Author's Note: [This is strictly from Invader Shaun] Hello. First off, thanks to everyone who reviews our story. We spend a lot of time getting every detail of this as perfect as we can. Take this upcoming duel. I spent 2 1/2 hours writing this, which includes looking up every card combination, doing calculations, and looking up rulings for each specific card. Then I saw the second episode of the Mako-Joey two-parter on Kids WB today. I henceforth spent another 2 1/2 hours fixing this duel. Please enjoy it. Thank you.
Chapter 11
"The Fourth Duel: Honor"
And so the duel began, with each duelist drawing their first cards as their small group of spectators watched from the sidelines. Joey's opening hand included: Axe Raider (1700/1150), Garoozis (1800/1500), Dragon Claws, Robbin Goblin, and Delinquent Duo. Boy, I haven't had this good an opening hand in a long time!, "Hey Mako, since I challenged you, that means that you're allowed to go first!"
"And so I shall! This is the beginning of the end for you in this tournament Joey Wheeler!" the mighty sea duelist looked down at the five cards he was holding: Giant Red Sea Snake (1800/800), Aqua Madoor (1200/2000), Turtle Oath, Acid Traphole, and Eternal Rest. He picked up another card and smiled: Umi, "For my first move, I will lay one card face-down (Acid Traphole). Next, I will place one monster card face-down in defense mode (Aqua Madoor, 1200/2000), and I will play my Umi field card, which raises all of my aqua monsters by 200/200!" The little area on the shore that they were dueling on filled with about two feet of holographic water. Mako smiled smugly, "It's your turn now, Joey!"
Joey looked at the next card that his deck produced (Rock Ogre Grotto #1) Hmmmm. Well, Mako must be trying to lure me into attackin', so I'd better go defensive too!, "I'm also placin' one card face down (Robbin' Goblin), and I'll place one monster face down in defense mode as well (Rock Ogre Grotto #1 (800/1200))!"
"Thank you, Joey! I was hoping to scare you into not attacking me!" Mako unfolded his arms and pressed a button on his DD2, and his face down trap card flipped face up, "My Acid Traphole will take care of your monster for me!"
"Say what?!? What's that thing do?"
"It destroys any monster you set in defense mode that has less than 2000 defense points! So, Wheeler, does your monster fit the requirements?"
Joey cursed to himself. He had thought that he was outwitting Mako's trap, but instead he fell right into it! His stone warrior revealed itself, and immediately fell into a large pit of acid!
"I didn't think so. My turn," Mako slid another card out of his Duel Disk (Tongyo), "I play Giant Red Sea Snake in attack mode (2000/1000) and I'll flip up my Aqua Madoor (1400/2200)! Now, I'll attack you with both!" The Giant Red Sea Snake Rushed forward and knocked Joey down. Aqua Madoor raised a single hand, and a powerful rush of wind blew Joey backward.
Joey groaned and sat up. His LP had been devastated: Joey: 400 – Mako: 4000. He couldn't believe that in just one turn, he would probably be eliminated from this tournament. It was times like this that he could usually count on his friends for support, but he knew that he wouldn't get any encouragement this time. He had pushed everyone away; he had foolishly tried to take on more than he could, and was about to pay the price for it.
"Oh no!" Tea said softly, "Just one mistake and it nearly cost Joey the duel!"
"He must not be thinking clearly," Bakura said gravely, "And I'm afraid we may be responsible."
Yugi said nothing, but watched Joey intently. If Joey was going to make a comeback, it was going to take a miracle! But then, luck had always been on Joey's side before. Yugi just hoped it would be with him now.
Mako glanced over at their spectators and gave a small, knowing smile. Joey had his back to them and couldn't see their worried expressions. As far as he knew, they weren't rooting for him. "Joseph, if you take away anything from this duel, besides defeat, I hope it is a better respect for your friends," he said, folding his arms across his chest, "They may tease you, but what teenager doesn't? You should consider yourself lucky to count yourself as one in a group of so many. Maybe next time you won't be so quick to snap at them. I'm sure you could use their encouragement right now. I don't think I've ever seen you win a duel without their support."
Joey sighed. Mako had just about read his mind. A part of him really wanted to look back and see his friends cheering him on. But he couldn't face them. Not after what he'd done. He drew a card (Skull Dice). He smiled slightly; he knew he could always count on this card to come through for him, "I'm playing this card face down, and I'll summon my Axe Raider, to destroy your Aqua Madoor!" A strong, muscular man brandishing a large axe was summoned to the field, and rushed forward towards the masked creature. With a swift stroke of its axe, the cloaked figure was in half, with bits of cloth flying everywhere. The spellcaster disappeared, and Mako's LP took their first damage: Joey: 400 – Mako: 3700.
"It hardly makes a difference. I will end this duel this turn!" Mako picked up a card (Megamorph) and almost began to laugh at the irony. Megamorph would double the attack power of any of his monsters if he had less LP than his opponent. It was doubtful that that would ever happen, "I summon Tongyo in attack mode (1550/1000)!" A strange purple fish with a disgustingly large tongue appeared on the field and began to splash about in Umi's waters, "Now, Giant Red Sea Snake, attack his Axe Raider!"
Joey grinned goofily, "I was hoping that you'd attack! Activate Skull Dice!" A large, purple card flipped itself face-up and a little figure holding a large, red die released itself, "Your monster's Attack points will be divided by the roll of the die! I need anything but a one for this to work!" The evil fairy dressed in black threw the die on the ground. It bounced once, twice, then stopped: on a 3!
"Alright!" Tea cheered, clapping her hands together.
Yugi breathed a sigh of relief.
Mai just shook her head and smiled.
"WHAT!?!?" Mako cried, "NO! My Sea Snake!" The large red serpent continued to charge forward, but its attack points dropped like a stone from 2000 to 667.
"Alright! Now my Axe Raider can destroy your overgrown water-snake!!" Joey cheered a bit to himself as Axe Raider met the Giant Red Sea Snake head on, and sliced it into 2 pieces, causing it to shatter. "And that puts a real dent in your LP!" Joey cheered silently to himself. Not only had the score changed (Joey: 400 – Mako: 2667), but it was his turn again! Mako groaned from his side of the field.
"Now, let's see. I draw a card…" Joey trailed off to look at the card he had drawn (Kunai with Chain). Awesome! Another great Trap card! If I keep getting' good cards like this, I just might win this duel!, "I'm playin' another card face-down! Axe Raider!!! Attack again!" With one swift axe stroke, Tongyo was renamed "sushi" and disappeared. Joey: 400 – Mako: 2517
"That's gotta be the weirdest LP difference ever," Mai said, eyebrow raised.
Tsuki turned to Yugi, "Do you think Joey really has a chance? He's so far behind."
"Well," Yugi said, "Joey and I have always been known for good comebacks, so I wouldn't count him out just yet."
"I still have you on the ropes my friend! Just you wait!" Mako grabbed for his next card (Great White). Mako looked at it for a moment, considering his options. If he played it in attack mode, he would have the advantage in attack points again, but there was that face-down card. The last one had been a trap, so why shouldn't this one be a trap as well? It was so frustrating! No, he had to take a chance, "I summon Great White in attack mode (1800/800)! And he will destroy your Axe Raider!" The large shark swam forward towards the ever-vigilante Axe Raider.
"Yer losin' yer touch, Mako! You fell into my trap again! Activate Kunai with Chain!" Joey pressed another button on his Duel Disk 2, and another trap revealed itself. The Axe raider now held another weapon of the axe variety in his hand, and the Great White broke off its assault, as the trap had made it switch to defense mode, "Not only does that make your Great White switch position, but it gives my Axe Raider another 500 attack points!"
Mako chuckled, "You managed to survive that turn, but nothing can save you from this magic card! Eternal Rest!" An evil looking man holding a chain came out of the green card, and wrapped it around Axe Raider, dragging it into the ground.
Joey stared wide eyed, "What?!?"
"The Eternal Rest destroys all monsters with power-up cards, so the Kunai with Chain trap actually worked against you!" Mako folded his arms, "But we waste time with idle chatter, so let the duel proceed."
"Alright, fine! Just you wait for my next move!" Joey picked up a card from the top of his deck (Shallow Grave), "I'm playin' this card, Shallow Grave, to take back a monster that you sent to my graveyard!" Joey rummaged through the discard pile that the Duel Disk showed him, and selected his Rock Ogre Grotto #1 (800/1200). Joey selected Garoozis from his hand, but then noticed that Mako was searching through his discard pile too, "Hey, what're you doin' over there? It's still my turn!"
Mako looked up, surprised, "Don't tell me that you never actually read the Shallow Grave card? It says that both players can pick a monster to play in defense mode! HA HA HA! I can't believe that you have actually lasted this long in our duel if you don't even know your own cards!"
On the sidelines, the group all sweat-dropped. Joey scowled, embarrassed, "Hey, I'm not through yet, Fish Boy! I'm gonna sacrifice my Rock Ogre Grotto #1 for the more powerful Garoozis (1800/1500)!" His face-down card disappeared and was replaced by the tall, armored reptile, which held out its axe threateningly, "Now, Garoozis, attack his Great White before he can switch it back to attack mode!" With a few quick slices, the reptilian warrior had cut Jaws to ribbons.
"There. You see?" Yugi told Tsuki.
"Wow…he's pretty good," Tsuki said.
"Joey will win," Tea said, "He has to, or else he's out of the tournament!"
Mako could feel that the tide of this game was turning. But the tides came in and out, so it was time for his deck to give him a means of changing things here! This card he drew would definitely help (Torrential Tribute), "I play one card face-down, and end my turn," Mako set the card on his Duel Disk, waiting eagerly for Joey to doom himself. Once he played a monster, this trap would destroy all monsters on the field. With no defenses, Mako would only need to draw even the weakest monster in his deck to beat this fool.
"Running out of ideas already, squid brain?" Joey drew again (World Suppression), "I gonna play one more face-down, and end my turn without attacking. I'm guessin' that you took your Aqua Madoor back in defense mode! With 2200 defense, if I attacked him I would destroy the rest of my LP!"
Mako cursed softly, "Very clever. Perhaps you aren't as dumb as you look. The ocean champ drew again (Root Water) and went to set it, "I'll play-wait, no, never mind," He stopped himself quickly. The Torrential Tribute card would activate if either player played a monster, and without any defenses, Wheeler could do major damage to his LP!
Joey grinned as he selected another card (Graceful Dice), "Here's another card for ya to worry about!" Another card materialized in front of Joey, next to his first card, "That's all for me! Back to you, Tsunami!"
Mako looked at his next card in surprise (Heavy Storm) "Have a taste of what the sea can offer: I play the Magic Card Heavy Storm!" A huge rainstorm covered the field, destroying Mako's face-down card and both of Joey's, "As you can see, it destroys every magic and trap card that we have in play! Now I'll set one monster down (Root Water (800/900))."
"I never thought I'd see it rain in the dessert," Bakura mused.
"Especially when there isn't a cloud in the sky," Tea agreed.
"But that rainstorm isn't doing Joey any good," Yugi pointed out, bringing their attention back to the duel and not the holographic effects, "His trap cards have always been the most successful part of his deck."
"Fine, I'll still beat you even without my traps!" Joey's next card was Kojikocy, and Joey sighed in relief. Man, I thought I was never gonna get another monster!, "I'm playin' a monster in Defense mode (Kojikocy (1500/1200))!"
Mako said nothing, and looked at his card (Pot of Greed), "This Pot of Greed card will give me two more cards to defeat you with!" The next two cards were Rain of Mercy and Deepsea Warrior, "Much better! I will tribute my weaker Root Water for a monster in Defense mode (Deepsea Warrior (1600/1800)! And next, I will regain some of the points that you took from me with this Blue Medicine card! And next, I will regain some of the points that you took from me with this Rain of Mercy card, which brings my LP up to 3517!"
Joey grinned, "Maybe you should read your cards a little more carefully, Mako! That card also gives me 1000 life points!" The scores of each of the Duel Disks changed appropriately. Joey: 1400 – Mako: 3517.
"Now that's it's my turn, I draw one card…" Joey looked at his card (Magic Cylinders) and grinned evilly. He had been so happy when Yugi had given him this card (he had had an extra) for actually passing 11th grade, "I play one card face-down, and I'll activate my Kojikocy!" The tough, brown-skinned warrior revealed himself, and raised his sword, "Now, Garoozis! No more waiting! Attack the card on the left!" His reptile soldier rushed forward and struck down upon the Deepsea Warrior, who revealed himself and fended off Garoozis.
The spectators breathed a quick sigh of relief.
"That was a close one," Tea said.
"It was sure lucky that Mako played that Rain of Mercy card," Yugi said, "Now Joey has a good chance of changing things around."
Mai just watched without saying a word.
"That battle is a draw, my friend." Mako drew his card and laughed triumphantly (Crab Turtle), "I'll activate the Turtle Oath, which will sacrifice both of my monsters on the field to bring forth the almighty Crab Turtle (2750/2700)!"
A large, green sphere appeared in the middle of the field, sucked up the Deepsea Warrior and Aqua Mador, and out of came a red-and-green, crab Cyclops, baring razor sharp claws on its hands and feet. Mako pointed at Kojikocy, "The Crab turtle is even more powerful than the fortress Whale that I gave you in Battle City, as you're about to see! Attack now, Crab Turtle! Take us that much closer to finishing Wheeler!" The large beast took two earth-shaking steps forward and shot a huge blast of water out at the other combatant.
"Hold on there Mako, I'm gonna activate my trap card: The Magic Cylinders! Not only does it stop your attack from hitting me, but it reverses it and gets you directly!" The water went in one cylinder and out the other smashing into Mako, causing him to fall over.
"Alright!" Tea cheered, clapping her hands together.
"He did it!" Tsuki exclaimed.
"You gave him that card, didn't you, Yugi?" Bakura asked.
"Yeah," Yugi said, "I'm just glad it was able to save him this turn."
Joey breathed a sigh of relief. He had survived one attack so far (and brought down Mako's LP) but how much longer could he last against that beast? He drew his card worriedly (Alligator's Sword), "I'm switching both of my monsters into defense mode, and I'll play another monster face-down as well!"
Mako had stood up once again, and was now fuming, "You're going to regret that last move Wheeler!" He drew his card (Umikura), "I replace my field card Umi with the more powerful Umikura!" His Crab Turtle's stats rose again (3050/2100), "That makes my Crab Turtle more powerful than a Blue-Eyes White Dragon! And now, since my LP are below yours, I'll equip him with this magic card: The Mega Morph!"
Instantly, the Crab Turtle doubled in size and stats, towering over the entire field (6100/4200), "This double's my monsters stats as long as my LP are lower than yours!" Mako sneered at Joey, his frustration with the duel clearly showing, "How do you like that, Wheeler? My monster is more powerful than any in all of Duel Monsters! I'll give you this chance to surrender, or my Crab Turtle will grind you into smaller pieces than the very sands of Egypt around us!"
Joey stared at his feet, dejected. 6100 attack power! How was he ever going to get past something as strong as that monster? He didn't have any cards in his deck that could beat that overgrown crab.
The spectators exchanged sorry glances. Yugi sighed. It was all over now. There weren't any cards in existence that could beat an attack power that high.
"Joey Wheeler!" Mai called out, and they all glanced at her, surprised, "Don't tell me you're giving up!"
Joey turned slowly to look at her. He said nothing, but his humiliation was written clearly all across his face.
Mai stuck her nose in the air, "Really – after all that fuss you made, saying you were better than we gave you credit. It was all talk wasn't it? What kind of man are you?? Don't make claims you can't prove. If you throw in the towel now, I swear I'll never be able to look at your face again."
Joey looked away. She'd never be able to look him in the face again? That made two of them. In barely an inaudible whisper, he looked up at the giant Crab Turtle and murmured to Mako, "Thanks for the offer… but you're gonna hafta try to end this one the hard way, Mako…"
"Don't listen to her, Joey!" Tea called out.
"This isn't over yet!" Yugi added, "You can still come back and win this!"
Joey still didn't say anything. His friends could be right, but he'd need some sort of miracle. He picked up another card (Time Wizard). Time Wizard! If this works, I could win the match right here! But if the spinner lands wrong... Joey shuddered just thinking about what would happen. Not only would it destroy his monsters, but he'd be out of the tournament! I hafta risk it!, "I summon the Time Wizard (500/400)!"
"Time Wizard?" Mako straightened up, and began to laugh, "You would dare use that card against me to decide this duel? If the spinner lands correctly, which is a slim chance I might add, than you would win. But if it lands incorrectly, then you'll eliminate yourself for me! HA HA HA HA!"
"It's a risk I'm willing to take to win, Mako. I switch Garoozis into attack mode and… Time Wizard, spin your Time Roulette!" The wizard of time began to spin the spinner on its staff, circling around and around. Joey and Mako both began to sweat, and not just from the heat of the day, but from the chance Joey had taken. Slowly, the spinner began to halt, it took several erratic turns. Skull… Skull... House… Skull…HOUSE!!
"YESSS!!!!! HA HA!!"
"NOOOOO!!!" The time wizard pointed it staff at Mako's Crab Turtle and it turned to dust, a 1000 years too long a time for it to withstand.
"Now, Garoozis, attack Mako! Let's win this thing!" The reptilian fighter rushed over to Mako and smashed right into him, knocking him to the ground. Mako's LP went to 0 and the holograms faded away.
Joey breathed a sigh of relief. He had won, but just barely. He heard someone clear their throat behind him and turned. Yugi was there, looking a little nervous, with Tsuki at his side. Further behind them were Tea and Bakura, both with guilty smiles. Off to the side a little ways was Mai, and the way she was looking at him was different than she ever had before. Their eyes met and she winked. He felt himself go red.
He was brought back to reality when Yugi spoke up. "Listen, Joey…" he said, "We're sorry about getting on your case all the time. We never meant anything by it…"
Joey smiled and punched Yugi lightly on the arm. "Don't sweat it, Yug," he said, "After all, for every time you guys get on my case, there's two times you're there for me when I need ya."
"We really are sorry," Tea said.
"Yeah?" Joey asked.
"Of course we are!" Yugi said.
Mai cleared her throat, "Please – not all the mushy stuff again. My stomach can't handle it."
"Aww… hush, Mai. I think you can stomach it this one time," Joey didn't quite make eye contact with her, though he wasn't sure why he couldn't bring himself to do it.
Behind him, Mako was trying to pick up the shattered pieces of his pride, but it wasn't easy while unhooking two of his hard-earned, golden items. He coughed loudly, making everyone look back towards him.
Joey stuck his nose slightly in the air, "That's right… I got somethin' to collect from you! Two of your Millennium Items!"
Mako gave Joey a puzzled look, then shrugged it off, "I wondered what you would call these things. Ah well, back down to three."
"Hey, I'm sure that you'll get 'em back, once ya have this again!" Joey was grinning broadly and holding out a card for Mako. The older man looked down, and saw the Legendary Fisherman card being pushed towards him.
"What!?! But, you won that from me… I cannot take it…"
Joey noticed that despite his strong words, his eyes were longingly looking at the card, almost as if it was a long lost relative. He sighed, "Take it… I want ya ta have it for your next duel, whoever it might be!"
Mako brushed a tear away from his eye, "Thank you, my friend. I won't forget this!"
He looked over past Joey to Mai, "And as soon as I regain my items, I will be able to challenge you to a duel that's worth your time!"
Before Mai had a chance to reply, a voice interrupted them, "Perhaps you'd like a chance to regain your lost possessions?" Everyone looked up from their current conversation. Weevil Underwood was walking assertively towards the small group.
Noting everyone's suddenly sour faces, Tsuki asked quietly, "Who's that?"
Mai looked down at her, surprised, "You really don't know?" then she muttered, "Wow…I guess you really were someone else all together…"
"That's Weevil Underwood," Yugi told Tsuki, "A good duelist, but infamous for cheating."
"Whadda ya want, Weevil?" Joey demanded.
"I don't have any business with a wanna-be like you, Wheeler," Weevil snapped, "You may have gotten lucky at Battle City, but I don't have time to bother with you today."
"Say WHAT?!" Joey growled and Tea and Bakura had to struggle to hold him back.
Weevil chuckled a bit a Joey's outburst, but just walked right past him. He stopped several feet in front of Mako, and pointed at the taller man, "I challenge you to a duel, Tsunami! Let's see if the powers of the ocean can save you from the unbridled might of my insects!"
Mako glared down at Weevil (seeing as he was at least a head taller than the insect duelist), "I accept your challenge! You'll see that you're 'getting in over your head'!"
Weevil folded his arms across his chest, "If you're really a man, than prove it by betting all three of your remaining items! I'll do the same!" The younger boy pulled the gold chain that held his three items out from under his slightly-too-long Egyptian robe.
"Weevil," Yugi protested, "Mako just finished a duel. He shouldn't have to rush right into another one."
The blue-haired boy stuck his nose in the air, "If he's too chicken, then fine! I guess the beasts of the sea aren't so fearless anymore, eh?"
Yugi was about to speak again, but he felt Mako's strong hand on his shoulder and looked up at the sea-duelist.
"I will accept your challenge, Underwood," he said, "It will be my pleasure to eliminate you from this tournament." When Yugi started to protest again, Mako put a hand up to silence him, "A man must choose his own battles, young Yugi. You'll understand when you're older."
Yugi nodded, still feeling bad about the whole thing. The least he could do was stick around and cheer Mako on.
But even that wasn't going to happen, as Tea pointed out, "Does anyone know where Tristan got off to?"
"Dunno," Joey said, "You wouldn't think he'd have gotten lost."
"We should go and look for him," Bakura said.
"Sure. Why not?" Mai shrugged. She turned to Mako, "I'll meet you tomorrow after you've finished with bug-boy here."
"Certainly," Mako nodded. And as the gang turned to leave, he faced his opponent.