Sorry this took so long to get out. I've had this chapter written for awhile now, just didn't have the time to proofread it. And now I finally had the time to do so.
So, on that note, I hope you all enjoy this chapter.
Chapter 14
Once the teasing was over with, they all continued on the search for Yugi, and for Joey's next challenge. That was until Tea spotted someone that looked familiar.
"Hey, Bakura!" Tea yelled out, trying to get their friends attention, as they ran to him.
"What's up, man?" Tristan asked, as they caught up with him. "Here to check out some duels?"
"Oh, hey guys." Bakura said, as he turned around to face them. "So, tell me, how's the tournament progressing so far?"
"I already scored four Locator Cards!" Joey said, with a bit of excitement, as he showed Bakura his Locator Cards. "All I need are two more and I'll be in the Finals!"
"That's quite impressive." Bakura said, sounding impressed with the feat. "And where's Yugi?"
"That's the thing, we've been looking everywhere for my brother." Sere answered.
"And who are you?" Bakura asked, just now noticing her.
"My name's Serenity Moto." Sere introduced herself. "Sere for short."
"Well, it's nice to meet you. I'm Ryou Bakura." Bakura said, introducing himself while he was at it. "Though, I had no idea Yugi had any siblings."
"It's a bit of a recent development." Sere explained, a bit shy at having to do so, so she decided to change the topic. "But, I do wonder where Yugi is and what he's up to right now."
"I'll bet he's somewhere kicking some serious butt." Tea commented, sounding as if she truly believed that.
"I can see it now, me and Yugi, in the Finals, battling in the rematch of the century!" Joey said, he was rather excited by this idea of his.
"Aren't you getting ahead of yourself there Champ?" Tristan commented, it also sounded like he was teasing Joey a bit while he was at it.
"Well, I do need to crush a couple more Duelists first." Joey added, getting where his friend was going with that.
"Hey, check it out." Tea said, her attention elsewhere at that moment, which caused the others to look over at what she had just found. "Look, guys." Tea pointed out a sign that she was looking at once she had their attention. "Isn't that Mako Tsunami?"
"Who's Mako?" Sere asked, a bit confused, but probably more confused at the drawing before them that made up the sign.
"He's someone we also met at Duelist Kingdom." Tea explained, leaving out a few details.
"So, he's a Duelist too?" Sere asked, this is where her confusion came in. If he was a Duelist, then why was he on a sign advertising something that didn't have anything to do with Dueling?
"Yeah, that's Mako alright." Tristan answered Tea's question. "He should be Dueling, not performing."
"You're right!" Joey said, agreeing with Tristan, he looked like he was going to burst at this revelation. "Let's find him. Then, I'll challenge him to a Duel!" Just after he said that, Joey took off in the direction of where Mako was, leaving the others behind, as they watched Joey dart off for a few moments, before they realized that they were going to have to run after him. "Finals, here I come!"
"Joey!" Tea shouted, as she and Tristan gave chase.
"Hey!" Grandpa said, realizing that he was getting left behind, and gave chase as well. "Hey, wait for me!"
Sere ran after Grandpa for a few moments before she stopped and looked back at Bakura, and stared at him for a few seconds. "Sorry about that, I hate it when he does that." Sere apologized for how they were taking off like this. "It really was nice getting to met you." Sere took one more look at Bakura before following after the others. For some reason, she was getting a similar feeling from Bakura, that she would usually get around Yugi.
All of them kept on running, following Joey until he finally came to a stop inside what looked like a small stadium like place, with a large tank in the center of it. It was obvious that this was the place where they put on aquatic performances. But Sere still had to wonder, why would a Duelist want to be here instead of taking part in the tournament that was going on.
"So, do ya see him?" Joey asked, as he and Tea came to a stop first.
"He's the one on the whale." Tea answered, she sounded as if she didn't believe what she was seeing.
"Man, that's a strange sight." Joey commented, as they watched Mako on the back of the whale for a bit.
"I don't know what's strange about it." Sere said, as she and the others came up behind the two of them. "He seems to know what he's doing to me."
"He would." Joey absently commented, as he started to head closer to the bottom of the stadium-arena, with everyone else not too far behind him.
"Hey, Mako, over here!" Joey shouted out, once he came to a stop.
"Hi, my old friends!" Mako said, as he turned and saw who was calling out to him. Mako dived back into the tank of water with the whale, while the group ran closer to the tank. Just as they got there, Mako came out of the water on the whale's nose, the water splashing all over Joey in the process.
"It's been awhile." Joey said, after he was somewhat drenched by the water.
"Yes." Mako agreed, as he stood there on the whale's head. "Since Duelist Kingdom I believe. It's nice to see you, my friends."
"What are you doing performing at the aquarium, Mako?" Tea asked, that being the question they were all wondering about. "We thought you'd be here Dueling."
"I am here to Duel, and win." Mako answered. "But, my kinship with the sea was needed first."
"Well, how about you hop off the whale, and let's duel!" Joey suggested.
"Are you sure about that?" Mako asked, a bit of a smile on his face. Then, Mako started to make a shooing motion with his hand. "Perhaps you'd be better off just enjoying my show."
"I'll give you a show!" Joey said, not liking the fact that Mako was trying to get rid of him, making him feel like he wasn't good enough.
"Alright." Mako agreed, holding up the Locator Cards that he already has. "I have four Locator Cards."
"Join the club, Fish Boy." Joey commented, with a smirk, showing the Locator Cards that he has.
"Ah, I'm impressed." Mako said, looking as if he were, indeed, surprised by the amount of Locator Cards that Joey has. "Then, we shall Duel, and give all these people a show to remember!"
"Cheering fans!" Joey said with excitement at the concept of it all. "I'm in!" Joey paused to listen to the crowd, as they realized they were going to be watching a Duel instead of a whale show. "Wow, this crowd digs me!" Then, Joey turned his attention back to Mako. "So, let's do this!"
"Land Lover." Mako mumbled, sounding as if he were complaining. Mako then got back down to business. "Put up two Locator Card. Whoever wins this, goes directly to the Finals."
"Cool." Joey said, liking the sound of that. "Taking your cards will be a pleasure!" And with that, the Duel got underway, on a platform that rested in the middle of the tank-area.
"Come on, Joey!" Tea said, already starting to cheer Joey on. "Beat him!"
"Once I unleash my Mighty Denizens of the Deep, you'll be all washed up, Joey." Mako declared, thinking that Joey didn't have much of a chance against him.
"You got a big mouth and a short memory, Shark Bait!" Joey countered. "I was the one fighting in the Duelist Kingdom Finals, while you were swimming back home!" Even as Joey said all that, Mako looked like he didn't believe a word of it. "Now check this out!" Joey said, drawing a card, as he began his turn, and getting a little over dramatic in the process, as he started striking a pose after he drew his card. Mako and the rest of the crowd weren't to impressed by this.
"Here we go." Tea said, a bit embarrassed by how Joey was acting.
"It's official, he's lost his mind." Tristan said, thinking his friend had gone crazy.
The look on Grandpa's face said what he was thinking, which was, what was going on in Joey's head.
"I take it, that isn't normal for him?" Sere asked, taking in their reaction to how Joey was acting, after all, Sere had only seen Joey Duel once before, how was she suppose to know what was normal for him, though, she did have a feeling about all of this.
"Not really." Tristan answered, still watching the duel.
"Only when everything starts going to Joey's head." Tea said, adding in her two cents.
"I suppose that explains the feeling I was getting." Sere absently commented, not really talking to anyone.
"Which is?" Tristan asked, wondering what Sere was referring to.
"I had a feeling that the idea of having an audience has gone to Joey's head." Sere answered, slightly motioning to the crowd around them.
"Yep, that would about sum it up." Tristan said, confirming that Sere was right in her assumption.
"Go already, Guppy!" Mako shouted, getting impatient, thinking that Joey was wasting time with his posing. "Make your move or forfeit!"
"Quit rushing me!" Joey shouted, a bit frustrated with Mako's impatience.
"I'll give you a chance to back out if you're scared." Mako said, trying to push Joey to quickly make his move, and then maybe make a mistake out of haste.
That comment got Joey's attention. "You wish, Squid-Brain." Joey countered. "This is a strategy!" Then Joey went back to looking at the card that he drew. "I place my card face down." Joey announced, as he placed the card he drew face down on the field.
"Well, it's about time." Mako said, satisfied that Joey had finally made his move, and drew his card, starting his turn. "Now, I summon the mighty Flying Fish!" Mako announced, summoning his monster in Attack Mode. "Attach his face down card!" Mako ordered his monster.
"Prepare to be infected!" Joey said, sounding a bit excited by these turn of events, as it was revealed what his face down card was, which was Parasite Paracide. But, Joey's monster was still destroyed, which Joey seemed to be rather surprised that it was destroyed, as the result he was hoping for didn't happen. "Hey, wait, my parasite didn't work!"
"Right, that's because your parasite was weaker than my monster, allowing me to destroy it." Mako explained, a bit put out that he actually had to explain that.
"So, you mean…" Joey said, beyond surprised now, sounding as if he were starting to panic a little.
"You just wasted your first turn!" Mako pointed out, seeming to be a bit happy by this outcome. "Now who's the Shark-Bait?"
"This is so not good…" Joey mumbled, now getting a bit disappointed and depressed by this.
As for Tea and Tristan, the two of them seemed to be a bit embarrassed by this slip up.
"Come on, Joey." Tea mumbled, with a bit of a sigh. "This is to embarrassing to watch."
"Ok, here we go again." Joey said, as he drew his card, starting his turn. "I'll place another card face down." Joey announced as he set another card face down on the field. "I was just getting warmed up before. This time, it's for real, and I got a plan that will leave your little gold fish high and dry!"
"Really?" Mako said, he didn't sound to impressed, as he drew his card, starting his turn. "I'll place a monster face down as well." Mako announced, as he set a card face down on the field. "And now I end my turn. Let's see your strategy."
"Alright, Barnacle-Breath, watch the master!" Joey said, getting all dramatic again, as he drew his card, beginning his turn.
"Get on with it!" Mako shouted, getting impatient again.
"Hey, I'm just trying to give this crowd a good show." Joey explained. "Unlike you." Then Joey looked at the card he drew. "Now that's what I'm talking about."
"And here I thought giving the people a good show would be by showing them how good your skills are, not how dramatic you could be." Sere mumbled, not really talking to anyone, just thinking out loud mostly.
"Apparently, no one told Joey that." Tea commented, having had heard Sere.
"I sacrifice my face down monster in order to summon the ferocious Garoozis!" Joey announced, either not having heard Sere and Tea talking, or just simply ignored the two of them to continue with his move.
"Nice try." Mako said, after Joey summoned his monster. "But, I activate Torrential Tribute!" Mako announced, as he activated his Trap Card, which destroyed Joey's monster, with Joey being all dramatic again at the same time. This caused Mako to be disappointed and frustrated with Joey's dramatics again. "I guess he's the most dramatic opponent I've ever faced." After Joey stopped with this round of dramatics, Mako drew his card and began his turn. "Flying Fish, attack my opponent's Life Points directly!" Mako declared, going straight on the attack. This attack brought Joey's Life Points down to 3200.
"Come on, Joey!" Tea said, trying to cheer Joey on, so he wouldn't start to dwell on losing some of his Life Points.
"And now I'll place one card face down and complete my turn." Mako said, announcing the end of this turn, with a face down card. "Feel the power of my Sea Deck! Mako Tsunami will show no mercy!"
"Fine." Joey said, as if he weren't too surprised with what Mako said. "Who's asking ya to."
"For years, I have searched for my lost father on the open seas." Mako said, starting to explain. "And I have used nothing but a small wooden fishing boat. Every time I battle the mighty ocean waters, I become stronger. And no matter how difficult the struggles, I have vowed never to stop searching until I find him! I face my dueling opponents with the same determination, and I fight every Duel in honor of my father! I know in my heart we'll be reunited some day. But, until that time, even though he's not right here, he continues to inspire me and give me strength."
"Guess what, I got someone who inspires me like that also." Joey said, happily announcing that, with a bit of a smile on his face. "My little sister, Serenity. Guess what else, I don't show any mercy either, Pal!"
"Get on with the Duel, my friend!" Mako said, seeming as if he was trying not to shout.
"Is that true, is his dad really missing?" Sere asked, taken aback by Mako's story.
"Yeah, he told us about it before at Duelist Kingdom." Tristan answered, still keeping his eyes on the duel.
"You can do it, Joey!" Tea said, cheering Joey on, it was as if she didn't hear Sere and Tristan.
"Just stay calm, Joey." Grandpa said, giving some advice.
"Alright, let's go." Joey said, drawing his card and beginning his turn. "I play Alligator's Sword in Attack Mode." Joey announced, as he played his monster on the field face up, in Attack Position. "And I place two more cards face down. Your turn, Flipper." Joey ended his turn, just after setting his two cards on the field.
"Prepare to lose." Mako said, as if Joey didn't have much of a chance.
"The only thing I'm going to lose is my lunch, from the smell of all this rotten fish." Joey said, cracking a bit of a joke, as Mako drew his card and began his turn.
"I sacrifice the weaker, Flying Fish, in order to summon the stronger, Amphibian Beast!" Mako said, as he Tribute Summoned his monster in Attack Position.
"I'm not frightened of that tadpole." Joey said, trying to sound tough.
"You will be when Amphibian Beast attacks with Sea Claw!" Mako said, as he declared his attack on Joey.
"Hold on! Activate, Fairy Box!" Joey said, activating one of his face down cards, as a kind of box, with holes at the top, appeared over Joey's monster, hiding it from view.
"Where did your gator disappear to?" Mako asked, as his monster's attack was stopped, for the moment.
"Well, what's the matter?" Joey asked, a smile on his face. "You never played Whack-a-Crack before?"
"That's very cleaver." Mako said, as he drew a card from his hand. "But watch this. Even the mighty Alligator's Sword can't breathe underwater. So, I play Umi! Raise the water level of this field by covering it with ocean water!" Mako declared, as he played his Magic Card from his hand, and the playing field, indeed fill in with water.
"My alligator's completely submerged in water!" Joey said, sounding surprised by what had just happened.
"It's only a matter of time before it has to come up for air." Mako said, pointing out the eventual outcome, and that's exactly what happened. "And, that time is now! Attack!" Mako ordered his monster, now that Joey's monster was finally out in the open again.
"Hold on, Frog Face!" Joey said, as he activated his other face down card. "Activate, Skull Dice! The number that I role will determine how much your toad's Attack Points gets decreased!" Joey explained, as a large red die rolled around on the top of the water, eventually stopping on a four. "Yes!" Joey cheered, happy with the result. "They get divided by four!" This brought Mako's monster's Attack Points down to 650, making it so Joey's monster was able to destroy Mako's monster. This bringing Mako's Life Points down to 3300. "Alright, that just about evens the score."
"You're a worthy opponent, Joey, well done." Mako said, admitting it, seeming to be happy by this.
"You're pretty worthy yourself there, Mako." Joey said, returning the compliment.
"Even though you are a worthy opponent, it won't stop me from taking your two Locator Cards with me straight to the Finals!" Mako said, once again thinking Joey still didn't have much of a chance, even though Joey was dueling a little better than he originally thought he would.
"Those are pretty big words coming from a guy with no monsters on the field." Joey said, pointing out the obvious, and acting like he didn't take Mako's taunt as much of a threat. "And now, I can get you where it really counts, your Life Points!"
"Ha! Remember, I've covered the playing field with ocean water, giving me the upper hand." Mako said, not believing Joey's threat.
"If you think that Joey Wheeler's afraid of a few drops of water, guess again, you Big Sardine!" Joey said, not at all detoured by Mako's reminder. "Now, hold onto your swim trunks while I go." Joey stated, as he drew his card, beginning his turn. "Alright, Mako, brace yourself, because I'm about to bite a serious chunk out of ya Life Points!"
"I'd like to see you try, Land Lover." Mako said, not seeming too worried by Joey's threat.
"Don't say I didn't warn ya." Joey said, as he moved some cards around in his hand, as if preparing for his move. "I summon Baby Dragon in Attack Mode!" Joey announced, as he summoned his monster onto the field in Attack Position.
"A baby?" Mako said, seeming as if he were not impressed at all by this. "I'd suggest getting a life preserver for him."
"He may not be strong now, but I'll use Polymerization to fuse my two monsters together!" Joey said, as he activated his Magic Card from his hand. "Say hi to Alligator's Sword Dragon!" Joey announced, as his Fusion Monster was summoned to the field in Attack Mode.
"Battle City rules state that Fusion Monsters must wait one turn before attacking." Mako said, making it seem like Joey wouldn't know the rules.
"I know that, Aqua-Boy!" Joey said, not liking how Mako was making it look like he was stupid. "That's why I plan to sink you in my next turn! Think you can wait?"
"Mako waits for nobody!" Mako said, as he drew his card and began his turn. "Now the tides shall turn, as I summon a monster and hide it in the deep." Mako announced, as he set a monster on the field.
"Show me your underwater monster!" Joey said, not liking how Mako was hiding his monsters under the water.
"My beast will show itself when the time arrives." Mako said, as if it were a simple thing to comprehend, as if he shouldn't even have to explain it.
"Joey's fish bait if he doesn't find out what's lurking beneath those waves." Tristan said, worried that his friend might not make it out of this duel with a win.
"I know." Tea said, agreeing with Tristan
"Shouldn't we be thinking positively?" Sere asked, reminding the two that they were supposed to be cheering for Joey. Tristan and Tea just gave Sere a look before turning their attention back to the Duel.
"Fear what you cannot see." Mako said, trying to rile Joey up. "The ocean hides all!"
"Yeah, well, if your little Chicken in the Sea is going to hide," Joey said, as he drew his card and began his turn, "Then I guess my Alligator's Sword Dragon will just have to fly over it. So, take off guys." Joey announced, as his monster went to attack Mako directly. "And now, it's time for my dragon to take a little nosedive, right into your Life Points. Attack!" The attack brought Mako's Life Points down to 1600. "Alright! Looks like the greatest Ocean Duelist in the Seven Seas is all washed up."
"Never!" Mako said, getting a bit riled up by what Joey had just said. "There is one thing I have learned about the sea, don't underestimate its strength!" With that outburst, Mako drew his card and began his turn. "And now I'll place a card face down, deep below the surface." Mako announced, as he set a card on the field.
"Then I guess it's time to finish you off!" Joey said, as he drew his card and began his turn. "Nice try though, but it looks like I'll be going to the Finals with your two Locator Cards!" Joey announced, as his monster got ready to attack Mako directly.
"Joey wins if this attack works!" Tea said, hoping that the attack works, but also sounding not to convinced that it would work.
"That's a good thing, right?" Sere said, wondering why they weren't being completely positive about Joey's dueling. "You make it sound like it isn't a good thing."
"Let's just keep our fingers crossed." Grandpa said, speaking before Tea or Tristan could say anything.
"Alligator's Sword Dragon, wipe out the rest of his Life Points!" Joey said, declaring his attack.
"I'm afraid that won't work twice, because I activate Tornado Wall!" Mako said, activating one of his face down cards. "The ocean's power will defend my Life Points." Mako announced, as Joey's attack was pretty much stopped in its tracks, Joey seemed to be surprised by this. "My Trap Card has created a typhoon, forming giant pillars of water that will block every one of you attacks! Nice try, Joey." Joey was starting to look like he was starting to panic a bit. "Never underestimate the power of the mighty sea!"
"Alright, Skipper, call of this storm and release your tornados, I can take it!" Joey said, sounding like he was trying to be tough. "So, bring on the flood." And that's exactly what happened, the water tornados stopped, allowing the water to flood the field again. "I guess that wasn't so bad." Joey mumbled to himself.
"Remember the ocean's water still conceals one of my monsters." Mako said, drawing his card and beginning his turn. "And now I sacrifice my hidden beast to summon an even greater one!" Mako announced, Tribute Summoning his monster to the field in Attack Mode.
"What's down there!" Joey said, panicking a bit, not liking the idea that he still couldn't see Mako's monsters under the water.
"You're about to get your answer. Prepare to meet my rarest monster." Mako said, as if he had already won the duel.
"Just when ya thought it was safe to go back in the water." Joey said, mumbling to himself, as he continued to look around at the water, trying to see what monster Mako had hidden.
"Meet sea stealth two, The Legendary Fisherman!" Mako said, as Mako's monster finally made an appearance, as it looked to be on the attack.
"Well, I'll weaken him with Energy Drain!" Joey said, as he activated his face down card. "It allows my dragon to blast your monsters Attack Points to zero."
"Not with the mighty sea on my side!" Mako said, as Mako's monster was unaffected by Joey's Magic Card, and continued with its attack on Joey, effectively destroying Joey's monster and brining Joey's Life Points down to 3050.
"My dragon!" Joey said, surprised that it was destroyed. "But he was supposed to zap your monster. What's the deal?"
"It's simple. As long as the sea covers the playing field, my Legendary Fisherman is protected from all Magic Cards!" Mako said, explaining it to Joey, still sounding as if he had already won the duel.
"No, it can't be!" Joey said, still surprised by this.
"My monster is a long time friend of the sea, and the very waters, in which it lives, shield it from harm." Mako said, with a bit of a laugh at the beginning of his explanation.
"Yeah?" Joey said, as if he weren't at all too convinced by what Mako had said, while he drew his card and began his turn. "Well, we'll just see about that! I place my own mystery monster in Defense Mode, to keep you guessing, Mako." Joey announced, as he set a card on the field.
"Not for long." Mako said, as he drew his card and began his turn, he didn't sound to impressed. "Legendary Fisherman, attack now!" Mako announced, ordering his monster to attack.
"I don't think he heard ya down there." Joey said, commenting on the fact that Mako's monster didn't surface when Mako declared his attack.
"A good fisherman takes his time." Mako said, explaining the wait in the actual attack that is to take place. And not to long after Mako said that, Mako's monster did attack, destroying Joey's set monster.
"My Tiny Guardian." Joey said, as his face down monster was destroyed. "So, is Snapper Head going to hide like a frightened shrimp?" Joey commented, referring to the fact that Mako's monster went back into the water after it attacked Joey's monster.
"My fisherman is brave. He has more nerve than the mighty whale, more strength than the great white shark." Mako said, not liking Joey accusing him and his monster of being afraid. "Rise to the surface." And with that command, Mako's monster made its appearance above the water. Joey seemed surprised by Mako's monster's sudden appearance. "Look in his eyes."
"He kinda looks like you!" Joey said, a bit surprised by this revelation, and it showed in his voice. "Only, a little older, and a little creepier."
"Watch yourself." Mako said, not liking Joey's last comment. "To me, that card represents my father! A courageous fisherman who loves the sea as much as I do. The very sea that took him from me when I was a child." Mako explained, once again, talking about the story of losing his father. "The ocean can be a violent and unpredictable force, as well as a calm and tranquil one. The storm passed as quickly as it had arrived, but my father was gone. I noticed the lifeboat was missing from our ship, so I knew my father escaped! I waited day after day for him to return. I even built a monument, overlooking the sea, to guide him home. Years passed, but still I waited, watching the waves for any glimpse of my father. He taught me never to give up, no matter how hopeless the situation seems. Rain or shine, I kept watch. Knowing he had to be out there, somewhere, and that one day the sea will bring him home to me. And, then it happened, it was a package containing a Duel Monsters Card and an anonymous note that read: 'Don't give up!' The card in the package was sea stealth two, a legendary fisherman, just like my father. So, now I battle every duel in the name of my father, thinking of his bravery gives me strength and determination. And my Legendary Fisherman card reminds me never to give up, no matter how hard the struggle. And I can promise all of you, by the Seven Seas, I will not lose this battle. My Legendary Fisherman will take me straight to the Finals!" And with the story telling once again over, Mako's monster, once again, went back under the water.
"Let's go!" Joey said, done with listening to Mako's story and wanting to get back to the duel.
"Yes, let's get back to this Duel, so I can win." Mako said, still thinking that he had this duel in the bag.
"I've got a lot of respect for ya, Mako, but I'm the one going to the Finals." Joey said, drawing his card and beginning his turn, seeming as if he weren't affected by Mako's story at all. "And I'm going to fillet all your fish to get there."
"Then go ahead and make your move, Little Minnow." Mako said, not at all impressed with what Joey said.
"I'll place one card face down." Joey said, while he placed a card face down on the field. "And then I'll summon a monster in Defense Mode." Joey announced, as he also placed a monster face down on the field. "Let's see what you got."
"My ocean assault shall continue, so prepare for the worse, for this next monster can't be stopped!" Mako said, as he drew his card and began his turn. "Now, I'll play this, my Fortress Whale Oath card! I'll use this Magic Card and sacrifice two monsters, so I can bring forth this, arise my Fortress Whale!" Mako announced, as he activated a Magic Card from his hand, and tributing two Monster Cards from his hand to Ritual Summon his monster in Attack Position.
"What's that thing?" Joey said, surprised by the sheer size of the monster Mako had just summoned.
"The most powerful creature in my deck." Mako said, as if it should've been the obvious answer. "Capable of crushing you in a single swat!"
"That's one whale of a monster." Joey said, still stuck on how big Mako's monster was.
"And the ocean field gives it even more Attack Points." Mako said, as if to prove just how powerful his monster was.
"I think I may be in over my head here." Joey said, starting to think that Mako may be right, that he really didn't have much of a chance in winning the duel.
"I must agree." Mako said, glad that Joey had finally realized that he had no chance at winning. "For starters, I'm going to destroy your defense monster. Legendary Fisherman, Attack!" Mako announced, as Mako's monster attacked Joey's monster, which was Rocket Warrior, from under the water, effectively destroying it. "Now that you have no monsters on the field, Fortress Whale, attack his Life Points directly!" That attack brought Joey's Life Points down to 500.
"Oh no." Both Grandpa and Sere said, both worried for Joey, and hoped that he could still win the duel with so little Life Points left.
"His Life Points!" Tea and Tristan said, both just as worried for Joey.
"You can do it!" Tea said, starting to cheer Joey on, and it would seem that she wasn't the only one, as there was quite a bit of the crowd cheering Joey on too. "This duel isn't over yet. You're one step away from the Battle City Finals, Joey!"
"Your Life Points are almost depleted." Mako said, trying to rile Joey up by pointing out reasons why he won't win the duel. "One more attack and you're sunk."
"Come on, Joey, there's still time to turn this duel around!" Grandpa said, making it sound like he was cheering Joey on, as well as giving him some advice. "Just believe in yourself."
"Look." Tea said, at least gaining Sere's attention, as Sere turned to Tea when she spoke. "See those two shadows?"
"Now that you mention it, yes, I do." Sere said, answering Tea's question, just now noticing what Tea was pointing out. "I was too focused on the duel to notice before."
"One of them has got to be the fisherman that Mako hid under the water." Tea said, pointing out what she thought was going on.
"The other must be the whale that is actually a part of the aquarium." Sere said, understanding what Tea was getting at.
"Make your move, Joey." Mako said, getting impatient again. "So I can end this duel. With my Fortress Whale above and my Legendary Fisherman hidden bellow, you're finished!"
Just as Mako finished speaking, the whale that was a part of the aquarium just, all of a sudden, jumped out of the water for a bit and ended up splashing Joey from behind. Joey watched the whale as it made its jump, looking as if he had just figured something out. As the whale was now back in the water, Joey turned his attention back to the duel, drawing his card and beginning his turn.
"I'll place two cards face down on the field." Joey said, as he placed his two cards face down on the field in his Magic and Trap Card Zone. "Then I'll summon my Panther Warrior in Attack Mode!" Joey announced, as he summoned his monster onto the field in Attack Position. "Since Panther Warrior needs a sacrifice in order to attack, I gotta end my turn. Go ahead, Crab Cake."
"As soon as my Fortress Whale attacks, your Life Points will go down to zero!" Mako said, taunting Joey. "Prepare to be capsized by my almighty behemoth, so it's time to say goodbye to your Life Points. Attack, my whale!" Mako announced his attack.
"Not quite." Joey said, interrupting Mako's planned attack. "I've got a plan to turn both of your monsters into fish sticks! So, I'll activate my Trap Card now, Magic Arm Shield, attach to Panther Warrior!" Joey announced, activating one of his face down cards. "And now it's time to go fishing. And I know just where to find the catch of the day." Just as Joey had said this, Mako's Legendary Fisherman had come out of the water, making it easier for Joey's Panther Warrior to 'catch' Mako's monster. "Now it's time to reel him in and use him as a shield against your attack!"
"No, my Legendary Fisherman!" Mako said, not liking this turn of events at all.
"I don't have to destroy him, cause your whale's about to do that for me!" Joey said, as he explained how he was getting rid of one of Mako's favorite monsters.
"It can't be!" Mako said, as he watched his favorite monster got destroyed, which brought Mako's Life Points down to 900. "I destroyed my own Legendary Fisherman. The most prized card in my entire dueling deck! How could I be so careless to let something like this happen?" Mako was starting to sound defeated, now that his favorite card was destroyed.
"Hey, it's just a card." Joey said, as if he couldn't understand why Mako was acting this way now.
"It's more than just a card!" Mako said, as if he were insulted by what Joey had just said. "I need my Legendary Fisherman in order to be…brave." Mako had hesitated for a moment there, as if he really didn't want to admit it.
"What do ya mean?" Joey said, not understanding what Mako had meant by what he had said. "You're one of the bravest guys I know. You got to give yourself a lot more credit than that, Mako."
"It's not that easy, Joey." Mako said, still acting as if he were already defeated. "Because that card reminds me of my father, and what a courageous man he is."
"Mako…" Joey said, not being able to really say anything as Mako cut him off.
"It's my fault. I crushed my inspiration." Mako said, still sounding defeated.
"You're wrong. You don't need that card." Joey said, trying to be encouraging, while Mako looked like he wanted to say something to that, but held off, as Joey continued. "You've already got what ya need. It's been inside you this whole time, and you don't need a card with a picture of some freaky looking fisherman sitting on a shark to inspire ya. You hear what I'm saying?"
"Back off!" Mako said, clearly not happy.
"Look man, what I'm trying to say is that you can be inspired by your father without that card." Joey said, summarizing what he had said earlier. "There is something inside every Duelist that drives them."
"How would you know, Joey?" Mako said, still not sounding too happy.
"I know, because I duel for my little sister, Serenity, just the same way you duel for your dad. And she inspires me when she's not right next to me." Joey said, explaining his reasoning. "So, don't be so hard on yourself for destroying your Legendary Fisherman, the memories of your dad and your courage are in your heart, not in that card, and nothing can take that away. So, let's get back to this duel already."
"Yes, and it is my attack!" Mako said, getting his fire back, and beginning his next turn, since it was obvious that Joey passed his turn to try and talk some sense into Mako instead. "Fortress Whale, take out his Panther Warrior for good." Mako announced his attack.
"I'm going to have to stop ya, cause I activate Kunai with Chain!" Joey said, as he activated another of his face down cards. "This card stops your whale from attacking and raises my Panther Warrior's Attack Points by 500!"
"But, I'm afraid my whale is still stronger!" Mako said, pointing out the obvious.
"And your point is?" Joey said, not at all detoured by this simple fact. "Panther Warrior, attack his whale now!"
"It can't!" Mako said, still believing that his monster will come out on top. "I already told you, my Fortress Whale has more Attack Points than your Panther Warrior, even with it's power boost. So, I'm afraid your monster's been destroyed!"
"It's true, my Panther Warrior's Attack Points are slightly lower than your whale's, but you're forgetting one thing, this little face down card over here!" Joey said, while pointing to the exact face down card he was referring to, that was on the field in front of him.
"What about it?" Mako said, seeming to be not at all concerned by this.
"I'm glad you asked. It's got just the power boost that my monster needs!" Joey said, seeming rather determined by all of this, as he activated his face down card, which happened to be a Magic Card. "Lightning Blade's electrical jolt raises my panther's Attack Points by 800! Which means your whale's going down!" Joey announced, as Mako's attack failed, ending with Mako's own monster being destroyed instead of Joey's monster.
"He did it!" Tristan and Grandpa shouted together.
"Alright, Joey!" Tea cheered, excited as well.
"That's the way to do it, Joey!" Sere cheered, glad that Joey was turning things around.
"And there goes most of your Life Points." Joey said, pointing out the obvious, as Mako's Life Points dropped to 150. "Any last words?"
"Yes, six." Mako said, answering Joey's question, and indicating that he had six words he wished to say. "This…duel…is…not…over…yet!" Mako seemed rather smug after he had said that. "So, I'll play this, Return of the Doomed." Mako announced, playing a Magic Card from his hand. "It brings back one of my monsters and hides it underwater."
"That's…not good." Joey said, not at all enthusiastic about this.
"Oh no, one of Mako's monsters is back again." Tea said, obviously worried.
"Come on now, Joey." Tristan said, also worried.
"Alright, Mako, here goes." Joey said, as he drew his card and began his turn.
"What on earth are you waiting for!" Mako said, not liking how long it was taking for Joey to make his move. "Hurry up and make your move, so my creature of the deep can strike and end this duel!"
"Activate, Giant Trunade! Drain the sea!" Joey said, as he activated the Magic Card that he had just drawn from his deck at the beginning of his turn. This Magic Card made all Magic and Trap Cards that were on the field go back to the player's hands. This also made it so Mako's monster was out in the open now. "It worked!"
"You've exposed my fisherman." Mako said, once again sounding defeated. "It's all over now, just finish him off."
"It's been an honor to duel you, Mako." Joey said, continuing his turn and making his next move. "Now I place Scapegoat." Joey announced, somewhat subdued, as he played another Magic Card from his hand. "And I sacrifice one of them so my Panther Warrior can attack!" And that's exactly what Joey's monster did, attacked Mako's monster and destroyed it, bringing Mako's Life Points down to zero. Joey had won the duel, but the atmosphere around them was rather subdued, as everyone still continued to watch.
"Are you alright, Mako?" Joey said, concerned.
"Yes, that was an excellent duel! Congratulations!" Mako said, all of the sudden happy again.
"Thank you." Joey said, he didn't seem at all convinced that Mako was alright.
"Here are my two rarest cards." Mako said, as he got said cards out of his deck. "And two Locator Cards." And then he handed them over to Joey.
"Hold on, you don't need to give me your fisherman card." Joey said, a bit taken back by Mako giving him his most favorite card.
"Yes, I do." Mako said, sounding confident about it. "You earned these cards. Besides, you were right, I don't need a card to remember my dad." Joey seemed somewhat surprised by this as Mako handed his cards closer to Joey. "His courage and support are always with me inside my heart."
"That's right." Joey said, as he took what Mako was offering him. "Thank you, and don't worry, I'll treat it with respect." Joey announced, referring to Mako's favorite card.
"You better!" Mako said, as he and Joey shook hands, it looked as if they had just become the best of friends right in that moment. "And best of luck in the Finals."
"Thanks." Joey said, with a smile. "You're all right, Mako!" Just after that the crowd started to cheer at how well the duel was and how friendly the two seemed afterwards.
"You did it, Joey!" Sere said, as she ran up to Joey, the others following behind her, but at a slower pace. "You can go to the Finals now!"
"I know, isn't it great?" Joey said, all excited.
"Who's this?" Mako said, just now noticing the unknown girl with the group, he had never seen her before.
"This is Yugi's sister." Joey said, answering Mako's question.
"My name's Serenity Moto." Sere said, introducing herself to Mako. "Though I go by Sere, since Joey's sister and I have the same name."
"It's nice to meet you. I'm…" Mako said, starting to introduce himself.
"I know. You're Mako Tsunami. Everyone already told me who you are and that they first met you at Duelist Kingdom." Sere said, as she cut Mako off.
"Yes, about that." Mako said, confirming that she was, indeed, right. "But, if you're Yugi Moto's sister, then why weren't you at Duelist Kingdom with him?"
"Well, being Yugi's sister is a bit of a recent development." Sere said, for some reason, a bit shy as she explained the situation.
"I see." Mako said, understanding what she was getting at, the fact that she was recently adopted into the family.
"It was nice seeing you again, Mako, but we really should get going." Tea said, saving Sere from Mako's attention, and interrupting before Mako could say anything else that could make Sere feel even more uncomfortable.
"Ah, that's right." Sere said, when it hit her what they were previously doing before the duel had started. "We were looking for Yugi, before we got sidetracked by coming here."
"Of course, I won't detour you from continuing your search." Mako said, understanding that they had to get going, after all, Joey had to make his way to the location of where the Finals were going to be held. "After all, you should be there for your brother every step of the way."
"Come on, let's get going!" Joey said, getting all excited.
Once the group of friends said their goodbyes to Mako, with Mako giving his own goodbyes to the group, they left Mako and the aquarium behind. Once again on the search for Yugi.
I hope you all enjoyed the chapter. I dunno when I'll get the next chapter done for this story. But I have started to write it. It just helps for me to be in a YGO mood when I work on this story, makes everything flow a lot easier.
On a site note, I have finally graduated from college. Now I just need to find a job, going to be having loan bills creeping up on me sooner rather than later.