All In the Cards! Part 3
Go Fish!
By misterebony
 
The principal played the duel back several times. The teacher nearby was nervously groaning. He stared at it for a few minutes before the principal spoke.
 
"Your progidy is a cheat."
 
The teacher spoke up. "Clearly you see what I saw, the insect queen would have destroyed her!"
 
"But she couldn't have been attacked, as insect queen has to sacrifice another insect to attack. But there WAS no other insect. In other words, taking that into account.... your boy still lost the match if the rules had been followed."
 
The teacher growled. "Sir.... this witch girl cannot be permitted to continue! Her kind and those like her will eat humans on a daily basis!"
 
The principal looked out the window. "That's why I'm deleting this footage you took. If we challenge her, she will reveal your students cheating, and it will be the end for us. No non-human was to be a top tier duelist, and the fact you resort to a cheating bully to enforce that is troubling. To prove our dominance... .we have other ways. We crush their hopes in the Duels and make them desire only to leave."
 
He turned to face the teacher, placing a hand on the desk where a single card lay, Ancient Gear Golem. To the academia, it was a symbol of status and tenure. Only the elite had it.
 
"We are to keep the riff raff in line. And the way you beat a monster isn't with a toadie or a flunkie. You use a monster of your own if you want to resort to that tactic."
 
The teacher beamed. "Ahhhh! You must mean..."
 
"I have a call to make to a very special.... friend."
 
*************
 
Truth be told, Judith wasn't totally sure about her new deck. But she didn't HATE it.... she just didn't think it fit her. Still she set it back in the deck box she had for it and went to check the oven.
 
With a happy sniff of the air, she pulled out the pie she had baking. And as she did, her daughters face poked out the end.
 
"Seriously mom? Why do I always got to be a pie on cheat day?"
 
Judith got a serving knife and plate. "Because dear, you're unusually sweet around that time, and cheat day is about having the sweetest and most decadent treats you can find."
 
Tasha wanted to argue.... but seeing as it was also kind of a compliment, and the pie was oddly warm and cozy, AND it was mother's day.... well she shut her mouth and let her mom cut a piece of pie.
 
"And by the way, I saw your report card. Little disappointed in the B in history, but the remaining grades were quite acceptable."
 
Tasha winced just a little as her mom cut another piece of pie, always finding it surreal when her mom used magic so she could be eaten and still talk. But she did manage a smile. "Sooooo.... I can go to the card shop?"
 
Judith cut another bite of her tasty daughter, licking her lips. "You may. And with my blessing. You have stayed on track, been doing well with your spell work, defended a kid from bullies, AND volunteered to be my meal on cheat day. I'm very proud of you."
 
Tasha smiled, even as she lost an arm to another slice. "Thanks mom! Maybe I can find some new cards for my deck!"
 
"First things first dear. You need to properly digest. And I am asking you and your friends be chaperoned."
 
"But mooooom...."
 
"No buts dear, except the one I'm having for dinner. Now I will be busy with a coven mate, but I do know someone we can ask."
 
Tasha blinked some, getting sleepy. "You....don't......m...e...a....n..."
 
Judith chuckled and continued to eat. "Oh I do."
 
*************
 
Tasha groaned a little, but really it wasn't as bad as she thought it would be. Truth was.... her chaperone was actually pretty cool.
 
"This must be the place!" Her chaperone said, the green overalls proving it was Pippa. "Glad your mom said I should keep an eye on you. Kinda wanna make some changes to my deck!"
 
Tasha chuckled. "What so you can beat mom to get me all to yourself?"
 
Pippa laughed and hard. "You know me too too well kiddo! But don't worry, that's not the only reason. See it has been fun finding more people to play with, kids or otherwise, and using this deck for things besides tricking potential meals has been a blast! Not to mention in this town everyone is playing this game, so I always can find more matches to have. So what do you say, huh? Wanna meet more people for matches?"
 
Tasha nodded and was about to enter the cute cars shop. It was a nice place, right on main street and decorated with chibi versions of many Yugioh staples. It felt like the perfect place to improve her toon deck!
She almost went in behind Pippa... when she noticed something off to the side. She turned her head to the right and saw a girl with tan skin just looking at her. She was humming a tune, one that was almost ethereal. For some reason... Tasha felt drawn to it...
 
"Hey squirt! You gonna come in or not?!"
 
Tasha shook her head in a daze, looking back to where the girl was.... but she was gone. Something was off about it...
 
"Uhhhh.... yeah, let's go."
 
Pippa raised an eyebrow, the shrugged as Tasha went in. Neither one noticed the tan skinned girl follow her, wearing cute sea themed clothes.
 
She licked her lips as she eyed Tasha up...
 
****************
 
Tasha looked carefully among the cards for the right one to add to her deck. There were so many to choose from it was hard to decide. But she was still smiling.
 
The card shop, after all, showed that non humans and humans COULD AND SHOULD coexist, as she saw a girl playing with a snakeskinned humanoid, and a pair of fluffy critters buying cards for a family with too little pocket change. It was a nice sight.
 
And of course, there was the shop owner, a girl with bear ears and paws and a big smile. She was clearly not limited to honey and fish in her diet either, based on her eyeing up a couple teens.
 
"So, you decide on some cards, growl?"
 
Tasha shook her head. "Not yet. I really want to improve my toons. They're good... but they take a turn to attack. And that can lead to my losing."
 
The owner hmmed some, when another, pretty voice spoke up.
 
"Have you considered Relinquished?"
 
Tasha turned and saw the girl from earlier. She was holding a card, a blue one, and a green ritual spell.
 
"I.... who are you?" Tasha asked, a little spooked. Worse, the owner moved away to wait on someone else. But the girl chuckled.
 
"Just a fellow nonhuman, who likes Speed Duel. And who has a keen intrest in you."
 
Oh no. Tasha knew where this was going. But the girl spoke again.
 
"STAY."
 
Her voice was melodious but commanding, and Tasha felt her whole body shut down. She went wide eyed as the strange girl approached.
 
"You're coming with me. And to make sure I accomplish my bounty fully.... I'm leaving a trail for someone to follow. After all.... whats dessert without a good meal first?"
 
By the time the owner walked back, she saw the two girls leave. She was concerned at first, until she saw the stranger had left an envelope with the symbol of a trident on it.
 
Then, she was horrified.
 
*************
 
"JUDITH!!!!! JUDITH!!!!!!"
 
The witch had just reformed her meal and gave him some money as thanks for it when Pippa came running up to her home, looking positively spooked. Judith looked around the werewolf and knew what was wrong right away.
 
"Where is Tasha?"
 
"First of all, NOT MY FAULT I SWEAR! Second, the owner said she saw her leave the store with a girl in sea themed clothing. She left this on the counter."
 
Judith took the envelope with the trident on it and opened it. From what Pippa said she had her theories, and as she read the note she was confirmed in them.
 
**To Who It May Concern,**
 
**My employer is not pleased with the presence of your daughter, especially after she beat a prized player in school. I have been asked to dispose of her in my own way, and for me that means I have a new pet. But I am reasonable. I invoke the CODE OF UNDINE and challenge you to a match. Be at the seaside beach, pier 4, by 6:30, or I claim Tasha as my own.**
 
Judith crumpled the note and cursed. Mermaids. Frigging MERMAIDS! Hags of the deep hiding behind beauty and charm. They love to keep land dwellers as pets and cattle, and they tend to keep them for around 10000 years. Judith wasn't about to let her daughter skip out on school like that, even if it wasn't her fault.
 
"Pippa, you're lucky I don't have a wolfburger right now. But I have not the time or the appetite. I'm hungry for something else."
 
Pippa blinked. "What, exactly."
 
Judith grabbed her deck, her eyes flaring.
 
"SASHIMI."
 
*******
 
The mermaid, now in her true form, let her tail hang in the water as she hummed a tune. Compelled by it to dance, Tasha danced like a girl in a middle eastern harem, giving the best belly dance ever. Several onlookers laughed and clapped their hands.
 
"Oh don't feel bad, I meant what I said about Relinquished. It's just buisness is all. I need the money. And having a cutie like you to play with for a few centuries is a bonus to boot!"
 
Tasha whimpered as she danced, begging that someone would save her. This was worse than just being food. This was humiliating to the Nth degree. And worse yet, she was being watched and didn't know it. Her teacher was watching from a boat out at sea, far enough away to see all that was about to happen.
 
"Good, good! Soon that annoying brat will be dragged below, a message to all non humans not to mess with us!"
 
He then watched as a woman appeared. He blinked for a moment. Then realized it had to be Tasha's mother. A witch, no doubt.
 
Good. Two for the price of one. The principal's plan was working perfectly!
 
"Mermaid." Judith said as she approached. She watched Tasha dance and groaned. "Seriously. Belly dancing."
 
"Mom!? Help me!"
 
"Shush now dear. And you're lucky I came out. How can you not recognize a mermaid? The shells on her shirt alone are a dead giveaway."
 
The mermaid laughed. "Not bad! You studied I see. But don't hold it against her too much. There were a lot of beings in there. And to be honest, this is just buisness. I need money is all."
 
"I see. And who might you be."
 
The mermaid shifted to her human form and walked closer, offering a tanned handshake. Judith shook her hand but did not lose her feirce gaze.
 
"Name's Coral. On the nose I know, but servants of Undine are generally named after sea creatures and events. Speaking of which, I assume you got my message?"
 
Judith nodded. "I did. And I am not about to let you steal my daughter away when she has a lot of schooling to do, so I will answer your challenge per the Code."
 
Tasha suddenly stopped dancing as the mermaid snapped her fingers. She tilted her head. "Code?"
 
"The Code of Undine, queen of all mermaids. A section in it directly relates to challenges involving captured pets."
 
Coral nodded. "Very good! And as such I wager this absolutely cute little thing against.... you I think. Witches are sooooooo good steamed with fresh grown sea cucumbers."
 
Judith smiled. "Agreed. But I want to raise the stakes. After all that girl was in a card shop to improve her deck. So I wager mine against.... let's say a few improvements for her?"
 
Tasha blinked. "Really?"
 
"Though you have to be served for the coven on Sunday to make up for the effort I'm giving to get the improvements."
 
Tasha groaned, but Coral smiled. "Your deck and you? I'm positively aglow with delight at the thought! Well then, Challenge accepted!"
 
Suddenly. A massive wave appeared, and many people ran for their lives. The boat the teacher was own swayed about, almost knocking him overboard, before the wave crashed down. The mermaid emerged clothed like a barbarian of the sea, a duel disk made of conch sell on her arm, armor made of Coral and scales on her. She looked imposing.
 
DUEL!!!
 
JUDITH: 4000
CORAL: 4000
 
"I'll go first land piggy. And I'll start out with one of my personal chefs. I call forth the Oyster Meister!"
 
A being made of oyster shells and weilding them like battle disks stood ready. The mermaid chuckled.
 
"One card face down, and over to you."
 
Judith drew her card from her magic infused disk. This was the first time she used the deck, and she felt like she should be worried. But...
 
"I'll bring forth Zolga to the field."
 
To the field came a powerful monster, wrapped in a massive dark cloak and wearing a mask with one red eye. It stared at the oyster meister with utter hate.
 
"Zolga, send that being back to the deep!"
 
The being shot a ray of crimson at the sea dweller, and it fell back, splashing into the water!
 
JUDITH: 4000
CORAL: 3900
 
"ALRIGHT MOM!" Tasha called, but Coral wasn't worried a bit.
 
"Not bad. But when my meister is defeated, it leaves behind an oyster token. And I have just the monster it can be tributed for."
 
The mermaid drew her card and chuckled.
 
"Always good to know your allies are close by. I tribute the oyster token. And I call forth a man one with the sea. Loyal to it as it is hateful of the land. COME FORTH, LEGENDARY FISHERMAN DUO!"
 
The oyster cracked open, and from the light that emerged from it came a being astride a shark with a crossbow made from the oaken wood of sunken ships. The figure screamed out, it's blank white eyes staring at Judith.
 
"Not good...." Judith mumbled. Coral continued.
 
"Shame I don't have Umi on the field to do his effects, but for now I don't need them. My fisherman! Shoot down that Zolga!"
 
The fisherman screamed in rage and opened fire, shooting an arrow straight through the eyepiece of Zolga, destroying it.
 
JUDITH: 3500
CORAL: 3900
 
"Your move, land dweller."
 
Judith drew her card and sighed. She then looked at the mermaid.
 
"I never did like the Code. It's just a glorified excuse for piracy and backstabbing. It's not what Undine wanted."
 
Coral chuckled. "Oh?"
 
Judith nodded. "Yes. It was never meant to excuse working for creeps to forward your own agendas."
 
She breathed deep. "I set one monster, and two face downs. Your move."
 
The mermaid laughed. "That's it? Ah well. I don't mind. Just nice to have an excuse to duel. See no one does it where I come from, and who would duel fairly with a mermaid unless there was some stakes? So, I became a duel merc as a result." She chuckled.
 
"I summon 7 colored fish. But only to activate my face down card, fish depth charge! And using it I destroy your face down mosnter!"
 
Judith cursed as her skeleangel was destroyed without being flipped. She then braced herself.
 
"Now, attack my fisherman!"
 
Tasha screamed as she saw her mom get impaled by a large crossbow bolt!
 
JUDITH: 1300
CORAL: 3900
 
".....DRAW!" Judith screamed. She gritted her teeth. "I summon Kelbek!"
 
A weird creature made of Egyptian symbols appeared, the eye staring at the fisherman. When Tasha saw it, she went eide eyed.
 
"Wait..... that card.... mom wouldn't have it.... unless..."
 
Coral, however, laughed. "That's not going to work! My monster is far stronger!"
 
Judith nodded. "Perhaps. But it will still fight your fisherman!"
 
Tasha screamed a warning but it was too late as the being slammed into the fisherman and exploded, debris slamming into her mother. But then she saw the fisherman fly back into Coral's hand.
 
JUDITH: 600
CORAL: 3900
 
"Now I get it.... she used that to get the fisherman off of the field, and since it is level five, it needs a tribute to come back."
 
Coral chuckled. "Clever. Very clever. But you forgot one thing. When my fisherman leaves the field for any reason.... I add a level seven water monster to my hand. And I have just the one."
 
Coral chucked as a small wave pulled a card from her deck, and put it into her hand. Tasha was wide eyed as she saw it.
 
The ritual monster, fortress whale!
 
"So, you have that card. I figured as much. A sea duelist has to have that one."
 
Coral nodded. "Indeed. And I believe it is my turn."
 
The mermaid drew and smiled evilly. "And the draw was perfect! With this card you are all washed up! I play the ritual spell FORTRESS WHALES OATH!"
 
From her hand, the mermaid had two monsters fly out, the fiend kraken and her fisherman. They flew up like shooting stars, before shooting into the sea. And from where they fell emerged a massive beast, like a cross between a battleship and a blue whale. It gave a battle cry as it was summoned.
 
"Behold! The instrument of your defeat, and the announcement of you and your daughters beginning as my new pets! Fortress whale! Destroy her life points!"
 
"NOT SO FAST! I play my facedown trap, waboku! And with it I negate your attack, and all damage is reduced to 0!"
 
The whale shot a barrage of weaponry at the witch, but the prayers of various angels protected her.
 
"That gives you one turn. Better make it count."
 
Judith nodded and drew. She had to make this count.
 
"I summon Mudora to the field!"
 
A Egyptian tribal appeared, holding a blade of pure light. It began to glow as he held it.
 
"For every fairy monster in my graveyard, my Mudora gains 200 attack."
 
Coral chuckled. "Not enough! You only have three monsters in your graveyard, making Mudora go to 2100. It's not enough to stop my fortress!"
 
"It will be if I give him....the Cestus of Dalga!"
 
Upon the head of the monster was placed a mighty crown, and he roasted with power, his attack shot up to 2600!
 
"Impossible!" Coral screamed.
 
"Next, I play a face down card, and prepare for battle!"
 
She pointed at the massive ocean beast.
 
"Go Mudora! Slay the fortress whale!"
 
The warrior slammed into the mighty fortress, his sword crashing into the central tower of it. It exploded in a great blast!
 
"And one more thing. If I deal damage to you... I heal for that much!"
 
JUDITH: 850
CORAL: 2650
 
Coral growled as her fortress was destroyed.... but smirked. "Not bad. Not had at all. But I'm far from defeated. I draw."
 
She chuckles some.
 
"I play my needle sunfish. But it won't be around for long as I play Big Wave, Small Wave!"
 
Judith watched as a massive wave crashed onto the sunfish, but qs it did, her Mudora was suddenly slammed by tons of sharp quills!
 
"What the?!" Judith screamed.
 
"Like my sunfish effect? When it's sent to the graveyard, it weakens the attack of one of your monsters by 500. It's more than low enough for my loyal aid, welcome back legendary fisherman 2!"
 
The fish warrior rode in again, aiming for the warrior of light. But...
 
"I play another waboku!"
 
The arrow was deflected by the barriers of prayer. But the warrior was definately weakened still. It looked bad.
 
"You're stalling." Coral said. "No matter. Next turn I'll summon another monster, and you'll be all mine. I'm thinking tempura with your daughter as a sea foam pudding?"
 
Oh that did it. Judith growled and drew her card.... but gasped as she did. She gazed at it and knew victory was now hers. And it brought back a special memory...
 
***
 
"Happy Mother's Day!"
 
Tasha was only four. She gave her mom this card.
 
"An angel?"
 
"It's a guardian angel! To watch over you!"
 
Judith gazed at it then, a gift from a daughter to a mom.
 
****
 
And it was in her hand now, the whole reason for this deck. She looked at Coral and smiled.
 
"Endgame." She declared proudly. "I ACTIVATE MY SKILL AND BRING BACK ZOLGA!"
 
*RISE OF THE FALLEN: once per duel, you may special summon a level 4 or lower fairy monster from your grave yard. Gain life equal to the original attack.*
 
Suddenly, a ray of light shot up from the grave, and Zolga reappeared!
 
"Now, Mudora. Zolga. I tribute you both to call the angel who watches over mothers, warriors, and those of light. GUARDIAN ANGEL JOAN, TRUBUTE SUMMON!!!"
 
The moment Tasha heard that, she cheered. "I knew it! The card I gave her! She summoned it!"
 
A beam of light slammed into the land, and from it rode down a lovely angel with red hair and wearing white. She bore a mighty sword and a gentle smile. From where the teacher was, his jaw dropped.
 
"What?! How can she have that card?! I mean, there are only 5 in existence!!!"
 
Judith smiled. "Thanks to the abilities of my skill and Zolga, I gain a total of 3700 life points!"
 
JUDITH: 4550
CORAL: 2650
 
"Joan, take down the legendary fisherman once and for all!"
 
Coral watched in awe as Joan raised a hand at the fisherman, then suddenly clenched her fist, the fish man destroyed in an explosion. Golden energy from him flowed into Judith.
 
"And when she destroys one of your monsters... I gain his attack power as life points."
 
JUDITH: 6750
CORAL: 2650
 
Tasha was wide eyed and cheering. "Yeah! Way to go mom!!!"
 
Judith smiled at her. But then she saw Coral clap her hands slowly.
 
"Amazing. You beat my aces. I won't keep this duel going, I have no monster left able to take yours down."
She offered her hand.
 
"I concede."
 
Judith smiled and took the handshake, ending the duel.
 
CONCESSION CONFIRMED.
WINNER: JUDITH!
 
**********
 
Coral giggled with ticklish delight as she was rolled about a massive frying pan. They were still at the beach, and Tasha was looking at her new cards.
 
"She was right you know." Judith said as she added more spicy sauce to the frying mermaid. "Those cards fit you perfectly. But next time.... try not to fall for an obvious trap."
 
Tasha nodded. "Yes mom. But on the plus side... you rocked! That duel was just..."
 
"Was unnecessary." Judith said with deadpan seriousness. "Someone wanted to get you back for what happened to that bully. You need to be extra careful now."
 
She turned her eyes to a distant boat, on which the teacher was angrily sailing away.
 
"Very careful indeed."
 
Tasha nodded, holding her newest cards, one seeming to talk to her. She smiled as she seemed to hear it speak to her.
 
*Do not worry kiddo. I got your back, we are partners now, and this beast will protect his beauty.*
 
 
TO BE CONTINUED...