Well Joey and Rex got ready for their duel Marcus and the kids all bid them good bye and good luck in the tournament. Before it began Mai reminded rex of their deal, making Abasi wonder what she could have promised him. "I can't believe that you reduced yourself to being Mai's attack dog" Joey stated.

"At least I'm no dueling monkey." Rex regretted saying that as Joey got mad being reminded of that joke. He soon let it pass. "So how Meany chips do you want a loss to my dynos?"

"I got two, but I plan on doubling them right here." Joey said confidently.

"You wish I bet your deck's not even prepared for the fields we're playing on." Rex said.

They then started the duel and before the first move was made Yugi turned to Tea and Abasi. "Hey Abasi, Tea, keep rotting Joey on for us, I got to go see about something." He said before he took off into the forest.

"Wha- Yugi!" Tea asked and would have followed him if Abasi hadn't stopped her.

"Don't worry Tea he'll be back and if I'm right it won't be alone." She said as Joey went first.

Joey summoned his Baby Dragon in Defense mode and ended his turn. Abasi figured that he was trying to use the same combo he used in his duel against Mai, Unfortunately she knew that he was not going to win the duel with that combo this time. Rex proved her right as he summoned his two headed King Rex to the field and destroyed Joey's Dragon. "Poor baby. Looks like we found out what he was made of."

"But- I didn't get to play my combo." Joey complained.

"And do you know why? Because even three year olds know better than to defend on their first move. I can't believe that you actually did that. You Rookie." Rex said as he smiled thinking it would only be a matter of time before he won.

"Everybody makes mistakes Joey, Just try not to make another one." Tea said well Mai laughed at Joey's stupidity.

"You don't get it do you? Little Joey's already made the one fatal mistake that's goanna cost him this entire duel and that was agree to this match in the first place." Mai said.

"I wouldn't count him out yet Mai." Abasi said.

"Ya and why is that? A champ like you should know by that stupide opening move that he's out of his league." Mai snapped at her.

"Well there's just one thing about Joey that you just don't know about and it that one thing that gives Joey the edge he needs to get a head and win." Abasi stated.

"Ya and what's that Cyclops?"

Abasi ignored Mai's pick at her only being able to see out of one eye at the moment as she turned and smirked evilly at her. "He's as stubborn as a mule."

"Ha with your Baby Dragon crushed, my Two Headed King Rex can terrorize the field for the rest of the match." Rex said.

"Alright maybe I did screw up, but I think I still have one monster in my hand that can beat that thing. Leogan." A Purple lion with a crazy golden main appeared on the field and it had 1750 Atk/ 1550 Def points. "Show that over grown iguana you the real king of beast is."

"Ha, you amateur, since we're on a wilderness field my King Rex gets a nice fat Power bonus Tuff luck for your pussy cat." Rex said and sure enough Rex's King Rex took out Joey's loin like it was nothing, knocking Joey's life points to 1670. "Let's go! You're the appetizer, I want to get on to the main course."

"I still got plenty to serve up. That is if I finally figured out to use this field power bonus ting right. Here goes nothing" Joey said as he looked at his hand. He placed his Axe Raider onto the Field and sure enough he got the power bonus which Joey was happy about as he took out Rex's Dyno. It was however short lived as Rex summoned Sword art of Dragon to the field. Joey lost both his Axe Raider and 65 life points.

"Joey! Don't let that dyno dork intimidate you remember we're all right behind you." Tea said in encouragement.

"She's right Joey, we're with you all the way. You can beat him." Abasi said but she didn't dare say anything that could be considered as help. She didn't want him to lose because she said the wrong thing.

Both girls could see that Joey was worried, which wasn't a good thing but he then did a smart thing by putting his Time Wizard face down on the field. Abasi knew that it was a good move he just made but she feared that he didn't fully understand how to use it. He then put his Rock Ogre in defense mode and ended his turn.

Of course this just made Rex happy. "You see I told you the rookie didn't know what he was doing. Megezaeler." Rex said as he put down what looked like a triceratops on steroids. "Wreck that rock old school stile. Horn ramming charge attack."

Joey lost another monster but none of his life points as it was in defense. Abasi hated that she could only stand there and watch well the very card that could win him the duel was just sitting there. Joey then turned things around as he placed his Flame Swordsmen on the field putting a smile on her face which Tea noticed.

"Wait did he just make a good move?" Tea asked her.

"Yes he did and it's a very good move." Abasi answered her as Rex went head on and attacked. He seemed to have forgotten that dinosaur cards are vulnerable to fire. Of course Joey didn't know this but he was happy all the same as he teased Rex with a lame dinosaur joke. He then took out all of Rex's dyno's easily making a wonderful come back which made both Tea and Abasi cheer.

"This is far from over you know. One card won't win this for you." Rex snapped unhappy at the turn of events.

"All righty then I'll just bring out another for ya, Swamp Battle Guard." Joey said now full of confidence.

Rex was unimpressed. "Big deal. I have a beast that will wipe that smirk off your face permanently." Of course as he took his draw it seemed to be the one he wanted. "Alright. Meet the top link of the food chain, Serpent Knight Dragon!"

This dragon may not have been very big but it packed a walloping 2350 Atk points with 2400 in Def. "This rare card is rewarded to the elite few who made it to the finale round of the regional championship. But for a loser like you it should be an honor just to be thrashed by it. Nightmare Sonic Blast!"

Rex's dragon easily took out Joey's flames swordsmen which took any confidence he had and flushed it down the drain. "Oh poor Joey. Isn't there anything he can do?" tea asked Abasi.

"There is but I can't say. Joey has to figure it out on his own." Abasi said as she gritted her teeth well glaring at Mai.

"He was my best card. Man there's not a monster in my deck that can save me now." Joey said as he drew his next card. Turns out that it was Tristian's Lava Battle Guard which seemed to bring back some long forgotten memory. Sensing it Absai helped a little bit to bring it to the surface. As he remembered his best friend's determination the man himself and Yugi both came running back the field.

"Yo Joey!" Tristan called up getting Joey's attention. "We're here for you buddy! So how about it, you gonna take that card of mine for a test drive or what?"

Joey smiled. "You got it pale. Goo, Lava Battle Guard!" Seeing both Battle guards up on the field made all of them smile knowing that even though they couldn't always help in person they could in spirit.

"What a touching reunion to bad my serpent Knight dragon is going to blast it to shreds. Now attack!" Rex said as his dragon went in for the attack on Joey's Battle Guard but was saved by Tristan's in the nick of time. It also deflected the attack right back at the dragon destroying it.

"Of course those two monsters are like best friends. So when their together on the field they help power each other up. Just like you and Joey help each other out in real life, huh Tristian?" Yugi asked.

That's what being a buddy is all about." Tristian said as they all looked up at Joey.

"Thanks for always being there man. I owe ya."

Tristan gave him a thumbs up and a smile.

"What a team, not only did you take out Rex's Monster-" Yugi started to say

"But they also made a nice dent in Rex's life points too." Abasi finished.

"Right and now that we're together again-"

"There's not a monster Rex's has that can stop us." Tristan finish for his best friend.

Their happy moment was ruined by Rex suddenly laughing. "Your horned freaks may have won control of the field but now it's time to see if you can hold it." Rex said as he put his Dragdon in defense mode. Joey's and Tristan's Battle Guards easily took it out.

"Whoa look at them glow. Those guys are some kind of attack team." Tristan said.

"Wow, your right about that. The power bonus they gain from both of them being on the field at the same time makes them a tuff team to beat." Yugi said.

"No joke and since Joey already taken out Rex's beat monster card, the rest will be cake. Finish him bro" Tristan said.

Joey nodded but then Rex butted in. "Ha, who said that serpent Knight Dragon that Joey destroyed two turns ago was my best card? My supreme monster is a dragon but of a different sort. The Red- eyes Black Dragon!"

All of their jaws dropped as the new dragon came to the field. "A what dragon?" Mai asked.

"Your pair of primates can power up till their green in the face, their still no match for thrashing power of this beast." Rex said.

"So it dose exist. My grandpa told me about this card. Its power are said to rival those of the legendary Blue-eyes White Dragon." Yugi explained.

"I've heard of it too but I've never actually seen one." Abasi said looking at this dragon a bit scared.

"And if you think that those brain dead bruits are going will rescue each other from this dragon's rampage think again. With dragon nails my Red-eyes gets a power boost strong enough to burn an army of your battle guards. Red-eyes Black Dragon, Inferno Fire Blast!" Rex shouted as his dragon attacked. It easily burned away both of Joey's battle guards which not only left his field wide open but it also knocked his life point down to 235.

"How could he torch them both with just one shot?" Joey asked.

"Those who defend together are destroyed together. Don't tell me that you thought their little clubs would be enough to save them from my dragon's wraith?" Rex asked Joey as he smirked.

"That creep." Tristan growled.

Come on Joey. It's on the field so use it already. Abasi thought as she bit her lip. She wanted so much to just spit it out to him but she couldn't. Not if she wanted him to win.

Mai was pretty smug by this point. "That's a good boy Rex. Nice work."

"Oh can it Mai!" Both Abasi and Tea snapped at her.

"Do you smell that odor in the air Joey? It's the stench of your defeated Battle Guards. Who's up next for the roost? Haha!" Rex was clearly pleased with himself well Joey felt utterly defeated already.

"Gota stay calm." Joey told himself.

"Hang in there!" Tristan said.

"Yugi, Abasi, tell me that dragon isn't as tuff as it looks?" Tea asked the experts of their group.

"I wish I could Tea but that would be lying." Abasi said sadly.

"I mean there must be something Joey can do to stop it?"

Yugi wished they could answer her as he, like Abasi knew that there was a move that Joey could make but Joey made both of them promise that they were not to help out in anyway. He could see that it was killing Abasi to keep her mouth shut as she seem to be chewing on her bottom lip in frustration. It was going to have to come down to Joey figuring it out for himself.

"Play every monster you got, my dragon's got enough fire power to turn your whole deck into a smoldering pile of ash." Rex said with glee.

They was just thinking that he was done for but Tristan spoke up. "Hey Joey! You may not have the monster to defeat that thing but you got the smarts."

"We're not giving up on you Joey! "Yugi said.

"Don't forget, dueling is more about heart then straight." Tea added.

"Now show this lizard what you're made of." Abasi said.

This helped to give Joey the confidence to see the duel to the end, whatever the outcome as he drew his next card. "Ya that's it Joey. Slap down another card for my Red-eyes to fry up." Rex said. It was then that Rex remembered about Joey's Time wizards still being on the field, having been forgotten about till now. He figured that since joey hadn't used it yet that he didn't really understand how to really use it. This also gave him an idea on how to get an advantage in his next duel with Mai.

"Oh Joey. I have an idea, let's make this a more exciting and each put one card up for grabs with our star chips. And just so it's far we'll both put up whatever card that we have on the field. Sound good?" rex asked smugly.

"Huh? I don't have a card on the field." Joey said as he looked down on the field. It was then he saw his time wizard that he had put down near the beginning of the duel.

"And for him I'll put up my rarest card the supreme Red-eyes Black Dragon." Rex said.

Joey was confused by this turn of events, which Mai's ranting at Rex for trying to improving his deck didn't help. Not until Joey put the pieces together and realized that he had a chance to win. "You got a deal Rex. You're Red-eyes Black Dragon and my Time Wizard winner takes all."

"What?!" Mai shouted in surprise.

Rex on the other hand just smiled as he shouted happily.

Everyone else what surprised by this sudden turn in events. "Gutsy move." Yugi said.

"Ya but it means that Joey's got a fighting chance now. Let's just hope that his luck holds up." Abasi said.

"Well I'm at it Rex, I'm making him my weapon of choice too. Go Time Wizard!" Joey said as he flipped his card over and places it in attack mode.

"What are you doing?!" Rex shouted in surprise.

"Joey just figured out the best passable move in this situation." Yugi said.

"It sure took him long enough. I was staring to fear that he wouldn't see it and lose the duel." Abasi said with a smile.

"This wouldn't be happening if you had just obeyed my commands Rex." Mai snapped.

"I hope you packed your bags Rex because if my Time Wizard spin arrow lands on a time warp you'll be on the next boat off this island." Joey said.

"Do you really want to leave this entire duel up to a single spin? You do know what will happen if that arrow lands on a skull don't ya?" Rex asked looking nervous.

"That's a risk I gotta take. Time roulette go!"

"What will happen it the arrow lands on a skull?" Tea asked as they watched the arrow spin around.

"It will self-destruct and take a chunk out of Joey's life points." Yugi explained.

"Awe man. Al he's got is a chunk." Tristan said.

They were all on their toes as the arrow spun around and then started to slow down. For a moment they feared that it would land on a skull but then it came to rest on a time warp. They cheered as years passed on the field and Rex's Red-eyes was turned to dust and taking the rest of his life points with it. Before collecting what he had won joey ran up to them happy to have won. It was short forgotten for a moment when Tristan punched him in the face.

"Ya-ya punched me." Joey said in disbelief. "After everything I just went through, you go and punch me?"

"Ya well tuff tomalley. Now we're even from when you punched me." Tristan said.

"Don't you know two wrongs don't make a right, you jerk?" Joey asked as he jumped to his feet.

"should I make it three then?"

Abasi walked up to the two of them and put her hands on their shoulders. "How about you leave it be for now. Joey you better go get your star chips and new monster from Rex before he tries to get the idea to sneak away with them."

That stopped the fighting between them and Joey went to collect what Rex owed him. It was then that Abasi realized that Mai had left without word to any of them. Abasi wasn't to upset about it but she couldn't shake the feeling that it wouldn't be the last time they ran into her.

A/n: well that took longer than I thought and it's not even that long of a chapter. The next one shouldn't take too long as I have been looking forward to writing it. In the meantime review.