Author's Notes: Thank you everyone. You're reviews were so wonderful. My family also thanks you for your kind words. My grandpa is happy now where he is. We will be finished all of the plans soon and be able to move on with our lives. He will be cremated and brought home, until we can fulfill his wishes of being taken out west. Thanks so much. And Tasha, your review was so touching. I was speechless when I read it. Thank you from the bottom of my heart. And girl, what are you getting at? I envy your stories! *Laughs* Well, I guess all of us author's always think like that, eh? Keep it up with your stories and I'm glad I inspire you. You inspire me too. And I'm honoured you consider me your favourite author. (The same for you!.) Thanks again everyone! And enjoy this chapter!
Chapter 13:
King of Games
Pegasus returned to his seat and picked up the mic. "And now, after a small, err, break, we are back with the finals! Next up is Joey Wheeler VS Yugi Muto!"
Joey Wheeler limped up to the arena, one arm in a sling and a crutch under his other arm. He had a bandage around his left eye. He had been more lucky then Marik.
"Yugi Muto. The smallest boy that ever lived. He was just as much a no name as Joey until I kidnapped his grandpa and made him duel me for his soul."
The crowed went silent.
"Ah, I mean, I asked Yugi to enter Duellist Kingdom because of the fine potential I saw he had. He went on to defeat everyone, including me and became the 'King of Games'. He entered Battle City and once again became champion, this time, "World Champion' and now he is back and trying once again to be number one."
Yugi ignored all of Pegasus's smart remarks and walked up to the arena.
Téa, Serenity and Ryou were busy helping Marik with his bandages. Téa had his head resting on her lap and she was putting ice on his now blackened eye. Serenity was wrapping a bandage around his left arm and shaking her head. Ryou was trying not to laugh as he helped Téa hold the whining Marik.
Téa sighed. "I should have known this was going to happen. She looked pitifully down at Marik. "Will you be alright for the trip home?"
Marik nodded his head.
Téa giggled. He looks like a little boy. What a baby. She noticed that Yugi and Joey were beginning the duel. "Come on guys! Give it your best!" She shouted.
Ishizu approached Marik and knelt down beside him. "Really brother, must you always solve everything with fists?" She smirked and kissed him on the forehead.
"And now let the duel begin! Joey has started off with 'Garoozie's' and a card face down. Yugi has decided to play it safe and place two cards face down and end his turn.
"I want you to play your best, Yugi!" Joey shouted over the roaring crowed.
Yugi nodded. "I expect the same from you, Joey!"
Joey gave him a thumbs-up. "Alright then. Garoozie's attack Yugi's faces down card on the right!"
Yugi smirked. "Sorry Joey, but you just activated my trap card."
Joey groaned. His mind was still muddled. He laughed. "I really should have seen that coming!"
"And now Yugi summons his favourite card the 'Dark Magician'! Ooh, Joey played 'Spell Binding Circle' Yugi didn't see that one coming!"
"This duel is getting intense!" Mai said as she clung onto her seat in suspense.
"I know. I thought the match at Duellist Kingdom was heavy between them." Tristan added.
"And now we are down to the last minutes, folks. Joey only has fifty life points left and Yugi has two-eighty. What will Joey do?"
Joey searched through his cards in his hand. He had only one chance left. "I play 'Time Wizard'! Time Roulette, go!"
Serenity gasped. "Oh no … if it lands on a skull –
"He's finished." Duke said sadly.
Yugi narrowed his eyes and focused his attention on the spinning arrow. Come on … come on …
Joey gritted his teeth.
The arrows spun fast and began to slow down.
Joey groaned. Slowly, slowly … it's about to stop on an arrow. It stopped! Wait … it moved again. No! It landed on a skull!
"And there you have it folks! Yugi Muto is the winner!"
Joey shook hands with Yugi and limped out of the arena. He joined the others and sat next to Mai. He had his head bowed. "Man, I'm never going to be able to beat Yugi."
Mai placed her hand on his shoulder and smiled. "You did great, Joey. Give yourself a little credit! We're all proud of you!"
Joey looked at her and smiled brightly. "Thanks, Mai."
"And now, the final match! Who will be the winner? Who will challenge the great Pegasus? This is exciting, folks! Now let's welcome our last dueller. Yami!"
Yami looked over at Yugi. He nodded to the little version of himself and stood up. As he descended the stairs, he glanced over his shoulder and saw Téa giving him the piece sign.
"Good luck!" She mouthed.
Yami smiled and turned away, walking off toward the arena.
"Yami is a very mysterious man. Looking much like Yugi, he's been known as Yugi's mentor and protector. Some say he taught Yugi the harder strategies of Duel Monsters. Well, we'll see who comes out on top! Will it be the teacher or the student? Let the duel begin!"
Yugi and Yami selected five cards and began.
"I play 'Celtic Guardian' in defence mode and a place this card face down!" Yugi shouted.
Yami smirked. "I play this card face down and summon 'Horned Imp' in attack mode and I end my turn."
Yugi reached for his card and flipped it. "I change my guardian to attack mode."
"And here we go folks! This duel is already heating up! And now … they're … uh …"
"I play Dark Magician!"
"I play Dark Magician!"
"I sacrifice this card and play Summon skull!"
"I play summoned skull."
"And they … have the exact same cards." Pegasus frowned.
"ATTACK" They both shouted.
Téa covered her eyes, Joey shook his head and Tristan began munching on popcorn.
"Whoa! What a display! Both cards just exploded! Now Yugi plays a card face down and Yami attacks his life points directly! Wow, Yugi is down to only seventy life points now. Yami has eight hundred! It's obvious who the winner will be here!"
Yugi wiped the sweat dripping down his face. "No less then I expected from you, Yami."
Yami smiled. "I'm proud of you, Yugi. You've held your own and now I must sadly defeat you!"
Yugi shrugged.
"And now Yami attacks Yugi's … wait! What's this? Yugi just played Kuriboh with Multiply! Oh, that one shocked Yami. He must have taught Yugi that trick!"
"And now I attack your life points with my 'Dark Magician'!" Yugi shouted, grinning at Yami's shocked expression.
"Wow. Yami's points are now one –hundred! Amazing!"
Yami growled and selected a card from his deck. "Try this one then, YUGI!"
Yugi laughed a turned over his face down card. "Mirror Force!"
"And there you have it. The student outshined the teacher. Yugi Muto is the winner!"
There was a stunned silence coming from Yugi's group.
Yugi climbed off of the arena and walked over to Yami. "You did great, but your heart wasn't into it, was it?"
Yami bowed his head and collected his cards. "You would have beaten me anyways, I'm sure. But yes, I have been slightly preoccupied, but I did play my best. The cards just didn't come through. After all, it is you who is meant to take my place now. You are now the true Game King, Yugi." He bowed. "Good luck against Pegasus."
They hugged and Yami returned to the stands.
"You were wonderful, Yami." Téa smiled, giving him a reassuring squeeze on the arm as he passed by her.
Yami blushed. "Thanks."
Joey patted him roughly on the back. "Great job, man! Now I know where Yugi learned it all! Uh, besides his gramps that is." He laughed nervously as he eyed Solomon holding a kendo stick and glaring at him.
"I know." Yami took his seat, once again next to Bakura.
Bakura refused to look at him, but he opened his mouth to speak up. "It was a close match. But you taught the little one much. It's expected he would eventually over throw your title. But that is what your main intention was from the beginning, wasn't it? To guide and protect him?"
Yami looked over at Bakura in awe. 'You're … right. That's exactly what I vowed. Thank you, Bakura."
Bakura turned his head slightly, the corners of his mouth turning up ward in a small grin. "Don't mention it."
***
"And now, let us welcome Maximillion Pegasus!"
Pegasus came onto the stage smiling confidently. He however dropped his confident smile when he saw a familiar looking crowed approaching him from in front.
Marik (Who was still bandaged up) Mako, Rex, Weevil, Joey, Kaiba, and Espa were all holding bats and growling.
"Uh, oh … dear …"
"GET HIM!!!!!"
"AHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!"
"Pegasus, sir! Where are you going?" Croquet shouted as Pegasus's ran past him.
"If I go down there, they'll skin me alive!" He shouted, wide eyed. "That dummy Marik had to blow my cover. Just say I have err, fallen ill again! Got it?"
"SIR!" Croquet shouted.
"Bye!" Pegasus hopped into a limo and sped off.
Croquet sweat-dropped. "Uh …"
The audience was growing restless. Everyone watched as Croquet left and then came back onto the stage, holding a trophy in his hands.
Croquet was yanking back on his tight shirt collar. "Uh, Master Pegasus has uh, taken ill. He wishes me to present this trophy to Yugi Muto and to officially call him 'King of Games' for this year!"
Yugi walked up to Croquet, still trying to figure out what the hell had just happened. "Uh, thanks, I think." He smiled as a few pictures were taken of him.
***
"Well, that was one of the weirdest duels I ever watched." Tristan commented as the group walked down the street. The sun was beginning to finally set.
"I know. But Pegasus really should have known better then to insult everyone and expect to get away scot-free." Ryou added.
Téa giggled. "It was too funny. Well, it was a fun tournament. It's nice to not have any strings attached for once, you know?"
Everyone nodded.
"I guess life really will be returning to normal, huh? No more adventures, just a real regular life." Yugi sighed.
"Regular for you, Yugi. But for Bakura and I, it's just beginning. I'm glad though, that I will have you by my side." Yami said as he placed his hand on Yugi's shoulder.
Ryou looked up at the downcast Bakura. "Hey, I don't mind either. Its quite exciting living with a former thief."
Bakura narrowed his eyes at Ryou. "Very, funny."
Ryou gave him a cute smile, which made everyone laugh.
Téa walked over to Bakura and clasped her hand over his. "Don't forget about me!"
Bakura looked down at her. "I doubt anyone could forget about you." He grinned.
Téa stuck her tongue out, which once again made everyone laugh.
"Well, tomorrows' my little sis's graduation!" Joey reminded everyone as he put his arm around Serenity.
Serenity blushed.
"We'll all be at your party tomorrow, count on it!!" Yugi assured. "Well, good night everyone!"
Yugi, Yami and Solomon began heading home. Soon, Ryou and Bakura went their own way as well. Joey led Serenity to their house. Tristan and Duke fought all the way to their house. Marik and Ishizu took a nice slow walk to their place and Kaiba and Mokuba drove back to his mansion.
Mai and Téa girl talked till they came to their homes.
"So, what happened between you and Bakura?" Mai asked.
"Well, we had a small fight. I don't know how we'll be able to patch things up. It was pretty bad." Téa sighed.
Mai put her arm around her and winked. "Don't worry. I have a great plan. Now for tomorrow's party, this is what we'll do." She whispered into Téa's ear.
Téa giggled. "You're bad, Mai!"
"I know!" Mai said smugly. "Well here's my place. I'll see you then, don't forget our plan!"
"You can count on me." Téa winked as she headed off to her house. I hope this works. He's not a romantic guy, but Mai's plan isn't exactly romantic when you think about it. Well, this will definitely prove if he loves me or not. Yet in my heart, I know he does. But I did promise to show him the good life' maybe this party will help. Let's hope Ryou can drag him there. She giggled. Poor Ryou. Well, I'd better get some sleep. She unlocked her door and entered her house.
To be continued …
