A/N: I'm sorry for not uploading recently, I've been quite busy over the last month due to Christmas and a family holiday, but I've got a two-in-one chapter today. Thank you for being patient with my uploads and please enjoy the FanFiction. :) (A final note from me is that I was reading through the previous chapters a few days ago, and found that I put the name "Lyra" in some parts of the story- those are meant to say "Lucy" and not "Lyra"- so I'm sorry about that or any other typos I made or will make in future ^^")
Chapter 4- Weevil VS Yugi
(James POV.)
The sun rose as my five friends and I looked from the bow of the ship where the water was sparkling and the Duellist Kingdom growing closer.
"Man. This Duelist Kingdom looks like a pretty big place, Yugi." I sighed.
"Finding your grandpa's not gonna be easy." Joey grimaced.
"Well, we gotta start somewhere." Yugi exclaimed with a glint in his eye.
A few minutes later, the ship dropped its anchor at a concrete pier, and more black-suited tournament officials awaited us and the rest of the passengers.
"Whoa, check out the suits." Lucy frowned as more passengers gathered at the rail of the ship and a loudspeaker addressed us.
"Attention, all duelists. Please disembark in an orderly fashion." The megaphone blared as Tristan suddenly began to get nervous.
"Hey James, what if one a' those security guys finds out we're stowaways? We oughta just play it safe and swim back!"
"We're in the middle of nowhere, lamebrain! If you can just try and act normal, we'll be okay." Téa complained as we walked down the ramp. All of us with the exception of Tristan succeed admirably in looking nondescript and calm. We walked through an aisle formed by tournament security; Tristan hesitated before getting it over with quickly, striding with arms stiff at his sides.
"Just act cool. Act cool. Cool as a cucumber, keep it cooooool..." He mumbled to himself as a member of security noticed him.
"Hey you!" He shouted which made Tristan stop dead and Lucy and me to turn along with Yugi, Joey, and Téa. "Don't look so nervous, you guys are our guests here."
"That's right! I'm your guest!" He hurried away before security could reconsider. Tristan recovered his breath once we on the dock- as far away from the ship as possible, whilst the rest of us stood around. "I think I just had a heart attack!"
"Way to play it cool, Tristan." Téa sarcastically remarked.
"Yeah. That wasn't suspicious at all." Lucy finished
"Mmmph! All right! Every single one of us made it here safe a- a-achoo!" Joey sneezed with Téa to jolt to the side with an "Eeew!" as he sniffed.
"You would never have caught that cold if it wasn't for Weevil." Yugi sighed as our blonde friend rubbed his nose.
"Speakin' of our wormy friend, looks like he just slithered his way off the boat and is already lookin' to start some trouble. That slime ball, I'd love to wipe that smirk off his face." Joey planned, noticing Weevil who was watching us from across the dock, smirking unpleasantly. Yugi and I both glared back.)
One of the black-suited tournament security, addressed everyone assembled on the pier. "Welcome, all duelists. Please— follow the stairs to meet your host!" Kimo gestured broadly to a large castle at the top of a series of stone steps up the rock formations that supported it.
"That castle's gotta belong to Pegasus!" I exclaimed.
"Then what're we waitin' for!" Joey asked rhetorically.
People wandered up the stairs in ones, twos, and larger groups, looking around at the vast forest that reached toward the cliff. Duelist Kingdom is abundant with natural beauty. Yugi and Joey climb toward the castle, with the rest of us behind them. I then noticed Téa glance into the forest and once again spots Bakura, standing beside a tree "Huh? What's that?" She questioned, causing us to stop walking.
"Huh? What do you see, Téa?" Lucy quizzed.
"It looked like... Bakura." She pointed out.
"Bakura? From school?" Yugi asked as we all peered into the trees, but by this time, Bakura had vanished.)
"Again with this Bakura stuff?" Tristan enquired.
"Where is 'e, Téa?" The blonde of our group doubted.
"That's twice that I've seen him now. But, he's not there anymore. Maybe it's all in my head." She asked herself.
"Come on, we're on a rescue mission, remember?" Lucy pointed out.
As we turned away and kept walking, I noticed Bakura reappear from behind the tree, watching us go, but I didn't say anything, due to time constraints. A few moments later, we were before the gates of the castle, duellists continued gathering. I spotted Mai in the crowd near a pair of duelists whispering to each other about famous duellists in the crowd.
"Wow, these're all the best duelists in the world! But where's the world champion, Kaiba?" One asked.
"Didn'tcha hear? Some kid beat 'im! On his own turf, too." The other responded.
"Are you serious? I thought Kaiba was the best." The first duellist questioned.
"He was, but not anymore. Yugi's supposed to be the kid to beat now." The second replied.
The others obviously overheard this as I saw Joey and Téa smugly nudge Yugi, who looked a bit unnerved at this evidence of his notoriety.
"Attention." Kimo addressed us from the balcony of the castle. "Please gather around. Your benevolent host is anxious to greet you all."
We watched the balcony intently- especially Yugi- our enemy was about to appear. "Boy, would I like to get just five minutes alone with that guy..." Joey whispered to me.
"Only if you give me a shot of him too." I added. I knew what he meant- Pegasus getting a beating and I couldn't agree more. The subject of our topic then appeared on the balcony, striking in his gold-buttoned red suit. Gazing down at the crowd superiorly.
(Yugi POV.)
'I'm not leaving this island until I save my grandpa, no matter what Pegasus has planned for me!' I thought, as Pegasus continued to observe the crowd, his face shadowed and sinister as he chuckled. He then spread his arms welcomingly and addresses the crowd; some people cheer.
"Greetings, duellists! I am Maximillion Pegasus! It is my great honour and pleasure to welcome you all to the Duelist Kingdom. You stand before me, the world's greatest duelists- but come tournament's end, only one shall be crowned King of Games!" He explained. As we all listened, I looked down at the deck in my hand. "I implore you all to assemble your duelling decks with care; with creativity; and with cunning! For this competition will test your skills like never before! To track your progress in the tournament, you've each been given a duelling glove. You've also been given two precious star chips." In his right hand, Pegasus held one of the dark red gloves I was sent. In his left, he held two of the metal stars that fit in the glove. As he further explained what we were here for, I put on my duelling glove. "You must wager these star chips on each duel you compete in. To advance to the final level of competition for a chance at the three-million-dollar prize, you must win ten star chips! Ten star chips will admit you into my castle, where you'll face me in one final duel!"
'If grandpa's here, I'd bet my duelling glove he's hidden away in that castle! But I'll never be able to get in there with all the guards around. We're just gonna have to win enough star chips to get inside.' I thought.
"This will be a tournament unlike anything you have ever experienced! State-of-the-art duelling arenas cover this entire island, and intriguing new duelling rules will be in effect! I could tell you what these new rules are— but what fun would that be! You'll discover them as you compete, or you won't last very long! Remember— play boldly; think strategically; and duel mercilessly! You have one full hour to prepare— both your cards and yourselves. When the skies light up with fireworks, the duels will begin!" Pegasus finished and retreated from the balcony, his millennium eye glimmering in the light— everyone in the crowd cheered with the exception of me and my friends.
(Pegasus POV.)
'The duellists have arrived. Yugi has taken the bait. And the games are about to begin! Everything goes according to plan!' I snickered to myself.
(Yugi POV.)
'I gotta win my way into that castle. I just gotta.'
Around an hour later, we were in a meadow on the island, awaiting the start of the tournament. "Yugi, I don't know if I can win this thing. Maybe it'd be best for you to take your star chip back." Joey suggested.
"Nah, you keep it. Your little sister's counting on you to win the tournament's prize money for her." I smiled.
"Thanks, man." My best friend thanked.
"You can do it!" Téa encouraged.
"You've just gotta steer clear of the more experienced duelists at first." Lucy pointed out.
"Yeah, it's just a matter of working your way up!" Tristan exclaimed.
"We believe in both of you." James smiled.
"Thanks, you guys. Well, Yugi, between your grandpa and my sister, we don't have any room for mistakes." My best friend explained,
"Right." I agreed, as fireworks started shooting up into the bright blue sky from the towers of the castle.
"The fireworks!" Lucy pointed out.
"It's starting!" Téa smiled.
"Let's do it!" I shouted before we began walking through the meadow.
"So, what's your plan, Yugi?" Joey quizzed.
"Well, I might as well stick with Weevil. After all, we do have a score to settle..." I sneered.
"I was hopin' you'd say that!" Joey grinned.
"Uh, isn't that him?" Téa asked, pointing to Weevil. Ahead of us the path forks, and one direction leads straight into the forest while the other continued in the meadow. Weevil was standing on the path ahead at the edge of the forest, just barely visible in the distance.
"Huh? Weevil! Weevil! I challenge you to a duel!" I yelled, but he didn't answer, instead, he turned and darted into the forest, cackling to himself.
"I can't believe it!" James jeered.
"Weevil's runnin' away!" Joey continued his remark. I then began chasing after him. "Hey— wait up!" Joey shouted after me, as he and the rest of my friends joined the chase. Weevil led us down a forest path, and moths swarm out of the trees in a cloud.
"Whoa! Where're all these moths coming from?!" Lucy covered her mouth, with James draping his arm over her shoulder— obviously caring about his girlfriend.
"Ugh! They're disgusting!" Téa contemplated.
"He's fast, for a small guy!" Tristan remarked.
"Maybe you're just slow for a big guy!" Téa sighed.
"We're never gonna catch 'im! As long as the whole island's in bounds, he'll keep runnin' all day!" Joey spoke.
'What's Weevil up to? He's wanted to duel with me ever since we met on the boat; so, what's he running for? Waaait a minute...' I thought. "What'd he say on the boat?!" I asked myself and my group of friends. 'It must have something to do with the new rules! So, I better figure out what— and fast!' I continued my thought train as we reached a clearing in the forest; where Weevil was waiting for us.
"There 'e is!" Joey pointed out.
"Welcome— said the spider to the fly! You flew right into my trap!" The blue-haired insect duellist commented.
"It's time you answer for what you did on the boat, Weevil!" My Millennium Puzzle began to glow, shake and sway on its own. "Yu-Gi-Oh...!" I cried out as I transformed back into my alter-ego. "All right, Weevil, time to find out if you're as good at duelling as you are at running away!" I laughed.
"Was I simply running away, or cleverly weaving you into my web!?" He asked us all.
"It's time to duel!" I shouted.
"Heheheheh... As you WIIIIIIISH!" He grinned. The ground then began to shake.
"Ah! An earthquake!" Tristan gasped.
Weevil laughed evilly; he was expecting this, and he's ready. "What have you done?" I asked him. The ground rumbles as we were all shocked to see a duel arena surface right there next to us, Weevil chuckles. A glowing multi-colored line appears in the ground, and the earth splits in two at the line, revealing that this area of ground was actually the surface of a giant metal door. Somewhere within, pulleys and mechanisms smoothly go into action, spitting steam.
"Whoa! The entire ground is transforming!" James gasped; as the large rectangular patch of ground opened up, an equally-large object appears from below. The holographic duel arena rose from the depths of the earth at Weevil's back, a large number 15 on its side. One end of it was red, the other were blue. Two tall podia of the same color unfold from it, overlooking the stage between them, which is the familiar grid of ten rectangles per side. Two towers of lights also unfold from each side; the holographic projectors.
"It's gigantic!" Téa inhaled.
"Man! These aren't gonna be like the duels back home!" Joey grimaced.
"You've just stepped into a hornet's nest— and there's no way out!" Weevil laughed.
"What is that?" I asked.
"These giant arenas must be set up all over the island!" My blonde friend suggested.
"I'll just meet you on the field!" I pointed out.
Weevil ran and jumped onto the platform at the base of the red podium, tossing his backpack at his side. The platform rose until he looked out over the podium, his glasses glinted in the sun.
"I don't like this. Weevil's a little too cocky." James implied as I took the blue podium.
"I noticed that you have just one star chip, Yugi. I guess that means I'll have the pleasure of eliminating you from the tournament! Once you're gone, everyone else's chips will be easy pickings!"
"Not if I take your two first!"
"What?!"
"This will be an all-or-nothing match for the both of us." I smiled.
"Ha! Why should I risk both my star chips, when you only have one!?" He questioned.
"Because I have something else I think you want— my whole Duel Monsters deck!" I held it out in front of me, before shuffling and placing it down on the field.
"So! You'd risk your grandpa's deck? Fine with me! Eheheheheheheh! Winning all your cards will be an easy way to exterminate you once and for all!" Weevil snickered.
"Exterminate?" Téa was revolted
"Swat that little twerp like a mosquito!" Joey and James encouraged.
A trio of bystanders walking through the forest then showed up. "Whoa! Sounds like a duel is about to start over there! That's Weevil Underwood— but who's the other guy?"
"That guy is Yugi Muto. He beat Kaiba. An' I happen to be his best friend Joey Wheeler. An' these four? These four are trespassers." Joey laughed.
My other friends then groaned as the three random duellists stood amazed.
"I thought I wouldn't be seeing a Weevil-Yugi match up till the finals!" The first duellist stated as the lights began to start up.
"Weevil's a regional champ; no new kid's got a chance against him!" The second specified.
"Well, Yugi, my adoring public is waiting, so, we should begin!" Weevil smirked.
"Duel!" We both yelled.
Weevil Life Points- 2000
Yugi Life Points- 2000
"Let's see how you like my Killer Needle!" He slapped down the card and the console around it shimmered with multicolored lines running in circuits. The holographic projector towers start humming, and the monster appears: a giant, vicious-looking wasp.
"You'll have to get through my Mammoth Graveyard first!" I informed him. "This massive monster will match your annoying insect point for point! Attack!"
"Killer Needle, let's show the Mammoth your stinger! Attack!" Weevil's Killer Needle counterattacked, and destroyed Mammoth Graveyard.
"No!" I grimaced.
"Ha! Gone after one sting? He must be allergic!"
'I don't get it! Both creatures were evenly matched! It should've been a stalemate!' I began to get scared.
"Have you begun to figure out yet why I led you all the way to this forest area? If you just look around, then you will see that this area is an exact replica of our surrounding environment. One part wasteland and one part forest. And who thrives in the forest? Bugs! The strongest, most powerful insects rule the forest! So as long as I play my bugs in the forest area, I get a field power bonus! I guess you just weren't listening when Pegasus said that this tournament would have exciting new surprises in store for us! Maybe if you were smart enough to steal the tournament's secret new rules like I did, you'd be getting a field power bonus instead of me! Ahahahaha!" The blue-haired kid laughed.
"He cheated! He led us here 'cause he knew he'd have an unfair advantage!" Joey shouted.
"Go ahead— call me a cheater; you're all just angry that you didn't swipe the rules yourselves! And because you didn't, little Yugi's about to get stung!" The kid with the golden glasses mentioned.
"Hahaha!" My alter ego chuckled.
"What?! How could you be laughing!?"
"Because; take a look at your ferocious Killer Needle now." I pointed out as Weevil's monster glows with light, and exploded.
"W-w-what? Oh no! My monster! What have you done with my monster?! Ugh!" Yugi's opponent grimaced. "This makes no sense! My creature was supercharged with a field power bonus! But according to this, Yugi's creature somehow became just as powerful!"
"Looks like my Mammoth got a field power bonus from the wasteland area just like your bugs do from the forest!" I smiled.
"Rrrgh! The field point advantage was supposed to be mine alone!"
"I kept wondering about something on the boat ride here, Weevil. Why were we traveling to some remote island just to duel? But as soon as I saw this holographic display grid, it all came together. Every monster has a type of field that it does best on, kind of like a home field advantage. And what makes this island so special, is that it contains every type of field imaginable. So, when you deliberately led us to this spot, you were clearly hoping to get some kind of field advantage."
"Rrrgh... heeheeheeheeheheheheh! You're awfully clever to put it all together like that, Yugi! But figuring out one rule won't be enough! There are surprises hidden under every rock, and I know them all!" Weevil laughed.
"You can beat 'em, Yugi!" Lucy and Téa cheered.
"Don't let that flea scare ya! He's bluffing!" James assured.
Weevil drew his card. "Really? Then let's just see how you handle this bluff." He placed 'Hercules Beetle' onto the field. Its stats rose immediately."My Hercules Beetle will find a way to crawl under your skin!"
'Ahh...! Even though I know about the field power bonus, it's too late to rebuild my deck now. I guess a combo attack would be my best bet.' I thought. "I play Feral Imp! And now, I'll add this "Horn of the Unicorn" so its magic will raise my attack points." My Imp grew a unicorn's horn, and its attack points rose to 2000.
"Heeheehee! You'll have to do a lot better than that! Hercules Beetle, attack!"
"Feral Imp, Magic Lightning attack!" I called out as Feral Imp shocked Hercules Beetle, but takes a hit in the chest and disintegrates.
"Yugi's attack didn't even faze that thing!" I heard Téa tell Lucy.
"Somethin's screwy!" Joey complained.
"My Imp's Magic Lightning attack should've destroyed your Beetle; is this another trick, Weevil?!" I queried.
"No, Yugi, I just thought you knew that all monsters with a field power bonus were also resistant to any type of magic attack! And since my Hercules Beetle easily deflected your lightning bolts, he has more than enough power left to destroy your puny Feral Imp— and continue to eat away at your life-points!" Weevil
Weevil Life Points- 2000
Yugi Life Points- 1350
"Even that four-eyed tick's weakest bugs're gonna be tough to beat, so long as he's got that field power bonus." Joey snarled.
"Yeah, but it's not exactly like it can just be turned off." James and Tristan complained.
"That Weevil's a no-good cheat!" Téa pouted.
"It's your turn! Make your move!" Weevil gestured.
'Maybe I should use my next monster to defend. By putting my card in defense mode, my monster will take a hit, but my life-points will be spared.' I thought as I set a monster.
"So, we're defending, now, are we? Very clever! Since I can't see your monster's defense points, I can't be sure I can beat it, but even your strongest monster can't stand against my Basic Insect!" Weevil's monster's points rose up.
"Not only does he get a field power bonus, but I'm upgrading him with an Insect Armour and Laser Cannon, and a Level Two 'Power Boost'!"
'No! His insect's so powerful now, my defense won't stand a chance, and after it falls, my life-points are next!'
"Now, Yugi, for all the innocent little bugs you've squashed, stomped, crushed, or fumigated, iiiit's— payback time!" The laser cannon fired, and I bowed my head, letting the podium shield me. My face-down Griffore card was blown away. "Heheheheheh, you'll have to do better than that, if you hope to survive my bug's laser-powered arsenal!
"Then I'll play this card." I set a defense mode monster.
(Weevil POV.)
'Hmm. Another defense card, no doubt. And I'll make sure defending is all he can do! Heheheh! (aloud) I'm going to keep you on the defensive! Attack now, with any monster, and you will instantly activate this trap card!' I placed a face-down card.
"That Weevil's got Yugi cornered!" Yugi's spikey-haired friend shouted from the side-lines.
"Yeah, he can't even counterattack!" His blonde-haired friend protested.
"As long as my trap card remains in play, you're powerless to make a move against me! So, does my tightening web make you squirm?" I laughed.
(Yugi POV.)
'He's so busy bragging, he's not paying any attention to my moves. Maybe I can set a little trap of my own.' I quietly placed a face-down card.
"Face it, Yugi, I've got you pinned down! And while you're totally unable to attack me, I can attack you anytime I want! Each turn you cower, I create a new monster!" He drew his next card and I drew mine. Another two turns had passed as he placed 'Kamakiriman' onto the duel field. "Keep drawing, Yugi! My army of insects just keeps getting bigger! I'm going to wipe out all your monsters in one bug blitzkrieg!"
'That's right, Weevil. Put all your monsters on the field— that's exactly what I'm counting on!' I thought, smiling.
"Just look at our Yugi; he's so confident up there!" Téa pointed out.
"I know! When he's duelin' it's like he becomes a totally different guy!" Joey gestured.
"Heeheehee, well what do you know! I'm down to my last monstrous insect, and you know what that means, Yugi! You're about to be exterminated!" Weevil laughed.
"We'll see what my cards have to say about that!" I had drawn the Dark Magician card. 'Yes! The Dark Magician! This is perfect; there's no way Weevil can resist him as a target!' All right, Weevil— I defend with the Dark Magician!" I put my card face-down on the field.
"Excellent, I'll destroy your very favourite card first! Now, my pet! Power up your laser cannon! Heheheheheheh! Ataaaaaack!" The moment that Weevil's bug commits its attack, I began to chuckle; Weevil realized with horror that he has just doomed himself to getting served.
"Hmhmhmhmhmhmhm." I laughed.
"Wha! Why are you laughing?!" He asked.
"Weevil, you're not the only one who can set a trap card." I laughed.
"What?!" He squealed.
"You were so busy grandstanding you paid no attention to the cards I put into play." I explained.
"But I thought they were all monster c-cards!" Weevil hesitated.
"Not all. While you loaded the field with your bug monsters, I prepared a special surprise— the power of my "Mirror Force" trap card!" I countered.
"Hold your fire!" He called out to his monster. The laser cannon fires, and Dark Magician appeared, along with an iridescent shield of light that deflected the laser blast and refracts it into several lasers, which shot back toward Weevil's field.
"Too late, Weevil, you've already ordered your attack on my Dark Magician. And Mirror Force will deflect it right back at you!" I smiled as the bugs were incinerated.
Weevil Life Points- 555
Yugi Life Points- 1350
"Uuugh... my lifepoints are devastated!" He scowled.
'Yes!'
"Heeey! Yeah Yugi!" The girls and James cheered with joy.
"Way to go!" Joey applauded.
(Weevil POV.)
'He obliterated my army of beautiful bugs...! How dare he!'
(Yugi POV.)
"You're a liar and a cheat, Weevil; but it was your overconfidence that allowed me to get the best of you. Your insects are decimated; your life-points are low; and as you yourself said before— you have used up all your monsters!"
"Heheheheheheh! Actually, I lied about that, too! I still have my most formidable creature waiting in the wings! And this unconquerable insect will swat you down once and for all!" He laughed. My opponent smirked, but I don't think any of the others heard what he said.
"Ha! Great play, Yug!" Joey laughed.
"He wiped out Weevil's army in one move!" Tristan gasped.
"All right!" James and Lucy cheered.
"You've got 'im on the ropes!" Téa informed me.
"Ahaha! Yeah, right!" I heard a woman's voice cackle— more specifically, it was Mai.
Téa was the first to turn around. Mai had shown up on the side-lines, and I could see behind her that the group of bystanders had grown.
"Mai!" My three male friends asked as we all turned to her.
"You losers don't seem to realize who your little pal is up against. Weevil's regional champion. He's got moves your shrimp couldn't even dream of!" She sniggered.
(Téa POV.)
I found Mai to be particularly annoying. I let off some fumes here, as Joey looked at me with concern. 'Ooh, that Mai! She's always butting in with her big mouth! Well, I'm not gonna let her trash my friends!' "Nobody asked you! So why don't you just take a hike!" I fought back.
"And miss the chance to watch a champion like Weevil, as he turns this around? No way."
"Yeah, I mean Weevil really came from behind to win the Regionals." Joey admitted.
"He's tough…" Tristan continued.
"and sneaky." James whispered.
(Yugi POV.)
"Whose side are you two goofballs on anyway?!" Téa interrogated.
"All I'm sayin' is, for Yugi, this is his first official duel." Joey stated.
Téa then started to go red with anger. It didn't seem like James, Joey, and Tristan were saying all this just because Mai was pretty— in fact Joey was a lot calmer and more rational than the last time we met with Mai.
"And he's fightin' a champ." Lucy blankly stated.
"Mhmhm!" Mai laughed.
"You may have flattened my army of bugs, Yugi, but you haven't won! I have plenty of tricks up my sleeve!" My opponent chuckled.
"You've done an awful lot of buzzing throughout this whole duel, Weevil, but I'm still here waiting for the sting." I mocked.
"Since you're new to this whole dueling tournament thing, I'll try to make this simple for you. I'm gonna wipe that goofy grin from your face! Now let's see which lucky bug gets to take the first bite! Heheheheheheheh..." He chuckled. "Oh! But this little bug won't stand a chance against all your ferocious monsters! Oh, well, I'll play him in defense mode." He said innocently, but I knew that on the inside, that he was laughing.
"Huh. That would've been a nice bluff, but, I still haven't forgotten about the trap card you played!" I informed him.
'He didn't trap me then and he's not gonna trap me now. Weevil's trap card will activate as soon as I call an attack, and, it'll destroy all the monsters I have on the field. But, what if I get my monsters off the field first, and then destroy Weevil's trap! Oh, that's it!' I realised. "I'll spring your trap, Weevil! But first— The 'Monster Recovery' card! It allows me to call back all the creatures I have on the field! Monsters, return to your cards! Now your trap has nothing to snare. And once my monsters are all safely back in my deck, the Recovery card also lets me draw a new hand." I told him, playin the card and shuffling my hand to my deck to draw five new cards. "Now all I have to do is sacrifice one of my weaker monsters, and your trap is sprung." I informed, Playing Kuriboh in attack mode. "Kuriboh! Attack!"
"Aiissh! No!" He complained, the trap activates; which was a huge, nasty worm that went straight for Kuriboh, who soaked up the attack and was destroyed.
"Trap cards only work when they catch you by surprise. 6:00 Next time don't give your plan away!" I let him know.
Weevil Life Points- 555
Yugi Life points- 1050
"Heeheeheeheehahahahaha! I didn't! I don't give a bee's behind about that stupid trap! I tricked you into recalling your monsters, so you couldn't attack this!" He admitted, whilst flip-summoning his Larvae moth.
'It's just a simple little Larvae Moth. That tiny creature can't be much of a threat. What's Weevil up to now?' I asked.
"Heheheheheheheh! Sure, he's just a little slug now— but the Cocoon of Evolution will change all that!" He laughed, playing the card he just mentioned onto the field.
"What!" I gasped.
"Isn't it beautiful!" He asked, as I also heard an unpleasant squishing sound, the Larvae Moth began to surround itself with silken strands. Only Weevil would think of it as beautiful; I was grossed out, not to mention nervous as the strands continued to build around Larvae Moth, as it twisted and writhed. Soon, the strands began to form into a hard, pink shell.
"Ew. That's just gross." Téa admitted.
"Weevil's bug is sealin' itself in a cocoon!" Joey pointed out.
"Behold! My 'Cocoon of Evolution'! Hahahahahaha! Within that cocoon sits my tiny little Larvae Moth! And over the next five turns he will undergo a startling transformation— from harmless caterpillar to unstoppable Great Moth!"
"Then I'll crack your Cocoon before that happens!" I smiled.
"Easier said than done, Yugi! For my Cocoon of Evolution also gets a field power bonus from the wilderness around us, increasing its defense points! It'll be so strong, you won't even be able to scratch its surface! Just five more turns, Yugi! In five turns, my Great Moth will fully evolve and finish you off!"
'If what Weevil says is true, I'd better act fast. That— thing's— getting bigger and stronger with each passing second!' I thought. 'I have to find a way to break open that Cocoon now! I can't let that Moth get to its fifth stage of evolution. But do I have a card that strong enough to stop it? Hmm...' "Gaia the Fierce Knight! Shatter that Cocoon!" I ordered my knight as I placed it on the field. My monster charged, both lances pointed at the cocoon, but it then stopped short. The horse reared back, shying away from the huge cocoon.
"Ah! The field power bonus makes it too strong!" James grimaced.
"That's one turn down! Care to try again? Ahahahahahaha!" My blue-haired opponent cackled.
Weevil Life Points- 555
Yugi's Life-Points- 750)
'Weevil's Cocoon is gonna be tough to crack; and for each attack that fails, my lifepoints go down.' I thought.
"Oh no..." The girls frowned.
"Hang tough, Yugi— you'll pop that pus-bag!" James and Joey told me. Encouragingly.
"Ahahahaha." Mai laughed.
"Just what do you think you're laughing at?" Téa frowned.
"All that stupid cheerleading you're doing. You make it sound like your 'Yugi' still has a chance." The blonde mocked.
"Nngh, of course he does!" Téa fought back, Joey holding her back by the arms.
"Don't listen to her, Téa." He ordered.
"Any duelist that's ever gone up against Weevil's Cocoon of Evolution has been totally trashed." The blonde woman continued.
"All of them?!" Four of my five friends gasped.
"But, Yugi's got us to help him beat it." Téa told her.
"Hear it growing?! The more time you waste, the more powerful it becomes!" Weevil sniggered.
'If I don't come up with something quick, I'm not just gonna lose this duel, I'll lose my only chance to save my grandpa. There's no way I can let that happen!' I thought.
"Tick-tock, tick-tock. Just four more turns until my ultimate insect emerges! Then you can stop worrying about how you're going to destroy it, and start worrying about how it's going to destroy you! Ahahahahahahaha!" He counted down after drawing his card.
'Maybe I should prepare a defense, in case I really can't stop that thing.' I set 'Beaver Warrior' in face-down defense mode.
"Huh! You're wasting your turn! No defense will save your lifepoints once my Moth is out!" He confirmed as another turn passed.
'I have to figure out a way to turn this duel around! Weevil's pretty confident that whatever's growing in that cocoon is unbeatable, but there's gotta be some way to pop that thing open— and wipe that smirk off his face! But how?' I questioned.
"Hang in there, Yugi!"
"Ya gotta win this for your grandpa! He's countin' on ya!" Joey reminded me.
"I know he is..." I told him.
"Then you can't keep letting this little creep push you around! Yugi— ya gotta get fired up!" Lucy shouted.
'Wait— that's it! Get fired up!' I realised.
"So d'you guys sit around and work up these lame cheers, or do they just come to you? I mean, don't you realize that your pep-talk nonsense only distracts Yugi from the game?" Mai smirked.
"How would you know? I bet no one's ever even wanted to be your friend, let alone cared enough to cheer you on." Téa almost mocked.
"Friends haven't helped Yugi any. He's losing." Mai then glanced up at me, seeing me give her and my friends a grin and thumbs-up. "...Huh?!"
"Yeah! Hey! Yess!" The boys cheered.
"All right!" Lucy laughed.
"Well, Mai, from the look on Yugi's face, I'd say that having friends just did help him out. So there!" Téa stuck her tongue out at Mai.
"Go! Curse of Dragon! Take flight!" I placed Curse of Dragon on the field and then placed the 'Burning Land' card on the card space beneath it. "And, I'll combine it! With this magic card! Attack, with Dragon Flame!" My 'Curse of Dragon' breathed fire at the Cocoon; it bounces off, but lights up the ground around it.
"What do you think you're doing! You know your little firefly can't hurt my Cocoon!" Weevil gasped, causing me to laugh. "What's so funny?!"
"Whoever said I was aiming for your Cocoon? I combined my "Burning Land" magic card with my Curse of Dragon, to destroy the forest all around your Cocoon!" I informed him.
"No forest! That means— I lose my field power bonus!" He realised.
"Exactly. Your Cocoon was too tough to attack directly— but without its field power bonus, it's just a big target!"
"Aah!" He screamed.
"Now let's try this again! Gaia, the Fierce Knight! Attack!" I ordered my knight for the final time, he struck the cocoon and the blow resonated.
"He did it!" Téa applauded.
"Popped it open like a zit!" Joey cheered.
"Hehehehehee..." I heard Weevil laugh, but it didn't make sense, Gaia's attack left a big, gaping hole in the side of the Cocoon— but the icky squishing sound could still be heard- the bug in the Cocoon was still alive!
"Huh?" The crowd and I stood, confused.
"Is it still alive?" Téa questioned.
"I've got a bad feeling we're about to find out..." James paused.
"See anything?" Téa asked, hesitantly.
An eerie animal cry was then heard along with the same gross sloshing being seen. The field around the Cocoon was obscured by dust.
"It's still... still movin'." Joey gasped.
"You're surprised?" Mai asked them as the creature lifted its leg. It was big, and green. The creature wailed again, rising up on unsteady limbs.
"Heheheheheheh!" My opponent laughed.
"It must've evolved enough to survive!" Lucy looked away in fear.
"Ugh!"
"I told you Weevil was good." Mai repeated.
"I'm impressed that you pierced my Cocoon, Yugi, but still you were unable to stop the evolution of my ultimate insect— the Great Moth!" Weevil laughed, seeing the little green Larvae Moth had grown up. It was a big green moth as tall as the duelling podium we were stood on, and at least that wide. It had a yellowish horn and antennae, along with a jewel-like red feature which may be its only eye. The wings had eye-mimicking patches in yellow and red colours.
"But I thought, it took five turns." I gulped.
"Heheheheh! So, you stopped him one turn early! He's still strong enough to beat you!" He laughed.
"Oh no..." The audience gasped.
'Ugh, Weevil turned this match around once more— but I'm not giving up!' I promised myself.
"Heheheheheh! So, Yugi, feeling outclassed yet?! Or perhaps you're enjoying your first major-league dueling loss! Heeheeheeheeh!"
"Hm. You may have gotten your prized monster onto the field, Weevil, but I'll still find a way to squash that oversized bug!" I warned him.
"Ha! You'll pay for that stinging jab, with your lifepoints! Great Moth, take flight!"
"So be it! We'll settle this in the skies!" I told him as the 'Great Moth' rose aloft and squared off against my 'Curse of Dragon' who screamed a challenge.
"I think it's high time I pay back your Knight, for demolishing my Cocoon!" He shouted.
'My Knight! He's the heart of my attack force! There's no way I can afford to lose him!'
"This is it, Yugi! My Great Moth will crush your defences, slay your Knight, and blast your Dragon from the skies!"
"Not if I can help it, Weevil! Nngh!" I slapped down a card.
"But that's just it, you can't help it! Moth! Hurricane attack!" He boldly ordered.
"No! My Beaver Warrior! Ugh, my defense." I breathed.
"It's hopeless! Nothing can stand against the gale-force winds of my moth hurricane! Your Knight will be totally blown away!" Weevil smirked as the torrential winds swept up by Great Moth's wings obscure the field, hiding Gaia from view. "Hahahahaha! That'll teach 'im to mess with my cocoon!"
"Don't count on it." I laughed. "Weevil, you were so busy fawning over your Moth, you didn't notice I played a 'Polymerization' card!"
"But...! I thought...!" He stopped.
"If I have two compatible monsters on the field, I can use my 'Polymerization' card and fuse them into one ultimate creature." Gaia's new steed was Curse of Dragon, and together my two monsters rose to a level opposite the 'Great Moth' in the pollen-filled air.
"I'm not some beginner, I know what fusion does!" He bragged.
"Then you must know it increases my attack points. My fused Dragon-Knight combo is now powerful enough to go head-to-head with your Great Moth!"
"Hahahahahahahaha! I wouldn't be so sure about that! Look again!" He laughed.
"Huh...? No...!" As I watched, his dragon-mounted knight lost points, little by little. "My knight. He's losing points. And fast. ...But how? And why?"
"Heheheheh. It's poison, Yugi. Poison particles from my Great Moth. Each time it uses its Hurricane attack, it releases tons of these tiny toxic particles— and your precious dragon-knight combo is being poisoned by their deadly touch! Ahahahahahaha!" He chuckled hysterically as Gaia's points dropped below 2000, with no end in sight.
'My Knight is losing points with each passing second! But how do I protect him against the very air itself?!' I questioned.
"Looks to me like my poison particles are taking their toll, Yugi!" Four-eyes chuckled.
"Oh no! My Knight's really in serious trouble. And there's nothing here in my hand that can help him.' I drew my next card with my eyes closed. 'But I know my grandpa's deck won't let me down.' I looked at the card; it was exactly what I needed. "Yes! Ready to be rained out, Weevil? 'Makiu, the Magical Mist'!" The field was then in the midst of a torrential downpour.
"No- my poison! You're washing it all away!" The bug duellist complained as the rust-coloured disease that had been well on its way to coating the 'Dragon Champion' rinses off in the rain.
"That's right; Magical Mist washes the field clean." I informed everyone.
"No fair! I was about to win, and you save yourself with a little drizzle?!" Weevil whined.
'It's true— I saved my Knight, but that's not all I did!' I smiled.
"All right, then; you may've stopped my poison attack, but I promise, you've only won a brief reprieve! Because my next move is one you won't be able to think your way out of! Brace yourself for my ultimate insect's ultimate attack! Great Moth! Tornado of Doom!" Weevil commanded as the red eye on Weevil's Moth glinted, and energy gathered between its thorax and legs. I then stopped smiling and started to look worried as the power grew, and fired right at Gaia, obliterating it and my dragon in a second. "A direct hit! Hehehehehahahahah! Your little rainstorm didn't save you from that one, now did it! Your knight is toast! And you're almost out of life-points."
Weevil Life Points- 555
Yugi Life Points- 50
"Yugi! Keep fightin'! You can come back from this!" Joey persuaded.
"You're all delusional." Mai smirked.
"No, Joey's right! Yugi never gives up, and we never give up on him!" Téa furthered.
"You're nuts. Weevil has totally annihilated Yugi's strongest monster combo. He's down to fifty measly life-points; he can't win, so do me a favour and stop yapping." Mai barked back.
"I won't 'stop yapping', you selfish, pompous, bleach-blonde, know-it-all windbag! Do us a favour and get lost—right, Joey?" Téa asked.
"You said it. Just ignore her, Téa— Yugi's in trouble!" My best friend reminded her.
"I know, what can we do?" She asked everyone.
"I dunno— but it'd be great if we could trade Mai in for life-points." Joey kidded. Behind him, I saw Téa fall over laughing. Mai was not amused.
"I wish!" Téa giggled.
"I told you all along Yugi never had a chance at winning this thing." Mai repeated herself
"Ugh!" Téa exhaled.
"He wastes too much of his time listening to you losers. Weevil keeps his mind on the game." Mai continued.
"Then why didn't he see this coming?" James and Tristan asked the other audience members.
Téa, Joey, Lucy, and Mai all looked at Tristan. "See what coming?" They asked.
"Whatever it is Yugi's grinnin' about!" Tristan answered.
"Uh..." Mai looked up at me with the others. My eyes were closed, I savouring this moment.
"You're right; he's got a big smile." Lucy confirmed.
"Uh, he's not smiling. I think he's laughing." Téa established
"No way..." Mai whispered.
I began to laugh out loud. Weevil was unsettled, as anyone in their right mind would be, to hear me laughing like that. "Huhahahahahahaha!"
"Hey, hey! What are you so happy about?! Stop that snickering!" He ordered.
"Weevil, I know it will be very difficult for you to accept losing a duel... Especially after spending so much time finding inventive ways to cheat! But if you thought bending the rules would help you in this match— you're wrong." I informed him.
"No! This is a trick!" He was denying the facts, obviously not wanting to believe this.
"You play dishonestly, so you expect the same of your opponents; but I duel with honour, Weevil— and that makes all the difference!" I continued my reasoning.
"You've got nothin'!" Weevil attempted to fight back.
"Here's what I've got. The mighty— Summoned Skull!" I played my card and 'Summoned Skull' rose onto the field which was covered with roiling purple clouds.
"Whoa...! What's that?" Mai asked.
"This is it, Weevil. Your ultimate insect won't withstand my next attack." I established. "Hmhmhmhmhm. There's something you overlooked, Weevil. My Magical Mist is still dampening this entire field." I laughed.
Weevil and Mai both gasped. I was right; the mist still blanketed the ground, and now and then a condensed droplet fell to the ground from Great Moth's wings. "He's right...! Everything's wet! My Great Moth is totally soaked!" His moth showered the field with water each time it flapped its wings, completely drenched.
"And my Summoned Skull attacks with electricity, making your waterlogged bug a giant-sized lightning rod. I hope you're in the mood for some fireworks, Weevil; because all this water boosts my monster's electrical attack by one thousand points! Summoned Skull! Lightning Strike!" Skull rose its face to the sky; sparks spread from its massive wings to cover its whole body, before shooting into the sky in one mighty bolt of lightning. A moment later, the swirling clouds returned that bolt and more, crashing down on top of Great Moth as Weevil looked on in horror.
"Ahh..." He screamed. Great Moth exploded with a final cry. The spectators watched in awe as the field is in flames, and their glow flickered across my resolute face.
"It's over. I've won." I smirked. Great Moth was then a singed, steaming mass lying motionless on Weevil's side of the field.
"No! Impossible! My Moth's unbeatable!" My opponent complained for the final time as he fell over, stupefied.
Weevil Life Points- 0
Yugi Life Points- 50
"All right, Yugi! Way to go! Yeah!" Joey, Tristan and James cheered.
"He won! I knew you would!" The girls applauded.
Mai just stood there with her mouth open for a moment, then recovers, grudgingly impressed. "...Impressive. I didn't think Yugi could ever beat Weevil."
A few moments later, both Weevil and I had climbed down from the duel field, and stood on the ground with the spectators; Mai and the rest of the bystanders had wandered off with Weevil bawling on the ground. "Uhhuh! But I'm the regional champion! The regional champion! Nnngh…" He cried.
As I approached Weevil, I towered over him. My opponent was showing himself to be the worm his cards suggested. "You call yourself a champion, Weevil, but you only won your duels through lying and cheating. True champions— they play with honour. They play fair." I enlightened prior to palming the two star chips I had won from Weevil.
Joey then got in Weevil's face, thoroughly terrifying him. "Ah, don't waste your breath on this sneaky slug! He's a duelin' disgrace!" Weevil fainted on the ground and Joey removed Weevil's empty duelling glove. "And I hereby relieve him of his duelling gauntlet!" He laughed.
I added the two stars to my glove; now I had three.
"There. Three star chips so far. But I still need to win seven more..." We then all looked up, beyond the forest canopy, to the mountaintop above, on which sat Pegasus' castle. "Ten star chips will gain me entry into that castle, where they're holding my grandfather prisoner- and where I'll battle Pegasus once and for all!"
A/N: Once again, I apologise for this update being late, I'll try and stick to uploading this fanfiction regularly. I hope you enjoyed this chapter and any that I write in future :)