SailorStar9: Chapter 23 goes up, this is Chapter 24 and two more chapters until this fic is put on stasis until the next season comes out.
Disclaimers: I do not own both the animes. However, I do own the pairing, I hope.
Chapter 24: Ultimate Bakugan
Outside the Ves Palace...
"Prince Hydron thinks he's safe, in his sky palace." Ace snorted as Percival carried him upwards.
"But he's not as long as Tigrerra and the others are his prisoners." Baron agreed, riding on Nemus.
"I've seen them." Mira replied, as she rode on Wilda. "They've been turned into bronze statues in his throne room."
"That's horrible." Marucho remarked on Elfin's head. "We've got to free them!"
"We will, Marucho." Shun assured on Ingram's shoulder. "We'll free them all!"
"Hang on, guys!" Dan shouted on Drago's head. "We're coming! And this time, nothing's going to stop us!"
In the throne room...
"Don't celebrate your victory yet." Prince Hydron remarked. "I won't give my collection to anybody. Final Controller, on."
"Now, let's see how my dear Princess is faring." he opened a screen to reveal Eva who had already arrived to the upper half of the stairway.
On the stairway...
"Come over here, Princess." Prince Hydron taunted. "Let your blood flow before the Dark Queen's statue! C'mon, Princess."
Eva winced as the spiked tendrils on the ground pierced through her legs.
Prince Hydron chuckled as the Pillar continued her trek upwards.
"After this, it will be really worthwhile to rejoice." the Vestal Prince smirked as a tendril wrapped itself around Eva's waist and another snaked around her right arm, the thorns causing her to bleed from her newly opened wounds.
"Your blood, Princess, will trickle out drop by drop, until it's all dry." his smirk widened as Eva traversed upwards, despite her injuries.
"So Hydron, I know now that your feelings towards me..." Eva told the smirking Prince, having sank to the ground on her knees in the midst of the spiked-tendril carpet. "Is hatred?"
"Not only that." Prince Hydron corrected. "The Dark Queen's statue shall channel the blood of the Pillar to the Dark Castle, therefore Dark Serenity-sama's power will also be totally revived by this and rule again in this Universe. No doubt, my rank shall also increase tremendously in Serenity-sama's eyes and I shall rule the Universe alongside with her!"
"Soon, I'll be invincible in this Universe with everyone under me!" he declared as two of the tendrils closed in around Eva's shoulders.
"So, that is your true purpose afterall." Eva noted.
"What if it is?" Prince Hydron taunted. "You have just one choice. C'mon, my dear Princess."
Meanwhile in the Dark Castle...
"Yes, Hydron, give me more!" Dark Serenity guffawed as she was bathed in a pillar of energy in her power drainage chamber, absorbing Eva's Holy Cosmo in delicious glee. "Soon, very soon, the Universe will be mine!"
Meanwhile...
"Watch out!" Nemus warned as the final Dimensional Controller's energy rippled towards them, returning the Bakugan into their ball forms.
"What's going on?" Baron exclaimed, losing his foothold.
"We're reverting again!" Wilda replied.
"Elfin!" Marucho called out. "It's a long way down without you!"
Releasing his grappling hook when Ingram reverted back, Shun grabbed Mira and Marucho and swung onto the elevator.
"You got us, but who's got them?" Marucho asked as the other six fell downwards.
"Stay calm, Baron." Nemus assured.
"Ace!" Percival went after his partner.
"Going down!" Dan hollered, falling.
The three teens were saved from being crushing to the ground by their fluttering, ball-formed partners.
"Thank you, Drago." Dan looked at the panting Bakugan. "That was above and beyond."
"You're heavier than I remember." Drago remarked.
"He means you're welcome." Nemus translated.
"Where is Shun and the others?" Dan asked.
"I'm sure they're alright." Drago replied. "Shun, Mira and Marucho should be half-way to Ves Palace by now."
On the elevator...
"That was totally weird." Marucho noted. "Why did you guys turn back into balls?"
"Yeah, didn't we destroy all the Dimensional Controllers?" Elfin asked.
"Well, it looks like the Prince kept one in reserve." Shun reasoned.
"It seems the young Prince is trickier than we thought." Ingram noted.
"I just hope the others are okay." Mira remarked.
"They're okay." Wilda assured. "Drago won't let them down."
"I guess so." Mira commented.
"Wilda's right." Shun cut in.
"You think?" Mira blinked.
"Dan's been in worse spots than this." Shun replied. "We need to go on with the mission."
On the ground...
"Guess we're taking the stairs." Dan remarked.
"Yeah, Master Dan!" Baron agreed. "Did you say take the stairs? That'll take forever! And then, we'll be all sweaty and tired."
"If we've returned to ball form, then there's another Dimensional Controller up there." Percival reasoned.
"We can't fly you all up to the Palace like this." Nemus added.
"I agree." Drago noted. "We'll have to find another way."
"What's the point?" Helios mocked. "Your true battle is right here. We have a score to settle, Dragoniod."
"Helios!" Drago exclaimed.
"The same goes for us." Spectra added. "Dan Kuso."
"You got that right." Dan retorted.
"There can't be two Ultimate Bakugan." Spectra declared.
"Drago." Dan looked at his partner.
"I'm ready." Drago replied.
"Sorry Ace, Baron." Dan turned to the other two. "Before we can head up to Ves Palace, I'm going to finish off Spectra in a battle."
"Are you going to talk or brawl?" Spectra taunted.
"Gauntlet, Power Strike!" the two chorused.
"Gate Card, set!" Spectra started. "Behold the Ultimate Bakugan! Cyborg Pyrus Helios! Bakugan, roll! Helios, stand!"
"You ready dude?" Dan asked his partner.
"Yes." Drago replied.
"Bakugan, roll!" Dan tossed Drago in. "Drago, stand!"
"You've never seen anything like Cyborg Helios." Spectra smirked.
"Something's not right." Dan noted as the smoke cleared. "What have they done to him?"
"Helios, you've turned your body in to a machine?" Drago demanded. "How could you sink so low?"
"So low?" Helios mocked. "You're wrong! I've been reborn as an Ultimate Bakugan."
"Double Ability activate!" Dan wasted no time. "'Burning Dragon', plus 'Burning Tornado'!"
"Calculating power levels." the mechanical voice droned. "Ability Card, set."
"Ability: 'Farbus' activate!" Spectra called.
"'Burning Dragon' damage, 28%, repairing." the computer droned. "'Burning Tornado' damage 40%, repairing. System diagnostic and repair, complete."
"No way!" Dan exclaimed.
"System rebooting." the computer continued. "Battle systems, online. Restoring original power level."
"Increase, 200." the mechanical voice droned.
"There's no damage at all?" Drago was stunned.
"We're just getting started." Helios scoffed.
"Uploading Dragoniod's interception program: Omega Welf." the computer reported. "'Farbus' ability still active. Increase power level: 100."
"His power level's the same as Drago's." Dan gaped.
"'Farbus', Fully Automatic Reaction Battle System." Spectra translated. "This is why you can never triumph. Cyborg Helios is the perfect blend of Bakugan-like and Vestal technology; a new breed of Bakugan that gives me ultimate power!"
"Not good." Dan remarked.
"Ability Card, set." the mechanical voice droned.
"Ability activate!" Spectra declared. "'Chaos Shock Cannon'!"
"Oh no!" Baron exclaimed when Drago was taken out with one single hit. "Master Dan!"
"Drago!" Nemus added.
"Stay cool." Ace advised. "Dan's 'Life Gauge' isn't used up yet."
"But Helios' formidable." Percival added.
"Gate Card, open!" Dan tossed in a Gate Card. "Bakugan, roll! Drago, stand!"
"Bakugan, roll!" Spectra tossed Helios in. "Helios, stand!"
"Drago, Helios is pretty tough." Dan warned.
"I know, but I won't lose again." Drago replied. "Not to him."
"Ability Card, set." the mechanical voice droned.
"Ability activate!" Dan declared. "'Strike Dragon'!"
"Power level doubled." the mechanical voice droned. "Ability Card, set."
"Ability activate!" Spectra declared. "'Farbus'!"
"Dragoniod defensive systems active." the computer reported.
"What?" Dan demanded when Helios remained unscathed.
"Analyzing 'Strike Dragon' data." the computer continued. "Increase power level: 500."
"It's that computer again." Dan growled. "His power levels keep on back up."
"What do you think now, Dragoniod?" Helios taunted. "You can't hurt me. I'm more powerful than you are; more powerful than the Perfect Core itself!"
"More powerful than the Perfect Core?" Drago echoed. "We shall see."
"Got it, Drago!" Dan remarked, looking at the rainbow-colored card.
"Strike the final blow, Helios!" Spectra ordered.
"Ability Card, set." the mechanical voice droned.
"Ability activate!" Spectra declared. "'Explosion Lambda'!"
"This is the end, Drago." Helios remarked as he charged up.
"Drago!" Dan exclaimed when the attack struck the Pyrus Dragoniod.
Meanwhile on the stairway...
Drago, despite being a loyal Warrior, constantly fighting for me, however, in this battle, your courage and will power alone won' t be able to secure victory. As such, only by choosing this way, can I save New Vestroia from the malice and ambitions of the Vexos. Eva passed her thoughts to the battling Drago as she truncated up the carpeted stairs.
I can only save New Vestroia using this way... she sank to her knees as the number of her injuries increased with every step she took.
Hydron! She glared at the smirking Vestal Prince as she got back up to her feet with the support of her Spear.
Just as I thought... she mused, the after-image of Dark Serenity appearing behind Prince Hydron.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield...
I understand your sacrifice now, Princess. Drago returned the Pillar's thoughts. And I will not fail you!
"Ability Card, set." the mechanical voice droned.
"Ability activate!" Dan called. "'Maximum Dragon'!"
"Pathetic." Helios scoffed. "You'd never stand a chance."
"Unable to analyze strategy." the computer droned. "Warning, Dragoniod power fading."
"So, you think you're more powerful than the Perfect Core?" Drago inquired, appearing before Helios. "Think again!"
With that, he hammered Helios with an upper-cut.
"Yes, JKO!" Dan beamed. "Way to go!"
"Master Dan blew him out of the water!" Baron cheered.
"Yeah, but next one decides it." Ace replied.
"Gate Card, open!" Spectra tossed in a Gate Card. "Bakugan, roll!"
"Let's do it, Drago!" Dan told his partner. "Bakugan, roll!"
"Helios, stand!" Spectra barked.
"Drago, stand!" Dan instructed.
In the throne room...
"Looks like Spectra's having some trouble." Prince Hydron noted. "I'll have to show him how it's done."
"Lync, is the ultimate mechanical Bakugan battle-ready?" he opened a link to the Ventus Vexo.
"Yes." Lync replied.
"Good." Prince Hydron stood up. "Then, deliver it to me immediately."
"Well, about that." Lync stammered. "Spectra took off with both units. I'm sorry, Prince."
"Outrageous!" Prince Hydron barked. "How dare he defy me!?"
"Please forgive me, sire!" Lync bowed. "It's all my fault."
"Get out of my sight, Lync." Prince Hydron demanded. "I'll figure out how to punish you later."
"Very well, my Prince." Lync replied.
"Well, Spectra." Prince Hydron mused after the connection was cut off. "You're playing a very dangerous little game."
"It's useless, Dragoniod." he looked at the battle at the foot of the Ves Palace via a screen.
"Your Princess has already dedicated her life to Serenity-sama." he remarked as a trap door opened in the ground, revealing Eva.
"Princess!" he frowned when he saw Eva raise her Cosmo. "Or you...!"
"Hydron, I shall destroy the ambitious hearts of the Vexos, even if it means that I have to sacrifice my life." Eva swore, standing firm before the Vestal Prince after she stepped out from the trap door. "Because this is the true purpose of the Pillar and the Bakugan!"
With that, she fired a stream of energy from her Holy Spear. Hydron growled as part of Dark Serenity's spirit took over his body and she deflected the energy thread.
"What is the use of your weak Cosmo?" Dark Serenity mocked in Prince Hydron's body, her power forcing Eva back. "Eva, in this case..."
"Serenity!" Eva stood back up.
Dark Serenity retaliated by firing a stream of dark energy from his finger, the attack sending the Holy Spear flying out of Eva's hand.
Weaponless now, Eva let out a shout in pain as the spiked tendrils slithered out of the trap door and closed in around her, drawing more wounds on her body.
In the Ves Palace...
"Whoo, I'm so scared." Lync mocked. "He's going to punish me? That Hydron's going to be looking for a new job soon."
"Well, if it isn't my favorite nightmare." Mylene cut in.
"The Prince might be washed up, but Spectra's so obsessed with power; his days are numbered too." Volt added.
"You should think carefully whose side you want to be on when the smoke clears." Mylene advised.
"What do you day there, traitor?" Shadow proposed. "Gotta change sides now?"
Meanwhile, on the battlefield...
"Seems like I've underestimated the power of the Perfect Core." Spectra noted. "Not for long. Deactivate lock. Ultimate Formation!"
"How many of those things you've got?" Dan exclaimed when Spectra brought out the next set of mechanical Bakugan Traps.
"Mira and Gus tested them out for me." Spectra replied. "Now watch! Maxus Helios, stand!"
At his call, the six mechanical Bakugan merged with Helios, Power Rangers-style.
"He's combined them all!" Dan noted. "And their power level is off the chain. It's worse than I thought."
"Meet Maxus Helios!" Spectra declared.
"I can feel the power of all six attributes." Helios remarked. "Not just Pyrus, but Ventus, Subterra, Aquos, Haos and Darkus."
"He's a monster." Drago growled.
"Not true." Spectra corrected. "Helios is the ultimate brawling machine. Starting with Ventus. Ability activate! 'Ventus Air Saw'!"
"Minus 200." the mechanical voice droned as Drago let out a scream in pain when the Ventus energy blade cut into his wing.
"Now for Subterra!" Spectra declared.
"Ability Card, set." the mechanical voice droned.
"Ability activate!" Spectra declared. "'Subterra Spartan'!"
"Drago!" Dan hollered as the Pyrus Dragoniod was attacked by a rush of rocks from the ground.
"Increase: 200." the mechanical voice droned.
"Next, Pyrus!" Spectra added.
"Ability Card, set." the mechanical voice droned.
"Ability activate!" Spectra shouted. "'Pyrus Spear'!"
"Increase: 200." the mechanical voice droned.
"That's it!" Dan growled as the laser beam hit Drago on his wing. "Ability activate! 'Dragon Contender'! And there's more where that came from."
"Ability Card, set." the mechanical voice droned.
"Ability activate!" Dan added. "'Strike Dragon'!"
"Calculating power levels." the mechanical voice droned
"Fusion Ability activate!" Dan continued. "'Dragon Flash'!"
"Calculating power levels." the mechanical voice droned. "Ability Card, set."
"Ability activate!" Dan activated another card. "'Maximum Dragon'!"
"Come on, come on." he chanted. "Snap! Can't match his power level."
"Nothing?" he echoed in shock when the smoke cleared to reveal an unscathed Maxus Helios. "We were hitting him with everything we've got. What now?"
"Is that the best that the Perfect Core can do?" Helios mocked.
"Drago!" Dan exclaimed when Drago collapsed to the ground.
"Nothing can beat the ultimate Bakugan." Spectra boasted.
In the Ves Palace...
"We're clearing out of here." Volt informed Professor Clay. "And you'll be coming with us, whether you like it or not."
"What Volt's saying is we'd like you to come with us." Mylene translated.
"Is that what Prince Hydron wishes me to do?" Professor Clay asked. "Or are you planning to abandon him as New Vestroia breaks apart? If that's what you want, I'm not prepared to do it."
"You're making a mistake, Professor." Volt corrected.
"As the head of this research facility, I know where my duties lies." Professor Clay reminded. "What you're suggesting, my friend, is treason."
"Cut the mambo gumbo, will ya?" Shadow retorted. "You're working for us from now on. Got it?"
"You have a way with words, don't you Shadow?" Mylene remarked.
"If you're worried about the Prince." she turned to Professor Clay. "Don't be. Spectra will take the fall."
"Spectra?" Professor Clay echoed.
"He's the reason the Dimensional Controllers have been destroyed." Mylene supplied.
"Traitor." Gus remarked, outside the door. "It figures Mylene would try to pin this all on Spectra."
"Sneaking around, like usual Gus?" Lync noted.
"Listen Lync." Gus warned. "Tell Spectra Mylene is up to something."
"Like what?" Lync faked ignorance.
"Not only are those snakes planning to leave, they want to take Professor Clay with them." Gus replied.
"You know." Lync started, revealing a metal pole. "Sounds good to me."
"Slimy little double-crosser." Gus growled after Lync locked him in a compartment.
"I knew you would understand." Lync shrugged. "See you later, loser."
In the throne room...
"So, this is Prince Hydron's throne room?" Marucho blinked as the three entered.
"We'll have to be careful. He could show up at any moment." Shun warned.
"Oh no!" Marucho gasped when he saw an unconscious Eva on the floor.
"What happened to her?" Mira exclaimed, seeing the numerous wounds and Eva's tattered dress when Shun picked up the Pillar.
"All these wounds..." Shun surveyed the injuries on her body. "They're still fresh. They must have been made just recently."
"There was a fight." Mira concluded, retrieving Eva's Spear. "Most probably between her and Hydron."
"Between her and Hydron?" Shun echoed.
"And just when you think you know a woman." he muttered.
Why, Eva? He mused.
"One of these buttons should do it." Mira approached the control panel and unveiled the five fossilized Bakugan.
"Preyas!" Marucho exclaimed.
"Skyress!" Shun gaped.
"Like them?" Prince Hydron mocked. "I already know how Mira feels about them."
"Prince Hydron!" Mira growled.
"What a weak and foolish girl." Prince Hydron nodded over to Eva. "Trying to confront me, when I have the Dark Messiah standing behind me. She's powerless before the Dark Messiah, she'll never win!"
"The Dark Messiah?" Mira echoed in shock.
Meanwhile, on the battlefield...
"Gate Card, set!" Dan tossed in a Gate Card. "Bakugan, roll! Drago, stand!"
"Bakugan, roll!" Spectra countered. "Helios, stand! Deactivate lock!"
"Ultimate Formation! Ultimate Helios, stand!" he barked as Helios changed into Maxus Helios. "It's the beginning of the end, Dan Kuso."
"Whoa, he brought it out again?" Ace was shocked.
"Master Dan is the best, but there's no way he can beat that power level, is there?" Baron asked.
"He'll figure it out. Ace assured.
"Looks like we have no choice." Dan decided and brought out the Maxus Dragoniod Bakugan Trap set. "Drago, we've got to bring out these bad boys: the ones I won off Mira."
"Dan, what are you..." Drago protested.
"Look, Helios is doing it, so you should too." Dan reasoned. "Otherwise we're toast."
"It's wrong." Drago argued.
"I know it's hard." Dan replied. "I get it you don't like mechanical Bakugan. But this is the only way we can free New Vestroia."
"You're right, Dan." Drago relented. "Princess Eva is willing to sacrifice her life to destroy the Vexos' ambitions; we have to do it."
"That's the spirit." Dan remarked, deactivating the lock. "Deactivate lock. Let's throw it down! Ultimate Formation! Ultimate Drago, stand!"
"Looking good!" Baron beamed as Drago turned into Maxus Drago.
"It suits him." Nemus agreed.
"Let's see what he does with it." Percival added.
"When Dan does something, he does it big." Ace burst out laughing.
"How does it feel, man?" Dan asked his partner as Drago tested out his new additions.
"Not bad." Drago replied.
"At first, you were condemning me, Dan, for using mechanical Bakugan." Spectra chuckled. "But now, I see you've joined the brawl."
"Finally, a worthy opponent." Helios added. "Drago!"
"Worthier than you, Helios!" Drago barked.
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.