Chapter Five: Battle City Starts

At the plaza Yami, Teresa, and Beth stood with the other duelists their duel disks on their arms. Yami stood next to Beth who was now wearing a red sleeveless shirt, black jeans, Fingerless red gloves, and converse shoes. On her hip was her deck holder that was attached to a black belt with gold swirls embroidered on it. Beth wore a gold necklace with a heart hanging off of it, a black thick bracelet on her right wrist, and earrings that looked like wings. Her hair was pulled into a ponytail that rested in the middle of her shoulder blades. Teresa stood on Yami's right side both looked like they were together by the way they were dressed. Well, they would be if Yugi's blue school uniform jacket wasn't on Yami's shoulders like a cape. Teresa had changed into a dark blue tank, black miniskirt with her studded belts on her hips one holding her deck holder, and her black biker like boots. Her brown hair was in a ponytail too and her glasses no longer on her face but in the deck holder. Teresa wore a dragon pendant around her neck, a spiked leather bracelet on her right wrist, a earrings in the shape of ankhs. The three stood looking at the other duelists.

"Wow there's a lot of them here today." said Beth.

"Yeah me and you only had to duel about what fifty others. This takes the cake though." Teresa added.

"At Duelist kingdom there was about a hundred." Yami said.

Both Teresa and Beth whistled.

"Well, You beat them didn't' ya Yugi...I mean Yami." Beth said.

Yami smiled.

"Yes, but it was me and Yugi with the help of his friends that we won." Yami replied.

As the three continued to talk a woman with long blonde hair came up to them. She had purple eyes and wore a lavender coat over a white corset top and purple mini skirt. On her arms were white fingerless gloves that reached up to her shoulders. She also wore boots that reached to her knees.

"Yugi!" she called.

"It's Mai." Yugi said smiling at the woman.

Beth and Teresa rose their eyebrow.

"Who's Mai?" they asked in unison.

Yugi turned to them.

"Mai is one of my friends Me and the others met her at Duelist kingdom." Yugi replied.

"Oh. She looks like a tough opponent." Beth said as the woman neared.

"Pretty good turn out for this thing huh?" Mai said when she got to Yugi and the girls.

"Yeah, there's more duelists here than Duelist Kingdom." Yugi said.

"Yeah and I see some familiar faces I'm not too happy to see." Mai said looking at the duelists around.

Not far from them was Rex Raptor and Weevil Underwood. Teresa and Beth both made gagging gestures as they saw the former national champ and runner up in Japan. Mai turned to them and rose her eyebrow.

"Who are you two?" she asked.

"Oh I'm Beth Russell." said Beth.

"And I'm Teresa Williamson." replied Teresa.

"They're top duelists back in America." Yami added.

Mai smiled and held her hand out.

"Well, it's nice to meet you two. Don't think I won't go easy on you two just because you're friends with Yugi as well." Mai said.

"We don't expect you too." Teresa said shaking the woman's hand.

After talking to Mai, and seeing Weevil, Rex, and Mako all talking about that how they'll win the tournament Yami, Beth, and Teresa were left to talk amongst themselves. Through out the crowd one could see that there were many who were excited about being in the tournament. As the three looked around, they were suddenly stopped by a very loud static sound from a very large TV hanging on a building. "ATTENTION DUELISTS!" (A/N: Just kidding) Within seconds, a large KC appeared on the screen, circling three times before the face of Seto Kaiba came on the screen. Many fangirls, and fanboys, screamed loudly, making many cover their ears.

Yami's eyes narrowed slightly. "Kaiba."

"Greetings duelists, welcome to the town of Domino, But more importantly, welcome to my tournament. I see you each received your private invite to Kaiba Corp's very exclusive tournament and you had enough brains to show up here today." Within the crowd, many hecklers started to shout out to Kaiba about his tournament and him. "Being that you are all elite duelists, I've added special rules just for experts. For example, you will duel using these new improved duel disks." Again, many of those in the crowd were in awe to the shiny wrist machine on Seto Kaiba's arm. Within the light, it seemed to glow with new metal. "Another new rule that I've designed for the tournament is that before each duel, both duelists must ante up their rarest card, meaning that the loser will lose his card. My competition will make even Pegasus and his tournament look like a joke." Within moments of those words from his mouth, even more hecklers were agreeing with the teenaged CEO and even shouting for him to continue.

Beth looked at Teresa and shook her head. "There is no way that I am ever going to give up my Wing Weaver." Teresa just nodded, keeping her eyes on the screen.

Without warning, a sudden burst of wind began to flow in the town, making many cover their faces to block the wind from kicking dust in their faces, in their eyes, though many of the girls held down their skirts or held down their hair. "KAIBA!" Yami shouted, looking up at a helicopter, in which Seto Kaiba was hanging carefully on the door to.

"Starting now, Battle City Tournament begins!" Seto Kaiba shouted, pointing a finger to the sky.

"It's a wonder his finger isn't getting sliced," Teresa muttered, earning a glare from Beth. Turning to the Yami, Teresa and Beth smiled. "Hate to do this but in order for this to be a fair tournament, I think it best if we split up and take on our own opponents."

"I agree. Best of luck, both of you," Yami nodded.

"See ya, T. I'll be sure to wave at you from the finalists spot," Beth grinned, running off.

"Not before I do!" Teresa said to Beth's retreating back.

Teresa was bout to leave as well when she glanced around to the cafe not far them. Her eyes narrowed when she saw someone wearing the garb a rare hunter like the one she dueled against the other night.

She gritted her teeth and walked up to Yami. "Be careful Yami. Rare hunters are everywhere." she whispered to him.

Yami looked at her his eyes narrowed. "Thanks. You be careful too." he said.

"See you in the finals Yami." Teresa replied as she walked off to duel.

As Beth left, excitement sang in her blood, giving her a sense of giddiness. "My first duel, I can't wait until I beat my opponent, win their card and start on my way to becoming a finalist. Just you wait Teresa, you'll see, I'll be one of the best for sure!"

"Hold it." Turning her head, Beth arched an eyebrow. Looking at the guy that called out for her, Beth saw that he was tall with pale skin. With his ebony air perfectly messed up, he grinned, flat black eyes staring at her. "Are you one of those imported duelists?"

"Imported duelists? If you mean that I'm one of the two from America, you're right. Why, you itching for a duel?"

"I am. The name is Geoffrey Edwards, one of the best duelists around."

"Really? One of the best huh? The how come I haven't heard of you before or for that matter, seen you in any of the tournaments?"

Geoffrey grinned again. "I'm modest and don't like to be out there too much."

Beth rolled her eyes. "Whatever. So, what do you want?"

"I want a duel that's what I want" he said, getting his deck ready.

Grinning, Beth inserted her deck. "Then a duel you'll get."

"Let's duel!" They both shouted, parts of te duel disk flying off, the visual effects starting to take place as the duel disk system booted up.

As the two drew their first five cards, Geoffrey grinned. "I'll start off by placing a monster in defense mode and one card face down, ending my turn."

Beth drew her next card, looked at it for a few seconds before setting it in with the rest of her hand. There are several outcomes to this one turn. I could just go ahead and attack his monster but that would be a waste of time considering that it very well could be a trap card. Then again I wouldn't have to worry about the card anymore. Either way, I have to be careful with this guy. Might as well play it safe. "I'll set a monster face down and end my turn."

Geoffrey laughed. "Is that all you're going to do? Well, that's not a good turn. I'll play Mystic Horseman in attack mode, then I'll flip my monster from defense to attack. Go, my Man Eater Bug. Because it's effect was a flip effect, it can destroy any of your monsters on the field. I choose your face down monster."

As Beth's monster was destroyed, her monster looking very familiar. "Congrats, you just destroyed MY Man Eater Bug. Because your Bug killed mine, my effect comes into play. Say bye to your horse." As the two monsters faded from the battle, Beth grinned.

"Either way I still attack you. Go, Man Eater Bug, attack her life points directly!" Beth screamed from the pain that was brought on but quickly recovered, her life points down by 450, leaving her with 3550 life points. "Sorry for the little bit of hurt, babe, but I'll be sure to kiss it and your rarest card all better."

Growling, Beth drew her card. "The only thing you'll be kissing is the ground." Gritting her teeth, Beth looked up. "I activate the magic card Monster Reborn to bring back your Mystic Horseman. Next, I'll summon Koumori Dragon in attack mode. Mystic Horseman, attack the Man Eater Bug!" As the two monsters collided, the bug based monster was destroyed, leaving Geoffrey with 3150 life points. "Since you don't have anymore monsters out on the field, I'll attack you with Koumori Dragon!" After the direct attack from the vicious dragon, Geoffrey fell to his knees, his life points dropping to 1650. "Next, I'll set one card face down, ending my turn."

"You'll pay for that. I draw!" Grinning, he looked up. "Tell me, little girl, how much did Kaiba pay for you to be in this tournament? He must pay a lot to get girls in here."

"Shut up and play out your dumb turn already!"

"Fine, I set a monster in defense mode and end my turn."

"I draw." Looking at Geoffrey, Beth bit her lower lip. I think it's already clear that his face down card is just a magic card but rule number one in dueling, never underestimate your opponent. "I'll set a monster in defense mode and play my magic card, Shield Crush." The giant card that was laid out before her suddenly stood upright. "It lets me destroy one of your defensive monsters." A Giant Soldier of Stone turned to dust from the effect of the card.

"SWORDS OF REVEALING LIGHT!"

"A quick play magic card!" Gritting her teeth, she sighed. "I end my turn then."

Geoffrey grinned and drew his card. "I'll summon the Celtic Guardian in attack mode and attack the Mystic Horseman." As the Celtic elf sliced the centaur, Beth's life points lower by 100. "I'll end my turn with that."

"I draw and summon La Jinn the Mystic Genie of the Lamp in attack mode, ending my turn."

"Building up your defense I see. Not for long. I draw and play the magic card Dark Hole!"

"No! That destroys all my monsters!"

"Exactly. Next I'll summon Dragon Dwelling in the Cave in attack mode. Next I'll use my Sword and Shield Magic card and switch his attack and his defense."

Gritting her teeth, Beth glared at the dragon. "Now his attack is at 2000 and I'm wide open."

"Bingo. Dragon, attack!" Screaming out in pain again, Beth lowered herself to one knee, her life points dropping to 1550. "One more attack and I get your card, babe."

Beth drew, glaring up at him. "I don't think so. I activate the magic card DeSpell. This means that your swords go away. Next I'll Play Change of Heart to take control of your dragon. I'll sacrifice him to bring out my Rude Kaiser."

"NO!"

"Yes! Kaiser attack him directly, win me the duel!"

"NO!" Geoffrey screamed out, his life points going down to 0. "I hate you."

"Yeah yeah, been there done that now hand over your card and your locator card." As he held up the clear puzzled card and his rarest card, Beth snatched them up. "A Luster Dragon 2 huh? Not bad. Thanks for the dragon, kid. See you around." As her duel disk deactivated, her cards back in her deck on in her deck holder on her belt, Beth continued on her way.

"Well, that was an interesting duel," Seto Kaiba said, watching from the screen.

While Kaiba was watching Beth's duel Teresa was looking for her own duel. She was about to turn onto another street when a guy with long dark green hair wearing a black shirt and pair of pants came up to her.

"Are one of those foreign duelist's?" he asked a creepy smirk showing upon his face.

Teresa rose an eyebrow and turned to him. "Yeah. What's to ya?" she asked her southern accent coming out.

The guy smirked. "Cause I wanna duel you for your card." he answered activating his duel disk.

"You should've said so to begin with. You're going to regret ever challenging me to a duel." Teresa said activating her duel disk.

"If you say so little mouse."

Teresa gritted her teeth not liking this guy at all.

"Let's Duel!" both said as the hologram projectors shot out and came to life.

"I'll go first." the man said as he drew his cards.

"Fine by me." Teresa replied nonchantely.

The man smirked," I place a card face down and summon my Giant Solider of Stone into defense mode."

'Another one playing it safe. I get the feeling this guy isn't what he seems. I might as well play it safe again to see what he's up to.' Teresa thought.

"I place one card face down and summon Darkfire Solider number two in defense mode ending my turn." she said.

"Oh by the way I'm Marcus Edwards." he said before drawing another card.

"You think care why?" Teresa said rolling her eyes at him.

"Thought you might want to remember the man who took your rarest card. I summon Mr. Volcano in attack mode to destroy your monster." he said.

Teresa smirked, "Heh, looks like you activated my trap. Trap hole which means Mr. Volcano is sent to the graveyard." she said.

Marcus gritted his teeth and glared at her, "I place another card face down ending my turn." he stated.

Teresa drew her card, "I place one card face down and then play a monster card face down in attack mode. That ends my turn." she said.

"I summon Harpies' Brother in attack mode attacking your Darkfire solider. To end my turn I play Light of intervention which means you can't play any monsters face down."

Teresa braced herself as she lost 100 life points bringing them down to 3900.

"Alright two can play that game. I summon the Mystical Elf in defense mode. I now flip over my face down card reveling the Crimson Ninja. With that I activate his effect to destroy one of your trap cards. I choose the card on your right!" Teresa said as the ninja ran to Marcus's side of the field.

The card that was reveled was the trap card The Eye of Truth. "So you were going to play that card. I now end my turn." she said.

Marcus gritted his teeth, 'Dammit I was going to use that so she could show me her cards. Guess now I'll to try and win without seeing them. I need that dragon card so my brother and I won't be sent to the shadow realm.' he thought.

"Alright then my turn. I sacrifice them to bring out Luster dragon 2 to attack your Mystical Elf." he said. Teresa clenched her teeth as her life points went down by 400. " Next my Harpies' brother will attack your Crimson Ninja to leave you wide open. Teresa hunched over her life points now making her life points 2000 while his was still 4000.

'If I don't do something quick my dragon will be gone. Dammit, come on deck I put my whole trust in you.' she mentally said as she reached for her deck.

Teresa drew her card and smiled. "I summon my Pharaoh's Mage into attack mode. Next I place one more card face down. Ending my turn."

Marcus smirked, "You're nothing but defense and playing around little mouse. I guess you're not so good after all." he said.

"Just shut up and duel!" Teresa yelled.

"Alright, alright I'll make your demise quick. No need in summoning another monster Luster Dragon attack her mage."

The dragon lunged at the guardian to attack but the mage wasn't destroyed. The female monster was still standing.

"What the..?"

"I played my trap card Waboku." she said.

Marcus gritted his teeth and glared at her. "I end my turn with that." he said.

Teresa smirked. "Just what I was waiting for. I summon my Pharaoh's Guardian number one. Next I'll activate my magic card mage's Staff. I which brings my Mage's attack to 2100. I attack your harpies' brother." Marcus growled as he lost 400 points making him now at 3600.

"I'm not done yet I lace one card face down ending my turn." she said.

"That was a big mistake little mouse." he said.

"Oh really how so?' she asked.

"Because I'll do anything to take your rarest card. I summon island turtle in defense mode. I then play the magic card Fissure to destroy your Guardian." he said.

"Sorry buddy but my guardian stay however you sent my mage to the graveyard in which activated her effect. This effect let's me special summon a level six monster to the field. The monster choose is My Purple Eyes Silver Dragon."

"Dammit. I discard one card to end my turn." he said.

Teresa drew her card and smiled softly.

"Say bye bye to your chances of winning the tournament. I play medgai number one in attack mode. Then I activate the medgai robe giving her an attack boost of 300. Making her 2100. Now my dragon will attack your dragon."

Marcus's life points down by two thousand leaving him with 1600 points now. "I'm not finished yet. My guardian will now attack your island turtle. Then I end my turn." she said as Marcus' life points went to 1400.

"Alright that's it. I activate my magic card dark hole. Next I summon ancient elf in attack mode attacking you directly." Teresa placed her hands against her face as the attack's force came towards her. Her life points now 510.

"My turn. I draw and place Mage's Apprentice on the field in attack mode. I now activate Monster Reborn bringing back my Dragon. Now My Mage Apprentice attack his Ancient Elf. Now to end this Purple Eyes Silver Dragon Attack him directly with Silver Blossom Blast!" she said as the dragon brought his life points from 1590 to 0.

"How could I loose?" Marcus said as he hit the ground on his knees.

"Who knows. Thanks for Harpies' brother and locator card." Teresa said as she took his cards and walked away.

"Oh yeah by the way. My name's Teresa not little mouse." she said before disappearing.

In the tower high above Domino City, the teenaged CEO Seto Kaiba watch over the duels from over the shoulders of his employees. If he was correct, this tournament would be something indeed, something that would withstand in history.