Disclaimer: I only own the story line, my original characters, my imagination…ah, I guess it's easier to say "I don't own Yu-Gi-Oh"

Chapter Six – Begin: Battle City Tournament

The tournament begins today, I've got to find someone to duel Yami.

Take Serena with you, I doubt she'd want to roam the city alone, and I would like to meet her. She'd get to see the 'puzzle in action,' so to speak.

I think Kaiba would be part of the reason she won't want to be alone. She didn't say much about their little dinner together. I wonder what happened.

Maybe she'll tell you, just give her time Yugi.

"Yugi, Serena is here," his grandpa called from down the stairs.

"Coming Grandpa!" It sounds like she's alone.

"Hey Yugi, I was hoping I could go with you today," Serena said as soon as she saw his face.

"Sure Serena, I'm anxious to see you duel."

Serena smiled at her friend. In just one week, she had grown close to all her new friends, especially Yugi. Aside from their love for duel monsters, they also shared a common bond over their millennium items.

"Téa, Tristan, and Serenity went with Joey about an hour ago. He said he wanted to get an early start. I figured I'd come here to see if I could tag along," she said, reading his mind on the whereabouts of their other friends.

"Then let's go; I'm sure there are already a lot of duelists out there looking for a battle with a new competitor."

"I'm not new with duel monsters, just the whole duel disk," Serena said lightly, holding up her arm where her disk was strapped, her deck firmly in place.

"Then you're in for a surprise, come on," Yugi said, strapping his duel disk on and walking out the door, Serena close behind.

~*~*~*~*~

"Hey, Yugi Motou!" a voice called out among the crowds of people. Yugi looked around for a familiar face, not sure who he was looking for. He didn't have to look for long because the owner of the voice made his way up to him. "You don't know me, but I've heard all about you and your dueling skills. By the way, my name is Darrin."

"Hi. It looks like you already know my name, so let me introduce you to my friend Serena," Yugi replied.

"You're a duelist too?" Darrin asked her, his eyes lighting up as he noticed her duel disk.

"Yes," she said quietly.

"Can I battle you?"

Serena smiled and looked to Yugi who smiled back. "Alright."

"You must be a pretty good duelist to be hanging out with Yugi, and I don't want to be out of the competition yet, so how about we wager one locator card and our rarest card."

"I'm not quite as good as Yugi," Serena corrected him, "And I agree to those terms. I don't wish to be out of this competition any time soon."

"Alright!" Darrin cheered. "Then it's time to duel."

We each start with 4000 life points, which leaves room for only one error if I'm foolish enough to make it. I know I can win this duel; I've got Yugi's support, and everyone else's, even though they aren't here. It's time to duel!

~*~*~*~*~

"What's this?" Kaiba said as he looked down below him from the chopper's window. He pulled out his laptop and typed in the location, wondering who was dueling below him. "Serena," he said quietly. He hadn't seen her since he took her to dinner. She still had 4000 life points while her opponent had already lost 900. It must have just begun. "Land on the nearest building, I want to watch this duel," he said to the pilot

~*~*~*~*~

"I play one card face down and end my turn," Darrin said, looking across the "playing field" at Serena.

Alright…my Swords of Revealing Light is gone, meaning he can attack this next turn. I can take a chance and attack his Ancient Elf, but he's played a trap card I'm sure. I could read his mind, but that would be cheating. Serena drew a card, and her eyes smiled. This is just the card I need. "First, I sacrifice my Mystical Elf and my Petite Angel and summon the Blue Eyes White Dragon in attack mode. I then play my Heavy Storm which destroys your face down card. Blue Eyes, attack his Ancient Elf!" Serena smiled, her mind tapping into Yugi's.

The Blue Eyes White Dragon? I thought there were only four of those and Kaiba has three and Grandpa's was torn.

Her smile widened; being related to the creator of duel monsters did have its advantage. "But that's not all," she said as she watched Darrin's life points drop from 2500 to 1450 as his Ancient Elf was destroyed. "I also play Dancing Fairy in defense position and this card face down, and of course, end my turn."

"A Blue Eyes," Kaiba said quietly as he pulled his deck out from his duel disk. All three of them were still in there. Where did she get it? Unless Pegasus had another one made just for her…but why would he do something like that for her unless he actually has changed like she said.

Darrin looked at the cards he had in his hand. There weren't many options because Serena's Blue Eyes was too strong for any of the monsters he held. He only had one card he could play that would give him a chance to make some damage on her life points, if only he knew what was under that face down card and had a monster with a strong enough defense. "I play Change of Heart which allows me to control one of your monsters for one turn; I choose your Blue Eyes," he said. "Destroy her Dancing Fairy and then attack her life points directly!"

Serena shook her head. "You forgot too easily about my face down card. Reveal face down card!" Serena yelled and she smiled. "The card is called 'Multiply.' My Dancing Fairy will continue to multiply throughout the remainder of the duel; no matter how many you destroy, they will continue to grow, creating an army."

Where have I seen a move like this before? Yugi! He used it with his Kuriboh against my Blue Eyes Ultimate Dragon, Kaiba thought astonished. He must have told her about it.

"And, seeing as how your turn has ended and that was the only move you made and that my Blue Eyes is back in my possession…Blue Eyes, attack his life points directly!"

Kaiba watched from above as Serena's opponent's life points dropped to zero. He had made it close to the finals in the last tournament according to his computer. Was it possible that Serena was a decent duelist? She has a Blue Eyes; now we have something more to duel for. He narrowed his eyes and glanced down once more before climbing back into the chopper and heading for his office. He would definitely keep a close watch on her duels so he could learn her strategies.

"You beat me, congratulations," Darrin said, shaking hands with Serena. "I believe I owe you this. Next time, I won't go so easy on you." He handed her one locator card and his Hyozanryu which she had sent to the graveyard a few turns earlier with a Dark Hole.

"Thank you," Serena said, a small laugh escaping her lips and her eyes smiling, "Good luck with your other duels."

"You too Serena," Darrin said, walking off.

"You did great Serena. I expect to have to battle you in the finals," Yugi said, looking at her new card. "Where did your Blue Eyes come from?"

"My uncle; it has always been one of my favorite cards, and so he had another one made for my sixteenth birthday, which wasn't all that long ago. Plus, he found out one of the four had been torn apart…so he thought he'd make it to where there were four playable Blue Eyes once again."

"That's great. Now you're one step ahead of me. Come on, I have to find someone to duel," he said, grabbing her arm and pulling her down the street.

"Ok Yugi," she laughed, catching her balance.

In their excitement, neither of them noticed a dark clothed figure among the crowds watching Serena closely. His black cloak nearly covered his face, but his eyes shone through, evil evident in them. Enjoy your life while you can my daughter, for it will soon be taken from you. You've grown into a skilled duelist, but you won't be skilled enough to defeat my servants. We'll soon meet again, my child, only this time, you won't leave me…alive.