Chapter 1: The New Brawler in Town

The whole world changed one day when cards suddenly started raining from the sky. This strange phenomenon started occurring in every place imaginable. From the north to the south and from the west to the east. These cards seemed innocent enough at first, so kids around the world decided to create a new game.

But as it turned out these cards turned out to be far from innocent. Inside them they housed creatures from another dimension. They were apparently called Bakugan, and it seemed that they could only attain the shape of a small sphere in our world. By using the cards however, the players got transferred to an arena where the Bakugan could be used in battle.

The most known Bakugan players were known as the Bakugan Battle Brawlers. They were made up by six members.

Dan Kuso: 15 years old. A resident of Wardington – Japan and the one who created the rules of the game along with fellow Battle Brawler, Shun Kazami. He is a user of Pyrus Bakugan.

Runo Misaki: 15 years old. Also a resident of Wardington, she works parttime in her family's coffee shop. She is a user of Haos Bakugan.

Marucho Marakura: 13 years old. He recently moved to Wardington along with his (very rich) parents. He is a user of Aquos Bakugan.

Julie Hayward-Makimoto: 15 years old. She lives in the US and is of half American and half Japanese descent. She is a user of Subterra Bakugan.

Shun Kazami: 16 years old. Childhood friend of Dan's and co-creator of the game. He is an enigmatic teen coming from a ninja heritage. He was regarded as one of the best players before mysteriously quiting. He is a user of Ventus.

Alice Gehabich: 15 years old. Her knowledge on Bakugan is extensive, making her a valuable member of the brawlers. Despite that she has never owned a bakugan or participated in battle.

This story however focuses the spotlight towards a new brawler. The one who would eventually become the seventh Battle Brawler.


~Wardington High School – Football Pitch~

A whistle was heard.

The practice match kicked off. Wardington High's football team was the top high school football team in the country. Today's practice however was special. The team was practicing under the watchfull eye of one of the most well-known scouts. He was responsible for discovering some of today's best footballers and he was looking for new talents. His main focus today however was a recent arrival.

The ball was passed towards the feet of a light-brown skinned boy with spiky black hair. He was of average height for his age, but his coal black eyes held a determined look, that the scout had only seen in the eyes of the greats.

The kid kept dribbling forward, expertly dodging two defenders who were in his way. Another kid with blonde hair and green eyes started running forward and raising his hand "I'm open!" he called out.

The black-haired kid ignored him however, focusing on the last defender in front of him. He smirked and rushed towards him, before rainbow flicking the ball above him and moving through on goal. He powered the ball towards the keeper and it slipped between his hands, finding the back of the net.

The coach blew his whistle signaling the end of the match. "Alright! That's enough! Go ahead and do your stretches!"

"Yes coach!" the team echoed.

The coach turned towards the scout with a smile "Well, anything to say Marcos?"

"I have to admit." Responded the old man, shifting his clear blue eyes towards the coach "You have managed to gather quite the talented bunch, Kochi."

Kochi smiled, regarding his team with pride "Yeah well, you need a strong foundation in order to build a fortress. So?" he shifted his brown eyes towards the scout "Anyone caught your attention?"

The experienced scout nodded. He pointed towards the skilled striker "That one."

The coach nodded "Ah, young Tsuyoshi. He is rather new to the team actually. But he is already a game changer." he admitted.

"Quick feet, skilled, determined, technically gifted" he listed "You said his name was Tsuyoshi?"

"Tsuyoshi Joseph Godric." Kochi responded "Never use his middle name though. He doesn't like it." he added.

"Call him over."

"Sure. Hey Godric!"

Tsuyoshi raised his gaze, before approaching Kochi "Ya called, gaffer?" the boy asked, his voice carrying a light british accent.

Kochi smiled at the boy "I wanted to introduce you to my really good friend." he said, beckoning at Marcos.

Marcos regarded the boy "Marcos Hernandez Sr." he introduced himself.

Tsuyoshi nodded "One of the best to do it. 3 years in Spain, 12 in England and 1 here, in Japan."

"Quite the knowledgeable little guy, aren't you. Then you must know that I am one of the most renowned scouts in the world." he said crossing his arms "And I only recognize true talent."

Tsuyoshi nodded "Yes sir."

"Hmmm, and… aren't you even a little intimidated?"

"No sir."

"I see." he nodded at the boy's attitude "You are the first prospect I encountered, that has been unflinching towards me."

"I know my game, sir." he responded confidently.

"Your game, hmmm…" he sighed "Your game… is impressive for someone your age. And yet… There is something missing. Tell me something. You had a wide-open teammate and a great opportunity to pass the ball. Why did you choose to go on your own?"

"Because I could score."

"And what if the defender managed to stop you?"

"I had him." Tsuyoshi responded.

Marcos hummed "I see you don't lack the confidence. But, football is a team sport. If you want to make the pros, then you must learn to work as a unit." he told him "Your potential however is significant. So, I will be keeping an eye on you. Don't prove to be a waste of my time." he said, before bidding goodbye to Kochi and leaving.

Tsuyoshi scoffed and moved towards the locker room.


After showering and changing to a more casual attire, consisting of a black jacket worn over a white shirt, and a pair of dark grey shorts, Tsuyoshi entered his home, a small cozy house in one of the cities' quietest neighborhoods. He tossed his sports bag on the couch to get his mother's attention, which did the trick.

Tsuyoshi's mother was a beautiful woman named Hikari. She was in her early forties, and had her blonde hair tied into a loose ponytail. Her black eyes warmed at the sight of her son "Tsuyoshi… How was practice, dear?"

Tsuyoshi shrugged "Good, I guess." he replied, moving towards the stairs.

"Do you want me to warm your food up for you?!" his mother called after him.

"Don't bother ma. I'll be going for a short walk." he anwered before heading towards his room. The room itself was quite plain. The walls were painted light blue, and the only furniture were a desk, two drawers, a big closet and a bunk bed. On the bottom bunk laid Tsuyoshi's younger sister, a 13-year-old girl who looked like a smaller version of their mother, the only difference being her blue eyes.

"Hm." the young girl looked up from the magazine she was reading "Back from practice?"

"Won't be staying long." Tsuyoshi replied, opening his drawer, taking out a belt and wearing it. He then took a look at his Bakugan collection. He was relatively new to the game, but he found it to be enjoyable. He picked the Darkus attribute because it suited him best. He too had a piece of darkness. He frowned and shook his head. 'No use dwelling in the past.' "Don't wait up on me." he told his sister, clipping 3 Bakugan in his belt's special case and some cards in his belt's card holder.

Haruka closed the magazine "Can I come?" she asked with a hopefull expression.

"Nope." he replied, shutting the door behind him and leaving his sister a pouting mess.


~Wardington Park~

"What's you deal?" Tsuyoshi asked the teenager blocking his way.

Said teenager was a tall bulky guy with black hair and eyes, who was cracking his knuckels "Well my baby brother over here said you were making fun of me." he said gesturing towards a small kid with red eyes wearing a cap backwards.

"Tch. I did no such thing. Now scram!"

"Not so fast kid! I know you scoffed at my Bakugan skills, and that won't go unpunished!" the bulky guy said, taking out a gate card.

Tsuyoshi sighed preparing to take on the challenge, but an arrival stopped him.

"Picking on others again Shuji." a new voice interjected. The person who said it was instantly recognized by all three spectators. A spiky brown-haired teenager with red eyes walked onto the scene.

"Dan Kuso." Tsuyoshi said under his breath.

"Butt out of this Dan!" Shuji complained, but his words fell on deaf ears, as Dan kept approaching Tsuyoshi.

"Hey man, these guys giving you trouble?" he asked.

"They are just bein' dead annoyin'." Tsuyoshi responded glaring at Shuji and Akira.

Dan hummed before giving Tsuyoshi a good look "Hey… aren't you that transfer student from England?" he asked. Tsuyoshi nodded and Dan grinned "Awesome! I didn't know you were into Bakugan!"

Tsuyoshi, not used being talked at, shrugged awkwardly "Meh. I'm relatively new." he admitted.

Shuji smirked "Good, then that makes you an easier picking! Now come on!" he taunted.

Tsuyoshi scowled at being called an easy target. Dan however simply chuckled "Well my friend, you're in luck. Shuji happens to be the easiest practice match out there." he said patting Tsuyoshi's shoulder.

Tsuyoshi shook off his arm and smirked slightly "I figured it out. The smallest pups bark the loudest." He took out his own gate card "And I'm about to shut this puppy's gob for good!"

Dan smirked "That's the spirit! Heh, there's no way I'm missing this." he said taking a gate card out.

Akira, a small brown haired boy, wearing a green shirt and a backwards baseball cap, and Shuji's younger brother scowled, also taking a gate card out "Don't get too cocky Dan! After Shuji teaches this guy some manners, you're next!"

Shuji and Tsuyoshi stared each other down, before everyone flipped their gate card.

"Field Open!"

As the command was shouted out, time slowed down around the four brawlers, before they were transferred into the battle arena. The arena consisted of a white lane surrounded by different dimensions floating in the sky.

Tsuyoshi and Shuji both took out a gate card.

"Gate card, set!" they both called out, tossing their cards. Upon landing, the cards glowed and rapidly grew in size.

Shuji took out one of his Bakugan "Heh, you are done for kid! Bakugan Brawl! Subterra Terroclaw, stand!"

Shuji launched the Bakugan, and upon landing on his gate card Terroclaw rose to full height waving its claws threateningly.

Subterra Terroclaw: 280Gs

Tsuyoshi looked up from his Baku-pod and looked at the opposing Bakugan. "Subterra, huh?" he muttered under his breath, picking a Bakugan of his own "Bakugan Brawl! Darkus Mantris, stand!"

Tsuyoshi's Bakugan took its form upon landing on his gate card.

Darkus Mantris: 310Gs

Shuji smirked "Running away?"

Tsuyoshi took out an ability card "Just setting the stage. Ability activate! Marionette!"

Mantris' eyes glowed as dark strings of energy came out of its cleavers and picked up Terroclaw and brough him over to his own gate card. Before the Subterra Bakugan could react, Mantris sliced at it. Terroclaw returned to its ball form and rolled past a stunned Shuji.

Shuji: 2 Bakugan Left.

Tsuyoshi caught Mantris in his hand and put it away. He wordlessly tossed out another gate card before taking out another Bakugan "Bakugan Brawl! Darkus Centipoid, stand!"

Tsuyoshi's new Bakugan took its shape upon landing in his new gate card.

Darkus Centipoid: 300Gs

Dan nodded "Hey! Good going, kid! You're really good, despite being new."

Shuji scoffed "Beginner's luck! Bakugan Brawl! Subterra Centipoid, stand!"

Subterra Centipoid: 300Gs

Tsuyoshi raised an eyebrow at Shuji's decision to fight him on his own gate card, but gave it no further thought. "Gate card, open!"

Darkus Centipoid: 450Gs

Shuji smirked "Nice try! Ability Activate! Rapid Earthquake! This ability card allows me to throw out another Subterra Bakugan in battle." he explained launching another Bakugan in battle "Subterra Saurus, stand!"

Subterra Saurus: 290Gs

Tsuyoshi scowled as Shuji's Bakugan teamed up on his Centipoid, before it was turned into a ball and it rolled past him.

Tsuyoshi: 2 Bakugan Left.

Shuji smirked "Not so tough now, huh? Let's keep it rolling! Bakugan Brawl!"

Tsuyoshi watched on as Shuji's Centipoid took on its original appearance "One small victory, and yet you're already so smug." he scoffed unimpressed, before taking out his Mantris once more "Bakugan brawl! Darkus Mantris, stand!"

Darkus Mantris rose to full height and roared at the opposing Bakugan.

Darkus Mantris: 310Gs

Subterra Centipoid: 300Gs

"Gate card, open! Let's see how you like my Centipoid's Character card!"

Subterra Centipoid: 600Gs

Shuji laughed, but Tsuyoshi's expression remained unchanged as he took out a card "Ability Activate. Grand Down!"

The ability card glowed as Mantris roared before driving his cleaver through the gate card, destroying it instantly.

Shuji's eyes widened "Wh-What?!"

Dan smirked as Drago spoke from his place on his shoulder "Grand Down is an ability card exclusive to the Darkus attribute, which instantly negates the effect of any opposing gate or ability card." the Pyrus Bakugan explained.

Subterra Centipoid: 300Gs

Centipoid charged at Mantris, but the Darkus Bakugan sliced at the centipede like Bakugan, which turned into a ball and rolled past Shuji.

Shuji: 1 Bakugan left.

Shuji growled "Alright! Playtime is over!" he exclaimed tossing a new gate card. "Bakugan Brawl! Saurus, stand!"

Subterra Saurus: 290Gs

Tsuyoshi didn't hesitate in taking out another Bakugan "Bakugan brawl! Gargonoid, stand!"

The sphere opened and Gargonoid came out flying from a dark cloud giving a mighty roar.

Darkus Gargonoid: 320Gs

"Gate card, open!" Shuji commanded.

The Subterra Reactor card activated, turning the battlefield into a giant dessert. Saurus roared as its power increased.

Subterra Saurus: 390Gs

Tsuyoshi took out a new ability card "Hmph. Ability activate. Aurogano revenge." he tossed the card towards Gargonoid and a layer of dark mist surrounded the gargoyle Bakugan.

Dan nodded "Nice! Aurogano revenge subtracts 100Gs from the opposing Bakugan and adds them to the user."

Darkus Gargonoid: 420Gs

Subterra Saurus: 290Gs

Shuji took a step back "No, wait! Time out!"

Tsuyoshi whipped his hand to the side "Finish it, Gargonoid!"

Gargonoid roared and charged at Saurus finish the opposing Bakugan in one blow.

Shuji: 0 Bakugan left (LOSE)

After the battle ended, the area around the four teens shifted, before they returned to the park, where time started flowing normally again. Shuji fell on his knees defeated "How… How could I lose?"

"B-but… He is supposed to be a newbie!" Akira exclaimed.

Tsuyoshi glared harshly at the both of them, making the siblings flinch and run away in fear. Dan smiled at Tsuyoshi "Hey, you did really good for a new brawler." he praised him.

Tsuyoshi glanced at him before scoffing "You were right about them being practice dummies." he replied.

Dan laughed "Yeah that's true, I guess. But even so, the way you handled your Bakugan was impressive for someone new to the game. Perhaps we should do battle sometime." the leader of the Battle Brawlers suggested.

Tsuyoshi huffed "Please. I happen to be a guy who knows his limits." he shifted his gaze to the Bakugan on Dan's shoulder "At this point, I couldn't possibly touch your famous Dragonoid."

Dan chuckled "Hey, don't sell yourself short. I bet you could prove to be quite the challenge with a little more practice."

Tsuyoshi shrugged "Maybe." he replied absentmindedly, checking the time on his Baku-pod "I gotta go."

Dan looked at the time as well and his eyes widened "Oh shoot! Mom is going to kill me!" he looked up "I have to, huh?" he looked around, only to see that Tsuyoshi had left. Dan ran his hand through his hair "Huh, that's one way to make an exit." he commented, before realizing once more that he was late and running off.

Tsuyoshi walked towards his home in a steady rhythm. He was in no rush to return. He used this opportunity to think back on today's events.

First was football practice. He could tell that his performance had impressed Marcos Hernandez Sr. He was feeling proud of that achievement. It wasn't easy to impress one of the top 10 former football players. And yet his comments about teamwork bothered him. Tsuyoshi played as a striker. If he wanted to pass the ball around, he would have chosen to be a midfielder instead. Besides he was talented enough on his own. If he had chosen to pass back then, he was sure his teammate wouldn't have scored.

Then there was the whole scene at the park. The brawl with Shuji honestly didn't matter to him too much. He was a mere punching bag. But he couldn't deny that being recognized by the creator of the game instilled some pride in him. It's not like he looked up to Dan, or the brawlers. But the thought of challenging them brought some form of excitement.

Tsuyoshi stopped walking and looked up towards the sky "Beating the brawlers, huh." he hummed and nodded "That would be a challenge."

He started walking again, but was stopped suddenly when a sudden flash assaulted his eyes. Tsuyoshi blocked his eyes with his hand, before slowly blinking them open. When he looked to the sky, he was shocked to see multiple waves of colors flashing.

"What the bloody hell is happenin'?!" he exclaimed in shock.


~Doom Dimension~

The Doom Dimension, was a cold, barren, unforgiving wasteland. If a Bakugan somehow ended up here, certain death was the only possible outcome. And unfortunately, thanks to the action of a human called Masquerade, the amount of Bakugan in this dimension was increased dramatically.

Those Bakugan were angry. Very angry. Their anger resonated throughout the Doom Dimension. With every new Bakugan, the feeling grew stronger.

Suddenly from the corpses of the Bakugan, raw energy started emanating. The amount of energy was enormous. It started gathering in a random place within the Doom Dimension.

An explosion occurred, filling the endless darkness of the Doom Dimension with a bright flash. Inside the light, the silhouette of a dragon with three horns, two over his ears and one in the middle of his muzzle, could be made out. But before the light could clear out, the dragon gave a mighty roar and it flew up towards the sky.


Tsuyoshi could suddenly make out a small object falling from the sky. It hit the ground, before rolling towards Tsuyoshi. The Darkus Brawler carefully kneeled, before picking up the object to take a look at it. When he picked up the small spherical object and gave it a closer look, he realized what it was. "That's a… Bakugan?"

The sky suddenly cleared, and time started flowing normally. Then, to Tsuyoshi's surprise, the Bakugan in his hand opened. The sphere seemed to resemble a dragon. Its attribute seemed to be Darkus, judging by the dark color of the Bakugan. "W-What place is this?" it spoke up, with a deep, growling voice.

Tsuyoshi blinked, surprised at the Bakugan actually speaking "Uh, well, planet Earth?" he replied hesitantly.

"Earth… Not in Vestroia, then?" the Bakugan asked.

"Well…" Tsuyoshi shook his head "This is bonkers. Who even are you?"

"My name is Leonidas." the Bakugan introduced himself.

"Leonidas…" Tsuyoshi racked his brains, but he couldn't remember seeing a Bakugan like him before. The Darkus brawler was confused as to how this Bakugan appeared out of nowhere, but maybe this meeting was a sign. Of course, Tsuyoshi didn't believe in opportunities, thanks to… unfortunate experiences. But he thought that maybe Leonidas was the key for him to get stronger. "Listen." he spoke to the Darkus Bakugan, getting his attention "I'm sure this situation is as confusing to you as it is to me. But maybe we could make an arrangement."

"What are you talking about human?"

"What I am saying is that you are limited in this world." he explained "I can feel it. You want to fight and become stronger, right? Well in this world, you are going to need a human in order to fight. And I can help you with that."

"Are you suggesting I fight with you in these 'Bakugan Fights'" Leonidas asked.

Tsuyoshi nodded "That's exactly what I'm saying. So?" he prompted.

Leonidas hummed in thought, before turning away "I sense that in order to get stronger, I must participate in these fights." he spoke to himself, before facing Tsuyoshi once more "You got yourself a deal, human."

Tsuyoshi smirked and nodded at Leonidas "An excellent choice." he said, rising up from his kneeling position and placing Leonidas in one of his jacket's front pockets and resuming his walk home.

Leonidas tilted his gaze upwards "If we are going to work together, aren't you going to tell me your name?"

Tsuyoshi glanced at him "I suppose so. My name is Tsuyoshi Godric."

And from this day forward, an uneasy alliance formed, that would eventually turn into one of the strongest bonds this world would know.


Preview:

Tsuyoshi: Ever since I obtained Leonidas, the victories kept pilling on. But along with them so did the rumors of the brawler with the extremely violent Bakugan. It even caught the attention of the Battle Brawlers, and not for a good reason. One of them challenged me on the condition that I give up on Leonidas. Meanwhile my alliance with him started of on the wrong foot. Can we get past the trouble and rise up to the challenge? Find out in the next chapter. Bakugan, brawl! See you next time.