Chapter Ten-General's Downfall

Marik pulled out his extra deck of cards, and handed it to Genral. "The game is simple. The object is to knock out your opponent's life points first. Which, I know I will." He proceeded to shuffle his own deck, keeping an eye on the man.

"This is no more than a picture game of War!" General cried.

"Call it what you will, but you will play, if you want Martina." Marik responded, with a confident smirk. He drew five cards,then a sixth, to begin his turn. Hmm….this is very interesting. I've got just the cards to beat him already. I'll give him an agonizing chance first. Marik grinned to himself at that thought, and played two cards face down. "It's your turn, Mortal."

"The name's General." The man looked down at his cards. "I'll play Man Eater Bug in defensive mode."

Marik laughed. "That won't save you." He drew a card, snickering. "Perfect. Now I'll play a magic card, Stop Defense!"

"What?!" General scowled. "You're cheating!"

"I may be evil, but I am not a cheater." Marik retorted. "Play your turn."

General glared at his opponent ,as he drew another card. "Hmm….Curebo. In attack mode."

"Fool! I'll play Winged Dragon of Ra!"

"So? What does that one do?"

"Only finishes you off, but you'll see what I mean soon." Marik replied calmly.

"Martina, are you hungry?" Malik looked over at the girl.

"No…I don't think I'll be eating until this is over. My stomach's in knots."

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah…hey, can we contact Mokuba now? I know he's got to be worried…"

"Yeah. Go ahead." Malik set a sandwich in front of Martina anyway. "Tell him to come on down."

"Alright." She went into the other room, to speak to Mokuba via the communicator. "Mokuba. Are you there?"

"Marty! Thank God. I thought you were captured." Mokuba's voice was full of relief. "What's going on?"

"Marik's dueling General right now. Malik wants you to come to the pier."

"Okay. I'll be there soon." Mokuba replied. "Just have a drink ready for me,alright?"

"I will." Martina turned the device off,and walked back out to the group. "He's on his way." She walked over to the mini fridge, and looked at Malik. "May I?"

"Sure. Be my guest. I'm not sure what Marik's got in there."

"Iced Tea seems to be his fetish." Martina reported after rummaging for a soda for Mokuba. "I'm going to try it." She poured the cola and iced tea into two separate glasses, and sat back at the mini bar. She absentmindedly ate some of the sandwich, as she waited for Mokuba to come. She couldn't wait to see him.

"Well, come on! I don't have all day to play with you!" Marik snarled at General. "I DO have more important things to be steal."

"Be quiet! This game takes strategy. I see that now." General had managed to survive two turns, and had only two hundred life points left. "Alright,I'll play Dark Magician in attack mode! Dark Magican, attack his Dragon!"

"Fool!!!" Marik laughed maniacally as his beloved god card destroyed the last of General's life points. "You lose. The girl, and the jewel are mine."

"W-what?! How?!" General was on his knees.

"You honestly thought that puny Magician would defeat the greatest God card in the world?! You're pathetic, and now, for wasting my time I have a gift for you." Marik pulled out his millennium rod. "I will blast you into oblivion,forever!" A light shot out of the rod. "Good ridance!"

General screamed in agony. It felt like his insides were on fire. "No! Please,I beg of you,give me a chance!"

"You will torment Martina no more!"Marik bellowed. The power of the rod was coursing through him. "Obliterate NOW!" With a final pleading scream, General exploded, vanishing completely.

"I can't believe it's actually over….." Martina repeated, as she reached for a second slice of pizza. It was two weeks after General's demise. She was sitting inside the pizza shop with Seto, Mokuba and the Ishtars. She wasn't talking about General's reign of terror though. She'd just completed her first ever Duel Monsters tournament.

"Well, believe it, Mar. You creamed us good." Malik assured her. Even though Marik had been the one to save her from certain death, Malik was her best friend aside from her brothers. "I was honored to duel you though."

"And I you. I hope we do it again soon. "
"Believe me. We will." He turned to Marik now. "So, what happened with the Millennium Jewel?"

"Ishizu put it up in the museum. It's not that we didn't trust Martina with it, it's just where it belongs." Marik smiled at his little buddy Marty. It had taken a long time to gain Martina's trust. Sometimes, she still seemed unsure of him, but Marik was sure that after what they'd been through, the girl would come around completely.

"Oh! Seto, I finished that list of things we need for my lab. It's not too long."

"Good. We can go over it tomorrow, after your first day of real school,okay?"

"Sounds great." Martina smiled brightly. She still couldn't believe the events that had occurred. Sometimes, it seemed like she would wake up one morning, and be back in her mansion, in front of her Yu gi oh videos, and other times, it seemed like that life belonged to someone else entirely. Yet, Martina never forgot the sacrifice her sister had made for her. If it hadn't been for Cloris, she wouldn't be there now.

"Hey,Martina. Come on! We're going to Kaibaland!" Mokuba pulled his sister out of her seat." What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing. Just how lucky I am to have such good friends..and finally, a family who cares." Martina waved goodbye to the Ishtars, and followed Mokuba out. "I finally belong."

Mokuba smiled to himself. Things certainly were less lonely at the Kaiba mansion. Martina was so new to most things, there was always something to do. He was finally becoming an older brother. We're going to have the best time of our lives together, he thought as they checked into Kaibaland, for one last fling, before school.

(A/N:And that wraps up Stranger Than Fiction. I would like to thank everyone who read and reviewed. (You know who you are) and Daniel, my little brother, for his help in the Winged Dragon Ra matter.)