Marik's Challenge

(The four finalists (Raimundo, Kimiko, Yugi and Marik.) went to the stadium grounds to get themselves into their semi-finals matches, the crowd cheered as they appeared. Kaiba and his little brother Mokuba were standing behind a lottery machine.)

Kaiba: (Speaking through a microphone.) Attention! The semi-finals will begin in one hours time. This lottery will decide who goes into what team. But I'm also adding in a special rule to the finals. The finalists who receive balls number 3 and 4 will play first, then the winner of that duel, will face against the finalists who received ball number 2. And finally the winner of that round will go on to face the finalist who received ball number 1 and the winner of that duel will win the Battle City Tournament.

(The crowd cheered.)

Kimiko: Wow, so whoever gets 3 or 4 has to put up with three duels to win?

Raimundo: Question is, who will it be?

Kaiba: Yugi, step forward.

(The Pharaoh did so. And the machine spat up a ball, which was ball number 1.)

Kaiba: Yugi Muto will be in the final duel of the contest! Raimundo, step forward!

(He did so, and the machine spat up another ball, which was number 3. He shouted under his breath: "Oh for …")

Kaiba: Raimundo Pedrosa will be first to play! Kimiko, step forward.

(She did so and another ball fired to her. Which was number 2.)

Kaiba: Kimiko will be second to play.

(Marik gave a grin, Raimundo gulped and Kimiko widened her eyes.)

Kaiba: That means Marik Ishtar will face Raimundo Pedrosa in the first round!

(Marik gave a little snigger then laughed to the top of his voice.)

Kaiba: You got a problem. Cus I can see a bunch.

Marik: Please, allow me.

(He took the microphone from Kaiba.)

Marik: I have a challenge for the other three finalists!

(The crowd got confused.)

Marik: I challenge all three of them to duel me!

(The crowd got restless.)

Marik: If they succeed in defeating me, then Raimundo Pedrosa will advance to face Kimiko Tohomiko! If they fail, then I will win the entire tournament!

(The crowd was still growing restless.)

Marik: Do they accept my challenge?

Pharaoh: I think it's a good idea! Three against one sounds like perfect odds.

Kimiko: I'm in!

Raimundo: You think I'm gonna back away from this one? I'm in too!

Mokuba: (To Kaiba.) Aren't you going to do something?

Kaiba: Sorry, Mokuba. But I can't refuse challenges. Even if it is the challenge of a deranged lunatic.

Marik: Very well. Then I leave to prepare!

(Marik went downstairs, laughing demonically. Kaiba resumed the microphone.)

Kaiba: Very well, then a three-way duel is what it will be! Then afterwards the finals resume as planned. Finalists, start preparing!

(The other three went down to the hospital wing, both preparing and outraged at Marik's plan.)

Joey: What does that circus freak think he's doing?

Mai: My guess, he's trying to beat all three of you as quickly as possible.

Raimundo: That could be a logical explanation. But just so where not taking chances, Kimiko can you use your PDA and see what he's up to?

Kimiko: Sure. Mind Reader Conch!

(He read Marik's mind, she seen that he was alone in a room with what looked like Hannibal Bean. The others watched over her.)

Hannibal: Very good, Marik! Now a've dispatched mah minions ter do the rest. You just turn up at the duel.

Marik: This will be easier than me taking on all 15 finalists.

Hannibal: Now go to the stadium grounds to secure your victory!

(They both entered a demonic laugh. The seven were shocked.)

Stephanie: They ARE plotting something, which doesn't sound good.

Omi: We need to go to the stadium to see what they are planning.

Kimiko: Can you do that, we gotta prepare for the finals, remember.

Omi: Oh, wait. Here.

(He gave Raimundo his Legendary Knight.)

Raimundo: Omi, I can't take this, it's yours.

Omi: I want you to have it.

Raimundo: Thanks, bro.

(Omi, Stephanie, Joey and Mai all raced to the stadium grounds to intercept Marik and see what he was planning.)

Pharaoh: Foul deeds are at work. We need to be on our guard! If not then we'll be losing more than this tournament.

Kimiko: I agree.

Raimundo: Hey, as long as we got the Legendary Knights, we'll be safe from the Shadow Realm.

(The intercom sounded, the three gave a gulp.)

Raimundo: This is it, let's give that punk what we've got!

Kimiko: All for one!

All: And one for all!

(They exited, and walked through the corridor, until a round silver ball rolled out in front of them.)

Raimundo: That's weird. Where'd this ball come from?

(Then the ball gave a loud bang and white smoke obscured them. Raimundo felt light-headed and collapsed into a deep sleep, along with Kimiko and the Pharaoh. Meanwhile, the four arrived at the Stadium. Roland was giving his usual speech.)

Roland: The next duel will begin: Marik Ishtar!

(Marik rose into his duelling spot.)

Roland: And Yugi Muto, Raimundo Pedrosa and Kimiko Tohomiko will duel!

(The three's platform rose, but there was no Yugi, Raimundo or Kimiko.)

Omi: What?

Roland: Er … this is unexpected. Yugi Muto, Raimundo Pedrosa, Kimiko Tohomiko! Please advance to the duelling arena!

(The crowd was getting restless.)

Stephanie: How can this be? They were with us a few minutes ago.

Mai: And now they're gone.

Roland: If the finalists don't appear in five minutes, then they are disqualified from the tournament!

Omi: I cannot take this any longer! Why aren't they here? And what is this sore pain at my rear side?

(Something was in Omi's pocket, and it was Kimiko's PDA.)

Stephanie: Hey, good idea, Omi. We can read there minds and see where they are.

Omi: Er… yes, it was a very good idea.

(They took a look into it in order to read Raimundo's mind. The PDA showed that the three were tied to individual chairs in a dark room.)

Omi: Oh no! They have been captured!

Stephanie: What? Mai, Joey! Listen I have an idea.

(They huddled round into a circle.)

Stephanie: Joey, Mai, take Kimiko's PDA and find them. Help them out.

Joey: Roger that.

Stephanie: Omi, you and I are gonna distract them until Joey and Mai get the job done.

Omi: How?

(Stephanie stood up.)

Stephanie: (Yelling.) Excuse me!

(The crowd turned their intentions towards her.)

Stephanie: I was thinking! Maybe me and my little buddy here, could temporarily face Marik, until the others come back from their bathroom break?

Roland: The two of you? Marik's challenge clearly states three to duel.

(Then Kaiba rose as well.)

Kaiba: Then I'll duel as well!

Omi: Kaiba duelling in our side. Might I ask … why?

Kaiba: That creep Marik's been toying around with my tournaments for far too long now. Now I'm gonna show him what the Kaiba family's all about!

Stephanie: Well as long as you're on our side, that's fine by me. (Yelling.) Okay, we have our third team mate!

Roland: Very well! Once the real finalists return, then they will begin.

(Kaiba, Stephanie and Omi all made it up to the three duelling spots in a bid to buy Joey and Mai enough time to rescue the three finalists.)