Angel of the Blue Eyes Season 1

Mai vs Nikki

~Nikki~
As of right now, we were all standing at the entrance to the castle. We've been trying to get Yugi to snap out of his trance...but nothing has worked. And me? I just...angry. Angry at Seto, angry at Yami...and angry at myself.
"I've never seen him like this," Tristen said sadly.
"Well, he did just lose his only chance to save his grandfather," Bakura reminded him. I sighed.
"You aren't helping," I said to Bakura who frowned. I looked at Yugi as I grabbed his hand. "Yugi, let us help you...please," I said to him. Seeing Yugi like this was bringing me close to tears. He doesn't say anything. This is all my fault. If I could have stopped Seto then he wouldn't be like this. I just wish there was something I could do.
"We have to do something, Joey," Tea said.
"Yeah....alright, I'm going in," Joey said. Joey kneels down next to Yugi. "It's okay, Yug, you just lost a few star chips that's all. Here, take mine, I owe you big time for ever getting me this far. Here, take them," Joey held them out. I sighed.
"Guys...it's not just about Grandpa...he's afraid to duel ever again," I told them. I then glare at the puzzle. "All because that damn spirit didn't want to suck up his pride," I lowly growled.
"What's happening?" I heard a voice ask.
"It's Mai," Tea said as we turned.
"What's up? If you guys have enough star chips to get into the castle then why are you hanging around out here?" Mai asked curious.
"It's Yug, he just lost his chips to Kaiba and now it's like he's lost the will to go on," Joey told him.
"So the little guys finally lost one, huh? Lucky for you guys, I came by," Mai told us. She looked at Yugi. "Okay, now listen up, especially you, Yugi. You got beat, but that doesn't mean it's the end of the world. When I got beat, I thought it was all over, but then Yugi and Nikki stepped in and saved my star chips, so now I'm returning the favor to one of them," she told us. She holds a handful of star chips then.
"But without those you can't win the prize money," Joey said shocked.
"I'm being kind not stupid," she holds up a glove full of stars.
"Ah, she already has ten chips of her own," Bakura said.
"No wonder she's being so generous," Tristen laughed.
"Now go on, Yugi. You know I own you so take them...earth to Yugi, star chips at twelve o'clock," Mai said.
"Please, Yugi," I pleaded. He still does nothing.
"What? Aren't my star chips good enough for you?" Mai asked annoyed. "Fine! I'll keep them! And your friends can wipe your nose all the way back to the nursery! Grow up! Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose!" Mai told him.
"Mai, don't get mad. You just don't understand," I tried to explain.
"Oh, I understand. Your friend lost one lousy duel and now he's too chicken to play again. Isn't that right? How pathetic! Come on chicken boy, duel me for them now!" Mai said. Yugi still said nothing. Mai was about to say something.
"I'll duel you, Mai. I'll duel you right here, right now for Yugi," I told her as she and the others looked at me. "You and me, right here, right now. Yugi needs those star chips and I'm going to win them for her," I said.
"Come on, be serious. An amateur like you would never stand a chance against me," she told me. I smirked.
"If I'm such an amateur then how come I beat Panik while you didn't? And what about the time I beat you the first time we dueled?" I asked her. She didn't answer. "That's what I thought. Now, do you want to duel me or not? That's what you said when I defeated Panik for you, am I right?" I asked.
"Yeah," she answered.
"Well, here's your chance. I'll duel you in Yugi's place. You can return the favor to both of us now," I crossed my arms.
"Hun, it's sweet that you want to stand up for Yugi and all, but sweet doesn't win duels. Now I'll ask you one last time, are you sure you wanna duel me?" She asked. I smirked.
"Just as sure as I want to smack you for every horrible thing you've said about me and my friends so...yup, a hundred percent sure, blondie," I said as my friends snickered.
"You're lucky I like your spunk, Nikki. Let's go," she said to me. We made our way back down where Mai and I got into position. "So, what do you say, Nikki? You ready?" She asked me.
"I'm always ready, Mai. Let's do this. It's time to duel," I said as the duel started.
(Mai-2000, Nikki-2000)
"Yugi's still lost in his own head," I heard Bakura say.
"Well, maybe a little duel action will snap him out of it," Tristen said. I looked at my hand. Well, this isn't a good start. It's really important that I win this duel for Yugi and already my hand isn't good to start with. I see Angel of Faith, Angel of the Moon, Waboku, Angel of Music, and Monster Reborn.
"Alright, Mai. I play Angel of Faith (1300 ATK) in attack mode," I said as my Angel appeared
"Pretty bird. I play Harpie Lady (1300 ATK) in attack mode. Destroy Angel of Faith!" She said before she placed a card faced down.
(Mai-2000, Nikki-1900)
Great, what a mistake that was, Nikki! You can't afford to make amateur mistakes like that again! Yugi is counting on you. I pick my card.
"Right. I'll summon Angel of the Moon (1600 ATK) in attack mode. And I also play a card faced own," I said as my Angel appeared.
"Okay, a rocky start, but I think Nikki's back on track," Joey said.
"I hope you're right, Joey. Everything's riding on this duel," Tea told him.
"Go, Angel of the Moon! Attack her Harpie Lady!" I ordered. My Angel aims to attack but...misses. What? Angel of the Moon is stronger than Harpie Lady! Why didn't it work...unless...a magic card! Mai activated her card Rose Whip raising Harpie Lady's strength by 300 tying the strength with mine. She uses Harpie Lady to attack my Angel. "Angel of the Moon!" I gasped.
(Mai-2000, Nikki-1600)
"Clever move. By tricking Nikki into making her think her warrior had the most points, but what Mai didn't reveal until after the attack was that she had a magic card waiting to power up her Harpie Lady. Another mistake like that and it's all over!" Bakura told everyone. Um, thanks...who's side are you on?!
"If you had any idea what you're up against, Nikki, you'd call it quits right now. This isn't going to get any easier you know. Just give up and go back to cheer leading," Mai told me. I glared at her making her flinch.
"No, I'm not going to let Yugi down, Mai! Besides, I had lower life points when I beat Panik, unlike you," I smirked.
"Please, if this is the start of another friendship rap just save it. I've heard all your lame speeches before and from the look on Yugi's face, you'll learn the hard way," Mai told me. She draws. "My turn, hun. I'm playing this face down," she said to me. I draw another card...the Angels of Shining Friendship card. The Angels of Shining Friendship....hey, that's like all of us! Even though I haven't know them as long as they have known each other, I feel a really strong bond and connection with all of them that I never felt before except for Yugi. I really wish this card was as strong as our friendship, it would be able to beat anything then! It would have Joey's courage, Tristen's spirit, Tea's love, Bakura's knowledge, and Yugi's heart. I looked at my friends, everyone was cheering me on...but Yugi.
"Brother...are you with me?" I asked him. I see that he glances up at me, but he stays silent. Maybe this card is as strong as our friendship. Well, there's only one way to find out. I take the card. "I play the Angels of Shining Friendship in attack mode!" I told her.
"You kept me waiting all this time for that sappy card? Fine then, Harpie Lady, Whip Lash attack!" Mai ordered. I smirked.
"Not so fast, Mai. I activate the trap card Waboku. Waboku reduces the attack points of my opponent's creature to zero, which means my Angels of Shining Friendship is unharmed," I told her.
"I think I taught her that move," Joey said. Ha! Yeah right!
"Yeah, if by teach, you meant getting schooled every time she'd beat you with it," Tristen teased.
"Watch it," Joey warned. I couldn't help but smile at them. I looked at Mai.
"You're right, Mai. I am scared up here dueling you for such high stakes, but I'm not scared of you or any of your creatures. I'm scare of losing and letting Yugi down, but then this card reminded me of something that helps me face that fear. My friends. And I know that with all of the backing me up, I will win! It's like the card says, Angels of Shining Friendship. No matter how dark things may get, the special bond I share with my friends will always find a way to shine through! I may be scared, but that fear won't keep me from dueling, or from helping Yugi, or from winning this duel!" I told her.
"Yugi is any of this stuff getting through to you? Don't you see? Nikki's putting herself on the line for you!" Joey said trying to get through to Yugi.
"And even though she's frightened of losing, Nikki still battles on. It's quite inspiring really," Bakura adds. Yugi awakened a little then. I look at my friends and smile.
"Guys...before I continue on with the duel, I just wanna say thank you. You guys have been there with me through everything and I feel like I've known you all my entire life. I just want to say that you guys are the greatest friends and family a girl could ask for," I said to them. Joey gave me a thumbs up.
"Not a problem, Nik. Now, win this duel and get those star chips for Yugi!" He told me with a smile. I nodded at them then looked at Mai.
"Nice speech, Nikki. In fact it was so stirring, I almost feel the need to throw up," She told me. I smirked.
"I feel the same way when I see you wear all that make-up. So can it! I've had enough with your insults!" I told her as I drew my card. "And now, I'm combining the Light of Heaven card with my Angels of Shining Friendship which gives them 100 extra attack points," I told her. Angels of Shining Friendship now had 1600 attack points matching Mai's monster.
"Fine with me. It's not like I don't have magic cards too," she said as she activated Cyber Shield which raised Harpie Lady's attack points to 2100. Mai then used a De-Spell which destroyed my Light of Heaven card bring Angels of Shining Friendship back to 1500.
"Not good," I heard Tea say.
"Hold on, Nik! This might be rough!" Joey told me. I then heard Yugi gasp a little. Yes! He's coming back!
"And I think I'll attack your face down card to demolish any hopes you have left," Mai said. Her Harpie Lady then attacked my Angel of Music allowing me take one magic card from the graveyard. "Nikki, you might as well give up now. All you're doing is delaying the inevitable," Mai told me.
"I won't give up!" I glared.
"Come on, what you're doing is pointless. Yugi has already given up on himself. You're not going to keep fighting for him. He has to fight for himself, he has to stand up to anyone who dares to get in his way and whatever is going on in his head, Nikki, Yugi has to deal with it on his own. Face it, Nikki, Yugi's checked out! He's given up! He doesn't care about this match and he doesn't care about you. Nothings worth the humiliation you're going through," Mai told me. I glared at her.
"And that's where your wrong, Mai. My friends and brother are worth it! Always! I don't care how much experience you have playing Duel Monsters! I don't care what the odds are of me beating you! I won't give up! Not on this duel and not on Yugi either! I won't give up...I won't," I said as silent tears fall.
"Nikki..." Yugi said shocked.
"Don't let these tears fool you, Mai. I may be crying, but I've never felt stronger! So you better get your star chips ready. Because I'm about to beat you! And there's not a thing you can say or do that's going to stop me!" I told her.
"You may have the tendency to run that mouth, but you've got a lot of spunk. Give me your best shot," Mai told me. I then draw my Angels Blessing card. This Angels Blessing card is a good card. It'd give a major power boost to my Angels of Shining Friendship and I also have a De-Spell card. I can use that to get rid of Mai's Cyber Shield. Plus, since I recovered my Light of Heaven card from the graveyard I can add its 100 point power boost to the 500 boost that I'd get from my Angels Blessing card. Then my Angels of Shining Friendship's attack power will be 2100. That should be enough, unless Mai's got something else up her sleeve. Oh well, I don't have a choice. But I won't lose, I have my friends with me and that's enough.
"First, I'm playing this Light of Heaven that I brought back from the Graveyard," I said making Angels of Shining Friendships attack raise to 1600. "Next, I'll use Angels Blessing to power them up even further." It was then white lights glittered down like rain. Angels of Shining Friendship was now at 2100.
"That's still not enough," Mai said sending her Harpie Lady in. I smirked.
"Yes, it is. Or does the magic of De-Spell not apply to you, Mai?" I asked her as her Cyber Shield vanishes bring her Harpie down to 1600 making the others gasp. "Attack, Angels of Shining Friendship with Bond of Light!" I ordered. Shining Friendship then attack and destroys Harpie Lady. "Bulls-eye for friendship!" I smiled.
(Mai-1600, Nikki-1600)
"Great shot!" Joey cheered.
"I think Nikki's doing great against Mai," Tristen.
"Well done," Bakura smiles.
"I surrender, Nikki. I don't have the cards to win," I heard Mai said. I looked at her shocked.
"Give up just like that?" I asked.
"Don't rub it in, Nikki. Harpie Lady was the best monster I had and seeing as how you beat her, there's really no point in going on," she told me. We came down from the platforms...I was still shocked though.
"Well done, Nikki. You really came through for Yugi," Joey ruffles my hair as Mai walks up.
"Whatever, I didn't need these anyway," she hands me the star chips. I smiled at her.
"Good match," I said to her. She starts to walk off.
"Wait, Mai! I've got to ask you something. Wasn't that last card..." Mai cut Yugi off.
"A throwaway. It wasn't anything Nikki wasn't able to beat really. Some cards just aren't worth playing, huh, Yugi?" She asked giving a thumbs up to him. She then heads to the castle. I walked up to Yugi.
"Hey, Yugi?" I asked.
"Hm?" He looked at me.
"I won these star chips for you," I hold them out to him.
"I know, thank you so much," he said to me. I nodded then hugged him.
"Just don't ever worry me like that again, brother," I said to him. He hugged me back.
"I promise, sister," he replied. We pulled away. "I'll never forget what you did for me, Nik. You overcame your fears for me," he told me. He doesn't take the chips yet.
"Well, good....now take the dang chips already. You're making me blush," I joked. He laughed with me and took the stars.
"Thanks, you're the best," he told me. I smirked.
"I know," I joked making him chuckle.
"Welcome back," Joey said.
"You really had us worried there for a while, Yug," Tristen told him.
"Hey there, you losers! Last on to the castle door is a rotten egg!" Mai shouted with a smile. I sighed.
"How can anyone be so childish?" I asked. I then smirked. "See ya later, suckers!" I shouted before running ahead. The others laughed and caught up to me.