Disclaimer: I do not own anything from the Harry Potter series and the Bakugan Battle Brawlers Anime series.
J.K. Rowling wrote Harry Potter
Bakugan Battle Brawlers is directed by Mitsuo Hashimoto and licensed by Nelvana.
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Chapter 2: Masquerade Ball

The next day, Dan and Ken are walking to school. Ken is still clouded with thoughts about the discovery of the talking Bakugan. Dan looked at his younger brother with concern.

"Ken, you're acting strange today." Ken sighed.

"I know. It's just because of what happened last night."

"Oh, come on. I have a talking Bakugan now." Dan cheered in glee, trying to change the mood.

Ken gave him a deadpan look.

"Okay. Just don't brag about it."

"Yeah, sure," Dan promised as he changed the subject. "You know I'm still shocked that you're in the same grade as me."

"Dan, you said the same thing every week since last spring. Get over it. I'm just smarter than you." Ken said smugly.

"HEY!" Dan gave his little brother the stink eye as they got ready for class.

At the classroom, Dan, to some extent, breaks his promise to Ken.

"Hey! Let me see that."

"That is so cool. Is this the Bakugan I had read about on the web?"

"Ta-da!" Dan displayed to his classmates the Pyrus Dragonoid. "Feast your eyes on the

one and only Drago guys."

"Is that the one that talks?"

"Hey Dan, make it say something."

"Oh, I'm so jealous. Mine hasn't said one word yet."

"Or maybe you just made the whole thing up Danny."

"I'll prove it to ya, alright?" Dan told to the accuser.

"Come on. Show us!"

"Show it!"

"Okay. Okay. I'll show ya already." Dan looked at Drago. "You ready, Drago? It's show time."

"Bakugan Stand!" Dan shouted as he expected his Bakugan to do something.

But it didn't happen and everyone sweatdropped at the sight.

"Maybe it's busted."

"Come on Drago. Say something." Dan said. "Bakugan Stand!"

But, it didn't happen. He kept repeating the same phrase repeatedly, but the kids looked more unenthusiastic.

"You're embarrassing me, Drago," Dan told the Bakugan.

"Hey Dan, forget Drago. I'm just wondering if you remember to do your homework."

"Yeah! If you didn't, Ms. Purdy will be all over you."

"Oh no! I forgot! I'm so done for!" Dan cried, remembering the last time he got in trouble with his teacher. "Maybe there's still time." Dan placed Drago back on his desk and ran toward his classmates.

"You got to help me or it's detention for life. Can you guys let me copy your notes? Please? You got to help me guys. Please? Please? Please?" Dan begged.

Meanwhile, Ken was at his brother's desk and shook his head at his brother in embarrassment.

"Why do I have a brother like him?"

"What a pathetic human. If he thinks I'm here for his personal amusement, he is sadly mistaken. I have a much more important mission: to stop Vestroia's destruction." The Dragonoid attempted to move, but he was unsuccessful.

Suddenly, Ken heard footsteps and looked horrified.

"Guys! I think Ms. Purdy is coming!" Ken ran to his seat as his prediction came true when a strict woman with black hair in a bun and glasses came in.

"Students! Did you not hear the bell?" The teacher yelled.

"It's Ms. Purdy!"

The kids ran to their desks. Suddenly, a classmate knocked on Dan's desk and Drago dropped off the desk. Kids were kicking him all over the place as they ran to their desks. Dan noticed this and he ran to get Drago, but he jumped and rolled next to the teacher. She saw Drago and picked him up.

"Who's responsible for bringing marbles into my classroom?" Ms. Purdy noticed Dan on the floor.

"Daniel!" Dan stood up quickly.

"Yes, Ms. Purdy?" Dan asked timidly.

"I'll see you after class."

"Yes, Ms. Purdy!"

"Do I make myself clear?" the teacher said as she continued to frighten Dan.

"How did I get myself into this predicament?" Drago thought.

After Dan got Drago back and went back to his desk, class started. She was now teaching geometry to the class.

"Somehow I must get away to move freely in this realm. But I should hurry because Vestroia is in danger. Naga is behind its destruction and I must stop him. But first, I must find him." Drago's thoughts were interrupted when Dan took him from the desk and used a small brush to clean him up.

"Dan, do it later or she'll give you triple detention or worse." Ken shuddered at the thought as he continued to watch them.

"Aw man. With all that rolling around the floor, it sure messed you up, little guy." Dan muttered under his breath. "There. Now you started to look new again and all shiny and junk. I bet you're wishing I would do this all day and if you just talk to me, well maybe I might..."

Dan did not finish his sentence since Drago was so annoyed at the human that he opened up and shouted, "Cease your scrubbing, human. I am not your toy!"

"Whoa! You scare the crud out of me!" Dan jumped out of his seat. "But I knew it. You can talk."

"Listen up guys! He can talk! My Drago just talked to me. Did you hear? He told me he isn't just some toy." He announced to his classmates.

Ken gulped.

"He's in trouble now." Ms. Purdy looked at Dan in annoyance.

"Daniel! That is quite enough." She shouted as Dan looked at the teacher. "Can you hear my voice well young man?"

"Yes, Ms. Purdy." Dan gulped.

"I want you to listen very carefully. DETENTION FOR THE REST OF THE SEMESTER!"

"NO!"

School ended and Dan was stuck in detention. Ken went to the park to relax before going home. He took out a Darkus Bakugan from his pocket as he was on the swing set.

"I wonder how the Bakugan came here and why?" A powerful wind blew. "What's going on?"

A boy suddenly appeared in thin air. The boy has spiky blond hair and he wore a purple and blue visor mask made out of plastic or glass, a white cape-like coat, blue shirt and two crosses, armor on his upper chest, a belt with a circular belt buckle, and boots with small heels at the bottom and straps and buckles.

The blond boy drew a card out of his coat.

"A brawler. Are you challenging me to a battle? Okay, I'll go for it." Ken drew out his field card. "Before we brawl, what's your name? The name is Ken Kuso."

"Call me Masquerade."

"Field…Open!"

In the field, Ken screamed in fright as a horned humanoid skeleton that had deadly long wings and pointy fighting horns on its head attacked him with its scythe.

Back to Dan, he still looked irritated about what happened at school as he walked through the park.

"Thanks for wrecking my life, Drago," Dan growled as he looked at the Bakugan in his hand. "All you have to do is talk. Ah man! I wonder if all the other brawlers out there have such a stubborn Bakugan."

As he walked, he saw two people facing each other. One then fell to the ground as the other looked away. Dan recognized the one on the ground.

"Ken!" Dan shouted ran to him. "Are you okay bro?"

"Masquerade…" Ken pointed at the masked boy weakly.

"You did this to my little brother? Who are you?" Dan demanded.

"I'm Masquerade." The boy in the mask disappeared out of thin air.

"Why you…" Dan growled as he turned to his brother as he started to stand up. "What happened?"

"Later. I'll tell you back home."

Later at Dan's room, Ken was telling him what happened during his battle against Masquerade.

"So that guy used a card called the Doom Card to take away your Bakugan when you lose a battle." The younger brother nodded. "When I get my hands on him, I'll make sure he'll give them back or else!" Dan vowed to the heavens.

"Dan. calm down. We should tell the guys about it before we take action." Ken went to the computer. "Okay. We're logged in."

The first thing he saw on the monitor was Runo's face.

"FINALLY!" Runo shouted.

Her shout startled Ken so much that he fell off his chair and dropped to the floor.

"Ken? Sorry, I thought that you were Dan." Runo apologized.

"HEY!" Dan shouted.

"It's alright." Ken stood up and brush the dust off his clothes. "So, what happened to you?"

"This creep Masquerade came along and totally clobbered me this morning!" Dan and Ken were in shock of the news.

Marucho, Julie, and Alice just came into the video chat and voice their concerns.

"He's been winning battles all over the world," Marucho told the two brothers.

"Not to mention that every chat I checked is full of kids talking about Masquerade," said Alice.

"So, what's his deal?" Dan asked.

"He's won every single battle he's been in and kids everywhere are losing their Bakugan like crazy. This is serious," Julie looked worried.

"So Runo, did he steal yours?" Ken asked.

"Yes…my precious Terrorclaw, Falconeer, and Robotallion are gone for good," Runo said sadly.

"I got attacked by Masquerade this afternoon," Ken told them.

"What?" The four brawlers in the video chat exclaimed.

"Yeah. He took my Falconeer, Gargonoid, and Ravenoid."

"We have to do something guys," Marucho stated to his friends.

"Don't worry guys," said Dan. "You can count on me. If he comes near me looking for a battle, I'll win everyone's Bakugan back. That masked moron is going down."

"Awesome." Runo now seeing Dan in more respect.

"Oh, Danny darling, I wish I could just hug you," said Julie in a gushy tone.

"Me too." Alice agreed.

"I don't care how good that Masquerade dude is. I'm going to put my own Bakugan on the line and show him." Runo, Marucho, Julie, and Alice gasped at Dan's declaration.

"But what if you lose too?" Julie asked Dan.

"But I/he won't." Dan and Ken looked nervous.

"Do you both know what he's ranked at?" Runo asked.

The brothers shook his head.

"The latest update on the web puts him on #1," answered Marucho, putting Dan and Ken into a world of shock.

"YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME!" Ken and Dan yelled in shock.

"That's impossible. The best Bakugan brawler in the world should be Shun." Ken thought. "Something is weird here. We have to fix this."

"No matter the danger, no matter the risks, no matter the enemy, I will march to battle with my head held high and return victorious. This is my quest to follow that star." Dan declared as Ken interrupted, "Um…Dan…"

"Now what?" Dan asked his little brother.

"One question, how are you going to challenge Masquerade if you don't know where he is?"

"Right…Yeah well…that's a good question." Dan gained a sweat drop on his face.

Ken facepalmed.

After a couple of minutes of planning, Dan set up the webcam to record a video.

"Hey, Masquerade. This is Dan. You want a little battle with me?" Dan said in a cheerful mood and then shook his head in disgust.

"Aw man! This bites! What about this?" Dan reset the video.

"Masquerade, I'm sick and tired that you're bullying brawlers so you're going down! That is if you're man enough to accept my challenge. Well, are you or are you going to keep hiding behind that creepy little mask of yours like the total poser you really are? Your Bakugan are mine! You understand me. The name's Dan and I challenge you to a battle. I'm the number one in town."

"Geez Dan, are you having a death wish or something?" Ken joked as the red Dragonoid Bakugan opened and laughed.

"Ha, you're kidding."

"Quiet. Can't you see I'm just bluffing the creep, Drago? You got to trick him to come out and play." Dan retorted as he realized something. "Whoa! Did you just talk, Drago?"

"I believe so." Ken looked just as surprised as Dan.

"Listen to me, humans." Drago rolled on the desk. "I am not a toy. In your realm, you see me as a token trinket to battle for your pleasure. I ask you: is this all a game to you?"

"Hello! This is the greatest game ever. I love everything about the Bakugan. It makes me feel alive, in control, and the best part is I love winning." Dan answered. "What's wrong, Drago? Are you saying you don't like to battle? I thought that is what you're programmed for. I'm not getting this."

"Bakugan is more than a game." Drago closed himself up. Ken looked at him with wonder before turning to Dan.

"Dan, can I say something?"

"Sure."

"What Drago said got me thinking. There must be more to this than a game. Six months ago, cards fell from the sky. Where did they come from? There is also the fact that we can go from one world to another. How is it possible? There is no way it should exist."

"You're just being ridiculous," Dan replied. "I mean there no worry about it. It's just a game."

"I'm serious, Dan. If this is a game, why is it that every adult has no idea about it? No technology like that exists in this world. It will be a breakthrough in science. If Drago said is true, could it be that the Bakugan are some alien race that came here through the cards?"

"That is the craziest thing I ever heard."

"Dan, ridiculous or not we need to investigate this." Ken looked serious.

"Whatever." Dan rolled his eyes as he went back to work on his video.

"Idiot" Ken left the room, annoyed.

T he next day, Dan and Ken are running to their destination. Why are they running? They are running late.

"Come on! Come on! Out of the way! Move it! Move it! Heads up! I'm coming through!"

"Geez Dan, can you just relax for a minute?" Ken asked. He was ignored.

"This is going to be sweet! I'm so pumped he won't stand a chance!" Dan thought with excitement. "Let's go! Let's go!"

Later, they got to their destination, under the shadows of the bridge.

"He better be here or else!" Dan said as he and his brother saw two familiar faces. "What? You're here?"

"Shuji and Akira?" Ken asked.

"We've been waiting for you", said Akira.

"It's too bad your buddy Masquerade didn't show up," Shuji commented smugly.

The Kuso brothers fell to the ground.

"Not you two again! I do not have time for this!" Dan exclaimed, getting up from the surprise. "Now, beat it."

"You own me! I demand a rematch! So, pull out your cards and let's get this battle underway, punk!" Shuji pulled out his field card.

"Dan, I'll battle him. You need to conserve your energy so you can fight Masquerade." Ken told him as he pulled out his field card. "You want a piece of me? Then, you got it!"

"Field…open!"

"I can't believe you defeated my two Bakugan!" Shuji exclaimed.

"Let's go! Bakugan Brawl!" Ken threw his Aquos Serpenoid to the unoccupied Gate Card. "Bakugan Stand! Rise Aquos Serpenoid!"

Aquos Serpenoid. Power Level: 320Gs.

"You got to be kidding me!" Shuji exclaimed. "Bakugan Brawl!" Shuji threw his Ventus Falconeer to the same Gate Card. "Ventus Falconeer!"

Ventus Falconeer. Power Level: 340Gs.

"You're so stupid, Ken. Ventus has the advantage against Aquos." Shuji laughed.

"Battle!"

"Falconeer, kill that Serpenoid!" Shuji ordered.

The green humanoid falcon attacked the blue snake. As it was about to make contact…

"Ability Card activate! Co-relation between Aquos and Ventus"

"What?"

"Bakugan has strengths and weaknesses based on attributes, but co-relation ability cards can sometimes give a boost based on the attribute wheel. The clockwise rotation shows that after Aquos is Ventus. For every Ventus Bakugan on the field, 100Gs are added to my Bakugan." Ken addressed.

Aquos Serpenoid power level increase to 420Gs

"Serpenoid, let's end this!"

The blue snake had struck the falcon with its tail, causing Falconeer to revert to its ball form and drop back to the floor.

The brawlers returned to the real world after the brawl.

"You lose." Dan gloated.

"Why do you keep doing this to me?" Shuji whined.

"Aw man! Look at what happened to you." Akira shook his head. "Didn't I tell you? But no, mister big shot here wouldn't listen and now look what happen to you."

"Can it, Akira. I'm going home to mommy!" Shuji ran with a cry.

"Catch you later, you two!" Akira ran after his older brother.

"If you want to lose, give me a call." Dan waved to them. "Nice job, Ken. You know, if you keep this up. You'll be the rankings."

"Maybe. But you know I'm more of an observer." Ken heard footsteps. "Dan, there's someone coming."

Dan looked and saw a figure in the shadows.

"I'm looking for Dan Kuso." The figure said.

"Is that you, Masquerade?" Dan asked as the figure walks out of the shadows.

It was the same person who attacked Runo, Ken, and the other Brawlers all over the world: Masquerade.

"So, you decided to show up, Masquerade. Well then. Masquerade, I heard you've been stealing Bakugan from the Brawlers, including Runo and my little brother. WHY?" Dan yelled with anger.

Masquerade just scoffed.

"We've been working very hard and long to create and organize this game and there is no way I would let anyone mess it up, especially you. It ends right here." Dan growled.

"It's time to battle, Dan," Masquerade replied.

Let's go!" Dan said as he and Masquerade pulled their Field Cards.

"Field…Open!"

The cards glowed and transport them to the Bakugan Field. Ken was also there when grasp on Dan's shoulder.

"Gate Card set!" Dan and Masquerade set their gate cards onto the field.

Masquerade took out a card with a skull. Dan looked at it with concern.

"Ken. Is that…"

"Yup, that card is the one that allows him to take my Bakugan from whenever he wins a battle."

"Right. I need to be careful. That card is dangerous."

"Doom Card set." Masquerade dropped the card all the way to the ground and the ground absorbed it, causing waves of darkness to spread all over the field.

Ken felt uneasy.

"Man, the Doom Card is scary. I can feel something sinister from it."

"Your move, Dan," Masquerade told him.

"I need to start with a strong Bakugan. Serpenoid should do it." Dan pulled out a Bakugan. "Bakugan Brawl!" Dan threw the Bakugan to his Gate Card. The Bakugan opened up and released the snake/serpent Bakugan.

"Bakugan Stand! Do some damage Pyrus Serpenoid!"

Pyrus Serpenoid. Power level: 320Gs.

Masquerade took out a Darkus Bakugan and threw it to Dan's Gate Card.

"Bakugan Brawl! Darkus Reaper, stand!"

The Bakugan opened and released the Grim reaper Bakugan.

Darkus Reaper. Power Level: 370Gs.

"Oh no! His Reaper has more G-Power than Serpenoid. But his attribute is Darkus. Pyrus has an advantage to Darkus. It'll take a while for Reaper to defeat Serpenoid so I'll need to use my cards to beat him." Dan thought.

"Battle!"

"Gate Card open: Pyrus Reactor!" Dan shouted.

Pyrus Serpenoid power level increase to 370Gs.

"Okay, Masquerade. It's time to either put up or shut up. Let's see you try to trump this bad boy." Dan gloated.

"Dan, he has some tricks up his sleeves," Ken warned.

Masquerade smirked. "Ability card activate! Dimension Four."

The gate was canceled out and returned Serpenoid to his base G-Power.

"Slice him, Reaper."

Reaper dashed toward the snake Bakugan and sliced it in half.

"No! Serpenoid!"

A dark portal opened and swallowed Serpenoid through the portal. The portal closed up after taking the snake Bakugan from the field.

"What power." Drago and Ken thought.

Reaper returned to his ball form and back to Masquerade's hand.

"Giving up, Dan?" Masquerade asked.

"Never." Dan took out a Bakugan and a Gate Card. "Gate Card set!" Dan threw the card across Masquerade's gate card and set it adjacent to it. "Bakugan brawl!" Dan threw the Bakugan to the said Gate Card.

The sphere opened and released the humanoid triceratops.

"Bakugan Stand! Avenge Serpenoid, Saurus!"

Pyrus Saurus. Power level: 350Gs.

"Bakugan Brawl! Darkus Reaper, stand!" Masquerade shouted as he threw Bakugan to the same gate card.

"Battle!"

"Ability Card activate! Saurus Glow." Dan threw the card to Saurus. Flames surround the humanoid triceratops.

Pyrus Saurus power level increase to 400Gs.

"You may beat my Gate Card, but you won't override my ability card," Dan said.

"Oh boy, you jinxed it." Ken thought as the masked brawler pulled out a card.

"Ability Card activate! Double Dimension" The flames dispersed and Reaper slice Saurus in half, sending it to the dark portal that just appeared.

"Damn, he nullified my Ability Card," Dan growled at Masquerade. "I want my Bakugan back, asshole!"

"Sorry, but no can do. Once the Doom card is played, the battle is over. Once you throw it down, it overpowers all cards and sent the defeated Bakugan to the Doom Dimension for all eternity." Masquerade explained.

"The Doom Dimension?!" Ken, Dan, and Drago said in shock.

"He's right, human. A Bakugan can never return from the Doom Dimension. There, we meet our eternal demise. Nothing is feared more than the Doom Dimension." Drago explained.

"I can't believe this is happening! It is like the final resting place for all Bakugan, like Hell. Falconeer, Gargonoid, Ravenoid. I'm sorry. I wish I never used you in that last brawl." Ken thought sadly.

"Damn it! Why are you messing with the game we created?" Masquerade chuckled at Dan's demand.

"Dan, whoever said this is just a game? Every single battle is real."

Drago growled and was glowing in rage.

"Drago…" Dan took his Gate Card and set it on the field. "Come on, Drago. We have one shot left." He grabbed Drago and threw him on to his Gate Card.

Pyrus Dragonoid. Power level: 340Gs.

Masquerade threw Reaper back to the Gate Card.

"Battle!"

Drago lunged first. He was about to bite Reaper when the Skeleton Bakugan blocked it with its sickle.

"Why are you doing this?" Drago demanded. "Do you realize what is happening in Vestroia?"

"That does not concern me," Reaper replied.

"Of course, it does." They broke apart and Reaper was slashing at Drago while he dodged those slashes.

"I am a soldier and in this dimension, I am free to team up with a human. Then I can inherit infinite power." The Reaper answered.

"You fool!"

"I had enough of you. It's time to send you to the Doom Dimension, Dragonoid." Reaper jumped and prepared to strike.

"Drago, look out!" Dan and Ken warned.

"Have a pleasant journey!" Reaper was about to deliver the final blow when Drago was glowing.

"What's going on? I feel some sort of tremor." Ken and Masquerade thought as Dan activated his Gate Card.

"Gate Card Open: Fire Storm"

A flurry of flames was released onto the field and the dragon was growing stronger.

Pyrus Dragonoid power level increase to 440Gs.

"We need to finish this now or never." Dan drew out his last ability card. "This is it…huh?" Dan and Ken both saw Drago roaring as the ability card shattered.

"What the…?" Ken looked at his Baku-Pod. "The G-power is increasing!"

"Ultimate Boost!" A light engulfed the entire arena.

Later, the brawlers found themselves back under the railroad bridge.

"Uhh…Drago? Drago, where are you?" Dan looked down and saw Drago back in his ball form.

"I spared him for you," Masquerade answered as Dan picked him up.

"What? Why?" Ken asked.

"You realize that I could have captured your Bakugan, but I decide to let him go for now." Masquerade turned and started to walk away. "It's been a slice, Dan. Later."

"Wait!" Dan exclaimed. "I can beat you! I know I can!"

"Bakugan is not a mere game. There are other dimensions and powers involved. It's a battle that can lead to the destruction of the entire world."

"Are you serious?" Ken asked in shock.

"And the only way to stop it is to defeat me." Masquerade chuckled as he left.

"This is crazy. I knew there is something weird about this. But…what can we do?" Ken thought as Dan grumbled about his defeat.