"Hello summoner," Ixchel spoke as she manifested before Eddie.
"Hallo, Ixchel." Eddie responded in kind, once more taking advantage of the fact no one really used the school during school-school hours. "Sorry about yesterday. You guys went all out and I still lost."
"It is the Forbidden One," She responded the same way one did about the weather or a natural disaster. That it was inevitably happening to someone, somewhere, and they were just unluckily the ones in its path. "Even in a limited form he is still the strongest of all."
"It still stung." The physical pain had faded but the blow to her pride had only grown stronger overnight.
"We shall have our revenge against the Pharaoh's lover."
"Well that was technically his grandd… god, reincarnation is confusing, I didn't parse that before." Eddie said as she attempted to wrap her head around it.
"She is another agent though she is independent of the greater mission, though if she remembers her previous life is another question," The fallen stated.
"Could be a potential ally in the future, but for now." Eddie said. "I can feel the Antimatter. Do we have what we need to… attract assistance?"
"Someone has responded to our request for assistance," Ixchel answered. "They should fit with your personality."
"Oh? Someone's already responded?" Eddie asked eagerly. "Who is it?" She asked in the vain hope it would somehow be the Phantom Knights or even more impossible her boi Pain Gainer.
"It would be easier for you to meet them," Ixchel stated.
"Am I going to the Spirit World?" Eddie asked excitedly.
"A quick trip," Ixchel answered as she patted Eddie on the head and then ripped her soul out of her body.
"...Awesome." Eddie said, looking at her own body in Ixchel's arms being gently laid on the ground.
"We shall return in less than a minute," Ixchel said as the now-familiar beam of light came down on the two of them.
Eddie's vision was filled with light and then found herself in-
She'd recognize those rocks anywhere.
"No way…!" Eddie said as she looked around the relatively normal looking quarry… and felt the rumble in the ground.
And then, she heard them!
"Magnaliger!"
"Aeroboros!"
"Grampulse!"
"Lusterrex!"
"SUPER QUANTAL MECH BEASTS! SUPER QUANTUM LAYERS!"
And there was a multicolored smoke explosion as the 4 Quantum Layers posed, their respective Mech Beasts behind them also posing.
"And Alphan!" The bunny-like mascot said, popping out from behind them.
"Hallo! I'm Eddie, I am instantly onboard, just one question before we make it final." Eddie said.
"What's your question?" Alphan asked.
"Do you have a spot for a fifth member of your team?"
"Summoner can't sadly be a Quantum, but you shall still be a member of the team of course!" Alphan answered. "So it's time to duel!" he lifted up his paw and the others turned into light that then manifested as a giant stack of floating cards next to him.
"Ohhhh yes, let's do this."
"It's time for your interview!"
Eddie LP: 8000/ Alphan LP: 8000
"As the interviewer I shall go first," Alphan said. "And… Wow you really are a bad luck charm. I say, set one."
"Are you using your archetype the way I would use you?" Eddie asked curiously.
"What you would use in the future if you had us," Alphan answered. So yes, she gathered.
"Well, that's why you bricked then. I draw." Eddie said as she looked at her hand. "I'll start by Activating Darklord Ixchel, discarding her and another Darklord to draw 2. I'll then set a card before summoning Darklord Ukoback (700/1000) to send a Darklord from my deck to the grave, and then I'll move into the battle phase! Ukoback, attack!" She needed to come up with a good name for his attack, she already used Heavenly Haymaker for Nasten.
"Ah!" Alphan shouted as he was bopped on the nose by her least threatening angel.
Eddie LP: 8000/ Alphan LP: 7300
"Oh wait, I just realized, if you lose are you gonna be like, in pain? Or injured?" Eddie asked, not having realized.
"This is just how the Spirit World works," Alphan answered without actually answering the actual question. "But during your Endphase I will activate Metaverse, to activate the Field Spell - Super Quantal Mech Ship Magnacarrier!"
And then they were in the stock footage dimension, the ship looming ominously in the shining blue vortex of energy she now found herself in.
Somehow she still had steady footing, so it was fine.
"I shall draw," A card joined the others that were floating in front of Alphan. "I shall activate the Spell Card - One for One, discarding a monster to Special Summon a Level One Monster from my deck. And that shall be me!"
With that, a doppelganger appeared on the field with 0/0.
"And now I shall call upon my Super Quantums!" Alphan stated. "I shall select three Super Quants from my deck with different names and then you randomly pick one, that one will be Summoned the rest go to the grave."
Three identical shadowed silhouettes appeared in the middle of the field.
"Right side." Eddie picked. "It's gonna be Blue Layer(1200/2000)."
She was proven correct, a slew of effects occurred from the summoning and milling, bringing White Layer (2400/2400) to the field from the graveyard (it had been the cost for One for One apparently), drew a card, and added a specific Quant to his hand.
"Next I shall Normal Summon Super Quantum Green Layer(1600/1400) to the field and my friend shall summon a marketable plushie version of me to the field in doing so!" Alphan said.
"...Oh my god I didn't even realize, you are technically the mascot…" Eddie muttered, fully aware of what was about to happen.
"Next up Level Change!" Alphan declared. "I use my own effect targeting Blue Layer, and everyone goes to Level 3, and next I shall Overlay Level 3 Super Quantum Layer Blue and myself, come forth great mechanical beast of the seas! Xyz Summon! Rank 3! Super Quantal Mech Beast Grampulse(1800/2800)!"
The first of the four mecha appeared on the field, a blue submersible that reminded her of Submersible Carrier Aeroshark in shape now that she was seeing it in 3d. Though these ones' cockpits looked like sick shades.
"And the purpose of this creation of mine is to take out the magical defense of the enemy, so by detaching an Overlay Unit, I can destroy a Spell or Trap card!" Alphan announced. "Deep Sea Strike!"
"I'll activate my facedown in response, Sanctified Darklord! I'll send a Darklord from my hand to the grave to target one monster on your field and negate its effects, gaining life points equal to its, but since that won't stop Grampulse I'll target White Layer instead!" Eddie said quickly. Which was a shame, White Layer already couldn't activate his effects. Though, wait, which one did he… really?
Eddie LP: 10400/ Alphan LP: 7300
"Ah, then I shall go on the offense!" Alphan said as all of them attacked in sync.
Eddie LP: 5300/ Alphan LP: 7300
Ow.
Like, wow, that felt horrible, and like she should just curl up in a ball and wait it out.
No way in hell she'd do that, though.
She still had to kick That Solemn Bastard's teeth in.
"Misplay." Eddie said once she picked herself off the ground.
"What are you talking about? Look at all the damage I just did," Alphan stated as he set one card and ended his turn.
"But you used Blue Layer as material for Grampulse's effect, meaning it's not a quick effect, and only my boss monster can get over a full-power Magnus."
"...Wow you are really good. That is what we want to see in a Summoner."
"Lemme show you some more. I'll start by activating Darklord Contact to summon Superbia(2900/2400) in defense position from the grave, who gets to bring Ixchel(2500/2900) with him in attack!" Eddie said, her girl for once in attack position. "I'll then use her effect to activate Darklord Enchantment from the graveyard, and steal Grampulse for this turn only!"
"Wait, this isn't the time for the Evil Quantum Arc!" Alphan shouted. "That is season 5! We haven't even found Black yet, we had to get Armor as a substitute."
"I'll then activate Grampulse's effect to destroy your facedown." Eddie said, ignoring his words for now. "I'll then sacrifice Grampulse and Superbia to tribute summon Darklord Nergal(2700/2500)! Battle phase! Nergal, take out White Layer! Ixchel, Green Layer! Heaven's Fury!"
The Quantums were destroyed and their effects activated which just resulted in an Alphan getting added then discarded to draw a card.
Eddie LP: 4300/ Alphan LP: 6100
"I'll set one card facedown and end my turn."
"I draw and I shall do what I did before once again," Alphan said as he summoned and then tributed himself.
"Middle." Eddie picked, and White Layer entered the field, sending a Red and Blue to the graveyard, triggering their effects in sequence. "I'll interrupt that chain to use Ixchel to Enchantment White Layer, actually negating its effects this time and giving me life points."
Eddie LP: 5700/ Alphan LP: 6100
"Aww," Alphan groaned. "Then I am just going to show you what our true power is, SUPER QUANT XYZ CHANGE!"
Alphan discarded a card and then White posed as Super Quantal Mech Beast Lusterex(2700/1900) was launched from the back of Magnacarrier, the Quantum Layer jumping into the cockpit midair and a moment later a material appeared around the mech as it landed and roared.
"Now Lustrex shall remove that very pretty woman from the game."
"You are lucky you are so cute," Ixchel said as the Mech Beast bore down on her.
"I'll interrupt that with Nergal's effect to Contact Superbia from the graveyard in defense position." Eddie said, paying the life point cost with ease.
The attack still went through though, and hurt a lot less than the direct attack.
Eddie LP: 4500/ Alphan LP: 6100
"Well that is going to be my turn," Alphan said.
"Draw." Oh wow, really? No, it was too perfect to pass up. "I'll activate Nergal's effect to Contact Ixchel back to the field in defense position."
"Argh, I am going to negate that with Lusterex-"
"FORBIDDEN DROPLET!" Eddie said, feeling ecstatic to use the card properly. "Using my facedown and the card in my hand as tribute, I can negate the effects of your monsters and halve their attack this turn! Meaning it goes through!"
"NOOOOO!" Alphan cried dramatically.
Eddie LP: 3500/ Alphan LP: 6100
"But wait, there's more! I'll activate Ixchel's effect to use the trap card I just tributed! Let the forces align! The earth cries out for mercy as tyranny rises in the heavens! The heavens respond, and are cast out for righteous justice! Chariot! Ophanim! Seraphim! But where light falls, the shadows must rise! Darklord Uprising!"
Her monsters grinned as they swirled together into the growing pillar of darkness reaching down from the heavens.
"I summon The First Darklord(4000/4000) in attack position!" Eddie couldn't help but shout as the mightiest monster in her deck took the field. "I'll activate his effect, spending another 1000 life points to summon Superbia from the graveyard in defense, and he gets to bring a friend! Say hello again to Nergal!"
The First Darklord floated resplendently as his allies came at his call.
"First! Nergal! Attack and destroy! Wipe out the opposition!" Eddie ordered.
"Quantal's your might shall be put in the hands of our summoner, and she shall use you to defeat the Demon, there shall be no objection."
"Well big guy she has definitely proven herself by managing to call out you," Alphan said nervously.
"Then it would be best for you to surrender."
And with all that needed to be said, they destroyed Lusterrex and Green Layer.
Eddie LP: 1500/ Alphan LP: 1500
"So you gonna take their offer?" Eddie asked.
"Heroes never surrender!" Alphan replied.
"That's exactly what I wanted to hear!" Eddie said. "Never give up! Never surrender!"
"You have the heart of a Quant, We shall fight even in the face of Armageddon, Eden Hawthorne."
And with that he summoned Super Quantum Layer Green who valiantly jumped at the First Darklord joined by his comrades.
—
Eddie came to on her back, sitting up to find herself alone on the Duel Field.
"Man, what a weird dream." She said, more for the lols than anything, already knowing it wasn't.
She checked her previously empty duel disk to find not only a full deck but a full extra deck as well. "Ohh… ohh… wait what?!" Eddie couldn't help but shout in shock at who all was in her extra deck.
Oh she was gonna wreck her opponents with this deck.
As she walked out of the field, she idly looked through her main dec-
"POT OF GREED?!"
"Huh?" The voice of Mr. Hiiragi asked from a room away.
She burst into his office, holding up the card face towards him. "Pot of Greed!"
"...How? That is very rare in this day and age, the only draw cards rarer are Graceful and Card of Sanctity."
"Shining Draw!" Eddie said excitedly, since it was technically correct and Hirragi did not believe her about magic.
"Oh did you get that because of yesterday?" He asked.
"Yes." Eddie said, happy at yet another technical truth. "And a whole deck with nineteen xyz cards."
"That…" At that the man's brain crashed.
"I need to make a new costume!" Eddie said, about to rush out, before pausing and turning around. "Hey, Sensei… can you Feature Match under a Pseudonym?"
"That was what The Sledgehammer did at the start of his career, even I did that as Sportacus."
"...Who was your Robbie Rotten?"
"That bastard Kirigakure of the Cuisine Duel School," He grumbled.
"Alright, well, see you later sensei, keep an eye out on the duel scene for the newest sensation! The future is burning bright! And it's gonna be pink!"
—
"Ah young Eden Hawthorne, just the duelist I was looking for," Said the voice of Nico Smiley as his mustache wearing face poked through the aisles of the supply store.
He just barely did not get punched in the face, her fist stopping just short of his nose. "Do not! Sneak up! On me!" Eddie said, heart racing. Why did people like doing that all of a sudden? "I am very punchy when startled!"
"I shall keep that in mind," Nico Smiley said, unaffected. "I saw you entering the store and I knew this was my chance to talk with you in private."
"..." Eddie looked around surreptitiously to see no one nearby or paying attention in regards to the half-asleep cashier. "Alright, talk to me Smiles."
"You see, Mr. Ishijima after his defeat at the hands of young Sakaki, went to the mountains to train, so I am currently lacking a duelist to manage."
"What would that management entail?" Eddie asked, curious of the business opportunity… and suspicious at the timing.
"Your little win streak was rather crushed by Mana Muto," Nico Smiley stated. "So you have to start from the beginning with getting six consecutive wins as there is not enough time for you to amass enough standard duels for the Arc League Championship."
"Yes, I'm aware, I'm asking what service you'd be providing and what cut you want." Eddie said plainly.
"I have a lot of contacts that can easily get you the six duels that you need," Nico Smiley said. "And I need no cut, I am doing this pro-bono."
Eddie's eyes narrowed at him. "Whhhhyy?"
"Because I believe you are a girl with talent that needs to be shown off on the big stage, and also because I am bored with nothing better to spend my free time on." Nico Smiley answered honestly.
"...Would you be able to help me rebrand? I really hate the 'Bad Angel' thing I've been saddled with." It wasn't even funny Engrish, not after the third time she heard it, and especially not when it showed up on her official dueling profile.
"Yes, it doesn't even fit your attitude, but something tells me you were already planning on doing so by entering this store," Nico Smiley stated.
"Yeah, on that note: were you following me?" Eddie paused. "No, better question, how long were you following me?"
"Only for the past hour."
Eddie was… genuinely baffled at how… not a problem that seemed to the man. He just… genuinely… liked doing this…? And didn't see the problem…?
Wait, this was Yugioh.
"...Do you know a guy who can do costumes?"
"Whohohoho, do I know a guy. Oh, I haven't had a duelist up for that kind of theatrics in years." Nico Smiley, smiled.
"Oh, trust me, I'm all about the theatrics." Eddie said, unable to stop herself from getting excited now. "On the note of theatrics… I have an idea for my re-debut."
Nico heard the idea.
And his smile only widened.
—
Eddie's (main) Duel Disk beeped with an incoming call, distracting her from her attempts at Draw Practice.
Considering telemarketers weren't a thing (for Duel Disks, anyway, she didn't have a normal phone so she didn't know for sure) that meant it had to be someone important, so she answered without hesitation.
"Hallo, Eddie speaking."
"Hey Eddie," Came Yuto's voice. "So just asking to confirm, you know how to use Xyz Energy now right?"
"Yeup."
"Great so can you and Yuzu come to our little base so that we can test our theory?"
"Depends on two things, one where's the base?"
"Well it is actually near where we first met," Yuto gave further directions. "And what is the second thing?"
"I'll need a Yuzu to bring a Yuzu, obviously, so it'll depend on her availability."
"Well going by the clock she should be done with school." Yuto stated.
"Hey we're here!" And like that came Yuya's voice.
"Alright, gonna mute you for a moment." Eddie said, putting the call on hold but not hanging up as she awaited the entry of the Yu's. "Hallo~!" She greeted back at a louder volume.
"Hey Eddie, You in the lounge?" Answered Yuzu's loud voice.
"Yup! I actually need you for a thing if you're willing!"
A few seconds later the two entered the room, Yuya looking mentally exhausted from school, while Yuzu was just as chipper as ever. "What do you need me for?"
"You remember the other day when I did The Thing with your Bracelet?"
"You are going to do that again?" Yuya asked, instantly focused and concerned. "But you got really hurt."
"I know, which is why we'll be doing it smarter this time." Eddie said. "Can I borrow one of your guys Pendulum Scales to see if I can get the feel for Pendulum Summoning?"
"Will it avoid what happened last time?" Yuya asked.
"If it works, yeah. The reason I got hurt last time was because I had to Mausoleum of the Emperor myself because I didn't have anything else to Tribute."
"Oh yeah that Field Spell," Yuya said as he reached into his deck and drew two cards and held out Timegazer and Stargazer Magician.
"Oh hey, those are actually the only two I've ever used with my own hands." Eddie said as she took the offered cards. "What a weird coincidence that's definitely not a coincidence now that I'm saying it out loud."
Eddie looked at the cards as she said it. The energy felt… radically different to anything she'd felt so far, even compared to when Yuya dueled her. It was like… like she was feeling an actual Pendulum, the feeling of being pulled apart and pushed together, two conflicting desires swinging back and forth.
A desire to be one.
And a desire to stay apart.
IIIIInchresting.
"Okay, let's head to the duel field real quick, see if I can get the hang of this and no I'm not saying to duel." Eddie said, quickly cutting off Yuya's question before he could ask it.
Yuya had the face of a dog who thought they were about to go for a walk only to be told no walk.
"Here, I'll let you hold this while I'm doing it." Eddie said, casually tossing him her Pot of Greed while she walked to the field.
"Oh is that- by the Wicked Gods!" Yuya said.
Eddie cackled as she entered the duel field, placing the pendulums on top of her deck, and took a deep breath.
"Pot of Greed!" Yuzu said in awe.
"What does it do?!" Yuya continued.
Oh, she beautifully corrupted that boy.
"Draw." Eddie said as she drew an opening hand. "I'll Set the Scale," She could feel the capital letters there as the monsters appeared in the pillars of light, "1-8 with Timegazer Magician and Stargazer Magician! Swing, Pendulum of Souls and draw an arc of darkness! Pendulum Summon! Appear, my faithful comrades!"
From her hand, two monsters were summoned- Nasten, and Amdusc.
And… it felt… okay? It didn't unlock any new energy pool or use up any of her existing energy… Did it not need energy?
She distinctly felt an energy when she summoned, but it wasn't coming from her. Rather, it wasn't coming from her but more flowing through her.
She looked at the two magicians in their respective pillars, floating there impassively.
As if they couldn't move. Even the most steady of monster animations had little sways with the wind.
Was that why it was only once per turn? They were literally using the power of the Monsters themselves…?
"So do you think you got it?" Yuya asked.
"Yeeeaah, yeah I think I do." Eddie said as she picked up her cards but let the Magicians stay for a moment, before turning it off and holding out the cards to Yuya. "I think I should be able to safely get back here now."
"That is good to hear," Yuya said. "Also were you talking with… Yuto?"
"Yeah, I should probably call him back, I forgot I had him on hold."
"Well tell him if you don't come back or if Yuzu gets hurt, I am going to kick his ass… and not in Duel Monsters."
"Attaboy." Eddie said proudly. "But we should be fine… Yuzu should be fine. I might be heading into enemy territory… but I did Shining Draw a bit more than what was in my deck yesterday, as you've already seen."
"More than Greed?" Yuzu asked as Yuya handed the card back.
To answer, Eddie pulled the back the sleeve of her hoodie to reveal her other duel disk… which visibly had a deck in it. "A bit."
"You got a new deck?" Yuya asked, his eyes shining with stars. "You've tested it yet?"
"Nope, and I not I'm not gonna use it against you till at least the Championship." Eddie said with a grin. "I need to have something up my sleeve to beat you."
"As if." Yuya said with slight pride.
"Anyway, that's for later. For now, we have a rescue op to perform." Eddie said, getting serious. "Yuzu will keep you updated, okay?"
"That I will," Yuzu said. "We are going to go and save my Xyz Counterpart, right?"
"That's the plan." Eddie as she turned to head out, before turning around and giving Yuya a hug.
Which he returned tightly.
A few minutes later, Eddie and Yuzu were walking towards the Xyz-boys 'secret base' after some quick directions from Yuto, relative to Sawatari's base.
"Are you ready for this, Yuzu?" Eddie asked a little bit out from their destination.
"I am." She answered.
"Okay." Eddie said simply.
The rest of the walk there was 30 or so seconds of tense silence, before they were greeted by a familiar dual-tone.
"Hey," Came Shun's stock greeting as he opened the door to the abandoned warehouse that the three Xyz users had taken over. "Glad you could… Kaito was right, they do look exactly like each other."
"You are talking about your 'me' right?" Yuzu asked.
"Her name is Ruri, and she is my little sister," Shun stated as he removed himself from the door and led them inside.
Yuzu gave Eddie a quick look.
Shit, she forgot to actually tell Yuzu that part.
"Is the gang all here?" Eddie asked, quickly changing the subject.
"We are here," Yuto said as he sat on a box while he pointed at Kaito who… when did he have time to get all of that? Was all Eddie could think as she looked at the setup the boy had going in one corner of the warehouse that was filled with computer gear and several screens, with Orbital 7 being currently plugged into parts of it.
"Alright then. To preface, I have figured out Pendulum Energy (I think) so I shouldn't injure myself coming back." Eddie started with.
"You injured yourself last time?" Kaito asked.
"You have to use an energy corresponding to a specific dimension (I think) and I had to Tribute Summon. The only thing I had to Tribute was me, so…"
"Tribute Summon?" Shun asked.
"She means Advance Summon, I don't why she speaks so old fashionably when it comes to that part of the game," Yuzu stated.
"I've been playing the game since Battle City." Eddie said flatly.
The three just looked at her in even more confusion.
"Wow… you are a hag."
That, the boys understood as they all immediately took three steps back.
"What did you just call me, kusogaki?" Eddie asked, looming over her.
"You heard what I said Oba-san."
There was a collective deep breath as the two raised their hands high overhead-.
Rock, and Yuzu chose scissors.
"Ha! My undefeated streak continues! I reign supreme, brat!"
"I am going to win one day!"
"...She is nothing like Ruri."
"Yeah, she is a lady compared to that gorilla."
SMACK!
Yuzu's fan collided straight on with Yuto's head.
"Alright, with everyone's spirits high," Eddie said after a moment to let them laugh. "Yuzu, your bracelet if you would?"
Yuzu nodded as she handed it over.
"You better come back, Yuya will be really sad if you don't, and I will be angry."
"And we don't wanna make you angry, of course." Eddie said with a smile, before taking a deep breath and banking on her latest prediction. "...I build the Overlay Network. Level 1 Level 1 = Rank 1. Lyrilusc - Recital Starling!"
There was a look of shock from the boys as Eddie glowed black and gold, before she was swallowed by a black hole. And only then did she think, 'Wait, I might not be ready for this-'
Soul Subtitle: New Allies! A Daring Dive to Danger!
Xxx
A/N: If you like this or any other of my stories, you can donate to my SubscribeStar. Adult /StreamingViking or my Pa Tre on at pa tre on. com (slash)StreamingViking776 and read commissioned stories and chapters before they are released publicly for only 3$ a month or if you just wanna support me. I also have a link to my discord in the first pinned post.