Chapter 8: - Deals and Near-Death Experiances
Three map cards, five Rare Hunters and eight Team Galactic grunts later, Jamie was trying to outfly a bunch of grunts who seemed intent on her capture.
"Iblis, Flamethrower!" She had to hold on tight as the Charizard writhed in midair, getting a better position and blasted the enemy Pidgeot with flame, causing it to fall from the sky.
"Where are they?" Jamie growled, trying to catch sight of any of her friends from her vantage point in the skies, wishing she hadn't stopped at the Day Care Centre to pick up a Pecha Berry for herself and all too aware that it wasn't only her the Grunts were going after.
"Hey, Francis!"
Iblis wheeled around, taking Jamie with him.
Oh you had to be kidding…
A Galactic Grunt, with a Duel Disk, was riding a Staraptor.
"You can't be serious!" Jamie complained, "You'd break the emitters! They don't fly!"
"Then come out of the air and fight me like a real Champion, unless you're scared?"
"Me?" Jamie was contemptuous, "Afraid of you? Yeah, right."
"Then stop running and fight me."
"So you can capture me? No thanks."
"A battle, on a rooftop," The Grunt said, "Duel Monsters only. You have to fight us, we have Wheeler and Gardener."
"Then I don't have much choice do I?" Jamie growled, "But how do I know they'll be safe when I win?"
"If you win, you mean." The Grunt snorted, out of range of an attack, but close enough for her to see the really irritating smirk, "And they'll be fine, Marik's got plans for them and we've got Grunts going after the others too."
"What plans?" Jamie snarled. "Which others?"
"You'll find out and the ones currently outside the city."
Tristan, Serenity… "I accept, on the grounds that if I win, you let me leave to protect Tristan and Serenity."
"When you lose, you're coming with us."
Jamie growled but accepted, following the Grunt to rooftop, dismounting gracefully and activating her Duel Disk, shuffling her deck before she put it in the correct slot.
"Ready?" The Grunt grinned.
"Three map cards!" Jamie held them up.
"I only have two."
"Then that's all I'm risking."
"Deal."
"Let's Duel!"
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Actually the Grunt had lied.
Currently Joey was fighting Mako Tsunami at the aquarium, a battle over water that gave all the advantages to Mako's monsters.
It had been completely in Mako's favour to start with, but Joey was turning it around slowly, even defeating Mako's Legendary Fisherman.
However, Mako had just summoned the Fortress Whale.
Joey was actually wondering about his ability to win the Duel…
In the crowd, Tea, Tristan and Mr Muto were wondering the same thing.
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"You're in my way." Marik growled, stopping his motorcycle and taking off his helmet, reaching for his Millennium Rod at the sight of the intruder's Millennium Ring.
"You have something I seek." The Millennium Ring glowed.
"The Millennium Ring!" Marik was shocked, he hadn't known there was another item wielder in the area.
"It seems you're the dark presence I've been sensing." Bakura glared. "And you're the one who threatened the life of one of my toys."
"Toys?" Marik asked.
"Jamelia Francis is mine, I have been playing with her since she got here. Do not interfere." Bakura growled, remembering all too clearly the state she had been in when she'd tried to find a Pecha Berry at the Day Care. "The rest of the geek squad you can play with all you like, but Francis belongs to me."
"Your 'toy' is standing in my way."
"She doesn't know any better, but hand over the Millennium Rod and I'll make sure the problem stops."
"You are somewhat familiar with the ancient ways, why do you want my item?"
"If you must know, I'm a collector of sorts, and once I possess all seven Millennium Items, I'll control ancient powers strong enough to rule the entire world. In the meantime, I have my toy living with another item bearer, ready for when I need to make my move, and she's more on my side then on his. I'll ask you one more time, hand over your Millennium Rod and leave my plaything alone. From what I gather, you have plenty of your own."
Marik stared at the teen, contemplating Bakura' knowledge of the ancient items and reminding himself that he didn't seem to know about the secrets that only Marik, Obeon and his Marik's sister, Isuzu, knew. "My name is Marik."
"I thought so." Bakura snorted, "Jamelia mentioned it before."
"Would it change your mind if I told you I have exclusive knowledge of certain secrets?" Marik asked, "You can have my Millennium Rod if you want, but before I hand it over to you, you have to do something for me in exchange, for I am somewhat of a collector myself and once I possess what I desire, I will have no more need for the Millennium Rod."
"Why should I help?" Bakura snapped, "I could take your Millennium item by force as I have done to others in the past."
"Because I know the whereabouts of several of the Millennium Items, as well as the location of the one you'd have to speak to about getting your 'toy' off of Team Galactic's hit list."
"Perhaps there is a way we can work together." Bakura smirked, "And help each other to get what we want."
"You've made a wise choice." Marik replied, with a smirk of his own, "I will call my Rare Hunters away from chasing the Day Care Leader. She poses no threat to us. With our combined powers, even with her Pokemon, no one in the world will be able to stop us!"
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She knew something was going on when she took to the air, after defeating the Grunt, allowing her to claim her fourth and fifth locator cards, and there were no Rare Hunters wandering around,
Considering that she'd practically been swamped by them earlier, she couldn't believe that they'd all been defeated, that was too easy. Of course the Grunts were still about, and she memorized where they were, wishing she had time to stop and find out from them, exactly where they were keeping Joey and Tea.
Gaining height, she flew high above the buildings, taking the most direct route to the train station. She had more important things to worry about then the last Locator card, while she'd have loved to compete in the finals; something told her that whatever Cyrus and Marik were scheming, it wouldn't end well for her friends…
Iblis hovered in midair, stopping abruptly as something huge and blue and terrifying looking appeared atop a building…
Well… if Yugi wasn't in that Duel, then she was a Mankey's Uncle.
"Go." Jamie ordered, sending Iblis swooping in that direction as the huge blue monster threw a punch, hovering just behind the pair facing the one Rare Hunter and wondering what the hole in the roof was about. "Yugi!"
Yugi turned to look, relief crossing his features for a moment, before he turned back to the Rare Hunter, who was speaking weirdly and spouting something about being Marik and spilling his plans…
When the Rare Hunter passed out, Jamie landed her Charizard on the roof, "Yugi, I ran into a Grunt who claimed they have Joey and Tea."
"I know." Yugi growled, "Marik's Rare Hunters captured them."
"Damn it… I'm going to the train station, the Grunt was threatening Tristan and Serenity and I can't help Tea and Joey until I know where they are…"
"Go." Yugi nodded, pausing in surprise as one of Kaiba's helicopters rose over the roof.
Jamie and Iblis swooped away as Mokuba landed the chopper on the roof, his Houndour leaping out too.
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"Izard!"
"What is it Iblis?"
"Zard!" Far below, there were people running from other people and she trusted Iblis's vision at this range far more then she trusted her own, "Go!"
Iblis swooped down, flying low enough overhead that his slipstream knocked the hooded creeps backwards and pushed the three running away, forwards, landing as the one who had been running away turned around.
Tristan, Serenity and a black haired male with a bandana keeping his hair in check, stared at her, then Tristan gave her an even more relived look then Yugi had, "Jamie?"
Jamie dismounted, grinning at the three before putting on her best death glare, the one she used when she was fighting or debating with Team Galactic grunts, and turned to the creeps. "Hi guys. I can handle this."
"Where's Tea and Yugi?"
"I don't know, Tristan. Yugi got Kaiba to track Joey, but I was midair, searching for you lot, before I could hear where he and Tea are."
"Step aside, girl, we're not afraid of any holograms." The goon that was obviously the leader was laughing at her.
Jamie snorted, ill amused, "Marik obviously didn't tell you about me. Iblis is no hologram."
"Jamie?" Serenity's voice sounded uncertain.
"It's me, don't worry about your brother. Yugi'll find him, he'll be fine." Jamie looked over her shoulder at the two boys, "Get her out of here."
The black haired male ran for it, taking Serenity with him.
"Now," Jamie turned and glared at the goons, "Where are my friends?"
"As if we'd tell you. I told you, we're not afraid of holograms." The leader of the little group said, standing up.
"Flamethrower."
It was a deliberate narrow miss, startling the Rare Hunters with it's heat and ferocity.
"Tell me where my friends are and I'll get Iblis to eat you."
"Uhhh, Jamie? Don't you mean or 'I'll get Iblis to eat you'?" Tristan asked.
"Depends how fast they tell me."
"We're not telling you anything." The leader was backing away as his goons turned to flee.
"Tsunami, stop them!" Jamie threw a Pokeball over the heads of the Rare Hunters and her Gyarados appeared in a flash of light, towering over the goons, who bumped into it and bounced backwards.
"I told you, not holograms."
"Jamie?"
"Shush Tristan, I know what I'm doing." Jamie broke her act long enough to flash Tristan a quick, reassuring smile. "Now, where are my friends?"
Silence.
"Tsunami, Ice Beam!"
The huge Water/Flying type fired the beam at the ground, turning it into an ice skating rink and freezing the Rare Hunters to the floor.
"Iblis, lunch ti…"
"Wait!" The Leader snapped, "They're at the docks. Master Marik has something planned."
"See, that wasn't so hard." Jamie smirked, "Hey Tristan, think they'd make a good snack for the boys?"
"Nah, they'd give Iblis and Tsunami food poisoning."
"You're right, let's go." Jamie returned Tsunami to his Pokeball and turned to mount Iblis.
"Pokemon Trainer."
Tristan froze and glared at the leader, noting the glowing symbol on his forehead. "Jamie…"
She turned around, hearing the echo in the voice, thinking quickly. "You're him, aren't you? The one behind all of this?"
"That is correct. I am Marik."
"Why are you attacking my friends?"
"The Pharaoh has something that belongs to me and I won't rest until I have it."
"You mean Yugi? Yugi's no Pharaoh, at least not as I understand the…" She paused because Marik was laughing. "What's so funny?"
"You mean he hasn't told you yet?" Marik found something hilarious, "He uses you and your Pokemon for his own cause, but doesn't trust you with a secret that he's already shared with the rest of his friends!"
Jamie growled.
"You deserve much better then that, Pokemon Trainer."
"I have a name Marik."
"I haven't had a chance to introduce myself before," The man was still laughing, "And the Pharaoh hasn't bothered to mention you."
"Then maybe I should introduce myself." Jamie growled, "Tristan, go to Yugi and Joey."
"But…"
"I have Iblis and Tsunami, go."
Tristan nodded and ran off.
"Well Pokemon Trainer?"
She waited until Tristan had gone, then turned back to the mind controlled goon, "I am Jamelia Francis of Littleroot Town, winner of the Sinnoh League and Aspiring League Champion. My friends call me Jamie."
"A pleasure." Marik sounded like he was smirking and it irritated Jamie no end.
"Niceties aside, I'm going to help my friends. Tsunami return." Jamie returned her Gyarados to it's Pokeball and mounted her Charizard, "They will stop you."
"I can get you home."
Iblis roared as Jamie tensed up. "You lie."
"Oh I still have a few things to work out, but with the power of the Pharaoh, I should be able to send you home."
"Not interested." Jamie got Iblis to take off, closing her eyes. He'd known where to hit her as a wave of homesickness washed over her.
She missed her family, she missed her home, she missed travelling freely…
"Izard!"
"Iblis?"
A car was moving at a ridiculously fast pace towards the docks.
"Follow it."
Iblis swooped towards the docks and Jamie let her mind wander, they'd get there in time, they just had too…
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Jamie's Charizard was faster then the blonde woman's car, but only by dint of flying over buildings instead of having to fly around them, and what she saw when she reached the docks nearly made her fall from Iblis' back.
Yugi and Joey, chained to an anchor with what looked like a timer attaching it to the scaffolding, duelling against each other.
Yugi looked wounded too, had he been in a fight with someone before this?
Something was going on here that she didn't understand, and neither she or Kaiba, who was watching, could help because Tea was tied to that chain under the crate…
"Jamelia." Jamie glared at the goons, recognising the voice, but they smirked at her and pointed towards the Duel. "I would recommend that you land and remove your Pokeball belt and your Duel Disk, Jamelia, unless you want Tea to get crushed."
"Iblis, land." Jamie ordered, already undoing her belt. "Kaiba, what's going on?" She asked as she slipped her Duel Disk off, recalled Iblis and placed both Duel Disk and Pokeballs on the ground,
"Marik's brainwashed Wheeler somehow and if Yugi doesn't break Marik's hold on him, one or both of them is going to be dragged under the waves by the anchor and drown…"
Jamie considered her Pokemon, Tsunami could break the chains with his teeth, but none of her Pokemon were fast enough to get to Tea in time. "Hold on, guys." She murmured, thinking quickly.
The blonde in the car with the others pulled up milliseconds later, "Yugi! Joey!" Tristan called, vaulting out of the car.
"Don't get any closer!" One of the goons laughed.
"Careful." Jamie hissed, "We can't approach or Tea'll get it."
"What's going on?"
Kaiba found himself explaining again as Jamie used the confusion to edge forward, reaching for the Pokeball she'd concealed in her back pocket.
"Stop right there, Francis!" One of the goons laughed, "And put the Pokeball down unless you want your friend to go squish."
"Damn." She growled, putting Tsunami's ball down on the floor, next to her belt.
"One more stunt like that and it's over." The goon warned.
"We have to do something!" Tristan growled.
"I know. I know." Jamie was irritated. She was helpless in this situation, and she hated it, "Joey…" Kaida, does he have Kaida? "Joey, remember Kaida! Your Dragonair!" Kaida, come on, please… "She's yours and yours alone! You used her to keep your promise to Serenity!"
There was a pause and for a moment Jamie hoped that she'd gotten through, and then, "Nice try, Center Leader, but this doesn't concern you! So I suggest you stay quiet. In fact…"
Two Team Galactic members stepped forward.
"Oh come off it." Jamie was torn between grabbing her Pokeballs and protecting Tea. "Unable to play fair, I see."
"You can leave." Marik said through Joey, "I have no more interest in you, now I'm about to defeat Yugi once and for all."
Jamie rolled as one of the Grunts sent out a Infernape and used Flamethrower, grabbing her belt and sending out Tsunami. "Water Pulse!"
It missed the Fire/Fighting type, and struck the box above Tea, pushing it backwards and out of alignment with the chair. That was all Jamie had time to do as she and Tsunami were drawn into battle with the two Grunts, leaving Kaiba's plan to come into effect, with one of his helicopters, on auto pilot, catching the rope with its runner and dragging the box into the ocean.
"Jamie!" Tristan turned around, knowing what was needed, but the Day Care Leader was too busy trying to hold her own, with tired Pokemon, against two lots of three Pokemon which were wielded by the Grunts.
Mai had picked up Jamie's Duel Disk, though something had gone skittering into the water, and Mai had a horrible feeling it was a locator card, meanwhile Yugi had finally managed to break Marik's control on Joey and was now just twenty seconds from the timer running out.
Jamie couldn't keep up with her battle and the Duel at the same time, knowing that everything depended on Yugi's next…
"What!" There was real fear in Jamie's gasp as Yugi was blasted by a direct assault card and collapsed.
"Tsunami!" She bellowed, sending the Gyarados into the water, "Help them! Iblis, Denkou, help me!"
Raichu and Charizard took over the battle where her Gyarados had left off, but all were distracted as something exploded.
"NO! Yugi! Joey!" A huge splash and Tea's scream distracted Jamie long enough for her to be hit by a Vine Whip from the enemy's Ivysaur, and knocked to the ground.
"Flamethrower! THUNDER!" Jamie bellowed, desperate to get back to the others.
One of the Grunts fell back, heading towards the group who were helping a tired, injured Yugi out of the water, but didn't get too close as Mokuba's Houndour used Flamethrower on him, causing him to run in the opposite direction, his Pokemon already knocked out by Jamie's.
The second Grunt glared at her and fled, she would have given chase, but there were more important matters. Where was Joey?
There was a second huge splash, drenching everyone as Tsunami surfaced, Serenity on his back and just as importantly, Joey was with them.
Jamie sat down hard on the walkway, with a sigh of relief.
"You ok?" Mai asked, joining her after lambasting Joey for being an idiot about the whole thing and threatening him with actually bodily harm if he tried to give up the Tournament.
"I think so. My Pokemon are exhausted, we've been fighting all day." Jamie sighed, "I'm Jamie Francis."
"Mai Valentine." The woman grinned at her, worriedly, "I think you're missing something."
Jamie checked her Pokeballs first, then her Duel Disk, finally noting what she was missing. "I had five map cards…"
She held up just three.
"I think they went in the water."
Jamie actually looked like she was considering going in after them.
"You'll never find them in time."
"Three map cards, think you can get them in time?"
"I can but, I don't know if my Pokemon could handle any more battles today." Jamie sighed. "I can't risk their safety…" She sighed and turned to Joey, "You do still have Kaida, right?"
Joey reaching into his back pocket and pulled out the shrunken Pokeball, pressing the button so it resized and then released the Dragonair, who wrapped itself around him in relief.
"Oh thank goodness."
"Jamie, you sure you ok with not being a finalist?"
"No, not really but I don't have time to get them." She said, watching as Kaiba nodded to her and slipped off, with only, "I'll see you at the finals, Yugi.", to let them know he was going.
"It'll be fine." Jamie said, irritated but willing. "I'll just have to play cheerleader."
"Hey!"
"What? She has a point."
"Let's go." Mai prodded them, "Time for the finals."
"Iblis, Flamethrower!" She had to hold on tight as the Charizard writhed in midair, getting a better position and blasted the enemy Pidgeot with flame, causing it to fall from the sky.
"Where are they?" Jamie growled, trying to catch sight of any of her friends from her vantage point in the skies, wishing she hadn't stopped at the Day Care Centre to pick up a Pecha Berry for herself and all too aware that it wasn't only her the Grunts were going after.
"Hey, Francis!"
Iblis wheeled around, taking Jamie with him.
Oh you had to be kidding…
A Galactic Grunt, with a Duel Disk, was riding a Staraptor.
"You can't be serious!" Jamie complained, "You'd break the emitters! They don't fly!"
"Then come out of the air and fight me like a real Champion, unless you're scared?"
"Me?" Jamie was contemptuous, "Afraid of you? Yeah, right."
"Then stop running and fight me."
"So you can capture me? No thanks."
"A battle, on a rooftop," The Grunt said, "Duel Monsters only. You have to fight us, we have Wheeler and Gardener."
"Then I don't have much choice do I?" Jamie growled, "But how do I know they'll be safe when I win?"
"If you win, you mean." The Grunt snorted, out of range of an attack, but close enough for her to see the really irritating smirk, "And they'll be fine, Marik's got plans for them and we've got Grunts going after the others too."
"What plans?" Jamie snarled. "Which others?"
"You'll find out and the ones currently outside the city."
Tristan, Serenity… "I accept, on the grounds that if I win, you let me leave to protect Tristan and Serenity."
"When you lose, you're coming with us."
Jamie growled but accepted, following the Grunt to rooftop, dismounting gracefully and activating her Duel Disk, shuffling her deck before she put it in the correct slot.
"Ready?" The Grunt grinned.
"Three map cards!" Jamie held them up.
"I only have two."
"Then that's all I'm risking."
"Deal."
"Let's Duel!"
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Actually the Grunt had lied.
Currently Joey was fighting Mako Tsunami at the aquarium, a battle over water that gave all the advantages to Mako's monsters.
It had been completely in Mako's favour to start with, but Joey was turning it around slowly, even defeating Mako's Legendary Fisherman.
However, Mako had just summoned the Fortress Whale.
Joey was actually wondering about his ability to win the Duel…
In the crowd, Tea, Tristan and Mr Muto were wondering the same thing.
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"You're in my way." Marik growled, stopping his motorcycle and taking off his helmet, reaching for his Millennium Rod at the sight of the intruder's Millennium Ring.
"You have something I seek." The Millennium Ring glowed.
"The Millennium Ring!" Marik was shocked, he hadn't known there was another item wielder in the area.
"It seems you're the dark presence I've been sensing." Bakura glared. "And you're the one who threatened the life of one of my toys."
"Toys?" Marik asked.
"Jamelia Francis is mine, I have been playing with her since she got here. Do not interfere." Bakura growled, remembering all too clearly the state she had been in when she'd tried to find a Pecha Berry at the Day Care. "The rest of the geek squad you can play with all you like, but Francis belongs to me."
"Your 'toy' is standing in my way."
"She doesn't know any better, but hand over the Millennium Rod and I'll make sure the problem stops."
"You are somewhat familiar with the ancient ways, why do you want my item?"
"If you must know, I'm a collector of sorts, and once I possess all seven Millennium Items, I'll control ancient powers strong enough to rule the entire world. In the meantime, I have my toy living with another item bearer, ready for when I need to make my move, and she's more on my side then on his. I'll ask you one more time, hand over your Millennium Rod and leave my plaything alone. From what I gather, you have plenty of your own."
Marik stared at the teen, contemplating Bakura' knowledge of the ancient items and reminding himself that he didn't seem to know about the secrets that only Marik, Obeon and his Marik's sister, Isuzu, knew. "My name is Marik."
"I thought so." Bakura snorted, "Jamelia mentioned it before."
"Would it change your mind if I told you I have exclusive knowledge of certain secrets?" Marik asked, "You can have my Millennium Rod if you want, but before I hand it over to you, you have to do something for me in exchange, for I am somewhat of a collector myself and once I possess what I desire, I will have no more need for the Millennium Rod."
"Why should I help?" Bakura snapped, "I could take your Millennium item by force as I have done to others in the past."
"Because I know the whereabouts of several of the Millennium Items, as well as the location of the one you'd have to speak to about getting your 'toy' off of Team Galactic's hit list."
"Perhaps there is a way we can work together." Bakura smirked, "And help each other to get what we want."
"You've made a wise choice." Marik replied, with a smirk of his own, "I will call my Rare Hunters away from chasing the Day Care Leader. She poses no threat to us. With our combined powers, even with her Pokemon, no one in the world will be able to stop us!"
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She knew something was going on when she took to the air, after defeating the Grunt, allowing her to claim her fourth and fifth locator cards, and there were no Rare Hunters wandering around,
Considering that she'd practically been swamped by them earlier, she couldn't believe that they'd all been defeated, that was too easy. Of course the Grunts were still about, and she memorized where they were, wishing she had time to stop and find out from them, exactly where they were keeping Joey and Tea.
Gaining height, she flew high above the buildings, taking the most direct route to the train station. She had more important things to worry about then the last Locator card, while she'd have loved to compete in the finals; something told her that whatever Cyrus and Marik were scheming, it wouldn't end well for her friends…
Iblis hovered in midair, stopping abruptly as something huge and blue and terrifying looking appeared atop a building…
Well… if Yugi wasn't in that Duel, then she was a Mankey's Uncle.
"Go." Jamie ordered, sending Iblis swooping in that direction as the huge blue monster threw a punch, hovering just behind the pair facing the one Rare Hunter and wondering what the hole in the roof was about. "Yugi!"
Yugi turned to look, relief crossing his features for a moment, before he turned back to the Rare Hunter, who was speaking weirdly and spouting something about being Marik and spilling his plans…
When the Rare Hunter passed out, Jamie landed her Charizard on the roof, "Yugi, I ran into a Grunt who claimed they have Joey and Tea."
"I know." Yugi growled, "Marik's Rare Hunters captured them."
"Damn it… I'm going to the train station, the Grunt was threatening Tristan and Serenity and I can't help Tea and Joey until I know where they are…"
"Go." Yugi nodded, pausing in surprise as one of Kaiba's helicopters rose over the roof.
Jamie and Iblis swooped away as Mokuba landed the chopper on the roof, his Houndour leaping out too.
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"Izard!"
"What is it Iblis?"
"Zard!" Far below, there were people running from other people and she trusted Iblis's vision at this range far more then she trusted her own, "Go!"
Iblis swooped down, flying low enough overhead that his slipstream knocked the hooded creeps backwards and pushed the three running away, forwards, landing as the one who had been running away turned around.
Tristan, Serenity and a black haired male with a bandana keeping his hair in check, stared at her, then Tristan gave her an even more relived look then Yugi had, "Jamie?"
Jamie dismounted, grinning at the three before putting on her best death glare, the one she used when she was fighting or debating with Team Galactic grunts, and turned to the creeps. "Hi guys. I can handle this."
"Where's Tea and Yugi?"
"I don't know, Tristan. Yugi got Kaiba to track Joey, but I was midair, searching for you lot, before I could hear where he and Tea are."
"Step aside, girl, we're not afraid of any holograms." The goon that was obviously the leader was laughing at her.
Jamie snorted, ill amused, "Marik obviously didn't tell you about me. Iblis is no hologram."
"Jamie?" Serenity's voice sounded uncertain.
"It's me, don't worry about your brother. Yugi'll find him, he'll be fine." Jamie looked over her shoulder at the two boys, "Get her out of here."
The black haired male ran for it, taking Serenity with him.
"Now," Jamie turned and glared at the goons, "Where are my friends?"
"As if we'd tell you. I told you, we're not afraid of holograms." The leader of the little group said, standing up.
"Flamethrower."
It was a deliberate narrow miss, startling the Rare Hunters with it's heat and ferocity.
"Tell me where my friends are and I'll get Iblis to eat you."
"Uhhh, Jamie? Don't you mean or 'I'll get Iblis to eat you'?" Tristan asked.
"Depends how fast they tell me."
"We're not telling you anything." The leader was backing away as his goons turned to flee.
"Tsunami, stop them!" Jamie threw a Pokeball over the heads of the Rare Hunters and her Gyarados appeared in a flash of light, towering over the goons, who bumped into it and bounced backwards.
"I told you, not holograms."
"Jamie?"
"Shush Tristan, I know what I'm doing." Jamie broke her act long enough to flash Tristan a quick, reassuring smile. "Now, where are my friends?"
Silence.
"Tsunami, Ice Beam!"
The huge Water/Flying type fired the beam at the ground, turning it into an ice skating rink and freezing the Rare Hunters to the floor.
"Iblis, lunch ti…"
"Wait!" The Leader snapped, "They're at the docks. Master Marik has something planned."
"See, that wasn't so hard." Jamie smirked, "Hey Tristan, think they'd make a good snack for the boys?"
"Nah, they'd give Iblis and Tsunami food poisoning."
"You're right, let's go." Jamie returned Tsunami to his Pokeball and turned to mount Iblis.
"Pokemon Trainer."
Tristan froze and glared at the leader, noting the glowing symbol on his forehead. "Jamie…"
She turned around, hearing the echo in the voice, thinking quickly. "You're him, aren't you? The one behind all of this?"
"That is correct. I am Marik."
"Why are you attacking my friends?"
"The Pharaoh has something that belongs to me and I won't rest until I have it."
"You mean Yugi? Yugi's no Pharaoh, at least not as I understand the…" She paused because Marik was laughing. "What's so funny?"
"You mean he hasn't told you yet?" Marik found something hilarious, "He uses you and your Pokemon for his own cause, but doesn't trust you with a secret that he's already shared with the rest of his friends!"
Jamie growled.
"You deserve much better then that, Pokemon Trainer."
"I have a name Marik."
"I haven't had a chance to introduce myself before," The man was still laughing, "And the Pharaoh hasn't bothered to mention you."
"Then maybe I should introduce myself." Jamie growled, "Tristan, go to Yugi and Joey."
"But…"
"I have Iblis and Tsunami, go."
Tristan nodded and ran off.
"Well Pokemon Trainer?"
She waited until Tristan had gone, then turned back to the mind controlled goon, "I am Jamelia Francis of Littleroot Town, winner of the Sinnoh League and Aspiring League Champion. My friends call me Jamie."
"A pleasure." Marik sounded like he was smirking and it irritated Jamie no end.
"Niceties aside, I'm going to help my friends. Tsunami return." Jamie returned her Gyarados to it's Pokeball and mounted her Charizard, "They will stop you."
"I can get you home."
Iblis roared as Jamie tensed up. "You lie."
"Oh I still have a few things to work out, but with the power of the Pharaoh, I should be able to send you home."
"Not interested." Jamie got Iblis to take off, closing her eyes. He'd known where to hit her as a wave of homesickness washed over her.
She missed her family, she missed her home, she missed travelling freely…
"Izard!"
"Iblis?"
A car was moving at a ridiculously fast pace towards the docks.
"Follow it."
Iblis swooped towards the docks and Jamie let her mind wander, they'd get there in time, they just had too…
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Jamie's Charizard was faster then the blonde woman's car, but only by dint of flying over buildings instead of having to fly around them, and what she saw when she reached the docks nearly made her fall from Iblis' back.
Yugi and Joey, chained to an anchor with what looked like a timer attaching it to the scaffolding, duelling against each other.
Yugi looked wounded too, had he been in a fight with someone before this?
Something was going on here that she didn't understand, and neither she or Kaiba, who was watching, could help because Tea was tied to that chain under the crate…
"Jamelia." Jamie glared at the goons, recognising the voice, but they smirked at her and pointed towards the Duel. "I would recommend that you land and remove your Pokeball belt and your Duel Disk, Jamelia, unless you want Tea to get crushed."
"Iblis, land." Jamie ordered, already undoing her belt. "Kaiba, what's going on?" She asked as she slipped her Duel Disk off, recalled Iblis and placed both Duel Disk and Pokeballs on the ground,
"Marik's brainwashed Wheeler somehow and if Yugi doesn't break Marik's hold on him, one or both of them is going to be dragged under the waves by the anchor and drown…"
Jamie considered her Pokemon, Tsunami could break the chains with his teeth, but none of her Pokemon were fast enough to get to Tea in time. "Hold on, guys." She murmured, thinking quickly.
The blonde in the car with the others pulled up milliseconds later, "Yugi! Joey!" Tristan called, vaulting out of the car.
"Don't get any closer!" One of the goons laughed.
"Careful." Jamie hissed, "We can't approach or Tea'll get it."
"What's going on?"
Kaiba found himself explaining again as Jamie used the confusion to edge forward, reaching for the Pokeball she'd concealed in her back pocket.
"Stop right there, Francis!" One of the goons laughed, "And put the Pokeball down unless you want your friend to go squish."
"Damn." She growled, putting Tsunami's ball down on the floor, next to her belt.
"One more stunt like that and it's over." The goon warned.
"We have to do something!" Tristan growled.
"I know. I know." Jamie was irritated. She was helpless in this situation, and she hated it, "Joey…" Kaida, does he have Kaida? "Joey, remember Kaida! Your Dragonair!" Kaida, come on, please… "She's yours and yours alone! You used her to keep your promise to Serenity!"
There was a pause and for a moment Jamie hoped that she'd gotten through, and then, "Nice try, Center Leader, but this doesn't concern you! So I suggest you stay quiet. In fact…"
Two Team Galactic members stepped forward.
"Oh come off it." Jamie was torn between grabbing her Pokeballs and protecting Tea. "Unable to play fair, I see."
"You can leave." Marik said through Joey, "I have no more interest in you, now I'm about to defeat Yugi once and for all."
Jamie rolled as one of the Grunts sent out a Infernape and used Flamethrower, grabbing her belt and sending out Tsunami. "Water Pulse!"
It missed the Fire/Fighting type, and struck the box above Tea, pushing it backwards and out of alignment with the chair. That was all Jamie had time to do as she and Tsunami were drawn into battle with the two Grunts, leaving Kaiba's plan to come into effect, with one of his helicopters, on auto pilot, catching the rope with its runner and dragging the box into the ocean.
"Jamie!" Tristan turned around, knowing what was needed, but the Day Care Leader was too busy trying to hold her own, with tired Pokemon, against two lots of three Pokemon which were wielded by the Grunts.
Mai had picked up Jamie's Duel Disk, though something had gone skittering into the water, and Mai had a horrible feeling it was a locator card, meanwhile Yugi had finally managed to break Marik's control on Joey and was now just twenty seconds from the timer running out.
Jamie couldn't keep up with her battle and the Duel at the same time, knowing that everything depended on Yugi's next…
"What!" There was real fear in Jamie's gasp as Yugi was blasted by a direct assault card and collapsed.
"Tsunami!" She bellowed, sending the Gyarados into the water, "Help them! Iblis, Denkou, help me!"
Raichu and Charizard took over the battle where her Gyarados had left off, but all were distracted as something exploded.
"NO! Yugi! Joey!" A huge splash and Tea's scream distracted Jamie long enough for her to be hit by a Vine Whip from the enemy's Ivysaur, and knocked to the ground.
"Flamethrower! THUNDER!" Jamie bellowed, desperate to get back to the others.
One of the Grunts fell back, heading towards the group who were helping a tired, injured Yugi out of the water, but didn't get too close as Mokuba's Houndour used Flamethrower on him, causing him to run in the opposite direction, his Pokemon already knocked out by Jamie's.
The second Grunt glared at her and fled, she would have given chase, but there were more important matters. Where was Joey?
There was a second huge splash, drenching everyone as Tsunami surfaced, Serenity on his back and just as importantly, Joey was with them.
Jamie sat down hard on the walkway, with a sigh of relief.
"You ok?" Mai asked, joining her after lambasting Joey for being an idiot about the whole thing and threatening him with actually bodily harm if he tried to give up the Tournament.
"I think so. My Pokemon are exhausted, we've been fighting all day." Jamie sighed, "I'm Jamie Francis."
"Mai Valentine." The woman grinned at her, worriedly, "I think you're missing something."
Jamie checked her Pokeballs first, then her Duel Disk, finally noting what she was missing. "I had five map cards…"
She held up just three.
"I think they went in the water."
Jamie actually looked like she was considering going in after them.
"You'll never find them in time."
"Three map cards, think you can get them in time?"
"I can but, I don't know if my Pokemon could handle any more battles today." Jamie sighed. "I can't risk their safety…" She sighed and turned to Joey, "You do still have Kaida, right?"
Joey reaching into his back pocket and pulled out the shrunken Pokeball, pressing the button so it resized and then released the Dragonair, who wrapped itself around him in relief.
"Oh thank goodness."
"Jamie, you sure you ok with not being a finalist?"
"No, not really but I don't have time to get them." She said, watching as Kaiba nodded to her and slipped off, with only, "I'll see you at the finals, Yugi.", to let them know he was going.
"It'll be fine." Jamie said, irritated but willing. "I'll just have to play cheerleader."
"Hey!"
"What? She has a point."
"Let's go." Mai prodded them, "Time for the finals."