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Fanfic Chapter 147: Final Prelude Pt 2: Battle Royal
Episode Basis: Back to Battle City Pt 2

Previously on Yu-Gi-Oh! The gang arrived at Kaiba Corp. Island. This was where the Battle City Finals were to be held. But first, the match-ups had to be decided. And rather than through a normal decision-making method, it was decided that the four Finalists would duel to see who duels. Confused yet? As each player's life points decrease, the station they were on would rise until the first two Duelists to reach the top would duel in the Semi-Finals first. So with tempers flaring and sparks flashing (and not from the monsters), Yugi, Marik, Joey, and Kaiba set out to see who will duel who.

"This four-way duel is insane," Tristan commented. "Any Duelist can attack the other three."

"Yes, but any Duelist can also protect," Duke pointed out. "That's how Yugi was able to protect Joey."

"Should we be rooting for someone?" Amara asked. "Because I'm getting dizzy watching this."

"Later," Harold said. "It's not like this duel matters."

"But it does," Tea argued. "It's to decide who will face-up with whom during the Semi-Finals. I just hope Yugi and Joey can stop Marik before he unleashes any of his Shadow Games on them."

"We'll have to rely on those two," Harold agreed. "Seeing as how Kaiba cares about them about as much as he does an old pair of sneakers."

"You won't get off so easily next time, Wheeler," Kaiba seethed.

"Thanks, Yugi," Joey said.

I can't let Joey lose, Yami-Yugi thought. To be honest, I don't think I can beat Marik by myself, I'll definitely need Joey's help and that's making sure he doesn't lose.

Seems Kaiba's God complex is interfering with his reasoning, Yami-Marik observed. Poor deluded fool.

"Kaiba, this tournament of yours has gotten more dangerous than you could ever understand."

What's Yugi babbling about? Kaiba wondered. I understand it perfectly. First I'll win his Egyptian God Card and then I'll use both his and mine to take out Marik's Winged Dragon of Ra. And then everybody, even Yugi, will be forced to acknowledge my greatness.

It's pretty quiet, Joey thought looking around at the other three. Everyone must be strategizing. My strategy is a no-brainer. I want a piece of Marik. I promised Yugi and Mai I would help him take Marik down and bring Mai back from the Shadow Realm.

"Wake up, Wheeler!" Kaiba snapped. Joey gave him an annoyed look. "An amateur Duelist like you can't afford to be daydreaming."

"I was strategizing!"

"Yeah, right, to do that one would need an understanding of how to play the game. When are you going to realize that the only reason you even made it this far is that Yugi keeps bailing you out?" He cast a side-glance at Yugi. "Yugi knows it too, why else would he waste his trap card if he didn't believe you can protect yourself? Not only do you not have the skills to make it through this tournament, but of the four of us you're the only one without an Egyptian God Card. Maybe the reason Yugi wants to duel you in the Finals is because he knows it will be an easy victory."

"That's a lie!" Yami-Yugi snapped.

"Yugi never believed in you from the start, he's just like me and Marik, thinking you're nothing but a scared little puppy dog who can't play Duel Monsters to save his life."

"That's enough! Kaiba, this time, your taunting has gone way over the line!"

"If you want to prove me wrong, then let Joey finish this duel on his own."

"But…"

"Yugi, wait," Joey interrupted. "The Rich Snob's right, if I want to prove myself as a Duelist, I have to learn to stand on my own two feet and take the bad along with the good."

"Just be careful," Yami-Yugi muttered.

With Wheeler acting alone, he's easy pickings so I can face Yugi in the finals.

"I would have to agree with Yugi on this one," Harold said. "Kaiba had no right to paint him off as a heartless war monger."

"But on the other hand, a real Duelist needs to think for his self," Amara pointed out. "I think Kaiba told Joey just what needed to be said for Joey to become a great Duelist."

"Even so, Kaiba did step over the line in claiming that Yugi doesn't care about Joey at all. Somebody needs to remind him that not everyone is self-centered."

Serenity was still watching over Mai's bedside as Kevin came in with two drinks. "Here," he said handing her one.

"Thanks," she said and sipped it gingerly.

"Serenity, I appreciate you watching over Mai with me like this, but… why are you doing it?"

Serenity stared at Mai's prone form. "Because… she's kind of like an idol to me."

"Huh?"

Duke led Serenity out of an alleyway and across the street where they were almost ran over by a woman in a pink convertible.

"Hey, drivers have road privileges too," the driver commented.

"Look, we're being chased by some robbed weirdo and we don't have time to play road rage! Let's go, Serenity."

"Serenity?" The woman turned off the engine and climbed out. "Hey, kid!"

"Who, me?" Serenity asked.

"Yeah, by any chance is your name Serenity Wheeler?"

"You're right, it is. Do I know you, your voice doesn't sound familiar."

The woman smiled. "Kind of."

After picking up Tristan, the driver revealed her identity.

"Oh, so you're Mai Valentine. Joey's told me about you. He said that if it wasn't for you Yugi wouldn't have been able to enter the castle."

"That's right, and he's talked about nothing but you all the times we met at Duelist Kingdom. He was always talking about winning the money for your operation. It was touching I was surprised to discover that there were actually guys like him."

"'Guys like him?'"

"The noble, caring kind."

"Huh?" Both Tristan and Duke said.

"Now Joey's dueling his hardest again," Serenity said. "Except this time he's doing it for Mai. He once told me that he cherishes his friends almost as much as he does his family."

"Wow," Kevin said shocked. "Mai's really lucky."

"Huh?"

"For so long, she has had nobody but herself to rely on, that pressure was doubled after my father died and I was sent to live with her. I could tell there was times when she felt like she was all alone in the world. I think that, if she was up, she would be extremely honored to hear that from you, Serenity." He got up, "I need to use the restroom I'll be right back." As Kevin left, he ran into Ishizu. "Ishizu…"

"Kevin, is he…?"

"Follow me." Kevin took her into Mai's former quarters where Odion laid. "Safe and sound."

"Thank goodness." Kevin could tell that she needed some time to herself so he left.

Ishizu breathed a sigh of relief. It's because of Marik's good side that hope still exists. If he hadn't come to me last night in the body of Yugi's friend Tea, Kevin and I wouldn't have been able to stay one step ahead of my brother's dark side. She thought back to the night her father died and Marik's dark side first emerged. If it wasn't for Odion, the dark side might've destroyed both him and me but Odion was able to contain it. Of course, what happened afterwards…

Shortly after my father's death, both Marik and Odion disappeared along with the Millennium Rod. After that, I was completely on my own until I came of age. After that, I started interning under Doctor Adam Hunter. But when I first donned my Millennium Necklace, I was shown glimpses of the future. I knew that Marik would try to take the three Egyptian God Cards. I tried to stop him but he already obtained Slifer the Sky Dragon and the Winged Dragon of Ra. He only needed Obelisk the Tormentor. But I was able to get to it before he did. So when he and his newly formed gang of Rare Hunters arrived to take it, I was waiting for him.

"Ishizu, what are you doing here?"

"You seek to take Obelisk the Tormentor but you will not find it here."

"Where is it?"

"I will not tell you and your Millennium Rod does not have any effect on someone who also wields a Millennium Item." I then summoned a team of guards who all came in with guns and pointed them at the Rare Hunters. But Marik had learned to utilize the powers hidden within the Millennium Rod and rendered the guards unconscious. "Why, Marik, why have you given up on your heritage?"

"I refuse to waste my life waiting for some nameless Pharaoh to return. I'm taking my destiny in my own hand."

"Have you forgotten that you are a tomb keeper?"

"How can I forget? I'm reminded every time I see my back." He briefly lowered his cloak to reveal the simulation of the tablet on his back.

"Our family has guarded the Secrets of the Nameless Pharaoh ever since our ancestor, the only priestess in his court, took up the burden. It is the Pharaoh's destiny to save the world and our duty to make sure he has everything he needs for when he returns. You have gone back on that duty, gone back on all our ancestors. Do you willing disgrace our family and centuries of ancestors?"

"Is it disgracing or is it simply making a new destiny, a destiny where I am the Pharaoh, not some lowly servant. Now tell me, what have you done with the third Egyptian God Card?"

"I have already passed the card off to someone, you will not find it and you will not escape."

"Oh you think so?"

A window cracked behind him and the room was covered in red smoke. When the smoke cleared, Marik and the Rare Hunters have vanished.

In reality, they all leapt out the window. When I went to follow them, I saw Marik sitting in the sidecar of a motorcycle.

Odion was driving, he was the one who fired the rocket that allowed Marik and his servants to escape. I knew I shouldn't have been surprised. Odion needed to be close by in order to keep the darker part of Marik under control. But at the time, I felt betrayed by both of my brothers.

But when Odion was struck down by the fake Egyptian God Card, the darkness was finally able to assert itself. Now, the only hope for my brother, and the world, lies within the one who solved the Millennium Puzzle: Yugi Moto. I only pray that he can save both my brother and the world before it's too late.

"It's my move," Yami-Marik announced and drew a card. And I know just what I have to do to make sure I face the Pharaoh. I have to make sure Kaiba and Little-Joey lose. "I set one card face-down and summon Lord Poison (1) in attack mode. I also switch Newdoria to attack mode. Newdoria, attack Kaiba's Vorse Raider now!"

What's Marik thinking? Kaiba asked. He must know my Vorse Raider is stronger.

Yami-Yugi immediately realized it. "Marik's Newdoria must have a special ability."

"It's good to see somebody's actually using common sense today," Yami-Marik jabbed at Joey and Kaiba. "Yes, Newdoria can destroy a monster just as soon as it's sent to the graveyard." Vorse Raider struck down Newdoria. The smoke that resulted from Newdoria's destruction encircled Vorse Raider and destroyed it.

Awesome, that means I can attack Rich Boy's life points next turn.

"Next I play Spell of Pain which allows another player's life points to take damage for my monster's destruction. And I choose you, Little Joey!"

"No!" Joey gasped.

(K: 4000)
(M: 4000)
(Y: 4000)
(J: 3300)

"Oh man, I don't like heights," Joey complained as his dueling station was raised.

"Stay strong, man," Tristan called out.

"Yeah, we're behind you no matter what," Tea added.

"I don't know which is worse, losing this duel or falling off this platform," Joey muttered.

I have Kaiba and Little-Joey right where I want them, Yami-Marik thought.

"It's my move," Yami-Yugi announced. And my chance to attack Kaiba directly. "I sacrifice my Big-Shield Gardna to summon Beast of Gilfer (2)." A demon in red and blue with wings appeared. "Beast of Gilfer, attack Kaiba directly!"

"Yugi, I won't let you insult me like this. I play my trap card Attack Guidance Armor. When equipped to a monster, all attacks are redirected to that monster. Now the only question is who I should attach it too."

Joey cringed, knowing Kaiba would come after him when he realized that Kaiba's trap only works on monsters and he has no monsters. He breathed a sigh of relief.

"I'll redirect the attack to Marik's Lord Poison!" Immediately Lord Poison was covered with a suit of armor which made Beast of Gilfer's attack move towards it.

"I have a trap card too," Yami-Marik reminded. "Go, Mirror Force! Mirror Force redirects the attack back to whoever performed the attack, like your monster, Pharaoh!" The blast hit the shield and headed for Beast of Gilfer.

"Wrong, Marik, go trap card: Seven Tools of the Bandit! That cancels your trap card." Mirror Force was destroyed and the blast returned to Lord Poison destroying it.

"A good play," Amara critiqued. "But Yugi's life points also lowered due to using his trap card."

(K: 4000)
(M: 3300)
(Y: 3000)
(J: 3300)

Yami-Marik's platform was raised to Joey's level while Yami-Yugi's was just a little above theirs.

"If I didn't know better, I could've sworn that Yugi lost those life points on purpose," Harold said.

"But why?" Tea asked.

"I guess so that Joey wouldn't get to face Marik," Duke figured.

So despite all I've said, he's still protecting his little puppy dog, Kaiba thought irritated.

"Now it's my turn," Joey said. I better draw a monster card now it may be my only chance. He drew a card and let out a whoop of joy. "Oh yeah, it is a monster card! I summon Gearfried the Iron Knight (3) in attack mode!" Now, who to attack? Kaiba and Marik don't have any monsters on the field and all three of them have used their face-down cards so I get a free shot. I could go for Marik… nah, I think it's time to take Rich Boy down a peg… or should I say up a peg. "Gearfried, attack Kaiba directly with Battle Lance Attack!" The armored warrior held out the arm with the blade attached to it and lunged at Kaiba stabbing him.

(K: 2200)
(M: 3300)
(Y: 3000)
(J: 3300)

Kaiba's stand rose above the other three.

"You'll regret doing that to me, Wheeler, you hear me, mutt, you'll pay!"

"Cry me a river," Joey said rolling his eyes.

"Oh you'll be crying al right. I set three cards face-down and summon Blade Knight (4) in attack mode! Blade Knight, use your blade and attack Marik directly!" Yami-Marik crossed his arms as Blade Knight sliced him right down the middle.

(K: 2200)
(M: 1700)
(Y: 3000)
(J: 3300)

Joey was disappointed to see Yami-Marik rise above the rest of them. At this rate, I'll never get a chance to battle Marik.

"Anyone besides me getting dizzy by all this?" Amara asked.

"Yeah, it seems that everyone wants to duel someone else."

I must do whatever it takes to eliminate Wheeler and Marik, then I'll prove once and for all that I'm a better Duelist than Yugi. When our two Egyptian God Cards clash, Yugi will learn what the true meaning of torment is!

To Be Continued

Duel Monster Database

(1)
Name: Lord Poison
Level: 4
Type: Plant/Effect
Attribute: Water
ATK: 1500
DEF: 1000

(2)
Name: Beast of Gilfer
Level: 6
Type: Fiend
Attribute: Dark
ATK: 2200
DEF: 2500

(3)
Name: Gearfried the Iron Knight
Level: 4
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Earth
ATK: 1800
DEF: 1600

(4)
Name: Blade Knight
Level: 4
Type: Warrior/Effect
Attribute: Light
ATK: 1600
DEF: 1000