A/N: Well, this chapter is a bit shorter than the others, but hopefully you all like it. :)
Connections
"Yusei, shouldn't you be going to face your friend?" Jake asked the pro duelist.
"Yeah, I need to go find him and face him again," Yusei said, heading over to his runner.
"First I think we should check out that mark," Stardust intervened, pointing out the mark of what appeared to be a killer whale in the sky. "Your marks aren't lighting up, so that means it can't be a Signer dueling. A bigger question is who the Dark Signer is, though."
"As far as we know, there isn't a Dark Signer with a whale for a symbol," Leyvaten agreed.
"We need to go check it out and make sure that the duel is stopped," Yusei said, getting into his duel runner as quickly as he could.
"Yusei, wait!" Jake exclaimed, dashing over. He held out a card. "Don't forget this."
"Thanks," Yusei nodded as he took back Stardust's card. Then he realized there was more than one card there, and looked at the others before looking back at his newest friend.
"Can't exactly let you leave without returning the favor, can we?" Jake rhetorically asked, smirking at Leyvaten's resulting slight blush, which only grew from Stardust's sly one. "Just don't forget to play them together. You know how much they like that."
The faces of the dragons turned such a deep red at this that it was a wonder Leo missed it completely. The rest of them, however, laughed at their expense, the duelists opting to ignore the resulting glares that were meant to melt them. Leyvaten and Stardust gave up and opted to head up into the air, probably hoping the cooler atmosphere would help. Quickly enough, those not riding Yusei's duel runner hopped into Trudge's car and they went off to the place with the killer whale sign. As they approached, Yusei and Stardust went on ahead while Leyvaten stayed with her own duelist.
"Where's the duel?" Jake wondered.
"I don't know," Leyvaten admitted, even as she flew higher to get a better view. "It must be underneath something, because I can't see it, even from up here."
"Hey, Jake..." Luna began to say, catching the teen's attention.
"What's up, Luna?" Jake asked, looking over his shoulder at her.
"May I see your deck?"
Jake blinked at the request, and after making sure it was alright with his cards, he nodded and handed it over. He had a feeling as to why, so he didn't ask. Leo had no such reservations.
"What's wrong, sis?" Leo asked, wondering if he should be worried or not.
"I think I know why, Leo," Jake said, as he could hear his deck conversing with the young girl. "She's currently talking to the spirits in my deck."
"Why?" Trudge decided to ask.
"Hmm... I think she's curious about me and stuff like that," Jake guessed, shrugging. "She'll tell us when she's done. Let's just keep going, she should finish talking with them soon."
Trudge nodded, and just as the teen had predicted, Luna soon finished and handed back the deck to its owner. She seemed to have gotten the answers she'd been looking for.
"So what were you asking about?" Jake asked, as he carefully returned his cards to the deck box on his belt.
"I was wondering if they knew where you learned how to talk with them," Luna admitted.
"...Now why hadn't I thought to ask that?"
"Because you're an idiot?" Leyvaten asked rhetorically, as she came closer to them.
"Hey!"
"You earned it with that earlier remark."
"Yeah, but notice how earlier you never denied it."
"What'd she say?" Leo asked, curious.
"Never mind," Jake answered, shaking his head. "Anyway, why don't we head on over to that Mark of the Giant? We can meet Yusei and Stardust there as soon as he's done with whatever he's doing."
"How will they know to go there?" Trudge asked.
"Simple. Mystletainn could relay that to Yusei's deck, who can relay it to him."
"I vote that someone else goes, I'm not feeling well," Mystletainn called to her duelist and Leyvaten. The two looked at each other and snickered.
"What'd she say?" Luna asked, just as confused as the rest of the people in the vehicle.
"We'll have to send someone else instead," Jake answered, smirking. "Mystletainn isn't 'feeling well', as she said. So, Mist Valley Falcon, would you be willing to go instead?"
"Sure," Falcon answered, before vanishing from contact range. He soon returned. "Alright, I passed on the message. They'll meet us at the Mark of the Giant."
"Thanks," Jake replied. "Alright, they'll meet us there, so we can head on over."
"But what exactly is going on down where they are?" Trudge wondered, even as he started to head to where the tower would be.
"Good question..." Jake began. He pulled out his deck. "You know, one of you guys should just become a temporary messenger between your ravine and Stardust's, at least until... have you announced your decision yet, Leyvaten?"
"No, but I was going to after our duel with Roman," Leyvaten admitted, easily keeping pace with the car.
"Tell us what?" Falcon decided to ask, the entirety of the ravine knowing of her situation. Since she was outside of their domain, yet talking, she was basically talking to everyone there.
"She has a –"
"Jake!" Leyvaten interrupted, glaring daggers at him. She scowled at his grin.
"Embarrassing her again?" Trudge asked.
"Oh yeah," Jake smirked. "And in front of the entire dragon ravine she's in charge of."
"Okay, now we really want to know," Dragunity Darkspear said, as he noticed how many of the ravine's citizens were in rapt attention. "Everyone's waiting to hear what's going on."
"Leyvaten, you may as well tell them now and get it over with... of course, if you're too embarrassed, I could tell them for you."
"You wouldn't dare," Leyvaten stared at her duelist, as they arrived at the destination. The dragon landed by Jake, staring at him in what could account for horror.
"What are you talking about?" Luna asked.
"Guys, plug your ears for a minute," Jake directed to his deck, before explaining to the three humans that were there. "Leyvaten and Stardust have... how should I put this? Well, let's just say that they've started dating."
Trudge, being the adult he was, grinned at the meaning behind the teen's words, while the twins, considering their younger age, took it for mostly its face value. Leyvaten's face flushed, although she was grateful that her duelist would let her tell her ravine by herself.
"Okay, c'mon, Leyvaten," Jake said, allowing the deck's members to listen again. "You know you have to tell them sooner or later, may as well get it over with. Of course, Mystletainn could do it for you."
"I'll only let her do it on one condition, and I think she knows what I'm talking about," Leyvaten smirked amidst her red countenance.
"I think I'll let you do it, mistress," Mystletainn mumbled. Leyvaten and Jake shared a smirk. The teen let the dragon take a hold of the deck, as he went over to greet Crow and Yusei, whom were just arriving.
"What's she doing?" Yusei asked, interested as he checked over his deck one more time.
"Announcing her connection to Stardust and how they'd like to... well, he knows what I'm talking about."
Stardust decided not to answer, but instead sighed quietly as he realized he needed to do the same with his own place. He chose to save it for after the duel with Kalin.
"You ready for this, Yusei?" Stardust asked his partner. The Signer sighed and put his deck back in its correct slot.
"Let's go before I change my mind," Yusei said.
"I can't help you in the duel in this physical body, so I'll stay back here. Just don't forget that you can still hear me and everyone else in the deck. If Kalin starts to really get under your skin, pause and listen to us, alright?"
"...Thanks," Yusei smiled, before he raced on to where the tower was. Stardust headed over to Leyvaten, whom was attempting to figure out how to word her announcement.
"Everyone, umm..." Leyvaten began, trying to phrase this correctly. She ended up deciding upon the direct and blunt option. "Stardust and I have been considering merging our ravines into one."
There were a few quiet murmurs from Jake's deck at this, then Dragunity Mystletainn decided to help her mistress spit out the reason.
"Why's that, mistress?" Mystletainn asked for the citizens of the place. They stopped to listen.
"This is Stardust speaking," Stardust said when his mate couldn't seem to find the words for the answer to the query. "We're merging our ravines because, umm..."
Jake, realizing how much trouble the two were having admitting the truth, rolled his eyes and came over before snatching the deck – gently, of course – from Leyvaten's gentle grip. Thankfully, everyone else was too busy watching the screen on Crow's duel runner and keeping an eye on the starting turbo duel that was going on down the way.
"They want to merge the ravines because these two have become..." Jake paused to consider his wording options. Then his smirk caused the two to blush furiously. "They've become romantically attatched and can't get enough of each other's company."
There was a silence from the deck and its inhabitants for a short time.
"Mistress, why didn't you say so sooner?" Mist Valley Falcon said after a while.
"Yeah, congratulations!" Dragunity Darkspear agreed. There were many monsters voicing the same thing for a few while. "A merge with another ravine should be a lot of fun. I mean, we all know each other so well, and it's always fun to meet new people."
"So you're all fine with it?" Leyvaten blinked. Her face refused to drop the red as everyone confirmed this. "Wow... thanks, everyone..."
"Before you merge us, are you going to introduce Stardust to our..." Genesis Dragon paused, the smirk on his face far too obvious even without seeing it. "Monthly festival?"
Stardust looked at his mate, whom was smirking at the thought of it, but she convinced him she'd explain another time, saying a demonstration was sort of required. Jake left the deck with the ravine's leader and headed back to watch the duel through Crow's duel runner once more. Yusei continued to try to reason with his old friend, but he hardly succeeded. After a while, his deck, along with the cards of the real-life monsters – which allowed them to talk to him – convinced him that the only way to save Kalin was to beat him.
"I summon Dragunity Arma Leyvaten!" Yusei exclaimed, accepting the two dragons' advice. "I'm doing so by sacrificing Quillbolt Hedgehog and Dragunity Pilum! As a result of her effect, Pilum returns equipped to her!"
Kalin grit his teeth as the powerful dragoness appeared next to Stardust Dragon. After placing a couple of cards facedown, he ended his turn and let his friend go... whom immediantly began to chuckle darkly, before full-on laughing.
"That can't be good, can it?" Luna asked.
"I summon the Earthbound Immortal Ccapac Apu!" Exclaimed, causing the enormous beast to appear.
"No, it's not good, Luna," Jake decided to answer. "But Yusei can win. I know he can."
Jake's belief that his friend could win only became stronger when he successfully used the Majestic Dragon tuner monster to synchro summon Majestic Star Dragon. Even though the holographic versions of themselves didn't react, the real-life ones did. Stardust blushed at the way Leyvaten looked at him.
"I hope you know how sexy you look in that form," Leyvaten whispered to him, sidling up close to his side and gently wrapping a powerful arm around his waist and bringing him ever closer to him.
"Oh, please," Stardust countered, smirking so slyly it's a wonder Leyvaten's face didn't turn beet red in response. "My looks are nothing like yours."
"Normally, I would say that flattery gets you nowhere... but I think I'll let you have the exception."
Stardust just smiled and held her close, as he watched his holographic representation pierce Ccapac Apu and defeat Kalin at last. The moment the flames died down and Yusei's old friend vanished, the dragon excused himself and raced to his teammate's side, gently offering comfort.
"Yusei..." Stardust said quietly.
"They'll pay for what they've done," Yusei hissed, eyes narrowed as he stood from where he'd been holding onto one of his closest friends. "Stardust, they'll pay!"
There was a short silence.
"And I, along with the rest of the deck, will be there to help you," Stardust told him. Yusei looked at his friend, and nodded.
"Thank you," Yusei said, as the rest of his friends arrived. He held out the two cards Jake had lent him, whom returned them to their point of origin. "Thanks for lending those to me. Leyvaten really helped to win."
"Of course," Jake nodded.
Leyvaten approached Stardust, whom was watching the exchange quietly.
"Is something on your mind, love?" Leyvaten asked.
"Just that a really big duel is about to go down," Stardust admitted after a moment. "I get the feeling we're going to face someone we've already gone against... and that perhaps Jake and Yusei should team up again."
"If it's who I think you're talking about, I'm sure that they will."
Stardust took a few moments to think to himself, before turning to Leyvaten with a look of confusion and question on his countenance.
"Someone in your ravine mentioned a monthly festival... what's it all about?" Stardust asked. Leyvaten's sly grin made him all the more interested.
"I can't just tell you about it, you have to experience it!" Leyvaten said. "Trust me, words fail to do it justice. It isn't coming up for a while, though, so don't worry about it. By the time it does, we should be back there. That's when you'll find out."
Stardust realized he wouldn't get anymore answers out of his mate, but decided that it would be best to wait. After all, the group of them were on the move again, considering that a Dark Signer had just contacted them – and, just as the dragon had predicted, both Yusei and Jake had been challenged to a duel. Leyvaten hoped that Jake would be able to keep from being so on edge, the way he was the past couple of times. Such hopes were common throughout his entire deck, as the group moved out to the location of the duel...
Credit: Oh yeah, it's all mine this time. :D
A/N: For those of you who are wondering what this "monthly festival" is all about, I won't tell. It's not just secret... it's top secret!