All In the Cards! Episode 4: Dueling Date
By misterebony
 
 
The poster in the classroom Tasha was in talked about an upcoming party. A sort of dance and dinner. She was very excited, as she had made some friends and wanted to go with them.
 
Until she read something on the poster.
 
"No class member may attend without a date."
 
She was puzzled by this, and wanted to ask her teacher, who smiled evilly at her.
 
"It's simple. It's meant as a Tag event. A two person team event, so no one may attend by themselves. In other words, if you try to come alone, you will not he admitted."
 
"But.... that isn't fair!" Tasha said. And the teacher smiled inwardly.
 
*"Exactly."* He thought to himself. *"They may be friendly with her, but no one would dare partner with her. She's a child eating daughter of a witch, and as such shouldn't be here! And when she learns attendance is part of the grade, it will be a missed assignment. Grounds to expel her by the code of the school! I am so clever I amaze myself!"*
 
Tasha fumed inwardly, seeing several of her classmates already had partnered up, and with there being an odd number of kids in the classroom, it was likely she would not have someone to be with. But even as she walked away from the teacher, she did not notice another kid, somewhat nerdy in nice clothes and thick glasses, see first the poster.... and then her.
 
"A dance.... a tag event and dance.... if only I could..."
 
"Hey, move it loser!" He heard, before being pushed aside by Marcus. He landed on the floor, everyone looking at Marcus angrily.
 
"What? He was in my way!" Marcus said with a sneer. The other kids went to speak but the teacher nodded.
 
"Indeed, Marcus had not seen the poster yet. Louis was just being clumsy and in the way. Right Louis?"
 
The boy, Louis, looked at the teacher. Since he started this year it felt like the teacher didn't have his back. In fact.... no one had his back. He was a nerd, with no one on his side it seemed... until a few days ago. Then, after losing his deck, Tasha won it back from Marcus. Won back all the decks he stole.
 
And now, as everyone helped him up, it felt more like everyone was on his side. And his grades were improving to, almost perfect. He felt better as everyone helped him to the desk. Even as the teacher scoffed some at the sight.
 
"Well. Seems everyone here is all friendly kind to everyone, hm?" He said, with a mocking smile. "Take your seats and get out your math books! Pop quiz!"
 
Marcus groaned in anger at everyone, having stolen his homework again and likely to flop the sudden test like he was doing ever since he lost to the witch girl.
 
At least he wouldn't have to see her at the gathering. He was certain the teacher would rig it, already hooking him up with a great partner from another class. He couldn't wait to rub in the stupid girls face that he was better! How dare she beat him and his Moth, and how DARE his mom....
 
He growled as he was given the first question.... and missed it completely.
 
*************
 
Louis walked nervously down the path. He knew what he wanted to do. He remembered the day he got his deck back, how Tasha stood up for him. No one ever stood up for him before. But since that day.... he didn't feel so alone. Sure he didn't really have friends, but he wasn't constantly belittled anymore.
 
And now he wanted to thank her. To ask her to this Dueling dance and dinner. He wanted to show her that everyone was grateful for what she did... especially him.
 
"I just hope she says yes." He said aloud as he approached her home on the edge of town. Judith worked hard to make it like a proper witches home, and it looked kinda spooky with the backdrop of the woods behind her. Yet at the same time... Louis found it charming. Even neat. He walked nervously up to the door, hoping to talk to Tasha and ask her, but before he could even knock, the door opened, revealing the lovely form of Judith, black dress and all, with long flowing hair and a look of curiosity.
 
"Well." She said with a smile. "I must admit I didn't expect Doordash to be so fast, but you are right on time for my evening meal."
 
Louis was undeterred even at those words. Judith raised an eyebrow, then listened as he spoke.
 
"Are you.... Tasha's mom?"
 
Judith chuckled. Given his blush, she had a guess why he was here. Well, no distraction for her daughter during homework time..
 
"She's busy, um..."
 
"Louis. My name is Louis. And.... I wanted to ask her to the dance that the school is having."
 
Judith chuckled. How bold this boy! Such brass! Such spunk! She shook her head.
 
"She won't be going dear. She will use the time in order to catch up on her studies in school and as a witch, not to mention her Dueling skills."
 
Louis wouldn't back down. "Surely she could do that another day! I'm sure she could make it up!"
 
"Listen here young man, my daughter is not going. I admire your bravery but-"
 
"Well I'm not taking no for an answer! She got my deck back, and I want to thank her for that. And if you won't let me.... I'll just have to duel you to prove I intend to!"
 
Judith froze. "Oh?"
 
"If I win, you let me take her to the dinner and dance as my tag date. No questions, no punishments."
 
Judith giggled. "You would risk a card game with a high order witch over something so.... trivial?"
 
"It isn't trivial to me! Tasha made it so the class was nice to me. She was sweet and kind and stood up for me when no one would. And... I want to be her friend."
 
So, he DID intend to be her boyfriend! Perhaps this duel had merit after all. It would let her gauge his character, and in so doing determine if he had... the right stuff. How marvelous!
 
"Alright. I accept. But IF you lose, I lock you in my cage and make you nice and fat for a big feast for my next coven meeting. Luau style boy roast is a fine main course to my daughter pies, and I would be the shining star of the whole coven! Moreover, you may NEVER ask my daughter to a date. EVER."
 
She extended her hand.
 
"Do we have a deal?"
 
Louis didn't have to think twice. And the speed he answered caught Judith off guard as he shook her hand. In an instant, they were transported away...
 
... just as Tasha came downstairs to ask her mom a question.
 
"Now where did she go?"
 
**********
 
The two wound up deep in the woods, in a clearing that was surrounded by spooky trees. It was as if spirits of witches spells gathered to watch, as Judith revealed her duel disk.
 
But she noticed Louis was undeterred. From his pocket he pulled his out and extended it, fitting the disk on his arm. There was fire in his eyes. Judith knew this wouldn't be a pushover.
 
All the better.
 
DUEL!!!!
JUDITH: 4000
LOUIS: 4000
 
"Ladies first, little suitor. I will play the dimensional alchemist!"
 
A form materialized of an armored figure wearing a Vendetta mask, with power coursing through his hands.
 
"Then I will play Foolish Burial, sending Zolga to the grave. That will be my turn."
 
Louis drew his card. "Alright, here goes. I will play vampiric koala!"
 
A cute cuddly koala with vampire teeth and a cape with a cute bat sewn on it appeared.
 
"Go! Attack his alchemist!"
 
"Not so fast. I'll activate my alchemists ability and banish the top card of my deck! When I do, the Alchemist gains 500 attack points! So our monsters will destroy one another!"
 
The koala bit into the Alchemist, but then saw he was about to explode. He held up a cute sign that said "uh oh" as both exploded. But Judith smiled.
 
"And here's the thing. When my alchemist dies, a banished monster is added to my hand. And in case you're wondering... here it is."
 
She revealed Guardian Angel Joan, her ace. Louis cringed some as she put it in her hand.
 
"You're not the strongest boy, that's for sure, and you have no chance against my deck. I think someone like you should just be a cupcake."
 
She drew her card and smiled. "Now I use my special ability, RISE OF THE FALLEN!
 
*RISE OF THE FALLEN: Special summon one level 4 or lower fairy type monster in defense position. Gain life points equal to its ATK.*
 
From the graveyard appeared Zolga, in all his robed glory. Judith smiled some.
 
"And now, to play Double Summon! Using it, I'll first summon skeleangel, and then tribute them both to summon Guardian Angel Joan!"
 
A shining light appeared as a lovely red haired angel appeared in shimmering robes.
 
"When Zolga is used to tribute summon, I gain another 2000 LP! And then, she attacks!
 
Louis screamed as a holy ray knocked him off of his feet. It looked pretty bad to say the least.
 
JUDITH: 7700
LOUIS: 1200
 
Louis slowly got up. Judith admired his tenacity.
 
"We can call this now. Clearly you don't have what it takes to date my daughter. I admire your sweetness, but my daughter deserves only the best. That's why I push her so hard. So if you..."
 
"NO." Louis said through gritted teeth. "I've been beaten down all my life, picked on because of what I like and what I do. I try to work hard myself, not because of my parents, but because I like to. No one would be my friend because I was such a nerd. But... your daughter stood up for me. She took on a bully for the sake of my cards... for all of us. And.... no one ever did that before. Since then... I have been getting treated more nice by my classmates, and even got to improve my deck. I want to thank her for that."
 
He drew a card.
 
"And NO ONE IS GOING TO TELL ME I DONT HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO DO SO!!!"
 
Judith went wide eyed. This kid had fire! And as he smiled, looking at his hand, she had a feeling things were about to go south.
 
"I summon Sea Koala!"
 
From his hand appeared a cute little blend of sea otter and koala, munching on eucalyptus. Judith began to laugh.
 
"THAT is your big plan? That cutie couldn't hurt a fly!"
 
The koala giggled and looked back to Louis. Judith knew then she shouldn't have spoken.
 
"Well, if you like him so much, here comes a big hug from him! I play creature swap! We each choose a creature on the field to give to our opponent. But we each only have one, soooo..."
 
Judith suddenly eeped as the sea otter leapt into her arms, giving cute button eyes. When she looked up again, Joan was beside Louis!
 
"And I'm not done. I got a new trick up my sleeve, the card Polymerization!"
 
Judith went wide eyed as two cards flew out of Louis hand. One was big koala, and the other des kangaroo.
 
"When you have someone inspire you, there is nothing you cannot do! And I will prove that here and now! I fuse my two monsters to make a true master of battle. BEHOLD, THE MASTER OF OZ!!!
 
The two cards fused, and before Judith appeared a huge green koala with a pouch and boxing gloves, flexing and ready to fight. She knew THIS was gonna hurt.
 
"Oz! Take down Sea Koala! Then Joan follow it up!"
 
The Sea Koala was sent flying as the attacks hit, sending Judith flying. She saw cute koalas instead of stars for a moment after the intense assault.
 
JUDITH: 800
LOUIS: 1200
 
Judith finally got up. She pondered what just happened.
 
*"Impressive. This kid is the real deal! He could have just destroyed my monster, but instead he took mine AND got his ace out. This is amazing. How did I not see the potential this kid had? Now, only one card can save me. I need to get lucky."*
 
Judith drew her card.... and sighed. Nothing in her hand would save her now.
 
"I set a monster and pass." She said with a smile. "You know what to do."
 
Louis drew his card. "Joan, take out her facedown!"
 
Judith smiled as she lost her Kelbeck. It returned Joan to her hand, but that didn't matter. She was vulnerable now. Oz looked at her with a smile.
 
"He really is a fine beast kid. I'm impressed."
 
Oz leaned down and, ever so gently, kissed Judith on the cheek. The battle was over.
 
JUDITH: 0
LOUIS: 1200
 
LOUIS WINS!!!!!
 
*************
 
"He wanted to what?!" Tasha asked in disbelief, talking to her mom a bit later.
 
"He wanted to take you to the little shindig your school is having. And... based on what happened, I said he could. He's actually the first to meet my standards."
 
Tasha gulped some. "But.... he and I aren't..."
 
"Oh I know dear. He explained after the duel that I misunderstood. He was not your boyfriend, just a friend who wanted to thank you for getting his cards back. But I will say..."
 
The two heard a knock on the door. Judith smiled.
 
"That would be him."
 
Tasha sighed some. She didn't want to let the kid down, but she had no intention of going. Especially if the teacher required everyone to have a date. But as she opened the door, she went wide eyed.
 
The boy before her wasn't the nerdy boy I thick glasses and geeky clothes, but was dressed in a nice outfit, with combed hair and a cute as a button face. Tasha had to admit.... he looked delicious.
 
Which is just about the biggest compliment a witch could give someone.
 
"Hi. Tasha, would you be my date?"
 
Tasha almost drooled. Who knew this boy was actually so.... so....
 
"Give me a minute to get in my outift."
 
Judith giggled. "No need dear. Learned this from a fairy I used to eat now and then." She pointed a finger at Tashas outfit, and shot a blast of energy.
 
In an instant, her outfit became a fine sequenced black dress, just the right style for a girl her age. Tasha was wide eyed.
 
"Don't get any ideas missy." Her mother said. "You get it messy and you're on the menu and grounded, both for two weeks. And you mister, better treat her with respect."
 
Louis nodded. He straighted the flower in his button hole, which the two females noticed had an adorable koala on it. The witch watched as the two walked away, and licked her lips.
 
"Those two would be a delicious couple.... I wonder if it will work out beyond being friends...."
 
**********
 
The teacher growled as he watched everyone (except Mason) having fun, dueling and dancing and enjoying the party. Especially Tasha and that nerd Louis. How dare they partner up and foil his plans to expel the witch girl! And now the kids were all being friendly with them and complimenting them and...
 
"And now big koala will attack!"
 
.... and losing to their decks.
 
*"Drat! Drat! DRAT!!!!! Celebrate your victory now you stupid witch girl, I'll expel you yet!!!"*
 
Meanwhile, Tasha was having the time of her life, and she now had quite a few friends. Even Louis had buddies now, including a couple who also shared his intrest in cute fuzzy animals.
 
"Louis?" Tasha finally said, approaching. Louis looked at her and watched as she readied her deck.
 
"How about a match." She said, smirking. Louis smiled as the kids all cleared a space.
 
"Bring it!"
 
The two would remember that night as one of the best they ever had, especially the resulting duel, watched by all and enjoyed by many.