"Hey Bakura," Téa cried, we all turned to see him smiling at us. We ran towards him.

"What's up man, here to check out some duels?" Tristan put his hands in his pockets.

"Oh hey guys, so tell me how's the tournament going? Progressing so far?"

"Great, I already scored 5 locator cards, all I need is 1 more and I'll be in the final." Joey grinned.

"That's quite impressive," Bakura smiled. "And where is Yugi?"

"We've been looking all over for him, I bet he's somewhere kicking some serious butt." Joey

clenched his fist, and mimed kicking. "Can't you see it, me and Yugi in the finals battling in the

rematch of the century."

"Aren't you getting a bit ahead of yourself champ," Tristan raised an eyebrow.

"Well I do need to crush one more duellist first –"

"Hey check it out!" Téa pointed towards the aquarium. I turned and gasped. "Isn't that Mako

Sumami?"

"Yeah, he should be duelling not performing with Shamu," Tristan frowned, pulling the poster from

the lamppost.

"Your right, lets find him, then I'll challenge him to a duel." He began to run the way the signs were saying. "Battle City Finals here I come!"

"Joey!" Téa yelled, as we chased after him.

"Hey wait! Wait for me!" Grandpa wheezed. We only had to run a few blocks before we entered the stadium.

"So, do you see him?" Joey looking around the crowd.

"He's the one on the whale," Téa laughed.

"Dolphin," I corrected.

"Hey Mako over here!" Joey yelled. Mako turned to look at us, turning the orca round and waving.

"Hi my old friends," he dived into the water and the dolphin followed, he resurfaced on its nose. I frowned, I didn't agree with dolphin shows. I was surprised that Mako did.

"It's been a while," Joey said.

"Yes, since Duellist Kingdom, I believe. Nice to see you my friends."

"What are you doing preforming in an aquarium Mako," Téa asked. "We thought you'd be duelling."

"I am here to duel, and win. But my kinship with the sea was needed first."

"Well then, hop off Shamu and let's duel." Joey said. Mako grinned, and returned to land.

It was a pretty impressive duel, we heard Mako's story about his father, and how he duels to afford a boat to find him. When the duel was over, they talked quietly as Joey received his card and locators. Joey headed towards us with a smile on his face.

"Guys I gotta go tell Serenity," he beamed, he grabbed his phone and touched the screen. "Aw crap my phone's dead."

"Here you can borrow mine," Téa handed him her phone.

"I hope your sitting down, Serenity cause your big brother has some big news," Joey was beaming, I smiled warmly. I was so proud of him. He hadn't been playing for that long and to already be a finalist in two tournaments.

"What about the bandages, I thought your eyes were still healing?"

I snapped back into the conversation. Her eyes were healed already, that's amazing!

"That's great, so it sounds like you can come home, I'll send someone over to pick you up right away. I gutta prep for the finals, and there's no way you're travelling alone." There was a pause, then he chuckled. "All right!" Joey threw the phone in the air.

"Joey!" Téa grabbed the air frantically before grabbing her phone. "Easy with the technology you moron."

"Sorry, but Serenity takes her bandages off tonight,"

"Wow, that's awesome Joey."

"What wonderful new," Grandpa smiled.

"I just need someone to pick her up. Someone I can really depend on how am I gunna find someone on such short notice."

"Whoo," Tristan pointed to himself. I had to laugh at him. "I'll go get here you dimwit,"

"No not you, no way," Joey scowled at him.

"Don't worry," Tristan said already running towards the station. "She'll be in safe hands with me."

"Hey come back! Tristan!" Joey called.

"Oh no look," Téa gasped, I turned to see what Téa was looking at. I rushed over to help. Bakura!

"What happened?" Grandpa asked the guy.

"I found him lying on the ground," the guys said as I helped him lower Bakura.

"He doesn't look good," Téa touched his forearm.

"I tried to take care of his injuries, do you know him? He hasn't said a word since I found him."

"We're buddies," Joey said. "But who could've done this to him?"

"Joey?" Bakura mumbled.

"Bakura, what happened?"

"It happened so quickly," he clutched his bloody bandage and grimaced. "I can't remember."

"I bet it was those Rare Hunters," I hissed angrily.

"I'm lucky I found you all, he needs to go to the hospital." the stranger said. I looked at him, he could be Egyptian. Was he one of Marik's goons? Or even Marik himself.

"Bakura is the lucky one, it's a good job you found him," Grandpa said. "I'll take him to the doctor right now."

Téa hailed a taxi, as Joey and Grandpa helped the stranger get Bakura to his feet. We watched as the taxi turned the corner, then Joey turned to the stranger.

"Thanks a lot, er," Joey offered his hand.

"Narmu, and you are?" he took Joey's hand, and shook it.

"The name's Joey,"

"I'm Téa, thanks for all your help."

Of course, I just did what anyone would have done. Sorry I didn't catch your name." he looked at me.

"Mana,"

"Like the Egyptian fairy tale. Sorry you probably don't know what I'm talking about," he rubbed the back of his head. My suspicion grew. "It's old myth about a Pharaoh and –"

"Yeah, I've heard it," I said, he was acting way too innocent, I did not trust him one bit, I glanced back where the taxi had gone, I hoped Grandpa was ok. What if it was the spirit in the ring?

"Well, we best go find Yugi," I said to the group. "Thank you, again for your help."

"Yeah, smell you later Narmou," Joey gave him a thumbs up. We waved him off, but before we could get a few feet from him.

"Hey, wait up, Joey, Téa, Mana," he run to catch up with us. "I don't mean to be an inconvenience, but could you give me a few duelling tips? I noticed your locator cards, that's really impressive."

"Sure, I can give you a few pointers." Joey grinned.

"Thanks, I'd like to win at least one duel in Battle City."

"You've come to the right place, Narmu –"

"Look out!" I cried as a saw two large figures go for Joey. I turned to see a guy behind me. He grabbed my arm, and cloth covered my mouth. The world went fuzzy, then dark…

"Mana, Mana, Mana!"

My eyes felt heavy, I was on the ground. I opened my eyes. Brown? Brown squares. A face came into view.

"Mana, thank goodness, they took us. They took us, and threw us in here, I hope Joey is ok." Téa got up and sat on one of the boxes.

My memory came back, we were attacked. Marik. I made myself sit up, and searched for my staff. I felt the warm metal still in my pocket. I went to take it out, when I realised Joey wasn't with us. We couldn't leave him.

"What do they want?"

"They want Yami to come and get us, we're bait Téa," I said, I looked for my bag.

"They took all our stuff,"

"Great," I grumbled, slumping down next to her.

"I hope Joey's ok, I wonder where they are keeping him?" she bit her nails.

"I dunno, but we'll find him." I put my hand on her shoulder. She turned and smiled at me.

"We've been through worse than this, we can escape."

"That's the spirit," I grinned, looking around. "You got any pins I could try and pick the lock. See if we can find Joey."

"What if we get caught, they could separate us too. Then we'd all be alone."

"So sit tight for now? See if we can listen to figure out where we are."

Téa sighed, standing up.

"It's as good a plan as any." She began to look around the room. I stood up too, and stomped the ground.

"Ok so we aren't on an upper floor, below us is solid." I stomped again.

Téa closed her eyes.

"I can't really hear anything – wait I hear footsteps." She tucked her hair behind her ear, then cupped it.

We both snapped around as we heard a clank. They were opening the door. We both sat back down on the box.

The door opened, I could see a purple robe. Yep, Rare Hunters. Great.

"Let me go!"

My stomach dropped to the floow like lead.

Mokuba.

The goon pushed him inside.

"Do you have any idea who your messing with?" he said.

The door slammed behind them, leaving Mokuba on the floor. I rushed to him.

"Are you ok?" I helped him to his feet.

"Mana! Téa," he said. "Do you have any idea why they have us?"

"It's all to do with Egypt, and the Pharaoh," I said, I didn't know how much Mokuba knew, but given his brothers role in this. I had to tell him. So I began to fill him in with the basics.

"… And Kaiba is a part of this whether he wants to believe or not. That'll be why they took you."

"I was trying to find you guys when they grabbed me, Yugi and my brother will find us. There is no way these Rare Hunters are going to get away with this. As soon as my brother finds us those jerks are gunna pay. I just wish there was a way to get in touch with Seto, and let him know where we are. But they took my laptop, I guess we just gutta wait it out. Sooner or later they will track us down."

"Maybe there is a way for you to get to him," I said looking at the sky light, then the boxes. "If we build up the boxes than Mokuba can escape, I'm not leaving without Joey, and I can't risk using magic in case we can't find him, and I lose my staff. Start packing them up." I said lifting on of the boxes on top of the other."

"Good idea," Téa said helping me. What felt like hours later, we had a pyramid for Mokuba to climb.

"Ok Mokuba this is the last one," Téa said handing it to him.

"Thanks, I should be able to reach now," he said putting it in front of him them climbing it. I could hear voices, and the door creak.

"Go Mokuba quickly!" I cried.

"Come on guys let's go!" Mokuba said.

"No time, go Mokuba," I said giving him a nudge.

"We'll stay, you go find your brother and Yugi," Téa said. the door opened.

"Go!" we both yelled at him.

"Hey," the grunted, beginning to climb the boxes. They caved under their weight, making Téa's box fall. I went to make the floor soft when she fell onto one of the goons. My own box wobbled, I tried to make my way down, but lost my footing. I landed on another box. Ow that hurt.

"Are you all right down there," Mokuba yelled.

"Go Mokuba!" Téa said. "Get help."

"Don't worry about us go!" I gestured with my hand.

"Ok, I'll be back soon." He disappeared out of sight, I felt hands yank me to my feet.

"Go get the kid," one barked at another, he ran out of the room. I began to struggle, trying to get loose.

"Boss wants to see you," the guy grunted at me. He dragged me out of the room, and away from Téa.

I struggled the whole way, but I was forced into a chair and tied up.

"You won't get away with this! You don't know who you're –"

"Oh but we do," said a deep voice from the corner. I turned to see a tall figure in a purple robe. He looked up I could read a protection spell on one side of his face. "Welcome. Your Majesty."

The light flashed I could see the millennium rod in his hand. Seto flashed before my eyes, with his scowl of amusement and disapproval.

"You won't be able to control me," I growled, struggling harder in my seat.

"I know,"

My head snapped up. What? I was bluffing… Did that actually work?

"Due to your friendship with the original owner of the rod. It will not work against you. You are not here to be controlled."

"I'm bait for the Pharaoh," I glared at him. He walked towards me.

"You are needed to take the Pharaoh's power, you're here so I can get what I want."

"I'll never help you," I snapped.

"Its's not up to you." He said turning back to the door. "Sweet dreams, my Queen."

I felt a cloth at my face again, my vision blurred as I fought. The man disappeared when the sharp burn died, and the world fizzled into blackness…

Yami POV

We got off the copter, and ran to Joey.

"Welcome," Joey said.

"Joey?"

"Not exactly, Joey is not present. He has gone away."

"It's Marik," I growled, I could feel Yugi's concern.

"That is correct, and if you want your friends back. You will listen to me."

I could hear the Kaiba brother's talking behind me, but I paid them no attention, I focused on Joey.

"Listen Joey, you have got to be in there,"

"It's pointless. Now listen Pharaoh, we are playing by my regulations. I'll release your pathetic friends as soon as I get what I want. Of course, since I want your puzzle and Egyptian God card. There is only one wat to do this. You and I are going to duel.

"Your insane," I spat at him.

"You refuse, your friends are mine forever."

"Release Joey from your control, Marik. Joey, I know you can hear me. Your mind is under control of Marik, and you must break free, you understand? The same Marik you vowed to help me crush. Think Joey, you've got to remember your promise to me. When you gave me your Red Eyes. Marik couldn't defeat me in a duel. So, he decided to turn you against me in order to win my puzzle. Joey, I know you're in there, and I am going to set you free. Marik's powers are feeble compared to the strength of our friendship. Please say something Joey." He started to walk away. "Joey!"

"You'll never set him free. Unless you follow me."

"Joey, wait!"

What do I do? This is clearly a trap, but if I don't follow him. How will I ever rescue Joey, Téa and Mana."

"Yugi,"

I whirled around to see Téa waking down the steps of the boat. "You better do exactly as I say."

"No Téa. Where is Mana?" I snarled at him. Téa and Joey laughed.

"Missing your true love, Pharaoh." Téa body said. I heard Kaiba and Mokuba gasp.

"Don't worry I need her for my plan, she is safe."

Téa began to walk to Joey. I knew it was a trap, but I had to follow them. I only prayed that Mana was ok.

Mana POV

My shoulders ached, and I felt tightness in my wrists. I opened my eyes to see I was in a metal room. Memories flooded back to me, I looked around for Téa or Joey. I had to help them. I looked down to see that my legs were tied together too. I looked for a security camera, and couldn't find one; I closed my eyes and concentrated. The ropes fell off me, and I rushed to the window, to see where I was. I could see the ocean, and I could see a group of people duelling. I squinted to see familiar people.

Oh god, I had to help. Testing how much I could move in my binds, I slowly shifted my tied hands wards where I had hidden my staff. Ignoring the burning on my wrists from the friction, I finally felt the cool metal. Destroying the rope, I got up and jumped out of the window. I floated down to the ground and started to run towards the scene.

I got close enough to see Kaiba, Mokuba, Joey, Yugi, Téa, Mai, Serenity, Tristan and Duke.

Pushing my legs faster I saw the anchor drop. I saw Tristan reach for Joey's hand as he sank under the waves. I dove in after Joey and my brother.

Kicking furiously, I swam down. I saw Yugi floated up, Joey was still sinking. I pushed harder, taking out my staff and shooting the metal chain. Joey began to swim up, I helped him rise to the surface.

"She did it!" I heard Téa as we bobbed on the surface. I saw Yugi was waking up.

I leaned against Joey slightly, I sank a little.

"What you can deal with tides but not this?" he held me, keeping my head above the surface.

"Hey, that's twice I've saved you from drowning knuckle head."

"Yes, yer highness."

Duke helped to pull us out of the water.

"Is this because you haven't been using your staff?" Téa asked, I nodded lying down while my lungs burned. I could see that the blue was fading from the sky; the clouds pink and red, as the sun was swallowed by the sea.

"Yugi, I er, well, I'm sorry man," Joey said, I turned to look at him.

"It's okay, it wasn't your fault."

"But I almost destroyed our friendship."

"Yeah, it's not like you faced five-thousand-year-old sorcery, and won. Jeez Joey, how dare you not defeat that straight away with no magical ability. Serenity, if I were you I wouldn't even look at him." I winked at her. Joey's head whirled around.

"Serenity, you can see?" he gasped, Serenity hugged him.

We watched them, and smiled at their reunion.

"Well, I'm glad that's over," Téa said.

"Yeah, now we just got the finals," I said rolling my eyes.

"Hey Kaiba," Yugi yelled, I turned to see that Kaiba and Mokuba were leaving. "We couldn't have gotten out of that mess without you."

"I did what I had to Yugi, got it."

"Well, thank you." He repeated.

"Yeah, thanks Kaiba," I said, he sneered at me.

"You shouldn't have bothered to speak, Yugi had it covered."

"Seto!"

"Kaiba, stop being such a jerk, she's saved your arse several times now. Give her some respect!" Joey snapped.

"Get some manners," Mai put a comforting hand on my shoulder.

"I saved your skin, I wouldn't insult me Wheeler," he grabbed Mokuba's arm, but the he shrugged it off, looking furiously at Kaiba. He ran over to me, pulling me into a bear hug. Kaiba looked furious, storming towards us, and yanking his brother off me.

"You stay away from him leech. You got that."

Not letting go of Mokuba, they walked on ahead.

"Come on," Yugi said putting his hand on my shoulder. "Let's go get something to eat."

"Yeah, I'm starvin', you must be too. Considering you saved my life an all." Joey grabbed my shoulder, and steered me forward.

We walked away from the doc, the pink and orange light dimming, blocked by the building of Domino City.

Hello everyone! Sorry it has been so long. I am finally back. Wow 2018 was hard! I have had a lot going on in the real world, and I still have a lot going on in the real world, but things are beginning to calm down a little now, so I am trying to catch up with this as I do enjoy it. The next post will be in July though just a heads up. I want to be able to get ahead a little so that I have chapters ready for certain days. I am hoping by October I can begin to update monthly again.

Thanks

Cara xx