SailorStar9: Anyway, Chapter 24 goes up, this is Chapter 25. To all my non-reviewing readers, I love you all! Will love you more if you review! *hugs all round!*

Disclaimers: I do not own both the animes. However, I do own the pairing, I hope.

Chapter 25: Final Strike

"Where are they?" Ren wondered, he and Fabia keeping a lookout.

"Something must have happened to Dan and the others." Fabia concluded. "Do you think they saw us?" she inquired, the two ducking out of sight when they noticed a pair of guards walking past.

"It sounds like they did." Ren replied.

"I guess we should make the first move then." Fabia suggested.

"Wait, hold on a second." Shun stopped Fabia's next attack, Ren having tackled Marucho to the ground.

"Hey there, guys." Marucho peered out from the armor.

"Glad you're here." Ren nodded. "We've got a big job ahead."

"Why did Barodius wear suspenders?" Mason sounded from the lair.

"It's to keep his pants up." Ren replied

"Correct." Mavelle poked her head out. "Hey Daddy."

"Mavelle?" Shun looked at his daughter. "How did you…?"

"I fear you are underestimating my sneakiness, Daddy." Mavelle grinned.

"No more 'Mr. Deeds' for you, young lady." Shun chided. "What's this?" he looked around.

"It's a top secret lair that Nurzak built." Mason explained.

"So, where is he then?" Shun asked.

"He sacrificed himself to save me." Mavelle looked down, her index fingers poking against each other.

"What happened to Dan?" Ren asked. "Have you seen him?"

"Yes, he's been captured." Shun replied.

"They've got Drago, Jake and Coredem too." Hawktor added.

"Mama?" Mavelle whispered, looking up.

"What happened?" Kazarina growled, the palace shaking from the quakes that had rocked from the Brawlers' attacks.

"What's going on?" Airzel demanded. "I want a status report, immediately."

"Hit him, Linehalt." Ren gave the order. "Don't hold back."

"I won't." Linehalt assured.

"Come on." Shun took the lead.

"Sir, we have trespassers in the castle." A soldier reported.

"The first attack was a decoy." Airzel realized.

"It sounds like the Brawlers have infiltrated the castle again." Gill noted, he and Barodius preparing to leave and attack the third shield after Kazarina merged Eva's DNA with Dharak's and causing the Darkus Bakugan to evolve. "Those insolent fools."

"Can I trust you to take care of this one?" Barodius inquired.

"This way." Shun instructed.

"Going somewhere, Brawlers?" Gill retorted. "Bakugan brawl, Bakugan stand. Rise, Pyrus Krakix. You just couldn't leave it alone. And now you're going to pay."

"We've taken you down before, Gill." Shun snapped. "And we'll do it again, so you'd better move."

"I hardly think you're in the position to be making threats right now." Gill chided. "Perhaps you should say this is the end for you. Ability activate."

"Hold on a second." Marucho voiced. "We haven't even launched our Bakugan yet."

"'Argon Stream'." Gill released his attack anyway.

"'Darkness Blizzard'." Ren had Linehalt counter with an attack. "We've got this one handled. Go ahead."

"Uncle Marucho!" Mavelle shouted, Marucho stopping in his tracks.

"Come back." Gill demanded.

"Don't worry about them." Ren replied, Linehalt blocking Krakix's way. "You'll be fighting me."

"There's an elevator ahead that would take us down." Shun informed.

"How do we know they won't be there to ambush us once we step out of the lift?" Hawktor wondered.

"We don't exactly have a choice." Mavelle reminded.

"Don't you know it's impolite to enter someone's home without an invitation?" Airzel remarked, blocking the group. "Bakugan brawl, Bakugan stand. Rise, Ventus Strikeflyer."

"Bakugan brawl, Bakugan stand." Marucho took to the field. "Let's go, Aquos Akwimos."

"Ability activate." Airzel played his card. "'Down Clatch'."

"Ability activate." Marucho countered. "'Spiral Crusher'. You guys go find Dan and Drago."

"Surprise." Stoica sang, blasting Hawktor with an attack. "'Megalo Theria'" and knocking the small group out of the elevator shaft.

"Fabia, take Mavelle and go." Shun instructed. "I can keep these two busy."

"Daddy!" Mavelle protested.

"You have to go." Shun insisted. "I'll see you soon."

"Okay then." Fabia nodded. "Come on, Mavelle." She pulled the child off.

"Company ahead." Mavelle warned. "Bakugan brawl, Bakugan stand. Descend from the heavens, Ventus Windam. Ability activate, 'Wind of Punishment'."

"Bakugan brawl, Bakugan stand." Fabia took the chance to summon Aranaut. "Ability activate, 'Mirage Fist'." Enabling the Haos Bakugan to take out the opposition.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.