"You sure you're alright Mana?' Téa said.
"I'm fine, honestly, all they did was tie me up,' I assured them, though this didn't stop the frowning.
"I can't believe we were so stupid to leave you alone,' Tristan said angrily punching a tree.
"I have been on my own several times on this island,' I said frowning. 'I do not need a bodyguard Tristan Taylor do you hear me?"
"Yeah I hear you," he grumbled.
"Whoa," Joey gasped crouching down. "This must be my lucky day." I looked down to see loads of cards on the floor.
"Hands off those are mine," Tristan said as he looked down.
"Cool Tristan, I didn't know you were training to be a duellist." Yugi said.
"Yeah well," he said crouching down to help Joey pick them up. "I figured if a doofise like Joey can hold his own in this game then hey I'll probably be an expert at it."
"I recognise that monster," Joey said picking up one of Tristan's card.
"Haven't I seen that card in your deck Joey," Yugi said leaning down on his legs over Joey's shoulder.
"Not this one, but I think I got one just like it," he said flicking through his deck. "Bingo, swamp battle guard, well would you take a look at this these two look like they could be long lost brothers of course that doesn't mean that your boys packs the same kind of wallop mine does."
"His wallop is just fine, my lava battle guard has never let me down. Try him out you'll see."
"Thanks," Joey said putting it in his deck. "It does say they work best together."
"You know what," Téa said looking smug. "I think I kinda see a resemblance between you two and those muscle heads." Yugi and I burst out laughing.
"Laugh it up," Joey said. "I take that as a compliment!"
"You would." I choked trying to breathe again. "Come on swampy and lava time to find Joey another duel,"
"Right," Joey said grinning.
"Wonder who I should face?" he said as we searched for an arena.
"Try and pick a sane opponent," I suggested. "No cheaters, swimming dudes or parts of people,"
Everyone laughed.
"That's good advice," Yugi said smiling.
"So why don't you follow it then Yug," I teased nudging him.
"I'll try too," he promised.
"I reckon give it a few more then find somewhere to set up camp," I said looking around the group for a response. Everyone nodded.
"Let's hope to be in the castle by tomorrow afternoon," said Tristan.
"We can do it," Téa said smiling.
"Yeah, we'll have your Gramps back in no time," Joey said.
"In the bright side at least we truly know that everyone has a soul, we don't, you know, die." Téa mumbled biting her lip.
"That's a good point," I said smiling back at her. "Take that Dawkins," I said waving my fist mockingly in the air, Téa and Yugi chuckled.
"Who's Dawkins," Joey asked, Téa Yugi and I groaned shaking our heads.
"Honestly don't you two read?" Téa said putting her hands on her hips, Tristan and Joey looked at each other then back at Téa.
"Nope," they said together.
"You two are insufferable," she yelled, I burst out laughing.
"Maybe we could harness it and use it as a weapon, no one would mess with us incase they are contaminated." I grinned.
"Hey!"
We laughed at them again.
"As fun as this is we really should get going, try and find somewhere were Joey's monsters will have an advantage,"
"Good call Mana," Yugi said, we headed towards the meadow arenas. Now we had one more person to save. Poor Mokuba, Pegasus really was an awful person, kidnapping a young boy using him to get to Kaiba, taking people's souls. I couldn't wait till we taught him a lesson, but we had to play his game first.
Twisted camp bastard, I thought.
It wasn't long before we heard the rumbling of a crowd, and sure enough we stepped out of the forest and saw at least six duelling arena's.
"Wow after all the crazy duellists we've been running into it's nice to see some normal kids for a change." Téa said. I nodded she wasn't wrong.
"Joey you only need a few more chips down go for someone too hard, its all about getting into the castle as quickly as we can," I said to him.
"Yeah, how about it tough guy, any of these tykes puny enough for you to take on. Or do you want to go and look for some three year olds." Tristan said, I could see Joey looking annoyed, great now he would act impulsively, great guys thanks, I thought miserably.
"Come on be nice," Téa said, ah good hopefully their fear of us two would keep them calm. "You know Joey's just biding his time until he finds a duelling monkey to challenge." She said. Or not, I sighed waiting for the explosion.
"Come on lay off him, he beat Mai," I said getting annoyed, why did they always pick on him, it made him do something stupid. At the same time when he was like this it made me think of the old ways when I had a crush on him, though this secret would stay with me to the grave. It was only a little one, to be honest I wasn't even sure if it was real or something the girls had forced on me by saying I had to like someone so I chose one of my best mates, and even if I didn't like him I could say Joey was a very attractive boy.
"Just one more word about duelling monkeys –" Before he could finish a horribly familiar laugh was heard. "Argh please don't tell me that's who I think it is." Joey said shutting his eyes as Mai walked up behind him.
"How are you Joseph, glad to see me?" she said.
"Ecstatic," he said, I hid a snort.
"So Joey is Yugi still fighting all your battles for you or is Mana now? Everyone knows if Yugi wasn't there to hold your hand then you wouldn't have beaten me. Isn't that right Yugi?" she said.
"That's not true," Yugi said frowning.
"Oh really then I propose that he steps out of your shadow here and now if Joey thinks he's so tough let's see him play for himself." She said pointing at him. "I'm waiting for your answer Joey. Think you have the guts to take on the duellist I've arranged for you."
"It's not you?" he said confused, she gave an amused hum under her breath as Rex appeared from behind a tree. Uh oh.
"I'm duelling on Mai's behave recognise me?"
"Unfortunately," I grumbled as Yugi said.
"That's Rex Raptor,"
"This twerp supposed to scare me or something I bet he ain't so tough."
"Don't you remember Joey," Téa said. "Rex placed second place in the regionals."
"Well Joey you got to ask mommy's permission or what." Mai said.
"Don't goat him!" I snapped at her. "And Joey ignore her and what those two said before ok, if you want to prove that you're not in Yugi's shadow which you are not." I said glaring at Mai. "Then next duellist neither of us will help, but Rex Raptor he is one of the best in the world, and Joey your good but you have only been duelling for a little while. Please Joey." I said using my best puppy dog eyes.
"No way, this is my fight," he said not even looking at me.
"Joey," we all groaned.
"What are you trying to prove," Téa said.
"Really bro, pick your battles." Tristan said.
"Oh and by the way if Yugi does any of this back seat duelling then Joey is automatically disqualified and the match will go to Rex. Same goes for you Mana. So what do you say Joey? This is your big chance to prove yourself or are you going to back down?"
"Of course he is – "
"No," Joey interrupted Téa. "That's the way I want it. Just me and him, it may cost me some star chips but if the only reason I'm winning is because of Yugi's smarts. All my life people are trying to help me cause they think I can't help myself. Well I don't need to be babied this time."
"You've lost it Joey you can believe whatever you want but I'm not just going to stand here and let you throw your chips away. I hope you guys don't mind but little Joey won't be coming to duel today." I noticed Joey's hand's shaking Tristan was taking it too far. "Maybe once he grows up we can arrange a play date." Tristan said.
"That's it!" Joey said punching Tristan, knocking him to the ground.
"What was that for?" Tristan said whipping the side of his face.
"Didn't you hear what I just said wise guy, I'm tired of everyone thinking they gotta come to my rescue."
"But that's not how it is," Yugi said. "Friends look out for each other,"
"Keep out of this Yug," Joey said darkly.
"Hit him and I'll knock you out Joey," I said scowling at him.
"Well, just let me do what I got to do," he said.
"Do what you got to do with another duellist Joey," I groaned in aspiration I was going to kill Mai.
"Good idea," Tristan said darkly. "Do what you got to do even if it means losing the chance to help your sister."
"Let's just calm down – " I tried to smooth over.
"Forget it, if Mr Macho wants to lose he can do it by himself, no one will baby him." Tristan said storming off.
"But Tristan!" Yugi yelled.
"Let him go," Joey said.
"Trouble in paradise," Rex said.
"Stay out of this!" Téa yelled, Joey gently put his arm in front of her.
"So what's it going to be, you going to run off with your friend or are you going to start acting like a real duellist." Mai said.
"I'm still here ain't I?" he smirked.
"Alright, it's dino feeding time," Rex yelled. Moron.
"We believe in you Joey, just remember everything you are fighting for." Téa said.
"And what Grandpa taught you make him proud." I added.
"Three stars?"
"Three stars," Rex agreed.
We found out that Rex wanted to duel Mai, Yugi left to go and find Tristan, he succeeded as Joey's life points were low. He gained some ground when he summoned the battle guards which helped each other, resulting in his little having help doesn't make you weak epiphany. After he lost the battle guard tag team he was pretty crushed especially when the red eyes black dragon wiped out nearly all his monsters. But Rex's card deal gave him the break he needed, he won the match and took the red eyes along with the star chips as his prize. Joey and Tristan ran to each other as soon as he won. Tristan punched him, Joey fell to the ground in surprise.
"You punched me, after everything, I just went through you go and punch me!"
"Yeah, well tough, now we're even from when you punched me."
I slapped my forehead. Boys! It was amazing how much that one chromosome changed a person.
"Don't you know two wrongs don't make a right, yer jerk." Joey said, putting his fists forward.
"Should I make it three then." Tristan said, putting copying Joey's stance.
"Come on guys, there's no need to fight over this." Yugi said. Ah a boy with common sense, so valuable, so rare.
"Maybe we should stay out of this one," Téa said, as we watched them pull each other's faces. "I think this is there bizarre way of showing each other they care."
"Oh… ok." Yugi said. "I just hope they don't care about me that much."
"Alright you two pack in we have to get moving if we want to find a good place to set up camp." I said making them both turn to look at me still holding the others cheeks, it made me laugh.
"Ok, no more duels today," Yugi said smiling. We headed into the forest the five of us together…