For Hope's Sake

The Bakugan looked down at the images he saw in the well. The ones he had chosen. These Brawlers, as they called themselves. The Six Soldiers had taken special interest in a few of them. Code Eve, his own sister, had taken interest in them. Some were inexperienced, innocent, happy, and naïve to the past, others cared more scars and pain than any one should bear. They may be not most first choice, but the Bakugan was not most. He knew they would prevail. The first three were already champions, the fourth a minor hero and the other two were inexperienced, but held an important key to his victory.

Then the water churned, switching to a different image. The scene was a crater of black stone. The crater spanned several miles wide and so deep the edges appeared to be mountains. In the middle of the crater, two Bakugan, one Darkus and the other Haos, in deep battle with a swarm of enemies that looked ready to overwhelm them. Their enemies poured over the peaks in mass. The two Bakugan fought hard and bravely, but the power of their enemy was starting to wear them down.

In the distance, a dark red cloud swirled at the edge of the cliff. In the center of the cloud, a red glowing shrouded figure watched the two Bakugan intently. From the cloud, his most powerful monsters charged the warriors. The swarm parted for the four monsters.

The first two slammed into the Darkus Bakugan, sending him flying. The impact sent out a shockwave of Darkus energy. The Haos Bakugan flipped over the other two with ninja ease, but one of the monsters shot a ball of red energy, knocking her down.

The Darkus Bakugan rose to his feet and fired a devastating purple laser. Most of the lesser enemies were destroyed but the monsters were only slightly hurt by it. Their chests glowed with building energy. The Darkus Bakugan threw up a shield and braced himself.

The Haos Bakugan recovered and leapt in action with amazing grace. Twin light energy daggers grew in her hands. With a lethal ease, the Haos Bakugan slashed and cut down the four monsters before they could fire. The Darkus Bakugan fired four arrows of black explosive light. The monsters disappeared in thick clouds of smoke.

The shrouded figure on the hill let loose more monsters, more powerful, more destructive. The Two Bakugan wouldn't be able to take them and the army that already surrounded them, but they braced themselves any way.

The Bakugan watching the battle couldn't lose his two best fighters and heroes. He stretched his hand over the water. "Gundal, Neath, return." He commanded.

The Bakugan glowed with their respective attribute lights and returned to ball form, flying into the air through and unseen portal. The figure in the clouded chuckled, a sound that would make men cringe and continued moving, focusing his army on his prize.

The two Bakugan, Gundal and Neath, flew into the Bakugan's hand. The Bakugan threw the ball forms on the ground and they returned to their Bakugan forms. Darkus Battalion Gundal was covered head to toe in black armor dotted with purple power lines. For a left arm, a large cannon took its place. His face was covered with a dark, obsidian glass visor. His very aura gave off a wave of intimidation. Gundal was not an opponent you should take lightly. He rarely spoke, and what he did say rarely went unheeded.

Haos Sensei Neath was his polar opposite. Her lithe frame gave her an edge of speed and grace. She wore light white pants, cloak and boots. Her head was covered with a white hood. Her elven facial features gave off a royal beauty. Her eyes were almond shaped, the irises like miniature suns. The cloak itself was covered in the old language of the Bakugan, spells and enchantments to ward off evil.

Neath glared out the Bakugan who removed her from the battle. "We had it, Towarsole. We could have taken them."

Towarsole shook his massive head. "No. They would have killed you both. These are not the chaotic beasts of Mag Mel when you placed him in his prison. These creatures are older, more powerful. No, Neath, even with your two evolutions, you still couldn't have beaten them."

Neath backed off, seeing the wisdom of her master. She could be hot headed at times, but she knew when she was wrong.

Gundal stepped forward. "Do you think this Fusion plan of yours will work?" his monotone voice betrayed no emotion, but Towarsole knew the Darkus hero was a bit skeptical.

"It is our only hope. For the fate of the universe, it has too." Towarsole glanced back at the well. The water showed the images of the humans he had handpicked out of thousands. Four of them were highly experienced battlers with the respective attributes and faced Naga and other threats together. The other two were new to Bakugan and Brawling but they had a pure heart and deep roots, roots to the soul of the universe.

Neath stepped forward and huffed. "Why the humans and especially these. Those three may have been the Soldiers favorite at one point, but they haven't battled anything like Naga in year. Why not use the others? They have fought more battles and faced impossible odds."

"Because those ones deserve their hard won rest. And their Bakugan have their roles to play in the universe already." Towarsole explained. He stared intently at the three Neath referred to "They have been lost, without purpose for some time now. They need this, and so do we."

Towarsole flicked his hand in the well. The images flickered away, replaced with crystal blue water. Towarsole glanced out the open window of his spire at the city below. Nestled in a mountain valley on a desolate planet on the fringes of where the universe met the chaos, the city bustled as Bakugan prepared for war. These were ancient Bakugan, Towarsole's children. None of them have been exposed to humans or brawling. And now they were on the verge of destruction. Towarsole could see the fear and determination in their eyes. They would fight to end, which what Towarsole never wanted. Which was why his Fusion plan had to work.

Towarsole looked back at Gundal and Neath. "You two are growing weaker with every battle. Stay here, train the others, regain your strength."

Neath looked shocked. "You can't pull us out!"

Gundal put his right hand on Neath's shoulder. "He is right, my dove. One more battle like that and we are finished."

Neath sighed and listened. Just then a Ventus Bakugan entered the room. Towarsole nodded in greeting. "Azraghul, are they ready?"

Azraghul grinned with pride. "One from each attribute, ready for fusion, just like you asked."

Towarsole stared back at the well, even though the images were gone. "Good. Prepare for the next phase. I will be along shortly."

The three Bakugan nodded and left. Towarsole stared down at the well. "It is our only hope."