A/N: Whoa! I wasn't expecting all the support for this fic! I mean 7 favs and 10 reviews just for the first chapter, sweet damn!
But man was I surprised by the results for what bakugan you guys want Masky to get:
Leonidas: 4
Oserian: 3 (A number I'm shocked by! I mean she's only just been introduced in D&D but you guys seem to want a mysterious new bakugan)
Superior: 2
Thanks for dropping it from a whole lot of bakugan to just 3. I already have an idea of who Masquerade is gonna get, but don't fear even if Masquerade doesn't end up having them as his partner they may team up with someone else in this story.
Don't count on a lot of human OC's though, it is my hope that we can keep this within the established major and minor cast pulling characters from the series and its spin offs. (*koff koff* Katie from the Evo Tournament *koff* Marduk from the game *koff koff*)
Anyways let's get onto what we all came here to read!
I, JetravenEx, bakugan fanfiction writer for the past 4 years, does not own bakugan. IT'S SO UNFAIR T.T
Chapter 2
After Naga and Dr. Michael basically told Masquerade he was the only hope for this world, Masquerade had told them he needed a minute to process everything.
So Dr. Michael had let him loose on the mansion above, he'd even been kind enough to DT Masquerade into the mansion, rather than have him scale the long dark winding stair case to get up there.
Masquerade frowned taking a look at his surroundings when Dr. Michael vanished to return back to the computer room deep underground. He was in the hallway with the false wall leading to the stair case. However, rather than have a large glass mirror, and the carpet randomly end making it an obvious give away about the secret stair case behind it; there was a physical wall with an ornate mirror centered in it there and the carpet's design ended as if it had reached the end of the hall way.
"Huh so I wonder how they access the stairs." Masquerade mused inspecting the wall for a moment before he stopped at the mirror that was centered in the middle of it. The mirror reflected his image back to him, looking just like he always had. Same white coat, same black and red gloves, his coat was open just enough to see his dark blue undershirt, the crisscrossing belts and the beginning of his purple pants. He also had the same glass mask, the surface reflective and polished unmarred by any cracks.
"So the crack went away." Masquerade mused as he brought a hand up to the mask, running his fingers along the smooth edge before he grasped the glass of the mask.
He had seen Alice with the Bakugan Battle Brawlers, at least… He'd seen the Alice of this world, but that didn't necessarily mean he was free from her entirely. There was a possibility that Naga had dragged his host along for the ride to this backwards dimension.
But he couldn't stand being back and not at least trying to see if he was his own person. So bringing up his other hand to grasp his mask on the other side Masquerade slowly pulled off his mask, closing his eyes as he did until it was off completely.
Lowering it Masquerade hesitantly opened his eyes and then they widened as he gaped at his reflection.
For the first time in his entire existence, Masquerade finally saw his real face. He had sharper features than Alice did, and his clear blue eyes were a refreshing change from Alice's empty brown eyes when he was in control of her.
He smirked slightly as he turned his head and inspected his appearance. "Damn, I look good." He said chuckling to himself.
He admired his new reflection for a few more seconds before he turned away from the mirror, a satisfied smile on his lips. "It feels good to finally be free from Alice," He said heading down the hallway his mask clasped in his left hand. Then his expression darkened slightly his eyebrows furrowing slightly. "Granted the circumstances could be better," He muttered as he grabbed his chin.
It was weird to think about it, the brawlers being evil. He just couldn't picture it. Alice was the complete opposite of him, while he'd been willing to take advantage of anyone and hurt anyone she could barely bring herself to hurt a fly, let alone doom her world to destruction.
Julie was too preppy and cheerful, but she was more of a cheerleader than anything and not too bright. She was also a follower, if the other brawlers said jump she'd jump and jump happily.
Dan, the leader of the brawlers, the guy had a big heart and a capacity to forgive that left Masquerade speechless. One brawl, and he'd been willing to discard all of Masquerade's wrongs; and not only would he forgive him, he wanted to welcome Masquerade into the brawlers his close group of friends. While his former allies had all been forgiven, none of them had been given the invitation to join up with the brawlers.
Runo well, actually he could see her going bad. She was a lot like Julie in the way that she was definitely more of a follower, but if she didn't get her way she got violent and nasty. It wouldn't be too hard to see her changing sides.
Marucho was a logical sort, the kid was smart but also quiet and the most ignored of the brawlers. Masquerade got the feeling the brilliant rich kid got used more often than not but rather than say anything about it, he just accepted it with a smile. Perhaps in this world he got pushed too far?
Then all that left was Shun. Masquerade's eyes narrowed. He was practically the brawlers second in command, and if Dan was not the driving force behind the whole 'evil brawlers' schtick it would have to be Shun.
He was the one Masquerade could picture going evil the most easily. While the other brawlers could be petty and that could drive them to evil, Shun was quiet and had a lot of things happen to him, the death of his mother, the struggle of training, the growing gap between his friends all were reasons that in the past Masquerade saw potential in him to be swayed to his side.
There was the also the fact that Wayvern had the infinity core, the core of positive energy that gave life rather than take it in like the silent core. Perhaps she had the brawlers believing she would heal someone dear to them or in Shun's case, revive his mother.
Masquerade shook his head. All he was doing was guesswork, if he was going to figure out what was going on he needed to investigate.
'Or should I not even bother?' Masquerade thought to himself pausing in the middle of the hallway and glanced around. Overall the place was so similar to his home, but he could see cobwebs and dust rather than impeccable cleanliness his old 'home' had. Oh it had been empty sure, but it had been maintained, though now he wondered if that wasn't in part due to Naga and Hal-G using som kind of magic to maintain it. Which was something that this Naga would want to avoid to keep this location a secret from Wayvern and her brawlers.
The most troubling part was Masquerade didn't know enough, he didn't know the ins and outs of this world, he didn't know how the rules of bakugan differed from back home, he didn't know who was who in this world and he didn't have any bakugan to begin with! Every one of his bakugan had been left behind with Alice. Even his Hydranoid, his loyal partner was not here with him. Although the beast was dim and simple minded, he made up for it in his drive to be stronger and his unending loyalty to Masquerade. Now here, where he was all alone with no tricks up his sleeve, where he was the one who had to dethrone not one but six brawlers, Masquerade found himself deeply missing Hydra's drive and loyalty.
Masquerade was starting completely from scratch, and he didn't know the first place to start. Part of him just wanted to decline Naga and Dr. Michael's request and maybe try to leave, if the two could manage to drag Masquerade out from Oblivion using the DT system, perhaps Masquerade could use it to get home.
The only thing keeping Masquerade from doing that, from writing off this world all together was his pride. IF he gave up, it meant he was afraid of the Bakugan Battle Brawlers. It meant he was afraid of Dan Kuso, and that was something Masquerade refused to be. Oh, Dan had earned his respect, but Masquerade did not fear him, and he'd be damned if he started fearing him now.
'So I guess I'm in then.' Masquerade thought as he resumed walking down the hall glancing into the open empty rooms as he passed them, wrinkling his nose at the sight of all the dust, cobwebs and disorder of the rooms. 'Since I'm staying here, I presume this will be where I will reside…hopefully the rest of the house fared better than this area.' He thought to himself quickening his pace as he passed dusty, dirty room after dusty and dirty room.
"I'm beginning to lose hope here." Masquerade muttered, when he paused a soft sound reaching his ears. The blond blinked and glanced around when the sound came again, footsteps.
Masquerade stiffened up, his grip tightened on the mask in his hand while he turned his head trying to discern where the footsteps were coming from. There wasn't much the way he had come, and the footsteps were quick but quiet. Briefly Masquerade considered that it could be Dr. Michael coming to find out if he'd decided, but the old man would've simply just appeared near him announcing his presence to Masquerade rather than sneak about the mansion.
Scowling Masquerade slipped the mask back on, although he didn't like concealing his new (and handsome) face, the mask upped his intimidation. He took a moment to make sure it was secured in place before he hurried down the hall keeping his footsteps silent while he listened for the other person's footsteps.
Whoever it was trespassing in this mansion was in for the scare of his life.
As Masquerade moved he could hear the footsteps grow louder and louder up ahead. Peering into the rooms as he passed them by he noted they looked much more lived in with each one he passed. There was still a thin layer of dust, however there were a lot less cobwebs, until passed one that was cluttered with brightly colored objects that stood out against the drabness of the room. It made Masquerade pause briefly to peer into the room.
The room had a couch facing towards a large old TV. On the couch there was a rumpled up yellow blanket at the left end of it, a pillow on the other. At the foot of the couch there were several wrappers and bags from fast food stores. Off to the side there was a pile of laundry, a foul odor coming off the garbs making Masquerade wrinkle his nose in disgust.
But these were the first signs of life he'd seen in the whole mansion, that someone lived in this place and that it hadn't been abandoned for god knows how long.
'Is there someone else living here that Dr. Michael neglected to tell me about?' Masquerade wondered eyebrows furrowing surveying the room. Sighing he turned to leave, the room not offering him any more clues about the source of the footsteps.
He frowned slightly, actually now that he thought about it… He hadn't heard anything in the past few minutes.
Masquerade stiffened when he sensed someone behind him, he whirled around to face the intruder, just in time to get clocked in the side of the head. Grunting in pain Masquerade staggered to the side from the blow, practically bent over from it. He grasped onto the door frame to keep from toppling over his head jerking up to look up at his attacker.
The one who punched him glared down at him with blazing red eyes, his messy silver hair pulled back in a loose ponytail, several strands sticking out from it. He wore a ratty gray shirt and torn faded jeans. From the state of his appearance, Masquerade was looking at the other occupant of the mansion, and he did not look happy.
A/N: Yeah I'm a cheapskate who's ending it there. Whole lot of reflection and thinking in this chapter, damn these guys for having such huge mansions to go through you can have them walking through the same hallway forever.
Anyways who is the mysterious guy who Masquerade's found in the mansion? Hint if you've read D&D you can consider it this guy getting revenge on Masky for what he did to him in chapter 4.
And yeah I know not much happened this chapter, but everyone was desperate for an update and its been 5 days so I figured I'd give you guys something.
So please cast your votes for which of the three bakugan Masky should have and state your reasons why the options are:
Leonidas
Oserian
Superior
Reaper
Also how do you think Masquerade should go about getting info on the brawlers leave your comments in reviews!
Another note, what things would you like to see happen in the story? Is there any minor character you'd like to see?