A/N: I'm so sorry for how long it took for this chapter to come out! I've had so much going on in the last few weeks ^^" But anyway, I'm back with the next chapter and it's Joey's duel against Rex. But anyway, I hope you enjoy this chapter for now. Please leave a review if you'd like,
LyraKoto :)
Chapter 8- Rise of the Red Eyes
(Joey POV.)
The sun set over Duelist Kingdom and the sky turned a handsome hue of purple and pink, whilst the ocean water glimmered like amber. "Mokuba? Mokuba?!" We all shouted.
"This is no time to be playin' hide-'n'-seek, kid!" I shouted.
My friends and I met in a forest clearing from six different directions.
"Those thugs must've snatched 'im back to Pegasus' castle." T concluded.
"So now they've got your grandpa and Kaiba's little brother, too?" Lucy asked. We all turned and looked at the distant castle, silhouetted against the sunset.
"Looks that way..." James sulked.
"It's just another reason for us to win those ten star chips and get in there." Yugi encouraged us.
"No doubt!" Yugi and I looked up at the castle, resolute; then I ruined the moment when I noticed something on the ground. "Whoa. Huh. It's my lucky day!" I spotted a bunch of cards scattered around our feet and reached for them.
"Hands off, those're mine." Tristan stopped me.
"Cool Tristan! I didn't know you were training to become a duelist!" Yugi laughed.
I picked up a card, before T swiped it away, grinning sheepishly at Yugi. "Yeah, well, I figure if a doofus like Joey can hold his own in this game, then hey— I'll probably be an expert at it!"
"Oh... I recognize that monster!"
"Haven't I seen that card in your deck, Joey?" James asked.
"Not this one. But I think I got somethin' just like it. Hmm…" I flicked through my deck, until he found a green monster that looks just like the red one I picked out of Tristan's cards. "Bingo! Swamp Battleguard! Well, wouldya take a look at this! These two look like they're long-lost brothers! A' course, that doesn't mean your boy packs the same kinda wallop mine does!"
"His 'wallop' is just fine! My Lava Battleguard has never let me down. Try 'im out- you'll see!"
"Thanks. It does say they work best together..."
"Ya know what, I think I kinda see a resemblance between you two and those muscle heads...
"Hey, yeah." Lucy added and began to laugh with James, Yugi and Téa.
"Laugh it up! I take that as a complement!" I shouted.
(James POV.)
In the late sunset, handfuls of duelists mingled and wandered on a wide plain with patchy grass, trees around, and mountains in the distance. My friends and I stood at the edge of the expanse.
"Wow. After all the crazy duelists we've been running into, it's nice to see some normal kids for a change." Lucy commented.
"Yeah, how 'bout it, tough-guy? Any of these tykes puny enough for you to take on, or d'ya wanna go looking for some three-year-olds?" Tristan asked Joey, making him jump a little.
"Come on, be nice. You know Joey's just biding his time until he finds a dueling monkey to challenge!" Téa furthered. Even Yugi couldn't keep from laughing quietly. We all laughed out loud at what Téa had said, but Joey wasn't amused.
"Hahaha! Dueling monkey, nice one!" Tristan and I giggled.
"Joey: Who wants some?! Just one more word about duelin' monkeys, and I'm gonna—" Joey turned around and yelled at us, but he was interrupted by a woman's laughter.
"Ahahaha!" Mai stepped out from behind a tree and giggled with glee.
"Ugh, tell me that's not who I think it is..." Our blonde-haired friend turned around and looked at Mai.
"How are you, Joseph, glad to see me?" The young woman asked.
"Ecstatic." Joey replied unenthusiastically.
"So Joey, is Yugi still fighting all your battles for you? Everyone knows if Yugi wasn't there to hold your hand, you wouldn't have beat me. Isn't that right, Yugi?"
"That's not true." Yugi fought back.
"Oh, really! Then I propose he steps out of your shadow here and now!" The duellist pointed an accusing finger at Joe. "If Joey thinks he's so tough, let's see him play for himself! I'm waiting for your answer, Joey! Think you have the guts to step up and face the duelist I've arranged for you?"
"... It's not you?" Joey asked.
"Mmmhmhmhmhm." Mai laughed. Rex walked out from behind a nearby cliff, carrying his bag slung over a shoulder and looking smug.
"I'm duelling on Mai's behalf. Recognize me?"
"That's Rex Raptor!" Yugi and I gasped.
"This twerp supposed to scare me or somethin'? I betcha he ain't so tough!" Yugi's best friend smirked.
"Don't you remember, Joey?! Rex placed second in the Regionals!" I reminded our friend.
"Well, Joey? Ya gotta ask mommy's permission or what?" Mai enticed.
"No way! This is my fight!" Joey stood firm and confident, itching to duel with Rex.
"Joey!" We all gasped.
"What are you trying to prove?" Téa asked.
"Really, bro, pick your battles!" Tristan furthered.
"Hmm?" Lucy hummed.
"If little Yugi does any of his backseat duelling, then Joey is disqualified and the match automatically goes to Rex." Mai added.
"Huh?!" We were all shocked.
"Whaddaya say, Joey? This is your big chance to prove yourself- or are you gonna back out?" Mai asked, coercing Joey to duel with Raptor even more.
"Of course he is, we—" Lucy was cut off by our blonde friend.
"No! That's the way I want it, just me an' him."
We gasped again.
"It may cost me all my star chips, but I don't deserve to keep 'em if the only reason I'm winnin' is 'cause a' Yugi's smarts. All my life, people're tryin' to help me 'cause they think I can't help myself. Well, I don't need to be babied this time!" Joey furthered.
"You've lost it, Joey! You can believe whatever you want, but I won't just stand here and watch you throw your chips away! I hope you guys don't mind, but little Joey won't be comin' out to duel today. Maybe once he grows up we can arrange a playdate—" Our pointy-haired friend was interrupted by Joey.
"That's it! Ugh!" Joe forced Tristan onto the ground with a hard shove.
Mai, (watching with satisfied amusement) gasped suddenly; and even she looked upset. Yugi and Téa, Lucy and I gasped along with the blonde. Tristan, now on the ground, wiped the dirt off his face with a sleeve. "Hey, wha'd ya shove me for?!" He asked.
Joey was standing over him, resolute and angry. "Didn't ya hear what I just said, wise-guy?! I'm tired of everyone thinkin' they gotta come to my rescue!"
"But that's not how it is; friends look out for each other—" Yugi stated in a worried tone.
"Keep outta this, Yug. Just lemme do what I gotta do." Joey told him.
Tristan stood up, incensed and glaring at him. "Great idea; do what you gotta do— even if it means losin' the chance to help your sister!"
I felt like that got Joey's attention, but he didn't show it.
"L-listen, let's just cool off a sec." Lucy tried to calm the others down as she plead for them to stop fighting, I knew how much she hated violence.
"Forget it! If mister macho wants to lose he can do it by himself!" Tristan bitterly put his hands in his pockets and strode away.
"But Tristan—" I attempted to make T come back.
"Let 'im go." Joey told us.
"Ahh, some trouble in paradise?" Rex giggled.
"Stay outta this!" The girls growled, but Joey put a hand up to stop them.
"So, what's it gonna be? You gonna run off with your friend or start acting like a real duelist?" Mai questioned.
"I'm still here, ain't I? Yugi- no offense, but I want ya to keep outta this one." Joey smirked recklessly.
"Uh... Hmm." Our spikey-haired friend nodded.
"All right— then it's dino feeding time!" Raptor exclaimed. Right on cue, a duel arena with a 45 on the side appeared out of the ground behind him, causing a localized earthquake. The podia and projectors unfolded, ready for a duel as Rex Raptor took the red side and Joey took the blue.
"We believe in you, Joey!" Téa cheered.
"Just don't forget what you're fighting for!" I reminded him.
(Joey POV.)
"What I'm fightin' for? I got that part down— it's who I'm fightin' that's makin' me sweat!"
"Rex! Don't forget our deal— beat him and y'get to duel with me!"
"I can't believe ya reduced yourself to bein' Mai's attack dog!" I teased my opponent.
"'Least I'm no dueling monkey!" He laughed.
"Rrrgggh!" I snarled, I was so angry, that my eyes flared up.
"Whoa! So how many chips d'you wanna lose to my dinos?" My enemy queried.
"I got two— but I plan on doublin' them right here!" I schemed.
"You wish! I bet your deck isn't even prepared for the fields we're playing on!" Rex laughed.
'Man, if he only knew! I still have a hard time tellin' one field from another, let alone usin' 'em in any kinda strategic way. My best bet's gonna be hittin' 'im hard and fast, an' I think I know just the cards to do the job— Baby Dragon and Time Wizard! If I use 'em together, I can speed up time an' make my Dragon super-powerful. Hey— it worked once before when I duelled Mai, so here's hopin' it'll do the job again!' I strategized.
"Quit stallin'! Let's duel!" Rex coerced.
"Bring it!" I ordered.
Rex Life Points- 2000
Joey Life Points- 2000
(Yugi POV.)
On the side-lines, I glanced away from the arena then back, then made my decision. "Hmm... Hey, guys, keep rooting Joey on for us— I gotta go see about something!" I ran off before my friends could ask why.
"Wha? Yugi!" They tried to call me back.
(Joey POV.)
I drew my first cards, the opening hand being; Baby Dragon, Time Wizard, Leogun, Axe Raider, and Sword Arm of Dragon. I drew both of the cards in my combo on my very first turn! 'Pay dirt! I couldn'a asked for a better hand! Heehee hee hee...' I giggled, glancing over and noticing that Yugi was gone; Téa, Lucy and James looking for where he went. 'Huh? Where'd Yugi go? Oh well. Wait'll he sees what I did all by myself!'
"Baby Dragon, defense mode!" I summoned my Baby dragon and he appeared on the field. 'That's right, it's a Baby Dragon- Rex knows he's toast!
"Ya never leave a baby unattended, and you're about to find out why! Two-Headed King Rex! Attack!" The purple dino lifted one of its giant feet and stomped Baby Dragon which made a pitiful squeak and was gone.
"Poor baby. Looks like we found out what he was made of!"
"But... I didn't get to play my combo...!" I complained.
"And d'ya know why? Because even three-year-olds know better than to defend on their first move! Ha! I can't believe you actually did that! You rookie!"
"Everyone makes mistakes, Joey! Just try not to make another one!" James advised.
"Ahahahaha! You don't get it, do you, little Joey's already made the one fatal mistake that's gonna cost him this entire duel— and that was ever agreeing to this match in the first place!
"Ugh..." I groaned, starting to sweat.
"Ha! With your Baby Dragon crushed, my Two-Headed King Rex can terrorize the field for the rest of the match!"
"All right, maybe I did screw up. But I think I still have one monster in my hand that can beat that thing." I muttered. "Leogun! Show that overgrown iguana who the real king a' beasts is!" I summoned my Leogun, and he appeared on the field with a roar.
"Hahaha, you amateur! Since we're on a wilderness field, my King Rex gets a nice, fat power bonus! Tough luck for your pussycat!" Rex laughed.
"Field bonus?! Now he tells me!" I complained.
"King Rex, foot-stomp!" My opponent ordered and King Rex flattened my lion monster. All that could be seen of Leogun under King Rex's foot, was its tail sticking out.
Rex Life Points- 2000
Joey Life Points- 1670
"Ouch!" I flinched.
"Let's go! You're the appetizer; I wanna get on to the main course!" Raptor coerced.
"I still got plenty to serve up! That is, if I finally figured out how to use this 'field power bonus' thing right." I placed Axe Raider on the field. "Here goes nothin'. Axe Raider!" Axe Raider appeared on the field "He-hey! He got the power bonus!" I cheered. My Axe Raider swung his weapon, and King Rex was dusted. Rex watches his lifepoints subtract with mild shock.
Rex Life Points- 1870
Joey Life Points- 1670
"I did it!" I cried out in happiness.
"Don't let it go to your head! Sword Arm of Dragon! Cut that Axe Raider down to size!" Rex's new monster was summoned. "Sword Tail Slash!"
Axe Raider was thrown backward, then evaporated suddenly into motes of dust.
Rex Life Points- 1870
Joey Life Points- 1605
'That's my third monster he's trashed. Even with the field power bonus I can't beat 'im.' I complained to myself.
"Joey!" Téa grabbed my attention and I looked over at my three friends.
"Don't let that dino-dork intimidate you! Remember, we're all right behind you!" Lucy cheered.
'Yeah, right- that's why Yugi an' Tristan ditched me...' I despaired.
(Tristan POV.)
I was by a stream, splashing water on my face, calling Joey as many kinds of idiot as I could think of. "What a nimrod. Hm! Big dumb— jerk!"
"You okay, Tristan?" I heard Yugi's voice from behind me.
"Yug?! Whaddaya doin' here, you should be helpin' Joey!" I told him.
"Joey made it pretty clear he didn't want my help on this one. And since you left, I figured maybe I should, too." He smiled.
"Me being there and you being there are two totally different things!" I stood, my hurt feelings forgotten. "Without your coaching, Joey won't last two minutes against that conniving little freakasaurus! I don't care what he says, ya gotta go back there and help 'im out pronto!"
"I can't do that. Joey needs to fight this duel on his own and I gotta let 'im." My spikey haired friend all but agreed. I grabbed Yugi by the front of his shirt and lifted him off the ground.
"Yugi!"
"If I go back on my promise and help Joey, he'll be disqualified! Besides, we've gotta believe in him so he believes in himself!"
"Rrrrgh..." I let go of my friend and put him back on the floor. "Yeah, well... maybe I don't think he can win!"
"But, Tristan, this is about something more important than winning or losing. This is about Joey learning to be a strong big brother for his little sister. And even though he doesn't need our help, he needs to know he has our support." Yugi told me as I glanced back at him, then looking away again.
"Ah, I don't know..."
(Joey POV.)
I glanced again at my empty spectator section out of the corner of my eye.
'Maybe this was a mistake. Maybe the only way to help my sister was by relyin' on my friends. No, that's not true! I can't start thinkin' that way! If I can't rely on myself, how can I expect my little sister to? Now think. There's gotta be something in this hand that I can play. Hmmmph... Huh! Wait! I still have this Time Wizard! Too bad I don't have my Baby Dragon to play it with anymore. Oh well. I guess it couldn't hurt to put it out on the field anyway. Here goes nothin'.' I placed Time Wizard in a magic-and-trap zone space, as a face-down. "Time Wizard!" I called.
"Raptor! Watch that Time Wizard!" Mai warned.
"Ah, without Yugi's help this chump doesn't even know how to use it!"
"I'm playin' Rock Ogre in defense!" I announced.
"Ahaha, ya see? I knew the rookie didn't know what he was doing! Megazowler! Wreck that rock old-school style! Horn Ramming Charge Attack!" As Megazowler charged, Rock Ogre appeared; the large, orange triceratops hit my carved stone soldier at full ramming speed, leaving gravel in its wake. "Reduced to rubble! I sure sent him back to the stone ages; nah-heh-heh!" My opponent chuckled.
"Fine! Go, Flame Swordsman!" My warrior appeared on the field. Turn up the heat an' carve that dino like it was a big turkey!"
"Didn't you see what I did to your Rock Ogre? D'ya really think that your puny little Flame Swordsman will last any longer? Looks like I 'm gonna hafta teach you respect for my dinos the hard way! Ataaack!" Megazowler charged right at Flame Swordsman)
"Rex, you big dino-dummy!" Mai called out to him.
"Flaming Sword of Battle!" I ordered. Flame Swordsman grunted, and his crystalline orange sword began to flame. He met Megazowler head-on and attacked it.
Megazowler went up in flames and vanished; Flame Swordsman beat it.
Rex Life Points- 1330
Joey Life Points- 1605
"Tell me how a swordsman could beat a dinosaur...!"
"...I actually won that?" I asked.
"There is no way Joey could've known that dinosaur cards are especially vulnerable to fire. That jerk, he totally lucked out on that one!" I heard Mai complain.
"Heheh, looks like I found the secret to beatin' your dinos; hope you're not too sore about it. Get it? Sore? Dino? Dino-sore?" I joked, laughing at my pun.
"Sword Arm of Dragon!" Another dragon appeared, this time in defence mode.
"Want some?! Come an' get it, buddy!" I laughed. Flame Swordsman took it down; next to fall was Rex's Crawling Dragon #2, then his Uraby. I was on a roll!
"Yeah! I knew you were gonna make a comeback, Joey!" Lucy shouted.
"This is far from over, ya know! One card won't win this for you."
"All righty then, I'll just bring out another for ya! Swamp Battleguard!" My green ogre appeared on the field alongside Flame Swordsman.
"Big deal. I have a beast that'll wipe that smirk off your face permanently!" Rex drew, and gets a big grin on his face. This couldn't be good. "All right! Meet the top link a' the food chain! Serpent Night Dragon!"
I was confused.
"This rare card's awarded to the elite few who've made it to the final round of the regional championships— but for a loser like you, it should be an honour just to get thrashed by it! Nightmare Sonic Blast!" He called. Serpent Night Dragon generated piercing, cutting arcs of sound, and blew Flame Swordsman away with ease. I was starting to sweat again.
Rex Life Points- 1330
Joey Life Points-1595
"Ugh, ugh... he was my best card..." I sulked.
"Poor Joey..." James was put down by that as well.
I looked down at my hand, leaning against the console, then went to draw a card. "Man; there's not a monster in my deck that could save me now..." I drew, neither overjoyed nor disappointed, just surprised. My card was Lava Battleguard, the card I borrowed from Tristan.
'Tristan's card... All this time, and it finally hits me. Tristan's always been lookin' out for me. (aloud) Not because he thinks I always need his help, but because he's a true friend!'
"Yo! Joey!" I startled out of my thoughts and looked over at the sidelines; Yugi and Tristan were now standing beside Téa, Lucy and James.
"Huh? Wha?"
"We're here for ya, buddy! So how 'bout it? You gonna take that card a' mine for a test-drive or what?" My pointy-haired friend rooted me on.
Yugi, James and the girls shared a smile; Tristan and I were buds again!
"You got it, pal! Gooooo, Lava Battleguard!"
"Cool! My card's on the field!" Tristan smiled.
"What a touching reunion. Too bad my Serpent Night Dragon is gonna blast it to shreds! Now! Attack the green one!" Raptor ordered. Serpent Night Dragon attacked Swamp Battleguard, but its sonic waves bounced back toward it. "What?! My sonic blasts are being deflected!" All of us watched the battle unfold, as the lights of explosions coloured the air blue and red; is Serpent Night Dragon was destroyed. "How was my Dragon's attack repelled?! There aren't any trap cards out!"
"Huh? Oh, I get it, the red one blocked for the green one!" Tristan realised.
"Tristan's card was there right when I needed it most..." James gasped.
"Of course! Those two monsters are like best friends, so when they're together on the field they help power each other up! Just like how you and Joey help each other out in real life, huh, Tristan?" Yug smiled.
"That's what bein' a buddy is all about..." Tristan explained.
"Thanks for everything, man! I owe ya!" I smiled with gratitude at T, who replied with a thumbs-up.
"What a team! Not only did you take out Rex's monster, you made a nice dent in his lifepoints, too!"
Rex Life Points- 840
Joey Life Points- 1595
"Right! An' now that we're together again…"
"...There's not a monster Rex has that can stop us!" Tristan continued.
The late sunset turns the clouds all shades of orange, pink, and purple. Joey has Lava Battleguard and Swamp Battleguard on the field, and Rex's field is empty.
"Your horned freaks may've won control of the field..." Rex set a monster in face-down defense mode. "But now it's time to see if you can hold it. Trakodon!"
"Battleguard! Give that card a bashin'!" I ordered and Lava Battleguard hit the face-down monster with his club, and Trakodon was no more. The light from the explosion reflecting onto my team.
"Whoa, look at 'em glow! Those guys're some kinda tag-team!" James gasped.
"Wow, you're right about that! The power bonus they gain from both being on the field at the same time makes them a tough two to beat!" Yugi agreed.
"No joke! And since Joey's already taken out Rex's best monster card, the rest'll be cake! Finish 'im, bro!" My oldest friend continued to cheer.
"Ha!" The dino duelist laughed. "Who said that Serpent Night Dragon Joey destroyed two turns ago was my best card?" Rex drew, and looked ready and able to dish out some payback. "Hmm! My supreme monster is a dragon, but of a different sort! The Red-Eyes Black Dragon!
"Ahh!" I screamed as my friends all gasped.
"A what dragon?!" Mai asked.
Red-Eyes appeared on the field with a spectacular light show, and roared an avian cry. Its sharp, armorlike scales were a glossy black, and its eyes glowed red. The impact of one of its claws on the field as it lands made the terrain tremble. My Battleguards and I looked nervous.
"Your pair of primates can power up 'til they're green in the face, they're still no match for the thrashing power of this beast!" Rex smirked.
"Ugh..."
"So it does exist. My grandpa told me about this card. Its powers are said to rival those of the legendary Blue-Eyes White Dragon." Yugi informed us all.
"It's about time Rex played a card that'll put Joey in his place..." I heard Mai comment.
"And if you think those brain-dead brutes of yours will rescue each other from this dragon's rampage, think again! With Dragon Nails, my Red-Eyes gets a power boost strong enough to clobber an army of your Battleguards! Red-Eyes Black Dragon! Inferno Fire Blast!" The dragon breathed a big fireball, and both Battleguards were engulfed.
"How could 'e torch 'em both with just one shot?!" I asked.
Tristan looked stricken. When the field cleared of fire, it was also clear of both of my monsters. "Those who defend together, are destroyed together! Don't tell me ya thought their little clubs would be enough to save them from my dragon's wrath."
"That creep!" James scowled.
"Nehhehhehhehheh!" Rex laughed.
Rex Life Points- 840
Joey Life Points- 235
"Mmhmhmhm, that's a good boy, Rex, nice work." Mai continued to cheer on my opponent as the situation only grew worse for me and my deck.
"D'you smell that odour in the air, Joey? It's the stench of your defeated Battleguards; who's up next for the roast? Nah-hah-heh!"
"Gotta stay calm..." I muttered.
"Hang in there!" Tristan advised.
"Yugi, tell me that dragon isn't as tough as it looks. I mean, there must be something Joey can do to stop it...?" James suggested.
"Play every monster ya got; my dragon has enough firepower to turn your whole deck into a smoldering pile of ash!" Raptor continued to mock me.
'Rex is right; no creature I have can out-muscle that thing! Man... I guess this is where I get my butt handed to me...'
"Yo, Joey!" Tristan called.
"Wha?" I asked, looking at my friends.
"You may not have the monster to beat that thing, but you got the smarts!"
"We're not giving up on you, Joey!" Yug continued.
"Don't forget— duelling's more about heart than strength!" Téa reminded me.
"Now show this lizard what you're made of!" Lucy and James finished the cheer.
I nodded in agreement, and reached to draw, hesitates for a moment, then pulled the card. I looked slightly surprised.
"Yeeah... that's it, Joey. Slap down another card for my Red-Eyes to fry up!"
"Hey, are you gonna nab me the victory you promised, or are you gonna sit there with that dumb look on your face?!" Mai questioned my opponent. She kept nagging, which eventually faded into the background.
"Oh, Joey!" Raptor called.
I looked up from desperately trying to figure out my next move. "Huh?"
"I have an idea. Let's make this duel more exciting and each put one card up for grabs with our star chips. And just so it's fair, we'll both put up whatever card we have on the field, sound good?"
"Wha? I don't have any cards on the- huh? Oh yeah, my Time Wizard, I forgot about that!" I muttered.
"And for him, I'll give you my rarest card; the supreme Red-Eyes Black Dragon! "
"Huh...?" I questioned.
"Just what do you think you're doing, you disobedient dolt! You're here to take Joey out of this tournament, not to improve your deck!" Mai tried to stop Rex.
"Eh? Stay outta this!"
"Rex, you double-crossing snake! I know what you're scheming!" Mai continued to protest.
"I'm no lousy snake, I'm a dinosaur, you know that." Rex screamed.
"Ha! You're no dinosaur."
Mai and Rex keep arguing as, I thought through Rex's proposal. 'That Red-Eyes Black Dragon could really help my chances at winnin' this tournament, and gettin' its prize money for my sister... but I hate to risk this Time Wizard Yugi gave me, like it was some bargaining chip. Wait a minute... what'm I talkin' about? Maybe I don't have to!' "You got a deal, Rex! Your Red-Eyes Dragon and my Time Wizard, winner takes all!"
"What?!" Mai asked.
"Yeah!" Raptor seemed highly enthusiastic over my agreement.
"It's a gutsy move." Yugi informed everyone.
"But it could work." James added.
"Huh! But while I'm at it, Rex- I'm makin' him my weapon a' choice, too! Go, Time Wizard!"
I flipped my Time Wizard card face-up and slapped it down faceup on the field.
"What're you doing?!" The purple-fringed duellist questioned.
"Joey just figured out the best possible move for this situation." Yugi smiled.
"This wouldn't be happening if you'd just obeyed my commands, Rex!" Mai was annoyed by this move, and I liked it.
"Now, I hope ya packed your bags, Rex, 'cause if my Time Wizard's spin arrow lands on a time warp, you'll be on the next boat off this island!"
"D'ya really wanna leave this entire duel up to a single spin? Ya do know what'll happen if that arrow lands on a skull, don'tcha?" He asked.
"It's a risk I gotta take; Time Roulette, go!" I put a balled fist into the air and the roulette began to spin.
"What happens if the arrow lands on a skull?" Lucy asked.
"It'll self-destruct and take a chunk out of Joey's lifepoints." Yugi explained.
"Aw, man— all he's got is a chunk!" James frowned.
The Roulette kept spinning
"I can't believe this entire duel has come down to one spin! It's almost too nerve-wracking to even watch!" Téa looked away, fearing that the spin would fail me.
"All we can do now is hope that arrow doesn't land on a skull."
"Okay— then let's start hoping." Lucy began to hope.
The Time Roulette kept spinning; we all watched it intently as I grit my teeth. 'C'mon, time machine...' I could tell Rex wanted a skull but the time machine just had to show up as the arrow started to slow down.
"It's stopping...!" James pointed out as the roulette got slower and slower when everyone held their breath.
"Slowly..." The blonde duellist whispered.
The arrow ticked to a stop on a crest! My friends and I cheered. "Yeah!"
"Way to go, Joe!" Yugi applauded.
"No!" Rex cried.
"A'right- time warp, go!" Time Wizard waved its scepter, now glowing with power. The sky around the field changed colour as Time Wizard pointed his sceptre at Red-Eyes. A swirling vortex appears in the sky and a strong wind blows from it. The spectators cowered, as did my opponent.
"You jerk! Look what you've done! The entire space-time continuum is speeding out of control! Eons are passing like seconds!" He flinched away from the bright light. When he looked at the field again, he was aghast. "Aaaagh... Huh?!"
"He's been... fossilized." Téa pointed out.
Mai breathlessly tried to deny the truth. "No...! He hasn't. He's still standing. Sure, he's beginning to grey a little, but that's natural. Go on and have him attack, Rex." Despite Mai's unconvincing reassurances, Red-Eyes appeared to have turned to stone. "Go on, Rex!" She ordered her lap-dog.
"Right. Uh, Red-Eyes? Go on and attack..." Rex's command petered out as Red-Eyes's stone head fell off and smashed to the floor. "Ouagh! No, no, nooooo!" The rest of Red-Eyes followed and fell onto the head.
My friends all watched in awe and were stunned by the turn that the duel had taken. "The millions of years that Joey's Time Wizard made pass has turned Rex's dragon into a brittle shell of dust!" Yugi smiled.
Rex Life Points- 0
Joey Life Points- 235
"Mmgh... So, I guess you won my star chips, huh?" Rex frowned.
I breathed a deep sigh of relief. "Wait a second. Not only did I win your star chips, but I won your Red-Eyes, too- fair and square!"
"Aauaauaugggh!" He wailed.
"All right!" The girls high-fived.
"And he did it all by himself, too." Yugi smiled.
I jumped off the duel podium before it reached the ground, running toward my friends. "I did it, guys! I did it!"
Tristan's ran straight toward me with the others jogging behind. "Hey, you're the man, Joey!"
"Yeah, you know it!" I agreed.
"Comin' right atcha, man!"
"Gimme some skin, bro!" I requested.
"Up high, or down low!?" He questioned. Tristan and I had been running toward each other throughout the past few sentences, and right when we reached each-other, I found myself on the ground with Tristan standing over me smugly. "I guess you're down low, bud."
"You- you shoved me! After everything I just went through, you go an' shove me?!" My face was red with surprise.
"Yeah? Well, tough tamale! Now we're even for when you pushed me!" He made this seem fair, but I still felt like it wasn't as I jumped up, ready to fight.
"Eh! Don't you know two wrongs don't make a right, ya jerk?!"
"Should I make it three, then?!" He joked.
"Bring it on!" I braced myself for a play-fight.
The rest of my friends stood off to the side watching the 'fight'
(James POV.)
"Come on, guys, there's no need to fight over this!" I reasoned.
"Maybe we oughta stay outta this one. I think this is their bizarre way of showing each other they care."
"Oh... Okay..." Lucy sighed.
We all watched, nonplussed, as Tristan and Joey grappled; Tristan was gripping Joey's nose, and Joey was stretching Tristan's cheeks, both of them growling unintelligible insults and looking ridiculous.
"I just hope they don't care about me that much..."
A few hours later, a huge full moon shone down through the treetops to shine on a path somewhere in Duelist Kingdom's vast forests. "Boy, it sure got dark in a hurry." Yugi sighed.
"Yeah, maybe we oughta set up camp somewhere." Téa suggested.
"Here in this dark, creepy forest?" Lucy asked.
"Don't be afraid, Lucy. You've got me to protect you!" I smiled.
"Yeah- but who's protecting you, James?" Téa asked.
"Hehe, good point. Let's set up camp." A bush rustled suspiciously along the path.
"Relax, guys! There's nothin' in these woods but crickets and squirrels!" Our blonde friend laughed.
A few minutes later, we had set up camp and a little fire on a few sticks. On a branch, an owl hooted softly, its eyes glowing with reflected moonlight. We sat around the fire and beneath the trees, Tristan in the middle of telling a ghost story. "... And when they finally pulled over to look and see what was in the back seat of the car... It was over twenty pepperoni pizzas with double cheese and meatballs!"
"Oh please, what kind of ghost story is that supposed to be!" Téa complained.
Joey sprang up to his feet. "Arrgh, if I don't get some food in me I'm gonna be turnin' into a ghost!"
"Those guys and their stomachs, huh, Jay?"
Joey then spots a yellow mushroom with pink spots, sitting at the base of the tree. "Huh? Heyyy, my meal ticket!" He lunged towards the mushroom to take a bite right out of the top, but me and Tristan grabbed him by the arms, holding him back as he kept scrambling forward, Lucy Yugi and Téa walking over to us.
"Wild mushrooms are poisonous, Joey!" I informed him.
"So do us all a favour—and let him eat it Ahahaha!" Mai laughed.
Joey stops struggling, and all six of us looked at Mai.
"Now whaddaya want, Mai?" Joe asked. The blonde woman took a candy bar out of her pocket and bit into it, chewing with relish. We all watched her, eyes wide, and simultaneously sniffing the air. "That's it! You can duel me, you can insult me, but you're not eatin' in front a' me!"
"You're that hungry, are you? Okay, then, give me your star chips and I'll give you some food." She offered.
Joey gaped, eyeing the candy bar. And who could blame him? I certainly couldn't, it looked so tempting... "Guh! Forget it! Potato chips— I mean, star chips are priceless!" He shook off the hunger.
"I was just kidding, Joseph. I'll more than happy to share if you can manage to ask politely like a gentleman."
"Right, so then you can go an' make fun a' me for that, too?" He argued.
"Look, by tomorrow I'll have won entrance to the castle so there's no point in me keeping an entire knapsack full of food."
"Mmmmgh..." Our blonde-haired buddy mumbled.
"Sure would be nice not to have to duel tomorrow on an empty stomach." Yugi wished.
"How do we know this isn't another trick! Gimme just one good reason to trust you!" Joey threatened.
"'Cause it's either me or that poisonous mushroom."
We all groaned; Mai had a point.
A few minutes later, Mai's rucksack was unpacked and its contents spread on the ground. There was a first aid kit, a couple of packs of gum; a couple more candy bars, a plastic-wrapped stack of plastic plates, and another similar package with plastic cups, a couple of small cans, a couple of crisp packets; a thermos; and four soda cans.
"Look at all this stuff! Candy bars—" Yugi awed.
"Dibs on the candy bars." Joey called dibs.
"— Potato chips—" I continued
"Dibs on the chips!" Tristan followed.
"— Canned fruit—"
"Dibs on the fruit." Unlike my friends I was going to eat healthily. "— Soda—" I called.
Joey: Dibs on the soda.
"Sorry, boys, no dibs on anything yet. At least not until you complete your chores. I want Yugi to go look for some firewood."
"Sure."
"And you two boys can go and fetch us some water." Mai ordered.
"You bet." Tristan agrees, Tristan all but shoving Joey away from the campsite, the latter reluctantly clutching a collapsible bucket.
"If she's not slingin' insults then she's barkin' orders..." Yugi's best friend moaned.
"I'm willin' to swallow my pride if it means swallowin' some food!" Tristan sweat-dropped.
"I'll go and gather us up that firewood." Yugi walked off to get the sticks.
"James, I need you to watch over the fire."
"Okay." I agreed, Lucy following me.
"Wait a second Lucy. I don't want you following James around all night, you and Téa can go and take a shower, there are a few makeshift ones over in that direction." Mai pointed out.
"Uh, thanks, Mai!" Téa and Lucy thanked Mai.
"Hanging out with those boys is no reason to have to smell like them!"
Later, Mai watched Tristan and Joey over at the campfire while she and I stood guard outside Téa and Lucy's showers.)
"Joey, I don't think we should cook the candy bars..." Yugi told Joe.
"Back off, I know what I'm doin'..."
"Look at you go, Joey, only thing missing is a chef's hat!" Mai teased. Joey reacted, goofy and flattered but still not sure he liked her after all she'd put him through. "And a cute apron."
"Geez! Alright, already!"
"Now keep cooking!"
"You're tough, Mai!" Lucy poked her head through the shower curtain.
"Us gals've got to look out for each other, especially with a buncha bozos like them around."
Upon hearing Mai talk about us that way, Lucy and Téa were uncertain.
"I don't know why you even bother hanging out with them!"
"That's easy, Mai; they're our best friends."
"And James is my boyfriend." Lucy added, retreating back into the shower.
"These goofballs? In my experience, their type is only good for moving furniture or fixing cars."
"Hey, Mai?" Téa asked. Just then, something rustles on the side of the shower Mai wasn't guarding. "Aaah!" She squealed.
Mai went into the shower to help her. "What's wrong?"
"I heard something moving around right outside!" Mai poked her head out of the far side of the shower; but there was nothing there but bushes.
"Huh... Well it's gone now." She exited around the side of the shower and back to me.
Later on, we all sat down to dinner. A pot of boiling water sat over the fire, heating packages of rice. Mai was perched primly on a rock, legs crossed, and the rest of us were sitting on the ground. "Wow! It sure smells good!" T complimented.
"Time to dig in!" We all cheered and then ate for a moment.
"Mmm— tasty!" I praised.
"Ah, thankya very much!"
"James' is better, I know that's pretty biased coming from me but this is still delicious, Joey." Lulu smiled.
"Not bad. How's yours, Téa?" Yugi asked.
"Mmm, four stars!" Téa smiled as Mai took a sip of her soda.
"Speaking of stars, I hear you've won a few, Mai. How many do you have? Eight? Or is it nine? However many, it sure sounds like you're in the zone!" Yug flattered.
"Huh! Don't think you're gonna fool me with your 'nice guy' routine, Yugi. It's only a matter of time before you—" Yugi looked slightly hurt; he was just trying to be friendly by giving her a compliment.
"Can't we just forget about the tournament for one night?" Lucy requested.
"Let's make fun a' Joey instead. That's always fun." Tristan laughed.
"Okay, just as long as everyone is crystal-clear about one little thing— (flatly) any duellist in my way is going down!" The rest of us gasped, surprised at Mai's sudden hostility. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go for a walk." With that, Mai stood up and walked away from the campfire, and down the path toward the sea, all six of us watching her go.
"Ugh, man, she can really ruin a meal!" Joey complained.
After around half an hour, we had finished eating "Man, oh, man! I'm fadin' fast here." Joey yawned.
"Don't you think we should check on Mai?" Lucy suggested
"Good idea. She has been gone for a while." Téa agreed
"It's probably some trap." Joey theorised.
"Hmm..." Téa hummed before the bushes behind her began to rustle, and she screamed. The rest of us were already on ourr feet to protect her, ready for a fight, watching the bushes continue to move.
"What was that?!" Lucy asked.
"Yep. Betcha she's been waitin' there the whole time. Come on out, Mai!" Joey coerced.
Someone walked out of the bushes, but it wasn't Mai. All of us gasped.
"It's Bakura!" Yugi gasped.
"See?! I told you! I haven't just been seeing things!" Téa pointed out.
"What are ya doin' way out here, Bakura?" I asked.
"Same as you guys, I guess."
"You gave us a scare sneakin' around in those bushes." My girlfriend admitted.
"Yeah, for a minute there we actually thought we had somethin' to worry about! Heheh, pretty silly, hah?"
Bakura's smile seemed a little restrained; he looks slightly troubled to me.
"I want to talk to you in private if you don't mid, Lulu." I stood up.
"Erm… alright." My girlfriend nodded and stood up before we held hands.
"Something's suspicious between the two of you." A sweat drop fell from Joey's brow.
"What do you expect, we're dating." Lucy laughed a little.
"Sorry about all this, guys." I apologised.
"It's okay." Yugi smiled.
"If you see Mai, tell her that we were worried, okay?" Téa requested.
"Sure." We agreed. "See ya later." And with that, me and my girlfriend made our way to the edge of the forest.
A/N: Again, I apologise for the lateness of this chapter, the next one will be uploaded on Sunday as I had a snow day today, meaning that this chapter was able to have been uploaded. Thanks a lot for reading, reviewing and favouriting (if you have submitted a review/ favourite), if you haven't submitted a review yet, feel free to. Thanks so much for your patience and time reading this, I hope you look forward to my later chapters,
LyraKoto :)