Yugi looked up slowly to face Shadow, a small smile still present. [i]"Thats okay. It doesnt take much to be friends than getting to know one another and decide by mutual feel if you would like to hang out together. Friends help take care of one another, support each other, hang out together, and just simply are. Friends can be almost like siblings, to being the people who are close to you the most."[/i] Yugi explains. [i]"Im only scratching the surface on friendships. Everyone is different of how one anothers friendship involves and the kind of friendship you have."[/i] the young boy adds. [i]"id like to be your first friend. If thats okay. We have a bond as servant and master but that doesnt mean we cant still be friends. You and I haventhe right to choose. I wouldnt force you to be my friend. Its your choice."[/i] 

....."Hey. Stop that!" Mai snaps at the gang of which snaps Yugi out of his conversation with Shadow to watch Mai and Joey. This obviously confuses Yugi but this also confuses Jaden. "Wha...?" Jaden caught off guard. Mai turns serious then. "Your brainless cheerleading isn't going to help him against the superior power of my Harpie Ladies. Don't you guys get it yet? Friendship doesn't win duels, never [b][i]WILL[/i][/b]. It hasn't helped [b][i]HIM[/i][/b]. He's defeated and he [i][b]knows[/b][/i] it." Mai explains. 

Jaden seems bristled with that statement. "Not true!" which leaves Yugi surprised to see Jaden riled up like he is. [i]'He must worry about Joey just as much as we do.'[/i] Yugi theorizes and smiles. This draws his attention back to Mai and Joey. 

"No? I beg to differ. There can be only be [i][b]ONE[/b][/i] champion. On this island, in this game, someone can be your best friend [i][b]today[/b][/i] and your worst enemy [i][b]tomorrow[/b][/i]. Once the competition forces you to face each other in a duel...where's your [i][b]friendship[/b][/i], then?" this seems to shake the blonde. Yugi was seeing this and was really starting to worry for Joey who was losing his confidence. But Mai wasnt done for she had more to say. "That's why the only person a duelist can trust is [b][i]himself[/i][/b]. I hope that your defeat today teaches you that lesson, kid." Mai finished as she had turned back to Joey. 

Tristen was now worrying over his best friends decline in confidence. "He's losing it..."

"Joey needs help, Yugi." Tea looks to the boy who is frowning. "Help him!" 

This seems to be the deciding factor as Yami was listening and had enough of this. Yami takes charge for during the charge, the last think that Yugi noticed was a ghostly pressence like a hand on his shoulder but a comforting gesture of which he closes his eyes as Yami took over. The Spirit now in charge opens his eyes to look at Joey, his presence now commanding and dominant. "[i][b]DONT[/b][/i] listen to her Joey! We're here to [i][b]help[/i][/b] you, just like you're always there for [b][i]US[/i][/b]!" This gains the attention of both Duelists as well as Yubel and Jaden with surprise though soon Jaden smirks. 
"Huh?"
"W-wha-?"
"Trust me on this. She's just trying to divide and conquer, a strategy that's been used for [b][i]centuries[/i][/b]. Believe me. I know." he adds.

Joey looks to his friend shell shocked at Yugi's words, seeming to believe what his friend is saying. Maybe it was Yugi's sudden confident air, the way he was trying to get Joey back in the duel. Maybe he was right. They only wanted to help. Sadly Joey was caught on pause within his thoughts to seeing Mai laugh. "Hahahaha! D'you really think Yugi wants [b][i]YOU[/i][/b] to be the grand-prize winner?! Hahahaha! [b][i]He's[/i][/b] a duelist too, ya know. To win you'll eventually have to take [b][i]HIM[/i][/b] on." Mai counters. This had Joey hesitate and look to Yugi who was looking straight at him. "She's right...We'll have to Duel. But...." 

Wheeler starts to think back on what Yugi said, how they were a team, thinking back on his sister's video, how she was running iut of time and didnt want Joey to forget what she looked like. "We [b][i]are[/i][/b] a team. But have to win the contest for Serenity..." he realizes as she mutters this to himself. "What do I do? Maybe Yugi's right about this thing. I have to stop listenin' to Mai's nonsense, and start usin' my head." The pressure's starting to show as Joey was fighting back tears. [i]'I just gotta concentrate on how to win the game!'[/i] Closing his eyes,ituning out the world as though he's standing alone in a void.

"...There's gotta be a way to beat Mai. If I can just figure out how she knows what her cards are... if she's not psychic, there must be somethin' else she's doin'." Joey begins to notice something then as he sniffs the air. A sensation tingling his nose. [i]'Whats that strange smell? I never noticed that smell when my eyes were open. I'm smellin' a buncha different perfumes, comin' from... her cards! Huh.'[/i] Joey smirks then but not really noticeable to Mai. 

"Come on kid, its your turn." 

"I see through your card trick! You sprayed all your cards with different pperfume. An' by smellin' each different scent, you can tell which card is which, even when they're facedown!" Joey deduces and declares it out loud that makes Mai grimace that her trick was found out. "So you don't have to look in order to play your cards. That way you can psych the other player out." 

"No way! How could an amateur punk like *you* see through my aroma strategy! It's just impossible!" Mai now freaking out. 

"I gotta admit, Mai, ya really had me buyin' in to the whole 'psychic power' schtick. I was too freaked out to think things through because a' that. But you're not a psychic at all! You're just a big [b][i]FAKE[/i][/b]!" Joey points the accusing finger at. 

Yami smiles and was pleased with Joey's sudden confidence built up once more. "All right, Joey!"
"Go get 'er, Joey!"
"You da man!" 
"Yugi, you were right!" Joey says with a thumbs up. Yugi returning it.

"Just because you saw through my little psychic act, doesn't mean you're going to be able to defeat me in a duel!"

Joey looks to my with a neutral look but one with confidence that wasnt going to go away any time soon. "I think you're wrong. Before you were winnin' by confusin' me and trying to pit me against my friends. But now my mind is clear. I know who I can trust. All you've got left is your cheap tricks, and I won't fall for 'em anymore!" Joey then starts to draw his card. "I'm gonna blast your Harpies outta the sky wit' this!"

"Good card, Joey!" Jaden declares.

"Baby Dragon! ATK:1200/ DEF:700" 

"
Mai scoffs a laugh. "
Ha! *That* wimpy card is your [i][b]grand play[/b][/i]? I only wish it was worth some more so when I devastate you it'll do more damage to your lifepoints! My card will be, [url=https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/yugioh/images/1/1d/ElegantEgotist-DPBC-EN-C-1E.png/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/300?cb=20150617210336]Elegant Egotist[/url]! Its magic will make [i][b]duplicates[/b][/i] of my Harpie's Lady!" Harpie glows, and the glow splits into red, green, and blue. Now there are three glowing blurs.

"Harpie's Lady One..." The first Harpie, with the red hair, is still here. 
"...two..." The second Harpie has purple wings and spiky blue hair.
"...three!" The third Harpie has short, bright-orange hair and green wings. Joey wasnt liking the odds. "It's three times the trouble!"