"Come on Yug!" Joey calls to his best friend.

Yugi smiles as he follows his best friend onto the ship, tonight they are heading to Duelist Kingdom. This is their first time dueling in a competition, but they both need to do this for a family member. Joey for his sister and Yugi for his grandfather.

"This is great Yug, the two of us dueling for that prize money," Joey says.

"I am not interested in the money Joey, I just want to save my grandfather," Yugi says, shaking his head a bit.

"I get that, don't worry I am sure we can save him!"

On the other side of the boat, two girls are talking. One with long wavy auburn hair and another with mid-long curly brunette hair. Both are watching as the boat leaves the port.

"To think we are the only two Americans invited to this," the auburn one says.

"I know, it is amazing," the curly haired one agrees. "Pegasus has been an idol of my cousins for a long time, I will have to get autographs for them."

"I am not shocked with your family!" The first one laughs.

Soon everyone goes into the common room and settle in for the night, most duelists end up trading their cards. Mai Valentine, one of the older duelists, begins to complain about the situation for sleeping. The two Americans watch as she uses her charm on Rex, one of Japan's champions.

(Outside on the Deck)

"Are you sure about this Yug?" Joey asks.

"Yes, I want you to have them," Yugi smiles.

"Hello there," Weevil says.

"Oh, hello Weevil," Yugi says.

"Yug, who is this guy?" Joey asks.

"This is Weevil Underwood, he is the Champion of Duel Monsters in Japan."

"And you are Yugi Moto, the one who beat Seto Kaiba," Weevil says. "I was hoping to get a look at your Exodia cards, if you don't mind."

"Of course not Weevil," Yugi says, showing him the cards.

Weevil takes them into his hand, he laughs a bit as he walks to the railing. Just before he can release the cards into the ocean, a hand grabs his arm and takes the cards. The boys turn to see the curly haired brunette standing there, she glares at Weevil as she hands the cards to the other girl with her.

"You were going to throw those cards overboard weren't you?" She demands.

"Well I-" Weevil starts when she tightens her grip.

"I shouldn't have expected less from Japan's greatest cheater in Duel Monsters."

"W-wait! I know you!" Weevil stammers.

"Yugi, who is dat girl?" Joey asks.

"I'm not sure," Yugi responds.

"You are Gabrielle Rosalin! North America's Champion!" Weevil says.

"Ya got that right, now scram!" Gabrielle says, pushing him.

Weevil stumbles a bit before running off.

"Nice work Gabs," the other girl says, handing Yugi's cards back. "Next time, keep these in your hands. Don't let anyone else hold them or next time you won't be so lucky."

"Thank you, both of you," Yugi says.

"You're welcome," Gabrielle smiles. "It's nice to meet you Yugi, as Weevil said I am Gabrielle Rosalin."

"And I am Maria Davis," Maria greets.

"It's nice to meet you both, this is my friend Joey Wheeler," Yugi says.

"Thanks for the help, don't know what we woulda done if Weevil let those cards go," Joey says.

"It's no problem," Gabrielle smiles. "I wish you guys luck. Oh and Yugi? You may want to keep those cards out of your deck. Someone may try something again."

With that the two girl walk back into the common room. Yugi and Joey watch them in a bit of shock, they did not expect to meet girls like them.

"Are you alright Yugi?" Yami questions.

"Yea, I am fine," Yugi answers.

Yami hums to himself, something about that girl was familiar to him. But why? Could she have some connection to his past?

The next morning, everyone arrives at the island where the dueling will be taking place for the next month. Everyone starts to duel to win star chips so they can move onto the finals. Maria and Gabrielle duel together, both wanting to move onto the finals. Unlike some of the other duelists, the girls have good reasons to duel and get the prize money.

"And now I play Blue Eyes White Dragon!" Maria says, playing her dragon card.

"But how!? Seto Kaiba is the only one with those cards!" The Mai Valentine says.

"Like I am gonna tell you, now Blue Eyes, destroy her Harpy Sisters!"

Maria's Blue Eyes destroys Mai's monster and the rest of her life groans in defeat and gives her the two star chips. Maria smiles, now having all ten star chips. As she goes to find her friend, she sees Gabrielle confronting Bandit Keith another American Duelist that is known for dueling by his own rules.

"If I win, you give me all of your star chips and leave those duelists alone," Gabrielle says.

"Fine, and if I win you give me your star chips and give me the title of America's greatest Duelist," Keith says.

"Deal."

Maria goes to her friend's side as the duel begins, she will support her friend no matter what. They have dueled Keith in the past and he has always cheated until the Championship came around and Gabrielle won.

"You got this Gabs!" Maria calls to her friend.

Gabrielle looks at her friend and nods.

"I cannot lose!" Keith screams as his life points reach zero.

"Well you did, again," Gabrielle says. "Now you have to keep up your end of the bargain."

Keith, zombie like, gives Gabrielle the star chips and walks off. It is like he lost everything. The two friends look at one another before heading off to the castle, and place their chips into the door and unlike it.

"Hey Mai!" Joey calls when he sees their friend.

"Oh, hey Joey, Yugi," Mai says.

"Mai, is there something wrong?" Tea asks, seeing the look on her face.

"I lost two star chips, I only have eight now," Mai tells them. "I do not qualify for the finals."

"What? Who took them from ya?" Joey asks.

"Maria Davis, she won them fair and square," Mai says. "Girl has good reasons for continuing so I am not upset."

"What reasons are those?" Tristan asks.

"It's not my place to tell you. I am sure you will learn soon."

After Mai leaves, the group of friends head off to the castle for the finals. When they enter they are welcomed by the guards and brought to the dining hall. There they see Maria and Gabrielle waiting for them. Joey isn't very thrilled to see them, knowing that Mai was kicked out because of Maria. They all have dinner and are given numbers on who they will face, Yugi against Maria and Joey against Gabrielle.

"The duels will be tomorrow, so go and get some rest," The man says.

The duelists and their friends go off to rest from the events of the last month. They are happy to have a bed again and can take a shower.

"I don't like this Yug," Joey says.

"What is it Joey?" Yugi asks.

"Those girls, how did they win so many duels to qualify?" Joey questions.

"I'm not sure, but from what Weevil said on the ship, I think the girls are high ranking duelists from America," Yugi says.

"Why are they here? Keith I get, but these girls?"

"Mai did say that Maria has a good reason for being here, maybe there is something going on at home and they want to help somehow."

Joey goes quiet, they don't really know the girls or their reasoning. They could have family problems and want to get the cash prize to help. He sighs and soon returns to his own room to sleep.

"Going through your deck again?" Maria asks her friend.

"I need my best cards for the upcoming duel," Gabrielle says. "Joey is a strange duelist but he is also skilled."

"If anyone can beat him, it's you. I will do my best but I am dueling against the King of Games."

The girls remain silent, both praying silently that they will win the prize money.