A/N: I OWN NO PART YU GI OH 5DS! ALL RIGHTS GO TO THE CREATORS!

Some ideas in this story are influenced by the story, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5Ds: Bonds Beyond Magic by Cool Cat 2000. The ideas go to her.

Chapter 34: The Person Once Known as a Friend

Era's POV

I sat back down and transformed into my human form. I closed my eyes for a moment but opened them as Yusei grabbed my hand that was sitting on my lap. I looked at him.

"Era, don't worry about that spell. Because I'll make sure you don't die on us," Yusei told me.

"And if you can't stop it? If I have to use it?" I asked. I looked down while Yusei looked to the side not sure what to respond with. "I promised you, Yusei, that I would try not to use it. To survive and defeat Equette without the spell." Yusei looked at me again. "And I will try. But I'm not going to promise you that I won't use it. Because in all reality, I may have to." I turned back to him. "Alright?"

"Alright," he agreed. "I don't like it but I understand."

I touched my lips to his for a moment. I was about to pull back but Yusei kept me close and held his lips to mine. When Yusei finally pulled back, we stared into each other's eyes.

"I need to get going," he stated.

"Where?" I asked worried.

"I'm heading to find out more about these Dark Signers," Yusei answered. "I need you to stay here." He stood up.

"No, Yusei," I refused standing up. "With Equette and the possibility of your own death out there, I'm staying with you. You are the only hope the Satellite has of surviving. As a subject of the Crimson Dragon, I can't let anything happen to you."

"But, Era…" Yusei paused knowing there was no way to change my mind. "Fine. Come on."

Yusei began to wheel his duel runner away with me sticking by his side.

"Little late for a joy ride," came Crow's voice. We turned to see him walking up. "How could you leave without saying anything? I mean, after all we've been through."

"This is my battle and it doesn't have anything to do with the rest of you. The only reason Era's coming is because I couldn't change her mind," Yusei replied.

Crow sighed. "The same as ever," I heard him mutter.

Yusei continued to wheel his runner away saying, "I don't want to drag any of you into this."

"Oh, no! You're not leaving with only Era," Crow refused standing in front of Yusei and I. "I trust Era and I know she's got a good amount power to protect you. But you can't just rely on her. Besides, are you saying I won't be of any help?"

"You don't understand, Crow. A fight with a Dark Signer means risking your life. There's a big difference between this and turbo duels for fun," I replied. "A duel with them is a fight for your soul and you could die."

"Hearing that voice tells me it has to be true," I heard Crow mutter. But he then stated more loud and clearer, "But I promised to protect the children with my life. I'm protecting them."

"Alright," Yusei gave in. I sighed. 'Of course he would give in to reasoning like that, I would,' I thought. "But be prepared for the worst."

We took off on the duel runners though I flew this time. I told Yusei that I had enough duel runners for a while.

"So where are we going?" Crow asked.

"We have to go to the Original Ener-D Reactor," Yusei answered.

"You mean that place in the deepest part of the BAD Area?" Crow asked.

"I think Goodwin was pointing us to it," Yusei replied.

"Never trust a guy with a ponytail, Yusei," Crow responded.

We continued to travel for a while until we entered an immensely foggy area. 'This fog is so thick. I can barely see,' I thought. That's when I saw a large, purple glowing body up ahead causing mine and Yusei's marks to glow.

I heard someone say in the distance, "The battle of the Signers and Dark Signers has now begun."

The glowing body in front of us dissolves and Crow asked, "What was that?"

"Be careful," Yusei stated.

I nodded. "I can sense it. A Dark Signer is nearby," I added.

Just then, a card cut through the air. It passed by me and barely missed Crow. We all pulled to a stop and I landed. Yusei looked at the card. I looked at it as it was lodged into a rock.

"Crow, I know this card!" Yusei called.

"Well, if it isn't Yusei. Oh, and you brought Crow too," came a voice. We turned to a cloaked man standing on top of a pile of debris. "You don't know how long I've been waiting for this moment." He looked in my direction. "And the most powerful angel, Era."

I tensed. 'He has to be working with Equette if he knows my name,' I thought.

"How do you know our names?" Yusei asked.

"Forgotten about me, have you?" the man replied. He smiled and pulled off his hood to reveal the man underneath.

"Kalin Kessler!" I exclaimed.

"What're you doing?" Yusei asked.

"We thought you had died in the Facility. How are you still alive?" Crow added.

"Thanks to Yusei, I've seen Hell," Kalin replied. "Now I can get my revenge until you can't stand it anymore."

"I don't know what you mean by 'Hell', but it has to be a misunderstanding!" Crow yelled.

"Are you a Dark Signer?" Yusei asked. "Do you really play to destroy Satellite?"

"Find out just how different I am compared to the person you used to know," Kalin answered. He put on his helmet and started up his duel runner, ripping up the large rock it stood on, before racing past Yusei and Crow. As he drove, he left a large, purple stream of light. The light drew out a turbo duel circuit, shaped like his dark mark. It separated Yusei, Kalin and I from Crow. "I'll settle the scores with you, Yusei, right here. And then Era will be next. I'll send you straight to the depths of the Underworld!" He held up his arm, showing Yusei his dark mark. "My mark is real, Yusei, unlike the fake you saw before."

I stood next to Yusei who watched Kalin with worried eyes. "Yusei, you'll need to focus on this duel. Or you may not make it," I told him mentally.

He looked at me. "Era…" he stopped.

"Just focus, Yusei," I told him.

That's when a helicopter appeared in the sky and we all noticed Jack watching. Kalin laughed maniacally, "All of my old team are gathered here. I'll never forgive you and these flames will be my vengeful inferno."

"Kalin, what happened to you back then?" Yusei asked.

"You all stabbed me in the back and drove me to death," Kalin answered. "And Era didn't try to help."

"Kalin, I wanted to help but I couldn't. It was too late," I responded.

Jack had to explain what Kalin meant when he said they were an old team to Carly who was in the helicopter with Jack.

Kalin laughed sinisterly once he was done. "Those were fun time to Yusei, Crow, and Jack," he stated.

"What happened to you?" Carly asked.

"Yusei, Crow, and Jack used to hang out with each other since they were kids," I told her. "Then Kalin came to them and gave them and everyone who stayed in Satellite doing nothing a small piece of hope." They looked at me shocked that I knew that. "I've been around New Domino for hundred years. I pick up on things."

Kalin laughed. "Isn't that adorable?" he stated and Yusei held me back protectively. "Yusei, these flames are the same as my rage and they will not die out until there's an outcome. The life risking battle between two former friends will now start!" he announced. "And once I'm done with you, I'm coming for Era. I don't care that Equette wants you himself. I have a score to settle with you too."

Yusei then told me mentally, "Era, get out of the circuit."

"One problem with that," I replied.

"What?" he asked sounding worried.

"This fire is made up of dark energy and it doesn't matter how high I go, it's like a jail cell to angels. Only this jail cell's lock is the end of the duel," I explained.

"So you're saying you can't leave even if you wanted to because of this fire?" Yusei questioned.

"Pretty much, yeah," I answered.

"Then get on behind me. I don't want you flying right now," Yusei told me.

"Alright," I agreed and boarded behind him.

"Talking mentally, hm? You two must really be close," Kalin asked.

"Kalin, why did you become a Dark Signer?" Yusei asked. Kalin didn't answer; he just laughed sinisterly.

"Let the duel begin!" Kalin called before the turbo duel started.