Let the Finals Begin
The Kaiba brothers were the first to arrive at the stadium. My competition, if you can call it that, will be arriving soon, the elder brother thought to himself. Along with the two remaining Egyptian God cards.
Keeping to the shadows, Marik looked down on Kaiba. "Look at that fool standing there," he said coyly. "Soon he will become a pawn in his own pathetic game." He turns his attention to Odion. "Listen closely, the time has come to put the final phase of my plan into motion and I need your help. The Battle City finals are about to begin. Everything I need to gain infinite power will be in one place. All we have to do is win.
"For five thousand years, the world has waited for the ancient pharaoh to return. As the scriptures state, he will use his boundless power to rescue the world from evil like he did in the past. Wielding the Egyptian God cards, the spirit of the pharaoh will emerge from the chambers of the Millennium Puzzle and rule mankind once again. Well, I shall fulfill that prophecy by seizing the Millennium Puzzle and draining the pharaoh of his power. But that's not all. According to the ancient scriptures, in order to obtain the pharaoh's power, I must also hold all three Egyptian God cards. Once I complete this task, I will be the new ruler and the former pharaoh will wander the Shadow Realm for eternity.
"This is where I need your help, Odion. I must hide my identity and let everyone think that you are me. Those fools already believe me to be a friend named Namu. I'll gain their trust and crush them with my Egyptian God card!"
Hearing the sound of sinister laughter, Kaiba orders his two associates to light up the stadium. He looks around, only to see Yugi and his friends entering the stadium. They look and wonder if this is really the place where the finals will be held. Yugi and Joey present their locator cards and are given tournament identification cards.
Max races through the entrance and joins the others. "Wait, here I am," she says, a little out of breath and presenting her locator cards.
"Max, you made it," Joey cheered. "I was afraid you wouldn't." He looks behind her and asks, "Where's Mai? I thought she went to pick you up."
Max stretched the truth a little and said, "Something happened and she told me she wouldn't be able to make it. Because of that, she gave her spot in the finals to me." As she continues to assure everyone that everything's all right, they notice someone else coming. Max recognizes that it's Marik, but welcomes him as the friend who helped her. "Hey, it's Namu," she said cheerfully. "I can't thank you enough for helping me and Bakura today."
"Hi, Max," Marik says gently. "You're looking much better. I'm so glad. Where's Bakura now?"
"He's resting in the hospital," Max answers. "I didn't want to leave him alone, but he didn't want me to miss the finals. But I promised Bakura I would give it my all and win for him."
"Well, I'm sure he'll be happy for you no matter what," Marik tells her. He turns his attention to Joey and tells him, "Hey, Joey. Looks like we'll be competing in the finals together. I didn't think I could make it, but after meeting you, I've been winning every duel."
Joey just looked at Marik suspiciously. He didn't know what it was, but something about this new friend didn't seem very friendly.
Max remembers her manners. "Yugi, Emily, this is my new friend Namu. He's the one who rescued me and Bakura and get this, he's also a Battle City finalist. Isn't that awesome?"
"I've heard a lot about you two," Marik says, holding out his hand. "It's an honor to meet you."
"Thanks a lot for helping Bakura and Max," Yugi says gratefully, shaking his hand.
Emily takes her turn to shake Marik's hand. Remembering that he said he already met Joey and Téa, she adds, "Any pal of Joey and Téa's is a buddy of mine and Yugi's."
Marik felt flattered. "I'm so happy to be welcomed by such a welcoming crowd. I hope everyone I meet will be as friendly as you people."
Max giggles. "It's true that once the competition starts, we'll all be rivals. But that doesn't mean we can't be friends when we're not on the battlefield." Then she faces the entrance and sees Bakura weakly coming her way. "Oh, no, Bakura!" she cries, running towards him. "What are you doing? You should be resting in the hospital!"
The others join her. "Grandpa told me you were in bad condition!" Yugi cried.
Bakura lifts his head and steadies himself. "Don't worry. I'm feeling much better now."
But the others weren't convinced and kept telling him to go back. Emily notices a duel disk strapped to his injured arm. "Bakura, when did you get a duel disk and join the tournament?" She could clearly see that something was wrong. Bakura could barely walk, let alone stand up straight in a duel.
"How else could I win six locator cards and make it to the finals?" he countered.
Seeing the locator cards, Marik grins. Perfect. They're holding their end of our bargain. The fools are dueling for me.
Reading Marik's thought's, Max slightly nods and winks at him to continue the act. "This is really scaring me," she tells Bakura.
"I know I said I didn't want you to miss the finals, Max, but I didn't want to miss you in action either. I guess I just care too much. But don't worry, I promise I'll be careful."
Max sighs and lets Bakura have his way. "Well, if you feel that way, I won't stop you." Then she turns around. "Hey, look, it's the seventh finalist."
Joey, Téa, Emily, and Mokuba all recognize him as the man who captured them. Keeping to his master's plan, Odion introduces himself as Marik, the leader of the Rare Hunters. Hearing that, Joey immediately began seeking revenge and wanting to get back at the madman for what he put everyone through.
"I should disqualify you for capturing my brother," Kaiba told him, "but you have something I want. And before the finals are over, your Egyptian God card will be mine." Kaiba knew that he would never be able to obtain the third Egyptian God card by disqualifying Marik anyway.
Kaiba's two associates spoke up and announced that the finals would begin shortly. But although everyone's locator cards led them here, the stadium wasn't the dueling site. Kaiba's blimp started coming in for a landing. Everyone was surprised to hear that they would be dueling in the sky. "It's time to board Kaiba Craft 3 for the start of the Battle City finals!" Mokuba declared.
The finalists presented their tournament identification cards as they began boarding. One of the associates stopped Téa, Duke, Serenity, Emily, and Tristan. "I can't let you five on board without tournament ID's."
Serenity was about to start crying. "But I've been looking forward to seeing my big brother dueling for a long time." The others agreed and began asking them to let it slide.
"Come on, I don't have a tournament ID and I'm an exception," Mokuba said. "We can make an exception for them too."
But they were Kaiba's rules, meaning that they needed permission from him. "Just let the dweebs go," he sighed in frustration. Hearing that, the gang climbs up the stairs and boards the aircraft. He follows after them. "Begin takeoff immediately."
Hearing that, the associates decide to carry out their boss' orders until they see the eighth finalist coming. It was a woman wearing a white dress with a hood and veil to conceal her features. It was Ishizu. "I believe you gentlemen are waiting for me," she asks, presenting her locator cards. The final confrontation is upon us and the fate of the world hangs in the balance, she wonders to herself, boarding the aircraft.
With all duelists and spectators onboard, the blimp begins to take off. Coming to an altitude of 4000 feet, they begin flying above the city admiring the view. None of them had ever seen the city from so high up. Emily figured she could use it to her benefit and even be able to stretch her wings and practice flying.
"It's so beautiful," Serenity sighs. "Thanks for bringing me here, Joey."
"Just one of the perks about being related to a champion," Joey said and chuckled.
Kaiba scoffed. "You call yourself a champion, Wheeler? You're here by a fluke. Enjoy this while you can, but don't get your hopes up too high, because it's a long way down. Oh, and uh, the last time I checked, monkeys can't fly." That was enough to get Joey ticked off. Sure enough, Kaiba really enjoyed ticking people off and making them snap. He turns his attention to Yugi. "I have some words of advice for you too. I'm aware that you haven't played your Egyptian God card since you won it, but it's time to change that. It had better be in your deck for when you compete in the finals, because I intend to win it from you. This is my tournament and when it's over, I'll be the world's greatest duelist and the owner of all three Egyptian God cards; making my deck unbeatable. So it's time to say your goodbyes to Slifer the Sky Dragon and to any hopes you had of winning. Listen closely, Yugi, Duelist Kingdom is far away and as long as you're up here with me, you're playing by my rules. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a tournament to run."
"Man, this balloon is full of hot air," Joey joked, happy to see Kaiba walking away and finally shutting up.
Using their identification cards, the rest of the finalists enter their assigned rooms. "Check out our deluxe pad," Serenity says, walking in. She looks at the view from the window, admiring it. "Wow, what a great view. It's so awesome. If it hadn't been for you, Joey, I would never have been able to see this."
"But you can," Joey tells his sister. "And that's what matters."
Serenity agrees. "I can't think of anywhere else I'd rather be. It's kind of like an enchanted dream, being up here in the sky and looking down at the buildings. I'll never forget this sight."
Joey places his hand over his sister's shoulder. "Thanks, Sis."
"But I should be thanking you. You're the greatest brother and my best friend."
Not wanting to admit he's crying of happiness, he sobs, "My allergies are acting up. I couldn't have gotten here without your help, Sis. We're a great team!" He promises to win with everyone's support and not let anyone discourage or distract him. But it already happens. Their family bonding is soon interrupted once Duke, Tristan, and Téa walk inside. "Have you guys never heard of knocking?"
Since they weren't dueling in the finals, they didn't have any assigned rooms. Until that was straightened out, they decided to settle down in Joey's room. Duke and Tristan began eating snacks and Téa lounged in the chair. No way Joey would be able to focus and prepare for the tournament now with all the noise. Tristan thinks about asking Serenity to check the view together, but Duke beats him to it. Seeing that, Joey becomes even more irritated. It's already bad enough that Duke has to be the way he is around the other girls at school, but to be like this around Serenity?
Sensing Joey's rage, Tristan decides not to let his jealousy get the better of him. He hands his pal a drink and apologizes for barging in. "Sorry to have interrupted your family time together."
Joey takes the drink. "You wouldn't have to be sorry if you didn't come in the first place. Go bother Yugi."
"Nah, we wanted to make sure he and Em had some peace and quiet before the finals started," Tristan says, taking a sip.
"I'm dueling too, y'know," Joey reminded. "By the way, thank you, for looking after my sister." He didn't sound grateful, but he really was. "It means a lot to me."
"Anytime," Tristan said. "It's what helping a buddy is all about."
Duke left the room and went out into the hall. He saw Max and decided to pull off the same routine. "Hey, Maxie. It's been a while. How've you been?" he asked, leaning against the door.
"Don't call me Maxie," she growled.
Duke continued to be smooth. "That's my greeting after all this time? Aww, and I thought we were pals."
Finally, she turns to completely face him. "You know, when I first met you, I actually thought you were kind of cool. But Emily's right, there's nothing cool about getting a girl's attention. Nobody likes a show-off, Devlin; especially not me."
Duke finally drops the act. "Hey, if you're talking about what's going on with Serenity, it's nothing personal," he promises. "I'm just getting to know her. You know, being a friend, making her feel like she's welcome."
Max scoffs. "You don't get it, Devlin. And you never will. Know why? Because you're so full of yourself. That's why I find you pathetic and feel sorry for all the girls you make impressions for."
Duke starts to become appalled. "Now wait just a minute-,"
"Get the hell out of here!" Max screams, striking Duke in the face and throwing him out of the room with a black eye, bloody nose, and swollen lip. Wondering what the commotion is about, Joey steps outside. Seeing Duke on the floor with his hand against his face, he helps him back inside his room and gives him some ice.
In the hall, Kaiba's associates were about to notify their boss about the arrival of the eighth finalist, but Mokuba warned them not to disturb him. It would come to no surprise if his big brother fired them for breaking his concentration while he was preparing for a duel.
In his room, Marik began thinking over his plans once more. My victory in the Battle City finals is inevitable. Since I've manipulated so many people, I can't lose. Yugi and the princess believe me to be their friend while I secretly control the minds of their true friends. And when the time is right, I'll seize that control. Then there's Bakura and Max. Rather than control their minds, I've convinced the evil spirits to control them and have them duel for me. Before long, the three Egyptian God cards and the Millennium Puzzle will be mine. Only then can I obtain the boundless power of the pharaoh himself. And once I do obtain the power of the pharaoh, I'll set my sights on obtaining the power of the Millennium Star.
Emily joined Yugi in his room to help him prepare for the finals. "You're making the right choice by putting Slifer the Sky Dragon in your deck," she tells him. "It's the only chance you have of stopping Marik from getting what he wants. It'll stand against his own Egyptian God card and prevent him from getting Obelisk from Kaiba."
"I know, but I also have to be careful," Yugi says, reminding her how powerful and dangerous the card is. "And no matter what happens, I've got to believe in my deck and in myself."
"But there's something else I'm worried about," Emily says. "I've got a bad feeling about Bakura. He couldn't possibly make such a quick recovery based on the injury inflicted on him. Unless, it's not Bakura. Also, what if Max isn't the Max we know?"
Yugi knew where she was going with this. "But Tristan said he got rid of the Millennium Ring and Max's charm in Duelist Kingdom. So how could the evil spirits once controlling Max and Bakura be back again?"
Yami understood their concerns and joined in the conversation. "You can't predict the path of a Millennium Item or a sacred object containing the power of the Gods. Max's jewel and the Millennium Ring must have somehow found their way back to Bakura and Max. Now winning will be a more difficult task for us."
"We've got no choice," Yugi said. "The fate of the world depends on it."
"But many dangers lie ahead, so we have to be prepared for anything," said Yami. Then everyone heard the announcements that the finals were about to begin and that all duelists were requested to meet in the main deck. Yugi takes his deck and places it in his duel disk and allows Yami to take control from here.