DISCLAIMER: If you recognise it from somewhere else, it isn't mine.

Lights, Camera, Duel!

'The directions we got from Joey's duel disk say KaibaCorp Stadium's about two blocks from here,' Yugi said as Mai parked. Sharee was the first to hop out. The others quickly followed suit.

'Then why are we parking all the way back here in nowheresville, Mai?' Joey asked.

'So, when the Finals are over, we don't get stuck in traffic,' she said.

Joey pumped his fist. 'Oh, yeah! Good thinking.'

'You'll learn to think like that when you start driving,' Sharee told him. 'Shall we get a move on?'

'Yeah.' Joey nodded. 'Let's get over there and see who else made it to the Finals.' They began walking and it wasn't long before Joey struck up a conversation with the group's other blonde. 'So, Mai, looks like you're getting another shot at a Tournament Championship after not quite making the cut last time.'

'That's right!' She was all gung-ho. 'And this time I plan to crush you and Yugi in front of a sold-out crowd.'

'In your dreams,' Joey said.

Sharee laughed. 'That's the spirit.'

Joey chuckled before he looked back at Mai. 'By the way…'

'Hm?'

'There's something I've been meaning to ask you for a while. Why'd you save my hide in the Duellist Kingdom Finals?'

Sharee glanced back at both of them, if only for a moment.

'I would've been kicked right out,' Joey stated.

'You looked totally pathetic,' Mai said. 'And I guess I…' She hesitated. 'I was touched by your story and I wanted to help, okay?' The last bit was said fast.

'Hold it!' Sharee suddenly called.

They all stopped. Mai shot back, because Joey had decided to stop and stare at a billboard for some movie coming out.

'Whoa! Check it out!' He was oblivious.

'Will you pay attention?' Mai demanded angrily.

'Yeah, yeah.' He still wasn't. 'But, look, it's Jean-Claude Magnum's latest ninja flick. That guy rocks. I gotta see this one.'

'I don't know why I even bother trying to talk to you!' Mai snapped as he ranted on.

Sharee walked over, looking at the billboard. 'Joey, you realise he's not actually a ninja, right?'

'What are you talking about?' Joey asked.

'It's an act.' Sharee jerked her thumb at the billboard. 'Hence the term actor. For God's sake, he doesn't even do his own stunts.'

Suddenly a car crashed through the billboard right behind Sharee and Mai. Both girls jumped forward. Sharee ended up next to Joey, but Mai had sailed right into his arms. It seemed she had yet to realise this though. She glared back over her shoulder at the black limousine that'd nearly hit them.

'You gotta be kidding – driving like that!' Joey insisted. 'Who does he think he is?' Only then did Joey and Mai realise how close they were. They quickly sprung apart. Joey ran forward. 'Look, pal…' He was interrupted by the door opening and someone stepping out. 'Jean-Claude Magnum!

Sharee grabbed Joey's shoulder and pulled him back before he did something stupid. She groaned as she did so. 'Oh, goody.' She injected as much sarcasm into her tone as she could. 'A movie star.'

'You don't like movie stars?' Téa called.

'The films are fine,' Sharee said. 'The guys who make them happen are insufferable.'

Jean-Claude smirked and just strode past her. Sharee turned around and watched first Mai's confusion and remembrance crossed her expression. That went onto a story. It was a tale that just made Sharee groan and shake her head. This is why I don't like movie stars.

'Let me get this straight,' she said. 'You guys met on a boat, you duelled and the action star lost so he proposes to you?'

'Yes,' Mai said.

'Magnum, did you ever consider that it was an alternate way of saying "burn in hell"?'

'Me?' Jean-Claude demanded. 'No one turns down me.' As if to prove it, he pretty much shoved an engagement ring under Mai's nose. The woman in question nearly jumped out of her skin. He went on unhindered. 'I've come here today to make you the luckiest girl in the entire world: Mrs. Jean-Claude Magnum.'

Sharee slapped her hand to her face. 'This is why I hate movie stars.'

Mai turned away abruptly. 'Sorry, Ninja-Boy, I'm not interested.'

Sharee whacked Joey upside the head before he could try to talk her into it. He was still a bit star-struck. She stepped over. 'Now, let's be honest, Magnum. Why do you want to marry her?'

'Why does it matter to you?' Magnum glared at her.

'I bet I know.' Sharee smirked and started counting off on her fingers. 'One: she's pretty enough to be your arm-candy. Two: she beat you in a duel and you consider yourself a God so that makes her "worthy".' She used finger quotes. 'Three: you have a really weird compulsion to get married every few years.'

'Eh?' Joey asked.

'Well, haven't you noticed?' Sharee asked. 'Ever since he came onto the big screen, the media has kept a very close look at his movements: marry, divorce, marry, divorce, marry, divorce, marry, divorce. You get the idea.' She frowned. 'As I remember though, you said she wouldn't marry you until you could beat her in a duel.'

'I can now,' Jean-Claude said.

'I've yet to see it.' Sharee stepped back.

'I can beat you in a duel, Mai,' Jean-Claude insisted. 'Let me prove it.'

Mai threw her hand up. 'Okay, then, let's settle this with a duel, hotshot.'

Jean-Claude looked eager. 'And if I win, you'll come back to Hollywood with me and become my bride.'

'You don't stand a chance against me.'

Yugi came over with the others. 'Mai, wait!'

'Yeah, you're already going to the Finals. Don't duel this guy.'

'Hate to bring this up,' Duke said. 'But Jean-Claude Magnum has some serious kung-fu skills. It wouldn't be wise to get him mad.'

'Don't sweat it, guys,' Téa told them. 'Mai'll win in no time and we'll still make the Finals.'

Joey agreed. 'Yeah, you should duel him, Mai.'

Sharee smirked, and looked over at the actor. 'Do you have a duel disk or do you need to borrow one?'

Jean-Claude smiled smugly. He produced a duel disk and swung it up into the air and slid it onto his arm. The others were all shocked. Sharee wasn't. She was aware of the fact that money spoke volumes.

'He's got a duel disk.' Joey observed.

'But duel disks are only supposed to be issued to high-ranked duellists,' Yugi said.

'Who says I'm not high-ranked, shorty?' He pulled five locator cards out of his inner pocket. 'The fact is I've won five locator cards.'

Serenity moved over to Joey and Mai. 'Does that mean that if Mai loses this duel, she'll lose her locator card and her spot in the Finals?'

'Why, that's exactly right,' Jean-Claude said. 'I'll take her place in the Finals, not to mention her hand in marriage.'

'You don't have to accept this guy's challenge,' Yugi quickly told Mai. 'It's not worth risking the Finals for.'

'Yugi's right, Mai,' Joey said.

Mai looked back at Jean-Claude. 'No way. I wanna show Mr. Hollywood-Ninja-Boy that I'm not just some prize to be won.'

Sharee nodded. 'Yeah, he's totally living in the wrong century.'

YGO

'And prepare to lose this duel!' Jean-Claude had brought spotlights. He had them laid out around the field and switched on as soon as the duel started. He raised his hand. 'But win a husband who's a star!'

'I can't believe Mai is risking her spot in the Finals just to show up Jean-Claude Magnum,' Yugi said.

'Remember, doll-face,' Magnum said. 'When I win, you marry me.'

'I can't believe he spent this whole time duelling in a tux,' Sharee said.

'Now let's duel!' Magnum drew. He looked at the card. 'Excellent.' He put that in his hand and pulled another from between his fingers. 'I play Ninja Commander Acousa in attack mode.' The card appeared in front of him and the monster emerged with a puff of smoke. It made a grunt, but only had 700 attack and defence points. 'He kinda looks like me but my physique is better.' The Ninja split, creating a second monster. 'Now feast your eyes on my Ninja Commander's special ability.'

'There's two!' Duke observed.

'You know, it's probably just some Hollywood special effect,' Tristan said.

Magnum chuckled. 'It's called Multiplicity, kid, and as long as I keep my Ninja Commander in attack mode I can summon Ninja Soldier Katana to the playing field.'

'Don't sound so confident, you B-movie hack,' Mai told him. 'Your monsters are just like your movies: second-rate and not around for very long.'

He looked a bit wounded. 'Touché.'

'Bad reviews aren't always easy to hear. And now…' Mai drew. She looked at her card. '…let's see how your Ninjas like this.' She played the card and it appeared in front of her, the monster emerging. 'My Amazon Swordwoman!' Her Swordwoman had 1500 attack points. 'Slice and dice his Ninja Soldier with your Amazon Slash Attack!' The female monster slashed twice.

The Ninja Soldier was cut down and shattered. Magnum's life points dropped to 2900.

'This guy's not like he is in the movies,' Duke said.

'Of course not.' Sharee chuckled. 'With movies you got blue screens, wires, stuntmen. It's all put on. Actually…' She sounded thoughtful. 'I'd be very surprised if this guy did any of his own stunts.'

That comment caused Magnum to grimace. Yup. Probably doesn't.

YGO

Joey was obviously disappointed. 'Jean-Claude duels like an amateur, and not only that. He's much shorter than he looks on-screen.'

'I see that you haven't changed your aggressive style of duelling, my little sweet pea.' The actor drew. 'You're still as charming as ever.' He set his card. 'I play another Ninja Commander in attack mode.' A copy of the same card again appeared on the field and the monster emerged from the card in much the same way as the last. It also duplicated itself into a second Ninja. 'And just like before I'll use its special ability to summon another Ninja Soldier to the field.'

You are kidding, right?

'Your duelling's just one bad sequel after another.' Mai seemed to be in complete agreement with her.

'That attitude only makes more love you even more,' he said.

Mai groaned.

Love? Don't be ridiculous. She's unattainable. That's the only reason he wants her now. See, this is why most celebrity marriages don't last.

Yeah. Shamee was watching, an amused quirk to her lips. Wanna see love, laddie boy, look to our right.

That got Sharee's attention. Huh? What?

On her right, Serenity spoke to her brother. 'I think that Mai's really cool, don't you, Joey? She's so tough. I'd love to be like that.'

'You serious?' Joey asked.

'Yeah. She doesn't let anyone push her around.'

'I guess, if you think it's really cool to have a really loud mouth, a mean disposition and to walk around acting like you're the greatest thing since cheese-fries, sure. I guess you could say Mai's cool.'

Someone's trying to play it cool.

Mai growled at Joey's comments.

Joey finished his comments. 'I wouldn't know.'

'Sugar plum!' Magnum called her attention. 'Were you daydreaming about our wedding?'

'I'd rather eat worms, Romeo.' Mai drew. She called the attack. 'Now, Amazon Swordwoman, attack his Ninja Commander!' The monster flew forward and slashed one of the Commanders, destroying it.

Magnum didn't look too worried as his life points dropped down to 2100. 'I'm afraid that you've walked right into the trap I set, darling.'

'What are you talking about?' Mai asked.

'Your mistake.' Magnum drew. 'Now that you've sent my Ninja Commander and my Ninja Soldier to the graveyard, all I have to do is sacrifice one more Ninja and you're in trouble!' He did just that and the Ninja Soldier vanished. 'Ninja Soldier, ba-bye! Your job's done.' He pulled a card from his hand. 'It's time to bring out the real star.' The card appeared on the field and flipped up. 'I summon Ninja Master Shogun!'

The monster that appeared on the field was humanoid with long white hair. Its armour was primarily red. It had two flags strapped to its back. It also wore a mask. Its attack power stood at 1600.

Mai looked unimpressed. 'What a surprise! More ninjas. Ever think about trying a different role?'

'You ain't seen nothing yet.' Magnum set another card on the duel disk. 'When my Ninja Master's in attack mode, he can summon two more Ninjas, so meet Ninja Commander Kabuki and another Soldier!'

Instead of appearing like normal monsters, these two ninjas appeared running along the side of the building next to them. They jumped from the building and landed on either side of the Ninja Master. 'And, in another plot twist, my Kabuki Ninja can also summon a monster to the field.' Just that happened. The stronger of his two minor Ninjas glowed brightly as he added to their attack force. 'So heeere's Kunoichi Ayame the Ninja Girl!' The monster appeared on the field. It only had 300 attack points. 'That's four ninjas for the price of one.'

'Joey, does this mean Mai's in trouble?' Serenity asked her brother.

'Nah, it'll take more than a bunch of second-rate Ninjas to stop a duellist like Mai,' Joey said with conviction. 'Trust me, I know first-hand how good she is.'

That seemed to be enough for Mai.

Shamee chuckled. And, sometimes, that will be all it takes.

Something clicked in Sharee's mind.

Magnum gave the order. 'Ninja Master, attack her Amazon Swordswoman with your merciless flame attack!'

The Master Ninja charged with a grunt and spat out a stream of fire. It sailed across the field and slammed into the Amazon Swordswoman. The monster screamed as it was destroyed. Mai cried out in alarm. But it seemed Magnum wasn't finished with his attack quite yet.

'And now, my four Ninjas, attack my future wife's life points directly!' All four Ninjas shot upwards, bounding against the buildings on either side of them and sending star darts at Mai. They all watched as she flinched back upon impact and her life points dropped down to 1800.

'That's rough,' said Joey.

Magnum went on again. 'Sorry, my little ginger-snap, but that's the price you pay for love, but hey, when I defeat you at least you'll have a husband who's a Battle City Finalist. You can brag about me, right?'

'Really?' Mai wasn't buying into it. 'You're so sensitive, Jean.'

And…here he goes.

Joey growled. 'Stop flirting, Mai! There's too much on the line over here.'

'If this keeps up, she'll have to marry this creep and forfeit her place in the Battle City Finals!' Téa insisted.

When Sharee saw the expression on Joey's face, it struck her. Wait…are you telling me…?

That took you a while.

Magnum made his next move. 'I'll place one card face-down and ready my Ninja army for a final attack.' The card appeared on the field. 'It's true what they say, Mai. Sometimes you have to…destroy the ones you love. Your life points are wide open for my attack, my dear.'

'Not for long.' Mai drew and played the card. 'Show your claws, my Cyber Harpy!' The card appeared on the field and her Cyber Harpy Lady emerged, attack power 1800. 'I hate to leave you at the altar, but I'm not losing this duel.' She called the attack. 'Cyber Harpy, scratch out his Ninja Master!'

The Harpy attacked.

'You set off my trap!' Magnum's monster moved, defending itself. 'Unleash Ninja Smoke Bomb!' The black orb sailed across, meeting Harpy half-way and exploding in her face, shrouding her in smoke. The attack was stopped dead. The smoke covered the playing field and Mai coughed. Magnum pointed at her. 'I'm afraid your attack has just been blocked, which means your lady bird's gotta take her claws off of my Ninja!'

'Mai!' Tristan called. 'Crush this wannabe!'

Mai took a card from her hand and set it. 'I'll finish with one card face-down and it's back to you.' The card appeared in front of her.

'No hard feelings?' Magnum drew. 'All right! It looks like we'll be walking down the isle together sooner than I'd expected.'

Mai glared at him. 'You'll be limping down the isle alone when I'm done with you.'

'Are you bitter because Hollywood's hottest celebrity's about to take your place in the Battle City Finals.' Magnum set the card he'd pulled. It appeared on the field. 'Observe my magic card.' The card in question spun up into the air. 'Go, Great Kite of Ninjor!' There was a bright glow as the Kite took form. With a roar, the Ninja Master leapt into the air and attached itself to the Kite. 'Hovering overheard, my Ninja Master is protected from all of your monster's attacks and magic cards.'

Mai stared up. 'Oh, no…!'

'My Kite also allows my Ninja to bypass any of your monsters and attack your life points directly as long as I sacrifice one of my own monsters first.'

Mai growled.

'So now I'll sacrifice my Ninja Soldier…' The monster vanished. 'And attack your life points with my Ninja Master's Thunder Attack!' The lightning shot down, encompassing the entire Kite with a golden glow, then it shot at Mai in a single beam of electricity.

She cried out as she was hit and her life points dropped to 200.

Magnum had a smug smile on his face. 'Attaboy. We're almost done. Now we can start planning our honeymoon on Wykiki Beach.'

'I wouldn't pick your best man just yet,' Mai snapped.

Serenity spoke to Joey again. 'Mai's gonna get bumped from the Finals and then she'll have to marry this jerk.'

'No!' Joey insisted. 'We can't let that happen.' He looked over at the shortest member of the group. 'Hey, Yug. Can Mai turn this around?'

'Mm-hm.' Yugi nodded. 'If she plays Harpy's Feather Duster, it would cancel out all active magic cards on the playing field.'

'Yeah,' Sharee said. 'Don't waste your breath though. She'd have already thought of it. Since she hasn't already used it, I'd say she's gotta draw for it.' She saw Mai glance at her deck.

'Come on, Mai!' Joey called. 'You can get it! Otherwise, we'll all be lining up for your Hollywood Wedding!'

Mai stumbled and made an agitated noise. She looked down at her deck and muttered something. 'No way!' She drew and looked at the card. 'Now, there's a magic card that'll help.'

Magnum opened his big mouth again. 'Let's just get this over with, shall we? Time is money, and the Finals await.'

Joey turned to Yugi for the second time. 'Yug, we need a plan before that flying Ninja attacks again.'

Yugi had only one bit of advice. 'Mai should focus on destroying the Ninjas on the ground first.' He looked over at Joey. 'Remember, he has to sacrifice them to attack her life points. But if she wipes them out first, she'll be safe.'

'Yeah, you're right!' Joey went to call out to Mai again.

Sharee lifted her hand and clamped it over his mouth. 'She'd have already worked it out.'

'She's gotta get rid of those other three Ninjas now,' Tristan insisted.

'One more direct attack and her life points are history,' Duke said.

Téa added her two cents in. 'Then it's "goodbye Battle City Finals"…'

'And "hello, Mrs. Magnum".' Duke finished off.

Joey ground his teeth at that. 'We're all behind you, Mai!'

She turned her head, annoyed. 'I get the point.'

'Then duel like the Mai I know,' Joey said.

'Huh?' She looked taken aback. Turning back around, she turned back to her duel and glared across at Magnum. 'Watch out, Jean. I'm back.' She set her card. 'I play a magic card.' The card appeared on the field and flipped up. 'Elegant Egotist!' The effects washed over the Cyber Harpy and she split into three separate Harpies. 'It turns one Harpy into three!' They all charged. 'Take out his Ninjas!'

All three Ninja's jumped up, a futile attempt to get away. The only thing was that the Harpies had wings. They could fly, and fly they did. The lot of their friends cheered. Sharee smiled. Mai turned around and gave Joey a thumb's up. His response was to blush and stumble a bit making an odd noise.

'Heh, heh, heh, heh, heh.' Sharee had a good chuckle at his expense.

Magnum brought attention back to the duel with a growl. 'You're starting to bug me, kid!'

They looked over at him in confusion.

'You talking to me?' Joey asked. 'Ninja-Nerd!'

'Why don't you leave this duel to the grown-ups, you little twerp?' he demanded.

Joey clenched his fist and leaned forward. 'Don't push me, Claude, or I'll…!' He was cut off when Sharee gently grabbed his shoulder and pulled him back.

'Chill, Joey,' she said. 'He's just a simple narcissist with a superiority complex.' And he's possibly a tiny bit jealous.

'A nar-sa-what-ist?' Joey asked.

'Nar-cis-sist.' Sharee enunciated it. 'It's basically someone who's so head-over-heels in love with themselves that they think they're God's gift to the world.'

Magnum chuckled. 'Well, she's literate, which is more than I can say for her blond friend.'

Yup. Definitely jealous. Sharee smirked. 'I'd think a man of your age would be too old for schoolyard bullying. Why don't you just finish the duel?'

'Schoolyard bullying!' Magnum scoffed bitterly. 'The nerve of that girl!'

Mai cleared her throat. 'If you're quite done with your pouting, I'm placing one card face-down.' She set the card and it appeared in front of her.

'It's about time.' Magnum drew. 'That's right!' He played the card and it appeared on the field in front of him. It was a repeat of a previous monster, and it quickly emerged from the card. 'You remember my Ninja Girl, don't you?' He barked out a laugh. 'Once I sacrifice her, my Ninja Master will finish you off for good!'

'Oh, no,' Joey said.

'Oh, yes!' Magnum was already crowing in victory.

Mai wasn't having any of that though. 'Sorry, but I'm about to cut your Ninja Girl from the scene with my Grave-Arm magic card.' The card flipped up and it began to take effect. The fog formed around the Ninja Girl's feet. 'It sends her directly to the Card Graveyard!' The hand of the Grave-Arm rose up and wrapped securely around the Ninja Girl, pulling her down.

Magnum's sacrifice was lost. 'No way!'

'You've got no monsters to sacrifice,' Mai said. 'But, wait, there's more.' She drew. 'You forgot one very important thing.' She looked up. 'That Kite up there may protect your Ninja Master from being attacked, but it also takes your monster out of all the action, including defending your life points.' She smirked. 'Which means that you're wide open for a direct attack, so you can cancel those wedding plans because I'll be busy – at the Battle City Finals!'

Magnum made a loud sound of shock as he realised she was right.

Mai gave the order. 'Now, Cyber Harpies, finish off this washed-up has-been!' The three monsters moved into action. 'Attack his life points directly with your Triple Scratch Attack!'

The Harpies came together and spun around so fact they looked like a whirlwind with claw. They covered Magnum, even as he cried out in protest. When they cleared, they left a bright flash as Magnum's life points dropped down to 0.

'Show's over,' Joey said.

Magnum fell to his knees.

The smile on Mai's face was both victorious and relieves. 'I give you two thumbs down, movie-boy. I hope you've learned I'm not a prize to be won.'

As Magnum stood up with a smirk on his face, chuckling, Sharee became suspicious. On reflex, her eyes darted around. She immediately spotted it. 'Why is that still there?' she murmured. No one else seemed to hear her.

'I think I'm missing the joke,' Joey said.

'Not you, Joey.' Tristan told him. 'He's lost it.'

Magnum managed to stop laughing. 'Oh, there's a joke, all right, and if you missed it that's probably because the joke's on you!'

'Please stop reciting your lines,' Mai said. 'The duel's over. Get outta my life now!' She noticed it. 'Huh? Your monster's still there?'

Everyone else looked up now too.

'But the duel's over!' Duke insisted.

Téa agreed with him. 'All the duelling holograms should've disappeared.'

Yugi was the first to realise it. 'Hey, guys, I don't think that's a hologram!'

The "kite" was begin propelled down by a jet system that was strapped to the back of it. The "monster" on the front cackled as it descended. Sharee ground her teeth. I see I left "man-child" out of the description.

'That flying Ninja's closing in!' Joey insisted.

Magnum raised his arm. 'Welcome to the world of Hollywood Special Effects – where anything can happen!' The Ninja suddenly threw down a net. Mai stepped back, but she didn't move far or fast enough. She cried out in alarm. The whole lot of their friends cried out to her.

'Let me out, you sore loser!' Mai yelled at Magnum as she was lifted off and carried away.

'Mai!' Joey yelled.

'If I can't win your heart, Mai, then I'm just gonna have to steal it!' Magnum took off.

'You won't get away with this!' Joey took off after him.

'Come back, Joey!' Serenity called.

He ignored her. So did Sharee, taking off after him. Running like that, only she could keep up with him. Everyone else fell behind. Magnum immediately got in his limo and took off. Joey growled, but Sharee grabbed his arm and dragged him after Mai's heart signature. They ducked through alleyways and jumped over any obstacles that got in their way.

'That creep!' Joey snarled. 'That dirty creep!'

'He's a born and bred movie star, Joey,' Sharee said. 'He's used to getting what he wants regardless of who says "no". And when we catch him, I'll see how much of a ninja he really is!'

They ran out onto the street, where the Ninja was descending with their blonde friend.

'Hang on, Mai!' Joey called.

Mai turned her head. As soon as she saw them, she started struggling harder. 'Put me down now, you Ninja-freak!' The entire thing shook erratically.

'Mai, be careful!' Joey called out.

The Ninja dropped her. Sharee sucked in a breath as Mai fell, not quite screaming on the way down.

'Mai!' Joey called.

Mai's descent was stopped when she caught herself on a flagpole. It was one of several coming out of the walls of the building they were right next to. She was lucky that'd been there, but she wouldn't be able to hold on for long. Her expression was strained showing the effort she was using to hold onto it.

'Hang on!' Joey ran over. 'I'm coming!'

Sharee stopped and leaned against the hood of Magnum's limo. The "action hero" grabbed his head like a lost child. 'She needs help, but I've got no idea what to do!'

Sharee looked at him. He doesn't know the first thing about martial arts, does he?

Nope.

Joey came to a stop below her. 'Hey, Mai!' She looked down. He had his arms held out. 'Come on! Let go!'

'Are you nuts?' Mai demanded. 'No way!'

'Do it!' Joey called. 'I swear I'll catch you!'

Sharee wondered if she should tell him. There was a way for Joey to catch Mai falling from that height without ending up as mess of tangled limbs on the sidewalk, and without gaining all those bruises. The idea of it, though, brought a mental image to her mind. Sharee smirked. Nah, it's way funnier this way.

Mai stared down apprehensively for a long moment, then she nodded. She let go.

'That's it!' Joey called.

Mai cried out as she fell. She dropped and hit Joey, knocking him over so they both fell to the ground. Sharee was actually disappointed. It wasn't awkward at all because Joey got knocked out. That was the part which was meant to be funny. Oh, well. She looked over as Magnum headed over. Mai immediately leaned up.

'Oh, no. Joey, are you all right?'

Magnum stepped over like he had done the deed and offered his hand. 'Hey. Here, take my hand, Mai. You're safe now.'

Mai stood up just fine by herself. She batted his hand away. 'Get lost.' She was on her feet in the next moment and she stepped forward with a hard glare at the actor. 'You don't even do your own stunts, you coward.'

'So, does this mean our wedding plans are off, dear?' he asked.

Mai poked him in the chest. 'You're nothing but a cheap Hollywood phoney, Jean-Claude.' She stepped back and looked down at Joey. 'The only real action hero around here is right there, resting.'

Magnum drew back. He collapsed to his knees again. 'I'm a fraud! It's the truth!'

'Good.' Sharee walked over and yanked him up by the ear. 'Now we don't wanna see hide nor hair of you ever again.'

YGO

Yugi ran with the others. They'd finally caught up with Sharee, Joey and Mai. It was good to see Mai was okay and that Jean-Claude Magnum was out of sight. Although, Joey did need support to stand upright. Sharee seemed to be just standing back and letting the other woman do all the work though.

Mai didn't seem to mind.

'Hey!' Serenity waved as they ran over to them. 'Joey! Mai! Sharee!'

Mai looked down at Joey. 'You're the best, Joey.'

Joey sounded half-with it. 'But you could've married a movie star.'

Mai didn't sound too impressed with that. 'Ha! If I did that, I wouldn't be able to kick your butt in the Finals, would I?'

And Joey wasn't impressed with that one. He gave her a side-long look. 'Plus, if you ever did get married, you'd drive your husband crazy.'

Mai's response to that was to drop him on the ground, hard.

'Are you gonna be all right, Joey?' Serenity asked.

Joey pulled himself up to his feet. He rubbed his tush. 'Of course. I never been better.'

Sharee chuckled. 'You had that one coming.'

He shrugged. 'Guess so.' He turned. 'Now let's get inside that Stadium and do what we all came here to do.'

Yugi, along with everyone else, looked at the Stadium too. 'Yeah! The Battle City Finals start tonight!'

'May the best man win,' Joey said.

Mai smirked. 'You mean woman.'