Jonouchi and Atem walked quickly through the forest, looking for new duels to fight. Jonouchi kept staring at his duel glove, which he stole from Insector Haga at the last possible second. His eyes burned with determination as he told Atem his strategies for winning. Anzu, Honda, Ryo, and I walked further in the back, giving Atem and Jonouchi space to think.

"You guys think Jonouchi will be alright?" Anzu suddenly asked to no one in particular.

"I don't know, there are probably some really tough duelists here," Honda said, in deep thought. "Jonouchi will most likely have a tough time."

"I wouldn't judge Jonouchi too harshly," I replied. "You can never tell if someone has potential from only seeing them duel a few times. Jonouchi may pull through this."

"...And that will happen after a few epic fails, correct?"

I smirked at Honda's comment.

"Probably. But in all seriousness, he will be fine."

Honda and Ryo replied with a nod while Anzu still had a worried look in her eyes. We then walked out of the forest and arrived at the plains area of the island. Duel arenas were scattered all over the place, duelists crowding around each one. I could faintly see in the distance some intense battles, each duelists not willing to give up.

There is a lot of good competition here. Pegasus really did bring the best duelists here!

"Alright, who should be my first opponent?" Jonouchi said as he scanned the area.

"You might want to stay near the plain areas, since most of your monsters have the type advantage here," Atem advised.

Jonouchi nodded and we made our way down towards a duel arena.

"There are a lot of tough duelists here," Ryo commented, getting a faint glimpse of the duels. "Jonouchi and even Yugi may have a tough time here."

"Yes, but Yugi and Jonouchi are strong as well," I replied. "They'll just have to pick the right opponent. Besides, they don't look that bad. It's not like they have Exodia or something."

"Speaking of Exodia, did you ever give that back to Yugi?"

"Oh, well..." I lowered my voice. "Once the duel with Haga was over, Yugi said I could keep it!"

"Wow, that's awesome!" Ryo exclaimed happily.

"I know! But don't tell Jonouchi though! Next time we duel, I want to surprise him! It will be so hilarious when he thinks he is about to win, and then I pull out Exodia!"

Ryo smiled and laughed. "I'm sure you will get him, Roxanne!"

I paused for a second.

"Then again...I might just let him win so his pride isn't destroyed completely."

All of a sudden, Mai's laugh could be heard in the distance. We all turned and saw her put a few more star chips into her glove while her opponent stared at the ground.

"H-how did you do it?" the guy asked, stuttering. "How did you do that thing with your cards?"

Mai giggled and smiled.

"That...is my secret."

She gave him a sassy wink and left the arena.

She then saw Atem in the distance. A competitive smile curled on her lips and she ran towards us.

"Hello again, Yugi!" Mai said in a fake friendly tone. "How are your duels going?"

"Not bad," Atem answered coolly.

Mai nodded, her eyes moving from Atem to Jonouchi. She smirked.

"Alright, it's time to have a duel, but not with you yet, Yugi. I challenge you, Jonouchi!"

Jonouchi stared at Mai shocked. "What, me?"

"Unless you want to run away like a scared little boy," Mai taunted. "I just want to see if you even deserve to be on the island. From what I see, you look like a new rookie."

Jonouchi narrowed his eyes.

"Of course I want to fight Yugi, don't get me wrong," Mai explained as she saw the confused looks we gave. "But with these rules, it's not the best strategy. The weaker players need to leave first so that the stronger ones can progress. Once I have enough star chips, then I'll fight Yugi."

Jonouchi glared at Mai, seeming a bit offended.

"…Fine, let's duel!"

"What!" Anzu exclaimed. "Jonouchi, you'll lose if you fight her! Yugi, tell him-"

"Let him handle it, Anzu," I cut her off. "Have a little faith in him, will you? Jonouchi needs to do this himself."

Anzu stared at me, shocked at my cold reply.

Mai and Jonouchi walked towards the duel arena. Like when Atem fought Haga, we all gather around the box.

"You really believe Jonouchi can win this?" Ryo asked, only loud enough for me to hear.

I nodded. "How else will he become stronger if he doesn't fight for himself? The more challenging the opponent is, the stronger you become after it is done. And it isn't just for Duel Monsters, but with everything. You see my point?"

"A little bit, I guess. Though, I am still worried."

"I never said I wasn't either."

We became silent as Jonouchi and Mai prepared to battle.

"Before we begin, Mai, I want to ask you something," Jonouchi said as he put his only star chip onto the table. "Why did you come to the island? For honor or the prize money?"

"Both, actually. I want to travel the world, maybe even buy a house in Paris! Oh the possibilities I could do!"

Mai had a dreamy look in her eyes as she described her fantasies.

"…That's a pretty weak reason to be here," Jonouchi commented.

Mai growled. "Oh really? Then what are you here for?"

"I'm here to save a life."

Mai blinked and stared at Jonouchi. That was answer she didn't expect to hear from the look on her face.

But it quickly changed into a fierce, competitive face as she and Jonouchi drew their first hand. Jonouchi smiled, obviously pleased with his hand. He looked up at Mai and was shocked to see her cards face down on the table.

"W-what are you doing?" Jonouchi asked puzzled.

"I already know my cards," Mai explained. "There isn't a reason to look at them."

She picked the card in the middle.

"I summon Harpy Lady in attack mode."

Mai placed the card onto the field her Harpy Lady appeared. Everyone gasped when she was right.

I narrowed my eyes.

Very cheap maneuver to win, Mai. Luckily this the last time you will use this trick.

Jonouchi growled as he cried, "I summon Tiger Axe! And since he is a warrior monster, he gets a power bonus from the field!"

Tiger Axe held his giant axe in front of him, ready for the order to attack.

"Tiger Axe, attack Harpy Lady!"

Tiger Axe charged at the half human half bird monster. But Harpy Lady was faster and was able to strike above Tiger Axe killing him. Jonouchi's eyes widened. Mai smiled.

"You still think you can beat me? You're going to have to do better than that."

"Alright, if it's a fight you want, it's a fight you'll get!"

He then summoned the Demon Hunter Kojikocy in attack mode. But Mai didn't even flinch as she countered by playing Electro-Whip, rising Harpy Lady's attack power. Harpy Lady then attacked and murdered Kojikocy. Out of anger, Jonouchi summoned another monster in attack mode.

Mai smiled, amused at his anger. She added another spell card to make Harpy Lady even stronger, Cyber Bondage. She destroyed that monster without breaking a sweat. Mai began to laugh.

"Is this really the best you can do, Jonouchi? You're nothing more than easy prey to me! I can't even believe that you were invited to come here, your that pathetic!"

Mai continued to taunted and insult Jonouchi, making his confidence go down.

I sighed. "You know, Mai. This is pretty pathetic what you are doing."

Mai turned to me, her eyes glowing with anger.

"What did you just say? You're calling me pathetic when this loser over here can't even beat a single monster!"

"If he is that bad, why are you insulting him about it?" I questioned. "Or do just like to destroy people's pride and dignity? Because that's what it looks like, with your cheap trick and all."

Mai's eyes widened.

"She has a point," Atem commented. "It does make you look weak."

He turned to Jonouchi, who was staring at us puzzled.

"Answer me this, Jonouchi. 'What's something that you can show, but can't see?'"

Jonouchi stared at Atem. He then turned back to his cards and closed his eyes. He looked like he was in defeat, as if he couldn't do anything to change the situation.

Suddenly, his nose began to twitch. Jonouchi opened his eyes.

"Something you can show, but can't see…"

He stood up.

"Man, you really freaked me out! Spraying all of your cards with perfume, I would've never had guessed that was what you were doing..."

He turned to me and Atem.

"Thanks Yugi, Roxanne."

I smiled and Atem nodded in reply.

"You know…it's strange," Jonouchi said sitting back down. "With my friends at my side, you don't seem that tough, Mai."

He smirked.

"Now, prepare for the real battle to begin!"

He then played Baby Dragon onto the field.

"Show me what you've got, Mai Kujaku."

Mai glared at Jonouchi with pure hatred.

"I now play the spell card, Kaleidoscope! My single Harpy Lady becomes three Harpy Ladies! The Harpy Lady Sisters, if you will."

Jonouchi gave a worried look. He then drew a card from his deck, sweat going down his face. Jonouchi's eyes widened as he looked at the card.

"And now for the card that will decide the duel. Here is the Time Wizard!"

The Time Wizard was summoned next to Baby Dragon, its eyes turning in all directions. Mai stared at it blankly.

"Time…what?"

"It's the Time Wizard," Jonouchi explained. "It has the power to go forward in time one hundred years. I assume you know what that means."

Mai said nothing but continued to glare at Jonouchi.

"Time Wizard, use Time Magic!"

The Time Wizard lifted his staff into the air and time went forward a hundred years. Baby Dragon transformed into Thousand Dragon, its wise and powerful eyes burning into the Harpy Ladies. Mai's Harpy Ladies became old and wrinkly, losing all of their power.

Mai gasped. "No, my Harpies!"

"Thousand Dragon, attack!"

Thousand Dragon took a deep breath and burned the Harpy Ladies to ashes.

"No! I lost!" Mai exclaimed.

She hit her fists onto the table.

Jonouchi took the star chip he won. "Hey, Mai."

Mai looked up at him.

"That was a good fight. You know, I may not be a 'true duelist,' but let me tell you something that doesn't change in a hundred years."

"And what's that?" Mai asked, her voice cracking.

Jonouchi smiled.

"It's something you can show, but can't see."

He then left the duel arena and walked towards the rest of us. Jonouchi showed us his glove, his two star chips shinning in the sun light.

"Well guys, two star chips down, eight more to go!"