First we get a guy in a mask that reminds me of Masquerade and Spectra combined, then we get a guy wanting to take away our Bakugan to get money. Throw in China for bring a rich, spoiled brat who wants everything she sees, and we've got a whole bunch of people who are both crazy enough and powerful enough to do some real damage. I do not like where this is going, not at all.
Reality Shift, fight for the Light
Order follows Entropy, Creation after Destruction
Chaos is following, we're the only ones
We've got the power to oppose, to save it all
We stand for what's right, through the plight
Stand against Entropy, and the enemies that be
Dan put up a sign on a chain link fence, then stepped back to admire his work. "Okay everyone, welcome to, the new home of the Awesome Ones!" Lia and Wynton high fived at a job well done, and Shun walked up.
"Now we can Bakugan battle without damaging things around us." He said.
"You got it!" Agreed Dan. I ran up, out of breath. "We built the most awesome Bakugan Field ever!"
"I'm, late, aren't I?" I panted. The group looked at me, and Wynton put his hand behind his head.
"Just missed it." He said. "But still, you're here early enough to join in on a brawl!"
"Yeah!" Said Lia. "Maybe you could show us that thing you did against Strada!" I slowly stood back up.
"It's just a," I took a moment to take a few breaths, "just a little trick of mine."
"Still, it was really cool!" Said Dan. "Okay, time for the first ever battle on the AO field!"
"I can't wait to get my Bakugan Brawl on!" Said Wynton. I took notice of Lightning sniffing the ground, but paid it no mind.
"This is going to be so fantastic!" Agreed Lia.
"I feel the need to ask this, who's going first?" I asked. Lightning walked off, following whatever scent he had picked up. He continued sniffing around, before he eventually poked his head through a bush, only to see a dome of glowing water, with something inside of it. He pushed through the bushes and sat down, waiting. Without warning, the dome exploded outwards, the Bakugan within being launched up. Lightning barked and jumped after it, grabbed it, then threw it out. It transformed into a knight-like Bakugan. He knelt down.
"I'm Artulean. And you must be my esteemed partner?" Lightning barked a few times in answer. "Oh, so you are called Lightning." Artulean stood up. "That is a truly dignified name!" Lightning barked once in agreement.
"Hey Lightning, roll me!" Said Howlcore. Lightning grabbed him out of his holder and threw him out, transforming him. "Hey fancy pants, what kinda power you got?"
"How interesting. You have three heads! That is truly unique!"
"Excuse me?" Asked Howlcore.
"If you like, I would be happy to show you my power!"
"Then it's a Bakugan Battle!" Lightning whined a bit at that, as Howlcore charged forward.
"No problem!" Said Artulean, jumping over Howlcore's charge. "Here's a gift from me! Ha!" Artulean fired twin lasers at a tree, pulling it out of the ground and transforming it into a green, glowing boomerang. He caught it. "Perfect! Catch and throw!" He threw the boomerang at Howlcore, only for it to return to him just inches before hitting Howlcore. He recaught it and laughed. "Haha, catch. Did that frighten you?"
"No!" Rebutted Howlcore. Lightning began barking, trying to calm them down. "Why you!" Lightning continued barking. "He started it!"
"Did not!" A small probe watched them, recording them.
Magnus continued his training, doing push-up after push-up, until his phone rang. He got himself up and answered it. "Yes, got it." He scowled at the news.
Howlcore charged up an attack. "Prismatic Bolt!" He fired it at Artulean, who initially tried running away from it, before jumping to the side to avoid the brunt of the attack. He laughed nervously.
"That was a close one!" He slammed into a cliff, knocking himself out. He slumped to the ground as Lightning and Howlcore came up, Lightning barking up a storm.
"Hmm." Said Howlcore.
Lightning pushed a small tray towards the small bed he had made for Artulean as he woke up. "Where am I?" He asked. He looked at Lightning and the tray. "Is this, for me? You are so very kind."
"Lightning!" Called Dan. "Where are you?"
"Doesn't he usually go off on his own?" I asked.
"Yeah, but he's usually back by now!" Lightning barked, then jumped off the table, heading for the door. Artulean turned to see Howlcore sitting nearby, before thinking of something. He grabbed a bottle cap, and threw it at Howlcore, who turned to him.
"Hey!" He saw that Artulean had 2 more bottle caps in his hands.
"So, you must be pretty good at playing catch, right?" Howlcore turned back, only for Artulean to throw the two at him. Howlcore turned to him again.
"Hey! Stop that right now!"
"Good idea!" Said Artulean, grabbing something else. "Now, let's try," he suddenly jumped onto Howlcore's back and slung a rope into his middle head's mouth, "playing horsey!" Howlcore jumped around, trying to get Artulean off of him. "Yee haw! Giddy up, Howlcore! Ride 'em cowboy!" Several things crashed loud enough for all of us to hear.
"That's typically not a sound you want to hear." I said, turning to the others.
"No kidding!" Said Wynton.
"What's going on?" Asked Shun. We all ran up to the door and opened it up. We were surprised by the sight before us.
"Uh, what happened in here?" Asked Dan.
"Whoa! This place is trashed!" Agreed Wynton.
"Yeah! And check that out!" Called Lia. She pointed at Howlcore and Artulean.
"I'm Artulean, pleased to make your acquaintance!" Howlcore continued jumping around, trying to get Artulean off of him, making a bigger mess. Lightning whined as he curled into himself. I started carefully making my way through the mess, and grabbed Howlcore and Artulean.
"Hey!" They both complained.
"Both of you, calm down and stop." I said. "I don't care who started it, I'm ending it. You two have made a very big mess that needs to be cleaned up. Now, both of you go your separate ways so that you don't make a bigger mess, okay?" I put them down, then turned to the others. "Time for a long cleaning session."
"Man am I wiped!" Said Lia, sitting down in a chair outside. "Cleaning that up was not fun."
"Thanks to a little Bakugan who decided to make a mess of our studio." Added Wynton. Dan turned to Studio D.
"Artulean." While we couldn't see, he was sleeping in the bed Lightning had made for him. "He's a different Bakugan alright. I mean, check it! First we had to clean up after him, then he started playing pranks!"
"He even hogtied Howlcore up in masking tape!" Added Lia. I recalled the scene that transpired afterwards. Howlcore broke free of the tape, then charged at Artulean, who prepared to block, only for Howlcore to gently nudge his head and continue on his way, chuckling to himself.
"For some reason, the dude only plays tricks on Howlcore." Said Wynton, bringing me back to the present.
"This is going to lead to a bigger fight, you know." Said Lia. "We have to do something!"
"I'm not so sure on that front." I said. Before I could continue, Lightning started barking, drawing all of our attention. He continued barking about something as someone walked up.
"I couldn't help overhearing." He said, making Lightning stop and look at him.
"And you are?" Asked Dan. The guy laughed a bit, then walked up to Dan as he walked up, holding a card.
"This is me here." Dan took the card and looked it over.
"A Bakugan counselor?" He asked as the rest of us walked up. Lia, Wynton, and Shun leaned over Dan's shoulders to read the card, while I looked the guy over.
"Indeed." Said the guy. "Many Bakugan have problems or hang ups, just like we do. I am an expert in handling their mental and emotional wellbeing. What do you think? Would you like me to take care of that, problematic Bakugan for you?" Lightning's fur stood on end, and he looked around, growling lightly.
"Wow! That sounds awesome!" Said Wynton.
"I guess it couldn't hurt to try." Agreed Lia. I stepped up.
"Now, hold on a moment. Counseling is quite the difficult profession, requiring decades of learning psychology to become effective." I glared at the guy. "What proof do you, someone not even out of high school, have that you have any kind of psychology experience?" I stared him down, trying to get answers out of him.
"Dan! Look at that!" Called Shun. We all looked at where Shun was pointing, to see Lightning running off somewhere.
"Wait! Lightning!" Called Dan. "Hold up!"
"He's got Artulean!" Said Shun. Dan led the charge after Lightning, followed by the guy and Wynton, Lia and Shun taking up the rear. I shook my head.
"That guy is way too young to have any kind of psychology education, experience, or training. Even if it's for Bakugan, he's still too young to know the ins and outs." I started running after them. "Guys! There's no way this guy is real!" I chased after them, only to see Dan and the guy making the most progress. I lost track of them, as did the others, as they made turn after turn following Lightning. They continued after Lightning, who was stopped at an intersection.
"Lightning!" Called Dan. "It's okay!" The two of them ran up, and Dan put his hands on his knees, panting. "This'll be good!" Continued Dan. "The Counselor just takes him for a little while." Lightning barked in disagreement. "But he'll help Howlcore and Artulean get along better!"
"You can trust me." Said the guy. "I want to help. Your Bakugan will be the best of friends." Lightning whined, then lowered his head. He put Artulean on the ground and rolled him a little, before backing away.
"It's okay, Lightning." Said Dan. He got back up and turned to the guy, Artulean in hand. "Here you go, please take good care of him." Dan handed Artulean over.
"I will, you can count on me." The laughed darkly as he turned a little, drawing Dan's attention. "I'm going to use him, to take care of you! Bakugan, Brawl!" Artulean hit a Bakucore and transformed.
"What?!" Asked Dan. He turned to the guy. "What do you think you're doing?!" He took notice of the guy's equipment that he had just put on his arm.
"Now Artulean! Let's humiliate them, shall we?" The device began glowing, then Artulean did, gaining more power. "They called you a problematic Bakugan, and tried to get rid of you! But, don't take my word for it!" The guy looked up at a small drone, which turned. "Look, here's your proof!" The drone started showing the latest few seconds it had recorded, showing Dan handing Artulean over to the guy.
"But, why?" Asked Artulean.
"It wasn't like that!" Called Dan. "We were just trying to help!" Lightning barked.
"Heh." Said the guy. "Get angry Artulean!" His device glowed brighter, making Artulean's power hit higher levels, driving him crazy.
"Dan! Here he comes!" Called Drago.
"Uh!" Said Dan. "Drome Up!" The Drome came up quickly, and I saw it from afar. The Attribute Wheel on my hand glowed.
"Looks like something's happening, Leo! Let's go!"
"Agreed!" I created a Dimensional Gate in front of myself, and stepped through. I knew the area the Drome was in, so I knew the fastest way there was by using a Dimensional Gate.
"Bakugan, Brawl!" Called Dan. Drago rose quickly, only to bring his wing forward to act as a shield to block the cars Artulean was throwing.
"What should I do, Dan?" Asked Drago.
"We have no choice!" Said Dan. "Drago, attack Artulean" Lightning barked, interrupting him, before suddenly jumping on him, knocking him over. Lightning barked in Dan's face, who just looked back shocked. The guy laughed.
"That's right! Turn on your friends!" A Dimensional Gate appeared behind him. "This is better than I expected! Now finish this!" I came out just as the guy began his throw. "Bakugan, Brawl!" His cloak flipped around, and he put on his mask quickly. "The most powerful Bakugan of them all! My Nillious!" Nillious rose quickly, ready to battle. I scoffed, drawing attention to myself.
"I've heard that before."
"Th-the most what?" Asked Dan. He stood up. "Wait, do I know you?" Magnus scowled.
"What?! You still don't get it?! It's me, Magnus!"
"What?!" Asked Dan. "You're Magnus? So this whole time, you were fooling us!" I sighed.
"I knew you weren't the real deal!" I pulled out a card. "Gate Card, Set!" I grabbed Leo. "Bakugan, Brawl! Bakugan, Stand! Rise Haos Leonidas!" Leo rose quickly, ready for battle.
"That creep posed as a Counselor to disguise himself!" Said Dan. "He's the lowest!"
"Really, I'm the lowest?" Asked Magnus. I pointed my hand in his direction, but got no reading of a Negative Shifter. "Nillious is going to make you regret saying that!"
"He doesn't have a Negative Shifter with him." I said, lowering my hand.
"Darkus Breath!" Called Magnus. Nillious fired the attack and it slammed into Drago, damaging him badly. I raised a card.
"Drago!" Yelled Dan. Magnus laughed.
"How do you like Nillious's power?!"
"Leo! Ability Activate!" I called. Magnus turned to me. "Alpha Blaster!" Leo charged up the attack and fired it, only for Nillious to just barely dodge it.
"Even without that guy, you're too weak!" Claimed Magnus. Lightning glared at Magnus.
"Let me out, Lightning!" Said Howlcore. "It's on!" Lightning barked in agreement before getting Howlcore out and throwing him in. He was soon dodging the stuff Artulean threw at him, making his way closer. He charged in and jumped at Artulean, only to gently nudge his head, before landing behind him. Artulean remembered the very same interaction happening earlier, then turned to Howlcore. Howlcore looked at him, then at Magnus. "Magnus, I won't let you get away with this! Ever!" Magnus just laughed. "Umbral Slash!" Howlcore created a sphere of dark energy, and sent it towards Nillious.
"Nice try! Path of Darkness!" Nillious phased through each orb as it was sent at him, avoiding the attack entirely before teleporting behind Howlcore. He slammed down upon Howlcore, knocking him to the ground. Lightning barked nervously.
"Artulean, help!" Said Artulean.
"Knock him out, Nillious!" Called Magnus. Leo went in to try and get Nillious off of Howlcore.
"How about we knock you out instead?" He asked. Nillious turned to him and hit him as he approached, sending him back. He then turned back to Howlcore and slashed at him, only for Artulean to jump in and block the attack by taking it himself.
"Artulean." Said Howlcore.
"Oh, so it's you." Said Magnus. "Get out of the way!" His device glowed, trying to regain control of Artulean, but failed to as he kept defending Howlcore. Nillious decided to send them away and slapped them with his tail, sending them into a nearby wall. Lightning ran over to them. Leo rose back up.
"Is that all you've got?" He asked.
"Ability Activate!" I called. "Aero Split!" Leo created a clone of his Ventus self, and both went in to attack Nillious, who kept pushing them back every time they got close. Lightning got close enough to Artulean and Howlcore, then barked. Artulean looked up.
"Lightning! Are you actually, worried about me?" Lightning kept barking, explaining the situation, about how Dan and the others didn't want to get rid of him, but were rather tricked into it and double crossed. "So that's what really happened. Magnus, you have deceived us all, and tried to turn me against my true friends!" Artulean glared up. "I shall never forgive you!" He slowly got back up as Howlcore went over to him.
"Glad you're back." Howlcore supported some of Artulean's weight, and turned to Magnus.
"As am I, Howlcore."
"Huh, I'm so touched, I can't stand it!" Said Magnus. Nillious threw both Leos back as Magnus threw a Bakucore at him. "Dark Blast!" Nillious sent the attack towards the other Darkus Bakugan.
"Mind Control!" Called Artulean. The front of the attack glowed a bit, and Artulean spread his hands, splitting it around them. Lightning grabbed a Bakucore in his mouth, then tossed one up with his hind legs. He jumped up, throwing the one in his mouth, then caught the second one, before he threw it as well. He landed, then howled. Both Howlcore and Artulean got powered up.
"Got it Lightning!" Two got to work. Artulean grabbed a lamp post.
"Environmental Transformation!" He threw it up as Howlcore turned to it.
"Prismatic Pulse!" Howlcore's attack went over the lamp post as it changed, turning it into a large trident, which Artulean grabbed. He took aim, and launched it at Nillious, sending up a large smoke cloud. Lightning barked once as Howlcore and Artulean landed.
"Don't get too excited." Said Magnus as the smoke cleared. "You're still nothing!" Nillious got back up, dispersing the rest of the fog. Lightning barked again as both Howlcore and Artulean got ready for another round.
"We'll see about that!" Called Dan. Lightning looked over to see Drago getting back up.
"There's still a lot of fight left, Magnus!" I called. Both Leos jumped back up. Shun, Lia, and Wynton ran up.
"What are you guys doing?!" Asked Lia. "What'd I miss?!" Magnus turned away, and scoffed.
"This is a big waste of time." He climbed up Nillious, to everyone's surprise.
"What?" Asked Dan. "Magnus! Come back here!" Nillious took off, battering everybody with wind. Wynton fell over because of how he was standing. "Magnus!" I shook my head.
"Leave it to him to be the most fearful villain brawler I've ever seen." I said. "Even Hydron was better than him. At least he stood his ground when he called us nothing."
"You mean those two have always been pals?" Asked Wynton after me and Dan had told them what we had each seen. We all watched Howlcore chase after Artulean.
"My professional opinion is Artulean teased Howlcore because he likes him." Said Lia. "Sounds just like you, Wynton."
"I'm not like that, am I?"
"Well, your pranks are usually only done to us, your teammates and friends." I pointed out.
"Hey!" Dan knelt down to Lightning.
"Sorry bud, you understood that all along." Lightning barked.
"You can't catch me!" Yelled Artulean, running past Lightning.
"Oh yes I can!" Argued Howlcore. Lightning chased after them, barking up a storm. I smiled.
"Those who argue most are the most likely to become good friends." I looked at the others. "We need to be on guard. Who knows when someone else is going to try and take our Bakugan?"
Magnus, you truly are one of the worst villains I've ever seen. Sure, you're strong, but you turn your back to every battle that has the odds against you. Even Hydron at least went into battle against the Dan I knew! You're more on par with everyone who worked with Masquerade than anything. I wonder just how close that is to the truth.
