Summer vacation had started and all the school kids had already initiated their plans for the coming months, which included having sleepovers where no one sleeps, visiting relatives and just goofing off for the fun of it. Tommy, however, had a much simpler idea for his time off. The young Rabbit lay under a tree in the park feeling the breeze tickle his plain, white fur and ears. All he wore was a black vest with yellow, vertical stripes along it. On one side of the vest was a symbol, a circle with a shape that looked like an A and an H were mashed together. The insignia of his favorite band; Always Honest.

He might have drifted off in the gentle morning air as the activity around him was not the same as it was before. A small group of Animals had gathered around the park benches playing games with one another. Let’s see what’s going on. Tommy picked himself up, yawned, stretched and twitched his tail. Walking through the freshly mowed grass, he combed his fur with his fingers on his way towards the crowd. There were four Animals sitting around the wooden table, three kids even younger than himself and an older Man, an Ape, maybe in his thirties were hanging out. The Ape had a good-size, white, rectangle, wooden box sitting on the bench next to him. A deer was playing against the Ape as the other two watched and it was fascinating to behold. They were playing the popular card game, Duel Monsters. Both players shuffled their decks and drew hands, beginning the game.

The Deer went first, he looked at his cards with uncertainty. Glancing at each one, he moved his lips as he read the cards to himself, the Ape patiently watched the Child, seeing what he will do. The Boy timidly set a monster facedown followed by another facedown card, announcing his actions as he did so. When the Deer ended his turn and the Ape methodically played a monster, Goblindbergh, which allowed him to instantly summon another monster, Rose Warrior of Revenge. The Ape then declared a Syncro summon by sending both monsters to the grave and taking a monster from his extra deck and setting it in play, Crimson Blader. The Deer looked at it and gasped, marveling at its high attack and defense ratings.

“That’s a nice monster,” Tommy remarked. He knows the basics of the game but has never played it himself.

“It’s an alright card, but you’ll learn Little Man,” the Ape replied.

The Ape attacked the Deer’s facedown monster. He flips it over and puts it in the grave as its stats didn’t match up. Watching the two play, Tommy picked up on the basics of gameplay, summoning monsters, playing spell cards to gain advantages and trap cards to interrupt the opponent. All while attacking one another to be the first to take down the other’s life points.

The Dear was hiding behind a Swords of Revealing Light to stop his opponent from attacking, but it will wear off this turn. Tommy looked at the Deer’s hand and reads the card he just drew, Change of Heart, an idea forms in his mind. When the Child doesn’t make a move, Tommy speaks up. “Can’t you play that card on his Blader?”

“But he will get his monster back next turn,” the Dear protests.

“Can’t you use this on it?” Tommy points to another card.

The Dear’s eyes light up and he plays Change of Heart, taking control of Crimson Blader. He then sacrifices it to summon Prime Material Dragon. He looked at the Ape triumphantly as he attacks his Elemental Hero Wildheart, sending it to the grave and chipping away at his life points.

“That is a good move little Man, you catch on fast,” the Ape compliments as he puts his cards in the grave. “But I have a whole hand full of tricks,”

The Ape plays the spell card Warrior Returning Alive, bringing back his Goblinberge. Summoning it alongside a Captain Raiz. This time he uses them to XYZ summon Sir Arthur. He attaches another monster to it from his hand, adding to his new monster’s attack rating, making it stronger than the Deer’s dragon. The Child groans as his monster is taken down, the Ape wins.

Meanwhile, there was another game going on not far from them between a little Dog and a Cat about Tommy’s age.

“I got you good,” the Cat said.

“Not too bad for your first time, care to go again?” the Ape asked the Deer.

They all played for a few rounds, Tommy even joined in. Playing against one of the other kids, the Rabbit felt a sense of wonder and power each time he summoned his monsters. The Deer played a polymerization, infusing his Gia the Fierce Knight and Curse of Dragon to form Gia the Dragon Champion. Tommy whistled at the mighty monster, sending his Giant soldier of stone to the grave from the attack. The Boy was playfully smug as Tommy weighed his options. The Boy even has a facedown card that could ruin everything. He has a plan, it’s risky, but if this fails, he won’t win at all.

“I win again,” the Cat taunted the Dog.

Tommy only just noticed the other players and plays a monster in defense mode and one facedown trap. This has to work. The Boy only attacks, perfect. Tommy plays his trap, enchanted javelin, gaining life equal to the attacking monster. His own monster was destroyed, but it served its purpose. Tommy then summons Cyberstein, paying 5000 life points to summon his own fusion; Black Skull Dragon. It was far superior to Gia and crushes it, the Boy’s other facedown card apparently was no help for him as he did not play it.

“That’s a useless move,” the Cat spat.

This time, Tommy glanced over at them, he didn’t like his attitude. The Ape looked up from his hand at the Rabbit. “He has a few good cards and he thinks he’s a great player. Just ignore him,”

Tommy tried to focus on his game, setting down one more trap, just to be safe. Keeping one eye on the Cat while he plays. The Deer plays a Hammer Shot spell card to destroy Tommy’s Monster and the Rabbit uses a Magic Jammer trap to block it, protecting his monster. The Dog loses another game and Tommy paid attention to the vicious look on the Cat as he mocks the Boy. He asks for another round, but this time the Cat pushes the Boy onto the ground.

“Go away Loser,”

Tommy and the Ape got up at the same time to face the Cat. Tommy came at him, fist held high and the Cat was on his feet and all-too-ready to brawl. the Ape grabbed Tommy’s shoulder. “Keep a cool head, Little Man” the Ape instructed.

Tommy looked down at the young Dog sitting on the ground shedding tears. Feeling more level-headed, the Rabbit walked over to the Child, helping him to his feet, gathered his cards and took him away from the Cat.

The Cat gave them a mocking glare. “Pansy,”

Tommy stood defensively between the Dog and the Cat, looking between the Cat and the Ape, wondering what the older Man will do. The Ape stared at the Cat, then down at his wooden box and back up at him.

“What ’cha going to do old Man? Play against me?” he held out his arm and it was then that Tommy saw the device on his wrist. A sleek, white and blue steel object with slots for inserting decks and two wings on either side designed for playing cards on. A Duel Disk.

The Ape stared at the Punk, pondering his challenge, an idea seems to have formed in his mind. “I could, but that would be too easy,” he looked at Tommy. “Little Man, care to do the honors?”

The Rabbit was confused. “Me? But I’m not that good,”

“You have a knack for this. Go on, open the box,” the Ape instructed.

Tommy stepped towards the box, and as if it were a big deal, solemnly lifts the lid to reveal the contents and held his breath. Inside was a Duel Disk resting in its slot, waiting to be wielded in combat. Beside it was a red deck box, the box looked nothing special, but it was the contents that was. The Rabbit stared at it in awe for a moment.

“Go on,” the Ape instructed.

The Cat chuckled coldly, like he didn’t think the Ape was serious. Tommy took the device and slides it on his wrist. Pressing the button to fasten it and the device gripped his arm rather comfortably. Opening the deck box, the backs of the cards stored within gave no indication that they were any different than any other deck, but surely the Ape wouldn’t give it to him without reason. Taking the cards and shuffling them as he walked out onto the field to face the Cat.

“Okay, your funeral,” the Cat said shuffling his own deck.

Tommy inserted his deck into the slot and the Disk came to life. The two wings slid together into one before locking into place and a display indicated 4000 life points.

“Alright, let’s do this!”

To be continued...