In the distance from the camp a tall figure stood with the cover of the forest at his disposal, making it hard for anyone to notice him. His piercing blue eyes looked to the group with observation and curiosity. "Seems I'll need to be more careful. She's interesting indeed. Time to keep my distance till the time is right. They maybe the only chance we have to save the future. I hope you're right about this." The figure spoke softly aloud before turning and walking away. "Now to look for Him..." 

[u][i]The Coming Morning......[/i][/u]

"I wish [i]I[/i] had more star chips." Jaden said as they walking a path in the scattered forests and meadows of Duelist Kingdom. He was feeling a little down about them not having found a duel for the poor kid since they got here. He was beginning wonder if he would ever at this rate. Yugi was walking with the younger and gave a smile. "Don't worry about it, Jaden, you're doing fine. You'll be able to find a duel soon. I'm sure of it." Being positive about the situation. Joey grinned like a fool. "Yeah. I'll make it my mission if I have to!" suddenly running ahead to stop while looking to Jaden and puts his hands on his hips and standing proud like some hero from a comic book with his chest puffed out. Everyone couldn't help but laugh at Joey's antics, knowing it was to help Jaden cheer up which seemed to work. "Alright." Jaden grinned and Joey couldn't feel any prouder when Jaden perked up. 

"He-e-e-e-elp!!" They just heard a scream. Everyone startled and looks around for the source of the voice. "What's that?!" Tristen asks sudden alert as was Joey, their fighter instincts kicking in. 
"Help me, somebody, please!" 
Down the path, Kemo, one of Pegasus' goons in charge of the tournament, has a young duelist in a choke hold and is dragging him away. The young duelist was the source of the yelling and screaming. "Aaaagghhh, let go of me, somebody help me!!" This was when Joey and Tristen jumped to action. They weren't a fan of bullies and that was what they were seeing. "Hold on, kid, we're comin'!!" Tristen declared.
"Help, you gotta help me!!"
Tristan lunges for Kemo, cocking back a fist. "Let that kid go! I'm on the big guy!" 
As Tristan approaches, Kemo tosses the kid aside; Tristan grabs Kemo by the arm and throws him. "Not too shabby." As Kemo flies through the air, he turns ninja; he flips over and uses the momentum to kick off from the ground and delivers a flying kick. Tristan falls to the ground, winded. "Ugh... I'm [i]off[/i] the big guy...
The kid tries to scamper away, but Kemo grabs him by the arms. "Put me down!" "Quit squirming, ya little brat!" 
"[i]You[/i] heard 'im, needle-head! Put the kid down!" Joey stopped about ready to go after the man that had the young Duelist. Tea and Jaden had gone to Tristen to tend to him, Yugi looked to Tristen then the kid and Kemo. "What d'you think you're doing?"
"This is none of your business. This duelist lost his star chips. And the rules say he's to be kicked off the island!"
"But I didn't lose my chips in a duel, they were [i]stolen[/i] from me! My cards, too!" The kid exclaims trying to get the man to see reason.
"I don't care [i]what[/i] lame excuse you have, kid, you need star chips to duel and you haven't [i]got[/i] any, so you're shippin' outta here! Those're the rules; those are my orders from Pegasus himself."
Tristan gets up, rubbing his head. "Ugh, that big creep! I say we follow 'im!
Yami was listening to the whole scene when he came up with an idea and looked to Shadow. [i]'I say we help. Attach to his shadow and leave some sort of trail incase we lose them, I can teach Yugi how to find it.'[/i] Yami advised. They could do this much to figure out what was going on. Yami was curious too....

________________________________________________
Down at the dock, Kemo brings the struggling pink-shirted kid we saw earlier to a small rowboat, which is guarded by a couple of other tournament suits. 
"Hey Kemo, what'd'ja catch?" One of them asks jokingly.
"Just another [i]loser[/i]. Haha!" He tosses the kid into the rowboat, where he slams right into Weevil Underwood, and tosses his backpack onto his lap. Weevil rudely shoves him to the other side of the bench. "Hey, buzz off! They may be shipping me out, but I'm still Weevil Underwood, bug duelist extraordinaire!"
Intimidated, the kid stays away from Weevil, and sighs. "But [i]I[/i] didn't even get a chance to [i]duel[/i]..."
"Hey!"
The kid turns to look; Yugi and his friends are running up the path toward the boat. "Hey, you!" Yugi calls out.
"[i]You[/i] again?!" Kemo exclaimed, clearly annoyed.
"What did the guy who stole your star chips look like?" Yugi asked the kid, ignoring the man. He clearly wanted to help the boy. "Well, I couldn't see his face-- i-it was covered with a bandanna. But he was a little guy, and he challenged me in the meadow." The kid explained.
"He challenged you to a Duel Monsters game?" Yugi asked, wondering why the boy he was describing was trying to hiding his face.
"Yeah. But as soon as I put my star chips and Duel Monsters deck down, he snatched 'em up and ran off with them!" 
"You shouldn't be shipped off the island for [i]that[/i]! [i]We'll[/i] get your star chips back."
Kemo folds his arms, getting between Yugi and the boat. "This boat leaves in exactly thirty minutes. Anyone without a star chip ships out."
"Then we'll get his chips back by that time." Jaden said with confidence.
Tristan punches his palm. "We won't let you bully him out of the game!" 
"Nope! We'll catch that little thief and bring 'im to justice! Believe me, kid, you can count on us to track 'im down and get those star chips back!" Joey declares. "But who [i]are[/i] you guys?"
"We're the guys that're gonna save your chips! Don' worry, ya got the ba-rilliant mind a' Joey Wheeler on the case, and I [i]always[/i] get my man."
Yugi, Téa, Tristan drip their heads in defeat at this declaration. [i]'There he goes again.'[/i] In unison mentally.
"Even if he's just a kid. Onward, troops!" Joey leads them off and yet, they all follow.