Father vs Son

A week had passed since Chazz lost to Jaden. He had hardly left his room, too embarrassed to face anyone after being defeated.

Dr. Crowler was in his office attempting to come up with another way to expel Jaden and Ryan. Despite Alexis defeating him, Ryan's test scores were too high for him to drop out.

Over at the Slifer dorm, the student's letters from home had just arrived. All the students gathered round as Prof. Banner handed everyone their letters and packages. Some of them received letters telling them how their families were doing back home while others received gifts such as sweets.

Chumley had received a letter from his father. As he read it, he felt his heart drop and tears form in his eyes. Jaden noticed this and approached Chumley.

"Hey Chum what's wrong? Bad news from home." He asked.

Chumley stared at the letter.

"It's my dad. He just got my test scores back and he's sick of me not improving. He wants me to leave Duel Academy and come work at his sake factory." He said.

Jaden was shocked.

"What! You can't leave, you should write back to him right now and tell him no." He said. Chumley shook his head.

"It's too late. He's on his way right now to get me. He'll be here at 5pm, he said to have all my stuff packed by then." Chumley said.

Chumley sadly stood up and walked to the door.

"Where are you going?" Jaden asked.

"To pack my things." Chumley replied as he headed to his room to gather his belongings.

Later that day Jaden was talking to Syrus. He had already explained Chumley's situation to him.

"Come on Sy, there must be something we can do." Jaden said.

"I don't think there is, unless Chumley becomes a great duelist in the next hour he'll be going home." Syrus said.

Jaden smiled.

"That's it, I've got it. When Chumley's dad gets here you and I can challenge Chumley to a duel and let him win, that way his dad will think he has improved and let him stay." Jaden said.

"Do you really think it will work?" Syrus asked.

"I'm sure it will. Let's go tell Chumley." Jaden said.

After telling Chumley their plan, the three waited for Chumley's father to arrive. At 5pm Chancellor Sheppard arrived at the Slifer dorm with a large muscular man that had the same nose as Chumley following him.

Mr. Huffington approached Chumley.

"So son, are you ready to go?" He asked. Chumley remained silent, so Jaden spoke instead.

"No he's not, Chumley's a great duelist." He said. Mr. Huffington laughed.

"I'll believe that when I see it."

Syrus then stepped forward.

"He can prove it. Chumley can beat both of us right now." He said, pulling his deck out of his pocket.

"No, stop." Mr. Huffington said. "How do I know you two won't just let him win."

Mr. Huffington turned back to Chumley.

"Son, if you want to prove to me you're a duelist, then take me on." He said. Chumley, Syrus and Jaden all looked worried.

"B-But I can't, I'm not ready." Chumley said.

"A true duelist is always ready for an opponent. But since you are my son, I'll go easy on you." Mr. Huffington said. "The boat won't leave until I give the word, so I'll give you until tomorrow morning to prepare. Good luck son." He continued before heading into the dining room to talk with Professor Banner.

Jaden turned to Chumley.

"Chum how good of a duelist is your dad anyway?" He asked.

"Well he's in the Japanese duel league and came 3rd in the last national championship." Chumley answered.

"Wait, you mean your dad is Kumazo Huffington, the Dizzy Deck expert." Syrus said. Chumley nodded.

"We might be in trouble." Jaden said.

Later that day, the whole school had heard that Kumazo Huffington was visiting and all the students came to the Slifer dorm to meet the famous duelist. At the same time Chumley was in his room with Jaden and Syrus and became more confused by the second.

"Okay Chum, my Flame Wingman should be able to help you." Jaden said as he held up his card.

"No, my Cycroid would be better." Syrus said as he held up his card. Chumley was starting to become overwhelmed with his friends and became more confused by the second.

"Hello there, I was wondering if you need some help." A voice called out. The three looked towards the door to see Bastion standing there.

"Hey, aren't you that strategist from Ra Yellow." Jaden said.

"Yes, my name's Bastion. Now which one of you is facing Kumazo?" Bastion asked as he entered the room.

"That's me." Chumley said sadly. Bastion smiled.

"Well then, would you like help with your strategies for tomorrow." He said.

Syrus looked worried.

"We don't know this guy, are we sure he can help." He said.

"I would accept Bastion's offer if I were in your position." They heard a familiar voice say and turned to the door to see Ryan.

"It would be a lot more helpful than Flame Wingman in this situation." Ryan remarked.

"Hey, what are you talking about? Flame Wingman's a great card." Jaden said, enraged.

"That Chumley can't even summon." He pointed out. Jaden's eyes then widened as he realized where Ryan was going with this.

Chumley looked at his friends.

"Guys, maybe it's best if I listen to what Bastion has to say." He said, causing Bastion to become pleased.

"Let's give them some space." Ryan said.

Syrus walked out the door, but Jaden stayed where he was.

"Wait, what if Chumley needs more help." He said. Ryan dragged him out of the cafeteria.

"We're leaving." He said.

The next day, all of the reds had gathered around to watch Chumley duel his father in front of the Slifer dorm. Ryan, Alexis and Bastion weren't too far away.

"Did you give him some pointers?" Ryan asked.

"Yes, I told him everything I could based on his deck." Bastion replied.

"Let's just hope he doesn't forget." Ryan commented.

Chumley and his father took their positions.

"This is your last chance to back down son." Mr. Huffington said.

"No, this time I will win." Chumley said.

"I see you've grown some back bone, good for you son. I'm proud." Mr. Huffington said.

Professor Banner was acting as referee for the duel. He was tired and had a hangover after losing a sake drinking contest to Mr. Huffington last night. With a coin toss, it was decided Chumley would go first.

"Okay dad, I summon Des Koala in attack mode." Chumley said. Everyone began to talk among themselves about Chumley's obvious mistake.

"So much for him remembering." Ryan muttered.

Des Koala ATK 1100 DEF 1800 LV3 DARK Beast.

Mr. Huffington looked disappointed.

"What are you doing? Don't you know that now you can't use it's flip effect on me." He said. Chumley looked shocked.

"Of course I know that." Chumley said.

"At least now I do." He whispered, so no one would hear him.

Mr. Huffington then started his turn.

"I summon Dizzy Tiger in attack mode and place one card face down. Now Dizzy Tiger attack his monster." Mr. Huffington said as Dizzy Tiger destroyed Chumley's koala.

Dizzy Tiger ATK 1800 DEF 600 LV4 EARTH Beast-Warrior.

Chumley LP 4000 - 700 = 3300

"Back to you son." Mr. Huffington said.

Chumley was starting to get nervous until he saw one of the cards in his hand.

"I summon Des Wombat and equip him with Beast Fangs to increase his attack." Chumley said.

Des Wombat ATK 1600 DEF 300 LV3 EARTH Beast.

Des Wombat ATK 1600 + 300 = 1900 DEF 300 + 300 = 600

"Now attack." Chumley ordered. Dizzy Tiger was destroyed.

"Congratulations son, this is the first time you've ever dealt damage to me." Mr. Huffington said. After that, Chumley ended his turn.

Mr. Huffington LP 4000 - 100 = 3900

Mr. Huffington started his next turn.

"First I summon Dizzy Angel in attack mode, then I activate Heavy Storm to destroy all spell and trap cards on the field." Chumley's Beast Fangs equip spell and Mr. Huffington's face-down were destroyed.

Dizzy Angel ATK 1800 DEF 400 LV4 EARTH Fairy.

Des Wombat ATK 1900 - 300 = 1600 DEF 600 - 300 = 300

"And since my face down was Statue of the Wicked, I can special summon a Wicked Token in attack mode." Mr. Huffington said. "Now Dizzy Angel, attack his Wombat."

Wicked Token ATK 1000 DEF 1000 LV4 DARK Fiend.

Chumley LP 3300 - 200 = 3100

"Now my Wicked Token attacks you directly. After that, I end my turn."

Chumley LP 3100 - 1000 = 2100

Chumley drew his next card.

"I play a monster in defense mode and end my turn." He said sadly.

Mr. Huffington drew his card.

"Sorry son, but I attack your monster with Dizzy Angel." The face down monster was Bubonic Vermin and when it was flipped face up, another face down monster appeared on Chumley's side of the field.

Bubonic Vermin ATK 900 DEF 600 LV3 EARTH Beast.

"What just happened?" Chumley asked.

Mr. Huffington looked disappointed.

"Don't you know that when Bubonic Vermin is flipped face up, it summons another one face down." He explained. Chumley looked shocked.

"It does. I mean of course it does, I knew that." Chumley said.

"Anyway, I attack your other vermin with my Wicked Token and end my turn with a face down." Mr. Huffington said. When Bubonic Vermin was flipped face up, another took it's place.

Chumley didn't draw his next card. Instead, he looked at his deck in despair.

'What was I thinking? I'm no duelist, maybe I should just work at the sake factory.' He thought.

"Hey Chumley, don't give up. It's not over yet!" Jaden shouted.

"You can still turn this around!" Syrus also shouted.

Chumley felt his hope return.

'They're right, I still have a chance.' He thought as he drew his next card.

Chumley looked at the cards in his hand.

'Think Chumley. What can you do to get out of this. That's it.' He thought.

"I play Polymerization to fuse the Sea Koala and Tree Otter in my hand to summon Koalo-Koala and with him I attack your Wicked Token. Then I end my turn." Chumley said with a new fire in his eyes.

Koalo-Koala ATK 2800 DEF 200 LV6 EARTH Beast.

Mr. Huffington LP 3900 - 1800 = 2100

Mr. Huffington was shocked to say the least.

"Good job son, I've never seen you make a move like that before." He said as he drew his next card. "However, I'm sorry to say that this duel is over now."

"First I place one card face down, then I activate Flipping the Table to destroy all cards on my side of the field except Dizzy Angel to destroy the same number of cards on your field." Both of Chumley's monsters and Mr. Huffington's face downs were destroyed.

"And since both my face downs were Hot Sauce Bottle, you take 500 points of damage for each one."

Chumley LP 2100 - 1000 = 1100

"Now Dizzy Angel end this." Mr. Huffington said as Dizzy Angel attacked.

Chumley LP 1100 - 1800 = 0

Chumley dropped to his knees close to tears as Jaden and Syrus ran to comfort him. Mr. Huffington watched this for a second before heading inside.

In a hour Chumley had packed his bags.

"It's really not going to be the same without you." Syrus said sadly. Jaden gave Chumley a hug before he headed to the dining room to meet up with his dad.

When Chumley reached the dining room, the only one there was Professor Banner.

"Professor, where's my dad?" Chumley asked.

"Oh yes, your father wanted me to give this to you." Banner said, handing Chumley a sealed envelope.

Chumley opened the envelope and read the letter inside.

'Dear son, maybe you haven't become a great duelist during your time here, but I can see you have made some good friends and I think that's good enough reason for you to stay. If you ever need a place to go remember me and my sake factory are always there for you.

Love, dad.'

Chumley felt tears of joy forming in his eyes and this time he didn't try to stop them as he ran back to tell the others the good news.