It's good to be back! Another chapter, another Big Five member.

Disclaimer: RDF1 doesn't own anything in this fic, technically not even the original content.

One more thing: For those that do not know, my general writing style is rewriting canon, changing dialogue to fit my ideas of a story. So if I'm skipping a bunch of dialogue, it's because of who I'm focusing on and how much I want to rattle through the duels themselves, since Dialogue is actually 60 percent of these episodes. I write under the assumption you have seen the show before, so if you haven't, why are you reading this beforehand?

(Chapter Begin)

(Recap)

"I move my Deck Master onto the field," said Maria, as DMG moved into place, "Then I'll activate 'Sage's Stone', allowing me to Special Summon Dark Magician from my deck."

Dark Magician appeared next to DMG, glancing at her as they shared a nod.

"Now it's time to end this duel!" said Maria, "I activate my Deck Master's Ability! Soul Circle!"

DMG glowed Pink as Neo, Trance, 3x Thunder Dragons, Magician of Faith, and Cosmo Queen appeared around her. Seven Monsters, this allowed Maria to look at the next seven cards in her deck. She looked at each one of them and found the one she was looking for.

"The Card I chose is Heavy Storm! This destroys all Spells and Traps on the field!" smirked Maria.

"NO! NOT MY BACKROW!" cried Crump in terror. His Life Points and Monsters were Vulnerable now.

"Next up, Magic Formula," continued Maria, recognizing the familiar book that was now equipped to Dark Magician Girl. Now, destroy his Penguins, AND HIS LIFE POINTS!"

Both Dark Magician and DMG combined their powers to destroy the Penguins, and reduce Crumps's Life Points to 0.

"And that's game!" said Maria, smirking while folding her arms. Little did Crump know, she had four pieces of Exodia in her hand and had the chance to add the fifth due to DMG's effect, but decided against it. She wanted to put Crump in his place, and an alt win condition wasn't the way to do so.

With that, the ice rose out the water, connecting the ice platform Maria and Téa were on to the mainland. From there, an opening in a nearby ice structure broke off, revealing Yugi racing through.

"Téa! Maria! Are you two okay?" asked Yugi.

"We're fine. Just had to deal with perverted aqua fowl," remarked Maria, shrugging her shoulders as Téa moved to hug Yugi, giving him a major blush in response.

"I'm glad you're alright, Yugi!" said Téa.

"Our next move is to find the others," said Maria, before a door appeared before them, "And that's our cue!"

The three of them opened the door and walked through, wondering what else awaits in this Virtual World.

(Recap End)

As the light died down from passing through the door, the group of three entered what looked like a courtroom. There was a Judge Man sitting the Judge's Chair and in the Witness Stand was Joey, with Flame Swordsman as his Deck Leader. Yugi and Joey had a bit of an exchange, figuring out what was going on. Yugi and Téa moved to sit behind Joey while Maria moved to the bench beside them, smirking at the Judge Man.

"Courtroom Duel? Clever Johnson. Glad to see losing your body hasn't removed your sense of humor," remarked Maria.

"Boasting just because you beat Crump is an amateur move, Miss Maria," replied Johnson, "After I deal with Joseph, you're being brought to trial next for replacing us."

"You betrayed Kaiba Corp," countered Maria, leaning toward the arm rest, "That was before my time. Your assertion lacks evidence and is not a valid line of questioning. Now, if Joey's done with his turn, take your move."

"Gladly," said Johnson, drawing his next card.

Joey: 2500

Johnson: 200

Looking at the Card Economy of both players, Joey had the advantage, but that was only due to Life Points, and that was the easiest factor to influence. Johnson summoned 'Curtain of the Dark Ones' and fused it with his Mystical Elf already on the field into Kamionwizard, which had 1300 Attack Points, which was too weak to trigger Joey's Trap, Bottomless Trap Hole. Johnson added Sinister Justice, a Continuous Spell, allowing his Fusion Monster to attack immediately.

(AN1)

Joey: 2500-1200

As a second effect, Sinister Justice increased Johnson's Life Points as well, and any Level 4 or below Fusion Monster inflicting battle damage would trigger Sinister Justice again and again.

Johnson: 200-1000

Now, Johnson had a strong lead thanks to the card combination. Johnson placed one card face down and ended his turn.

Joey was now on the back foot, especially since Johnson could activate his Deck Master Ability as a Quick Effect, something only Yugi experienced against Gansley. Joey summoned Panther Warrior and set Skull Dice facedown.

'Johnson's making the right moves, but Joey's got a Luck God on his side. It was how he survived against Ra's Anger during his duel with Odion. Johnson will need to play carefully, otherwise he'll lose,' mused Maria, not that she was rooting for the crooked Lawyer. Despite he exceptional record, he knew he was illegally getting into bad business with Pegasus, so even if Seto didn't trap the Big 5 in the Virtual World, Johnson was going to lose his license anyways.

Johnson took his turn and played 'Leading Question', which was another Continuous Spell that boosted all Level 4 and below Fusion Monsters during Battle by 800 points. Joey attempted to counter with Skull Dice.

Skull Dice result: 6 (error) - 1

With a result of 1, the Skull Dice's effect fizzles as it doesn't reduce Kamionwizard's Attack Points, allowing it to destroy Panther Warrior.

Joey: 1200-1100

Johnson: 1000-1800

Maria glared at Johnson while the others were shocked and appalled at what happened. That was straight up manipulation. Johnson messed with the die result through the computer code. Unfortunately, she couldn't say anything. It'd be her word against Johnson's, especially since Johnson would have lost if the six remained. Kamionwizard's attack would reduce down to 350, allowing Panther Warrior to deal lethal damage. Furthermore, thanks to that last attack, Johnson's Deck Master Ability was now live again.

Joey drew his next card, summoned Swordsman of Landstar in Attack Mode, followed by Graceful Dice.

Graceful Dice Result 6 (error) - 1

Another Dice effect fizzles, though this time it wouldn't have dealt lethal damage, it would force Johnson to either use his Deck Master Ability or lose half his life points and his monster. Maria's glare only deepened, leaving Johnson sweating a few bullets. If looks could kill, Johnson would be six feet under if he wasn't already dead thanks to losing his physical body. Johnson managed to regain his composure and used his Deck Master Ability to remove Joey's monster and deal damage.

Joey: 1100-600

Johnson: 1800-800

(AN2)

Joey set his last two cards facedown and ended his turn. Johnson drew and immediately played Pot of Greed, taunting Joey, but Joey had a contingency. He revealed his trap "Gamble", which required Joey to have no cards while Johnson had six. With a correct call, Joey would draw 5 cards; however, an incorrect call would skip his next turn. Maria was seething internally, because she knew, she KNEW, Johnson would just change the verdict once Joey called it, but on a 50/50 call, it's a lot harder to actually prove that. Joey flipped his coin and called Heads.

Coin result: Tails

(AN3)

Frustrated, Joey activated Scapegoat before ending his turn.

Johnson drew his next card, and then used Reinforcement of the Army to get Armail Warrior and then added Polymerization to fuse it with the One-Eyed Shield Dragon in his hand to summon Dragoness the Wicked Knight.

(AN4)

Johnson then used his Leading Question to give his monsters a power boost, and with Sinister Justice, Dragoness could attack immediately, destroying two scapegoats. Joey attempted to take his turn, only for Johnson to brutally remind him that his turn his skipped, leaving Johnson to destroy his last two tokens.

"Case Closed," said Johnson, "It's over Joseph."

"It's not over until your Life Points hit zero!" countered Joey.

"Actually, it's 'the last card is played', Joseph," sighed Maria.

"Not you too, Maria!" whined Joey.

"Regardless, I'd like to raise an objection!" continued Maria.

"Overruled," replied Johnson, not wanting Maria to have any say in this, because he knew that she knew that he cheated. Her death glare was more than enough proof.

Suddenly, a flash of light appeared, revealing Noah.

"Actually, her objection is sustained, Johnson," stated Noah, in a tone that conveyed he was NOT happy.

"But Master..." started Johnson.

"SILENCE!" yelled Noah, scaring Johnson a bit more than Maria currently, before continuing in a normal tone, "Maria, I believe I know what you're going to say, and you're right. Johnson here has been cheating."

"Knew it," tch'ed Maria, "How dare you cheat in an official duel, Johnson! I knew you were crooked, but this is a new low."

"I'm disappointed Johnson. I took you five in because I genuinely thought that under my leadership, you would defeat Seto Kaiba and his little friends..."

"Friends is pushing it..." muttered Maria.

"But if you taint your victory with cheating, I can't prove I'm better than him," continued Noah, "You five have only been trapped in this virtual prison for months. You can't fathom the YEARS I spent in Seto's shadow, always attempting to prove I was the better person to inherit Kaiba Corp."

"Okay... that would be rather difficult seeing as Gozaburo has been missing for five years," remarked Maria.

"HOLD IT!" called out Joey, "The defendant would like to speak."

Noah mentally sighed, but gestured for him to continue.

"I may not understand everything your talking about, but I do understand being upset about cheating," confessed Joey, "However, I can overlook it so long as he promises not to cheat any more throughout this duel. This way you get to prove you're better if Johnson still manages to win. If I win, it proves that Joey doesn't quit, not even against cheating scumbags."

Noah glanced over at Maria.

"Don't look at me," shrugged Maria, "Joey's always played hardball from what I read in his file. I'd say let him prove his mettle."

"Very well, I just hope you understand what you just did. Make sure to give a good closing argument," relented Noah, before disappearing in the same flash that he appeared in.

"Neat way to travel," commented Joey, "Now, let's get back to the duel."

"You one turn left before I defeat you. And don't forget I still get your body when I win," boasted Johnson.

"We'll see about that," said Joey, drawing his card.

Now that Johnson couldn't cheat, Maria could feel a strong presence envelope Joey. Maria recognized it as Ra. Long overdue in this duel, but when cheaters cheat, luck hacks fizzle.

"Looks like luck is smiling on me," declared Joey, revealing Pot of Greed.

Joey's next two cards would determine the duel.

"I now move my Deck Master to the field, and then equip him with my Burning Soul Sword!" continued Joey.

"But Burning Soul Sword requires another monster to work," protested Johnson.

"Johnson, Joey's still got a card to play. Let him cook for a moment," countered Maria, folding her arms.

"Indeed," smirked Joey, "I reveal my last card: Arduous Decision!"

"That's a high risk card!" called out Yugi.

"He needs to go big or lose, Yugi," deadpanned Maria, "Now, draw those two cards, Joey!"

"You got it," said Joey, drawing the next two cards, which happened to be Sword and Shield and Goblin Attack Force.

This truly came to luck, because the decision had to be made by Johnson.

"Remember Johnson, you can't peek," reminded Maria, causing Johnson to get nervous again.

Joey held up one card in each hand, both hidden from Johnson, since that was the ruling of the effect.

"I pick the left one!" stated Johnson.

"Are you sure?" bluffed Joey, "I mean, REALLY sure!?"

"Hah! A double bluff means that I'm right. I've been in countless cases. And that double ask means you trying to trick me, but it won't work. Now show me that card!"

Joey chuckled as he started to raise his left hand, a triple bluff, something not even Johnson could see though.

"HOLD IT! I changed my mind! I choose your right hand, final answer!" declared Johnson.

"Looks like it just ain't your day," said Joey, revealing the Goblin Attack Force in his right hand, before summoning it, "Now, I'll tribute my Goblin Attack Force to power up by Flame Swordsman!"

Burning Soul Sword glowed with power, turning Flame Swordsman gold as his attack increased from 1000 to 3300.

"TAKE THAT! Joey wins! You can't stop this attack, and your Leading Question can't give your monsters enough points for you to survive this turn!" declared Maria triumphantly, point her right index finger at Johnson, who visibly flinched and cringed back, watching in terror as Flame Swordsman destroyed Dragoness.

(AN5)

Johnson: 800-0

Joey: 600

Winner: Joey

"I've never lost in the court room before! I once convicted a man terrified of water for stealing a boat!" cried out Johnson.

"There's just one problem, Johnson," said Maria, moving forward and approaching the Judge Man, "That argument stills holds some logic if you can reason your argument properly. But here, the cards speak for themselves. You cheated and you lost. GOODBYE JOHNSON!"

Johnson could only wail in agony as he was removed from the court room piece by broken piece.

"Joey Wheeler is innocent!" called out Joey, getting some cheers from Yugi and Téa.

"Way to go, Joey," said Maria, "You have the favor of someone powerful. Just remember to not abuse it. If you try to push that luck, it may end up backfiring on you someday."

"Maybe, but not today!" said Joey, "Now, let's find the others and get out of here."

"Yeah, who knows who they've challenged to a duel now?" pondered Yugi, getting Joey's attention.

"Challenged?" blinked Joey.

"Did you forget, the Big Five will challenge everyone until every single person had dueled," informed Maria.

"But then... I NEED TO FIND SERENITY!" panicked Joey.

"Calm down. Don't underestimate little sis," smirked Maria, placing a hand on Joey, "I taught her everything she knows.

From there, the group of four headed towards the next door, and the next destination.

(Chapter End)

Alright, on to Author Notes...

AN1: Somehow I always thought Kamionwizard was two words, not one. It's not an Mandela Effect either. Because I've looked up Kamionwizard more than once, so I should know this.

AN2: Part of me wants to say this is a misplay. Johnson didn't need to use his Deck Master Ability and could have just attacked over it, gaining even more life points. He just wanted to add insult to injury to Joey in an attempt to railroad humiliate him in a rigged duel.

AN3: With the Dice, we saw the result being changed in real time, but the coin flip didn't reveal heads and switch to tails, it just showed tails. So I can't put an error even though it's proven by Noah that he did manipulate the coin toss.

AN4: Continuing from AN2, this is where his Deck Master ability would have been more handy, allowing him to win the duel even if he didn't against Swordsman of Landstar. Johnson seriously messed up, he cheated and misplayed his way into defeat.

AN5: Took a bit, but I FINALLY got the third speech text of Phoenix Wright in the chapter. LOLZ!

Next time: Serenity 1v1 against a Big Five?

So, until then...

Later,

RDF1