BRAWL WITH A BUG

The next morning, the Duelists had all reached Duelist Kingdom. But by the time Pegasus was done with his speech and the tournament had actually started, it was nightfall.

As much as Yugi wanted to simply get into the castle and get at Pegasus, he needed to play by Pegasus's rules to do so. That meant that he needed to wager his Star-Chips against other Duelists, gaining his wager with each Duel won. Once he had ten Star-Chips, filling up his Dueling Gauntlet, he would be able to enter Pegasus's Castle and Duel Pegasus for his Grandfather's soul, as well as a grand prize of 300 million yen.

The money, however, was the goal of Joey Wheeler, Yugi's best friend, though he used to bully Yugi. Joey needed the money to pay for his sister, Serenity's eye surgery that she needed to keep from going blind.

Joey did not receive an invitation to Pegasus's tournament, so Yugi gave him a Star-chip so that he could legally Duel, leaving them both with only one Star-Chip, and Joey without a Gauntlet.

"So now what?" asked Tea, "Are you guys supposed to just Duel right here in the middle of the night?"

"Well," responded Yugi, "Pegasus didn't say we couldn't. I don't care so long as I can save my Grandpa."

"Yeah," responded Joey, "It really sucks that that punk, Weevil threw your Exodia cards overboard, though. Man, that little geek is lucky I didn't get my hands on him! Had I, HE woulda' been swimin' with Exodia!"

"Instead, though," replied Yugi, looking up at Joey, "you jumped in to try and save Exodia."

"But it didn't work," answered Joey, a melancholy look on his face, "I only got two of your cards back."

"It's ok, Joey," answered Yugi, "I appreciate that you tried, but don't worry, there's plenty of powerful cards in my grandpa's deck that'll help me win this tournament."

"Uh, guys," said Triston, "I hate to interrupt, but take a look."

Triston pointed ahead of the group, and everyone looked to see Weevil, holding a torch and casting a menacing grin toward them.

"It's Weevil!" exclaimed Tea.

"Weevil!" shouted Yugi, "I challenge you to a Duel!"

Weevil began to run away from the group and the group followed close behind him until they reached an enormous Dueling arena at the edge of the forest.

"Weevil!" exclaimed Yugi, eyeing Weevil, who was already stationed on the Dueling platform, looking down at Yugi.

"You want to Duel me, Yugi?" said Weevil, the same sneer on his face, "Then come on!"

"You got it!" answered Yugi, and then he began to change as the Millennium Puzzle glowed a bright, golden glow, and Yugi's voice became a powerful bellow as he shouted the word, "YU-GI-OH!"

"Yeah! Get'm, Yug'!" cheered Joey as Yugi's platform began to rise.

"Yeah, Yugi!" cheered Triston, "Show this loser who's boss!"

"Weevil!" exclaimed Yugi as Weevil mockingly giggled, "The loser of this Duel will be eliminated from the tournament!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!" laughed the beetle-ish Duelist, "And give me one good reason why I should bet both of my Star-Chips against your one."

"Because," continued Yugi, "I'm not just betting my Star-Chip. If you win this Duel, I will also surrender my Grandfather's Dueling Deck to you."

"Say WHAT!" exclaimed Joey, the entire group looking surprised.

"Hmmm," said the smiling Weevil, "You're Grandfather's deck, AND your last Star-Chip? That's an offer too good to refuse. Agreed!"

"Fine!" answered Yugi, "Now, Weevil Underwood, prepare yourself! Decks shuffled! Life points set! 5 cards! Its time to...

DUEL!!!!!!!!

Weevil: I'll go first, Yugi. I set one monster in defense mode, and set another card face-down. Your move! -2000-

Yugi: I summon Breaker, the Magical Warrior! (1600/1000/4/Light/Warrior) and his effect allows me to destroy your face-down card! -2000-

Breaker slashes the air. A whirlwind spins from the warrior's blade and shatters Weevil's face-down card.

Yugi: Now, Breaker, attack his face-down monster with Mystic's Blade! -2000-

Breaker flies across the Dueling Arena and cuts the face-down monster card in half, revealing Weevil's Needle Worm (750/600/2/Earth/Insect).

Weevil: Heheheheheheh, you've flipped my Needle Worm! And that means that you have to discard the top five cards of your deck! -2000-

Yugi, discarding: Argh... -2000-

Weevil, still smiling: Now, it's my turn again. I summon Gerochin Kuwagata! (1700/1000/4/Wind/Insect) Attack his Magical Warrior with Beetle Jaw Crush! -2000-

Gerochin Kuwagata flies across the Dueling Arena, catches Breaker in its mighty jaws, and snaps the warrior in half.

Yugi, while Weevil is laughing: Quite a lot of laughter for only hitting me for 100 points of damage. -1900-

Weevil: Take another look, Yugi! -2000-

Yugi, surprised as his life points continue to decrees: Ah! My Life points! How did they get that low!? -1390-

Weevil: Very simple you fool. It's one of Pegasus' new rules. Every monster gains a 30 percent Field-Power-Bonus if they are present on their preferred field. The Power-Bonus that my insects gain from the forest raised my Gerochin Kuwagata's Attack points to 2210! -2000-

Yugi: But how could you know that? -1390-

Weevil: Because, stupid, I hacked into the Duelist Kingdom computer and memorized the rulebook. That's how I win all my duels, by staying informed. Too bad you made the mistake of playing fair. -2000-

Yugi: You're the lowest Duelist I've ever met, Weevil, and if you think I'm going to lose to someone like you, you have another thing coming. -1390-

Weevil: Oh! I'm so scared! Shut up and make your move so I can defeat you and take your Star-Chip! -2000-

Yugi: First, I set 1 card face-down, and then I summon the Skilled White Magician. (1700/1900/4/Light/Spellcaster) Skilled White Magician, attack Gerochin Kuwagata! -1390-

Joey: Yugi! What're ya doin'!?

Stealing Weevil: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!! You dumbass! Now your monster will be destroyed and you'll lose even more Life points! -2000-

A brilliant light is emitted from the Skilled White Magician's staff, and Gerochin Kuwagata is lost within it. After the light fades, the Skilled White Magician is shattered into a series of white shards that are then blown into the wind.

Weevil: WHAT! -2000-

Joey: How'd that happen?

Weevil: That's impossible! My monster had more Attack points! -2000-

Yugi: It's very simple, Weevil. The answer's right above you. -1390-

Weevil, looking up: Above me? What do you mean? -2000-

Yugi: The night, Weevil. My monsters are empowered by it just as yours are from the forest. The Skilled White Magician gained enough Attack points to match your bug and destroy it. -1390-

Tea: Whoa! Cool!

Triston: Right on, man! That's show'n 'm!

Weevil: Heh. No matter, I'll still win this game. First, I'll Set 1 card face-down, and then I'll summon Prickle Fairy. (300/2000/4/Earth/Plant) Your move. -2000-

Yugi: I summon Versago, the Destroyer, (1100/900/3/Dark/Fiend) and the Field-Power-Bonus he gains raises his Attack power to 1430, well beyond the attack of your fairy. -1390-

Weevil: 'Heheheheh.' -2000-

Yugi: Versago, attack Prickle Fairy! -1390-

From within Versago's wings emerge a series of chains that whip around wildly before lashing out at Weevil's monster, when suddenly...

Weevil: Not so fast, Yugi! I activate my face-down card, DNA Surgery! This card allows me to transform all of the monsters on the field into bugs! -2000-

Versago's wings are changed into that of an insect, and his chains into feelers. His skin is coated in a reddish-brown exoskeleton and he halts his attack.

Yugi, worried: What? Why has he stopped? -1390-

Weevil: It's my Prickle Fairy's effect. While she is on the field, you can't attack any of my insects, and since she now is an insect, you can't attack her either. -2000-

Yugi: Dammit... 'That makes it almost impossible for me to attack him.' -1390-

Prickle Fairy undergoes many of the same changes as Versago, but her exoskeleton keeps its bright green color.

Weevil: Now, Yugi, I'm about to show you one of my favorite plays. First I activate Snatch Steal, which allows me to take control of Versago, the Destroyer. –2000-

Versago is bound by a brown sac that ties off at the top. The sac then bounces across the Arena to Weevil's side of the field, and then explodes into a cloud of white smoke that reveals Versago once it clears.

Weevil: I then activate a second Magic card, the Magic card, Insect Imitation, which allows me to sacrifice your monster to summon one from my deck... –2000-

Versago, the Destroyer separates into many tiny particles that rejoin to form...

Weevil: Neo Bug! (1800/1700/4/Light/Insect) While not much stronger, it's a definite improvement on Gerochin Kuwagata, and it gains a Field-Power-Bonus that raises it's Attack power to 2340, and you still can't attack because of my Prickle Fairy, which I'm changing to defense mode, its Defense at 2600. I'll set 1 card face-down and end my turn. Your move, Yugi. –2000-

Yugi: 'Finally.' I set 1 card face-down, and summon the Skilled Dark Magician, (1900/1700/4/Dark/Spellcaster) –1390-

The Skilled Dark Magician appears with a beetle-shell on his back and a green face with red, insect eyes.

Yugi: And as you know, it gains a power bonus from the forest, raising its attack to 2470. Your move. –1390-

Weevil: I activate Pot of Greed and draw 2 cards... -2000-

Weevil draws 2 cards from his deck, looks at them, and then laughs.

Weevil: HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! If you thought your Magician was going to help you, Yugi, think again. I activate both of my remaining Insect Imitation cards! The first to sacrifice my Neo Bug for my Hunter Spider, (1500/1600/5/Earth/Insect) and the other to sacrifice my Hunter Spider for one of the most powerful monsters in my deck... –2000-

Hunter Spider disintegrates into many tiny particles, but the particles begin to swirl in a much larger circular motion before recombining into...

Weevil: Empress Mantis! (2200/1400/6/Wind/Insect) And the Field-Power-Bonus increases her Attack points to an incredible 2840! –2000-

Yugi: Ugh... -1390-

Weevil: Empress Mantis, attack the Skilled Dark Magician! –2000-

Empress Mantis charges the Skilled Dark Magician screaming a high-pitched scream when...

Yugi: 'Yes!' You fell straight into my trap, Weevil! I activate my face- down card, Mirror Force! –1390-

Weevil's Mantis crashes into a reflective barrier, and an enormous blast of white energy shines through the cracks in the barrier before exploding from the mirror and incinerating Empress Mantis.

Weevil: NO! My Mantis! –2000-

Yugi: What's wrong Weevil? You weren't INFORMED of my trap? –1390-

Joey: Ha HA!

Triston: You hit that one right on the money, Yug'!

Tea: Yahoo! Go Yugi!

Yugi: It's my turn. I set 1 card face-down. Your move. -1390-

Weevil: Heh, now things get interesting. I summon Petit Moth. (300/200/1/Earth/Insect) –2000-

Yugi: much good that'll do you. -1390-

Weevil: It's a weak monster on its own, even with the power bonus, but I'm equipping it with this card, the Cocoon of Evolution. (0/2000/3/Earth/Insect) –2000-

The Petit Moth lifts its head and spouts a series of pink fibers from its mouth. Weevil's monster disappears behind the fibers, and when they clear, all that is seen is the Cocoon of Evolution, pulsating from the energy within.

Weevil: An awesome power the likes of which you've never seen is contained within this cocoon, and you will witness this power in just five turns. –2000-

Yugi: Five turns is a long way off, Weevil. –1390-

Weevil: It doesn't look that way from here, Yugi. With my Prickle Fairy still on the field, you still can't attack me. –2000-

Yugi: We'll just have to see, Weevil. I set 1 card face-down. Your move. –1390-

Weevil: I pass this turn, not that it matters. –2000-

Yugi draws 1 card: Your move. –1390-

Weevil: Paralyzed by fear? –2000-

Yugi: Keep dreaming Weevil. –1390-

Weevil: The power I'm unleashing on you in only 2 turns is no dream Yugi. –2000-

Yugi: If your not going to move, then simply pass so we can continue. –1390-

Weevil: So eager to face defeat. Fine then, I'll set 1 card face-down and end my turn. –2000-

Yugi: I'll pass this turn. –1390-

Weevil: 'Why is he being so calm? Is he merely defying me? It doesn't matter. Not only can he not attack me, but on my next turn, he's going to face the wrath of my ultimate monster, the Perfectly Ultimate Great Moth!' –2000-

Yugi: Remember what I said about passing? –1390-

Weevil: Keep talking, Yugi, because on my next turn, you'll be so terrified, you'll be lucky if you can even breathe. –2000-

Yugi: You might as well give up trying to intimidate me, Weevil. I don't frighten easily, especially by those cowardly enough to resort to cheap trickery. –1390-

Weevil: Grrrrr! 'Forget this, he can't possibly defeat me with the move I'm about to make, so second best isn't going to do too much less.' Just for that, I'm going to defeat you right here and now! Arise my pet, and show him your awesome power! –2000-

The Cocoon of Evolution emits a dazzling glow before exploding into a swirling, pink dust cloud. An ear-shattering screech escapes from within the cloud before it rears up, and is blown away by one flap from the gigantic wings of Weevil's monster.

Weevil: Behold, Yugi Mouto! The incarnate of your defeat! The rare and powerful, Great Moth! (2600/2500/8/Earth/Insect) –2000-

Yugi and friends stare in amazement.

Weevil: And the Field-Power-Bonus it gains raises its Attack to 3640! Great Moth, attack Yugi's Skilled Dark Magician with Cyclone Wing! –2000-

The Great Moth brings its wings back, preparing to attack, when...

Yugi's eyes shoot open: I activate Shadow Spell! –1390-

700 chains shoot out from every direction and ensnare the Great Moth, halting its attack.

Yugi: And then I activate Dust Tornado, and destroy your face-down card! –1390-

A swirl of gray and blue winds shoot down from the sky and destroy Weevil's face-down card.

Weevil: OH NO! My moth! –2000-

Yugi: And now that it's my turn, I activate the Magic card, Change of Heart, which allows me to take control of your Prickle Fairy. –1390-

A more heavily shaded duplicate of Prickle Fairy appears on Yugi's side of the field, and the Prickle Fairy on Weevil's side of the field disappears.

Yugi: Activating Change of Heart also allows me to activate my Skilled Dark Magician's effect, and sacrifice him for my favorite monster..... –1390-

The Skilled Dark Magician Vanishes in a green light that shoots out from beneath it. When the light disappears, the monster behind the light is...

Yugi: The Dark Magician! (2500/2100/7/Dark/Spellcaster) –1390-

The Dark Magician's armor is transformed into a purple exoskeleton and his eyes become purple insect eyes.

Yugi: And finally, I equip him with the Magic card, United We Stand, which increases his Attack power by 1600 points, and between that, the Power- Bonus he gains, and the 700 Attack points your moth loses from my Dark Spell, I can knock off all 2000 of your Life points in 1 devastating attack! –1390-

Weevil: No! NO! –2000-

Yugi: Dark Magician, Dark Magic Attack! –1390-

DUEL COMPLETE

As the Dark Magician held out his staff, a wave of dark energy flew across the arena and completely shattered the Great Moth. Yugi's friends cheered and Weevil passed out as his Life points went down to 0.

Back on the ground, Joey walks up to Weevil with an evil grin on his face.

"You won't be needing this anymore!" he said, snatching away Weevil's Dueling Gauntlet.

Weevil began to cry when Yugi remarked, "Cheaters receive no pity, Weevil."

"Here you go, man," said Joey, handing Yugi the 2 Star-Chips he had won.

"Thank you, Joey," answered Yugi, placing the Star-Chips in his Gauntlet.

Zero sat up in a tree where he had been watching the entire Duel as he said to himself with a grin on his face, "The Pharaoh always wins."