Chapter Twenty Six
I don't own Digimon or Yu-Gi-Oh
Chapter Twenty Six: Finals Begin Mai versus Daisuke
The sun had risen the next morning over the Duellist Kingdom and Daisuke was looking out of her room's window.
"it is finally morning, and I barely slept a wink, I sure hope I am doing the right thing by choosing to duel once again, but with my sisters soul on the line I have to do so," She thought to herself looking at her dresser where her Millenniums bracelet laid. Jun and Yugi's grandpa said to trust the spirit within the bracelet but how can I?" She asked herself putting her bracelet on. "It was willing to do anything at all just to win a duel, anything," She said when she heard a knock on the door and it opened up to see Joey, Yugi, Tea, Bakura and Tristan.
"Hey," Joey said.
"Ready Dai?" Tea asked her.
"Hey Tea, hi guys," she greeted them with a smile.
"Aren't you ready yet?" Tea asked her.
"Yeah, because if you are not ready yet, they will disqualify you right out of the tournament," Joey told her.
"Yeah, I am ready guys," Daisuke said to them.
"Well that's good, let's go," Yugi said to them and they all nodded their heads and they left the room and headed towards the arena.
"We will have to cheer you guys from the balcony Dai, only duellists are allowed on the arena floor, good luck to you Joey and Yugi," Tristan said to the three of them and they nodded their heads.
"Well guys guess this is it, I am so proud of you guys, kick so butt," Tea said and they nodded. Tea, Tristan and Bakura walked off towards the balcony and Daisuke looked at Yugi and Joey.
"So boys, ready to duel?" she asked them.
"Ready as we will ever be," Yugi said to her and Joey nodded his head. The three of them then walked towards the door and opened it up to see Mai and Bandit Keith already there waiting for them.
"Well looked who finally showed up," Mai said.
"Hello Mai," Daisuke greeted her.
"Sleep well? I was beginning to wonder if you would even show up," She asked Daisuke.
"Hey there dweeb, ready to get your butt kicked across the arena and back?" Bandit Keith asked Joey.
"Dream on, unlike you I didn't steal my starchips to enter the final round, and I won't have to cheat to beat you," Joey told him with confidence.
"What an idiot, you don't even realise that I swiped your card, the one you need for the finals, and you don't even realise it, you have already lost," Bandit Keith thought to himself.
"Attention, attention the Duel champion playoff are about to begin, all finalists please proceed to the arena," Everyone looked at the door to see a golden Pegasus with glowing green eyes speak and the door opened up and they all walked out towards the duelling arena.
"Here they come," Bakura said.
"And now for your host, Mister Maximillion Pegasus," Croquet said as the door opposite the finalists opened up and Pegasus who was flanked by Kemo and Croquet.
"He's here," Daisuke thought to herself.
"Yugi, Joey Mai, Dai and Bandit Keith, I welcome all five of you to the playoff arena, here is where the last great Duel monsters duels shall be waged to determine the championship of the duellist kingdom, only one of you shall emerge victorious, only one of you shall win the three million dollar prize," Pegasus said to them all.
"That has to be me, with that money I will be able to pay for my sisters operation," Joey thought to himself.
"Also the victor in the playoffs will be granted the honour to face me in the final match," he Pegasus said.
"Challenge you, well isn't that great, and what does the winner get if they beat you in the match?" Tristan asked him.
"The winner shall be granted one request, whatever his or her heart desires, and if it is within my vast power to do so, their wish will be granted. The victor will also be declared the undisputed duel monsters champion, ranked number one in the world," Pegasus said.
"The world champion?" Tristan asked in surprise.
"And boys and girl that will be me," Mai said as everyone looked at her.
"Surely any duellist that has come this far is that the title and not the money is the real prize is that not so," Pegasus said to them all.
"You're a real comedian," Bandit Keith said.
"Listen you, that money is all I need, for my sisters operation," Joey said.
"Yes yes, I am sure some of you have more riding on this then others, hm Daisuke and Yugi?" Pegasus asked the two of them with a chuckle.
"Pegasus, you have my sister's soul, and Yugi's grandfathers and Mokuba's soul you even have Seto Kaiba's soul captive, but rest assured I will defeat you and set them free," Daisuke thought.
"Alright, let's get this show on the road, only one of you will win these playoffs, but I wish you all the best of luck," Pegasus said. "Now shuffle your decks and may the best duellist win," He told them as a hologram appeared.
"The first duel will now begin, Daisuke Motomyia versus Mai Valentine, Duellists please proceed to the arena," Croquet said and both Mai and Daisuke took their places opposite each other.
"No matter what happens I have to keep Hitomi or whatever the spirits name is under control, I cannot risk her hurting Mai," Daisuke thought to herself.
"Before we begin, you must both show me you entrance cards," Croquet said as Mai showed him the Glory of the Kings Hand card, and Daisuke showed him the same card. "You both qualify, the duel can proceed," He said.
"Good luck, go Daisuke," Tea cheered as Joey popped up between her and Tristan.
"Joey?" Tristan asked in shock.
"What's with you Joey?" Bakura asked him as Yugi stood beside him.
"What, I'm just getting a Birdseye view of the action, go Dai wipe her out," Joey called to her and she nodded her head.
"I have to be at my best if I want to win, but I also have to keep my bracelets spirit in check, I mean if Pegasus can steal souls, there is no telling as to what my Millennium item can do, or what she will do to beat Mai," Daisuke thought to herself.
"I used to think that the only person a duellist can trust was herself, and that everyone else was an opponent nothing more, but then I met Daisuke and the others and she set me straight, I learned from her and Yugi that the strongest duellists in the arena can also be best friends on the outside the arena, if she didn't give me my starchips back then I might have never gotten this far, I owe her a great debt, I promised myself that I wouldn't cheat any longer in my duels and I would play fair, but if she thinks I will let her walk over me she has another thing coming," Mai thought to herself as she saw Daisuke draw her first five cards. I am going to give her everything I have got so when she goes down it will be a victory I am proud of," She thought to herself, "I promised her a honourable duel, not an easy one," She thought as both her and Daisuke's lifepoints climbed up to 2000 each.
"Here I come hot stuff," Mai said to Daisuke.
'Right," She replied.
"Duel," they both said as the duel began. Mai drew her next card and Daisuke chuckled making Mai look at her.
"If you want to duel me honourably, then you can't rely on your psychic act to beat me like you did Joey," Daisuke told her.
"No way Daisuke, no tricks from me this time," Daisuke smiled at her.
"You know something, I believe her she has come a long way," She thought to herself.
"I'm not all smoke and mirrors kiddo, but even without my tricks I can still whoop your butt, and I play Harpie Lady in attack mode," Mai said as her Harpie appeared on the field.
"That Harpie Lady is Mai's standard opening move," Tristan said.
"Daisuke be careful," Tea called to her.
"Relax, Daisuke knows what's coming, I mean she has seen Mai duel a heap of times," Joey said.
"And I will also play a card face down to end my turn," mai said as she put a card face down.
"I better end this fast, the quicker I win this duel, the less chance of interference by the spirit in my bracelet," Daisuke thought to herself drawing her next card. "V-Pyro in attack mode!" Daisuke shouted as her red headed monster appeared on the field. "Attack Harpie Lady!" She ordered.
"Gotcha," Mai chuckled to herself as Daisuke's V-Pyro threw a fireball towards Harpie Lady. "Thanks Daisuke, I wanted you to attack it will set off my trap," She told Daisuke who gasped in shock.
"No!" Daisuke shouted as a wall rose up and her V-Pyro's attack hit a reflection of itself. "A wall?" Daisuke asked.
"Your V-Pyro just attacked my Mirror Wall, which cuts all of your monsters attack power in half, the minute that you attacked it rose up to protect my Harpie Lady, and your V-Pyro met an equal attack strength from her own reflection cutting her attack power in half, pretty smart isn't it," Mai said to Daisuke who saw her V-Pyro's attacks points drop from 2200 to 1100.
"Damn," Daisuke thought.
"I guess it is my turn again, high fashion for Harpie Lady, Cyber Shield," Mai said as her Harpie lady gained several pieces of armour. "The makeover is complete," Mai said as Harpie Ladies attack points climbed to 1800, "Now Harpie Lady attack V-Pyro, with Cyber Slash," Mai said as her Harpie Lady charged and slashed V-Pyro in half and destroyed her.
"She's gone, Harpie Lady reduced my monster to ribbons," Daisuke said in shock as her lifepoints dropped to 1300.
"I am actually surprised that you fell for that trap Daisuke, don't tell me you're losing your edge in a championship game," Mai said.
"Ha, you just caught me off guard, but that will not happen again," Daisuke said to Mai drawing her next card. "Summoned Skull, if I can draw more powerful cards like this, I will not have to worry about the spirit of the Bracelet," Daisuke thought to herself as she looked at her hand to see she had Shadow Chains. "First I play one card face down, then I will attack with the Summoned Skull," Daisuke said as the winged skeleton appeared on the field. "Let us see if your Harpie can take this, Summoned Skull attack her Harpie Lady with lighting strike," Daisuke ordered her monster which growled and lightning arced through its hands and it launched it at Mai's Harpie Lady.
"You make the same mistake twice, you are off you game as the Mirror Wall appeared again and blocked the lighting from the Summoned Skull and its attacks points dropped to 1250.
"No way! How is that possible unless, it is a permanent trap?" Daisuke asked in shock.
"Very good, a couple of turns too late though," Mai replied to her.
"Most traps I have seen disappear once used, so this takes me by surprise," Daisuke admitted to Mai.
"What is she thinking, her strategy is whack she can't just attack," Joey said.
"Dai, what are you thinking?" Yugi asked.
"Daisuke please let me help you," Hitomi pleaded with her.
"No, I can't take that risk!" She snapped back mentally.
"What is with you Daisuke, I wanted a challenge yet all I get is a frontal assault from you," Mai said and Daisuke growled. "The only reason I duel Dai, apart from the clothes, cars and the prize money is the thrill to be able to trounce a worthy adversary," Mai said.
"Are you saying I'm not worthy?" Daisuke asked her.
"Not today doll, your body may be here, but your heart and head have left for parts unknown, it is really a letdown," Mai told Daisuke.
"You're doubting my will to win as well?" Daisuke asked her.
"Bingo, it seems you are still shell-shocked about being beaten by Kaiba," mai said as Daisuke gasped in shock. "Well get over it, I want to beat you at your best, not you when you are scared of your own shadow," Mai told Daisuke.
"You don't understand Mai, it isn't about Kaiba, I can handle losing to that jerk," Daisuke said.
"Well whatever is going on it is boring," Mai said.
"I won't let you win Mai," Daisuke said.
"Let me? Darling the way this duel has been going and the way you've been playing I don't think you can stop me," Mai told Daisuke. "I promised myself to play honourably, and I would hope you would do the same, now are you going to put your heart in this duel or not?" Mai asked her.
"I wish shed zip it, she gets more obnoxious when she wins," Tristan said.
"Daisuke, don't let her rattle you, just ignore her," Joey said to Daisuke who looked up at him.
"I think she is trying to help Dai, in her own weird way," Tea said.
"Well Daisuke?" Mai asked her.
"Believe me Mai, I am giving all I have," She replied.
"I want to believe her, winning won't mean as much if I beat her like this," Mai thought to herself.
"Make your move Mai," Daisuke said as Mai drew her next card.
"She thinks I will attack her Summoned Skull, which is why she put that other card face down, it has to be a trap," Mai thought to herself.
"No attacks this time, instead I will sweep your trap away, with Harpie's Feather Duster," Mai said and Daisuke gasped as she saw Mai's Harpie gain four green wings and blew a tornado at her facedown card and destroyed it.
"Smart move Mai, if you had attacked you would have activated my Shadow Chains," Daisuke said to her. Daisuke then looked at her deck and drew a card from it. "I need to switch strategies, with that Mirror Wall in play I can't attack," Daisuke thought to herself. "First I switch my Summoned Skull to defence mode, and to finish up I will also play, Heroic Challenger SwordShield in defence mode," Daisuke said as Summoned Skull went into Defence mode and a square started to flash signifying a face down monster.
"Not much you can do is there?" Mai asked Daisuke drawing her next card. "I play Rose Whip to raise my Harpie's attack points," Mai said as her Harpie grabbed a whip that appeared in mid-air and cracked it as Harpie ladies attack points climbed to 2100, now Harpie Lady Whiplash attack," Mai said and her Harpie Lady attacked Daisuke's face down and destroyed her SwordShield.
"She keeps powering up her Harpie lady, and hiding behind that Mirror Wall," Daisuke thought to herself.
"Let me help you Daisuke," Hitomi pleaded with her but Daisuke ignored her.
"Looks like Mai has got Daisuke rattled," Tristan said.
"Dai watch it, Mai is gonna try to multiply her Harpie Lady again," Joey warned her.
"Don't give up," Tea encouraged her.
"I have got to turn this thing around but how?" Daisuke asked herself as she drew a card but passed her turn.
"You said you would play better Daisuke, but now I see that won't happen," Mai said as she drew her next card. "Well with this card my Harpie combo won't be quite complete, but I will have enough firepower to wipe out that grungy old skeleton," Mai said as a pillar of fire appeared and out of it emerged a red dragon with a chain collar around its neck.
"What in the world is that?" Daisuke asked in shock.
"Like it, it is Harpie ladies Pet Dragon, cute as a kitten, well a fire breathing kitten anyways, and he gets three hundred attack points just by sitting by its master," Mai said "Now blast that skull to ashes, fearsome fire breathe!" Mai ordered and her dragon roared before opening its mouth and fire gathered in its mouth and he fired it at Daisuke's summoned Skull and destroyed it.
"No!" Daisuke shouted.
"I told you that you have to concentrate if you want to beat me," Mai told her, "Why are you playing so poorly Daisuke, I've got you on the ropes and you are barely putting up a fight, I want to duel you at your best, but I don't know how much more of this I can take, you know I remember what Joey asked me one time and that was what I duel for, my answer was frivolous yet honest, can you answer the question Daisuke?" Mai asked her.
"I am duelling for my sister," She answered her.
"Hey, Dai has a much better answer then you did Mai, listen me Yugi and Dai are duelling for something more important than ourselves Mai," Joey said.
"You say that, but could it be your motives are not as pure as you say," Mai said.
"What so we should act more like you?" Joey asked her.
"You are such a twit," Mai said and Joey faceplanted. "Come on cant you see I am serious," She told him.
"I see you seriously trying to mess with Dai's head, and you're making me and her and everyone else dizzy and crazy and…" Joey said as he tripped and fell over the railing but Yugi and Tristan caught him and pulled him back over the side to safety.
"Will you control yourself!?" Tea shouted at him.
"You're wrong Joey, I am not trying to mess with her, something has happened to her and it will take much more than your friendship to help her out, there is only so much I can do," Mao thought to herself.
"Mai is right about one thing, I cannot be distracted now," Daisuke thought to herself as she drew her next card and her eyes went wide. "Yes! Trance the Magic Swordsman, this card would be perfect to win me this duel, if I could attack, so I will have to try a different tactic, and I know what to use," Daisuke thought.
"I play one card face down, and then I summon Trance the Magic Swordsman in defence mode," Daisuke said as her swordsman appeared on the field, "Come on Mai, attack I placed down the Magic Cylinder card once you attack it will be redirected and win me this duel," Daisuke thought to herself. Mai sighed before she drew her next card and smirked.
"This card will nearly complete my Harpie combo, whatever trap you set for me Dai won't work now," She thought to herself, "I play this accessory card, Shadow of Eyes," Mai said.
"Shadow of Eyes?" Daisuke asked.
"Watch the field, I don't think you will like this," Mai said and Daisuke gasped in shock as she saw her swordsman stand up and lift his swords.
"Trance! What are you doing!?" Daisuke asked him.
"That is the magic of my Shadow of Eyes card, it exudes a powerful force that lures all monsters into attack," Mai said as a purple mist surrounded Trance.
"She is forcing Daisuke's swordsman into attacking," Joey said.
"That means defence won't work either," Tristan gasped in shock.
"So what are you waiting for Trance, attack Harpie lady," Mai said and Trances sword crackled with lighting and he fired it at Harpie lady but the mirror wall rose up again and blocked the attack and Trance's attack points dropped from 2600 to 1300. "And I know you placed a trap, so Harpie's feather duster, blow her away," Mai said as her Harpie grew four green wings again and blew another tornado of wind that destroyed Daisuke's magic cylinder.
"No, my trap card," Daisuke thought to herself.
"Now then Dragon destroy her swordsman!" Mai said as her dragon roared and fired a massive stream of fire towards Trance and destroyed him and Daisuke's lifepoints dropped down to 300.
"You have lost your best card, how can you win against me now?" Mai asked her.
"Yeah, how is she going to do that?" Joey asked.
"Come on Daisuke." Yugi thought to himself.
"How can I win?" Daisuke asked herself.
"Daisuke please let me help you save your sister," Hitomi pleaded with her.
"Why should I trust you, you nearly killed Kaiba!" She shouted back mentally to her.
"I meant no harm Daisuke, I only wanted to help you, and I vow to never do such a thing against your wishes again," Hitomi said.
"You mean that?" Daisuke asked her.
"I do, now what do you say partner?" Hitomi asked her and she nodded her head.
"Right!" Daisuke said as they shook hands and Daisuke's bracelet glowed brightly.
"HITOMI!" Daisuke cried and she transformed. "Alright Mai, no more holding back from me, now I am in it to win it," Daisuke said.
"And this time you are not alone," Hitomi said to her and she nodded her head.
The end of the chapter
Can Daisuke and Hitomi defeat Mai now they are united again, find out next time.
Read and review