Chapter 6
(Cole's Narration)
"Alice was able to tell the Battle Brawlers the truth about her Grandfather Michael and after a quick trip to his moscow laboratory we were able to learn the truth about how the Bakugan were brought to this world and the fate of Michael, now known as Hal G and his connection to Masquerade. After that we went to pick up the Subterra Specialist Julia Makimoto and made a trek to the mysterious Bakugan Valley in search of the Infinity Core, there the five Brawlers were shown visit but for whatever reason, even though I was in possession of my own talking Bakugan, Leonidas and I were left in the dark."
"After run-ins with Masquerade's latest Poxy Brawlers, the high ranking Billy Gilbert and Komba O'Charlie, suspicions began to arise of a traitor being in our mits and with me being a relative outsider, accusations were quickly piled on me."
(End of Narration, Inside Marucho's Luxury Jet)
"Are you serious?" Cole scoffed with a roll of his eyes. "If it wasn't for Masquerade stealing my sister I wouldn't even be here. You need to rethink that hypothesis…"
"Well you can't argue the suspiciousness of your situation here…" The overly analytical Marucho pointed out. "I'm sure we'd all happily accept any proof to the contrary, if you could please present any?"
"And I suppose "I didn't do it" won't suffice here?" The brawlers didn't even justify Cole's last comment with a response. "Well then I've got nothing…" He answered with a shrug.
"Do you think this is some sort of joke!" The hot headed Dan roared as he grabbed hold of Cole's black designer jacket.
"No." He answered easily, pushing the younger boy's hand off of him as he stared Dan down. "But I'm not exactly taking it too seriously. You're already jumping to accusations and all you have is "this SEEMS suspicious". It doesn't matter how noble your cause may be, if you can't trust your Allies, it's not gonna last. For example, I don't need to be here and if you can't trust me then you can let me off at the closest Airport Marucho, I'll find a way home…"
Cole glared at Dan as he began to make his way to his cabin to collect his belongings. Meanwhile, Dan stood silently as he didn't want the conversation there but also wasn't willing to apologize. Alice began to panic as she watched the argument play out before she was forced to speak up. "Wait!" She called out, getting Cole to stop. "You guys, we shouldn't be fighting! We might not know Cole as long or as well as we know each other but we know him well enough to know he wouldn't side with Masquerade. We're finally all together, we shouldn't be splitting apart."
"Alice is right." Runo interjected as well. "We finally have all six attributes and if we lose Cole's Darkus it'll be difficult to replace."
"I'd also like to say." The stoic Shun spoke up as well. "While I'm not ruling him out entirely. When I brought up the business of a traitor I already had a suspect in mind and it's not Cole."
"Huh?!" Dan's eyes went wide at this revelation. "WELL WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO!" He roared. "Guess I shouldn't have jumped to a conclusion like that hehe…"
Cole glared back. "Guess not…" He muttered. "I think I'm gonna turn in early." Cole announced as he continued towards his Cabin only to be interrupted once again.
"Hold on!" Dan's Crimson Bakugan orb opened up and Pyrus Dragonoid spoke. "I won't speak on Cole's trustworthiness as it's not my place but I can't help but voice my concerns about his Bakugan partner. I traveled all throughout Vestroia before coming to earth and until we met I'd never even heard of Darkus Leonidas and that concerns me. Not only that but your lust for battle and the ruthless way you fight not to mention the unnatural way you draw power from bakugan in the Doom Dimension all lead me to question your loyalty. Who are you Leonidas, Where are you from, are you committed to restoring vestroia or are you another servant of Naga's!"
Cole, partially curious himself, lifted the Black and purple ball from his pocket and waited for an answer but the sphere remained silent. 'Anti-social as ever huh?' Cole thought but then, much to his surprise Leonidas' ball popped open and he spoke.
"So many questions, Dragonoid." The unfolded Darkus Bakugan answered. "I'd be more than happy to answer each and everyone of them, if you can manage to defeat me in battle that is!"
"This is no time for games Leonidas!" Drago roared back.
"Games? And you're questioning my origin." Leonidas scoffed back. "Don't lie to yourself, Bakugan have lived to battle one another long before we were brought to earth. I take pride in my strength Dragonoid and desire above all things to test said strength against my fellow Bakugan! Where is your pride "Drago"."
"Hey!" Dan called out. "Are you just gonna let your Bakugan say that stuff about Drago!"
"Sounds to me like Drago started it and I agree with his sentiment." Cole snatched Leonidas up and pulled his field card from his pocket. "Leonidas is MY partner and he hasn't done anything to warrant suspicion so if it's not me then it's my Bakugan huh? You and Drago really are a good match, both of you need to be careful with your accusations cause they may just blow up in your face. Here's the deal, you win and I'll stick around and Leonidas will spill his guts but if we when we're outta here…"
"Huh? Wait!" Alice called out as her previous sentiments had been discarded at this point. "Dan don't! Let's talk this out…."
"You're on!" Dan ignored the red haired girl as he pulled out a card of his own and the two said in unison "Field open!" Suddenly the two brawlers' cards lit up in purple and red light but before they could be transported to the battle field, Alice launched on to Dan's arm and was taken along with them.
(In the battle field)
Dan and cole exchanged a quick look and without so much as another word between them, the two threw down a pair of black cards that expanded outward in red and purple. "Gate card set!"
"You can go first." Cole relinquished the first move and Dan epuidded a small red orb to his hand.
"Wait you two!" Alice called out from behind Dan. "Don't you think you should calm down? If you two get into a battle while you're mad at one another you may end up doing something you both will regret!"
"Trust me, he's already gonna regret challenging ME!" Dan Boasted as he loaded his Bakugan into his wrist mounted launcher. "BAKUGAN BRAWL! Robotalion stand!"
Dan's launcher managed to shoot the Pyrus bakugan all the way across the battlefield and had him land on Dan's gate card. [Pyrus Robotallion 340Gs] Coles bakupod sounded off.
"Alright…" Cole had Leonidas' ball wedged between his index and middle fingers. "You ready Leonidas?"
"Mmmm not yet…" Leonidas growled back. "Wait for the Dragonoid. I wouldn't want to spoil the main course on these appetizers."
"Whatever you say." Cole stuffed the darkus bakugan into his back pocket before retrieving another card. "Gate card set! Bakugan brawl!" Cole threw down a gate card next to Dan's before hand tossing a black and purple orb onto it. "Hynoid stand!"
The bakugan opened up and a bipedal wolf with black fur and a purple mane stood and howled. [Darkus Hynoid 320Gs]
"320Gs? That's not much of an opening move.." Dan scoffed.
"Really? Then why don't you come and take Hynoid out? If you think you can, that is…" Cole taunted back with a smirk.
"Grrrr! You asked for it!" The short tempered battle brawler loaded his bakugan shooter once again without even taking a moment to think about his next move. "Bakugan Brawl!"
"Huh?! Dan, wait!" Alice called out too late as she wasn't prepared for Dan to move so quickly but by the time she could get her words out Dan's Bakugan had already been sent flying for Cole's gate card.
The bakugan unfolded into a massive crimson centipede with golden legs and mandibles to which Cole's bakupod announced. [Pyrus Centipoid 360Gs]
"Haha! There's nothing to worry about Alice, Centipoid is way stronger than his Hynoid and even if he can boost his Darkus power, I have more than enough ability cards to counter that." Dan confidently declared his strategy. "In fact, just to be safe. Let's turn up the heat shall we? Ability Card activate! Level up!" [Centipoid's power to 410 Gs] "Hah! Beat that!"
"Oh I will, and I can do it without increasing Hynoid's power level. Gate card! Open!" Cole card out and the ground beneath Centipoid and Hynoid's feet began to glow purple before a dark purple mist surrounded the two bakugan. "Phantom Sneak Attack!" Suddenly Hynoid became invisible.
"Huh? Where'd Hynoid go?" Dan called out before checking his Bakupod but nothing about the computerized display had changed.
"This is the effect of Phantom Sneak Attack." Alice explained. "This card takes advantage of Cole's preferred Darkus Attribute. It makes it so that as long as his opponent has two or more Bakugan in play the Darkus Bakugan will win the battle on this card even if it has a lower power level."
"Huh? No way!" Dan exclaimed as Hynoid reappeared behind Centipoid and dug his elbow into the insect's back reverting it back into a small red ball before sending it flying back to Dan's side defeated.
"Alice is right but unfortunately this card also has a side effect. The ability to take down a stronger beast comes at a cost, now that there are no longer two opponents in play Hynoid will also be removed from the game." Cole followed up as a purple energy began to build up beneath the wolf like monster's paws before KABOOOM! Hynoid's ball was sent back to Cole who quickly picked it up and put it away in his pocket.
"It's my move." Cole declared equipping a new bakugan to his hand. "Bakugan Brawl!" Cole winded back and let out a full strength throw, launching his bakugan right between the legs of Pyrus Robotallion before landing on his original gate card. "Garganoid Stand!"
A winged demon-like creature with black wings and purple skin began to hover above Cole's Gate card. [Darkus Garganoid 350Gs]
"Well Drago, You're up!" Dan called out as he loaded his prized Pyrus Dragonoid into his launcher and let it fly to Garganoid's card.
The giant winged Lizard with crimson scales, green eyes and a massive golden horn rose from a pillar of flames onto the battlefield. [Pyrus Dragonoid 340 Gs, Darkus Garganoid 350 Gs. Battle start!]
"Gate card open!" Cole called out and dark clouds filled the air above the battlefield. Bolts of purple lightning began to strike Gargonoid charging his body with purple energy. [Darkus Garganoid to 400 Gs.] "Alright Garganoid take him out!" Cole commanded and the black and purple gargoil creature began to charge forward towards the massive Dragon.
"Not so fast!" Dan called out as he pulled a card from his pocket. "Ability activate Boosted Dragon!" Dan called out as his card glowed red and a fireball formed in Drago's mouth.
[Pyrus Dragonoid to 440 Gs.] The bakupod sounded off once again bringing a small smirk to Cole's face.
"Huh?" Alice took notice of Cole's odd expression as Drago obliterated Garganoid and one the battle. 'What's with that look? It's almost like he was happy to lose that match. Was he trying to force Dan to use Drago's boosted Dragon? But whatever he's planning it's a risky strategy, he's already down to his last Bakugan while Dan still has two. Any mistake from here on could cost him the game."
"You call that a strategy? Man, you sure were talking big before all this started." Dan taunted as his victorious Dragonoid returned to his hand. "May as well give up now…"
"Nah, I don't think I will." Cole answered with a smirk as he retrieved his final bakugan of the battle. "Are you ready Leonidas?" Cole asked his partner who simply shook in agreement. "Alright. Well it's too bad for you Dan but it looks like this is game over!"
"Bakugan Brawl!" Cole let his Bakugan fly, landing on the gate card with Pyrus Robotallion. "Leonidas stand!"
KRAKOOM! KRAKOOOMM! Blots of purple lightning flashed across the battlefield as a pillar of purple light erupted before Leonidas soared into the sky above the battlefield. [Darkus Leonidas 390 Gs.]
"HAAAHHHHH!" Leonidas roared out, shaking the gate card Robotallion stood on. Then the Black dragon's eyes turned to his opponent and he taunted. "I said I wanted to skip but I just can't help myself. Don't worry Dragonoid this won't spoil our battle, just think of it as a warm up."
"We'll warm you up alright! Gate card open!" Dan cried out and a wall of flames surrounded Leonidas and Robotallion as the Bakupod announced the change in power levels. [Pyrus Robotallion to 400 Gs, Darkus Leonidas remains at 390 Gs. Advantage Robotallion.]
"Alright, Robotallion end it here!" Dan commanded as his armored robot charged forward.
"Not so fast! Ability card activate! Shadow Boxer!" Cole through an ability card out to Leonidas that engulfed the Bakugan in a dark fire and halted Robotallions attack. "Shadow Boxer is an ability which allows my bakugan to copy the effects of any ability card that boosts G power, including continuous abilities like your Boosted Dragon card."
"Oh no!" Dan called out as Leonidas' power increased. [Leonidas to 490 Gs.]
"Take him out Leonidas!" Cole commanded as his dragonoid copied Drago's ability all the way down to its appearance as a ball of purple flames formed in Leonidas' mouth which he used to incinerate Robotallion and win the battle.
"Oh did I mention." Cole continued as Leonidas returned to his hand. "Like boosted Dragon, Shadow Boxer is a continuous ability, meaning it'll continue to copy any ability that increases your Bakugan's power and Leonidas will match it."
'So that's his plan…' Alice concluded. 'He's using Dan's attribute against him. Pyrus bakugan and their ability cards tend to be about raising their own G power for battle. Overwhelming and overpowering their opponents with sheer force. Darkus players on the other hand tend to play to win by any means necessary, be it through high power levels of their own or sacrificing their own bakugan to set up future plays or now we see they can also try to turn their opponent's power against them. But while Shadow Boxer is a powerful ability, relying on it alone isn't an invincible strategy. I wonder what Dan will do next?'
"Gate card set!" The two threw down gate cards to reload the field which was emptied by the last battle. "Gate card set!" Dan added a third gate card to the field, the final one in his deck. "Bakugan Brawl! Drago Stand!"
Dragonoid returned to the field without much of the fan fair from his previous appearance and soon he was joined by Leonidas and with the two Dragons on the same card the battle could begin. [Pyrus Dragonoid 440 Gs, Darkus Leonidas 490 Gs.]
The two monsters locked shoulders and horns and began to shove one another before Dan called out to Aid his partner. "Gate card! Open!" The card flipped open to reveal a picture of drago. "Character!" [Pyrus Dragonoid 880 Gs, Darkus Leonidas 490 Gs.]
"Your Shadow boxer ability may copy ability cards, but it doesn't do anything about the boosts I get from Gate cards!" Dan explained enthusiastically as he put on his victory face. "Do it drago!"
"You got it Dan! This game ends Now Leonidas!" Drago called out as he lunged for Leonidas.
"Not so fast! Ability Card activate!" Cole through an ability card out onto the battlefield. "Snuff Out!" He called out and the moment his card touched the gate card a web of cracks formed before it shattered and both Drago and Leonidas were returned to their partners hands. "Snuff out is an ability card that only works in battle with a Pyrus bakugan; it cancels the battle and destroys whatever gate card was being played at the time. Not only that but it also allows me to throw my bakugan out again before my turn ends so Bakugan Brawl! Leonidas Stand!"
Leonidas was resummoned onto Cole's gate card but before the final turn could begin Cole had one last move to make. "Gate card open! Darkus Ultimatum!" Cole's gate card flipped open to reveal the darkus symbol. "Darkus Ultimatum is a command card that I can flip open with only one Bakugan on it. It doesn't give me any sort of power increase nor does it lower the power level of my opponents. What it does is make it so that if you don't land your Bakugan on this card with your next throw then the game is over."
"Meaning this will be the place of our final battle Dragonoid!" Leonidas interrupted to taunt. "No more tricks or loopholes, just your power vs mine! Head to head, may the best Bakugan Win!"
'So this was his plan all along.' Alice narrated to herself. 'With Darkus Ultimatum, Cole dictated where the battle took place and made it so that Dan Can't raise his power with his gate cards and with Shadow Boxer in play and Leonidas' natural power advantage he made it so that almost all the cards in Dan's deck are useless but the battles not over yet and they both have one ability card left each, I just hope for Dan's sake he picked the right one.'
"Alright…" Dan's grip on Drago's ball increased as he gritted his teeth. "They want a final showdown?! Well, we'll give em one! What do you say Drago?"
"I'm with you partner! Let's do this!" Drago agreed and he was launched to battle.
"Let's go Drago Bakugan Brawl! Drago Stand!" Just as planned Drago landed on Darkus Ultimatum and just like before the Bakupod read [Pyrus Dragonoid 440 Gs, Darkus Leonidas 490 Gs] but Dan and Drago weren't finished there. "Alright Drago! Ability Card! Activate! Fire tornado!" Dan called out and a towering, swirling inferno surrounded his Pyrus Dragonoid.
"You said it yourself, Shadow Boxer copies the Boosting effects of my ability cards, it doesn't say anything about damaging effects. Meaning Leonidas gains the 100 Gs my Drago does but he also loses 100 Gs as part of Fire Tornado's effect meaning his power level remains stagnant while Drago's goes up!" Dan explained and the Bakupod demonstrated [Pyrus Dragonoid 540 Gs, Darkus Leonidas 490 Gs.] "Drago do it now!" Dan commanded as his partners mouth filled with flames.
"Not so fast! Ability card! Activate!" Cole through a glowing purple card up into the air which leonidas proceeded to catch in his jaws. "Alpha Blaster!" [Pyrus Dragonoid 540 Gs, Darkus Leonidas 590 Gs.] Leonidas unleashed a powerful ray of purple energy that completely obliterated Drago's stream of fire breath on the way to its target resulting in a explosion complete with a massive KAAAABOOOOOOMMM!
(Back on earth)
Time resumed after the battle as the defeated dragonoid ball bounced across the floor causing Dan to reach down to pick it up, meanwhile Cole snatched his leonidas out of the air and returned his partner to his pocket before turning back to head to his room. "Hey Marucho, can you do me a favor and stop at the nearest airport. I'm going home…."
(End)