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Fanfic Chapter 6: Deep Sea Danger
Episode Basis: Attack From the Deep
Previously, on Yu-Gi-Oh!: Joey found himself dueling Mai Valentine, an expert-level Duelist who specializes in using a Harpie Lady card. When Mai suddenly became able to see her cards when they're face-down and turning Joey against Yugi and the others, Joey became lost and almost forfeited the duel. But drawing strength from Yugi's words, Joey rebounded and used the Time Wizard, a card Yugi gave him to transform his Baby Dragon into a Thousand Dragon and triumphed over Mai's Harpie Ladies earning him two star chips.
Joey was still congratulating himself on winning two star chips.
"He's been patting himself on the back for over ten minutes now," Harold said checking his watch.
"Jeez, is there a time limit to how much he can crow?" Tea asked.
"Cut him some slack, Tea. Who would've thought that he'd actually be able to defeat Mai?" Tristan replied.
"I knew he could do it," Yugi said. "I'm really proud of you, Joey."
Joey put on a proud face, then he put on a hungry face as his stomach rumbled loud enough for all to hear. "All that dueling made me hungry. Did any of you guys remember to bring any food?"
"Sorry, Joey," the others said.
"What were we thinking coming here without bringing any food? How are we going to get through the rest of the tournament?"
"Good question, Joey," Yugi agreed. "This dueling really takes it out of you and I haven't seen any cheeseburger stands or restaurants since we got here."
"Ah-ha!" Harold cried. "I knew it was in here!"
"What is it, is it food?" Joey asked.
"In a manner of speaking." Harold proudly displayed a box of breath mints. "Behold, breath mints!"
"Breath mints?" The others asked.
"Well, it's definitely better than nothing," Tea said.
"Okay, here we go. Keep in mind, there might not be enough for all of us so..." The warning was moot as the box turned out to be empty. "Huh? But I thought... oh, that's right. I finished off this box about a week ago." Harold smiled embarrassingly causing the others to face-fault. "Sorry, guys," Harold said ashamed.
"We have to do something fast!" Tea said, her control breaking down every second. "I've got to have my five basic food groups or it's... metabolic melt down!"
"Five basic food groups?" Harold asked trying to count the food groups on his fingers.
"Hey, chill out, you guys, I've got it covered," Tristan said. He took a book out of his back pack. "Ta-dah, the Great Outdoor Survival Guide!"
"Can we eat it?" Joey asked dryly.
"Better than that, it lists all the plants, roots, berries, and grasses we can eat."
The others suddenly felt sick. Harold voiced all of their thoughts. "All of a sudden, I'm not feeling very hungry."
"Do I look like a squirrel, ya' big doofus?!" He sniffed the air. "I don't need your dumb buck anyhow, I smell something cooking that way!" And he ran off towards the shoreline.
"He's hallucinating," Tea decided.
"Maybe not," Tristan figured. "Remember, it wasn't his brain that beat Mai, it was his nose."
The source of what Joey smelled was three fish cooking over an open fire. Joey's mouth was watering and even Yugi had to admit they smelled good. Finally, Joey couldn't take it and ran for it.
"Hey, what makes you think those fish are yours to take?" Tea asked.
"Hey, don't worry about it. We eat first and ask questions later."
"You know, I think Joey once got food poisoning from that philosophy," Tristan commented.
"You're really not helping things, Tristan," Harold said.
"He'd say anything to fill his belly," Tea commented.
"Some people just have no self-control," Tristan said nodding sagely.
"Now that's the pot calling the kettle black," Harold said as Tristan ran to join Joey. He, Yugi, and Tea grudgingly joined them.
"I don't know," Harold said looking at the blackened fish. "I'm a little queasy about eating anything that looks at me."
"That means more for me," Joey said blowing on the fish to cool it.
"Enjoy yourselves, fish thieves," a voice said. "Because this is your last meal!" The voice startled the others. "How dare you eat my fish, you thieving poachers!" Joey, Tristan, and Harold were startled and for a change of pace, Harold leapt into Tea's arms. Unfortunately, he was too heavy for her and the two ended up face-down in the dirt, though Harold (as was his usual standard) was in over his head... literally.
The boy had spiky black hair and wore cut-off jeans and a dueling glove. He had a harpoon with a fish skewered on it. "How dare you steal my fish, don't you have any man..." A tidal wave splashed against the shore and washed him over the cliff. Fortunately, he survived.
"So can we eat?" Joey asked like he didn't hear the boy's rant.
"Let's try that again," the boy said seething.
"I knew this was a bad idea," Tea said as she tried to uproot Harold's head from the ground.
"How dare you steal my fish, you bottom-dwelling thieves!"
"Chill out, guy, it's just a few fish," Joey said.
"Fish that do not belong to you! And to steal a fisherman's catch proves you have no honor!"
"Hey, wait a minute," Yugi said eyeing the glove. "Aren't you Mako Tsunami, the top-rank ocean-based Duelist?"
"And who might you be?" The boy asked in return.
"Hey yeah, you're that freaky fish guy," Joey agreed.
"I AM NOT A FREAKY FISH GUY! I am Mako Tsunami, Duelist extraordinaire of the seven seas!" Mako paused in his introduction as Tea (who had finally got Harold's head up to fresh air) burst into laughter. "Uh... what are you laughing about?"
"Your head! You got company." Tea pointed to the small squid that attached itself to Mako's hair. Mako growled and threw the squid back into the ocean (much to Joey and Tristan's dismay).
"I'm Yugi Moto," Yugi introduced. "Sorry about your fish."
Mako gasped, "You're Yugi Moto, the only Duelist to ever defeat Seto Kaiba?" He laughed. "What a surprise! It will be a great honor to face you in a duel."
"Same here, Mako."
"I must apologize, I've been ungracious." He turned to the others. "If you are friends of Yugi Moto, please, come sit down and eat your fill."
And that's what they did, except Harold who lied and said he already ate. He sat by the fire reading the Duelist Kingdom Tournament Rulebook.
"That was good, Mako," Tea commented when they were done. "Where did you learn to cook so well?"
"I had to fend for myself since I was a tad pole but it was my father who taught me how to fish and cook."
"So what brings you here to the competition?" Yugi asked.
"I was raised on a fishing boat where I learned to love the sea," Mako began. "So if I win here, I would be able to get a vessel of my very own. Of course, I'll have to beat a few Duelists first." He laughed hardily.
"Your own boat? That would be so cool, living out on the blue open sea."
"Yes, the ocean is amazing," Mako agreed. "And we have shared a special bond since I was born. I can tell when the sea is happy by the way it sparkles... and when it is angry, by the shifting tides."
"That's pretty impressive," Harold said putting the rulebook away in his backpack. "I wish I had those acute senses, Mako." Tea nodded.
"Well, it's been great, Mako, thanks. You really saved our hides," Joey said.
"Leaving so soon, are you?" Mako asked in what appeared to be disappointment.
The others began to say their good-byes with Yugi saying that maybe they'll meet up in the competition.
"Sooner than you think!" Mako announced. He threw his harpoon which almost stabbed Yugi in the foot. "I treated you to dinner; perhaps you will honor me to a duel."
"You try to skewer Yugi and expect him to accept your challenge for a duel?" Tea said with rising fury.
"Wait, Tea," Harold whispered. "Look, the harpoon almost hit Yugi but it didn't. If Mako was truthful and he really is an expert in the sea, then he could've easily pierced one of Yugi's organs with it, but he didn't. I bet for him, that's an equivalent of throwing down the gauntlet, a challenge."
"He could've just asked him instead of spearing him."
"He's nuts," Joey commented, not hearing Harold's explanation.
"No but I am an expert fisherman and you have taken the bait."
"What bait?" Harold asked.
"Why, the fish of course. I laid it out and lured you four right to it." He pointed to Joey, Tristan, Harold, and Tea. "But I never expected to catch Yugi Moto."
Harold stood in front of Yugi in case his theory was wrong and Mako tried to skewer Yugi again.
The others tried to convince Yugi to not take Mako's challenge but Mako insisted. "I reeled in another Duelist a short time ago, but he was not a worthy catch." He pointed to Yugi. "But a duel against you would be an excellent test!"
The powers of the Millennium Puzzle were released into Yugi as he switched into what Tea affectionately called 'Dueling Mode.' "Mako Tsunami, I accept your challenge," he said.
Harold blew on his whistle and a dueling arena rose from the sea. Yugi, Mako, and Harold took their places. The arena was split into two halves, one half was land and the other was sea.
"Name your stakes," Yugi requested.
"I'll wager two stars."
"Two stars," Yugi agreed. They each removed the stars from their glove and placed them on the table.
"This Duel Monsters match puts Mako Tsuanami versus Yugi Moto. The winner will receive four star chips! Duelists, get ready, get set... duel!"
"Let's duel!" Yugi and Mako cried out.
Mako was ecstatic about dueling Yugi Moto. Finally, a real test of my dueling strength, he thought. The life point counters were set and the duel began.
(M: 2000)
(Y: 2000)
"This should be some match," Tea commented.
"Sink that soggy sucker, Yugi!" Joey cheered.
"I'm curious to see how you deal with my mighty denizens of the deep," Mako said summoning a monster. But to Yugi and the other's surprise, it didn't appear. Rather, the only clue that it had been summoned was that an area of Mako's sea-side of the field was glowing. This could only mean one thing: the monster was under water.
"How can I choose what card to play when I don't even know what I am fighting?" Yugi wondered.
"This I don't like," Joey muttered.
"The sea conceals many things beneath its shifting surface," Mako commented.
"As long as that thing stays submerge, I can't attack."
"Oh, I promise it won't stay submerged for very long," Mako assured him.
I better prepare for the worst, Yugi decided. With as strong of a defense as possible.
Clearly this is Yugi's first encounter with sea-base Duel Monsters, Mako thought noticing Yugi's bewildered expression. He will learn first hand what a powerful ally the sea can be. It gives my creatures a field power bonus, and it conceals them, making their stealthy attacks even more lethal.
"How can Yugi fight what he can't see?" Joey asked.
"This isn't good," Tea said.
"Something fishy is going on here," Tristan complained.
"On the contrary, it's all on the up and up," Harold revealed. "It's like what Weevil said, the fields chosen for each duel are exact representations of surrounding environments. I bet anything Mako's monster is fish-related, and thus, can survive under water."
"It seems that my ocean-based strategy has caught you completely by surprise, Yugi," Mako called.
Maybe so, Yugi admitted. But I can still raise a strong defense. "I call upon the Horned Imp (1)!" A rock-colored imp with a horn on his head appeared.
"Now, Fiend Kraken (2), ensnare him!" Mako ordered. Giant tentacles lashed out from the water and pulled Yugi's imp apart.
"Your good, Mako, a brilliant opening play," Yugi congratulated.
"I am pleased you appreciate it," Mako replied. "Though I doubt your Imp did."
(M: 2000)
(Y: 1740)
"Well, now I know what I'm up against."
"Yes, the mighty ocean commands respect! As do the creatures whom inhabit it!
Maybe I can prepare an attack that would destroy his monsters even though I can't see him, Yugi figured. "I summon the Feral Imp!" A green gargoyle-like creature with a horn on its head as well
"I am aware of your feral monster," Mako said as he summoned a monster in response. "And it's electrical attack. So for my next card..." He set a monster in defense mode. A loud cry could be heard from the sea side's depth.
"I don't like the sound of that," Yugi said.
Mako laughed. "That is the battle cry of my creature!"
"It'll be crying all right," Yugi said laying down another card. "Once I combine my Feral Imp with the magical Horn of the Unicorn!" A golden horn replaced the Feral Imp's normal one as its attack and defense points were raised.
(FI: 1300---2000)
"All right," Joey said.
"What?" Tea asked.
"Yugi can't see Mako's monsters, but he knows they're under water and water conducts electricity!"
"So they're vulnerable to the Feral Imp's electrical attack!" Tea said beginning to catch on. "That is so smart!"
"Magic Lightning Attack!" The Imp shot electricity into the water.
"It's a fish fry," Joey joked.
But Mako didn't seem upset, quite the contrary. And soon, the reason revealed itself. His life points weren't decreasing.
"Your strategy has failed, Yugi," Mako said.
"But how?"
"As a sea-based Duelist, I'm perfectly aware that water conducts electricity. So I played my Giant Jellyfish (4). It has the magical ability to absorb all electrical attacks." Mako counterattacked with his Fiend Kraken. "Did you enjoy my Kraken's embrace?" He asked laughing.
(M: 2000)
(Y: 1480)
I've never dueled against creatures like these before. It feels like I'm battling against Mako's sea monsters and the awesome power of the ocean itself.
"Do any of your monsters have the ability to stand up to my ocean pets?"
"I have the power of Silver Fang (5)! And I combine it with the magic of the full moon to double his ferocity!" A moon appeared over Yugi's wolf monster and it howled.
"Ferocious indeed," Mako said laughing. "But the moon also controls the tides causing them to rise allowing me to unleash my next great creature. Arise, mighty Kuriyoshi!" A large blue and white sea snake popped up creating a tidal wave with it. "Behold, the mighty Kuriyoshi, a creature so massive that when it rises up from the ocean's depths, it creates its own tidal wave! Your creature's brave, Yugi, but it can't stand up to Kuriyoshi's mighty tidal attack." The monster unleashed the tidal wave drowning Silver Fang. "But my Kuriyoshi did more than just wash your dog away. It considerably altered our playing field." It was true; the water had overtaken Yugi's side of the field leaving a small island in its place. "In my previous duels, Kuriyoshi's attack is so massive that it leaves nothing in its wake. I think it was quite considerate of my pet to leave you a patch of dirt to stand on. Or does it make you uneasy to be surrounded on all sides of the sea?" Mako's expression suddenly grew dark. "All men give pause before the mighty ocean, even the greatest of fishermen."
"You mean your father..."
Mako dropped his cards on the table. "My father was a great fisherman. He taught me my love of the sea. But... one day, the sea... took him. I loved going out on the boat with my father. It was just the two of us and the big, beautiful, ocean. We never suspected that the sea would turn on us. It was a bright day when it happened. My father suspected a storm had been brewing and didn't want to take any chances. He told me that it was better not to challenge the mighty sea. And he was right. The calm ocean turned into a wallowing maelstrom! It rocked our boat all over the place. My father strapped me to the main mast to keep me from falling over, but it was pointless. A tidal wave capsized our boat. When the storm died out, our little boat had been washed ashore. My father was right, I had been safe, but he... because he had stopped to tie me down, he had no time to secure himself!"
"Poor guy," Harold muttered.
"I've all but given up hope, but then I noticed that our lifeboat was missing. I know my father is alive. So I will win this contest, buy a ship, and sail the seven seas until I find him! That is why I duel, Yugi, that is why I must win and you must lose."
"I understand, Mako, believe me," Yugi empathized with his opponent. "But I can't let you win."
The others were taken aback by Mako's story. "Mako duels for his Dad like Yugi duels for his Grandpa," Joey related.
"Whoa, this is too intense."
With so little land left, I really need to make this next play count. I need something that will help me turn the tides. Something like... this card! "Giant Soldier of Stone! (6)" Yugi's defense position monster fit its name. It was crouched on the small land with its arms wrapped around its body. "You may have shrunk my battlefield down to an island, Mako, but my Stone Soldier still gets a field power bonus!"
(GSS: 1300---1690, 2000---2600)
"Your massive monster can barely fit on that rock let alone do battle with my mighty undersea attack force!" Yugi didn't retort. "And he's surrounded on all ides by the ocean, making him easy prey for... Great White Terror (7)! A shark appeared briefly before descending into the ocean. This monster will lead my other deep-sea soldiers in an all-out ocean onslaught!"
"Yugi's guy is outnumbered four to one," Joey realized.
"I don't like those odds," Tristan added.
Looks like his stone soldier is about to become fish food, Harold thought.
"This is it, Yugi! It's over, but you dueled honorably."
"You're a fair and worthy opponent yourself, Mako, but I also duel with the fate of a loved one at stake." Mako was taken aback by Yugi's revelation. "And I can't afford to lose. I switch my Stone Soldier to attack mode!" The Soldier stood up.
"Attack mode, but why? He can't attack my sea monsters while they're under water."
"But his target isn't your sea monsters. I'm having him attack a card I laid on the field myself." Yugi pointed to the moon which was still visible.
"No!"
The Stone Soldier drew one of his swords (also made of rock). "Now, Stone Soldier, destroy the moon!" The Soldier stabbed the moon and broke it apart. "As you yourself said, Mako, the moon does control the tides; its ebb and its flow. So I ordered my Stone Soldier to obliterate the moon causing the ocean's tide to reverse and recede." The tide literally went out. Now it was more land than sea and Mako's monsters were beached. "And now I'll deliver the final blow. I combine my Curse of Dragon with the magic of the burning land card to wipe out your life points!" Yugi's skeleton dragon appeared and fried Mako's fish.
(M: 0)
(Y: 1480)
"Destroying your own moon card was a brillian maneuver, Yugi, well done, you dueled honorably!" Mako congratulated.
"You dueled honorably yourself, Mako."
As Mako handed his star chips over to Yugi, his stomach growled almost as loud as Joey's did. "My, that Dueling made me hungry; time for some more fishing. Farewell, my friends!" Mako dove back into the ocean.
"Bye, Mako," Tea called. "Take care!"
"You know, Mako really wasn't such a bad guy after all," Harold said. "I guess not every Duelist is out to stop you, Yugi."
"Oh man, we forgot to ask Mako to bring us back some fish," Joey realized.
"We'd have to duel him for it," Yugi pointed out.
The others laughed. "But seriously though, any of you guys got anything?"
"Hey, isn't this how we got into this mess?"
"No problem, there's always my Great Outdoor Survival Guide."
"Here, Tristan, eat as many pages as you want," Joey kidded as they left Mako's camp site.
Monster Glossary
(1)
Name: Horned Imp
Level: 4
Type: Fiend
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 1300
DEF: 1000
(2)
Name: Fiend Kraken
Level: 4
Type: Fish
Attribute: Water
ATK: 1500
DEF: 1000
(3)
Name: Giant Jellyfish
Level: 4
Type: Fish
Attribute: Water
ATK: 1200
DEF: 1000
(4)
Name: Silver Fang
Level: 3
Type: Beast
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1200
DEF: 800
(5)
Name: Giant Soldier of Stone
Level: 3
Type: Rock
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1300
DEF: 2000
(6)
Name: Great White Terror
Level: 5
Type: Fish
Attribute: Water
ATK: 1600
DEF: 1200
