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Fanfic Chapter 10: Dino Demolition

Episode Basis: The Dueling Monkey

Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh!: The Dueling Seto Kaiba had Yugi backed into a corner. Yugi had been able to defeat his first Blue-Eyes White Dragons using the Dark Magician, Magical Hats, and Spellbinding circle. But it wasn't enough as "Kaiba" drew his second Blue-Eyes White Dragon. It seemed like Yugi was in trouble, but then the real Seto Kaiba came to Yugi's rescue by uploading a virus into the Blue-Eyes's holo computer. When it was revealed that the real Kaiba was alive and well, the dueling one revealed itself to be the dark part of Kaiba that Yugi exorcised after their first duel. Thanks to Monster Reborn and the Mystical Elf, Yugi won and returned Dark Kaiba to the Shadow Realm. But Kimo, one of Pegasus' thugs, snuck off with Mokuba.


Yugi and his friends had been trying to find Mokuba for the better part of an hour with no luck. They could only come to the conclusion that the goons grabbed him.

"So now they got your Grandfather AND Kaiba's little brother?" Tea asked Yugi.

"This mission just got a whole lot more complicated," Harold said. "Yugi, we have to rescue him!"

"I know, Harold." Yugi and Joey looked to the castle. "It's just another reason for us to win those ten star chips and get in there."

"No doubt," Joey agreed. Then he happened to look down and see a couple of Duel Monster cards under Tristan's foot. "Hey, it's my lucky day!"

"Hands off, those are mine," Tristan claimed.

"Tristan, you're training to become a duelist?" Harold asked.

"I figured that if a doofus like Joey can hold his own in a game, then hey, I could probably become an expert."

Joey was about to retort when he picked up one of the cards on the ground. The picture on the card was of a red ogre-like monster carrying a club. "Hey, I recognize that card."

"Haven't I seen a card like that in your deck, Joey?" Yugi asked.

"Not this card, but I think I have another one like it." Joey searched through his deck until he produced the card, which looked exactly like Tristan's with the exception of the color. "Here we go, Swamp Battleguard (1)." He held the two cards next to one another. "Well, would you look at that, these two look like they're long lost brother. Of course, that doesn't mean yours packs the same wallop mine does."

"His wallop's just fine!" Tristan argued. "My Lava Battleguard (2) has never let me down. Try him out, you'll see."

"Thanks, I think I will. It does say those two work better together."

"You know, I think I'm able to see a resemblance between you two and those muscleheads."

"Hey Tea, are you talking to Joey and Tristan... or the cards?" Tea and Yugi burst into laughter which upsetted the two former street thugs.

"Laugh it up; I take that as a compliment!"

Harold held his forehead. "I'm traveling with a comedy troupe," he complained.


Mai Valentine had just finished up a duel against a kid. Originally, she would love seeing the kid squirm and humiliating him. But now... it was like the thrill was gone. She pondered this conundrum as she laid in a meadow.

I don't get it, trashing hot shot duelists is usually as fun as a clearance sale. So why can't I enjoy it any more? A brief flash of Joey Wheeler appeared in her mind's eye. That was like a splash of cold water for her. "It's all because of that obnoxious punk Joey. I can't believe a rank amateur like that beat me. If only I could..." Mai heard footsteps behind her and turned to see a kid with shaggy brown hair with purple tuff underneath a knit cap, green shirt under a beige vest and khaki pants.

"There you are!" He cried.

"Oh, you're that kid I conned out of a room," Mai said casually.

"The name's Rex Raptor, Dino Duelist! And I'm itching for some payback for what you did on that boat..."


(The previous night)

"How can you expect a lady like me to sleep in the cargo hold with these other filthy vermin?" Mai yelled at one of Pegasus' guards. She had just come from her initial encounter with Yugi and Joey and just discovered that all the Duelists were required to sleep in the cargo hold where cots and hammocks have been set up. "I demand to speak to your superior!"

"Rules are rules, ma'am," the guard said nervously.

"Keep that up and they'll throw you off the boat," a voice commented. Mai turned and saw the runner-up at the Japan National Championship. "If you're interested in a private room, I can... always take you to mine." Rex wiggled his eyebrows at her.

Mai turned on her feminine charm. "A private room, you say?"

"Oh yeah, being one of the finalist at the Nationals, I'm given my own room."

"That I'm definitely interested in."

Score! Rex thought. He showed her to his room. "So what do you think?"

"Not bad, not bad at all," Mai admitted. "Hey, I tell you what," Mai winked at him. "Why don't we have a duel? If I win, you give me your room. If you win..." Mai dropped the shoulder from her purple jacket revealing her bare shoulder. "I'll make it worth your while." Rex immediately agreed. As they set up, Mai revealed that she had psychic abilities since birth and proved it by revealing the top three cards of her deck without even looking.

Needless to say, it pretty much went downhill after that for Rex. He was forced to sleep in the cargo hold with the other Duelists.


"Funny, I thought I already knocked you on your Jurassic butt," Mai said with a pondering look.

"Think whatever you want, this time you're going to be stomped!"

Mai scowled. "You think I'm going to waste my time with a pea brain like you. Beat it, dino breath!"

"Pea brain? I have you know I was one of the finalists at the National Championship!" He held out his dueling glove. "And I already won five star chips!"

Mai just casually held up her own glove that had only two blank star chip slots. She had eight star chips.

"Whoa! How did you get eight chips already?"

"From wannabe Duelists like you who think that by dueling a chick, they can score some easy stars. I only lost once, but once I find that kid Joey, its payback time!"

"Joey Wheeler, how did you lose to him?"

"I'd love to see you try and..." Mai paused as an idea came to her. "Okay, Rex, I'll duel you if you do something for me first…"


Yugi and the gang stumbled upon a group of Duelists who were probably just settling in for the night.

"With all the crazy Duelists we've been running into, it's nice to see some normal people for a change," Tea commented. Harold nodded.

"How about it, tough guy," Tristan teased Joey. "Any of these guys look puny enough for you to take on or should we start looking for some three year olds."

"Come on, be nice," Tea chided. "You know he's just biding his time until he finds a Dueling Monkey to go up against."

"All right, who wants some!" Joey snapped. "Go ahead, say one more word and I'll knock you on your..." A familiar high pitch laugh interrupted him. Joey put on a pained face. "Please tell me that's not who I think it is."

But it was who he thought it was: Mai. "Hi there, Joseph, aren't you happy to see me?"

"Ecstatic," Joey moaned.

"So Joey, is Yugi still doing all those battles for you? Everybody knows that if Yugi wasn't there to hold your hand, you wouldn't have beat me. Isn't that right, Yugi?"

"Look, Valentine, we don't want any trouble, so make like a kite and blow away!" Harold ordered.

"Oh, so now you need two people to defend you, Joey? Kind of pathetic if you ask me."

"That's not true," Yugi said firmly.

"Oh really, then I propose that he steps out of Yugi's shadow here and now. If Joey thinks he's so tough, then let's see him play for himself."

"You pretty much lost the match the moment you started relying on that cheap smell trick instead of dueling for real, you dumb broad," Harold insulted.

Mai backhanded him so hard that she left a small welt on his temple and threw him back into Yugi and Tea. She then turned back to Joey. "I'm waiting for your answer. Are you man enough to step up and face the Duelist I've arranged for you?"

"It's not you?" Joey questioned.

"No, it's not," Rex said stepping out from behind a tree. "I'll be dueling on Mai's behalf. Recognize me?"

"That's Rex Raptor, the Dino Duelist," Yugi whispered.

"This twerp's suppose to scare me or something? I bet'cha he ain't so tough."

"Don't you remember? Rex placed second in the National Championships," Tea reminded him.

"That's not really impressive," Harold said rubbing his bruise. "Weevil was the Regional Champion and Yugi defeated him."

Yugi, Tea, and Harold tried to convince Joey not to participate. Rex couldn't believe it, just for stomping this amateurus rex (his term for Joey), she would agree to duel him. Mai's logic was that Joey was only able to win because of Yugi's help. And if all that crap they were saying earlier about how friendship was the key is actually true, then by separating that tie that binds, Joey would get paid back severely for beating her. Now to deliver to death blow. "By the way, if Little Yugi does any of his back seat dueling, Joey forfeits and the match automatically goes to Rex."

"Hey, you can't just make up rules like that!" Harold yelled.

"Want me to give you a match set of bruises?" Yugi and Tea had to hold Harold back from charging Mai and beating her to a pulp. "So Joey, are you going to back out?"

"Of course he..."

Joey held out his arm silencing Tea. "No, that's just the way I want it. It may cost me all my star chips, but I don't deserve to keep them if the only reason I got them was because of Yugi's smarts."

"Joey..." Harold muttered, all fury from him gone.

"All my life, people have been trying to help me because they think I can't help myself. Well I don't need to be babied this time."

"You've lost it, Joey," Tristan said. "You can think whatever you want but I'm not going to stand by and let you throw all your chips away. I hope you guys don't mind, but Little Joey won't be coming out to duel today. Maybe once he grows up, we can arrange a play date!"

"THAT'S IT!" Joey slugged Tristan right in the cheek knocking him on the ground. Everybody, friend and foe alike, was shocked.

"What you do that for?"

"Didn't you hear what I just said, tough guy? I'm tired of everyone thinking they need to come to my rescue."

"But that's not true," Yugi argued. "Friends help each other."

"Keep out of this, Yug. Just let me do what I gotta do."

"But what about your sister?" Harold pointed out. "How would she feel if you just came home defeated like this? Joey, it's not that I think you need to be babied, but I, for one, couldn't bear to see the look on Serenity's face if your only chance to save her is…"

"You want some of the same?" Joey asked. "So shut up before you get a matching set of bruises."

I swear, Joey and Mai are so alike, it hurts, Harold thought. "Or maybe that's the pain talking."

"Forget it," Tristan said. "If that pig head wants to lose; let him do so by himself!" He turned and walked off.

"Tristan!" Tea called.

"Let him go," Joey bid.

"Trouble in paradise, I see," Rex observed.

"You stay out of this, fossil freak!" Tea insulted. This time, it was Yugi and Harold holding her back.

Mai kept edging Joey. "Are you going to face me like a man or run away like a frightened little rabbit?"

"I'm still here, ain't I? Yugi, no offense, but I want you to keep out of this one." Yugi nodded. Joey turned to Harold. "Summon a Dueling ring."

"Yeah," Harold reluctantly complied. Blowing on his whistle, Field 45 rose up from the ground behind Rex and Mai.

"Joey, we believe in you," Tea called as Joey climbed to the blue platform. "Just don't forget what you're fighting for."

What I'm fighting for, I have that part down, Joey thought. It's who I'm fighting that's making me sweat.

"Rex, don't forget our deal, finish him and you get to duel me."

"I can't believe you're stooped to being Mai's attack dog," Joey stage whispered.

"At least I'm no Dueling Monkey." That got Joey flamed up (much to Rex's confusion). "How many chips do you want to lose to my Dinos?"

"I have only two, but I plan on doubling them right here."

"You wish. I bet your deck isn't even prepared for the fields we're about to duel on." The holo field appeared half-wasteland, half-meadow.

Man, if he only knew, Joey thought. I still have a hard time telling one field from another, let alone using them in any strategic way. My best bet is to hit him fast and hard, and I know just the cards to do it, Baby Dragon and Time Wizard. If I use them together, I can speed up time and make my Baby Dragon super powerful. It worked when I dueled Mai.

"This match puts Joey Wheeler versus Rex Raptor with four star chips on the line. Let's duel!"

(J: 2000)
(R: 2000)

Meanwhile, Yugi kept glancing off into the forest, distracted by something. He turned to Tea. "Keep rooting Joey on for us, I have to see about something."

Joey was happy since he immediately drew Time Wizard and Baby Dragon, he then noticed that Tea was the only one on the sidelines. Where'd Yugi go? Oh well, wait 'til he sees what I did all by myself. "Baby Dragon, defense mode!" The little orange dragon appeared gooing like a little baby.

"You never leave a baby unattended, and you're about to find out why. Two-Headed King Rex (3), attack!" A twin headed purple dinosaur-dragon hybrid creature appeared and stomped the Baby Dragon. "Poor Baby; looks like we found out what he was made of."

"But... I didn't get to play my combo!" Joey protested.

"And do you know why? Because even three year olds know better than to defend on their opening move. I can't believe you actually did that, you rookie!"

"Everybody makes mistakes, Joey, just make sure you don't make another one."

"You don't get it, do you? Little Joey's already made the one fatal mistake that will cost him the Duel and that was ever agreeing to this match in the first place."

Why can't Mai just keep her big trap shut for once? Harold thought gritting his teeth.

"All right, maybe I did screw up," Joey muttered to himself. "But I think I still have one monster in my hand that can crush that thing. Leogun (4)!" A lion appeared. "Show that overgrown lizard who the real king of beasts is!" Leogun charged the dinosaur.

Rex laughed. "Since we're on a wilderness field, my monster gets a fat power bonus."

(THKR: 1600---2080, 1200---1580)

"Now he tells me."

(J: 1670)
(R: 2000)

The quicker I bash this tender foot, the sooner I get to beating Mai. "Let's get on with it. You're the appetizer, I want to get on to the main course!"

"I still have plenty to serve up... that is, if I can figure out how this field power bonus thing goes right." He picked up a card. "Here goes nothing. Axe Raider (5)!" A barbaric warrior holding a double-breasted axe appeared.

(AR: 1700---2210, 1150---1495)

"Hey, he got the power bonus!" Joey cried happily. Axe Raider swung his axe and destroyed the King Rex.

(J: 1670)
(R: 1870)

"Don't let it go to your head. Sword Arm of Dragon (6), cut that Axe Raider down to size!"

(SAD: 1750---2275, 2030---2630)

A Stegosaurus with a large arrow-shaped tail appeared and stabbed the Axe Raider.

(J: 1605)
(R: 1870)

That's my third monster he's trashed. Even with the field power bonus, I can't win!

"Joey, don't let that dino dork intimidate you! Remember, we're all here behind you!" Tea called.

Yeah, right, Joey thought dryly. That's why Yugi and Tristan ditched me.

Harold was just beginning to notice that Yugi was gone. Now Yugi's gone too? Man, Mai's really driving a wedge into us. If we don't stick together, we'll never live out this tournament.


"What a nimrod," Tristan complained as he washed his face in a small lake. "Big doofus..."

"You okay, Tristan?" Yugi asked walking up to him?

"Yug? What are you doing here, you should be helping Joey."

"Joey made it clear he didn't want my help on this one. And since you left, I thought that maybe I should too."

"But me being there and you being there are two totally different things. Without your coaching, Joey won't last two minutes against that caniving little freakasaurus. I don't care what he says, you have to go back there and help him out pronto."

"I can't do that," Yugi said firmly. "Joey needs to fight this duel on his own and I need to let him."

Tristan grabbed Yugi by the collar of his jacket. "Yugi!"

"If I go back on my promise and help Joey, he'll be disqualified! Besides, we gotta believe in him so that he believes in himself."

Tristan dropped Yugi. "Yeah, well... maybe I don't think he can win."

"But Tristan, this is about something more important than winning or losing. This is about Joey learning to be a strong big brother for his little sister. And even though he doesn't need our help, he needs to know that he has our support."

"I don't know..."


Maybe this was a mistake, Joey thought. Maybe the only way to help my sister is by relying on my friends... No, that's not true, I can't start thinking that way. If I can't rely on myself, how can I expect my little sister to? Now think, there's got to be something in this hand that can help me play... Joey looked through his hand and paused at the card on the far left. Wait, I still have this Time Wizard. Too bad I don't have my Baby Dragon to play it with. Oh well, I guess it can't hurt to put it out on the field. Oh well, here goes nothing. "Time Wizard, face-down."

That's the card Joey used to beat me with. I better warn Rex. "Raptor, watch that Time Wizard!"

"Without Yugi's help, this chump probably doesn't even know how to use it." I know Joey's type, he'll play a monster card next and then he'll be in the prehistoric pounding of his life!

Maybe Rex is right, Joey was able to defeat my Harpie Ladies, but only because Yugi coached him through it. Now, he's all alone!

"I'm throwing Rock Ogre (7) in defense!" Joey announced.

"You see, I knew the rookie didn't know what he was doing," Rex said. "Mega Zowler (8)! Rock that ogre old school style!"

(MZ: 1800---2340, 1700---2200)

"Hah! Reduced to rubble! I certainly sent him back to the stone ages."

"Fine. Flame Swordsman (9)!" A samurai wearing red and blue armor and carrying a large sword appeared and was boosted by the field power bonus.

(FS: 1800---2340, 1600---2080)

"Didn't you see what I did to your Rock Ogre? Do you really think your puny little Flame Swordsman is going to last any longer? Looks like I'm going to have to teach you to respect my dinos the hard way, attack!"

"Rex, you big dino dummy!" Mai snapped.

"Flaming Sword of Battle!" The Flame Swordsman ignited his sword and roasted the Mega Zowler.

(J: 1605)
(R: 1330)

"Tell me how a swordsman can beat a dinosaur?"

Joey was actually bewildered. "Did I just win that?"

Mai knew the answer. "There is no way Joey could've known that dinosaur cards are vulnerable to fire. That jerk, he totally lucked out on that one."

"Looks like I found the secret to beating your dinos. Hope your not too "saur" about it." Harold groaned at Joey's pun.

Rex switched Sword Arm Of Dragon to defense mode. Joey defeated that, likewise to Rex's next three dinosaur cards.

"Yeah, I knew you could make a comeback, Joey!"

"This duel isn't over yet. One card isn't going to win this for you."

"All right then, how about two. Swamp Battleguard!"

(SB: 1800---2340, 1500---1950)

"Big deal, I have a monster that can wipe that smug look off your face permanently!" He drew a card. "All right! Meet the top link of the food chain, Serpent Night Dragon(10)!" Just as its name suggested, the Serpent Night Dragon was midnight-

black and serpentine-shaped. "This rare card is awarded to those elite few who made it to the finals of the National Championships. But for a loser like you, it should be an honor just to get smashed by it! Nightmare Sonic Blast" The Serpent Night Dragon destroyed the Flame Swordsman.

"Poor Joey," Tea muttered.

Joey despaired, There's not a card in my deck that can help me now. He drew a card. It was the Lava Battleguard. Tristan's card, man he always shows up somehow.


(3 months ago)

All Joey wanted to do was help a kid in need, now because of that, he was about to get clobbered by seven guys all at once. Suddenly Tristan burst through the door to the warehouse. He was dripping wet from the rain outside.

"Hey, is everything all right, Joey?" Tristan asked. The gang charged them both. An intense fight ensued and in the end, Joey and Tristan lived.

When the gang left, Tristan turned to Joey. "You all right, man? You should've called me; I'd have been here earlier, man." He held out his hand to help Joey up.

Joey swatted it away. "What are you doing here, Tristan?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I could've taken those guys. I appreciate you trying to help me out, but I don't need to be babied."


"Man, after all this time, it finally hits me. Tristan's always been looking out for me, not because he thinks I always need his help, but because he's a true friend."

"Yo, Joey!" Joey looked down and saw that Yugi was back with Tristan. "We're here for ya, buddy. So how about it, you want to take that card of mine for a test drive?"

"You got it, bro. Go, Lava Battleguard!"

"Cool, now my card's on the field!"

"What a touching reunion. Too bad my Serpent Night Dragon's about to rip it to shreds. Now, attack the green one!" The blasts went towards the Swamp Battleguard, but then were deflected back, destroying the dragon. As the dust cleared, everyone could see that the Lava Battleguard blocked the blasts for the Swamp Battleguard.

"Tristan's card was there for me right when I needed it the most."

"Of course, those two monsters are like best friends and when they're on the field together, they help power each other up," Yugi explained. "Just like how you and Joey help out in real life, huh, Tristan?"

"That's what being a buddy is all about," Tristan said.

"Thanks for everything, man, I owe 'ya," Joey called.

"What a team," Harold commented. "Not only did they destroy Rex's best monster, but put a dent in his life points as well."

(SB: 2340---2840)
(LB: 1595---2200)

(J: 1605)
(R: 840)

"It must be nice... to have someone watching your back," Harold muttered.

"Yeah, and now that we're together again..."

"There's not a monster Rex has that can stop us," Tristan said finishing for Joey.

Celebrate while you can, because your party's about to be crashed!


Monster Glossary

(1)
Name: Swamp Battleguard
Level: 5
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1800
DEF: 1500

(2)
Name: Lava Battleguard
Level: 5
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1550
DEF: 1800

(3)
Name: Two-Headed King Rex
Level: 4
Type: Dinosaur
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1600
DEF: 1200

(4)
Name: Leogun
Level: 5
Type: Beast
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1750
DEF: 1550

(5)
Name: Axe Raider
Level: 4
Type: Warrior
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1700
DEF: 1100

(6)
Name: Sword Arm of Dragon
Level: 5
Type: Dinosaur
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1750
DEF: 2030

(7)
Name: Rock Ogre
Level: 4
Type: Rock
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 800
DEF: 1200

(8)
Name: Mega Zowler
Level: 6
Type: Dinosaur
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1800
DEF: 1700

(9)
Name: Flame Swordsman
Level: 6
Type: Warrior/Fusion
Attribute: Fire

ATK: 1800
DEF: 1600

(10)
Name: Serpent Night Dragon
Level: 7
Type: Dragon
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 2350
DEF: 2400