I only want to say this once so let's get it over with; I do not own Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal, Yu-Gi-Oh! or the concept of Phantom Thieves (the deck or the characters) and they belong to Takara Tomi and other respective owners. Now onto the story!
My life wasn't what you would call abnormal. I've lived in a foster home for pretty much my entire life. According to my adoptive parents, I was found alone on their doorstep one lonely summer's night, and have been living here with my brothers and sisters ever since.
Life was uneventful for me. My parents and siblings were nice, always willing to help if I need it, and wouldn't mind protecting me if need be, and we'd go to school everyday to learn and such. So life was pretty average for us, except when it came to one thing, Yu-Gi-Oh. You would probably call one crazy if they were to say that an entire house of 13 kids were fans of a children's trading card game and anime, but it's the truth. Each of us have our own favorite deck we like to use; Lisa, my eldest sister, played a versatile Dragonmaid deck, Leo, the middle child, played a Dragunity deck and John, the eldest at 19 years old and currently away at college, played a powerful Utopia deck. His reasoning for it was that out of the entire series of animes that aired, Zexal was his favorite.
I got curious and decided to watch it, and liked it. After watching it I decided to make my own Xyz deck, starting with Wind-Ups, then upon watching Arc-V, I'm not sure how to explain it, but I grew a connection to Yuto's ace monster Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon, and changed to a Phantom Knights deck for a bit, but after I started playing video games and played a masterpiece known as Persona 5 Royal, I grew a greater love for another deck called Time Thieves, and after some online shopping, I finally made my own masterpiece. A mixture of both Time Thieves and Phantom Knights called: Phantom Thieves.
After my greatest deck's creation, I had started to win matches back to back. Sometimes it was the luck of the draw (the heart of the cards my siblings would always call it), but most of the time, my skills won out. Yeah, aside from that, life was pretty uneventful, until that night, because when I fell asleep, I had a strange dream.
It started out with me in a void-like area, all black and darkness, until a red light showed. Once the light faded a bit, a red figure appeared from it. It's appearance was similar to that of the Barian that possessed Dr. Faker at the end of the first part, except it was slimmer like Astral.
It held its hand out as if asking me to take it. Being skeptical since in the anime Barians were pretty much villains until Don Thousand's downfall, I stepped back. But in doing so caused an unexpected reaction, it seemed saddened by my skepticism. Before I could ponder this, a blue light showed next to it and a blue figure appeared. It had a feminie body that glowed blue just like the Barian next to it glowed red. From the looks I would say that this being was Astralian. At first I thought she was gonna fight the Barrian, only, to my surprise, take hold of the Barian's left hand. Upon closer inspection, it would seem these two are lovers.
Feeling less skeptical after the Astralian's appearance, I walked up to them, and reluctantly took their hands when they held them out. When I woke up, I was on a train, and when I looked out the window, I saw what I never thought I'd see in real life. Heartland City, and it was coming closer. Oh, in all this time I hadn't introduced myself. It's Alex, Alex Kurusu, the Number Thief.
When Alex looked out the train's window, to say he was shocked would be an understatement. He was a 14 year old boy with raven black hair, a dark blue sports shirt, black pants, red sneakers and a dark grey sweatshirt.
"W-What? H-How?" he timidly spoke as he saw Heartland City in the distance.
After watching the city come closer, his eyes then landed on a backpack and suitcase. Checking the backpack first, Alex found a note and a deck case. Opening the deck case, Alex saw a deck of Yu-Gi-Oh cards, his Phantom Thief deck, and at the top of it all was his favorite monster in all of Yu-Gi-Oh, Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon. To his surprise, the card glowed as a Dark Rebellion that was around his size appeared before him.
"...I have so many questions…"
The dragon simply growled as a response. Sighing in defeat, Alex decided to take his attention to the letter he had in his other hand. Once he opened it he began to read it's contents.
Hello Alex,
I'm sure you have many questions, so I'll try to answer them. No, you aren't dreaming, this is real, and why you have been chosen out of trillions of people is something I'd rather not speak of, and as to why you're here, because of the grand anomaly that caused Astral to appear in this world will happen soon, and would appreciate your assistance in stopping Don Thousand. In order to do that, you'll need to collect Numbers. Considering the deck you have and the powers that have been bestowed onto yourself and Dark Rebellion, it will be simple. Also you may have noticed some cards in your deck are missing or replaced. They either don't work with this world's master rule or will appear later since they don't exist yet. When the time comes, you'll have them back. As an added bonus you can get some of the new cards that are yet to be released when they are. Until then happy hunting!
I/A
P.S. On the back of this note there is an address. You'll be staying there during your time here in Heartland City (don't worry about money, you should be covered for at least a year). Also you'll be continuing your school year at Heartland Academy as a transfer student on Monday.
"I have powers?" Alex wonders aloud, looking at the palm of his hand. "Wonder what they are…" he pondered, before dismissing the thought. "Well, more importantly, I'm going to the same school as Yuma Tsukumo. It will definitely complicate collecting Numbers if he knew I was after them too. I suppose I could collect them in secret, but if we run into each other while I'm collecting Numbers then it defeats the whole purpose of secrecy." Dark Rebellion made a soft roar to him as if asking a question. Unfortunately being unable to speak dragon had its limitations, so it didn't help. "Maybe a disguise of some kind, but what kind?" Alex thought for a bit before looking at his deck. His "Phantom Thief" deck… "That's it! I'll become a Phantom Thief!"
The black dragon growled in question at Alex's choice before the boy went on a rant of his idea. "I'd only steal Number cards, and be known as... The Number Thief! Pretty cool right? Plus, it fits with my deck. Also when I'm a civilian, I'll just pretend that I just don't like dueling. No one would expect someone who doesn't duel to be the Number Thief, although… if Astral were to sense the Numbers I have…"
Dark Rebellion interrupts with another soft roar. Call him crazy, but Alex had a feeling that his ace card had that covered.
"Alright! Looks like we're Number stealing, partner!"
2 weeks later
"Come on Alex! When are ya gonna get a deck so you can duel me?" Yuma asked our said protagonist. Said protagonist was wearing the Heartland Academy uniform and was sitting at his desk waiting for class to begin. This had become a daily thing for Alex and Yuma ever since he first joined the school, and it would take one of Yuma's friends to stop it from escalating.
"Come on Yuma! If Alex doesn't want to duel then let him be," Tori says while Bronk takes a hold of him.
"Oh come on! Just one duel and I bet your whole view on the game will change!"
"Yuma I've told you a million times, I don't like to duel, but that doesn't mean I don't like to watch," Alex reassures him, but it still didn't calm Yuma down.
Despite being one of the very few members of the academy that doesn't duel, Alex was no outcast. He still enjoyed watching people duel, even Yuma. In fact, it was Yuma crashing into him during one of his little competitions with Bronk that he had first met Alex and eventually got him into his group of friends.
Once the bell rang to signal the start of duel period, everyone burst out of the room to the central field area to, as Jaden Yuki would put it, get their game on, except for Alex who would merely observe the duels with his duel gazer. As he watched the duels unfold, Dark Rebellion gave an irritated roar to him through their special link.
"Don't worry bud, just wait a little longer," Alex spoke softly to him so no one could hear, sensing the anxiousness of his partner being unable to duel. "When the Numbers appear, we'll start hunting for them." An explosion was seen as Bronk's cry resonated across the field. "Which if this is what I think it is, will be soon."
And indeed it was Bronk's duel with Reginald 'Shark' Kastle that he had seen occur. The duel that would lead to Yuma having a duel with Shark that would start the anomaly that caused Astral and the Numbers to appear. Figuring that he should check it out, Alex ran over to the commotion as Carrier Aero Shark vanished from the field, Yuma and Tori having already got there.
"You can't take Bronk's deck!" Yuma exclaimed. "He put his heart and soul into making it! Taking it would be like taking a piece of what makes Bronk who he is!"
"So? He bet his deck so that if I win. I get it," Shark stated. "So buzz off."
"No way! In fact, I'll duel you for Bronk's deck back! I'll put my own deck on the line if I have to!"
"WHAT?!" Tori and Bronk exclaimed in shock.
"Ha! As if I want any of your lame cards! Maybe if you have something of greater value?" Shark said with a smirk on his face.
"Like what?" Yuma asks, before Shark took the key that hung around his neck. "Wha- Hey! Give that back!" He shouts as Shark's posse holds him back.
"I suppose we could duel for this?" Shark suggests. "As long as nothing happens to-woops." The purple haired kid said before dropping the key, only for Alex to grab it before it hit the ground. "Huh? Who are you supposed to be?"
"Alex Kurusu, and I don't think this belongs to you," he answered.
"Oh! The new kid that's a big chicken!" Shark insults.
"What gave you the impression that I was a chicken?" Alex asks, not letting the insult get to him.
"Anyone who's too scared to pick up a deck is a chicken obviously."
"Hey! Alex is no chicken just because he doesn't like to duel!" Yuma butts in.
"Whatever, looks like you still have your prize, so I guess we can duel for it, and your deck," Shark replies as he and his posse walked away. "This Sunday at the station quartyard. Be there if you want to lose." When Shark finally left, Alex returned the key to Yuma.
"Thanks Alex," Yuma said gratefully.
"No problem," he replies.
"Man, I wish I had the same amount of restraint as you, Alex," Bronk comments looking down in shame. "If I did, maybe I wouldn't have lost my deck."
"It's important that you don't let people get you down," Alex said with a sage-like aura. "But pride is a very powerful sin not anyone can overcome. It takes a lot of strength and humility. Anyways, I gotta run. School's out and all that so I ought to get back home."
After Alex left for his new home, a small building on the outskirts of Heartland City, away from any prying eyes, Dark Rebellion began to roar in outrage at Shark's insult.
"Easy partner. We need a low profile, and we still need some practice." After entering his home, which had a bed, TV, small kitchen and bathroom, Alex headed to the basement that, after some work, had a secret panel installed that opens directly to a ladder that leads to the Heartland sewage system, and another panel that opens to a costume and gadget compartment. "Can't expect to become the Number Thief overnight, right?"
It was Sunday, the fateful day that Astral would arrive, and it all started with Yuma and Shark's duel. It pretty much was exactly the same as it was in the anime, with Yuma making extremely mature mistakes that shows how bad of a duelist he was. It honestly made Alex want to step in and do the duel himself, but he didn't want to stop Astral's appearance. When it did happen, a bright shining light shone from Yuma's key as he grabbed hold of it, and caused a bright flash.
"Guess that was the Numbers being sent out," Alex thought, before Dark Rebellion gave a silent roar as it felt a surge of new energy enter it, changing it slightly.
"Rise up," came the new voice that only Yuma, and to his shock, Alex could hear. Turning to its owner, both boys saw the blue, floating figure that was Astral.
"No way, I can see him?" he thought. When Yuma tried to point out the new arrival, Alex pretended to be just as confused as Bronk and Tori. Once the duel ended, Alex left to get ready. "It's time, partner." The black dragon growled in excitement as a reply.
Once Alex was far enough away from everyone else, (as well as security cameras) he then pulled Dark Rebellion's card out, and noticed a change to its text. "Huh, this ability will certainly make gathering Numbers easier," he said before repocketing it.
Later that night, in a shady part of the city, a shady figure was dueling another duelist, brutally beating them down. The reason why is because of the monster on their field.
"Number 14: Greedy Sarameya, attack him directly!" the cerberus spat a fireball at the opponent, dropping their Life Points to 0.
"AHHH!" the opponent yelled as they fell to the ground in defeat.
"Now that I've won, you have to give me everything you own!" the Number holder said with a malicious smirk.
"No, please! I beg of you!"
"You lost pal, so fork over all your-" The thug was cut off as a red cable was latched onto his arm. "What the?"
"Using Numbers to satiate your selfish desires," came a mocking tone. "You don't deserve that monster!" A figure jumped down between the two duelists. He was wearing a dark blue trench coat with black pants and gloves, along with a domino mask on his face and a fancy navy blue fedora. The red cable from before was attached to a duel disk that looked like the new one Yugi used from the Dark Side of Dimensions movie. "Which is why I'll steal it from you!"
"What?! Who do you think you are?!"
"I am the Number Theif!" the disguised Alex said in a fake voice. "And unfortunately for you, this duel anchor will prevent you from leaving until we duel! So how about it?"
"Hmm… You're called the Number Theif right? That must mean you've got some more of these crazy Numbers on ya, so sure, I'll duel ya for 'em!" Both duelist's duel disks activated as the other duelist ran off. The left eye of Alex's domino mask shone as his duel gazer activated along with the thug's.
"LET'S DUEL!"
Thug's LP: 4000
NT's LP: 4000
"Since you challenged me, you can go first!" the thug says smugly.
"Alright then! My turn, I draw!" Looking at his hand Alex made his opening play. "I'll start by summoning Time Thief Winder (ATK: 1800, DEF: 1300, LV: 4) and when it's summoned I can add any Time Thief card from my deck to my hand!" One of the signature Time Thief monsters made his appearance before using the device on his left had to add Time Thief Hack to Alex's hand.
"It what?!"
"I'll add Time Thief Hack! Next I activate Foolish Burial to send a monster from my deck to the graveyard!"
"Pfff, the card's right! Whoever would play that card is a fool since you'd be throwing away a monster!"
"Not unless that monster has a powerful graveyard effect! I send The Phantom Knights of Ancient Cloak, and use it's ability! By banishing it from my graveyard, I can add any Phantom Knights card from my deck to my hand!"
"Another search?!"
"Yep! I add the Phantom Knights of Shade Brigandine trap card and set it face down!"
"Why would you tell me that you set it?"
"Because it won't stay set for long, as I have no trap cards in my graveyard, I can activate it the turn it was set, which lets me summon it as a normal monster! (ATK: 0, DEF: 400, LV: 4)" The plate of haunted metal appeared next to Winder in defense position.
"Two level fours?!"
"It seems you know my goal, now! I overlay level 4 Time Thief Winder and Shade Brigandine! Master of thievery across the temporal plane, appear before us with your masterful craft! I Xyz Summon! Time Thief Redoer! (ATK: 2400, DEF: 2000, RNK: 4)" The boss monster of the Time Thief deck made their appearance, standing proudly before its opponent. "I'll set a card, and end my turn."
"Grr… Don't think that you and your thieves will steal anything of mine! My turn, I draw!" the thug yelled. Once he saw the card, he smirked, only for Alex to rain in on his parade.
"You'll be eating those words pal, as Redoer's effect activates! During the Standby Phase, he swipes the top card of your deck and attaches it to himself as an overlay unit!"
"What?!"
"Go! Quantum Thievery!" Redoer shot a cable from the device on his right hand that was attached to the top card of the opponent's deck, and drew it. As it made its way over to Redoer, it turned into an orb of light that began to spin around with the other 2 overlay units it had.
"Grr… That's it! I activate the effect of Kaiser Vorse Raider, special summoning it from my hand as I control no monsters! (ATK: 1900, DEF: 1200, LV: 5) Next I summon Gene-Warped Warwolf! (ATK: 2000, DEF: 100, LV: 4) Next I activate the spell Beast's Howl! Now a Beast or Beast-Warrior monster I control becomes the same level as another Beast or Beast-Warrior I control! I make Warwolf level 5! (LV: 4 - 5) Now I overlay Vorse Raider and Warwolf to Xyz Summon! Number 14: Greedy Sarameya! (ATK: 2500, DEF: 1500, RNK: 5)" The cerberus appeared on the field before Redoer, roaring in a way of intimidation, but the thief only smirked in confidence. "Now you're as good as dead!"
"A Number monster. A monster that can only be destroyed in battle by another Number monster," Alex commented, making the thug smirk in confidence. "Good thing I have a countermeasure!"
"What?!" the thug exclaimed, snapping out of his confidence.
"I activate Redoer's other ability! I can detach up to 3 overlay units of different card types, and activate a different ability for each type! I detach a monster, spell and trap!" All 3 of Redoer's overlay units were absorbed into his device. "First, since I detached a Spell, I can draw a card!" Alex drew a new card. "Next since I detached a Monster, I can banish Redoer! Quantum Jump!" The thief's device then activated, making the thief vanish from the field. The opponent looked in shock, before he gave a mad cackle.
"HAHAHAHAHA! What was that?! How is that supposed to take care of Sarameya?!"
"I'll tell you now," Alex replied. "Since Redoer detached a Trap, I can return one card on your field to the top of your deck." The thug's laughing stopped as his face froze in shock.
"W-What?"
"I'll use Redoer's effect to return Greedy Sarameya back to the top of your Extra Deck!" An ethereal clock appeared beneath the cerberus as the hands spun counter clockwise, causing the hound to vanish. "Phantom Reversal!"
The thug, in shock, watched as his powerful Number was easily beaten by a mere effect. Once Sarameya was gone, Alex's opponent started to seethe with rage. "You'll pay for that! I activate the Spell Beast's Emergence! Thanks to this card, I can revive 1 Beast or Beast-Warrior that is Level 4 or lower, but its effects are negated, not that I care since Warwolf was already a Normal Monster! (ATK: 2000, DEF: 100, LV: 4) You were a fool to leave yourself open, and now you'll pay dearly! Warwolf, attack him directly!" The humanoid wolf made it's direct attack on Alex, but it was stopped by his face down card.
"I activate the Quick-play Spell, Time Thief Startup! This lets me summon a Time Thief from my hand! Come Bezel Ship (ATK: 1000, DEF: 2000, LV: 4)!" The small ship appeared before Alex in defence position, blocking the attack. Since both monsters had the same ATK and DEF, no damage was dealt, and neither were destroyed.
"Grr…" The thug was clearly not happy about his revenge being thwarted, but he then grinned. "Fine, It doesn't matter, that monster of yours is gone, so I'd say I'm in the clear. But just in case, I'll set this card face down, and end my-" He was cut off by another ethereal clock appearing next to Bezel Ship, Redoer reappearing after it disappeared. "What?! But… it was-"
"Did I forget to mention Redoer's banishment lasts until the next End Phase? My bad," Alex explains with some cocky attitude, causing the thug to growl in frustration.
"Sure, act all high and mighty, but once you trigger my trap, you won't come back from it!" the opponent said with confidence.
"Now, my turn! I draw, and Redoer's effect once again applies!" The thief once again swiped a card from the top of his opponent's deck, causing them to growl in frustration.
"That effect is super annoying!" he comments, to which Alex ignores.
"Now I'll activate my Continuous Spell, Time Thief Hack!" The Spell appeared behind the two Time Thief monsters. "Next I'll summon Time Thief Chronocorder (ATK: 1000, DEF: 1000, LV: 4)!" A machine resembling that of a mechanical butterfly appeared next to Bezel Ship. As soon as it hit the field, the air seemed to go cold as a new aura was felt. "I overlay Level 4 Bezel Ship and Chronocorder!" The two monsters spiralled into the galactic portal as a thunderous roar was heard. "Blackened fangs cloaked in shadows, and relentless in its objective! I call upon the embodiment of my soul! I Xyz Summon! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon (ATK: 2500, DEF: 2000, RNK: 4)!" Alex's ace monster then appeared onto the field and gave a roar that shook the whole city. Anyone who felt it had a chill go up their spine, sensing that a powerful monster had descended. Alex's opponent looked at the dragon in awe, for a moment or two, before snapping out of his stupor and playing his face down.
"I activate the Trap Extra Burst! With this card, I can tribute any number of monsters I control, then I special summon 1 monster from my Extra Deck in attack position and equip it with this card, also I place counters on this card equal to the number of monsters I tributed! I tribute Warwolf to bring back Number 14: Greedy Sarameya (ATK: 2500, DEF: 1500, RNK: 5)!" The cerberus then appeared, roaring with pride, but not at the same level as Dark Rebellion. "During each End Phase, I must either remove a counter from Extra Burst, or send it to the graveyard, also when it leaves the field, the monster that was summoned by its effect is banished face down!"
"That's a lot of risk you're planning with that card," Alex comments. The thug simply grinned.
"Hey, you said it yourself. Numbers can only be destroyed in battle by other Numbers, and as far as I see, there are no Numbers on your field."
"We shall see. First I shall activate Time Thief Hack's effect! I target 1 Xyz Monster I control, and it gains 300 ATK for every overlay unit it currently has! Redoer's getting a power boost! (ATK: 2400 - 2700) Also since an overlay unit it has used to belong to you, Redoer can attack you directly!" Redoer shot it's cable above Sarameya, the thug beginning to panic. "Also I activate Dark Rebellion's ability! By detaching both its overlay units, he can take half of your monster's attack for itself!"
"IT WHAT?!"
"Go! Treason Discharge!" Just like in Arc-V, Dark Rebellion's wings lit up with electricity that cast itself around Sarameya, weakening it while making Rebellion stronger.
(ATK: 2500 - 1250) (ATK: 2500 - 3750)
"Now we battle! Redoer, attack him directly with Quantum Strike!" Redoer swung over the cerberus and landed a dropkick to the opponent's chest.
Thug's LP: 1300
"Now! Dark Rebellion Xyz Dragon, finish this!" Alex shouted as the black dragon sped forward, it's lower fang glowing from electricity being generated from it. "Revolt Lightning Disobey!" Dark Rebellion then rammed into Sarameya as the thug braced himself for his defeat.
"I may go down, but my Number-" He then paused as he saw Sarameya flicker for a few moments, before the flickering became rappid. "W-What's happening?!"
"Dark Rebellion's other ability!" Alex explained. "Everytime it battles a Number, it becomes treated as one during the battle, meaning that Rebellion can destroy Numbers!"
"WHAT?!" the thug exclaimed before Sarameya burst into pixels and his life points dropped to 0.
Thug's LP: 0
Once the thug was thrown back, on instinct, Alex flashed forward in the blink of an eye, wisps of violet light trailing behind him as he appeared behind the thug, a duel monster card in hand. After bringing it to his face, he saw that it was Number 14: Greedy Sarameya, before a dark aura surrounded the card and a sinister voice creeped into his head.
"Let the Number take hold…" it spoke, but it wouldn't have the chance to possess him as Alex heard Dark Rebellion roar in defiance against the Number's will, suppressing its power making it a normal card once more, dark aura fading away. He then looked behind him, to see the thug was currently unconscious and the boy that was being attacked had already run off. After hearing police sirens approaching in the distance, the phantom thief swiftly climbed the building with practiced agility.
A while later, Alex stood atop a new building overlooking the city of Heartland, watching as its carnival-like appearance danced throughout the night. Just as he was ready to move on, a familiar sensation appeared in his head. His Number Sense as Alex had decided to call it was going off, and it led him to a card shop that was currently closed.
After breaking in with swift gusto, Alex's senses then lead him to the back room, seeing boxes upon boxes of newly delivered card packs. With a smirk the Number Thief got to work.
Part 1: Rise of the Number Thief
Author's Note: Well this ought to be a first. Not the fact that someone from our world gets sent to the world of Zexal with Dark Rebellion as their ace, but that someone sent to the world of Zexal with Dark Rebellion as their ace has a Time Thief deck.