SailorStar9: Wha...? So, are only one person reading this fic? Anyway, Chapter 33 goes up, this is Chapter 34. 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 34: Earth Invaders
On Earth...
The Vestal group had just popped in on Marucho's garden.
"Is this the place?" Dan looked around at the rose garden.
"Yup, this is my roof-top rose garden." Marucho replied.
"Yeah, of course it is." Ace remarked.
"Master Marucho, welcome home." Kato greeted. "Your friends have been anxiously awaiting your arrival."
"You're here!" Runo beamed as she and Julie dashed towards the group.
"Welcome back, guys!" Julie cheered.
"Hey guys." Dan returned. "Shun, you're back."
"Master Shun, are you okay?" Baron asked. "We were so worried."
"And since when did we have a mini Shun clone?" Ace asked, pointing to Mavelle who was on Eva's arm.
"She dropped in some time ago." Eva replied. "Quite literally from the sky, I might add."
"Shun ran in to Lync on New Vestroia and now Alice has been attacked." Runo supplied.
"Yeah, we heard." Dan replied. "That's why we rushed back."
"We should get inside and get each other up to speed." Shun suggested.
"Let's go." Dan agreed.
In the mother palace...
"King Zenoheld, sensors indicate that the Dimension Gate has been opened on Earth." Professor Clay reported.
"I see the Brawlers haven't wasted any time." Zenoheld noted. "Go Mylene and don't come back empty-handed."
"Yes, I won't fail." Mylene replied.
"Neither will I." Lync added. "The Brawlers are really going to pay this time."
On Earth...
"It doesn't make any sense." Marucho noted, once everyone settled down and gotten over the shock of not only Mavelle's real identity, but also the appearance of Angelo/Diablo and Brontes. "We all know the Vexos are after the attribute energies the six Ancient Warriors gave us."
"It's a trap." Shun concluded. "Just like luring me into New Vestroia was."
"So..." Eva gave him the look. "Seeing me again is a bad thing?"
"Ehhh..." Shun blinked.
"You're in trouble, dad." Mavelle grinned as everyone else laughed.
"Why bring us all the way back here when they could have kept fighting us on Vestal?" Baron was confused.
"Maybe the Vexos changed their strategy once Spectra showed up again." Mira mused. "It's pretty clear from our last battle that Spectra and Volt weren't allies anymore."
"I won't be surprised if Spectra had a hand in this." Ace added. "I can't see the Vexos going through the trouble of dimensional transport unless they had no choice."
"Maybe Spectra did something that forced them to take the battle off of Vestal." Marucho concluded.
"Whatever the case, the fact remains our enemies have come to Earth." Drago added.
"Drago's right." Dan agreed. "Sitting here playing guessing games isn't helping us. The Vexos are coming for us, so we got to prepare ourselves for some heavy-duty battles with those creeps."
"Maybe we shouldn't be so gung-ho to fight them." Julie protested. "What if we lose?"
"They already have the Haos energy." Runo added. "And they came close to winning a couple of others."
"Runo's right." Mira agreed. "We have to be smart about this. If they capture all the energies..."
"Then the Bakugan Termination System will be fully operational." Shun finished the sentence. "And all of the Bakugan that we fought so hard to free will be completely wiped out, forever. I saw the horrible thing with my own eyes when I was in New Vestroia. It's only partly functional, but it's still turning the Bakugan into balls."
"Oh no." Drago gasped.
"I can't believe it." Ace remarked. "Just when they were finally free... the Vexos better run when they see me coming."
"And that goes double for me, Ace." Runo added. "I'm so mad!"
"Don't worry, Runo." Julie assured. "We'll teach those Vexos a lesson."
"Does that mean you guys are planning on brawling?" Dan asked.
"It makes perfect sense, since Runo and I don't have any attribute energies to lose, we should be the first line of defense." Julie argued. "Then you guys can fight when it's only absolutely necessary."
"I am ready to fight." Tigrerra added. "My lady."
"And I've got out back too." Gorem remarked.
"No, it's far too dangerous." Wilda protested.
"Listen to Wilda." Baron advised. "The Vexos are fighting with mechanical Bakugan and they're crazy powerful. Not just any Bakugan can beat them."
"Are you saying that my Tigrerra and Gorem aren't good enough to fight alongside of you?" Runo snapped.
"You'd better take that back, Baron!" Julie retorted. "Right now!"
"Easy guys." Baron tried to pacify the outraged girls. "That's not what I meant."
"What Baron is saying is we've fought the mechanical Bakugan, so we know what's to expect." Ace added.
"Trust us, fighting one of them is serious business." Percival remarked.
"Oh yeah?" Runo challenged. "Messing with us is serious business too, Percival."
"But we evolved and have superior strength." Elfin pointed out.
"So, you're better than me?" Preyas snapped.
"I was better than you even before that!" Elfin retorted.
"Oh, go mouth off to a jerk!" Preyas snarled.
"Both of you, cut it out!" Angelo shouted.
"Back off!" both Preyas and Elfin snapped.
"And this is why, Angelo," Eva gave the Haos angel a wry smile. "I never get in-between one of their fights."
"You know, Runo may just have a point." Shun noted. "Battling Vexos is too risky for us now."
"They'll be expecting us to come after them." Marucho added. "Maybe it's time for us to switch strategies too. We should hide out for a while and spend our time planning a sneak attack."
"Good idea." Mira agreed. "We'll have the element of surprise on our side for once."
"I don't know, guys." Dan remarked. "It sounds to me like we'll be a bunch of sitting ducks."
"Yeah guys." Baron agreed. "What happens if they find us?"
"Don't worry, everyone." Marucho assured. "Leave that to me. I always plan for all possible scenarios. So a while ago, I found a way to create a barrier shield using dimension wave technology."
"A barrier shield?" Dan echoed.
"It's kinda of complicated to explain how it works." Marucho remarked. "So, it's best trying to imagine an invisibly cloak. As long as we stay in this house, the Vexos will never be able to find us."
"Yeah, nice one, Marucho." Preyas noted.
"You're such a smart cookie!" Elfin beamed.
"I'll never understand these two." Angelo sighed.
"Me neither." Diablo agreed.
"Did we just agree with each other?" Angelo asked.
"Yes, we did." Diablo replied.
"And I don't think I'll be able to understand these two." Mavelle noted and looked at her mother. "What made you decide to take them in, mom?"
"At times like this, I wonder that myself." Eva muttered.
"You mean, other than the fact that they're Preyas' clones?" Shun smirked.
"Sir, the button." Kato present the remote control.
"Okay, time to disappear." Marucho pressed the red button and the cloaking device activated.
"So, who wants to bet on who's going to get cabin fever first?" Eva snickered.
"Dan." Shun smirked.
"Dan." Ace's eyes twinkled.
"Dan." that was Marucho.
"Dan." Mira, Runo and Julie chorused.
"Dan." Baron added.
"Dan." that came from the Bakugan.
"Thanks for the support, guys." Dan muttered.
"I'd say, Dan and Elfin." Eva's smirk widened.
"Thanks for the support, Princess." Elfin mumbled sarcastically.
Meanwhile...
Mylene and Lync had jumped out of the portal and onto Earth.
"This place is huge." Mylene noted, seeing the city. "Finding the Brawlers won't be easy. We should get started. Let's go."
"Wait a second!" Lync shouted when his gauntlet peeped.
"What now?" Mylene demanded.
"The Brawlers' signal just disappeared!" Lync replied.
"What?" Mylene snapped and Lync shrugged.
"So, now w hat?" Lync asked.
"We should split up, Lync." Mylene suggested. "Maybe we'll have better luck picking up their signal again."
In Marucho's house...
"All systems are go!" Marucho declared. "Looks like the barrier shield is working."
"Nice job." Shun noted. "Now we sit back and wait the Vexos out."
"Exactly how long do we have to wait?" Dan complained.
"I won't be in a big rush to leave if I were you." Marucho warned. "Sorry, Dan."
"Don't forget, Spectra's after Drago's Perfect Core energy too, Dan." Ace reminded.
"That's right, Master Dan." Baron agreed. "Don't forget, if the Vexos followed us to Earth, then Spectra won't be far behind."
"The Vexos and Spectra." Marucho added. "Each of those guys is tough enough to fight on their own. But if you've got both of them coming at you or at once, you and Drago can't leave."
"Come on man!" Dan whined. "I came here to battle, not bury my head in the sand."
"He'll grow up eventually, right dad?" Mavelle looked at her father.
"Somehow, I doubt that." Shun smiled.
"There'll be plenty of time for battle later, Dan." Drago remarked. "For now, we wait."
"Come on, Dan." Julie prodded. "Why the long face? We can have fun. Think about it as a big slumber party."
"Happy thoughts will help the time pass." Gorem agreed.
"Alright." Dan relented. "I guess if I have to be stuck somewhere, there're worse places than Marucho's house."
"What do you say, Dan?" Julie asked. "Want to get down to the bowling alley with us?"
"Let's go!" Runo beamed.
"There's no point in fighting them, Dan." Tigrerra advised.
"Okay, I'm in." Dan replied.
"Marucho, you don't happen to have a spare bedroom, do you?" Eva asked.
"Why did you ask?" Marucho blinked, before noticing the dozing Mavelle on the Pillar's shoulder. "Oh..."
"I'll go tuck her to bed." Eva sighed.
"Aw..." Julie gushed. "How cute!"
"Guess all this waiting made her sleepy." Runo smiled.
"What?" Shun asked, the wistful smile disappearing as he watched the mother-daughter pair walked out when he noticed the amused looks on the male Brawlers' faces after the other three girls gushed and cooed over the child.
"You're the last person I'll imagine having a family." Marucho voiced.
"Shun's a daddy." Dan sang.
"Who'd thought." Ace smirked.
"But I think it's cute." Baron quickly added, noting the Ventus Brawler's darkening expression and barely avoiding the bloodbath seconds later.
In the city...
"I knew we'll attract attention here." Mylene muttered, noticing the mutterings of the crowd around her.
I hope Lync is smart enough to know he'll need a disguise too. She mused after changing into a bridegroom's suit.
"Thirty-five dollars." Lync gave the customer her flowers. "Thanks. Here's your change. Thanks very much, please come again. We appreciate your business."
Come out, come out wherever you are, Brawlers. He thought.
"Excuse me, sir." another customer asked.
"Yes, may I help you?" Lync beamed.
"I'm looking for some flowers to take to a dinner party." the customer replied.
"Of course, how much are you looking for to spend, madam?" Lync asked.
"What on earth is he doing?" Mylene growled. "Goofball."
In Marucho's house...
Man, I can't keep sitting around doing nothing but eating. This waiting is driving me crazy. Dan mused in the dining table. Luckily for him and Ace, the girls had returned just in time to interrupt the pending bloodbath and Eva managed to somehow calm Shun down before he ripped his and Ace's head off. Marucho and Baron were shuddering in the corner of the room, the Killing Intent Shun was letting off had scared them stiff.
"What's the plan, Master Dan?" Baron asked. "So, are we doing to send Runo to battle the Vexos first or what?"
Later..
"I don't believe you, Dan Kuso!" Runo fumed.
"Runo, please." Dan tried to pacify her. "Don't blow this way out of proportion, okay? It's just that..."
"You think that I'm a lousy Brawler?" Runo retorted. "Boy, you've got some nerve."
"Huh?" Mira saw the Haos Brawler in the gardens. "Runo?"
In the city...
"We'll never going to find them this way." Mylene cursed.
"It's their signal." Lync reported when his gauntlet beeped.
"I'll show Dan what a great Brawler I am." Runo fumed as she stormed out of the protective barrier and into the city. "Yup, those Vexos, they're not looking for me. So, they'll never see me coming."
"This looks like a good shortcut." she peered into a half-finished stage set-up.
"Runo!" Mira caught up with her. "What are you doing out here? It's dangerous. We should go."
"But I need to prove to Dan that I'm just as good a Brawler as the rest of you." Runo replied. "Don't worry, Mira. It's not like Tigrerra has an energy attribute to lose or anything."
"Runo, you don't understand how serious this is." Mira pressed. "If the Vexos ever found you here, it'll be bad."
"I spy with my little eye." Lync sang. "Something that starts with the letter 'L'."
"We've been looking all over for you, Mira." Mylene called.
"Mylene." Mira growled. "Lync."
"Are these guys..." Runo was stunned.
"They're Vexos." Mira confirmed.
"I think I'll be taking your Subterra energy." Lync remarked.
"Not so fast." the two girls chorused.
"Gauntlet..." Mira started.
"Power Strike!" the four chorused.
"Gate Card, set!" Runo started. "Bakugan, roll! Bakugan, stand!"
"Haos Blade Tigrerra is here!" Tigrerra declared.
"Come and get us." Runo challenged.
"I like this one with the blue hair." Mylene remarked. "Bakugan, stand! Aquos Macubass!"
"Oh no!" Mira gasped.
"We're not fooling around this time." Mylene promised. "I hope you're both prepared to lose. Double Ability activate! Saber Barracuda, plus Mauser Barracuda! Thanks for the points."
"Big deal! You're not so tough!" Runo snapped.
"Ability card, set." the mechanical voice droned.
"Ability activate!" Runo called. "Hyper Velocity Fang!"
"With my claws, I will shred anyone up who opposes me." Tigrerra declared.
"Give me a break, will ya?" Mylene scoffed. "Ability activate! ABSIDS! Shred that, pussy-cat."
"Tigrerra!" Runo gasped when the attack drone rained their energy beams on Tigrerra.
"Bakugan, roll!" Mira joined in the battle. "Subterra Magma Wilda! Bakugan, stand! Wilda, fight!"
"Looks like it's Mira's turn." Lync chuckled.
"Ability activate!" Mira called. "Bygrock!"
"You Vexos will be sorry you challenged us!" Wilda declared.
"Runo, now's your chance to get Macubass." Mira told the Haos Brawler.
"Gate Card, open!" Runo instructed. "Haos Reactor! Tigrerra, let's go!"
"My power is back, stronger than ever!" the white tiger declared. "Here I come!"
"Ability activate!" Mylene scoffed. "Battle Composition!"
"Power level, decrease." the mechanical voice droned.
"No, you don't." Runo retorted. "Ability activate! Saber Glowcer!"
"You think you're tough?" Mylene snorted. "Ability activate! Marina Cavitation!"
"Where is he?" Runo asked when Macubass vanished.
"Don't worry about that now." Mylene remarked. "Lync, time to bring out Aluze."
"Yeah, yeah." Lync shrugged. "Time to bring some pain, my little friend. Bakugan, roll! Bakugan, stand! Ventus Aluze!"
"Ability activate!" Mylene added. "Indignation!"
"What's happening here?" Runo was stunned when Macubass vanished. "Where are they?"
"You will find out soon enough, Brawler." Mylene laughed.
"Fire!" she ordered when Macubass locked onto its targets.
Up in the air, Aluze released its charged up laser beam to the ground.
"Wilda!" Mira gasped when the attacks hit the ground.
"Don't worry, Mira." Runo assured. "I'll just nullify her ability. Ability activate!"
"What happened?" she blinked when her card did not activate.
"You look so confused, Runo." Mylene mocked. "While my Indignation is activated, it blocks you from activating any of your abilities."
"Oh man!" Runo cursed.
"Wilda!" Mira ran after her fallen partner.
"Tigrerra!" Runo followed suit.
"Thank you, Tigrerra." she looked at their savior who had caught them before they fell into the collapsed water dam.
"My pleasure, Runo." Tigrerra replied.
"Are you okay, Mira?" Wilda asked.
"Wilda." Mira looked at her partner.
Aluze's laser beam sent the group flying backwards. In a flash of light, the two Bakugan returned to their ball forms.
Runo and Mira, power level decrease." the mechanical voice droned.
"Tigrerra." Runo picked up her partner.
"They're tossing us around like a couple of old rag dolls." Mira noted.
"We're just getting started, Brawlers." Mylene laughed as she and Lync floated down. "Gate Card, set! Macubass!"
"I'm not going down again!" Runo fumed.
"Here we go!" Mira tossed Wilda in. "Wilda!"
"Hey, I want in on this too." Lync added. "Ability activate! Dora Cannon! That's what I like to see."
"Double Ability activate!" Runo called out. "Metal Fang, plus Crescent Storm! We're right behind ya!"
"Ability activate!" Mira added. "Atlas Shield!"
"Go, Macubass!" Mylene ordered.
"Wilda, watch out!" Mira warned.
"Ability activate!" Mylene barked. "Moby Killer!"
"Nice one, Mylene." Lync remarked. "Now it's my turn. Ability activate! Sling Boomerang!"
"Ability activate!" Runo countered. "Light Shield!"
"Gosh, they're good." she noted as Tigrerra's barrier blocked the array of attacks. "But I'm not giving up yet!"
"Ability activate!" Mira called. "Volcanic Smoke!"
"Here I come!" Wilda engulfed the arena with smoke.
"Uh oh..." Mylene muttered. "This will block their vision."
"I can't see anything." Lync whined. "And why is Aluze's power dropping?"
"Peekaboo!" Tigrerra joked as she sprung from the smoke.
"Go, Tigrerra!" Runo called as Tigrerra jumped into the smoke. "Double Ability activate! Crescent Storm, plus Hyper Velocity Fang!"
After Tigrerra sliced Aluze up, she leapt off the mechanical Bakugan just as the shower of light beams rained on the Ventus Bakugan, returning Aluze to its ball form.
"Lync 'Life Force', zero." the mechanical voice reported.
"Ability activate!" Mira called. "Gallows Punch!"
"Try this on for size!" Wilda hollered and hammered Macubass with his fists.
"You sneaky little..." Mylene growled. "Okay, Gate Card, open! Aquos Reactor!"
"Come on!" Lync complained as the water flooded the arena. "Are you trying to drown me too, Mylene?"
"Quite being such a baby, Lync." Mylene snapped. "Ability activate! Blue Morbus!"
"Oh no!" Runo gaped as the water level rose. "We can't touch the bottom anymore!"
"Well, well, looks like the tough little Brawlers are all washed up." Mylene mocked.
"Don't be so sure!" Mira snapped. "Ability activate! Land Binder!"
"I summon us a rock!" Wilda declared as a boulder rose from the ground.
"What? Did they just make their own island?" Lync blinked.
"Okay, I admit that was impressive." Mylene noted. "Ability activate! Tsunami Hydrair!"
"Ability activate!" Mira countered. "Atlas Shield!"
"Don't worry, I'll protect you!" Wilda declared.
"Ability activate!" Mylene barked. "Moby Killer!"
"Wilda, look out!" Tigrerra warned. "Runo!"
"Double Ability activate!" Runo called. "Hyper Velocity Fang, plus Crescent Storm!"
"Power level decrease." the mechanical voice droned when Tigrerra deflected the attack.
"Runo, I'm sorry!" Tigrerra exclaimed, returning to her ball form just as the light beams rained on Macubass.
"Runo 'Life Force', zero." the mechanical voice droned.
"Ability activate!" Mira snapped. "Land Twister!"
"I will avenge you, Tigrerra!" Wilda promised.
"What's this?" Mylene asked when Macubass was caught by Wilda's black threads.
"Macubass is now tied up." Lync supplied.
"Say goodnight." Mira growled.
"Don't get ahead of yourself." Mylene retorted.
"Ability activate!" Mira responded. "Ares Ball!"
"Attribute energy, give me strength!" Wilda cried.
"Ability activate!" Mylene countered. "ABSIDS, TR 2!"
The energy beam cut through Wilda's energy ball and hit the Bakugan head-on.
"Mira 'Life Force', zero." the mechanical voice droned.
"Macubass, destroy that bottle!" Mylene ordered, just as the Subterra vial appeared above the defeated Wilda, a stream of Subterra energy shot out of the bottle and into the awaiting BT System.
The mechanical Bakugan shot at the vial like an arrow, shattering the bottle and transferring the rest of the Subterra energy into the BT System.
After the battle...
"Are you okay, Mira?" Runo asked.
"No I'm not okay." Mira corrected. "Wilda... they've destroyed the Subterra vial and taken all of the Subterra attribute energy from Wilda."
"Oh no..." Runo muttered. "Now they have two out of the six."
"I'm sorry, Mira." Wilda apologized.
"I'm the one who should be sorry, Wilda." Tigrerra corrected.
"Both of you, stop it." Runo snapped. "It's my fault for wandering off on my own."
With Lync and Mylene...
"Yeah, yes, you deserve the credit this time." Lync sighed. "But I'll be taking home the win next time."
"Whatever, little man!" Mylene snapped.
"There's only four attribute energies left to get now." Lync remarked. "Get ready to lose, Battle Brawlers."
With Mira and Runo...
"We can't lose again." Mira swore. "We have to do whatever it takes to protect the remaining energies."
SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.