"Hawthorne."
Eddie damn near jumped out of her skin, whirling around with her now-extending duel disk only to stop at the sight of who had startled her. "Judas Priest, dude, do not sneak up on- how did you sneak up on me? You flew away?"
"Yes and as I did an idea came to my mind that would cut down needless busy work," Kaito replied as he approached, having backed away at the imminent blade-to-the-face. Orbital 7 conspicuously absent. "The thing you are to attend, Reiji Akaba will be present?"
"He should be, yes." Eddie as she deactivated her duel disk. "It's supposed to be a big school showdown… showcase? Let's just go with 'show'. A big show between the two schools."
"Then I will be joining you," Kaito stated.
"You have my number, you know." Eddie stated as she started walking.
"Yes, but I saw no need to," Kaito replied as he followed.
Eddie resisted the urge to sigh. God, he was so extra.
Some weird part of her felt proud about that, probably because she'd been rooting more for him than for Yuma when she watched Zexal.
She'd freely admit she dug the Neo-Kaiba of the day.
Oh hey they'd been walking in silence for a bit, better break that.
"...So is your dad an actual doctor or is his legal name 'Doctor Faker'?"
"He has several Doctorates, his full name is Faker Tenjo."
"I was just wondering cuz of the differences in names across the two… timestreams? Universes? Whatever you call the place I'm from compared to here."
"I would call that an entirely different Universe, which is interesting to know such a thing is possible, there must be a form of Higher Dimension that connects universes that allows for crossing." Kaito theorized.
"Probably the Spirit Realm, honestly, and before you declare it hocus pocus nonsense, please remember many cards are sentient even without Astral."
"Haven't found much evidence of such a thing existing outside of E'rah," Kaito said.
"My entire deck is alive and I have exchanged conversations with two of my cards directly, outside a duel. RSV gives them physical form, after all."
"Interesting, I shall look into it further and see if such a thing is possible with Galaxy-Eyes," Kaito commented.
"That idea is terrifying and I'm happy you're on our side." Eddie said flatly.
"If Yuto had not shown up when he did I would probably have been against you," Kaito admitted.
"Honestly? Fair. I technically use a fusion deck." Eddie said as You Show came within sight.
And the crowd outside it, including all her people (including Gong, neat), Henrietta Akaba, and three interesting characters she guessed were representatives of each summoning type.
"And me without my costume…" Eddie muttered as she approached, noting a kid the same age as the guppies all but glued to Henrietta.
Internally, she rejoiced at having found the Mokuba.
"Ah the Star of You Show has arrived," Henrietta spoke.
And the faces Yuya and Yuzu made at that…
"Oh, please, I wouldn't say that." Eddie said demurely, before smiling wide. "I'm the Morningstar of You Show, obviously."
"Excellent wordplay Eddie," Mr. Hiiragi said. "Though who is your spikey haired friend?"
"Kaito Tenjo," Kaito introduced himself.
"Big sis, is he your secret boyfriend?" Ayu asked with the full bluntness of a child.
"What? No, ew, he's way too young for me." Eddie said reflexively in disgust.
At that the three offerings to You Show looked between her and Kaito.
"I have a girlfriend." Kaito stated defensively. "And it's not her."
"Moving on." Eddie said, motioning to her coming meal. "I'm assuming these three are the LDS rep?"
"Yes, they will be dueling Yuya Sakaki, Noboru Gongenzaka, and Yuzu Hiiragi, your opponent is slightly delayed alongside Reiji, though they should be here within the hour." Henrietta stated. "Children please introduce yourself."
"I am Hokuto Shijima, the representative of the Xyz Course," The didn't-have-to-announce-it Xyz user with a big dipper in his spiky purple hair said.
"I am Julia Krystal, I represent the Fusion Course." The darker-skinned girl who gave her a lot of Ishizu vibes said. She was the blandest dressed so Eddie had already pinned her as the fusion user.
"And I am Yaiba Todo, I shall show you the unrelenting speed of the Synchro Course." The shorter boy finished, shouldering a shinai.
"A pleasure to meet you all, I am Eden Hawthorne, seer of the past." Eddie said with a flourish and a bow in lieu of her normal curtsy. "I have never seen or heard of any of you before and I can tell you right now exactly what each of you is running."
"Tsch," Julia scoffed. "Are you one of those phony Ritual Users from the Prediction School that transferred over because you realized your abilities are just fake?"
"No Gem Knight Julia, I'm not." Eddie said with a smile that only widened as the girl in question recoiled.
"Me next!" Yaiba said as he raised his hand.
Eddie looked at him. X-Saber or Shiranui… "X-Saber. Despite carrying a Japanese shinai, you're holding it like an English Broadsword."
"...I think she is the real deal Julia," Yaiba said.
"It is just simple deduction-" Hokuto began.
"Constellar." Eddie quickly interrupted, delighting in the face journey she sent the boy on. They didn't need to know he was technically right. She'd learned pretty quickly that people didn't judge prospective decks on names, despite it being accurate for any of what she'd mentally dubbed 'side characters'.
"Ah…"
"She is pretty good, mother," The kid said.
"That she is, oh and this is Reira my youngest child, he will be just watching," Henrietta stated.
"That is perfectly okay with us." Mr. Hiiragi accepted.
"Xyz… Sorry but I believe that you shall be my opponent," Kaito spoke up as he pointed a finger at Hokuto.
Eddie grabbed the arm and pulled it down. "No, he won't be, this is supposed to be between schools and you aren't part of ours."
"The challenge was made to You Show and its friends," Henrietta corrected.
"Ah, my bad." Eddie pulled the arm back up to point, which Kaito actually went with and resumed in full. If anything, he pointed harder.
"If your friend wishes to participate, it is okay on my side if it is yours?"
"Is he good?" Yuzu asked.
"He beat me in three turns."
"We accept him having the duel!"
"But that leaves me with no one to duel though…" Yuya stated a touch sadly.
"Don't worry bud," Eddie said as she put a hand on his shoulder. "I think your real opponent will be here soon."
Yuya blinked before the spotlight in his brain turned on. "Ah."
"In any case I need to go get into costume. Kite, don't finish him before I'm done changing~."
Xxx
Eddie returned to seeing Kaito OTK'ing Hokuto on his first turn as the three Galaxy-Eyes had eaten all the Xyz Materials of Hokuto's Xyz Monsters and then using a bullshit anime card that brought the banished monsters back during the same turn with all the gained attack points, by cutting his own life points down to 100.
"Oh good, he went slow enough for me." Eddie said as she joined the peanut gallery.
"That was slow?" Futoshi asked.
"That or the Big Dipper was playing solitaire for a bit."
"He was." Yuzu stated. "And his Xyz Monster bounced one of his monsters back to hand so he had to in his own words 'go another route' to end the duel."
Eddie's eyes narrowed at that as the two Xyz users exchanged unheard words that seemingly included a sentiment of 'you're weak'.
"Say, are you three the best of your respective course, or the best in your respective course's grade?" Eddie asked.
"Grade," Yaiba stated. "All of us are fourteen."
"He's got years of experience dueling at the pro level on you guys." Eddie said with a partially apologetic grin.
"But I've never heard or seen of a dragon that has anti-Xyz effects," Henritetta said.
"I didn't say pro circuit, I said pro level." Eddie said. "There's all kinds of places people can come from you just haven't heard of, you know?"
"True, true… I guess he wishes to have a conversation with my son after this?" She asked, immediately picking up on her words, which proved she was a very smart woman.
"Who wouldn't?" Eddie said, enjoying finding someone she could have a dual-layered conversation with.
"True, true," She repeated as the two duelists returned to the observation room, to much clamor.
But it was cut off by Henrietta clapping her hands. "Let us move onto the next duel, Julia, and Ms. Yuzu you two are up next."
"Understood Ma'am, I shall take this one down," Julia stated.
"We will see about that," Yuzu replied as the two of them went into the Duel Arena, with the Action Field being Crystal Corridor, as Mr. Hiiragi wanted to bring out the shine in his daughter's eyes.
Or so he said.
After Eddie's announcement, she'd almost think he was purposefully making it harder for her so she could show off more.
"Talk about nepotism," Julia said, not seeing it that way. "Saying that you shall shine like a gemstone, when your eyes have no luster."
"What do you mean by that?"
"My father is a jeweler," So stereotypical it hurts, "So I have seen plenty of true gems while growing up, so I can tell you have no shine, your heart is filled with hesitation and doubt, this duel shall be easy." Julia stated.
"If you think I'm going to roll over, you have another thing coming," Yuzu retorted before the chant was spoken by everyone.
"DUEL!"
Yuzu LP: 8000/ Julia LP: 8000
"First I shall activate the Spell Card - Gem-Knight Fusion," Julia said.
"And unlike other forms, you don't need your materials on the field to fuse," Yuzu stated… wait, was this her first time against a Fusion Deck? Eddie realized with a start that it probably was, so she was just recalling her lessons out loud… or playing the drama, she was a Dueltainner.
"Correct, that is the power of fusion, while the standard method is from the hand or field, some even allow it from the graveyard, and the most powerful ones allow it to fuse from the deck," Julia elaborated. "So I shall fuse Gem-Knight Tourmaline and Gem-Knight Emerald." She declared as she pulled a card from her Extra Deck. "Gem tinged with lightning! Brilliant emerald of good fortune! In a whirlpool of light combine to bring forth a new dazzling radiance! Fusion Summon! Come forth, one who pursues victory! Level 6! Gem-Knight Topaz(1800/1800)!"
A warrior clad in topaz colored armor stood in the center and wielded two tonfas.
"Only 1800 ATK?" Yuzu asked in confusion. "That pile of gems is gonna get crushed."
Eddie facepalmed. "Oh, Yuzu, we're doing remedial lessons after this…"
Kaito let out a sigh as well.
"You should be wise to not underestimate Topaz," Julia retorted. "I set a card face-down and end my turn."
"My turn, I draw," Yuzu stated. "First, since I control no monsters, I can activate the Spell Card - 1st Movement Solo, allowing me to Special Summon a Level 4 or lower Melodious from my hand or deck, and I choose Aria the Melodious Diva(1600/1200) in my deck, and now since I control a Melodious Monster, I can Special Summon Sonata the Melodious Diva(1200/1000) from my hand!"
There were now two pretty fairies on the field. If this were a proper deck, it'd be the start of a combo. Instead…
"And here comes Yuzu's Ace Monster," Yuya stated with a smile on his face. Eddie internally cringed at the fact Mozarta was her ace, but she knew that would change eventually, right?
"Next I shall release my two monsters to Advance Summon!" Yuzu announced. "Enchanting melody that echoes through the heavens, awaken the sleeping virtuoso! Come forth, Level 8! Mozarta the Melodious Maestra(2600/2000)!"
"You are going to need more than a monster with above average attack points to defeat me," Julia said.
"I activate Morzarta's effect, allowing me to Special Summon, Canon the Melodious Diva(1400/2000)," Yuzu said as she summoned another familiar Diva. "Battle Phase, Morzarta will attack Topaz and then Canon will go for a direct hit."
"Aaaaaaa~!" The two monsters sang but Julia stood unfazed in the sonic assault.
Yuzu LP: 8000/ Julia LP: 5800
"Main Phase 2, I shall set two cards and have Canon use her effect to put herself in defense position, that shall end my turn," Yuzu stated as her eyes looked around the narrow corridor they were in to locate an Action Card, as her hand was now empty.
"I am honestly a bit disappointed, I shall draw and Normal Summon, Gem-Knight Alexandrite(1800/1200), and then use his effect to sacrifice himself to Special Summon a Gem Knight normal monster, and that shall be Gem-Knight Crystal(2450/1950)," Julia announced as the monster was replaced by a much larger knight. "Next I shall activate my set Trap Card - Fragment Fusion, it allows me to Fusion Summon a Gem-Knight monster from my Extra Deck by banishing the needed material from my Graveyard."
"That is the other method she just mentioned, Graveyard Fusion," Futoshi said in both amazement and fear.
Eddie, meanwhile, was more focused on what she was summoning than how.
"I banish the Gem-Knights, Tourmaline, Emerald and Alexandrite. Gem with facets of noon and night! Gem tinged with lightning! Brilliant emerald of good fortune! In a whirlpool of light combine to bring forth a new dazzling radiance! Fusion Summon! Appear now, one who illuminates all with its supreme radiance! Level 9! Gem-Knight Master Diamond(2900/2500)!" Julia chanted as a massive armored warrior wielding an equally massive greatsword appeared on the field next to his brethren in arms, seven glittering gems shining in his sword. "I shall use Master Diamond's effect to banish Gem-Knight Topaz from the Graveyard." The yellow gem in particular glowed brighter than the rest at that.
"Why?" Yuzu asked.
"You are about to see, I shall enter the Battle Phase," Julia said.
"Yuzu if those face-downs do anything I think you should use them!" Yuya shouted at her.
"I was about to!" She shouted back. "I activate my Trap Card - Musical Mayhem, for each Melodious Monster on my field you take 800 points of damage!"
On cue the two musicians sang once more even as Mozarta was cut down by Master Diamond.
Yuzu LP: 7700/ Julia LP: 4200
"I may need to check myself for tinnitus after this." Julia stated.
"Ah, Big Sis Yuzu lost her Ace!" Ayu shouted.
"Yeah but that was only 300 points of damage," Tatsuya added. "And she has Canon to protect so Yuzu will come out ahead in terms of life points."
"Under normal circumstances, but Gem-Knight Master Diamond or rather should I say, Gem-Knight Topaz, has something to say."
"What?" Yuzu asked as she got more desperate for an Action Card.
"You see when Master Diamond banishes a Level 7 or lower fusion Gem-Knight monster, he gains their name and effects until the end phase," Julia explained. "And Topaz has two effects, first he can attack twice, second… when he destroys a monster my opponent takes damage equal to their attack!"
"What!" Yuzu shouted in surprise, as Master Diamond's blade lit up and her life points got reduced by 2600.
"Now Master Diamond, attack her remaining monster!" Julia declared.
And Yuzu started running towards one of the pillars and…
Nothing.
The Action Card she had seen had been the reflection of another one that had been behind her.
"What a disgrace, are you so rattled that your eyes can't discern what is real or not?" Julia asked as Diamond destroyed Canon and Yuzu took 1200. "Crystal, attack her directly!"
"Ahh!" Yuzu shouted in pain as Gem-Knight Crystal went and punched her in the stomach.
Yuzu LP: 1450/ Julia LP: 4200
"This is honestly pathetic," Julia said. "You are just a girl lost in her own thoughts, daydreaming about being a duelist, your deck is half baked, you are a disgrace to this game. Just surrender and save yourself the humiliation."
'Damn, girl, dial back the bitch factor,' Eddie distinctly did not say.
"Hey don't talk to her like that!" Yuya shouted in anger as he looked like he was about to burst through the window to throttle Julia. "Yuzu is one of the strongest duelists I know, she will never give up to the likes of you!"
"Yuya…" Yuzu said as she looked at all them through the window.
"During my End Phase, due to being summoned with Fragment Fusion, Gem-Knight Master Diamond is destroyed," Julia said. "But even so this shall be over next turn, you only have what looks to be a useless set card, and no card in your hand, so draw your last pathetic card, Yuzu Hiiragi."
As she was about to give words of encouragement, Eddie suddenly heard a voice, a voice speaking inside her head.
"Duelist from another world, would you lend me your strength to give my child aid?"
"Always." Eddie responded with no hesitation. "What do you need?"
"Just a little bit of Fusion Energy." The voice said.
Under her breath, she muttered, lightly pressing her hands together as she did. "Let my body be the doorway and thy will the key… bind together in harmony…"
And Eddie felt that pool of energy that she found within herself being drained a bit and as she looked at Yuzu she saw the gemstone on her bracelet shine a little.
"I…" Yuzu said. "Have to thank you."
"What?" Julia asked in confusion.
"Thanks to you… I think I get it," Yuzu continued. "I draw!" The card glowed in a pink color as she did.
"Did you just!?" Julia shouted.
"Shining Draw." Eddie finished softly.
"I activate the Spell Card - Ostinato! If I control no monsters, I can Fusion Summon one Melodious Fusion using cards from my deck, and I shall use Tamtam the Melodious Diva and Solo the Melodious Songstress!"
"Fusion?!" Everyone else shouted in shock at what Yuzu was about to do.
Everyone but Kaito, who was looking only at Eddie.
"Two songs shall weave into a full symphony, the conductor shall emerge onto the stage! Fusion Summon! Come forth, Level 7! Bacha the Melodious Maestra(2500/1800)!" Yuzu declared as from the spell she had weaved floated a pale-skinned woman in a tight black and orange dress with a great gossamer poofiness giving both the impression of a ballgown and a cocktail dress, half her face covered by a theater-mask and the other by the large flat red disk-like hat on her head at an odd angle, hands already raised to begin her song.
"Wow she is so pretty," Aya said as Bacha began to conduct in earnest, musical notes flying about, playing a variant of Bach's Symphony No. 40 in G Minor.
"And I am not done yet, as Bacha's effect activates allowing me to add more voices to this symphony," Yuzu said. "As I can Special Summon one Melodious Monster from my deck when she hits the field. And I choose Elegy the Melodious Diva(2000/1200) and when she is special summoned all Fairy-Type Monsters gain 300 ATK points."
"That is still not enough to bring me down in one turn," Julia responded, her face smug as she looked at the card that remained in her hand.
"Hehehe…" Eddie giggled conspiratorially.
"Battle Phase," Yuzu stated. "Bacha will attack your Gem-Knight Crystal, which will be followed up with Elegy."
Yuzu LP: 1450/ Julia LP: 1550
"Like I said, not enough-"
"I activate my Trap Card - Melodious Illusion, I can target one of my Melodious Monsters and it can now make two attacks during the Battle Phase." Bacha immediately picked up the pace of her song.
"No!"
"Yes!" Eddie cheered.
"Yeah, take her out Yuzu!" Yuya shouted in joy.
"Go Big Sis!" The guppies shouted.
"Bacha the Melodious Maestra! Teach her that a cannon is in fact an instrument!" Yuzu declared. "Symphony Cannon!"
And then she switched from Bach to Tchaikovsky.
"AHHHHHHHHH!"
And Julia was sent flying from the barrage of solidified sound.
Yuzu LP: 1450/ Julia LP: 0
Winner: Yuzu Hiiragi
"You Show Duelists seem to have a penchant for the Shining Draw," Henrietta stated.
"We just trust our deck that much." Yuya stated.
"Thank you, and please you must not let them become one." The voice petered out.
…Well, that confirmed some things for her!
More importantly, Yuzu had just rejoined them, and Eddie was right there to congratulate her. "You Showed her, Yuzu! Good job!"
"Hey that is my thing," Yuya objected.
"It's technically a school thing if you think about it, but sure okay." Eddie said with a grin. "Either way, one heck of a surprise out there."
"Yeah… even surprised myself," Yuzu said as she was coming off her adrenaline high.
"Hmm, you are not as lackluster as I thought you were Yuzu Hiiragi," Julia said. "I am happy to see the birth of another Fusion User, I will be happy to have a rematch once you've truly mastered your deck."
"You betcha," Yuzu replied as she opened up her Extra Deck slot and her face became even more surprised as she took out several different Fusion Monsters. "Oh wow…"
"Hmm… do I spot some Choirs in there?" Eddie asked curiously, spotting 3 Bloom Divas and a Bloom Prima, alongside one of each of the Maestras… and one she didn't recognize, Etoile? Interesting.
"Wonder if anything else changed about my deck, like Yuya," Yuzu said as she went to pull out her deck and started going through it. "Yeah there are more fusion cards than Ostinato and…" Yuzu froze.
Eddie turned her head to look and she saw that Yuzu was staring at six pendulum cards, two playsets of some new monsters now in her deck.
Refrain the Melodious Songstress and Couplet the Melodious Songstress.
Eddie didn't know these cards very well, but she did hear when they got released. Pretty neat.
"Ooh, Scale 1-9, nice." Eddie said, almost immediately clocking their statlines.
"What?" Everyone else asked, especially Yuya who saw the cards and…
"Congrats on your own Pendulum Monsters Yuzu, I knew you would be next," He said earnestly.
"I have no idea how I have them," She simply said. "But thank you Yuya."
"Hehehe," The entertainment duelist smiled.
"Now while congratulations are in order I believe that up next is Gongenzaka and Yaiba," Henrietta said.
"Right, come on old man, your time to get beat." Yaiba said.
"I, the man, am not old, I am fourteen," Gong replied.
"You for real!?"
And the duel that followed was a tight race that lasted much, much longer than any of the other duels with it going to twelve turns before it ended, showing the sheer differences in their styles- agile and aggro for Yaiba against the Heavystrong Gong.
With Yaiba demonstrating to Eddie that you were very much so allowed to have multiple copies of your Extra Deck Boss Monster as the X-Saber user summoned Three XX-Saber Gottoms to the field, one after another as his monsters managed to create a Synchro loop. Also good to know was a thing.
But the duel actually came to a draw, much to Eddie's shock. She didn't think it was possible to end in a draw without something like Self-Destruct Button or outside circumstances(read:plot).
As Gong had tried to get the win through Soulbreaker Armor's burn effect, which Yaiba countered with an in-house Quick-Play that reflected the effect damage right back.
But then Gong activated the effect of Soulbang Cannon to destroy every single monster on the field, dealing damage to both players bassed on the total level of all monsters.
And since Gong had Big Benkei out and Yaiba had three Gottoms and some fodder…
That was a lot of damage.
Eddie couldn't help but whistle appreciatively. "Now that? That was impressive." Eddie said.
"Seen a few duels end like that," Kaito stated as the two opposites returned to the room.
With praises being given to the two duelists for the excellent show.
"Sorry that we're late," Eddie heard the voice of a certain rich boy say and from around the corner walked Reiji and beside him…
Eddie had gotten pretty good by now at translating what she knew from the anime to real life, using the cards and footage of the original series characters. Now, she could reliably recognize such on sight, like Kaito earlier the same day.
So she was rather caught off guard at who turned the corner.
"Mana?" Eddie asked in shock, unable to hold back her shock at the motherfucking Dark Magician Girl (original flavor). Dressed in an outfit distinctly resembling both Palladium Oracle Mana, but moreso Ishizu Ishtar- white headdress, white and gold minidress, blue dangly thingies attached to her wrists… Which considering her skin tone…
"The King of Game's granddaughter!" Everyone else added, which only threw her off even more and added to her own shock.
"Hello everyone I am Mana Muto, you must be Eden Hawthorne?" She asked.
"I-yes, yes I am." Eddie said, falling into character to hide the sheer what the fuck factor of what was happening, curtsying. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, princess."
"Ahh, despite the title, we are not actually Royalty," She replied. "But, I am excited to duel you. Rei-Rei said you would be a good opponent for me."
"Please don't call me that," The billionaire groaned.
"Oh come on, Rei-Rei, it's cute." Eddie said 'innocently'.
"I think Akabaka is more appropriate," She heard Yuya say behind her.
Eddie mentally noted that she would exclusively be addressing him as that from now on.
"So you ready to duel?" Mana continued the conversation.
"Always." Eddie said immediately.
"Great." Mana said with a smile. "Now, I've got two decks, which would you like to face? One is main deck-focused like yours, one is Extra."
Eddie, for one single moment, wanted to take the potential easy out.
That part of her was quickly tributed to let the rest of her take the field.
"Extra. Go all out." Eddie said, almost bloodthirsty. "I'm gonna try and pull a repeat performance."
"They aren't like that, but okay," She responded as she blinked in confusion at her statement.
Everyone who had seen Yuzu and Julia's duel, however, looked at her in shock.
And from her deck Eddie could feel an electric thrum of power, as if her cards were suddenly very agitated as Mana put the Extra Deck-Deck in her Duel Disk.
In a matter of moments, they were on the field. Eddie didn't even notice what field they were on.
She only had eyes for her opponent.
"It's time to duel!"
Mana LP: 8000/ Eddie LP: 8000
Soul Subtitle: Shining Draw! The Song of Victory!