Oh man have I been looking forward to this chapter! And so has my friend Petrus, hehe. Alright guys, before you start I just wanna say one thing.
There was a reviewer who as simply a guest telling me to watch the sub of Bakugan which has better material. Honestly...I disagree. I like the dub a lot better then the sub. And from what my research shows theirs only two major differences between sub and dub. Both of which are in this chapter. One of them...I used the dub version because I don't have the heart to do the sub. So deal with it. The second one I kinda did the sub but edited a little. I'll explain in the note at the end of the chapter.
With that said, I hope you enjoy it.
It was the morning after Lori, Marucho, and Runo had tried, and failed to recruit Shun. Of course, neither three had told Dan or especially Lincoln. The three of them were honestly a little afraid to admit to the two of them of their little mission. Especially since Lincoln was still in a bad mood since yesterday and was currently talking a walk to blow off steam and avoid everyone.
And currently with Dan, the Pyrus user was in his room on the computer checking the rankings on the Bakugan website. "Dan ranked 88 out of 100." Dan's computer said as Dan looked for himself in the top 100 players with Lincoln being right above him at 87 and even Runo and Marucho making themselves known in the leader boards with Marucho at 95 and Runo at 91.
"What? When did those two get on the board?" Dan asked himself as this was the first time he's seen those two so close to the top before. Dan then scrolled to the very top of the list and frowned at who he saw as number one. "And number one for most consecutive weeks as a jerk, Masquerade!"
Dan then scrolled down a bit and frowned again once he saw who number 6 in the world was. "Number six? Seriously Shun? You're really letting yourself go man." Dan said as Shun, who had once been number one in the world, had now dropped down to the sixth place slot with number five being some German dude and seventh being a Chinese girl.
"Dan, is it true he was number one before Masquerade came along and beat everyone?" Drago asked as he sat next to Dan's keyboard and looked up at his partner. Drago heard a lot about Shun, especially recently, but he has yet to actually ask about the boy.
"Yeah he ruled the game." Dan said with a sigh as he leaned back in his chair. "Till he dropped the ball and never bothered to pick it up again."
"He no longer battles Bakugan?" Drago asked with a bit of a surprised tone.
"Yeah…" Dan quietly said as he opened his eyes as memories came back to him of his and Shun's friendship. "Shun and I used to be the best of friends. We did practically everything together. You couldn't tear us apart."
"And when Bakugan started up, we were the ones who laid down the law and wrote the rules together. He had the lead in breaking down all the moves." Dan explained as he remembered the days where he, Shun, Lincoln, Runo, Marucho, Alice, Julie, and Lori made the rules for the Bakugan game. "He was on a role…till he started pulling this disappearing act. Sometimes leaving right in the middle of a jam session."
"…What about Lincoln?" Drago decided to ask the million-dollar question. "Yesterday he was certainly…adamant on not recruiting Shun to put it lightly."
"Well, if me and Shun were best buds then those two were something else entirely." Dan explained as he crossed his arms with a frown coming to his face. "Those two were practically brothers. You would rarely ever see one without the other. They were always there for each other through thick and thin. Completely inseparable…at least…that's what we all thought."
"What happened?" The Pyrus Bakugan asked once again with a sad tone slowly coming to his voice.
"…When Shun started bailing out and avoiding everyone…Lincoln seemed to get the worse of it." Dan sadly explained with a low tone as he looked up at the ceiling of his room. "It was just so weird. It was if something changed in him when his mom was sent to the hospital…"
In the Royal Woods Hospital, in one of the many rooms one particular patient was lying in bed, barely conscious was a woman with long black hair and green eyes. This was Shun's mother, Shiori Kazami. She was currently hooked up to a breathing device as well as a few other machines to help her. With her in the human was a doctor, a nurse, and her father.
"Don't worry, Shun will be here shortly." Tsuguo reassured his barely conscious daughter as he stood next to her bed. "At least I was able to grab your purse for you."
"MOM!" Suddenly the door shot up and Shun quickly ran into the room and over to his mothers' bed. Concern and worry were easily seen on his expression as tears were building up in her eyes do to seeing the condition his mother was in…and what was about to happen.
Lincoln and Dan were standing in the door way, it was Dan's father that managed to rush them to the hospital. Early, Dan and Lincoln were battling Shun in Bakugan, but the Ventus user kept stalling the game. His goal was to keep the game going which would cause time to stop going forward so that way his mom wouldn't have to suffer and Shun wouldn't have to live with his grandpa and follow his house rules…which were stop doing everything he loved and hanging out with his friends and stay home to train and become a ninja warrior like him.
When her son came to her and his voice hit her ears, she was able to barely open her eyes up and look at her little boy and give him a sweet but weak smile. "Shun…what took you so long?" Shiori asked weakly as she managed to put her hand on top of her sons. "I was…just about…to go under…thank goodness you made it." This caused Shun to gasp as the tears in his eyes threatened to leak out any second now.
"Oh no…" Lincoln gasped with him and Dan sharing expressions of sadness of sympathy.
"Don't worry son, your mother will be just fine." The doctor reassured the Kazami boy in a professional tone. "She's just about to enter comatose. She'll be unconscious for…I'm afraid I don't know how long, but she'll be alive."
"Shun…" Dan said quietly as he watched everything unfold.
"The doctor it right Shun. I'll be fine." Shiori reassured her son as she lightly squeezed his hand. The tears were now completely falling from Shun's eyes as the 13-year-old lightly sobbed as the nurse but a hand to his shoulder. "You go home and Grandpa will take care of you."
This statement caused Lincoln to frown. That geezer should not be in charge of Shun. He just wants to turn Shun into himself and get rid of all of his honorary brothers' freedom. Shun could stay at his family's place…maybe. Shun could stay in the basement…its gotta be better than living under his grandfather rules, right?
"Here…I got something…I wanted…to give you." Despite her condition, she still couldn't help but spoil her son. "I know its what you really love Shun." Despite his tears, Shun hummed as he felt his mom put something small and round in his hand. "Now…go have some fun…"
Looking into his hand, Shun silently gasped as he saw that his mom had given him a Ventus Bakugan he had never seen before…
Ventus Skyress.
"Shun…please…go play with your friends….and…your brother Lincoln…." Shiori said as her voice started to get weaker and weaker and her eyes started to close. "Shun….I love you…..son….." And with that, her eyes shut as she finally entered into comatose. No one being able to tell when, or even if she'll wake up.
"Mom…." Shun said with a broken voice as he could only watch his mother sleep and weakly breath.
"Hpmh, well that's nice and all but I'm afraid you won't be getting the chance to use it." Shun's grandpa told the boy as he managed to keep her strong and strict demeanor despite having to watch his daughter enter a coma. However, the old ninja failed to notice Lincoln gritting his teeth and tightening his fist with Dan trying to calm him down. "You will be practicing ninja moves with me. Under my house rules you will be coming home from school and staying home. None of that disappearing act, and none of that Bakugan business either."
Lincoln finally couldn't take it as the white-headed boy finally had one of his rare moment where he completely snapped. "HIS THAT SERIOUSLY ALL YOU CARE ABOUT?!" Lincoln yelled at the old man causing Dan to have to hold him back and for the nurse and doctor to flinch. "YOUR OWN DAUGHTER JUST ENTERED A COMA AND YOU CAN THINK ABOUT IS TURNING SHUN INTO YOURSELF!"
"YOU THINK I'M NOT UPSET ABOUT THIS!?" Tsuguo yelled back as he glared at the Loud son while the nurse and doctor tried to calm them down.. "I'M JUST TRYING TO KEEP MYSELF TOGETHER! AND EXCUSE ME IF I DON'T WANT MY GRANDSON INVOLVED IN SUCH A TIME WASTER!"
"SO, YOU WAITED FOR THIS?!" Lincoln yelled back as Dan wrapped him up in a full nelson. "YOU JUST WAITED FOR HER TO GO INTO COMATOSE SO YOU COULD FORCE THIS NINJA CRAP ON HIM! NEWS FLASH YA GEEZER, NINJA'S AREN'T A THING ANYMORE!"
"YOU THINK I WANTED THIS TO HAPPEN?!" Shun's grandfather roared as the nurse was forced to start pulling him out of the room.
"YOU SURE SEEM TO BE TAKING ADVANTAGE OF IT!" Lincoln yelled back as Dan started to carry his friend out of the room. "HIS MOM DIDN'T WANT SHUN A PART OF THAT NINJA STUFF IN YOU FIRST PLACE AND THE SECOND SHE'S HOSPITALIZED YOU DO EXCATLY THAT! TAKING ADVANTAGE OF A SICK MOTHER LIKE THAT SHOULD BE A HELL SENTENCE FOR YOU OLD MAN!"
"WHAT DID YOU SAY TO ME?!" With that last bit yelled, Dan and the nurse managed to pull the two out of the room with Shun still being able to hear their yells through the closed door as the doctor put a sympathetic hand on his shoulder.
"…That is an unfortunate story." Drago said with a sympathetic tone.
"Yeah sure is." Dan said sadly as he stared off into space. "I still haven't seen him, or heard from him for that matter since then. He just moved in with his grandpa and just…disappeared. Lincoln went to see him once but…it didn't go well at all."
"And he's never touched a single Bakugan since then either. As far as I know." Dan then sighed again as he leaned back into his chair and closed his eyes. "Whatever, the game won't miss some no-show has-been…"
"And neither will I."
Lincoln Loud was currently not in the best of moods. It honestly caught some people off guard who knew the boy and walked past him seeing the look of anger on his face considering Lincoln usually a pretty mild, happy, and normally pretty chill boy.
But he was still greatly upset over his friends even mentioning Shun. Especially Lori since she should now how things are between him and his ex-friend/honorary brother. At this pointed, he wanted absolutely nothing to do with Shun. Considering Lincoln is rarely one to hold grudges, if at all, so one could see this was serious.
"Hey kid, you alright." Leonidas asked as he floated off his partners shoulder and in front of Lincoln's face causing the boy to stop walking and give his partner a rather irritated look. "You've been acting off since last night."
"…I'm fine." Lincoln grumbled as he tried to walk past the Darkus Bakugan only for Leonidas to once again float in front of Lincoln again causing the white-haired boy to get more irritated then he already was.
"Kid, come on. I know you. You're not fooling anyone." Leonidas continued on as Lincoln let out a huff of annoyance. "Come on, give me that goofy Lincoln smile." Lincoln wasn't in any mood for this as he narrowed his eyes harshly at his partner. "Seesh, nevermind. Do you at least wanna talk about it? What's your beef with this Shun dude?"
"Nothing." Lincoln said harshly as he walked past his partner once more. "I have nothing to say about that jerk. I want nothing to do with him and that's final."
"Are you sure about that?"
"AAAAAAAAAAHHH!" Leonidas, but surprisingly not Lincoln, screamed as a voice suddenly came up close to them. Turning around, Leonidas saw the goth girl Haiku standing behind them with a concerned look on her face. "HOW DO YOU DO THAT?!"
Haiku ignored Leonidas's loud question and putting a hand on Lincoln's shoulder with the Loud boy being aware of her presence but not turning to face her. "Lincoln, I've never seen you like this before." Haiku had decided to talk a stroll through the park today to search for inspiration when she had saw Lincoln also taking a stroll today. At first she was happy about this considering she's been feeling…things about the Loud boy recently. But once she got a closer look at Lincoln's expression as well as his aura she quickly grew concerned as she's never ever seen Lincoln in this kinda mood before. "What's wrong?"
"…Nothing…" Lincoln lied as while his mood did soften a bit when the goth girl came up to him and placed her hand on his shoulder. "Just…thinking about someone I thought was my friend."
Lincoln was then about to walk away around only for a pair of arms to wrap around him from behind and pull him close with a familiar head pressing against the back of his. "Lincoln please…talk to me." Haiku quietly pleaded to him in a soft and caring tone Lincoln's never heard from the goth girl that caused him to freeze and his face to slowly go red. "You're always allowing others to talk to you to solve their problems, so talk to me so I can help."
Lincoln heart started beating faster as Haiku asked this. Shun was…an incredibly touchy subject for him. Talking about might help but it would also bring up some sore memories. Just then Haiku's partner Kabukito floated up to Lincoln's face and told the Loud boy. "Only if you face your demons, will you be able to combat them. And sharing them to others, will allow them to lend their aid."
After hearing the Kabuki Bakugan's wise words, Lincoln finally sighed as he lowered his head. "…alright…"
Lincoln was breathing heavily as he was more exhausted then he's ever been in his life. He was on his bike with bruises and a few cuts covering his body and his cloths having some dirt and quite a bit of sweat on them.
However, despite exhaustion and fatigue coming over the Loud boy, he kept on riding through the woods with one destination in mind. Shun's grandfather's dojo. Its been about two months since Shun's mother had fallen into comatose and since then Lincoln hasn't seen or even heard a thing from the Kazami boy since that event and him moving in with his grandfather.
Despite his grandfather's rules, Lincoln was sure Shun would still try and find a way to get outside to spend sometime with his friends and play Bakugan…but no. To say Lincoln missed Shun was an understatement. He'd been friends with Shun practically since he was born and the two were so close they would call each other brothers. And with Lincoln have so many sisters, it was a relationship he treasured.
Lincoln then tried the next best things. Contacting Shun. It may not have been face to face, but at least he could talk to Shun. However, all of Lincoln's video chat request, phone calls, text were all simply unanswered and ignored. Lincoln even tried to send letters to Shun, but all of them were simply sent back to him unopened.
It was at that point that Lincoln was really started to get both worried and…a little irritated. What was Shun's deal? Why didn't he want to talk to Lincoln? They were best friends, brothers. Why wouldn't he at least talk to him?
So, at this point, Lincoln decided to take drastic measures…go to Shun in person. But he didn't want any of his family to take him and possible pressure Shun into coming out since he knew how they can be and quickly turn even the simplest situations and problems into chaos. So, he had to go it alone. Just him and Shun.
So he took his bike and made the incredibly long journey to the Kazami dojo.
A journey was that was finally nearing its end.
"Finally…made it…oh gosh…" Lincoln said as he collapsed a few yards away from the doors that led to Shun's dojo. Saying he was sore was the understatement was the century as he could somehow not feeling his body, yet feel sore everywhere at the same time. Where was logic when he needed it?
Lincoln groaned as he decided to lay down in the dirt for a little bit to rest. The dojo wasn't going anywhere and nearly all his strength was gone. He had sustained bruises from the occasional wipe outs and falling off. He also had a few cuts and tears in his cloths due to having to boke through a thick part of the woods at one point with a few branches managing to get one up on him.
But it was all worth it in the end as he finally managed to stand up off the ground, wincing as he did so. Once on his aching feet again, Lincoln managed to limp his way to the large wooden gates of the dojo and weakly raised up his hand to knock on it as hard as he could. "SHUN!" Lincoln called out to loudly.
…
No response.
"SHUN! ITS ME! LINCOLN!" Lincoln called out again, trying to push the dojo doors open but to no avail. "I CAME HERE TO VISIT YOU! PLEASE OPEN UP!"
…
Once again, Lincoln got no response. He sighed as he lowered his head. Did he come when no one was home? How long before they came back? Was he just supposed to camp out here or-
"GO AWAY!" Suddenly Lincoln's eyes snapped open as he rose his head and frown. That was Shun…but…he told him to go away.
"Wh-What…" Lincoln let out, no sure how to respond to Shun saying that to him. "Sh-Shun-"
"I SAID GO AWAY LINCOLN!" Shun's voice yelled on the other side of the dojo's walls causing Lincoln to flinch at the words he was using. "YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE COME HERE!"
"B-But Shun…" Lincoln let out in a sadden voice as storm clouds started to fill the sky. "I-I thought we-"
"WE HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH EACH OTHER ANYMORE SO DROP IT!" Shun yelled back causing Lincoln to fall on his butt on the ground. "I DON'T WANNA TALK TO YOU AND I DON'T WANNA SEE YOU SO JUST BEAT IT!"
Lincoln was to stunned and shocked to say anything. Shun…Shun was telling him he didn't want to see her hear from Lincoln again. But…they were best friends…brothers…
Lincoln could do nothing but let tears start to fall from his eyes as rain started falling from the sky.
What Lincoln failed to see on the other side of the dojo walls was Shun punching the wall with tears going down his own eyes. "Just go…" Shun croaked out in a broken tone that Lincoln could hear. "You don't need me holding you back anymore…" These words being the hardest thing Shun has ever had to do before.
"So, I decided, if that guy wanted nothing to do with me, I wanted nothing to do with him." Lincoln finished explaining to Haiku. "After everything we've been through, he just…I get that he had to live under his grandpa's rules now but he didn't even put up a fight and when I reached out for him…he just left me. All Shun seems to know how to know how to do these days is bailing out on others. He bailed on the Brawlers, he bailed on his friends, he bailed on Dan…and he bailed on me."
"…I'm terribly sorry Lincoln." Haiku said with nothing but sympathy and sadness in her voice at hearing the story. She was starting to be glad she forgot to put on massacre today but she was started to have to resist tears coming to her eyes. "I had no idea…"
"I just thought…we really had an unbreakable bond." Lincoln said in a saddened tone as he looked at the ground, his hands gripping his jeans and his breathing becoming shaky as memories of him and his honorary brother came to him. "Remember my friend Ronnie Anne?"
"…Yes." Haiku said as a Haiku put on a creepily wide smile that one could tell from the other side of the planet was fake with Haiku speaking through her teeth. Despite the situation, she remembered a few times when Lucy would speak of Lincoln Latina friend and how…close the two were. And considering how much closer she and Lincoln had become the mention of Ronnie Anne sparked a bit of jealously in her.
"Well…after…something involving her…" Lincoln nervously explained as he didn't quite wanna tell Haiku about the time he…kissed Ronnie Anne. Keeping that information to himself was for the best considering how he's been feeling around Haiku recently. So, he just told her what she needed to hear. "So, it was after I…confronted Ronnie Anne in my front yard Shun came over soon after and explained that he ran into her and…"
Ronnie Anne was currently walking home with an uncontrollable blush on her face. The source of this blush was caused by the boy Ronnie Anne has been bullying recently, Lincoln Loud. The Loud boy had told her to come over to his house to he could actually stand up to the young Santiago and what does he do? He kisses her!
The Latina's first instinct was of course to punch him in the eye and leave him with a black eye and leave. However, as she rubbed the cheek the Loud boy had kissed…she had to admit. It felt nice. And Lincoln was rather cute. She would be lying if she said that at least a small part of her bullying of him was to get his attention.
Maybe she should go back and apologize? Not in person of course, that would ruin her tough girl image. But maybe just throw him a note and steak for his eye that would be-
"Hey!" Ronnie Anne was cute from her train of thought by a voice coming from behind her. Looking, she saw none other then Shun Kazami standing behind her with a not to happy looking on his face. "So, you're the one that's been with Lincoln lately huh?"
Ronnie Anne quickly put on her tough girl face and stood her ground against Shun. "What of it?" She aggressively asked as she put her hands in her hoodie pockets. "Got something you wanna say?" She wasn't about to be intimidated by some ninja wanna be.
Shun was silent as he narrowed his eyes at the Latina girl and started walking towards her. Ronnie Anne started getting annoyed as she made fist in her pockets. If this guy tried anything then was gonna get a knuckle sandwich for lunch. Shun the stopped as he was right in front of Ronnie Anne and looked down on her and looked her right in the eye. "Now I'm gonna say this nice and clear so you understand." Shun told her with a bit of threatening in his tone. "You better leave Lincoln alone. Or else."
"Oh yeah?" Ronnie Anne challenged as she started taking her right fist out of her pocket. "Or what?!" Ronnie Anne then threw her right hook, attempting to hit this guys eye similar to Lincoln…only for Shun to effortlessly catch her fist. "Wh-What-"
Ronnie Anne was cut off as Shun lifted her clean off the ground and threw her over his shoulder and slammed her down back first into the side walk. Ronnie Anne screamed in pain as her back met the concrete as Shun looked down at her with a fierce glare. "I think I got my point across."
'Heh, serves her right.' Haiku thought with a satisfied smile on her face once Lincoln finished the story. "It sounds like you two were always there for each other."
"Yeah…we were.' Lincoln said with an angry huff as he leaned back on the bench he and Haiku were sitting on.
Haiku frowned and sighed in response at what Lincoln said. She could tell he was still hurting about this…but she could also tell that he missed Shun dearly. "Maybe…you should try to see him again." Haiku suggested causing Lincoln's eyes to widen.
"What?" Lincoln gasped out as he shot up in his seat.
"She's right." Kabukito said as she hopped onto Haiku's lap. "I can sense that you still yearn to get your friendship and brotherhood back. You'll never be able to balance your spirit and become whole if you allow this to hold you back from reconnecting with you."
"I…I don't know guys…" Lincoln said as he looked down at the ground and actually thought about the option. "Shun made it clear that he wants nothing to do with nobody…even me…so why should I even bother with that jerk."
Lincoln then felt a hand placed on top of his and looked to see Haiku giving him a sad look that made him flinch a little. "Lincoln…I don't like seeing you like this." Haiku told the boy as his cheeks went a little pink. "This isn't you. Holding grudges. Being angry. This just isn't who you are. You're about fixing these types of problems and bring people together."
"…" Lincoln was silent as she spoke. Haiku was honestly right. He couldn't count the amount of times he's solved others arguments and problems just because he wanted to help. Yes, he got angry, but he never truly held it against anyone unless they deserved it like with Chandler or Hank and Hawk. He then felt Haiku give his hand a light squeeze.
"Please…promise me you'll give him another change?" Haiku asked him as she gave the Loud boy a tiny but adorable smile.
"…" Lincoln continued not to say anything, but the looks and words Haiku was giving him really made him consider. He…He really did miss Shun. A lot. But…could he stand the possibilities of being rejected and losing him once and for all?
Before he could think more about it, he felt his phone vibrate in his pocket and pulled it out and saw he had a text from Dan.
Dan – Come on…we're going to see him.
Lincoln and Dan were now sitting in Marucho's family private aircraft as Kato flew them to Shun's dojo. Dan and Lincoln were currently giving Runo and Marucho, who were sitting across from them, rather angry and irritated looks.
Not to long ago, Dan was hanging out in Runo's restaurant totally not watching Alice as she worked along with Marucho joining him there so he'd have someone to talk to. However, when Runo asked for Marucho's help getting some flour, Preyas took the opportunity to squeal about his partner's as well as Runo and Lori's little trip to go get Shun.
As soon as Dan found out he quickly texted Lincoln about it…as well as saying it was about time they go see Shun after all this time whether he liked it or not. Lincoln's first thought was to refuse and not go…but his talk with Haiku managed to get him to at least give it a chance. But he wasn't making any promises of going back to being buddy-buddy with Shun.
And he was gonna have one heck of a talk with Lori when he got back.
"So…you haven't decided yet have you?" Skyress asked as she and Shun were currently in the storage shed of his dojo where they could be alone and simply talk. Shun was still contemplating on whether or not he should join back up with the Brawlers.
"All I know is that I will battle Dan. Once I defeat him, I will decide whether or not to keep playing Bakugan." Shun told his Ventus partner.
"And Lincoln?" Skyress asked, noting how Shun left him out. Shun didn't say anything in response as Skyress spoke up again. "I think I know why you don't want to connect with him again…you're scared." Skyress words caused Shun to lightly gasp and look at his partner with a small amount of surprise on his face. "You're scared that if you connect with him, connect with your brother again…that you'll only end up losing him or separating from him again somehow. And you just wouldn't be able to take another lose in your life."
Before Shun could answer, the door to the shed was suddenly opened. When Shun looked back to see who it was…he saw it wasn't his grandfather.
Lincoln and Dan could now be seen walking through the gardens of Shun's dojo. Them as well as Runo and Marucho had landed not too long ago and quickly made their way to the dojo. Dan and Lincoln made it inside by climbing over the walls and remembering where the traps were set due to being here before. However, when Runo and Marucho climb beyond the walls they ended up falling into a pit trap.
"Careful you two, there might be trouble afoot." Drago warned them as he felt something wasn't quite right with the area.
"Yeah, this place gives me the creeps." Leonidas commented as he looked around the area before them.
Just then the two heard footsteps behind them and lightly gasped and quickly turned around to see Shun himself walking into the gardens with his head down, a thoughtful look on his face. Lincoln alright felt his fist tighten and his breathing get a bit heavy at seeing the Kazami boy after so long and after everything's that's happen.
"Shun!" Dan called out to the Ventus Brawlers causing Lincoln to flinch and for Shun to silently gasp and look up."
"Dan." Shun said as he looked up and saw the Pyrus user. The young ninja's eyes then wandered to the left…and saw Lincoln. "…Lincoln…."
"Shun…." Lincoln said as he locked eyes with his old friend.
"Its…been awhile…" Shun said rather awkwardly as he honestly didn't know what to say or rather even how to face Lincoln after all this time and after what he said when Lincoln actually tried to visit him.
"Uh-huh….." Lincoln replied dully, still not to enthusiastic about all this. However, it was at this point that Lincoln couldn't hold it in any as he tightened his fist and finally snapped at Shun. "SO WHAT'S YOUR PROBLEM HUH?!"
"What?" Shun asked as he flinched a tiny bit with even Dan back a little way from Lincoln.
"Woah, calm down dude." Dan pleaded to his friend, only being ignored in response.
"Why did you just shut me out like that and tell me to get lost?!" Lincoln demanded to know as Shun started to tighten his own fist. "I pedaled for hours on my bike to get here! I fell over a dozen times! Got scratched by branches! And I didn't stop! Because I wanted to see you! I wanted to see my brother again!"
"I AM NOT YOUR BROTHER!" Shun snapped as soon as Lincoln was done talking. The Loud boy paled out when Shun said this and started to lightly tremble. "W-Wait…I-I didn't-"
"Dude, what is your problem?!" Dan yelled as he quickly put a hand on Lincoln's shoulder for support.
"Hahahaha! Problem in paradise boys?"
Dan and Lincoln flinched and gasped. They knew that voice all to well at this point. Suddenly, walking up from behind Shun…was Masquerade.
"Masquerade?!" Dan yelled as Lincoln was stunned silent. "What are you doing here?!"
"Oh? You didn't tell them about our little business arrangement?" Masquerade asked Shun with a devilish smirk on his face. "I'm hurt Shun, I didn't think you'd keep secrets from your friends, let alone your own brother. But then again, it seems that may not be the case, so how about we just eliminate them, right here and now?"
"Shun! What's he talking about?!" Dan demanded to know as Lincoln started gritting his teeth and his face started to go red with anger.
"…" Shun didn't say a thing…and held up the Doom Card in between his fingers.
"You…You can't be serious Shun?!" Dan yelled in shock at seeing Shun holding the card all of Masquerade's lackies used.
"Kid…are you ok?" Leonidas asked Lincoln after he saw the state the boy was in.
"Shun...why..." Lincoln managed to croak out as his breathing got rapid.
"Hahahaha! Oh, whats wrong Lincoln?" Masquerade laughed with a tone of pure mocking. "You had no problem beating your older sister into the ground, how is this any different?"
"...damn...you..." Lincoln said through his teeth with pure rage plastered on his face.
"Lincoln?" Dan said in concern over his friend. Lincoln swearing was something incredibly rare. The only other time he's heard it was at the hospital during the day where Shun's mom went into a coma.
"So Shun, how about we get things started?" When Masquerade asked this, Shun raised up his Doom Card…and threw it. Dan gasped as he pulled Lincoln out of the way with Shun's throwing skills causing he card to aim right at the stone statue right next to the two boys and once it connected, the card actually broke apart the statue. Masquerade wasn't to happy to see this as he turned to Shun and said. "Didn't you…hear me?"
"I play this game solo." Shun told Masquerade as Dan and Lincoln stood back up. "So don't think you're the boss of me. Because you're not."
"Not your smartest decision Shun." The masked Brawler told the Ventus user. "But I respect it. That leaves me with only one choice. To bring Dan and Lincoln down myself."
"Here's a better idea!" Lincoln yelled as he held up his own field card after seeing Masquerade bring his out. "You two vs me and Dan!"
"Yeah! I'm game!" Dan agreed as he pulled out his own field card.
"Your time has come Masquerade!" Drago yelled, fully prepared to fight.
"Get ready to be ripped to shreds!" Leonidas growled viciously.
"Two vs two huh?" Masquerade asked with a smirk. "What do you say Shun?"
"Hmph." Shun's only response was him pulling out his field card.
"Good answer." Masquerade said as everyone rose up their field cards.
"Field Open!" They all said in unison as Dan's card glowed red, Shun's glowed green, and Masquerade and Lincoln's glowed purple. Time came to a stop as the Bakugan field opened for the four.
"Doom Card set." Masquerade's did his usual first move of dropping the Doom Card onto the field.
"Gate Card set!" Everyone then threw their gate cards onto the field with Dan's landing in front of Masquerade, Lincoln's landing in front of Shun, Shun's landing in front of Lincoln, and Masquerade's landing in front of Dan.
Masquerade was the first to go as he loaded up a Darkus Bakugan into his launcher. "Bakugan Brawl!" Masquerade then shot out his Bakugan towards his own gate card. "Laserman Stand!" Now standing on Masquerade's gate card was a Bakugan that resembled a robot with two laser canons mounted on each shoulder.
"Battle begins." The Baku-pod announced as it showed the data on Laserman. "Darkus Laserman enters at 3-7-0 G's. Awaiting opponent."
"Alright, my turn now." Dan said as he equipped his own launcher and loaded a Pyrus Bakugan into it. "Bakugan Brawl!" Dan shot the Bakugan towards his own gate card. "Pyrus Stinglash Stand!" With a bug-like hiss, Dan's Stinglash came into battle.
Lincoln growled a little as he loaded up his launcher and aimed it at Shun's gate card. "Shun's mine. Bakugan Brawl!" Lincoln then shot the Bakugan towards Shun's gate card. "Darkus Siege stand!" With a twirl of its saber, Lincoln's Darkus Siege came into battle.
"Ha, bad move their kid." Masquerade said as he rose up an ability card. "Ability Activate: Leap Sting!" Lasermans visor then glowed green as the top half of its body turned around 180 degrees and aimed one of its shoulder cannons at Stinglash and the other at Siege.
"Oh no!" Dan gasped as Laserman started to shoot purple energy blast at his and Lincoln's Bakugan from across the field.
"Siege!" Lincoln called out for in concern as his Bakugan sustained heavy fire.
"You like that?" Masquerade asked with a cruel smirk on his face. "Leap Sting is a unique ability that lets Laserman attack any Bakugan on the field and take away 50 points from their power level. Lincoln and Dan could only watch as the portal to the Doom Dimension opened and sucked Siege and Stinglash in. Trapping them for all eternity.
"No! He sent them both to the Doom Dimension at once!" Dan growled as he tightened his fist and Lincoln took some deep breathes to control himself over seeing his Siege get sent to the Doom Dimension.
"So that's the…Doom Dimension?" Shun asked with his voice having a little bit of fear in it as Laserman glowed and return to Masquerade's hand in ball form.
"Yes." Skyress confirmed as she floated next to Shun. "Once a Bakugan has been sent there it can never return. It's the place we fear the most Shun." Shun hummed in response as Skyress turned to her partner. "Knowing this do you still want to continue Shun?"
Shun was silent for a moment before giving a hard nod and picking up a Bakugan. "Bakugan Brawl!" Shun then threw the Ventus Bakugan towards his own gate card. "Monarus Stand!"
Masquerade smirked as Shun entered the battle and loaded up his launcher again. "Bakugan Brawl!" Masquerade then shot the Bakugan towards his own gate card. "Reaper Stand!" Now on Masquerade's Gate Card was the Darkus Reaper that Lincoln and Dan know all too well.
"Heads up kids." Reaper said in a threatening tone as Leonidas and Drago growled.
"Alright Dan, I'll handle Monarus, you try and take down Reaper." Lincoln said as he loaded up his launcher again. "Bakugan Brawl!" Lincoln then shot his Bakugan towards Shun's gate card. "Ravenoid Stand!" With a loud bird-like cry, Darkus Ravenoid flew up to Monarus and stared it down.
"Alright then, I think I have an idea. Gate Card set!" Dan then threw down a new gate card right next to the card Reaper was on. "Bakugan Brawl!" Dan quickly shot a Bakugan out towards this new card. "Garganoid Stand!" At 320 G's, Dan's Garganoid appeared in the battle from a flaming vortex.
Shun nodded once Dan made his move and then looked towards Lincoln. "Sorry Lincoln, but a battle a battle!" Shun said as he held his hand out. "Gate Card open: Mine Ghost!"
"What?!" Lincoln yelled as the card started to glow, ready to take out both Monarus and Ravenoid.
"Now then, Ability Activate!" Shun then quickly activated an ability before Mine Ghost could be completed. "Air Battle!" Monarus suddenly flew high above its gate card and even leaving the area of it and flying around the field as the Mine Ghost went off only claiming Ravenoid.
"But…how'd he do that?" Lincoln quietly asked as Ravenoid landed at his feet.
"It's a wind attribute ability." Drago started explaining as Monarus flew around the battlefield in circles. "It allows Monarus to take off and fly beyond the cards below."
"That's not all." Shun added on as Monarus landed on Garganoid's card. "When in Air Battle mode, you're gate card won't open Dan." With Monarus at 330 G's, 10 more then Garganoid, the butterfly Bakugan wrapped both of its legs around Garganoid and proceeded to spin around rapidly before letting go of Garganoid and kicking it hard with momentum adding into the force of the attack sending the Pyrus Bakugan back to ball form and at Dan's feet. Once that was done, Monarus returned to Shun's hand with now only Masquerade's got card with Reaper on it and Lincoln's empty gate card remaining on the field.
"We we're both taken out. Again." Dan said through his teeth as now it was Shun and Masquerade still with six Bakugan and them with only Drago and Leonidas.
"We can't afford another lose Dan." Lincoln said as he considered his options. All things considered…things weren't looking good for them.
"You're not saying we give up are you?" Leonidas asked his partner as he floated up to his face.
"Well…" Lincoln struggled to say as he lowered his head. "Leonidas…I…I just…I can't lose you to…"
"…Kid." Leonidas said in a surprisingly soft tone that no ones ever heard from the Bakugan before. "You don't have to worry about me. I'll be fine. I promise." Leonidas then floated into Lincoln's hand and looked up at his partner. "Come on, let's finished what we started."
Lincoln was silent for a moment before taking a deep breath and nodded. Gripped Leonidas tightly, Lincoln loaded up his partner into his launcher. "Bakugan Brawl!" Lincoln then shot Leonidas towards his own gate card. "Leondias Stand!"
"ALRIGHT! BRING IT ON!" Leondias roared as he slammed a fist against the ground causing a small earthquake that shook the entire field.
"Woah…" Shun let out as he looked up at the Darkus dragon. Shun's eyes widened a little bit as he saw Leonidas power level of 400.
"Alright, you want it so bad then here! Gate Card set!" Masquerade said as he threw a gate card down next to Leonidas's gate card and in front of the gate card Reaper was on. "Bakugan Brawl! Laserman Stand!" Masquerade then proceeded to send in his Darkus Laserman once more.
"Alright Drago, its time to end this once and for all!" Dan yelled as he loaded Drago up into his launcher.
"You can count on me partner!" Drago reassured the Pyrus Brawler.
"Bakugan Brawl!" Dan then sent Drago out to face down with Reaper. "Drago Stand!" With the mightiest roar he could muster, Drago was unleashed in front of Reaper and glared at the Darkus Bakugan fiercely.
"En Garde Reaper!" Drago yelled at his Darkus opponent.
"Get ready to meet your maker Drago!" Reaper retorted as he gripped his scythe tightly.
"Gate Card open!" Masquerade commanded with two raised fingers. "Third Judgement!"
"Get ready for the Doom Dimension my friend." Reaper mocked as the gate card glowed and Drago was trapped by purple lightning. "The Third Judgement card will assure you have an unpleasant voyage there!"
"This is it! Our moment of victory! Don't you feel it Shun?" Masquerade said to the Ventus Brawler who simply had his eyes closed and his calm and collected still on his face.
"Sorry…but I play solo." Shun said as he dropped down a gate card next to Reaper's gate card and under Leonidas's card. "Bakugan Brawl! Monarus Stand!" Once again, Shun's Monarus came onto the battlefield.
"Alright. Time to clean house." Masquerade said with a smirk as he loaded up his launcher with his final Darkus Bakugan. "Bakugan Brawl!" Everyone then watched as Masquerade sent a completely new Bakugan towards the Third Judgement gate card.
"I got a bad feeling about this…" Lincoln said as this new Bakugan seemed to bring about a great sense of unease despite still being in ball form.
And then…the Bakugan stood…
"Hydranoid Stand!"
Suddenly, with a bright purple glow, a Bakugan came onto the field that could bring even the bravest of men the feeling of feel. The Bakugan stood on all fours, had a long neck and a tail with a sharps spike coming out of it. His head had razor sharp teeth with his upper jaw have three long purple teeth jetting out of it. He had pink spines running from the middling of his neck to the end of his tail along with pink horns on his nose as well as red eyes.
"Grrr, stop ignoring me!" Leonidas yelled as so far both Masquerade and Shun were completely blowing him off and avoiding a battle with him.
"Two against one." Drago gasped as the two Darkus Bakugan glared fiercely at him.
"No way!" Shun let out as he checked Hydranoid's power level on his Baku-pod.
"Hydranoid at 4-5-0 G's." The Baku-pod revealed Hydranoids extremely high-power level.
"You gotta be kidding me?!" Dan yelled in amazement and fear over this Bakugan's power.
"Still, not the highest power level we've seen…" Lincoln quietly muttered as memories of Marduk and his Bakugan Vladitor came into his head. Hydranoid was certainly strong, but Vladitor was something else with a base power level of 550.
"Afraid yet human?" Hydranoid spoke as his red eye focused on Drago and the two humans in front of him. "I am the most powerful Bakugan ever. I have no limit to my strength. I feed off the Bakugan I send to the Doom Dimension. Just as I'll feed open your precious Drago and Leonidas."
"Over my dead body!" Leonidas yelled from his gate card. He'd be damned if he let himself be sent back to that place.
"That ends now Hydranoid!" Drago roared powerfully.
"Ability Activate: Boosted Dragon!" Dan quickly activated Drago's ability raising up Drago's power to 440 G's. Drago quickly shot the fireball at Hydranoid causing the Darkus Bakugan to be engulfed by the flames. "Bullseye!"
"This is revenge for all the Bakugan you've sent to the Doom Dimension!" Drago yelled as he watched his flames engulf Hydranoid.
"Hahahaha!" Dan and Drago heard laughing from inside the flames. "Is that the best you can do?" Hydranoid then lifted his head up and let out a loud and powerful roar which caused the flames around him to completely vanish. Dan and Drago gasped as Hydranoid was completely unaffected by the attack and turned around and was preparing to swing his tail and Drago and sent the Pyrus Bakugan to the Doom Dimension. "Bon voyage Drago!"
"Drago no!" Dan called out for his friend as Drago roared.
"Ability Card Activate!" Suddenly, before Hydranoid could attack, Shun quickly pulled out an ability card. "Crimson Twister!" Monarus then glowed as it sent a powerful gust of wing from its wing towards Drago causing the Pyrus Bakugan to be lifted up from the third judgement card and onto the card it was on. "Attack now!" Monarus followed its orders and proceeded to kick Drago in the face, but all this did was cause him to grunt and Drago simply slapped Monarus away with his tail and causing the Ventus Bakugan to go back to ball form and land at Shun's feet.
"He…saved Drago…" Lincoln silently muttered as Drago glowed and was sent back to Dan's hand in ball form.
"Shun, you're Monarus…" Dan let out, equally surprised as Lincoln about what Shun did. "You sacrificed her."
"…" Shun was silent as he simply stared at Dan.
"That's only one down humans!" Reaper yelled as he looked down at Lincoln and Dan. "Next time you won't get so lucky! Your pathetic pet lizards don't stand a chance against me! Now, let's end this right-"
SLASH!
Dan, Lincoln and Shun froze as their mouths started to slowly gap open at that they saw. Hydranoid…attacked Reaper…his teammates. With a powerful swipe of his tail, Hydranoid slashed Reaper across his chest. What result was a long deep cut that drew blood that went from the below Reapers neck to just above his stomach.
"W-W-W-W-What…" Reaper said as he used one hand to clench his injury and the other to reach out to Masquerade. "W-W-W-W-Why…..Why…me….."
"Because, with Third Judgement only one can survive." Masquerade answered with a cruel tone and smirk.
"Then that means…" Lincoln said in a horrified tone as he realized what Masquerade was planning. "You meant to send Reaper to the Doom Dimension from the start!"
"Heh, I don't need you anymore." Masquerade told Reaper bluntly with a laugh as Shun gritted his teeth at the masked brawler.
"Masquerade!" Reaper yelled as he was started to be sucked into the Doom Dimension. "YOU'LL PAY FOR THIS!" Reaper was then almost completely sucked in through the portal, only his arm sticking out now when-
"NOT SO FAST!"
Suddenly, managing to reached out beyond gate card, Leonidas grabbed Reapers hand and prevented him from being completely submerged in the doom portal. "What?!" Masquerade gasped out with a surprised look.
"…Leonidas." Lincoln gasped out as Dan and Shun watched with widened eyes.
"Not! On! My! Watch!" Leonidas roared as his muscles suddenly bulked out similar to when he used the Demonic Dragon ability. At this point…Reaper was started to successfully be pulled free.
"Wh-What?" Reaper weakly said as his head was pulled free. "What are-"
"JUST SHUT UP AND HOLD STILL!" Leonidas roared as he proceeded to pull more and more of Reaper free and, "ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!" With a mighty roar and show of strength, Leonidas completely pulled Reaper free of the Doom Dimensions grasp.
"But…how?" Masquerade silently asked as Reaper landed on Leonidas gate card with Leonidas still tightly gripping Reaper's wrist.
"Why…" Reaper weakly asked. "Why would…you save me…"
"Because, if anyone's gonna take you down, I rather it be me." Leonidas glowed as he started to glow purple.
'Its happening again.' Lincoln thought as he remembered when he fought Lynn, Leondias somehow started glowing and his power surged. He didn't question it at the time but now he was really wondering what this way.
"No then…" Leonidas then roared again as he threw Reaper right towards Laserman on the opposing gate card causing Reaper to crash into the other Darkus Bakugan and send them both to the ground. "That's how you take out the trash." Leonidas, Reaper, and Laserman then all glowed purple with Leonidas going back to Lincoln's hand and Reaper and Laserman landing at Masquerade's feet.
"Leonidas…you saved Reaper." Lincoln said in an amazed and surprised towards his partner.
"Yeah well, we're the good guys, right?" Leonidas asked his partner in a casual tone. "Its what we do?"
'How did he do that?' Masquerade thought as he looked down at his two defeated Bakugan, mainly Reaper. 'No Bakugan should be able to pull others free from the Doom Dimensions grasp…yet Leonidas somehow managed to do it, and from a different gate card. Hmmm, maybe Marduk was right. There is more to this Bakugan then meets the eye. Well no matter, it doesn't matter to me whether Reaper stays or goes. Once he has to face my Hydranoid again, both Leonidas and Drago will be sent to the Doom Dimension with no one to save them.'
"Alright, now where tied up with Masquerade." Dan said with a smirk on his face as he pulled out a gate card. "And if I'm right about something…then everything's gonna work out." Dan then threw down his gate card making it the only card on the field.
"What do you mean?" Lincoln asked as he had no idea what Dan was talking about.
"Just trust me man." Dan told Lincoln before taking Drago in his hand. "You with me Drago?"
"Of course." Drago assured his partner as he closed up into a ball.
Dan then loaded up Drago into his launcher and quickly shot him out. "Bakugan Brawl! Drago Stand!" With Boosted Dragon still giving Drago a 100 G boost, Drago came onto the battlefield with flames surrounding him.
"Get ready Shun," Masquerade told the Ventus user who was simply glaring at Masquerade. "You're about to witness the true power of Hydranoid. Bakugan Brawl!" Masquerade then shot out said Bakugan towards the only gate card on the field. "Hydranoid Stand!"
"Prepare yourself Drago!" Hydranoid roared as he and Drago faced off against each other. "The Doom Dimension awaits you!"
"Not today Hydranoid!" Drago roared back as Dan held his hand out.
"Gate Card Open: Quartet Battle!" Dan commanded as his gate card glowed and responded to Dan's opening.
"Go get em Leonidas!" Lincoln cheered on as Leonidas was automatically sent to Drago's side.
"Time to bust your skull Hydranoid!" Leonidas said as he cracked his kunckles.
"And now we're only missing one more teammate." Dan said with a smirk as Lincoln gasped as he knew what Dan meant. This was his plan?!
"Heh, how cute." Masquerade said with a cruel smirk as he turned his head to simply glance at Shun. "Danny and Linky think they can team up with you to defeat me."
"Well?" Skyress asked, already having a good feeling of what Shun was about to say.
'Heh, this'll be a cake walk.' Masquerade thought as he kept his ability cards at the ready. 'If they decided to blindside me, I can simply play my fusion ability on top of my ability to assure my win. They'll be in the Doom Dimension in no time.'
"Skyress, listen up." Shun told his partner Bakugan with his arms crossed. "Its time to join the battle."
"Done." Skyress instantly agreed.
Masquerade hummed as he heard that and looked to Shun and gasped when he saw that the Ventus Brawler now had a green aura around him that raised up his hair with winds surrounding the young ninja that caused the masked brawler to be pushed back. "Masquerade! I've had enough of your games!" Shun yelled while giving a fierce glare to Masquerade. "You just use people and destroy there Bakugan!"
"Alright!" Dan cheered as it looks like everything was coming together.
"Shun…" Lincoln silently muttered as Shun took Skyress into his hand.
"Bakugan Brawl!" Shun then threw Skyress towards the Quartet Battle gate card. "Ventus Skyress Descend!" Dan, Lincoln, and Masquerade all watched as storm clouds appeared in the sky of the battlefield. A green light then shined down as Skyress descended down from the clouds and onto the battle. Only on Dan and Lincoln's side.
"Nice to have you back Shun!" Skyress cheered as she flew down next to her Pyrus and Darkus allies. "Now let's get busy!"
"Alright! Everyone ready?" Dan asked with Shun and Lincoln nodding their heads.
"Welcome to the party Skyress." Hydranoid said, not the least bit intimidated by the three Bakugan in front of him. "To bad you won't be around long enough to enjoy it."
"Ability Activate!" Masquerade said as he threw the ability card into the sky. "Chaos…of the…Darkness!"
Storm clouds once again covered the sky, but unlike the ones Skyress appeared from, these ones were much more foreboding as a purple lightning bolt came down and struck Hydranoid. Masquerade's Bakugan orb as he started shooting purple orbs out of his mouth at the three opposing Bakugan with Leonidas blocking with his arms, Drago grunting as he narrowly dodged one and Skyress using her agility to dodge the ones that came her way.
"Ability Activate: Fire Wall!" Dan threw the ability card towards Drago causing barrier of flames to surround him and dropping Hydranoid's G power by 50.
Hydranoid growled as he fired more orbs at Drago only for the wall of fire to block it. "ITS NOT WORKING!" Hydranoid roared as suddenly power surged through his body uncontrollably as purple lightning sparked out of Hydranoid's body and spread through out the battlefield and shaking it greatly.
Suddenly the card in Masquerade's hand was struck by the purple electricity being released from Hydranoid and destroyed it. "What's going on?!" Lincoln yelled as Hydranoid started firing orbs aimlessly across the field.
"Duck and cover!" Leonidas yelled as he dodged an orb that came his way.
"Well what do you know." Masquerade said with his usual smirk ever present on his face. "My Hydranoid is evolving. All thanks to you three."
"He's what?!" Dan yelled toward the masked brawler.
"We can't take much more of this!" Drago said as his firewall was started to get worn down from taking blow after blow. Just then one more shot came in and completely destroyed the fire wall.
"Drago look out!" Dan warned his partner as another shot came the Pyrus Bakugan's way with no way to protect him.
Drago gasped as the shot was mere yards away from him…when he was pushed out of the way.
BOOOOOOOOM!
Lincoln froze as he felt his heart stop at seeing who the attack claimed at its victim.
"LEONIDAS!" Drago yelled as he looked at the area covered in smoke that he was pushed out of.
"Oh no…" Shun let out as he saw the look on Lincoln's face.
When the smoke cleared, it showed Leonidas had taken the hit for Drago. His chest had a big burn mark and the Bakugan was letting out heavy but weak breathes. "LEONIDAS!" Lincoln yelled as tears started to build in his eyes. "PLEASE! LEONIDAS! YOU HAVE TO STAY STRONG!"
"Lincoln…" Leonidas weakly said as he managed to turn his head to his partner, his eyes appearing weak. "…..I'm….sorry…." With a loud thud, Leonidas fell to the ground.
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!" Lincoln screamed at the top of his lungs as the Doom portal started opening right above Leonidas.
"Hahahahahahaha!" Masquerade laughed like a complete mad man. "Now watch as your precious Leonidas is sent away to the Doom Dimension! Forever!"
The vortex then completely opened up right above Leonidas and…
Nothing happened.
Leonidas was not sucked in.
"What?!" Masquerade yelled as the Doom Dimension wasn't claiming Hydranoid's victim.
"Leonidas…" Drago silently said as the Bakugan was somehow resisting the pull of the Doom Dimension. Something no Bakugan has ever done before.
"H-Huh…" Lincoln managed to let out as he saw his partner not getting banished.
The Doom Dimension portal then started close despite Leonidas still remaining on the field. Once it was gone, Leonidas proceeded to glow as he was reverted back to ball form and landed at Lincoln's feet. "No way…" Dan silently gasped as he watched Lincoln quickly pick up Leonidas.
"Leonidas…you're…you're still with me…" Lincoln cried tears of relief as he held his partner close and-
"HOW'D YOU DO THAT?!" Everyone turned their attention towards Masquerade who had a look of anger and confusion on his face. "TELL ME HOW YOU DID THAT RIGHT NOW!"
Lincoln…didn't know what to say. How did Leonidas do that? From what Drago said no Bakugan could stand up to the Doom Dimension…but Leonidas did. Deciding to worry about it later and just be glad he still had his partner, Lincoln looked up and glared at Masquerade. "LIKE I'D TELL YOU ANYTHING!"
Masquerade gritted his teeth at Lincoln's response as he looked up at Hydranoid. "HYDRANOID! DESTORY THE REST OF THEM NOW! WE'LL FIRGURE OUT WHAT TO DO WITH THEM LATER!"
"Prepare to di-" However, Hydranoid was cut off by Drago shooting another fireball at the Darkus Bakugans. Thanks to Fire Wall lowering Hydranoid's G power, this time damage was dealt.
"That was for Leonidas!" Drago yelled as Hydranoid roared in pain.
"Good shot Drago!" Skyress complimented.
Hydranoid roared again as he glowed and turned back to ball form while landing at very pissed Masquerade's feet. Masquerade bent down and picked up his Hydranoid and Laserman and gripped them tightly with a clenched fist. "You all got lucky. But from now on watch your backs." Masquerade roared them; his gaze dead set on Lincoln. "Soon you'll all be heading for the DOOM DIMENSION!" With those final words, Masquerade suddenly disappeared in a bright flash.
Once the masked brawler was gone, Drago and Skyress glowed as they reverted to ball form and went back to their respective brawlers' hands. "Hey Shun…thanks for that." Dan said as he gave the Ventus user a smile.
"Yeah well…couldn't leave ya hanging like that." Shun replied as the field started to glow and-
Time started again as Dan and Shun looked at each other with Lincoln only focused on his partner. "Leonidas…are you alright?" Lincoln asked the Darkus Bakugan.
"…"
No response.
"Leonidas?" Lincoln asked again only to get no response.
"He's probably out right now Linc." Dan told his Darkus using friend. "He was hit pretty hard out there. Just let him rest."
"Y-Yeah, you're probably right." Lincoln agreed with Dan before looking back at Leonidas. "Rest well buddy, you've more than earned it." Lincoln then put Leonidas into his pocket.
"So Shun…" Dan said as he looked back at his 13-year-old friend. "Are you-"
"Yeah…I'm in." Shun cut off Dan with a small smile on his face. "After everything…I think its about time I come back out…and come back to my friends. You help show me that Dan. Even after I stopped playing Bakugan, I was still number one at the game, but that left me bored. No one could give me a challenge. But you, you and the others help bring that spark I was so passionate about. And besides, if I'm not there who's gonna keep ya out of trouble?"
Dan was a little ticked off about that last line, but hearing that his friend was coming back. "Heh, glad to have you back Shun." Dan said as he and Shun walked up to each other and shook hands. "Looks like we have a mission to complete together."
"Look like it." Shun said before both the Ventus and Pyrus user saw Lincoln standing where Masquerade was and picking something up off the ground.
Reaper.
Masquerade took Laserman and Hydranoid with him, but left Reaper for dead. Lincoln looked over the Darkus Bakugan for a few seconds putting put Reaper in his pocket. "You're taking in another stray?" Dan said with a joking tone and smirk on his face.
"I can't just leave him here." Lincoln told Dan with a neutral look on his face. "Masquerade tried to kill his own Bakugan. What kind of people would we be if we just left him after that?"
"Eh, suit yourself." Dan said with a nonchalant shrug.
Shun looked a Lincoln with a guilty look on his face. He made renewed his friendship with Dan…but Lincoln was going to be something else entirely. "Hey…Lincoln…" Shun slowly said, hoping the white head would allow him to say something. "I-"
"Just stuff it Shun." Lincoln cut off Shun, making him flinch. "You got your point across earlier. I'll accept that your part of the team now, we need all the help we can get to get to the Infinity Core first. But don't think for a second that we're buddy-buddy again got it?"
All Shun could do was lower his head and give a small nod as Lincoln started walking away, not even giving Shun a glance. "Dude…I'm glad you're back on the team and all…" Dan begun telling Shun. "But…your crossed a line with Lincoln."
"Yeah…" Shun said with a look of regret and guilt on his face.
"I know."
Man was this a trip or what?
So about that other dub vs sub scene, it involved Reaper attacking Hydranoid. In the dub it wasn't even shown and it just implies that Reaper was attacked before getting sent to the Doom Dimension. In the sub...it showed Hydranoid impaling Reaper.
And considering what I did with Reaper in this chapter, I still wanted him to get an injury, but something he could come back from. Because unless your a Dragon Ball character or a character like Deadpool or Wolverine its kinda hard to come back from impalement.
So, anyway with all that said, remember to follow, fav, and leave a review and stay tuned for the next chapter...
"Wounded Pride"