fine."

"I'll have one piece of toast, and… a diet coke," said Mai. The waitress walked away. Yuugi, Tristan, and Joey all looked at her.

"Diet?" asked Tristan.

"I like the taste, besides you know how many calories you're talking with those Mountain Dews! I for one want to stay in shape, I know you obviously don't care what you look like but I do."

"What's that supposed to mean!?" Mai looked him over.

"You know what I mean." Tristan's mouth dropped open and he sat there stunned. Tea, Yugi, and Joey laughed.

"Here you are." The waitress set down there plates in front of them.

"Great I'm starving!" said Joey.

"When aren't you hungry Joey!?" asked Tea. Joey smiled.

The next few minutes was mainly silence due to the fact that everyone was shoving food in their mouth there was however the occasional mumble or grumble but not much else. Joey then burped loudly and then stood up. "We should run home and check to see if we got an invite!"

"Hold up Joey," said Tristan, he chugged the rest of his drink, "I'm coming with you." The two started out the door.

"Done!" said Yuugi, "Wait up guys!" He ran out the door after them.

Tea sighed, "Looks like it's just you and me Mai."

"Sorry Tea, but I gotta check my mail box! Later." Mai ran out the door. Tea sighed.

"That will be 54 bucks hon." said the waitress. Tea slowly pulled out her wallet and handed over 54 bucks. The waitress raised her eye brows. "No tip?" Tea narrowed her eyes and pulled 5.

"That's the last of my money so don't complain." The waitress grumbled.

"It's not even 10 percent."

Mai ran up to Tea's mailbox and opened it, inside stood a large stack of mail. She pulled the stack out and looked through it. Tea, Tea, Tea, and the last letter…Tea, Mai sighed, oh well maybe it hadn't arrived quite yet, it was only 11. Rrring, rrrring, rrrrrring. Mai rushed into the kitchen, threw off her coat and picked up the phone, "Hello you've reached the lovely Mai Valentine, how can I help you?"

"Mai it's me Joey!! I got one! I got one!"

"Got what?"



"An invitation to the competition of course!! Isn't it great!!"

Mai stood still shocked. Sure Joey was a good duelist, in fact he had beaten her before a few times but still, for him to get an invitation and not her.

"Mai! Are you there? Mai!"

"Yeah… yeah I'm here."

"Did you get one? Did you get an invitation?"
"I… I…" Mai sighed. "No, no I didn't Joey." She hung up the phone. She didn't want to hear anything from him now. She just needed some time to cool off. She put on her jacket and headed out. She thought she would head to the mall, she thought, there were always things to do there.

When she got to the mall she went towards the DDR machine but there was a long line. "Oh well, I have nothing but time." She stood in line naught but four minutes when a kid ran up to her.

"You! Mai Valentine! I challenge you to a duel!"

"What! What are you talking about?"

"Listen, I know all about you Mai, you made to the top eight in the battle city tournament but I'm here to tell you that I'm a better duelist than you and it's time for me to shine."

"Listen kid, I don't think you know who you're dealing with."

"I'm pretty sure I know. Now are you going to duel me or not."

"Why not, you're about to find out why I made it to top eight in battle city and the top four in Duelist Kingdom. Do your worst kid."

"I will." The kid ran over to a duel platform like the ones at Duelist Kingdom. "Let's start, I'll go first." The kid shuffled his deck and then drew five cards.

Mai shuffled her deck and looked closely at her opponent. He was medium height, he had light brown hair and he was a little on the heavy side. Judging by how little of hair he had on his face Mai guessed that he was in high school. Mai knew that this would be quick… or would it. She hadn't been invited to the latest competition, and maybe this kid actually was better than her. No she thought. I'm not a bad duelist. I will win. The kid put two cards face down.

"To end my turn I'll put Ancient Elf in attack mode. It's your move." Mai smiled.

"That's all, wow I expected more. Let's see…" Mai looked at her hand. Harpie Lady, Elegant Egotist, Monster Reborn, Amazoness fighter, Harpies' feather duster, and Mask of Weakness. "Perfect… I play Harpie Lady in attack mode, then I play the magic card Elegant Egotist allowing me to-"

"Not so fast Mai! I activate the trap card Magic Jammer. I discard one card from my hand to negate the activation of one of your magic cards, in this case your Elegant Egotist."

"Argh… fine, I play one card face down."

"My turn, and by the way, the name is Caleb," said the kid, "now, I play Neo the magic swordsman in attack mode. Attack Neo, destroy Harpie Lady."

"Not so fast Caleb I activate my trap, Mask of Weakness, it weakens your monster by 700 points. Meaning your precious Neo goes from 1700 to 1000, looks like my Harpie Lady destroys your Neo."



Caleb laughed, "Big deal, I lose 300 life points. Now my Ancient Elf will attack your Harpie and destroy it bringing you down 150 life points. Your turn."

Mai drew her next card. "I'll play Amazoness Fighter in attack mode with one card face down. Go."

Caleb laughed. "It's over Mai. I play another Ancient Elf in attack mode, then I use Ultimate offering giving me the ability to summon another monster this turn for a measly 500 life points. So, I'll sacrifice both my monsters to summon the Dark Magician, and then I'll play one card face down along. Now, Dark Magician, dark magic attack. Now your life points go down by 1200."

"Wrong my Amazon's ability allows me to lose no life points when it's in battle and takes damage meaning I'm still at 3850 compared to your 3200."

"Nice move Mai!!"

"Hey, I recognize that voice." Mai looked down to see Tea and the rest of the group watching and cheering her on. Mai smiled.

"It's time for me to get this duel started. I play Harpie Queen in attack mode, and then I equip it with Malevolent Nuzzler to power up my Harpie Queen bringing her attack points up to 2600, now to get rid of your pesky Dark Magician, Harpie Queen, attack his magician." Calebs life point dropped to 3100.

"No!!" screamed Caleb. "I can still win this, I'm still at 3100. I play a monster in defense mode. Go."

"I play Cyber Harpie. Harpie Queen, attack his face down card." The card flipped face up to reveal an Illusionary Gentlemen which was destroyed. "Next my Cyber Harpie will attack bringing you down to 1300. Your turn."

"Wow, you're doing great Mai," sad Joey.

"Thanks Joey."

"I… I play a card face down and then play Mystic Elf in defense mode."

"First I'll attack with my Harpie Queen , and then I attack with my Cyber Harpy finishing you off."

"Wrong I activate my trap card, Wobaku making all damage done to me o."

"Fine, you're only prolonging the inevitable."

"I play… nothing, except three cards face down, that's my turn."

"Too bad your face down cards won't help you! I play my Harpie's Feather Duster destroying all your magic and traps. Now Harpie Queen, finish him." Caleb's life points dropped down to zero, and Caleb started to shake.

"No!" screamed Caleb, "I… I thought I could win… I won't accept defeat!" Caleb ran over to Mai who was just getting off the platform and swung a fist at her. Mai grabbed his fist and twisted his arm. "Argh!" yelled Caleb, "Why you!" When the kid took a second swing Mai block his punch with one hand and then she hit him with her purse knocking him onto the ground. "What do you have in that thing?"



"Nothing you want to know about kid… you'll understand when you get older." She then proceeded over to Yugi, Tea

"Good job Mai!" said Yugi.

"Yeah, you were great!" said Tristan.

"You know, I don't care if I'm not invited to the newest tournament for the top duelist, I have you guys and that's all I need," said Mai

"Mai Valentine," said a stern voice. Mai turned around and saw a man in a black suit he handed Mai a letter. "Sorry about the lateness." Mai tore open the letter.

Dear Mai Valentine,

We are pleased to inform you that due to your impressive dueling skills that we have invited you to attend the latest tournament for dueling champions. This tournament will be held in Shadow Kingdom and a plane will pick you up on August 12 to take you to the island, you are allowed one person to accompany you on your trip, see on the 12th.

Sincerely,

Sire Dark Mage

"Yes! Thank God because I was just kidding about the entire all I need is friend's thing. Don't get me wrong I need you guys, but still if I hadn't made it I would've been miserable! This is great!"

"Yeah!" said Joey, "looks like all three of us made it!"

"Yeah, this will be great!" said Yugi, "I can't wait to go up against you guys."

"It will be fun, especially when I win, said Joey.

"Please when I go up against you I will be the victor," said Mai.

"No matter what though, we'll always remain friends," said Tea, "right?"

"Oh yeah," said Joey, "we'll remember some of that stuff too." They all laughed.

"Hey," said Mai, "where is Shadow Kingdom anyway?" Yugi shrugged.

"I don't know."

"Hey let's look it up," said Mai, "Tea and I have a computer at our place. Yugi shook his head.

"My place is closer," said Yugi

"Right, let's head back to Yugi's," said Tea.

Joey nodded, "Good idea, at the very least I can get some new cards from Yugi's grandpa."

The crew made it back to Yugi's house with no problems and went upstairs to the computer room. The computer room was small and had a desk a computer on the desk and three chairs. Yugi sat in one chair and Mai and Tea immediately claimed the others forcing Joey and Tristan to stand. "Let's see where it is," said Yuugi.

"Try going to Google Earth," suggested Mai.

"Here we go, look!"

"Looks like that's where it is!" said Joey.

"Now we wait," said Mai, "now we wait.