So I feel like this chapter is rather poorly written compared to others. I must also point out that I had to alter how Joey duels in this chapter from the original episode just to fit with the cards Tay draws and plays. Anyway, please enjoy.
Everyone took the elevators back up to the playing field, with Roland taking the referee position once again.
"Alright! Both duelists will now take their places in the arena." Tay and Joey did so. "Elevate the arena!" The arena started to rise.
"C'mon Joey!" Tristan called out.
"You can beat him Tay!" Kori cheered.
"The winner of this duel will advance to the next round of the Battle City Finals. The loser will be dismissed. Alright gentleman, it's time to begin. So if you'll please take your places."
"Hey Tay, just because I still owe ya for helping me out a while back, don't think I'll go easy on ya!" Joey shouted from one end of the arena, activating his duel disk.
"Wouldn't expect you to! Just promise me no hard feelings when I win!" Tay activated his own duel disk.
"That's so cool!" Téa said. "Even though they're opponents, they're still not letting that get in the way of their friendship."
"But who are we supposed to root for?" Duke asked. Kori gave him a death glare. Duke cringed a bit.
"Um, Tay, Tay, he's our man!" He cheered quickly. Kori switched to a cheerful smile.
"That's what I thought!" Marina sweat dropped.
"We can cheer both of them on!" Yugi said happily. "Let's go Joey! You can do it Tay!" Everyone gave Yugi a weird look before joining him in his cheer. Joey took the first turn, drawing a card.
While Joey was busy daydreaming about something, a gust of wind picked up, blowing his cards right out of his hand! Everyone gasped as he struggled to grab them all, having to use his teeth to capture one before it blew away. Everyone sighed in relief after he caught them all. Tay sweat dropped.
"Hey Joey, you might want to actually hold on to your cards for this duel." Duke shouted.
"You guys, he needs support." Serenity said. "Nice catch big brother!" Everyone gave her a weird look.
"Okay now, where was I? Now I summon Gearfried the Iron Knight I attack mode! (1800/1600) Now let's see what you got Tay." Tay drew a card.
"Alright then. But remember, you asked for it. I summon Magician's Valkyria in defense mode. (1600/1800) While she's on the field, you can't attack any of my other spellcaster monsters. And then I lay a card face down. Go ahead Joey." Joey drew a card.
"I summon Tiny Guardian in attack mode! (1400/1800) And that's it for now!" Tay drew a card, it was his blue Dark Magician!
'Awesome, it's one of my Dark Magicians! Playing this will really throw him off, but I'm gonna need more tributes first. Wait, I have Skilled Dark Magician in my hand! I've got an idea!"
"I summon Skilled Dark Magician in attack mode! (1900/1700)"
"Skilled Dark Magician?" Yugi gasped.
"Yep, you heard him right Yugi." Kori smirked.
"Tay's deck will really surprise you." Marina said.
"Next I activate Spell Absorption! Now whenever either of us activates a spell card we'll gain 500 life points! And Skilled Dark Magician gets a Spell Counter for each spell card I play." A jewel on Skilled Dark Magician's lit up.
"Spell Counter? What's that?" Joey asked. Tay smirked.
"You'll see in just a moment. Cuz now I play Spell Power Grasp! First I get 500 life points from Spell Absorption. Then my magician gets another Spell Counter thanks to his effect, and then another from Spell Power Grasp's effect!" Two more jewels lit up on the magician's armor.
Tay: 4500 LP
"Uh oh! I'm not liking the looks of this." Joey gulped.
"Yugi, you know all about magician cards," Tristan started, "What do these Spell Counters do?" Without even taking his eyes off of the duel, he answered.
"They're really more like place holders. There's a bunch of cards that use them and whenever a card accumulates a certain amount...it can activate its effect.
"And what's Skilled Dark Magician's effect?" Mai asked. Yugi's eyes narrowed.
"Now I tribute my Skilled Dark Magician with 3 Spell Counters," Tay shouted as he raised his hand into the air and the magician turned into orbs of light, "In order to special summon this from my hand! The Dark Magician! (2500/2100)" Tay's blue magician appeared from the light.
"Dark what?!" Joey shouted. Everyone gasped aside from Kori, Marina, and Kaiba.
"Yugi, he has a Dark Magician! Just like you!" Téa shouted. Duke stepped back.
"But how is that possible? I thought Yugi was the only duelist that had Dark Magician!" Yugi shook his head.
"No. I recently found out that there are other kinds of Dark Magicians than my own." He thought back to Arkana and his red Dark Magician. Serenity held her hands to her chest.
"Joey..."
"You summoned a Dark Magician? How did you do that?!"
"What's the matter Joey? Dark Magician got you tongue? Now Dark Magician, attack his Tiny Guardian!" Dark Magician shot a blast from his staff and destroyed Joey's guardian.
Joey: 2900 LP
"And now I activate my trap card, Magician's Circle. Whenever a spellcaster monster declares an attack, both of us get to special summon one spellcaster from our decks with 2000 or less attack points. So I bring out Magical Marionette! (2000/1000)" Joey summoned Time Wizard in defense mode. Marina looked at Magical Marionette and shivered.
"What's with all these duel monsters being based on creepy dolls?" Kori gave her a quizzical look.
"Since when are you afraid of dolls?"
"Don't ask."
"Now Magical Marionette, destroy Time Wizard!" The puppet moved forward and slashed at the clock wizard, destroying it. "Your turn Joey." Joey drew a card.
"Oh man, my Time Wizard! You're better than I thought you'd be Tay. I never expected you to play the Dark Magician. I switch Gearfried to defense mode and then summon Hayabusa Knight in defense mode too! (1000/1700) And then activate Giant Trunade to get rid of your Spell Absorption, but not before it gives me life point boost!"
Joey: 3400 LP
A tornado whipped up and blew Spell Absorption back to Tay's hand.
"And that's it for now." Tay drew a card.
"Awesome job, Joey!" Serenity called out.
"Thank you for activating Giant Trunade, because Magical Marionette gets a Spell Counter for each spell card activated. And in turn, for each spell counter on my marionette, it gains 200 attack!"
"What?!" Magical Marionette's attack rose to 2200.
"And now I'll replay Spell Absorption, which will give Magical Marionette another spell counter. (2400/1000) Now attack his Hayabusa Knight!" The puppet slashed the bird knight and destroyed it. "And Dark Magician, destroy his Gearfried!" Dark Magician cast a spell and Gearfried shattered. "Then I'll call it a turn for now." Joey drew a card.
"Woo! Keep it up Tay!" Kori cheered.
"Yugi, Joey's in a tough spot right now," Téa began, "Tay's backing him into a corner. Isn't there anything he can do?"
"It all depends if Joey can draw the right cards."
"Okay, I summon Alligator Sword in defense mode! (1500/1200) And then I'll set a card face down and end my turn." Tay drew a card.
"Going on the defense now, Joey? Okay then, I too set a card down and I won't attack this turn. That's it" Joey drew a card.
"He's toying with him," Tristan shouted, "Come on Joey, you can take him."
"Easy for you to say, you're not the one facing down an army of magicians! I summon the Swordsman of Landstar in defense mode. (500/1200) And then I'm done." Tay drew a card.
"I'll pass this turn."
"Is this a duel or a game of bingo?" Mai questioned, "Neither of them are doing anything." Duke narrowed his eyes.
"Why doesn't Tay just attack Joey and end this?" Marina stepped up.
"Because Joey's his friend. He's trying to give Joey a chance to draw the cards he needs." Kori sighed.
"Typical Tay," she shook her head, "Always has to be the nice guy." Joey drew a card.
"I summon the Rocket Warrior in defense mode! (1500/1300) And I end my turn." Tay drew a card.
"Dark Magician, attack his Alligator's Sword now!"
"Not so fast! I activate Fairy Box!) Alligator's Sword was hidden inside a whack-a-mole like box. "Now you'll have to find him if you wanna attack him!"
The Dark Magician struck one of the holes on the box but Alligator's Sword popped out from the hole right next to it. Tay growled.
"Fine, I end my turn." Joey drew a card.
"I'll set a card face down and end my turn." Tay drew a card.
"I'm gonna pass agai-"
"Tay!" Joey shouted from the opposite end of the arena. Tay stepped back in a little shock. "I told you that I wasn't gonna go easy on ya and I don't expect you to either! Now stop stalling for me and attack!" Tay smirked and nodded.
"You're right Joey. It wouldn't be fair to you if I went easy on you." He snapped his eyes open fiercely and was determined. "You just remember that you asked for it! I switch Magician's Valkyria into attack mode and have her attack your Swordsman of Landstar." She twirled her staff around and shot a blast, destroying the swordsman. "Now Magical Marionette, destroy his Alligator's Sword!" The puppet flew forward and slashed the alligator. "And Finally Dark Magician, attack his Rocket Warrior!" Dark Magician destroyed Rocket Warrior. "And that's all she wrote."
"Come on Joey! Keep it together!" Serenity cheered. Mai stepped forward.
"Yeah! Do you wanna look like a big loser in front of your sister?" He drew a card
"I activate Scape Goat! (0/0 x4) In order to protect my life points and get a boost!"
Joey: 3900
"Joey's almost back to 4000!" Téa cheered.
"Yeah, but now Magical Marionette (2400/1000) is even stronger." Yugi pointed out.
"And that's it." Tay drew a card.
"I'll have each of my magicians attack three of your Sheep Tokens!" Tay's three magicians sprung forward, destroying three of the sheep. "Your turn Joey." Joey drew a card.
"I play Foolish Burial to send one card from my deck, to the graveyard!"
Joey: 4400 LP
Magical Marionette's attack was raised to 2800.
"Then I'll play Graverobber to bring that monster to the field. So say hello to Gilford the Lightning! (2800/1400) Now attack his Valkyria!" Gilford lunged forward and slashed Magician's Valkyria.
Tay: 3300 LP
"Take your turn." Tay drew a card. I switch Dark Magician to defense mode and play a monster in defense mode. And that's it for now." Joey drew a card.
"I tribute my last Sheep token to summon Jinzo! (2400/1500) Now you can't activate any trap cards! Jinzo, attack his face down monster." Jinzo sent out a psychic blast and destroyed the face down Gemini Elf. "And now to get rid of your Dark Magician! Gilford attack!" Gilford attacked and destroyed Dark Magician.
"Alright! Joey took out Tay's Dark Magician!" Téa exclaimed. Tristan made a fist.
"Now he just needs to get rid of that freaky puppet and Tay will be wide open!" Marina and Kori smirked.
"What's so funny guys?" Yugi asked.
"Tay has more than one Dark Magician in his deck." Yugi gasped.
"Your move Tay." Tay drew a card.
"I summon another Magician's Valkyria in defense mode! (1600/1800) Then I'll attack your Jinzo with Magical Marionette! And then I end my turn." Joey drew a card.
Joey: 4000 LP
I play a monster in defense mode. Then attack your valkyria with Gilford!" Gilford struck Magician's Valkyria and destroyed her. "And that's it." Tay drew a card.
"First, I lay two cards face down. And then I activate Swords of Revealing Light!"
"No!"
"Yes! Now my life points go up, and Magical Marionette becomes strong enough to take out your Gilford!" (3000/1000) Magical Marionette moved forward, ready to attack.
Tay: 3800 LP
"Joey!" Serenity stepped forward.
"I activate Skull Dice to drop Magical Marionette's attack!"
"What?!" The small devil appeared and rolled a red 6-sided die that landed on 2.
"Alright! Now Magical Marionette's attack is divided in half!" (1500/1000) Magical Marionette attacked Gilford, but was destroyed instead.
Tay: 2500 LP
"Fine then," Tay growled. "I'll just play another Skilled Dark Magician in defense mode. (1900/1700) And finish my turn." Joey drew a card.
"Oh yeah Joey! You da' man!" Tristan made a fist.
"Good going Wheeler!" Mai was impressed.
"Okay, I summon Battle Warrior in defense mode. (700/1000) And since I can't attack while those swords of yours are out, that's it for now." Tay drew a card.
"I activate my two face downs, Pitch-Black Power Stone, two of them! Each of these stones holds 3 spell counters, and each turn, I can move 1 from each stone to another card that can hold spell counters. So I move a spell counter from each stone onto my Skilled Dark Magician!" A light went out on each stone and then lit up on Skilled Dark Magician. Joey stepped back.
"Oh no. Again?!" Tay smirked.
"That's right, on my next turn I'll add the third spell counter and bring out my second Dark Magician! So you have until then to try and stop me. And with that, I end my turn." Joey drew a card.
"I summon Panther Warrior in defense mode! (2000/1600) And that's it." Tay drew a card while Joey looked disappointed.
"I move one more spell counter onto my Skilled Dark Magician then sacrifice him to summon my second Dark Magician! (2500/2100)" Tay's black Dark Magician came forth.
"It's black this time!" Yugi exclaimed.
"Now Dark Magician, destroy his Panther Warrior!" Dark Magician shot a magical blast and destroyed the panther. Joey drew a card.
"I play the Pot of Greed to draw more cards! Then I activate Monster Reborn to bring back Jinzo! (2400/1500) With him back, say good-bye to your power stones." Jinzo sent out a psychic blast and destroyed the two stones. "And since this is my last turn that I can't attack, I think I'll end it there after playing a face down." Tay drew a card.
Joey: 5000 LP
"I summon Defender, the Magical Knight in Defense Mode! (1600/2000) And when he's summoned, he gets a spell counter. Next I equip Dark Magician with Magic Formula to raise his attack! (3000/2100) Now Dark Magician, attack Gilford!" The Dark Magician attacked the warrior and destroyed him.
Joey: 4800 LP
"This duel just keeps going back and forth," Duke shouted, "Who's gonna win?"
"My brother of course!" Kori made a fist in the air. "You can do it Tay."
Joey drew a card.
"Jinzo, attack his defender!" Jinzo sent out his psychic attack and destroyed Defender, but then Defender suddenly returned to Tay's field.
"Hey, what's going on? I destroyed him."
"Defender's effect allows me to protect one spellcaster monster from destruction if I remove a spell counter from him. Now I take my turn." He drew a card. "I tribute Defender in order to summon the Dark Red Enchanter! He gets two spell counters when he's summoned that raise his attack by 300 each. (2300/2200) Now I play Magical Blast! Dark Red Enchanter gets another spell counter (2600/2200) and you take 200 points of damage for each spellcaster on my field."
Joey: 4400 LP
Tay: 3000 LP
"And now I play Double Spell which further increases my enchanters attack (2900/2200) and lets me use the effect of one your discarded spell cards by discarding one of my own. I use Pot of Greed and draw two more cards. Now Dark Magician, attack Battle Warrior, Dark Red Enchanter, attack Jinzo!" Joey's monsters were destroyed.
Joey: 3900 LP
Joey drew a card. He looked at his hand but then sunk his shoulders.
"There's nothing I can do," he said sadly.
"Oh no, Joey," Serenity said. Tay had a sad expression.
"Joey?"
"It's cool Tay! Go ahead and take me out this turn! This was a fun duel against a great friend so I have no regrets." Tay smirked and nodded. He drew a card.
"Dark Magician, Dark Red Enchanter, attack his life points directly now!" They did, and Joey's life points hit 0.
Joey: 0 LP LOSE
"The winner of the second duel is...Tay Ardent." Roland motioned over to Tay, "As the winner you are entitled to Joey's rarest card." Tay shook his head as the holograms disappeared. He started walking over to Joey who had sunk to his knees.
"No way, being able to duel against Joey was reward enough." He held out a hand to help Joey up, who gladly accepted it.
"Yeah! Alright!" Kori shouted as she high-fived Marina. The platform started lowering and everyone ran over to Tay and Joey.
"Man, that duel was awesome!" Tristan shouted.
"It's so cool that you two were able to stay friends throughout the whole thing," Téa said. Mai waved a finger in the air.
"What did I tell ya'? Joey stood no chance in the finals." She teased.
"What was that Mai?!"
"Joey." Joey turned and saw Serenity standing behind him.
"Serenity?...I'm sorry I lost. I wish I coulda won...for you." Serenity shook her head.
"No Joey, you were great! I'm just glad I got to see my big brother dueling in the finals."
Joey had a huge grin as Serenity hugged him. Tay smiled at the two before Marina suddenly tackled him, wrapping her arms around his neck.
"Hooray! You won!" She shouted but Tay gave no response. "Tay?" She looked at him and saw that he was completely red and stiff in embarrassment. Everyone else laughed.
"Alright! If you geeks are done, clear off the arena! We need to prepare for the next match!" Kaiba demanded. Yugi and his friends did so, heading back to the elevator.
"Pu-shy!" Kori mocked.
After the half-hour intermission, everyone gathered back in the main hall for the selection of the next duelists.
"We will now begin the next selection." Roland said as the selector started up, "Remaining finalists, please remember your numbers."
Seto Kaiba
Mai Valentine
Namu
Marik Ishtar
Kori Ardent
The tenth duelist
"And the first duelist for the third match of the finals is...no.9, Miss Kori Ardent!"
"Oh yeah! It's my time to blow away the competition!" Kori jumped for joy. Marina patted Kori on the back.
"See, I told you you'd get your chance soon."
"Alright, so who's ass am I kicking?"
"And Miss Ardent's opponent will be...no.7, Marik Ishtar!" Everyone gasped in shock.
"Alright!" She threw out her arm and pointed at the large man, glaring at him with a grin, "I'm taking you down freak show!" The large man simply narrowed his eyes at the girl. Tay whispered something under his breath.
"No!"
