Flashback
"And that's what happened to Grandpa." Yugi finished explaining to his father as they had dinner.
"Wow." Yugi's father had been quiet for a long time, taking in everything. "All those stories are real then?" He asks. "I thought that's what they were stories."
Yugi smiled a little. "Believe me dad. Everything is real!" He looks down at his Puzzle and fingered it. "Grandpa gave me this last year, he dared and challenged me to solve it." He smiled, looking up at his father.
"Well, obviously you solved it."
"I think I bit off more then I can chew." Yugi thought.
"Then let me talk to your father." The Spirit said.
Yugi closed his eyes, trying to calm himself. He opened his eyes. "Dad. There's a 5,000 year old Spirit living inside this puzzle." He stood up. "That's the same look you're giving me that Kelly and James gave me when I told them."
"I believe you son."
"Well, I'm going to show you. He's a super cool guy, he's a great guy too and a real friend." A whirlpool of wind surrounded Yugi and in his place is The Spirit.
"Hello Mr. Moto. I am the Spirit who resides in the millennium puzzle."
"If, if, you're standing there, in front of me." Yugi's father starts, stuttering. "Where's my son?"
"Yugi is safe, I assure you." The Spirit held up his millennium puzzle.
Yugi's father eyed the puzzle. "Ok."
"I have been trapped inside this for 5,000."
Yugi's father's eyes grew wide. "What happened? How did you get trapped? And you must be my son's ancestor."
"I don't know why I have been trapped. I even lost my memories during a point."
"Once Yugi finished putting the millennium puzzle together, I was released. I have helped Yugi duel against anyone. Your son is a fine duelist on his own, but when it comes to bringing the Duel Monsters to life? That is a whole new game."
"I appreciate that." Yugi's father nods.
"As far as Yugi being my dependent?" The Spirit asked. "It could be possible."
XxXxXxXxXxXx
End Of Flashback
"Ok, bring em on." Joey said as the group of friends are standing by the ocean. "I'm itching to duel, and I'm taking on the next player we see."
"Ya know, I'm so sure Joey's up to this." Tea said.
"His ego is puffin up like a hot air balloon." Kelly remarks. "His over confidence is getting the better of him."
"Yeah, there are tournament level players here." Tristan agreed. "But don't you think he's smart enough to realize."-
"Yeah!" Joey cheers, running up to a cliff and spreading his arms out wide. "The next Duel Monsters Champion!"
The others sweat drop. "He needs a reality check." Tea groaned.
"Guess he's about smart as he looks." Tristan said.
"I'd better be the champion." Joey said as he stares out towards the ocean, the sun making it glitter. "For Serenity's sake. She's always counted on me. Even when we were kids."
Suddenly they heard a crowd cheering behind them. "Look there." Tea points to the other arenas.
"Duel Monsters stadiums." James said. "Look at em. They're all over."
"You said it! Lots of dueling going on." Yugi agreed.
"I'm going in!" Joey said, pumped for his first match.
"You sure you want to do this?" Tristan asked. "If you lose, you give up your only star chip."
"That's right." Tea said as Joey goes to the ground.
"Don't panic. You can do this, Joey." Yugi encouraged. "You don't know this, don't you?"
"You're right, Yugi." Joey nods. "This'll be my first official duel, and I can't afford to get kicked out at the start."
"True, but not everyone here is a pro." Explained Yugi as he looked around. "I'm sure you can find someone on your level."
"Go for someone easy, Joey." James advised.
"And I guess I should think about what kind of field my cards are best suited for." Joey as he pulls out his deck and looks at his cards. "They're mostly monsters and fighter types. Uh … I guess that makes this meadow region my kind of turf."
Yugi smiles. "That's right Joey. See? You know what you're doing."
"You lost crybaby." Mai's voice is heard. "Now give me your star chips."
"A voice that annoying can only belong to Mai." Tea huffed.
"We should see what she's up too." Kelly said as she and the boys started to move, she turns to see Tea hadn't moved, then grab's Tea's arm. "Come on!"
"Agh, do we have to?" Tea whined as Kelly pulled her towards the place they heard Mai.
"It's not fair! You cheated somehow." A duelist said as Mai is laughing. "How could you know what your cards were when they were sill face down?"
"I'm psychic." Mai answered shortly. "And you're done."
The duelist starts to cry and run off, as Mai laughs again.
"Wow, that was cold." Kelly said, watching the duelist run off.
"Poor kid." James added.
Mai turns to the group and gasps when she sees Yugi. "Well, looks who's here." She coos.
"Wow. Mai's already won two more star chips." Joey admired.
"Hmm." A glint sparkled in Mai's eyes. "Hey, Yugi." She slides up to him. "Are your duels going well?" She coos.
"I'm making progress."
"So, you have 3 start chips, do you?" Mai asks, looking at Yugi's dueling glove in her hands. "I might be up for a duel myself."
"Take her." Tea said in Yugi's ear.
"Huh?" He nervously glanced at her.
"Knock her out of the contest and off the island!" Tea hissed.
"Hmmm. You know, I'm definitely in the mood for a duel right now." Mai said as she steps backwards. "So, get ready, because I choose to challenge you, Joey!"
That surprises Joey. "What?" He points at himself. "You challenge me?"
"Do you have the guts to accept? Get it? I want to play you, kid."
"Ha! Guess you heard about my skill." Joey bragged.
"Don't flatter yourself." Mai said. "I overheard you Yugi talking on the boat, and I know he gave you the only start chip that let you have. My motto is, 'Take out the weakest players first.' And considering that you wouldn't even be here if Yugi hadn't given you one of his chips, you've got to be the weakest duelist on the island."
"Hey, do you have to be so insulting?" Joey asked, offended and insulted.
"This time she was being truthful." Tea said.
"Mai's ruthless. Don't duel her first." James said. "Why don't you take me on, barbie?
"Back off shrimp." Mai glared at him.
"She just might be colder then Seto." Kelly muttered to herself.
Tristan turns to Joey. "Don't you get it? If you lose this contest, you're out for good."
"Yugi, James stand up for Joey." A fuming Tea turned to the two boys. "You'll have to fight her in his place!"
"I'm not wasting my dragon's on her." James said. "Buuut." He pats Yugi on the back. "Go for it Yugi!"
Yugi looks at him, then turns to Joey. "This is his decision to make." He looks up at the blonde. "Show Mai what you're made of."
"Right. She thinks I'm a pushover, but I'm not." Joey said, getting pumped up again.
"What!?" Kelly gasped. "Joey!"
"You can't be serious Joey." Tristan added.
Joey turns to them. "I've never been serious. Don't you see? This is my chance to prove myself … to show everybody. Don't forget, Gramps trained me. I mean, sure Gramps didn't get a chance to finish my training. And granted, I wish I'd had a chance to practice more before getting thrown into a tournament this huge with so many huge hitters." Joey rants. "But honest, I think I can take her."
"Oh man." Tristan said quietly. "You'd better be right … for your sister's sake."
"Yeah, you better not screw this up, Joey." Tea added.
"I accept!" Joey exclaimed. "Let's duel!"
Get ready to lose." Mai said simply.
XxXxXxXxXx
Once they they were on the stadium. Yugi, Kelly, Tristan and Tea stood on the sidelines. "Go get her, Joey!" Tea shouts.
"Kick her butt!" Tristan calls.
"You got this!" James calls.
"And no pressure." Kelly remarks, folding her arms.
"He'll do fine." Yugi said, confident in his best friend.
"Since you only have one measly star chip, I only have to bet one of mine against you." Mai told Joey.
Joey then looks out into the field. "Huh? Oh no!" The field in front of him was completely different. "What are all those mountains dong on my field?"
"The field well battle on is 40 percent forest, 40 percent mountain, and the last 20 percent is meadow." Mai explained. "So, deal with it or surrender."
"Calm down Joey. You'll be ok." Yugi encouraged. "Your monsters will still get a field power bonus on the meadow part of the field."
"Oh yeah." Joey blinks. "Listen, Mai, not for nothing, but I gotta ask you one question before we duel."
"Hmm? What?"
"Why did you decide to take part in this tournament?" The blonde asks. "Tell me, Mai. Why is it you duel?"
"Why do I duel?" She asked, giving Joey a look. "For all the comforts that I crave: designer clothes, travel, perks … anything to avoid real work. Hot cars turbo charged for livin large."
"Luxury life? Using feminine ways to get what she wants?" Kelly huffs. "Yep, she is so definitely Veronica Lodge."
"Huh! So that's why you want the prize money?" Joey asked with a smirk. "How selfish."
"How dare you try and judge me!?" Shouts Mai. "Who do you think you are, you pathetic little snot?"
"For your information, some of us fight for the people we love." Joey said.
"You'll show her, Joey." Yugi said. "Show her what it's like to duel from the heart."
"Hmm." Joey looks down at the cards in his hand, before picking one. "So, to start the game off, Masaki, the Legendary Swordsman." The monster appears on the field with an attack power of 1,100. "The field power bonus will bring his power up over 3,00 points." Joey said as the field power bonus brings the power attack of 1,430. "Hey, I made my first move!"
"Concentrate, Wheeler!" Kelly snaps.
"Hmm." Scuffs Mai, then makes a meditative sound.
"Huh?" Joey blinks as he his friends give Mai a confused look. "What do you think you're doin?"
"Diving my card." She answered. "I have to mystical choose which one of them's the best."
Joey's still confused. "Huh? What are you, a psychic?"
"And the best card would be." Mai starts to choose through her hand. "Hmm. The Harpy's Lady!"
On the field, a woman with wings on her back, appears with an attack of 1,300. "Her strength is boosted by the mountains field power bonus." Mai said as her Harpy's Lady attack strength rose to 1,690.
"I'll still take it on." Joey said. "Attack!"
Joey's monster drew out his sword and runs towards the other monster.
"Joey, wait!" Yugi shouts. "Land monsters are at a disadvantage to flying monsters!"
The warning came to late as Mai's monster dodge the attack.
"Monsters that can fly have a magical resistance against monsters that can only walk on earth." Yugi explained.
"So, Joey blew it already?" Tea asked.
"No, but he attacked too soon." James explained. "Before he thought about what her monster was capable of."
"Well." Kelly starts nervous. "That's our Joey, head butting his way through instead of thinking first." She laughed. "That doofus."
Tristan wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "That's why we love him."
"My Samurai's sushi!" Joey cried.
"Oh, cards, speak to me!" Mai said as Joey's life points drop to 1,410 while hers stayed at 2,000. "Mmm … and I'll choose again without looking."
"Huh?" Joey was starting to panic. "How's she's doin that?" He asked as Mai placed a card on the field.
"He's losing it!" Tea said.
"Guess that mop head wasn't for this duel." Tristan said.
"Hey, Joey!" Yugi shouts, getting his attention. "Think about what you're doing before you move again!"
"What do I do?" Joey asked thought, then looks down at the card he's about to place on the field. "Maybe this one." Then out loud. "Tiger Axe!"
A new monster appears on the field with an attack of 1,336. "My field power bonus should raise its attack power!" Joey said as his Tiger Axe's power goes up to 1,690, matching the attack power of the Harpy's Lady. "So, it can take on the Harpy's Lady head to head."
"I think his brain cells are turning into water, after jumping from the boat." Kelly said with a sigh.
"You're not thinking!" Yugi shouts. "It's still resistant to magic!"
"Right." Mai agrees. "Tiger Axe is another handicapped earth based monster." Her monster screeched as she took flight and slashed Tiger Axe, destroying it. Joey's life points drop to 1,020 as he watched his monster get taken off the field. "Hmph, it'll take stronger monsters then your land based wimps to beat my Harpy's Lady." Mai said before picking a card and laid it down. "Now I'll play this lovely card without even looking. I'll give you a hint. It's an equipment magic card that will help me defeat your next card in one turn."
"Again with that psychic stuff." Joey said as he picks his next card.
"You can do this, Joey!" Kelly encourages. "Don't let that luxury girl get under your skin!"
Joey pulled on the collar of his shirt nervously, then places a card face down onto the field.
"Running scared, huh?" Mai asks. "Well, let me show you my surprise. " She turns over her card, revealing a spell card. "Cyber shield, to juice up my Harpy's Lady."
The monster appears and it's attack boosts jumps to 2,190 points and attacks Joey's face down card.
"No!" Shouts Joey as his monster gets destroyed on the field. "How she doin that?"
"I gotta say, I like her deck." Kelly said.
"Hey!" Tea snaps turning to her. "Hartford, you're pushing it!"
Kelly returns the glare. "Why don't you do the whole universe a favor, and admit your secret, Gardner!"
"You first!"
Yugi is quick in between them. "Whoa, girls, girls! Please!" He exclaimed.
"Stay out of this!" Both girls yell at him, making Yugi shrink away and in a flash is in Tristan's arms Scooby Doo style with wide and scared eyes. Both boys have sweat drops. The four turn back around to the field when they heard Mai laughing.
"You can't win against me." Mai said laughing.
"She's right. She's too much for me." Joey said to himself.
Tristan lowers Yugi back to the ground.
"Joey, remember what my grandpa taught you about how to play Duel Monsters!" Yugi said, looking up at Joey.
"Don't let her rattle you!" Tea added. "She's just trying to psych you out."
"Hmm. Stay out of this!" Mai shouts at them. "Your brainless cheerleading isn't going to help him against the superior power of my Harpy Ladies."
"What's that suppose to mean!?" Kelly demanded.
"Don't you guys get it?" Mai asked. "Friendship doesn't win duels, never will. It hasn't helped him. He's defeated and he knows it."
"Not true!" Tea yells.
"No? I beg to differ. There can be only one champion." Mai said. "On this island, in this game, someone can be your best friend today and your worst enemy tomorrow. Once the competition forces you to face each other in a duel, where's your friendship then?"
"If she didn't have a cold icy chip on her shoulder, I'd take pity on her. She sounds like she's been around the block her whole life." Kelly comments as she folds her arms.
"That's why the only person a duelist can trust is himself. I hope that your defeat today teaches you that lesson, kid." Mai told Joey, who starts to growl.
"He's losing it." James said.
"He needs help. Yugi help him." Tea turns to him.
"But what can I do from here?" Yugi asked, before the millennium puzzle starts to glow.
"Don't listen to her Joey. We're here to help you." The Spirit told Joey. "Just like you're always there for us."
"Huh?"
"Wha?" Joey starts as they both turn to look at Yugi aka The Spirit.
"Trust me on this. She's just trying to divide and conquer, a strategy that's been used for centuries." Suddenly the eye of the Millennium Puzzle appears on his forehead. "Believe me, I know."
"When you get that look in your eye, I believe everything you say." Joey said, causing Mai to laugh.
"Do you really think Yugi wants you to be the grand prize winner?" Mai asked. "He's a duelist too. To win, you'll eventually have to take him on."
"She's right. We will have to duel, but." Joey trailed off. "What do I do?" He asks. "Maybe Yugi's right about this thing. I have to stop listening to Mai's nonsense and start using my head. AARGH! I just gotta concentrate on how to win the game."
Joey starts blocking out everything around him, focusing on the duel. "There's gotta be a way to beat Mai." He thought. "If I can just figure out how she knows what our cards are … she's not psychic, there must be somethin else she's doin." He starts to smell the air and realizes something. "What's the strange smell?" He asks as he looks around. "I never noticed that smell when my eyes were open. I'm smellin a bunch of different perfumes comin from … her cards! Huh?"
"Let's go kid. It's your turn."
"That's it. I see through your card trick."
"Huh?"
"You sprayed all your cards with different perfumes, and by smellin each different scent, you can tell which card is which when they're face down."
"Uh."
"So, you don't have to look in order to play your cards. That way you can psych the other player out."
"No way!" Mai exclaimed. "How could an amateur punk like you see through my aroma strategy? It's just impossible!"
"I gotta admit, Mai." Joey replied. "You really had me buyin into the whole psychic power shtick. I was too freaked out to think through because of that, but you're not a psychic at all! You're just a big fate fake!"
"Alright Joey!" Yugi shouts.
"Go get her Joey!" Tea cheered.
"Yes, go Joey!" James exclaims.
"Yeah!" Kelly cheers, hugging The Spirit like a pillow.
"You the man!" Tristan shouts.
"Yugi, you were right!" Joey smiles down at him.
"Just because you saw through my little psychic act, doesn't mean you're going to be able to defeat me in a duel!" Mai said with anger.
"I think you're wrong." Joey said. "Before you were winnin by confusing me an tryin to pit me against my friends, but now my mind is clear. I know who I can trust. All you got left is your cheap trick's and I won't fall for em anymore."
"Uh."
"I'm gonna blast your Harpies out of the sky with this." Joey shows her his Baby Dragon card.
"Good job, Joey!" The Spirit smiles.
"Now he's thinking." Kelly also smiles.
"Baby Dragon!" Joey places his card onto the field. Baby Dragon appears with an attack power of 1,200.
"Aww, it's so cute!" Kelly coos.
"Ha. That wimpy card is your grand play?" Asks Mai. "I only wish it was worth more so when I devastate you, it would do damage to your life points." A look appears on her face. "My card will be Elegant Egotist." She held her monster card up. "It's magic will make duplicates of my Harpy's Lady."
On the field, Harpy's Lady splits into two, creating three of the same monster. "Oh no!" Joey shouts.
"Harpy's Lady 1 … 2 … 3."
"It's 3 times the trouble."
"Three times the headache!" Kelly said nervously. "Joey, hang in there!" She yells up at him.
"What now?" Tea asked. "He was struggling when there was only one."
"Don't give in, Joey!" Tristan calls. "You've still got all kinds of moves left!"
Confused, Tea turns to him. "Really? What moves would those be?" She asked.
"How would I know?" Tristan asked. "Ask an expert." He points at The Spirit. "Ask Yugi."
"It's Joey's duel. He has to figure it out."
"I don't have any cards strong enough to beat 3 Harpy Ladies." Joey said as he looks at his cards in his hand.
"Ha! And I'm going to keep using the magic of Elegant Egotist to double my Harpies again and again each time!" Mai declares. "Ha ha! But while my Harpies multiply, I can't attack you, so it's your move. Of course, you'll soon be up against an army."
"An Army of Harpies." Joey muttered. "How the heck do I fight an army? She got a whole army. How am I supposed to beat that?"
"Don't give up, Joey!" The Spirit calls, causing Joey to turn his attention to him.
"Huh?"
"Think hard about her strategy. She's been using only one monster card and strengthening that one card with many magic cards, but there's a serious flaw in her dueling strategy, Joey."
"Using magic on one card? That's true." Joey nods. "She just been juicing up the Harpy Ladies every turn, but if she has mostly magic cards, maybe the Harpy Ladies are her only monsters. I bet if I can just defeat her Harpies, she won't have any monsters left to play."
"That's right, Joey. Now think." The Spirit said. "What card in your deck will help you win?"
Joey looks back at his cards. "Which of my cards?" He asks. "Tell me. Wait! I think maybe you did. The Time Wizard. This is the kind of tight spot Yugi must've been talkin about. Now, if I can just remember what Gramps taught me about the way to use a magic card. It's my only chance. But do I have it in my hand?"
"If I had known how long it was going to take to make a move, I would have brought a magazine."
"Uh oh. The Time Wizard's not in my hand." Joey gulped. "I'll have to draw for it. Ahh, but what if I don't get it? Ohh, what if." He trails off for a moment. "Ahh! Here I go. It's all or nothin." Joey said as he draws a card with his eyes closed, his brown eyes open he sees the card in his hand. "Huh? Alright!" He exclaimed, putting the card onto the field. "It's the Time Wizard!"
"Hmm? What good is that thing?" Mai asks once the Time Wizard appeared, ticking away.
"Don't you know?" He asks her. "The Time Wizard can make time go faster, causing my Baby Dragon to grow into a Thousand Dragon."
"Right Joey, and that's not the only affect your Time Wizard will have." Yugi smiled.
"Time Magic." The monster said, everything on the field starts to move faster.
"Baby Dragon transform into Thousand Dragon!" Joey calls, and suddenly Baby Dragon grows into a Thousand Dragon with its attack points increasing to 2,400.
"So now you have a bigger dragon. Big deal." Mai said. "My Harpy Ladies still have a greater attack power. Attack it, my 3 Harpy sisters!"
The three monsters shrieked. "What?! What happened to my Harpy Ladies?" She asks as her monster attack points drop down to 1,300. "They've gotten so old."
"Ha ha. I warned you." The Spirit said. "A millennium has passed on the playing field, and your Harpy Ladies have become old and decrepit. Face it Mai. Time's running out for you and your Ladies."
Mai groans in fear.
"I believed, and the cards came through for me!" Joey cheered. "Awesome! Go Thousand Dragon!"Thousand Dragon blew smoke out of his nose and roared. "Attack with Inferno Flame Breath!"
Joey's monster breathed fire at the 3 Harpy Ladies, destroying them on the field.
Mai again groans as Joey chuckles at her defeat.
"He did it! Joey won!" Tea cheers.
"Go Joey!" Kelly cheers, hugging The Spirit tightly, not knowing she was squeezing the wind out of him.
"I knew you could do it!" Tristan cheers.
"Thanks guys." Joey smiles at his friends.
"Ohh. How?" Mai asks. "How could I ever lost to such an amateur?"
"Hey, Mai!" Joey calls to her.
"Huh?"
"I tried to tell ya, there's more to Duel Monsters then kickin the other guy's butt. If you're ever gone be real champion, you gotta learn to care about someone other then yourself. Isn't that right, Yugi?"
"Yeah." The Spirit nods, then returns to the Puzzle and Yugi comes back.