The Elite

Dis: I don't own YuGIOh so don't sue.

It was finally over; was what all of the Yugi gang thought as Joey, Yugi, and Kaiba returned the Legendary Dragon cards to their resting place after they defeated Darts. Though Yugi was sad to let such a great card go, while Kaiba had to be forced to let the card go, it was Joey who took it the hardest of all three of the master duelists.

'Man…just when I thought I had a card that made me as special as Kaiba and Yuge I have ta return it.' Joey looked at the Claw of Hermose one last time before sighing. 'Man am ever gonna get to be on top. I mean there is nothing special about me. Kaiba is one of the richest men on earth, and Yugi has a millennium item, but what am I? Heck I can't even keep my promises most of the time. I always have to be bailed out by Yuge when I can't do what I say.' Joey remembers the time he failed to save Mai when she was trapped in the shadow realm by Marik.

'I know what I am now and that's nothing. As much as I hate to admit it Kaiba was right, I am just a dog. Even my friends don't give me much praise in my dueling talents, its always a joke before I do anything. What am I doing playing this game I'm not special nor do I have the talent Kaiba and Yugi do in the game. There is no reason for me to be playing in the top league.' Soon these depressing thoughts grew on poor Joey as he wondered what he was doing here. It was at that moment a voice was heard in his head.

'Don't give up on yourself Joey.' 'Huh?' 'Who's that, where are you, and what are you doing in my head?' Joey asked scared that he might be going crazy. The voice soothed his worries. 'Don't worry Joey Wheeler I mean you no harm and I assure you that you are not going insane. I have heard your thoughts and I will tell you not to give up. I have been keeping an eye on you for some time now and I know that you are special and that one day, your talents will be recognized. You must believe in yourself; also believe that your friends believe in you.'

Joey was very curious about this strange voice. It sounded familiar in a way but he couldn't remember the face of the person. Also he had to admit that this voice was right, he shouldn't think like this. He had a great life and had lots of friends. True they would bug him, but they were always there when he needed them. Feeling better now, he sent back his Claw of Hermose to the land of the monsters to rest until the earth needed it again.

Somewhere in a tomb in Egypt:

A young Egyptian man with blue eyes, a turban, and around his neck was the millennium key, opened his eyes when he finished talking with Joey. He was happy that he got through to the young man, though he didn't show it on his face. "I'm happy I gave you what you needed Joey. It is true that Yugi Mutou is destined to be the Pharaoh one day, but I as was well as the other guardians are feeling a great evil growing and I fear that the Pharaoh won't be able to stop it. He'll need you most of all for we feel a great potential in you that will one day show how great you truly are.

One year later:

Joey sighed as he got to his apartment from his part-time job at the movies. For a while now he had worked hard and had pushed himself to getting a pretty stable life now. Thanks to Yugi, Joey was able to use that small fortune Yugi won at Duelist Kingdom to not only pay for Serenity's eye surgery, but also to get a place for the both of them to live away from their arguing parents. He knew the money wouldn't last so he worked for the bills of the apartment while Serenity did the same. When he didn't work he hung out with the gang and dueled Yugi; though usually he lost, but he lost just barely.

As he sat down on a chair in his place, Serenity came home from her job at the restaurant. "Hey Joey I'm back."

"Hey Serenity, how was work?"

"Well waitressing isn't very exciting job, but it does give great tips. By the way I got the mail for you."

"Thanks sis you're the best." With this he turned on the TV, when he did it showed a new commercial about a dueling tournament.

'Hey all you duelists out there, a new global tournament has come! Maximilion Pegasus has just issued a new tournament going on in a few weeks at his Duelist Kingdom Island called The Dueling Elite! This tournament will be like none of the others before it. There will be new rules and new hidden surprises for this one!

500 invitations have been sent out all over the world making it one of the biggest tournaments ever held. Should the duelists that are selected have the guts to come and face some of the best in the world come and get registered now! We'll be waiting!'

It was then it spoke about the sponsors of the tournament and the laws. What Joey was wondering if Yugi would let him tag along. It would be pretty obvious that he would get one, for he had been placed first in two major dueling events.

"Hey Joey you got something in the mail." Serenity called out.

"Huh?" He asked intelligently as he took the letter from Serenity.

Opening it up, he gasped as it was 2 invitations to the Duelist Elite Tournament. "I-I don't believe this, I actually got an invited! What's this?" Underneath the tickets was a letter to him, so he read out loud so Serenity could hear too. "Joey Wheeler due to your top 5 duelist status, you have been accepted to join this tournament. In three weeks go to the harbor to leave for the Duelist Elite Tournament. This second invitation is for a mandatory partner you must have in order to enter. This can be given to anyone you want, but the person must be able to duel.

We hope to see you there and good luck,

Signed Maximilion Pegasus."

Joey was ecstatic that he got accepted he didn't think he was really that well known, but this invite proved it. Knowing just who to ask, Joey got his jacket on and ran to the door. "See yah sis I gotta ask Yuge if wants to be my partner." Before he reached the door Serenity tapped him on the shoulder.

"Uh Joey?"

"Huh? What's up sis…" Was all could finish for when he turned around he met his sisters ultimate female attack, the dreaded 'Sad Puppy Pout Face'.

"Joey, could I please be your partner for this tournament?" She asked shyly.

"Y-Y-You want to join in? But I need someone who can duel." Joey was off balance from his sister's attack. She didn't let up on the attack as she held out a deck.

"When Mia's been in town, she's been teaching me how to duel. I know I'm not very experienced with the game, but since this is just a fun a tournament, I really want to play. So can I be your partner please, Pretty Please?"

At this extra cuteness she gave him, Joey caved in 30 seconds.

1 hour later:

Joey and Serenity walked over to Yugi's grandfather's card shop, where he thought Yugi would be so that he could tell him his partner for the tournament was his sister. Later they would go to his favorite card shop across town to see if he could prepare for the tournament by getting better cards. He looked at his sister until he thought of a question that had been bugging him since he found out she had a deck.

"Hey Serenity what kind of deck do you run? If you don't mind me askin sis?"

"No Joey I don't, I have a kind of a fairy deck, well most of my deck are fairies."

"Oh." 'Figures, my sister may probably be the sweetest person on earth.' "Hey here we are Serenity." Joey said as both looked at the sign of Yugi's store.

Walking in, both saw Yugi getting cards from his grandpa building his deck stronger. Looking up Yugi went over to Joey. "Hey Joey, did ya hear the news about the new tournament?"

"Yeah Yuge I just saw it and let me guess you got the invitation too."

Yugi nodded and showed him his ticket. "Your got one too right?" Joey nodded. "Cool. Say how about being my partner for this tournament, we've always made a great team together."

"Sorry Yuge but Serenity already asked me if she could be her partner. I would have asked you but Serenity gave me the look. Show him Serenity." Serenity did and both Yugi and Yami understood why he caved. Not even Yami could stand up to the 'Pout'.

"Oh well, I'll just have to ask around for a new partner. But I'm glad Serenity wants to play with you and I hope to see you at the finals."

"You can count on it Yuge. Any way, I gonna go now to get some cards. See yah in a few weeks. Also I hope ya don't think I'll go easy on ya in the tournament just cause your my friend."

Yugi smiled at Joey. "That's the way I like it." After this Joey left.

Down Town Domino City:

The card place that was Joey's favorite, was a rather small one compared to Dukes place and old man Muoto's place, but he like it. The owner was nice and he liked hanging out with him. Also the cards were cheap and the place had an all around good feel to it. Walking in Joey called for the owner.

"Hey Zack! Ya here man?"

Soon walking in from behind the counter, was a young guy around Joey's age and height with a black hair in a ponytail and a mustache. He smiled at his favorite customer then looked at his side to Serenity. "Hey Joey, how's it goin? And more importantly who is this gorgeous girl you have on your arm?"

Serenity blushed as Joey answered. "This is my younger sister Serenity, Serenity meet Zack the owner of this simple place."

"Uh it's nice to meet you." Serenity stated off guard at how blunt Zack was at complementing her. Others guys would just think about it while just trying to get closer to her, she had to admit, she like being complemented.

"Same here. It's nice to finally meet the one Joey talks about so much. Congrats on getting through your eye surgery, personally I think it would have been a major shame to have lost such beautiful eyes." Serenity blushed again, then Joey bopped him on the head.

"Zack stop flirtin with my sister! I'm here to buy some cards."

"Okay, okay, I'll help prepare for the Tournament. Now before you ask how I know you got invited, its because you're a hell a duelist and the committee would have been brain dead not ta give you an invite."

Joey smiled; Zack was also a fan of Joey's as well. "Thanks for your support man."

"No prob man, I do have something that can help you though. I've been able to get this one but it was hard, it took awhile to get, but I think you could give it a better home than I could." Opening a small card box Zack showed a card with a picture of a black dragon his head to the side about to fire a red blast. Joey and Serenity gasped.

"Whoa! You found a Red Eyes Black Dragon, with the alternate picture on it! That's awesome man! That's one of the rarest of all Red Eye's"

Zack smiled proudly. "Yep, but I decided to let you have it for your deck."

Joey shook his head. "Sorry man, thanks but you worked too hard to get that card. It wouldn't be right to just take it from ya."

"Nonsense! You're my best customer, also my friend, besides I only sell cards it be a shame for this to just sit here unused. I know you'll treat this with great respect and use it to its utmost potential like you have with your own Red eyes. But to help your conscience, I'll sell it to you for five bucks how about it?"

Seeing how much Zack wanted him to use it, Joey couldn't say no. "Alright man you got a deal."

After about an hour; Serenity and Joey were about to leave after buying some cards. Until Zack called them back. "Hey Joey before you go I have one more thing for you." He rushed to the back of the store and came back with a medium sized box. "This came to me about a few days ago, but I think they made a mistake because there's a letter for you in here."

"Really? For me? Well let's see the letter." Joey gets the letter and starts reading. "Dear Joey Wheeler, this box is for you; in it contains 12 card packs that should have some cards that will come in handy for you in the near future. I hope that you will be benefited by what is contained within them." The note had no name, so Joey just shrugged thinking it was a fan.

Joey opened the box and the first pack, when he opened it, he gasped in surprise at the holo he got. "Whoa! I don't believe it, what a card." And so, Joey opened each pack, surprised at how many ultra rare cards he got from them. As he finished the box the last one had a note taped to it. "Eh? What's this letter?" He opened it and read it out loud. "Joey Wheeler I believe you should be happy with the cards you have received from the packs already, this one is very special. This is not the time to open this pack. Open it when you feel its right." Everyone in the card shop raised an eyebrow at that. Joey shrugged, and did what it said and put the pack in his pocket for later. The person gave so many good cards already; it would be mean to just disregard his request. So Serenity and Joey left Zacks and started home to get ready in a few weeks for the tournament.

As the 2 weeks past, Joey and Serenity played the game together and looked over the others deck. They side decked as many as they could use as the invite said to be ready for anything. With the way Joey new Pegasus, he wasn't going to take that warning lightly as they both were prepared for what Pegasus had in store for the duelists.

Harbor 2p.m.:

"All duelists prepare for departure we will be leaving in ten minutes." Yelled one of Pegasus's men.

Joey breathed in deep before he got on the cruiser, very nervous about this. That is until Serenity grabbed his arm in reassurance. He looked down and saw her smiling face made him smile in return. It gave him the reassurance he needed and both got on the boat. Due to Joeys status he was given one of the better rooms on the boat. There he and Serenity rested for what the biggest tournament was ever held.

2 days later:

"Welcome all to the newest and the toughest tournament ever held the Dueling Elite Tournament!" Pegasus yelled as all the people listened to him on the ground level. Here the tournament was about to begin.

To be continued: