Lessons
It’s @slackerofthereddorm ‘s birthday today! So this my birthday gift to her.
She said surprise her, so there you go.
Enjoy!
Some would say that it doesn’t matter how prepared you think you are for parenthood; it’s never going to be enough. Your child isn’t something you understand through reading or research. Really, you’ve got to learn through experience and trial and error.
Of course, it also helps when your partner has way more brains on the matter than you do.
“Jack, what the hell do you think you’re doing?!” The former King raised an eyebrow at his wife, as he felt what he was doing was self-explanatory.
“I was teaching our son how to drive a D-Wheel.” Carly shook her head, still fuming at Jack’s actions.
“Jack, he’s one year old! He doesn’t even know how to talk yet, let alone drive a D-Wheel!” At that, Jack felt offended. This was his son, his prince. The blood of a king flowed through his veins!
“Carly, he came from me. He knows how to drive no matter the age.” Turning back to his son, still sitting on the child sized D-Wheel, he was about to show him how to turn it on when Carly came over and abruptly took him away.
“Jack Atlas, our son will decide for himself if he wants to learn to drive a D-Wheel.” Jack immediately opened his mouth in protest. “Don’t you dare mister! It’s his decision, not yours.” With that, she left Jack in the garage with their son in her arms.
Lesson one: Let your kid decide for themselves.
Lesson two: Don’t cross your wife.
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Jack never thought he’d be excited to go shopping again, not since Goodwin had given him all that money and let him do whatever he wanted with it. But right now, here he was shopping for his son’s first bike. Well, first training bike anyway.
The little one had expressed an interest in wanting to ride like his friends, and his dad (much to Jack’s enormous pride). So while Jack was ready with the mini D-Wheel again, Carly had shut that plan down. Again. But she made a good point, as their son should learn to basics before he gets to the big leagues.
That, and Jack did not want to make her mad again.
Still, he found himself frowning at the selection they had available. His son was a prince dammit and he deserved the best. He deserved a bike that screamed of royalty, of power, of wealth. None of these bikes were deserving of it.
But he wasn’t going to give up that easily, and he kept checking the selection. Who knows how much time passed before at last, he found what he was looking for.
Seeing his son ride around in his new bike, laughing and cheering in joy, made a proud smile cross the former King’s face.
Well, that and…
“You had to get him a mini Wheel of Fortune didn’t you Jack?” Carly may have groaned internally at her husband’s choice, but their son was happy and that was all that mattered.
“Yes. Yes I did.”
Lesson three: Making your kid happy is the best feeling in the world.
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“Aw man, you win again Dad.” Jack chuckled, picking up his cards and shuffling them back together into his deck. Now that his son had learnt how to drive, it was time to learn how to duel. Then a riding duel, but first he needed to perfect a regular duel.
“You’ll get it someday my prince. You’ve got the blood of the King in you. You’ll be as great as I am.” His son’s frown stayed however, and Jack grew worried. That usually perked his son right up. He reached out and put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
“I keep getting told that you were the greatest Dad, and I can’t even win one game against you. How am I supposed to match up to you if I don’t even come close?” Ah, so that was the problem. Jack pulled his son into a hug, patting his back reassuringly.
“You will never be me my son, you just have to be you. Be the King in your own way, not my way.”
“But what is my way Dad?” Jack pulled back, sitting back down and gesturing for his son to do the same.
“I think it’s time I told you how I became King.”
Jack told him everything, from stealing Stardust and the first D-Wheel they made, to running to Neo Domino and basically selling himself out to become rich and famous. To become the King he wanted to be. His son listened with wide eyes, and Jack couldn’t blame him. He could admit that what he did was wrong.
“But do you understand now son? You can’t take my path, because it’s the path of a traitor. You must take your own way.” The young man nodded, shuffling his cards back together.
“Thanks Dad.”
Lesson four: Be honest with your kid.
Lesson five: Hugs help.
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“You’ve got this son. You made it all this way, now you’re going to win. And why is that?” His son smirked, fist pressed against his heart like his father.
“Because I’m a King.” Jack smirked back, ruffling his hair. His son laughed, swatting his father’s hand away. His mother came next, pulling him into a tight hug.
“Be careful sweetie. Please don’t be an overblown idiot like your father.” Jack immediately protested as their son laughed, pulling back from his mother and pulling his helmet on. He checked everything over one last time, but he shook from anxiety all the while. Jack noticed this, and put a calming hand on his shoulder.
“Son, it’s okay if you don’t win. You’ll have other chances.” His son nodded, but didn’t seem reassured. So, Jack brought what he knew would be a sure thing, passing it to his son.
A familiar white card.
“Red Dragon Archfiend? That’s your card Dad! It’s your soul, you can’t just give it to me!” But Jack shook his head.
“Use it, because even if you lose, you’re a King to me and you deserve it.” The young man nodded, sliding the card into his extra deck then hugging his father tightly.
A few minutes later, the world watched in awe as the familiar monster roared out onto the field. With it, a new chant spread through the audience like wildfire.
“The King Reborn! The King Reborn! The King Reborn!”
Jack found himself grinning as he watched his son duel while the chant roared as loud as the Red Dragon Archfiend.
“Long live the King.”
Lesson six: Your kid will grow into their own, but you can still give them a nudge along the way.
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“Red Dragon Archfiend! Direct attack with Absolute Power Force.” The mighty beast roared as its claw surged with power, rushing forward and delivering it at the target.
Jack smiled as he saw his old monster approaching. His son had finally done it.
He had beaten his old man.
The blast came and Jack’s D-Wheel spun from the impact, but he regained control, pulling to a stop at the finish line. He shut his bike off, and stood up as his son pulled to a stop next to him.
The new King stood up and hugged the old King tightly.
“Well done son.”
Lesson seven: Your kid is going to best you eventually, and you’ll be so proud of them when that happens.
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Author’s Note: I couldn’t come up with a name for the kid, so that’s why it’s not mentioned. Sorry!










