In this alternate version of the Battle City Finals all of the matches will be between different contenders. Who is the real villain? Who is the hero that destiny will be depending on? Anything goes in this fan remake.
01 - Arrival of the Champion Contenders
Mai Valentine was leading the group of teenagers with an eager smirk on her face and victory in her steps. The city looked empty now in the dark of night. Good, she thought. Less chance of us getting jumped by more hoodlums out to take our locater cards. That sleazy Jean-Claude Magnum had failed to take her spot in the finals (as well as her hand in marriage) and his desperate ploy to have her kidnapped after the defeat had failed as well. She glanced back at Joey Wheeler who was getting teased by Duke and Tristan about a head injury from that fall. Now that the shock of what'd just happened was wearing off – Mai had almost fallen to her death after all! – the blonde guy was once again disappointed he hadn't got that actor's autograph. As for Mai she never wanted to see another Jean-Claude movie ever again.
The other kids had been right after all. Mai already had battled her way to winning six locater cards and had no need to risk it all just because an old opponent wanted her place, not to mention hand in marriage. But defeating him had been just the morale booster she needed. Joey and Yugi, who'd both bested her in their last tournament, would now be able to see that this time Mai didn't have a chance of losing. She was amped to take on Kaiba's tournament crown; Mai had learnt from her defeats on Pegasus's island. With her new and improved deck, and sense of style, she was going to become the victor of the Battle City Finals. No doubt about it, she thought smugly. They can all just sit back and watch me win.
"There it is!" Yugi Muto announced in that gruff serious voice he usually had while duelling. "That must be the entrance to the Battle City Finals." he pointed ahead to what looked like the entryway of a stadium that was coming into view around the corner.
"Wow," Tea mouthed as they all leaned forward and peered through the streetlights.
Mai narrowed her eyes. From here she could see large construction cranes from over the top of the concrete walls. Trying to keep the locale incognito? Again a smirk played across Mai's red painted lips.
"Check it out Seto!" Mokuba Kaiba raised his clenched fists eagerly. "The first of the finalists are arriving! It's Yugi and his friends!"
Turning away from his security workers Kaiba issued the newcomers a cold stare. His arms were crossed rigidly but secretly he was pleased. That's one of the Egyptian God Cards present in the arena. Now all that's left is to wait for the man known as Marik. They watched the group approach from the centre of the flat dirt arena. This whole stadium was still part-way through construction, it was Kaiba Corp's idea to use it as grounds for future duelling competitions or letting it get hired out for other venues. The dweebs may or may not have figured it out yet, but this was not to be the location of the first round of the finals.
He surveyed the incoming group of seven. There was no doubt that they were not the other seven contestants he was waiting on arriving all at once. They walked determinedly forward without greeting and Kaiba could make out the faces of Yugi's braindead cheerleading squad. He vaguely recalled their appearances, let alone their names. He had a habit of only remembering those of significance. When they were close enough the suited Rolund moved forward to address them.
"Greetings duellists, please present your locater cards in exchange for your tournament IDs."
"Yugi! Everyone! Congratulations on making it to the finals!" the younger Kaiba brother stepped forward to greet them merrily.
Despite the fact the pointy-haired smallest teen was Seto Kaiba's ultimate rival (having taken his rank of world's number one duellist) Mokuba was ever-grateful for Yugi's help in defeating Pegasus and restoring Kaiba Corporation. Kaiba said nothing to the band of misfits, although he was happy to see Yugi in his own way. In his very own tournament he would strip both Yugi's God Card as well as the rank that rightfully belongs to him. Slifer the Sky Dragon would join Obelisk the Tormentor in Kaiba's Deck and would help make him the greatest duellist ever known.
"Thanks, Mokuba. It's good to see you." Yugi responded as he came to a stop, he had that bland and friendly energy about him.
It was the kind that made him seem like an unimpressive runt of a kid. It did not make him look like the guy who'd beaten Kaiba in the duel that changed everything so long ago. Joey Wheeler was the first to exchange locater cards with Rolund, meaning the blonde idiot would be bestowed the number 2 of 8 in the finals. While Kaiba only remembered those of significance, Wheeler had a remarkable ability to get under his skin. He was a moron who flunked his way to the top of a tournament he shouldn't even have been entered into. Through some glitch or another he'd weaselled his way inside. Kaiba was convinced that his only ever achievement in life was being the best friend of Yugi Muto, the so-called King of Games.
"This place sure is big," one of Yugi's nameless friends with brown hair pointed into a single spike looked around. "But it looks like it's still under construction."
Kaiba ignored the nobody and turned to Yugi as he received his ID card.
"I'm glad to see you finally made it to my tournament finals, Yugi."
"Of course, Kaiba. This may very well be the most important challenge of my life. A lot is at stake in this tournament of yours."
"Spare me the destiny nonsense." He'd already heard this talk on the helicopter ride they'd shared earlier to rescue Mokuba and Yugi's friends from Marik's thug henchmen.
The only other finalist of the group was a woman in revealing purple clothes and long blonde hair. Mai Valentine, a duellist of some merit who'd made it to the semi-finals of Pegasus's island tournament. She handed over her plastic locator cards and received the fourth number from Rolund. He knew only top-ranking duellists would make it into his finals – Joey aside – but all Kaiba really cared about was making sure the other two Egyptian God Cards were present.
"Someone else is arriving!"
By the time Ryou Bakura marched himself into the wide dusty arena he could see that Marik was already mingled with the others. Those duellists believed he was a kind-hearted and helpful companion, oblivious to the various schemes and motives playing out in the shadows of the tournament. You fools. He himself was in control of the boy who was their friend, for the spirit of the Millennium Ring had fought his way into the finals not their white-haired school-mate. Yami Bakura would also be posturing for the purposes of Marik's plan. While the other villain believed he was in control, it would be none other than Bakura who would come out on top and leave this competition with an addition of two new Millennium Items.
His ring necklace was hidden under his shirt and the Millennium Eye which he'd taken from Pegasus sat comfortably in his back pocket.
When the bright lamplights of the stadium cast themselves over him he raised his arm just like sensitive Bakura would have done. Exclamations abounded from the group of people when he was recognized. Bakura's eyes swept over the one posing as Namu for only a moment but he registered the other man's smugness. The attention moved away from Marik as Bakura entered, he must have arrived just before the newcomer. Bakura stepped over to the group, Tea and Tristan rushed over to meet him. Regardless of what you may think Marik, I'm the one who's really in control.
"Bakura! It is you!" Tea cried.
"What are you doing out of the hospital man?" Tristan was shocked. "You should be recovering!"
"Hey guys." Bakura came to a stop. A what's-all-the-fuss kind of expression on his face.
"You were unconscious not very long ago," Tea continued the outraged onslaught "What are you doing here? How did you find us?"
Bakura said nothing, tried to make them see all this friendly fussing and concern was unnecessary. It was Joey who noticed it, the taller blonde boy stepped forward.
"No way! That's a duel disk on your arm Bakura! There's no way you won six locater cards and qualified for the finals so fast!"
Tea and Tristan now gaped silently at the machine on his wrist. The others were studying him, Kaiba with mild interest and Yugi with both shock and suspicion. He couldn't let them know that he, the spirit of the Millennium Ring was back and in control of their friend Bakura. Tilting his head back his skinny frame shook with laughter.
"It's quite alright, you lot." He spoke with the British lilt of their school friend. "Really, I feel fine. The doctors say I'm A-okay. They were also surprised by my quick recovery but what can I say? When they saw I was completely alright they had no choice but to discharge me. Then I could get back into the tournament and win some locater cards. After all I wasn't going to let my friends get to the finals without me."
"So not only did you recover so fast but you also won six locater cards?" Tea marvelled. "That's incredible."
"I still think you shouldn't be up and about. You should be resting, man!" Tristan pressed.
The others looked like they were beginning to accept the story, although Bakura didn't miss the suspicion both Yugi and Joey were still firing his way. Walking between the two brown-haired naggers Bakura went straight to the suited agent holding the IDs.
"Look," Bakura held out his locater cards. "If I wasn't alright I wouldn't have won six cards and qualified for the finals."
The man studied them briefly before handing over a plastic card, the number printed on it was '6'. Bakura glanced at it before slipping it into his back pocket beside the Millennium Eye.
"You looked real beat up when I found you," Marik spoke in Namu's faux-friendly tone "but if you've made it to the finals then it must be true that you're okay to duel."
That seemed to settle the worriers although the suspicion remained unsaid. The attention didn't fully leave him until the man posing as Marik arrived. Everyone was on edge as the hooded muscled henchman approached. The teenagers stood rigid and hackles rose. Bakura then understood why Marik was so very amused by this whole situation. He had them on, his plan was working perfectly. For now. Even Kaiba seemed more cautious than usual when the dark man with facial tattoos came to a halt before them.
"You mind-controlling freak!" losing his temper as expected Joey raised his fist. "I oughta tie you up with that stupid cape, pal!"
The poser merely responded with a derisive huff and lowered his head.
"I should disqualify you right now for hacking yourself into my tournament." Kaiba announced. "But I'm not going to do that simply because you have something I want: The Winged Dragon of Ra. Just be careful not to break any more of my regulations or I'll have you out so fast you'll be spinning."
The henchman looked at Kaiba but gave no other response to show he'd obey.
"Doesn't look like you have a lot of friends here, buddy." Mokuba stated with a child-like growl.
The security worker stepped forward and requested to see his locater cards. They were presented and he received the seventh ID card.
"Since seven of the eight finalists are here bring in Kaiba-craft 3." Kaiba ordered his other worker who nodded and turned away to speak into a walkie-talkie. The tall blue-eyed brunette smiled to himself. "We'll need to take off immediately after it lands if we want to stay on schedule."
"What about the eighth finalist, Seto?" Mokuba asked innocently.
"It doesn't matter. The three Egyptian God Cards are now present. It's time we get moving."
"Moving?" Joey ceased his glowering at the robed man to turn and face Kaiba. "You mean we're not having the tournament here?"
"What on Earth is that?" Yugi was looking up at the night sky with his legs apart. Everyone else raised their heads to see the enormous blimp as it made its descent. The mobile location for the first round of the Battle City Finals.
This has been me getting a feel for the characters. Next chapter the first duel of the semi-finals will be revealed. I really want to surprise my readers with the who-versus-who as well as the results of each duel. I have more important stories to update however, so this won't get worked on unless someone likes it enough to leave a review.