A/N: Well, here you go everyone. Enjoy! :)

Connections

"I guess Roman wants a rematch," Jake said, as they headed in that direction. Towards where there was a gigantic hole in the ground... the original Ener-D reactor site. "But like he said, I'm not a signer. Why would he be interested in me?"

"Is it because you can communicate with the cards as easily as you talk to people?" Yusei decided to take a guess.

"It's possible," Jake shrugged. "I doubt it, though. I mean, so what if I can talk? Anybody can do it."

"Really?" Trudge asked.

"Even the Dark Signers would be able to learn how."

"Doesn't it take a good, honest heart?"

"No, just an open one. It doesn't matter if the heart's bad or good, as far as I know. It just has to be open enough to listen to the words coming from the deck's heart. It also takes time, because once you've opened yourself enough to hear your own deck, you have to keep the connection open long enough for it to become permanent."

"You said you taught Yusei. How long did that take?"

"It took me a couple of hours for it to stay," Yusei said. "By the time it did, you guys arrived, remember?"

"But Jake," Luna said. "You can also hear everyone else's decks. Why is that?"

"...Once I find out, I'll let you know," Jake admitted, rubbing his head sheepishly. "I just remember that when I started hearing other decks, I'd already been talking with mine for a couple of months. It makes for interesting conversation, though."

"How so?" Trudge asked, as Jake grinned.

"Yusei knows what I'm talking about," The teen said. "Actually being able to hear the cards is really interesting. Especially since they all have things to say the moment you can hear them. Not to mention that it helps you learn about them."

"What'd you learn about me?" Leyvaten asked, kinda interested.

"Well, I learned that you were the leader of the ravine, and I learned you guys actually lived in the same ravine as the field spell card for the deck," Jake answered. "I had no idea about that before."

"Does every deck have a leader and home?" Leo asked, wondering about his own deck.

"From what I hear of yours, Power Tool Dragon is the leader, and they live in a machine factory," Jake replied. Leyvaten snickered at what she next heard, her duelist struggling to keep a straight face.

"And now he says that he needs to teach you to calm down," Leyvaten laughed, as Stardust did his best to not fall into the same fit.

"What?" Leo asked.

"Never mind," Jake chuckled. "How close are we to reaching the place?"

"Not too far," Trudge answered. "Give it a couple more minutes."

"Stardust?" Yusei began to say quietly, getting the dragon's attention.

"What's up, Yusei?" Stardust asked when his partner paused.

"Why'd you choose me?" Yusei asked. Stardust didn't even pretend to not understand.

"I don't know, actually," Stardust admitted after a short time. "I just remember my card falling into your hands, and I just knew I was supposed to be in your deck. Even though you couldn't hear me back then, I guess you could say it was an instantaneous friendship."

Yusei looked at the dragon, whom smirked in return.

"Do you have any idea how pissed I was at Jack when he stole me? I was just as mad at him as you were. I still haven't quite forgiven him."

Yusei smiled, nodding. He thanked the dragon for explaining, who nodded, as they drew ever closer to the place of the rematch against Roman.

"What do you think got Jake to be able to hear cards?" Yusei's next question was, as they approached.

"I'm still looking into that, actually," Stardust answered. "I know he says the talking thing only requires an open heart, and that's part of it... but he does it so naturally... I think there's something extra in it for him."

"That's what I was thinking as well," Yusei agreed. "He's a really good duelist, but I think that's a result of being able to hear them."

"I know that his deck says nothing about what's coming up next during a duel, so it's not cheating."

"I've noticed that during the duels with the Dark Signers, he always seems so tense. It probably has to do with their decks being silenced."

"He must be so accustomed to hearing a deck's voice that it really doesn't sit well with him," Stardust said. Glancing at the teen, Jake appeared to be trying to mentally prepare himself for that very thing. "Leyvaten says that his entire deck has never seen him so upset. Apparently it's never happened before."

"Was Leyvaten the only one to say that?" Yusei asked. Stardust blushed slightly at the implication, but he shook his head.

"No. During our first duel with Roman, I could feel Jake's entire deck being anxious about how he felt, all the way from your extra deck."

"It was that bad?" Yusei seemed surprised, and as it turned out, he was.

"It was," Leyvaten intervened. She had noticed the conversation and, although it had taken a bit, she knew what it was about, and had come over. Jake was too busy inside his own head to notice. "He was in a really bad state. I speak for my entire ravine when I say we were desperate to calm him down, and even though he could clearly hear us, for some reason, nothing we said helped."

"What about when he went against Devack? And why didn't he freak out during my duel against Kalin?"

"Against Devack I convinced him to comfort himself with the voices of the surrounding decks that he could hear. It helped, but not nearly as much as we liked. I think it may actually hurt him, but he refuses to show it, even to us."

"We're a few minutes away," Yusei told the dragons. He was glad that giving them both real bodies made him able to understand Leyvaten, but he still couldn't hear anybody else's deck.

"Has your ravine gotten in contact with other dragons?" Stardust asked his mate. "Perhaps an outside perspective may help."

Leyvaten thought for a while about that idea.

"There may be someone out there that could help," She said at length. "But it will have to wait until after this duel. Everyone in his deck needs to be there."

Yusei nodded, as they finally arrived at the crater Roman said to go to.

"You ready for this, Jake? He wants a two-on-one again," Yusei said as everyone left Trudge's car. "His deck probably hasn't changed all that much, meaning it's probably still silenced."

"Yeah... let's just get this over with," Jake said, beginning to walk down the steps to where they would probably be dueling.

Yusei caught up quickly, as did the two dragons. Everyone else fell in step behind them, Crow going to investigate something else. It would be quite a ways down the steps.

"Were you talking to Leyvaten and Stardust about how I talk to the cards?" Jake asked Yusei after a while. The pro duelist glanced at the teen.

"Yeah, we were," Yusei admitted. "We're a little worried. Are you going to be alright?"

Jake took a moment to think, to phrase his answer in the right way.

"I was hiding it ever since that first time," Jake began to explain. "But... I think that because I'm so used to hearing decks and I connect to them so easily, that... well, the decks are silenced, but the dark voices that do get through actually kind of hurt. They're always so dark and menacing. Since it's my heart that's listening to them, it kinda hurts me to hear it."

"So I was right," Leyvaten said with a sigh. "Jake, will you share how much it hurts you?"

"I don't want to hurt you," Jake answered, shaking his head.

"And we don't want you to bear the burden of it alone," Mystletainn intervened. "We're a team, aren't we?"

Jake hesitated. He really didn't want to even risk hurting the spirits of his deck by opening up and sharing the pain that came from the decks the Dark Signers used.

"Just do it," Leyvaten said gently.

Jake sighed and gingerly opened up that spot where he'd hidden what he'd felt with each duel against the Dark Signers. When the connection was fully open, Stardust faltered in his flight alongside his mate as they travelled down the steps.

"Stardust? Are you alright?" Yusei asked upon noticing this.

"Jake, was it really that bad?" Stardust inquired of the teen.

"What?" Jake was clearly surprised.

"Jake, even I could feel that," Stardust said. "If the pain was strong enough for it to surge through the connection to me, you really should have let us know sooner."

"Why didn't you?" Leyvaten asked. Make that demanded. Jake winced from her tone. "You know very well that we could have taken it."

"Jake, that was serious," Mystletainn snapped at her duelist. "The ravine itself shook, Jake. Not very much, but it did."

"That just means you should have told us sooner," Leyvaten growled.

"Did something happen?" Yusei asked.

"I was hiding a lot," Jake answered at length. "A lot of pain. I still don't know why the silenced decks hurt as much as they do, but with as much as I hid... when I finally showed it, my deck's entire ravine shook."

"And even I was able to feel it, and maybe even some of other members of Yusei's deck," Stardust interjected.

"Why did your deck's home feel it?" Yusei asked, even as they were only a couple of minutes away from the duelling site.

"He's that connected to us, Yusei," Leyvaten answered for her duelist. Her tone proved how furious she was with him. "Jake, don't you ever dare to hide something like that from us again, or so help me, that will be the least of your worries."

"You're right... I'm sorry," Jake whispered. Leyvaten softened up a touch.

"Jake, don't forget – we chose you as our duelist just as you chose us as your deck," Leyvaten said, as the place of the duel began to enter their line of sight. "And if you ever do that again I will have your hide!"

Jake smiled at Leyvaten. Just like her to say something like that. Stardust made a mental note to not anger his mate. Then again, he'd probably do the same to his own duelist.

"Now are you ready for this?" Yusei asked his friend.

"Yeah," Jake nodded. "Thanks, guys."

"What are teammates and friends for?" Leyvaten asked rhetorically, as they finally, at last, arrived.

"So you're finally here," Roman said, grinning all the while. "I'm ready for our little rematch against Signer and non-Signer."

Jake flinched at the silent deck the Dark Signer still held, but this time, he kept the connection open. Whatever voices were in those cards that hurt... at least the burden was being shared this time so it wasn't so bad, but Leyvaten grit her teeth slightly at the feeling. They needed to beat this guy, here, now, and fast. The bridge was barely narrow enough on Roman's end to hold one person, but it seemed that the one for the two he was going against was wide enough for them. It was decided that the Dark Signer's leader would be going first.

Roman: 8000 LP

Yusei: 4000 LP

Jake: 4000 LP

"I'll set this one card facedown and end my turn," Roman grinned.

Just one card? He's definitely got something bad up his sleeve, Jake thought, as Yusei began his turn. By the time it ended, Junk Warrior had been synchro summoned and had attacked Roman directly for a nice 2300 points of damage.

Roman: 5700 LP

Yusei: 4000 LP

Jake: 4000 LP

"Now my trap activates – Wolf in Sheep's Clothing! It allows me to summon two Dark Spider monsters – one from my hand, and one from my deck," Roman smirked as the beasts appeared.

"I'll end my turn by placing a card facedown," Yusei sighed, glancing to his friend. Leyvaten had her jaw clenched from what she was feeling coming from her duelist.

"My turn," Jake said. The feeling of darkness flooding through his connection to Roman's cards really hurt, and it made drawing his next card that much tougher – but he was grateful with what his deck was giving him to help. "Alright, pay attention. This only happens once."

"Leyvaten, how are you doing?" Stardust asked his mate gently, as Jake summoned Dragunity Aklys to the field.

"I'm really worried about this," Leyvaten answered softly. "It... it's a lot worse than I thought for him."

"As a result of Aklys' ability, I can special summon another – and I'm summoning Leyvaten to the field, thus equipping her with Aklys," Jake said. "Then from my hand I activate Dragon Mastery. Every monster equipped with a "Dragunity" monster gains 500 attack points.

Dragunity Arma Leyvaten: 3100 ATK/1200 DEF, 8 Stars

"Then, also by the spell card's effect, I equip Leyvaten with Dragunity Brandistock. I'll end my turn with a facedown."

"And once it's my turn," Roman smirked. "I'll activate the field spell card Spider Web!"

"But that means...!" Yusei's eyes widened.

"That's right – I can now sacrifice my two Dark Spiders in order to summon Earthbound Immortal Uru!"

Jake clenched his jaw and grit his teeth as the emotionless voice resounded across the connection from Roman's deck, much stronger than before. Stardust had to actually gently place an arm around his mate, to help support her as the pain her duelist felt was shared among his entire deck, as he'd been convinced to do. This duel was going to be a lot more difficult than the first one against him, and that just turned out to be correct.

While Jake had helped save Yusei from taking damage for a turn, thanks to Remote Revenge stopping Roman from destroying Yusei's Synchro Barrier, the Dark Signer had still managed to eliminate two other cards in Jake's spell and trap card zone – Brandistock and Dragon Mastery. Currently, he had Leyvaten, Dragunity Pilum, and Masked Dragon out on the field in his monster card zones, while Yusei held no monsters and only a facedown... and the worst part was that the pain was only getting worse.

"I hope he's going to be alright..." Luna said quietly as Jake drew Genesis Dragon from his deck.

"I sacrifice Masked Dragon in order to summon Genesis Dragon in defense mode!" Jake said. The Dragon Ravine card in his hand was useless since Roman would probably disable it immediantly and keep it from working. "Then I'll change Pilum to defense mode, and end my turn!"

I'm glad my deck has Skull Dice in it, Jake thought. That card's been facedown for a couple turns now. It'll help save my life points, and maybe Yusei's as well... we're both getting low on those.

Roman: 3500 LP

Yusei: 2400 LP

Jake: 900 LP

"This is the turn that you both lose at last!" Roman exclaimed. There had been a long pause as he explained everything that had happened to cause Zero Reverse, answering many questions, but causing even more queries to pop up. "Earthbound Immortal Uru, attack Genesis Dragon!"

Jake grit his teeth as the beast was destroyed.

"You've activated his effect by destroying him," Jake said, even as the pain continued to threaten to make him black out. "All dragon-type monsters in my graveyard, excluding him, are returned to my deck."

"Two monsters won't help you," Roman chuckled darkly. "Even someone with your abilities. Now it's Yusei's turn once I activate Destiny Activator. By sending a card to the graveyard, if on your next draw you get the same type of card, your life points are cut in half!"

Yusei nodded, and drew. Glancing behind him, he saw that Stardust was currently holding up Leyvaten, whom seemed to be helping her duelist handle the agony of whatever it was. As a result of drawing Zero Gardna, Yusei's life points dropped.

Roman: 3500 LP

Yusei: 1200 LP

Jake: 900 LP

"I summon Zero Gardna in defense mode, place a facedown, and end my turn," Yusei said, looking to his friend.

Jake nodded, and moved his trembling hand to his deck. The very moment his fingers touched the top card, white light flashed before his eyes, blinding him. Leyvaten's head snapped up to look at her duelist, who seemed to be frozen in place.

"Leyvaten? What's wrong? Are you alright?" Stardust asked his mate.

"Jake... Jake's gone!" Leyvaten breathed out.

"What?"

"I... I can't feel the connection to him anymore! The pain is gone, but... what happened to him? What's going on?"

"I... I don't know..."

Jake didn't know what was happening either. One moment he was drawing a card from his deck, trying to withstand whatever pain was aimed at him. The next... it was all gone. The bright light shining everywhere he could see seemed to be taking it away. For some reason, this brilliance seemed to be warm, helpful... he didn't feel any pain here.

"What's going on...?" He asked quietly.

I am here to help you, A voice answered. Jake's eyes widened at the telepathy – but for some reason, the feminine voice only comforted him. I cannot allow such a pure soul to be wounded as you have been enduring.

"Who... what do you mean?" Jake frowned. He wasn't that pure.

Do not worry about that. For now, draw your card. I will be there to protect you from the pain.

"Heh, did he finally give up?" Roman smirked, but then his face fell as some sort of white light began to glow around Jake.

"He's... he's back," Leyvaten whispered, feeling even more confused. "But the pain is still gone... how?"

Jake ignored it all and drew the top card of his deck, hearing an unfamiliar roar of an unfamiliar dragon – that seemed to still comfort him even so. His eyes widened to a size resembling UFOs. He could hear the card demanding to be played, demanding to have the chance to destroy the Earthbound. Jake decided to not dissapoint the card's spirit, especially since it seemed to be the one defending him from the pain he'd been attempting – and failing – to endure before.

"Alright," He began to say. "I'm going to sacrifice Dragunity Pilum and Dragunity Arma Leyvaten –"

"What?" The real Leyvaten whispered, wondering what was going on as the two holograms vanished.

"As a result of sending Aklys to the graveyard while equipped to a monster, I am allowed to destroy your facedown."

The upside-down card was obliterated in a shower of hologram pieces.

"Also as a result of Leyvaten's ability, Aklys returns."

The little Dragunity Aklys monster reappeared, wondering silently what was going on with his duelist.

"Now... here is what the sacrifices are for," Jake said, looking at the card in his hand with intense reverence. Only one man in history had held this card before, and since then, they'd vanished, so holding one in his hand and being allowed to play it was a high honor. "I'm summoning a monster like none other, not even your Earthbound! Come forth – Blue-Eyes White Dragon!"

In a burst of brilliantly white light, the dragon appeared, roaring in defiance at the darkness seeping in heavy waves from the Earthbound Immortal. It really didn't like it when someone with a soul of light was being harmed by such a thing, hence the reason it had appeared in Jake's deck.

Blue-Eyes White Dragon (Dragon): 3000 ATK/2500 DEF, 8 Stars

(This legendary dragon is a powerful engine of destruction. Virtually invincible, very few have faced this awesome creature and lived to tell the tale.)

"Next I equip her with the spell card Mage Power! As a result, she gains 500 attack and defense points for every spell and trap card on my side of the field, and with a total of three, that's 1500!"

Blue-Eyes White Dragon (Dragon): 4500 ATK/4000 DEF, 8 Stars

"Leyvaten, when... why... how does he have that card?" Stardust asked his mate, whom was now perfectly fine since the pain had vanished.

"He... he doesn't," Leyvaten answered, in just as much shock and awe as everyone else. "I... I don't know how that card appeared in his deck... but it shouldn't be there. It wasn't there before!"

"No! It can't be!" Roman whispered as the brilliantly beautiful and powerful dragon appeared. "Only one person has had that card! There's no way you can!"

"...You're right, I shouldn't," Jake admitted at length. "But she appeared in my deck of her own will, and demanded to have the right to face you, and I really didn't want to keep her away from that option."

Blue-Eyes glared at Roman with such vehemence it's a wonder he remained standing. She had long ago sensed Jake's bright white heart. It's what allowed him to communicate with the spirits of the cards as easily as he did. Thus she had decided to keep an eye on him, and now that he was in danger of that light being extinguished, she had opted to jump at the chance to defend him.

"Now, then, Roman," Jake said. "Your Uru can't be the target of an attack, meaning the only other target here is you! And since I see no other facedown cards, I'm not worried about anything! Blue-Eyes, end this, please."

The dragon was more than happy to comply. She opened her maw, and fired her most powerful attack directly at the Dark Signer, finally defeating him.

Roman: 0 LP

Yusei: 1200 LP

Jake: 900 LP

The cords of the bridge snapped as the realistic attack hit their enemy. Leyvaten and Stardust weren't quick enough to catch the duelists... at least, not both. When the bridge they'd been dueling on had fallen apart, the space Jake had been standing on buckled in a way that sent him right into Leyvaten's arms where she caught him. Yusei landed in the glowing lake of whatever-it-was below. The group of them were grateful when he was suddenly returned out of nowhere, but now that they knew he was alright, there was another question at mind.

"How did Jake get a hold of that card?" Leyvaten wondered aloud.

This was one interesting mystery for them to have to solve...

Credit: Yeah. It's mine.

A/N: I apologize for leaving out a large chunk of the duel, but honestly, it's a bore to write (and I was being lazy :P). Anyway, how's that for a twist? :D