A/N: Hello friends. I'll just get on with the chapter for right now; I'll have a little something to say when it's finished. Enjoy.
Test of Friendship
Chapter 19
Yugi continued to watch what was going on in the U.S tournament with great interest. The World Championships were comming up pretty soon, and he was pretty sure the winner of this duel would be one of the United States' representatives. So, as he held a sleeping Tea in his arms, he tried to get a grasp of the strategies he may come face to face with eventually.
Hello friends, this is Jena Bailey alongside Kerry Richard and we are pleased to bring you this duel between Mason Knight and Jonas Quinn in the United States Southeastern Regional Tournament. Both are 1-0-0 respectively in pool play and a win would guarantee a spot in the 16-person National Championship field. Knight shocked young Rebecca Hawkins in the finals almost a year ago, but he's dealing with an experienced veteran in Jonas Quinn. There have been six official United States championships; Quinn has participated in all but one. He has only one title to show for it, and is eager to earn another. Due to time constraints, we have to move forward in our tape-delay coverage. Thank you, and enjoy the rest of the duel.
(band playing: "White and Gold, Ramblin' Wreck", fight song of Georgia Technical Institute)
Once there was a young boy
Who grew into a man
And he came up with a great master plan:
Crush all his enemies in a Duel
Claim all the cash and act a damn fool
In case you didn't know, his name is Jonas Quinn
And today he picked up a win
so sit and gather round
as you listen to that coolsound
and Good times will be plenty abound
(end of "White and Gold" sequence, start of "Ramblin Wreck")
I'm a Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech and a helluva Duelist too
A helluva, helluva, helluva, helluva Duelist too!
Like all the jolly good fellows, I drink the coldest beer
I'm A Ramblin Wreck from Georgia Tech and a helluva Engineer
If I had a daughter, sir, I tell you I'd dress her in White and Gold
And send her to the campus to cheer on the Duelists bold
But if I had a son, sir, I'd tell you just what he'd do
He would shout "TO HELL WITH YUGI!" like his father used to do.
Oh I wish I had a keg of rum and some sugar, three hundred pound
And find a college bell to put it in, and stir it all around
And I would drink to all the good people who come from far and near
A Duelin, Gamblin, helluva Engineer!
(band stops playing "Ramblin' Wreck, plays old "NFL Today" theme)
"This stadium simply erupted as Jonas Quinn took a 1-0 lead in this match duel. Now, Kerry, the pressure is truly on as Mason must win both remaining duels to win the match. Your thoughts?"
"Well, Jonas said if Mason came in here unfocused, he was gonna kick his backside. So far, he's livin true to his word. Jonas backed him into a corner with his beat-down deck, and Mason didn't get any help from the cards he drew. The champ's in a tough spot right now."
"Especially now...we have just recieved word from A.W. Mumford Stadium across town that Elena Rodriguez defeated Billy Stanton, so that raises her record to 1-1-0. If she beats Mason Knight tomorrow on this very field, and Mason loses tonight, we could see the US Champion bounced out in the regional finals for the first time EVER."
"Unbelievable...we'll go down to the field now as they are ready to start the second duel..."
The picture took Yugi from the analyists he had been watching to a shot around the stadium, where thousands were dressed in white and gold. A few areas were checkered in orange and blue, but they were all engulfed in a vast sea of white. The camera now turned to the two duelists facing off, one in a white t-shirt and baggy khaki pants, his red hair a curly mess on his head. He stood about 6'7'' and appeared to be about 23 or 24 years old. The other, who Yugi recognized as Mason, was in a blue shirt with orange writing on the front which Yugi couldn't make out. He had medium -length, dark brown hair, and was almost a full foot shorter than his counterpart. His boyish face and appearance made him look even more defenseless against his opponent's onslaught.
"Hehehehehe...Mason, not thinking about Seto Kaiba, are we? You can chase your glory and honor if you want to, but I'm here to claim the cash. And if you don't stop looking at me as some kinda tune-up, you'll wake up trying to figure out what the hell happened, understand?"
The boy waved him off as if he were an insect. "Whatever, dude. Just play your card already, will ya? I have a date tonight."
If Jonas wasn't outraged before, he was now. This little runt didn't even care about this duel...he treated him as if he were some second-rate amateur. NO! He wouldn't stand for such an insult. "You little bastard! YOU'LL HAVE A DATE WITH MY FIST IF YOU DON'T WATCH YOUR MOUTH! I play Goblin Attack Force (2300/0) in attack mode. And I'll put two cards face down...attack if you dare."
Mason drew a card from his deck. "Whatever, Chief Running Mouth. Hmmmm...this is going to get interesting...First I'll play two magic cards. The first...Goblin Thief. It takes 500 of your life points and adds them to mine."
"Big deal...we just started this duel, so I still have 3500 life points. What's the next step in your half-baked plan?"
"Dian Keto, the Cure Master. It adds 1000 more life points, giving me 5500 for the duel."
"Increase your lifepoints all you want, kid, but you'll lose 'em if you don't have anything to protect you."
Mason yawned in apathy. "I know, dude. That's why I'm playing this card."
Jonas watched as he played a monster card, his eyes growing wide as he knew what the card was capable of.
"Hmmmm...I'm guessing you know Cyber-Stein's (700, 500)special ablitiy then? At the cost of 5000 life points, Ican summon any monsterI choose from my fusion deck. And I'll choose the Black Skull Dragon (3200, 2500)."
"So that's why you stole some of my life points...to make the sacrifice." Jonas grunted, realizing that there was very little he could do to stop this process.
"For a total idiot, you catch on fast!" Mason said mockingly. "Oh, I almost forgot, I'll activate this little number while I'm at it, Megamorph."
Jonas began mumbling curses under his breath.
"You know that makes mymonster TWICE as strong as long as your life points are greater than mine, correct? Hmmm...quick math says that increases its strength to 6400, so it'll wipe out your Goblin Attack Force. BLACK SKULL DRAGON, ATTACK!"
Jonas pulled a card up from his face down positon. "You'll destroy my monster, sure, but not before I activate Waboku, which allows me to take 0 damage from your attacks this turn."
"Whatever. You and I both know you'll need a miracle to withstand my next attack. Make your move, already."
Jonas drew his card. The little punk's right...there's only one way that I can think of beating him. I have no other monsters in my hand, and the only way I can take the rest of his lifepoints is by taking out that creepy Cyber-Stein. DAMN! Oh, well...he won't get so lucky twice.
The stadium collectively gasped as Jonas put his hand over his deck. "You win this round, kid."
"So...how long's Mokuba been here?"
"Since early this morning. Joey..."
Mai put her hand on his as they sat at her dining room table. "I'm sorry...about everything."
Joey clasped his hand tightly around hers. "Me too...I'm as much ta blame for what happened as anybody." Mai gasped nervously as he pulled her closer. "I mean, if I had kept a clear head, we wouldn't'a gone through this crap."
"Joey, stop blaming yourself! We both made some very questionable decisions, but that doesn't mean we can't overcome them."
Joey heard her voice crack, then hecould feel the tears drain from her eyes and onto his shirt. He just held her tighter as he cried, seemingly at a loss for words.
She spoke for the both of them. "How? How could you want to be with me after I betrayed you that way?"
Joey was silent as he looked into her lavender eyes. They didn't possess their usual strength, and needed some kind of assurance from him. "Well, how could ya still wanna be with me afta I threatened to kill ya?"
Joey got a slap across the face as his reward. "Ouch!"
"Because I love you, silly!" Mai said, wiping the tears from her face.
At least temporarily, Mai's strength, and her smile, had returned.
Malik treaded cautiously as he headed for the bedroom that his older sister was using while she was staying with him. He found it amazing that she was able to afford having her stay at home in Egypt with Odieon and give him enough money to go to school in Japan, but knew that her hard work could sometimes take it's toll. She had called him two weeks before he came that she was coming home, but wouldn't tell him why. Malik had a vague idea why, however. She had always been babbling to him about this young man she had met during Battle City (a bit odd considering the circumstances of the tournament, but that would have been far from the strangest thing to happen there) and after their ordeal was done she talked about the time they spent together in detail. He was pretty sure she had left out some details...but why his name? Why wouldn't she...
That's when it hit him. That's why she wouldn't say his name. He knew him! That's why she came back nearly a year after Battle City was done...she came back to see him. But who? Obviously not him; that would be disgusting. Not Yugi, almost certainly not Joey. Not Tristan, or Duke. Ryou? Nah...she thought the boy had a kind soul, but she didn't want to be with him. Of all the people he knew, there was only one other male that he could consider...and it was probably the worst choice out of the bunch. He tapped lightly on the door. "Ishizu?"
"It's open." Her voice was unusually soft.
"Sister...we need to talk."
Well, that's it for now. Sorry for the long scene with the OCs. Yes, it has a purpose. It's going to be a little more apparent towards the end of the next chapter. Why the little song? I figured if the U.S. was the "Birthplace" of Duel Monsters, why not give a duel a pinch of flavor from one of America's most beloved traditions: the college football fight song. If you're a college football fan, or a happy alumnus of an American college, you probably understand. Anyway, I hope that chapter wasn't too bad for you folks, and be on the look-out for other updates early next week. Until then, see ya!
The Coast Shall Rise Again...
BDB...out