Griffin Tale

Chapter 4

Un-Lucky Day

In his Very Important Creature booth at the racing track, Sykes was pacing back and forth, waiting for Yugi. "I'm tellin' you." He said, glancing at Ernie and Bernie. "That kid better show up or he's dead meat."

Ernie glowed briefly, "Just say the word, boss."

At that very moment, the kid – with the money – was walking up to the racetrack. "Okay, I give this bag of money to Mr Sykes and then I'm outta trouble and in Yami and Mai's good books again." Yugi kept repeating to himself as he walked.

Suddenly, two men raced past Yugi to get to the betting window. Yugi panicked as the envelope slipped out of his hands and slid across the floor. He quickly raced over to it. He sighed with relief as he held it close to his chest. He over-heard the two men as he passed them.

"Are you sure about this?" one of them said.

"A trainer of mine tipped me off." Said the second. "It's a fix! The whole thing's rigged!"

"So what's the horse's name?" asked the first.

"Lucky Day." Said the second.

Yugi stopped walking. "Lucky Day." He breathed. "Top of the city here I come!" The he shook himself. "Remember what Mhairi said. Remember what Mhairi said." He shook himself again, "What did Mhairi say?"

"Dreams can begin small too. You just have to…bet it all! Bet it all!"

That didn't sound right…did it? Yugi rubbed his eyes. He could just see it…Lucky Day crossing the finish line…his five thousand dollars traded in for…a million dollars! Yugi raced for the betting window. "Five thousand dollars on Lucky Day!" he said confidently, handing over the envelope to the cashier.

"At two hundred to one, that would pay…a million dollars!" noted the cashier.

"Well, then," said Yugi confidently, "I guess that makes me Yugi the millionaire!"

At the far end of the hall, the words 'the millionaire' hung in the air like strand of freshwater pearls. Rebecca's head snapped up.

Rebecca. Her name was famous all over the city. She was the most beautiful, most alluring girl in the entire city. She had long golden flowing locks and crystal blue eyes. When she passed by, boys fainted. Many had tried to win her, but until now, no one had. Now she was walking up to Yugi. "Nice bet." She said huskily.

Yugi looked around. Standing in front of him was the most gorgeous girl he had ever seen. A complete stunner. A vision of beauty. His mouth hung open.

"You gotta name?" the vision asked.

He nodded, unable to say anything.

"You wanna tell me what it is?" the vision went on.

He nodded again.

"Well, mine's Rebecca." Rebecca turned and looked over her shoulder, gesturing for Yugi to follow. Then she started to walk off.

Yugi shook his head, hard and slapped his face. "Gotta get it together!" he thought. "She's gonna think I have no class!"

He darted after her. "So, Rebecca," he said, trying not to trip over his own feet. "My name's Yugi. Yugi Motou."

"You know, Yugi," Rebecca said, "I've always wanted to watch the race from the VIC seats."

"Really?" Yugi said eagerly. "Me too!"

"Well?" Rebecca waited.

Yugi thought fast. No way was he going to be able to get into the VIP section. That's when he spotted Sykes, walking over to the concession stand with Ernie and Bernie.

Sykes spotted Yugi at the same time. "I was starting to think you'd skipped out on me-" he began.

Covering, Yugi turned to Rebecca. "He's one of my top employees." He told her. Then he turned back to Sykes.

"Hey!" Yugi said, slapping Sykes on the back. "On your way to the concession stand? Great! Would you mind bringing us back some sodas? That would be great. Thanks!"

And before the startled Sykes could respond, Yugi turned to Rebecca. "Come on." He said, pushing her gently away from Sykes. "Let me escort you to my box."

Sykes mouth dropped open. "YOUR box!" he said. "You can't even afford the gum under the seats!"

"He just laid five grand on Lucky Day." Rebecca said smugly.

"Five grand?" Sykes stopped for a moment. Then his eyes widened. "MY FIVE GRAND?" He shrieked.

"No!" Yugi said quickly. "It was another five grand."

"You had the money to pay me back and you bet it anyway?" Sykes screamed. "Gimme that!" He grabbed the betting slip out of Yugi's hand.

Rebecca looked from Sykes to Yugi and back again. "Clearly, I've made a mistake." She said, starting to walk away.

Yugi looked after her despairingly, "No, Rebecca, wait-"

Rebecca turned. "Look," she said, shrugging her lovely shoulders. "Deep down, I'm really superficial. And…don't get me wrong…you're cute. But you're a nobody." Then she walked away.

Yugi stared after her as Bernie and Ernie bounced around him chanting "Loser" and "Weener" over and over again.

A nobody. Her words echoed in his head.

"You are in trouble up to yer ears." Sykes hissed as he hustled Yugi into his booth. "And, yet, still you're askin' for more. Now get in there."

"I'm tellin' you, Yugi." Sykes said as he fetched a drink out of the ice box while Yugi sat on his chair. "You'd better pray that this horse of yours comes through."

Sykes shook his head in disbelief. "Betting my five grand." He turned to see Yugi on his sofa. "Hey, you! What are you doin' in my chair? Get outta my chair!"

Ernie and Bernie pulled Yugi off of Sykes' chair and placed him in between them on they're chair.

"Sit tight and watch the race." Bernie said.

"With you're good eye." Ernie chuckled.

Bernie laughed.

The racetrack announcer's voice filled the air. "And the runners are lining up at the past…"

Yugi looked up at the huge silver screen as it showed the ten racing unicorns. Each unicorn was a different colour and they each had a number coat on they're backs.

Number 10 was a bright yellow unicorn with a black mane and tail. She was also black around her legs, eyes and ears, and she had golden – yellow eyes. Her yellow coat was as golden as the sun so she was named Sunrise.

Number 9 was a rich black unicorn with a golden mane and tail. He was gold around his face, left front hoof and had a golden strpe running down from his muzzle to his tail. His name was Beau.

Number 8 was a snowy white unicorn with a silver mane and tail. Her eyes were clouded and unfocused. She was blind. Because she was born blind and had learned to 'see' her world through sight and smell she had been named was Plague.

Number 7 was a bright orange unicorn with a red mane and tail. He was also red around his face, underneck and underbelly. His name was Outlaw.

Number 6 was a medium purple unicorn with a yellow mane and tail. He was also yellow around his muzzle, ears, eyes, neck and legs. It was none – other than Lucky Day.

Number 5 was a moolit silver unicorn with a brown mane and tail. She was also brown around her muzzle, underneck, underbelly and legs. As the colours of her coat resembled the colours of treasure she was named was Treasure.

Number 4 was a grass – green unicorn with a orange mane and tail. She was also orange around her muzzle and legs. Her name was Nature Gaurdian.

Number 3 was a sky blue unicorn with a grass – green mane and tail. He was also green around his face and middle. He was the 3rd place champion and because he was fast amd competetive in races his name was Tornado.

Number 2 was a fire – red unicorn with a purple mane and tail. He was also purple around his muzzle, back and legs. He was the 2nd place champion and as his red coat resembled that of flames his name was Inferno.

Number 1 was a beautiful golden unicorn with a white mane and tail. He was also white around his muzzle, underneck, underbelly and legs. He was the 1st place champion and he ran so fast and gracefully as if he were on wings so it had earned him his name as Pegasus.

"And they're off!" the announcer shouted. "Out of the gate, it's Pegasus followed by Inferno and Tornado! The long shot, Lucky Day, appears to be having trouble getting out of the gate…"

"What!" Yugi jumped out of his seat and stared at the track.

"The gate appears to be stuck!" the announcer was saying. Sure enough the blue unicorn was banging on the gate with his fore hooves and head, trying to get out.

Sykes turned to Yugi. "You –" he began.

"No, no, don't sweat it!" Yugi said, crossing his fingers. "He does this all the time."

"But what's this?" the announcer went on. "Lucky Day is now crashing his way through the gate…and he's off and running! Down the first straight, it's Inferno, Pegasus, and Lucky Day!"

"See!" Yugi said, pounding Sykes on the back. "What did I tell you? Go fast, Lucky Day! Go fast!"

"Coming round the far turn, it's Inferno by a length and Lucky Day well behind the pack. And here comes Lucky Day, coming up from behind, passing Sunrise, Tornado…and coming up on Pegasus!"

"I'm getting' tired just thinking about counting all this money." Yugi said, jumping onto the sofa beside Sykes as the birdman waved the betting slip in the air while laughing happily.

"And in the final, here comes Lucky Day! Lucky Day's now caught up to Pegasus! They're head to head…neck to neck! What a trouper! Look at Lucky Day go!"

"We're rich!" Sykes shouted. He picked Yugi up and twirled him around in sheer happiness.

Yugi just laughed.

Suddenly, Lucky Day seemed to stumble.

"Wha – " Yugi began.

Lucky Day flipped over his nose, legs kicking wildly. Then he crashed to the turf.

"Oh no! What on earth happened?" The voice of the loudspeaker was shocked. A groan went up from the crowd. "Lucky Day is down! And, here comes Pegasus, followed by Inferno, Tornado…and Pegasus wins! A very, very, unlucky day for the long shot, Lucky Day!"

Yugi gulped. Now he was in for it.

Sykes had heard the loudspeaker. "What happened?" he turned and dropped Yugi in a heap on the ground.

"Wait! Wait!" Yugi began, picking himself up.

But Sykes was staring up at the tote board. The name Pegasus popped up on top.

"It's a sad day for Lucky Day," the announcer said solemnly. "And that's way they call him a long shot." Sykes started to puff up.

"Remember your happy place!" Yugi said.

Sykes growled.

"That was crazy, right?" Yugi went on, sidling towards the door. "Who knew? I mean, everything's set, we're good to go, and he trips on four legs. Who in the halibit trips with four legs? And by the way, on what?"

Feathers popped off of Sykes' body as he blew. "That's it!" he squeaked. "I've had it! Ernie, Bernie, I want you to find the deepest, darkest hole outside the city and when you do, dig deeper, AND PUT HIM IN IT!"

Yugi frantically looked around for a way to escape. But Bernie and Ernie grabbed him and gagged him. Before Yugi knew what was happening the two dragons had tied him up and dumped him in the back of a car.

"Sorry to do this to ya, kid!" Sykes squeaked, hovering in the air. "It's nothin' personal, it's just business!"

Ernie and Bernie shut the back and drove off. Yugi sighed. It seemed that his lucky day was over before it even began.