Hey everyone! This is a bit of a side-story I'll make on the side that is not tied to the main story ('Caught Somewhere in Time'), and who knows, I might just make a follow-up to this one in due time. If anything, it's a break from the main story, but let's get into the comment:

Valkoor123113: Interesting idea. I'd have to read up on how to pull it off, but then again, if Edison Format was a thing, I suppose making a decent Dark Scorpion deck is possible. Better hit the books!

A minor tweak to cards here and there, but I hope the duel is worth it.

Without further ado, let's begin!

"Throughout the multiverse, we see an array of events. From Jaden having a sibling to full-on alternate worlds such as the Arc-V case. In the main timeline, Carly Carmine lost was killed by Sayer in her attempt to look into the Arcadia Movement. Her death lead to her resurrecting as a Dark Signer but..."

SIDE STORY #1.1: WHAT IF... Carly survived her duel against Sayer?

The room was dark and Carly was currently with her nose buried in a book. The rabbit hole only seemed to become wider, or perhaps deeper. The warning she received from Misty Tredwell dwelled on her mind, and despite all this, she couldn't help but investigate further. What started as a seemingly harmless group was now becoming concerning. Something about Psychic Wars, the group dating back to the times before Zero Reverse. Not only that, but also cases of people joining and some missing, and then there was a file regarding Director Goodwi-

"A rat, lovely."

"H-hey, I take offense to that!" Carly said, getting up and pointing an accusatory finger at Sayer, trying to hide her nervousness.

"I wouldn't expect much else. What are you doing in my building at these hours?"

"A-as if I'd tell you, creep!"

"It seems as if we're at standstill... no worries. How about this: the loser answers whatever questions the winner has."

"How will we compete?"

"How else, miss? A duel. You can refuse, but that's assuming we'd let you escape."

"No.. I'll do it," Carly answered, catching the Duel Disk Sayer threw at her.

'Splendid,' Sayer thought, both Duel Disks roaring to life.

Sayer: 4000 - Carly: 4000

"DUEL!"

1. Sayer

"I'll start the duel by summoning 'Doctor Cranium' in DEF mode (100)," Sayer said, a small man with a strange apparatus on his head appearing. "Then, I'll activate the Field Spell 'Brain Research Lab' and use its first effect right away!" As he spoke, the room turned green, a massive green tube surrounded by electronics appearing.

"Once per turn, I can Normal Summon an additional Psychic monster, and I think Mind Protector will do, in Defense Mode (2200)." A golden robot with purple details appeared, spawning a barrier on Sayer's side of the field. After the robot appeared, a brain appeared in the tube.

"As long as he's on the field, your non-Psychic monsters must have more than 2000 Attack points to attack, but good luck with that," Sayer added, laughing before continuing. "I'll end my turn with a face-down."

Counters on Brain Research Lab: 1.

2. Carly

'Alright, what to do… ok, I'm sure we can make this work. Just… breathe, I gotta breathe.'

"I'll set a card and then activate the Continuous Spell 'Miracle Stone'!" Carly exclaimed, a blue crystal with what seemed like a red core appearing on the field. "Now all 'Fortune Fairy' monsters I control gain 1000 points for each Fairy with a different name on my side of the field. Next I'll activate Reload and add my hand to the Deck before drawing the same amount!"

As she considered her options, a smile appeared on her face.

"I'll summon 'Fortune Fairy Swee' in ATK Mode (1000 due to Miracle Stone)!" A blue-haired fairy appeared, ready for combat.

"I'll activate the Spell I set earlier: 'Lucky Loan'! First, I target a Fortune Fairy I control, and then summon one from my Hand or Deck that's a level lower, and 'Hu' will do!" Carly added, a green fairy appearing as both Hu and Swee's ATK was now 2000.

"I'll end my turn by activating 'Heart of the Underdog' and setting a face-down. It's your move," Carly said, a bit more confident.

3. Sayer

"Not bad, but I think we should turn the tides. First, I'll pay 500 Life points due to Mind Protector's effect. Now, I'll summon 'Reinforced Human Borg' in ATK Mode (1500), and use the Quick Spell 'Instant Teleport' to Sp. Summon the 'Mind Master' in my hand!" Sayer said, his field now having four monsters.

"We've yet to go into battle, Miss Carmine. By paying 800 LP, I can activate Mind Master's effect. In exchange for giving up Mind Protector, I can Sp. Summon 'Genetic Woman' in Attack Mode (1700 ATK)!"

'This isn't good!' Carly thought, her earlier confidence now gone.

"Now comes Borg's effect: by removing one monster from play from my Graveyard, I can increase his Attack by 500 (now 2000), and Mind Protector will do. It won't matter for long, because I'm tuning him with my 'Mind Master' to summon… Magical Android, in Attack Mode (2400)!" A strange woman in white and green robes appeared, a sizable staff in hand.

"Don't worry, I'm almost done. Thanks to 'Genetic Woman', I can pay 1000 life points to add a removed-from-play Psychic monster to my hand, and with my Brain Lab I can Normal Summon a second time (Mind Protector, 2200 DEF)." As the Mind Protector returned, a second brain appeared in the tube of the lab.

With his Life Points now at 2700, Sayer spoke.

"Magical Android, destroy Hu!" With a green blast, the Wind caster was long gone, along with 400 of Carly's Life Points. The young woman felt as if a part of her stomach had been blown off yet, she was still in one piece.

'W-what just happened?' Carly asked herself. 'Even with bigger attacks, they don't hurt this way. No worries, I-I must carry on.'

"I activate the second effect of Miracle Stone!" Carly said. "When an attack is declared involving a Fortune Fairy I control, I get to draw a card!"

"Doctor Cranium, attack Swee!" Sending a psychic blast, the pitiful creature was countered with a quick blast by the remaining Spellcaster, reducing Sayer's LP from 2700 to 1800.

"When Cranium is destroyed by battle, I can pay 800 Life Points to add a Psychic monster from Deck to Hand, and I'll choose Storm Caller. Now Genetic Woman, destroy Carly's remaining monster!" A quick slash and 700 points later, Carly was left without monsters, and her sweater torn on the stomach.

"W-what are you doing to me?!" Carly asked, now being able to voice her worry.

"The power of psychics, little rat. I'll end my turn by activating Magical Android's effect: I gain 600 Life Points for each monster I control, and since I have 3, I get to increase my LP by 1800."

Sayer: 2800 (previously 1000) - Carly: 2900

Counters on Brain Research Lab: 2

4. Carly

"M-my turn," Carly said, taking a moment to stabilize herself.

"First, since I drew a normal monster, I can reveal it to activate Heart of the Underdog until I stop drawing Normals… or just need to stop." With this, she drew three more monsters in total, and ended on the effect's third draw.

"I'll summon 'Neo the Magical Swordsman' in Attack Mode, and then activate Solidarity! As long as I have one type of monster in my Graveyard, all monsters on my side of the field get an 800 Attack boost! Now that Neo has 2500 Attack Points, attack with-"

"Not quite, Carly. I activate my Trap Card: 'Raigeki Break'. By discarding one card from my hand, I get to destroy one card on the field, and I'll get rid of your monster."

"Before you do so, I'll activate my other face-down: 'Unacceptable Result'! Since I still control a Spellcaster, I get to Sp. Summon a Fortune Fairy from my hand, and I'll summon Ann in Attack Mode (1800 ATK)!" As Neo was being destroyed, a glow emanated from their soul, and from it, emerged a purple fairy.

"I end my turn with a face-down, it's your turn."

5. Sayer

"Due to Mind Protector, I'll pay another 500 Life Points (now 2300). I'll summon 'Lifeforce Harmonizer', in Attack (800), and then use him as tribute for my 'Storm Caller', in Attack Mode (2300 ATK)!" What seemed like a tall, light blue humanoid creature with a satellite attached to them appeared, and a third brain appeared in the Brain Research Lab's tube.

"Magical Android, attack Swee and-" Sayer exclaimed, only to be interrupted by Carly.

"Not this time! I play the card known as 'No Entry!' Now every monster in ATK Mode must switch to Defense!"

With that, the defense for Carly was reduced to 0, while Sayer's added defense from the affected monsters consisted of 1700 from the Android and 2000 from Storm Caller.

"End your turn quickly, I've things to tend to," Sayer said, annoyed.

"You did declare an attack involving Ann, so that means I get to draw a card."

"And, I get 2400 Life Points from Magical Android," Sayer said.

"Now, it's my turn."

Sayer: 4700 - Carly: 2900

Counters on Brain Research Lab: 3

6. Carly

"Draw!"

'Yes! This might just do! Now… oh gods…' Carly thought, insecurities creeping in her mind only to be quickly squashed.

"I'll summon Aqua Madoor in Defense Mode (2000) and set a couple of face-downs. Your turn," Carly said in a somewhat rushed tone.

7. Sayer

The powerful psychic felt an aura sap him of energy, only to see it being absorbed by Mind Protector. His LP now at 4200, he continued his turn.

"I'll switch my Android and Caller to Attack, and with them I'll destroy your Fortune Fairy-"

"No."

"No?"

"Not anymore," Carly said, now emanating more of a confident air. "Since you declared an attack on my Fortune Fairy, I get to draw another card. Not only that, but you activated my Trap Card: 'Justi-Break'!" A card flipped, and what seemed like Elemental Hero Neos amidst an array of monsters that were being electrocuted appeared.

"Now, the only monsters that will remain are Normal Monsters in Attack Mode, while every other monster-"

"- Is destroyed," Sayer growled, the only monster left being Fortune Fairy Ann. As he watched Storm Caller be shocked, he watched a bolt of electricity bounce from the monster to Sayer.

"If I'm going to feel pain, so will you!" Sayer said, his mind now focused on hurting her as the lightning that emanated from her Trap Card to the affected monsters bounced from Aqua Madoor to Carly.

"Aaaagh!" Carly exclaimed, shocked by her card as smoke came off of her, only to shout something as she felt her balance fading.

"Since Storm Caller was destroyed by a card effect, you're taking damage equal to its original Attack Points!" She watched Sayer's Life Points take a hit.

"While I've taken a decent blow, it's nothing I cannot undo," Sayer said, his dress shirt roughed up and his hair messed up, a bit at least.

"S-since an a-a-attack was declared involving a Fortune Fairy, I can draw a card…" Carly said, her attempt at drawing a card leading to her falling onto her hands and knees as Sayer's turn came to an end.

Sayer: 1900 - Carly: 2900

8. Carly

"No…" Carly said, trying to dull the pain. While she tried to gather her senses, she breathed, for there was little else she could do. As she became overwhelmed by fear and also her pain coming and going, she remembered a conversation she had with Jack a while ago…

(START FLASHBACK)

"Carly, you might have to learn in order to keep up with us." Jack said.

"What do you mean?" The reporter asked.

"What I mean is that there are things going on out there, things I can't name even if I knew. I won't always be there to help you, and-"

"But Jack…" Carly said, pleading.

"Carly… I don't think they're willing to hear us out. We were attacked by a possessed Trudge, who happened to be far more vicious than he usually was. We got lucky, yet possessed he attacked a hospital."

"But what if you lose?"

"Which is why everyone is giving it their all, checking and doing what they can to be better. Maybe I'll be next, or maybe it's you. I might not be able to help at the moment with my arm and all, but maybe the others could. I'm not telling you to prepare for life without me or the others but instead, for yourself."

"I don't know what Goodwin is hiding but the Dark Signers have claimed enough." Jack said, walking away.

(FLASHBACK END)

'I wish you were wrong Jack but… here we are. I better step up.'

"I-I a-a-a…" Carly said, drifting off, only to regain her momentum. The pain was starting to affect her. Her sight was a bit hazy, using her hands and knees to prevent herself from falling. Taking her time to slowly blink and catch her breath, she felt as if things were jarring. What started as prodding around ended up being a life-threatening duel.

'No more,' the young journalist thought, and despite her physique being shaking, she faced her foe with shaky knees.

"Draw," the psychic said in an impatient tone.

"I-in fact… the duel is over."

"What?"

"Look at your Field Spell, Sayer," Carly said, her breathing becoming steady. "I… I'm activating my 'Double Cyclone' Quick-Play Spell. I destroy one of my Spells or Traps and you lose one of yours, meaning… 3000 points of damage, 1000 per brain." As the yellow cyclone destroyed Carly's 'Heart of the Underdog', the red cyclone made its way to the Brain Research Lab, dealing great damage to it. With the glass capsule now cracking, Sayer could see the three brains radiating a hurtful wave, only to then spin and form a glowing circle. As they became hard to see, a strong beam was shot in his direction, causing his Life Points to drop to zero as parts of the room had fallen apart.

Sayer: 0 - Carly: 2900

Winner: CARLY CARMINE.

"I-I won," Carly said, her mind foggy as she used a broken piece of wood to try and hold herself up, making her way out of the room. Things however, went south. Sayer began to emanate a horrid aura, which was none other than his psychic powers.

"Damn you! I will not let myself be brought down by a reporter of all things! I've overcome Sector Security and Goodwin, and the very organization that managed to survive Zero Reverse is threatened by you? Not now, not ever!" He said, a violent pulse being released and sending her flying against a wall. The young woman reached towards her head and saw a certain red liquid despite her glasses now being broken. She reached out for the book she managed to get, and uttered what seemed to be her last words.

"M-Misty, please... help me." Everything faded to black for Carly, but as she lost consciousness, she heard the clacking of heels and felt someone push the book further into her embrace.

"Sayer, to think you'd use your powers in such a way," the newcomer said.

"Misty Tredwell, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"You've hurt someone who just so happened to become a source of interest. Someone I would rather not pass away now."

"A pity, I will not have the Movement's future fall apart due to her. I made getting rid of this mouse my objective, so step aside. Obey, and I might let you live."

Misty closed her eyes, contemplating her decisions. On the one hand, she could simply go off, leaving the reporter to her demise. On the other, she managed to do something that baffled her, something that required a follow-up. Uncertainties were something the average human detested, and the model was no exception.

"You want her?" Misty said, blocking the way for Sayer. She began to channel her powers as a Dark Signer, her appearance changing to reflect this darker side taking over. She opened her eyes once more, a steadfast resolve reflected on her face before she said:

"Come and get her."

And that's all for now. Spent a while trying to write once more, but I hope you enjoyed this deviation. These side-chapters of sorts will be in an array of parts, and I could either go back to the present or release the next part of Carly's what-if (which as you may have noticed, takes place in the past).

What do you guys think? Carly's gotten into some trouble, and only time will tell where this leads her. I honestly love her character, but am looking forward to your feedback. Please let me know in the comments whether you want the next chapter to be going back to 5D's present, or following up on Carly's fate in this what-if side story.

Thank you for reading, and I'll see you next time!