From Depths We Rise

by Insane Dominator

1 year has passed since Dan and the Battle Brawlers saved the universe, and when things were serene, a new group of Bakugan players are sent to New Vestroia when a dimensional interference forces them to meet each other. Caught in the crossfire with aliens seeking resources, Luke, Abis Omega, and new friends must fight using unlikely odds if they're to save all from extinction.

23. Jelldon's Big Shock

The magenta eyes of the manifested beast had a shimmer of light roll over as he opened his toothless maw. He exhibited a small but spine-shivering growl that made even Cyrus feel challenged, but didn't it too well. Riaan, however, had an expectant calm on him as he faced Armagedoid with no guard.

"Lord Riaan…" Lucia worried for her life, so much she opted to move ahead, but Cyrus put his arm out to deny her access.

Riaan held his ground as Armagedoid craned his head like a bird would at him. Wonderous, if not defensive, the Bakugan began to take its first step, quaking the ground. He lowered his neck and glared down at Riaan like he was prey. "…you…speak…?" he sniped. "Who are you? Tell me!"

"At ease." Riaan closed his eyes and held his tongue. "I know how you are feeling, but I assure you, I'm not here to harm you." To prove his point, he bent down and sat cross-legged in his spot. He held a meditative pose to ease Armagedoid. It seemed to be working.

Armagedoid got even closer, so close in fact that his solid curved snout was breathing on Riaan's face. The others held their tongues so as not to startle the Bakugan; for if they did, they might not live to regret it.

Once getting a whiff, Armagedoid backed off and tilted his head. "You…have a smell…" he said. "A smell…like me?" He growled low in defense. "Who are you?! What am I?!"

Riaan put a hand up. "I'll answer your questions. But first, please, show patience."

"Pa…tience?"

"Correct. Like what I'm doing." Riaan gestured to himself. "Show this, and we can answer each other's questions with no qualms, and I can assure you, I won't lift a finger."

Armagedoid wasn't sure what to think of Riaan, or the situation he was in. Just a minute ago, he was given life, and he knew how to breathe. Basics most assured. But he didn't know what was going on, or what was around him. It was like waking up to a dream, a very disorienting dream. But being around these creatures smaller, he wasn't sure to feel anything but threatened. Still, what could go wrong? He chose to acquiesce and backed off, giving Riaan a very quiet glare.

The life form nodded. "Very well then. My name is Riaan, and your name is Darkus Armagedoid."

The Bakugan's eyes narrowed as he processed the information. "…Riaan. And my name is…Darkus…Armagedoid."

"Correct."

"But…how did you know my name?" He grew antsy again. "And why do you have a smell like my own?"

Riaan held his word and did not lift a finger to Armagedoid's opposition. "It's because it was I who gave you your name." he answered. "And to answer why you have my smell, well…" he paused. "There's no easy way to say this, and I do apologize…but it was I who created you."

Armagedoid tilted his head. "You…created me? You were able to…give me life?"

Riaan nodded. "Yes. Now please hear me out, Armagedoid. This may all be surprising to you with how I gave you a body, but please, try to process what you know. One step at a time, okay?"

Armagedoid gave Riaan a cold look. He wanted to know more about everything and how Riaan was able to give him life; heck he was on the verge of a breakdown if processing too much. So he lowered his head, looking at his black toes as he tried to recall everything he's learned. "…so…my name is Darkus Armagedoid. I was created by you…Riaan…right?"

Riaan nodded. "Indeed."

"But…what am I?"

Riaan lowered his head. "Your species are known as Bakugan."

"Baku…gan?"

"Yes. Bakugan are creatures who come in large shapes and large sizes. They possess powers that they need in order to survive. Surprisingly, Bakugan also have their own attribute. There 6 attributes in total. Do you want me to tell you them?"

Armagedoid nodded. "If it will help me know who I am, then yes."

"Very well then. I'll go one step at a time. There is the fire attribute, Pyrus. The wind attribute, Ventus, The earth attribute, Subterra. The light attribute, Haos. The water attribute, Aquos. And finally, the darkness element, Darkus – your attribute. Is that too much?"

Armagedoid turned towards the side, processing the information fed to him. "…fire is Pyrus. There's Ventus. Sub…terra? Haos…Aquos…and Darkness…er, Darkus…" He turned towards Riaan. "Okay, so I'm Darkus Armagedoid. But…what Bakugan are you?"

To Armagedoid's surprise, Riaan started chuckling. "Well, would you believe me if I told you that I'm not a Bakugan?"

"You're not?" Armagedoid gasped.

"Yes. You see, I am of a species known as Interacian, of the planet Interacia. What we are, we are comprised of other species. But I fear that might be too much to take."

"So…are they Interacian too?" Armagedoid shot a look at Riaan's associates. He growled low, as if threatening them almost. The way Cyrus glared especially made him feel challenged.

Understanding his plight, he knew it was best to recall his audience. "Hades Pillars. I think it would be better for all of us if you left this to just us."

Lucia gasped. "But, our milord…" She moved closer, but instantly Armagedoid growled at her, prompting her to back away.

Zion bowed. "With all do respect your majesty, I don't think it would be wise to leave you alone like this…especially with something like…"

"I understand. But please, abide by this wish. Retire for the time being…and give us the space we need."

Lucia didn't want to leave him, and many of Hades Pillars certainly didn't want to either. They worried incredulously for that matter. But the way Riaan ordered them made it seem like they didn't have a choice. Against many of their own beliefs, they chose to comply. "Yes, milord." Cyrus gave a gracious bow before he and Hades Pillars teleported out of the destroyed facility. Riaan turned towards the Bakugan.

"Are you feeling better?"

Armagedoid gave a disgruntled expression. "…somewhat. They way they looked at me made me feel…uneasy." He answered. "And yet, I still have so many questions."

"Of which I will humbly answer. But remember. Patience."

Armagedoid nodded. "I understand. So then…how did you create life?"

---

In another part of the palace, Hades Pillars reappeared and had varied expressions. The first to act upon their own injustice was Lucia, who sighed despondently. "Are we doing the right thing? To leave him behind like that?"

"It's his command that we must follow." Zion answered. "As sworn loyalists and as Hades Pillars, whatever he wishes we must grant." He then turned away. "…but still."

Galilea gave an annoyed sigh. "Honestly, what is he thinking? Does he know he could get himself injured if we're not there?"

Lucia's brow furrowed. "My point exactly."

"Enough of your worries, all of you." Cyrus' voice boomed incredulously to silence their worries. "It doesn't matter. Lord Riaan knows what he's doing. Yes, there is insidious potential, but it's up to him alone to decide that." He faced his teammates. "Now then, we have our own matters to deal with."

Magnus crossed his arms. "Rogue Zero's punishment."

Cyrus nodded. "Correct. Lord Riaan said it's our responsibility to see they tend to their own punishments for failure." He glanced away. "I'm going to have to need a word with Maximus."

Amina daintily flashed her shiny fingernail polish. "Well, I don't know about you, but I'm gonna have a nice bubble bath. I'll have that sniffling failure of mine clean up her own mess. Now then , tata~." Without a care, she teleported away, anxious to soak her feet.

"Honestly, she's to prissy for her own good." Galilea sighed. "But, I should get back. I'm sure Killian is expecting me." In her own hurry, she teleported away next with a snap of her fingers.

Magnus chuckled. "That damn little bastard. I swear how he bagged that phat ass is something I'll never get." He teleported away next.

"Honestly, why bother?" Zion questioned. Sexual intentions weren't his thing, so instead he opted to his own matters to Xander. He snapped his fingers, vanishing. Leaving only Cyrus and Lucia in the room.

The Darkus man looked towards the Haos woman. "Madam Lucia, I trust that you'll keep Cesar on schedule then?"

Lucia nodded. "Hadn't need to worry. He resigned to his lab the moment he came back." He looked towards the massive ceiling. "Modifications. Experiments. There's a lot he listed. But I made sure that his primary composition is to record Interacia's damages and growth. And he knows that's where he belongs. Nowhere else."

"Good. Then I'll leave you to it."

"As to you." She teleported away next. Cyrus was a lone for a moment before he scoffed, teleporting last to leave the room bare once more.

---

Back in the chamber, Armagedoid was asking questions still, to which Riaan offered levity. "So then…I was born on this planet, known as Interacia?" Armagedoid questioned.

Riaan nodded. "Yes."

"Then…are there other Bakugan like me who live here?"

It was a rough question to answer, especially in Riaan's case. There wasn't an easy way to say, but to him it's better to tell the truth than lie to innocence. "Yes, Armagedoid, there are Bakugan who live here." He answered. "However, I am afraid that they cannot speak like you can."

Armagedoid blinked. "They…can't speak? How come?"

"Because, they aren't truly organic. Or rather, they are clones. They aren't truly original like you."

"O…riginal?" Armagedoid looked more confused than ever. There were a lot of things he didn't know yet, and there are still some things he opted to question that Riaan somehow knew the answers to. When he heard the others were clones or otherwise other life forms, he grew antsy. "Am I…a clone too?"

Riaan shook his head. "No, Armagedoid. You are completely original, I promise you that. But don't think that you are an outcast. The Bakugan we have here may not be able to talk, but…" he put a hand to his chin, trying to think the best way possible to cope with the situation. "Hmmm…well, I think the best way possible is to show you. Do you want to see?"

Armagedoid nodded. "Please?"

Riaan grinned. "Gladly." He turned away and started out the destroyed exit. "But Armagedoid…you may or may not like what you see. So please, keep yourself calm, alright?" He walked slowly out, while the draconic Bakugan took even more steps out of the destroyed room. He made sure to be very careful of where he stepped. He followed Riaan, looking around the large corridor with light refracting off his prismatic wings. When he looked up, he closed his eyes at how bright it was compared to the dark room. Riaan ushered him out of there and through another empty hallway, where they took a left turn towards a massive entrance fit for Bakugan to enter.

Stepping out to the balcony, Riaan looked over. "Alright, this is outside. Take it all in."

Armagedoid stepped out, immediately shocked with what he saw. "My…woaaahh…" His eyes widened as he looked around from the huge balcony, seeing almost a complete panel of broken breaches of sunlight on the crusty surface, with a huge city down below them. It was a long way down, and all around, there were so many people he saw, with just as many Bakugan of shapes and sizes. Ranging from Fangoid, to Jetro on the streets. It was a lot to take in, and so many colors to boot. How was he to process so many. "So many…" he muttered. He gasped when he saw a Haos Fangoid. "What's that one?"

"A Haos Fangoid." Riaan answered.

"And that one?"

"A Ventus Longfly."

"And that?!"

"An Aquos Gren."

Armagedoid was taking it all in, and he was proud to be doing so. All his worries from before were doing less than enthuse himself, but more like make him feel secure. Seeing this, Riaan smiled. "It's a good sight, right? Seeing many other Bakugan on Interacia?" He lost his smile, looking away with a frown. "But…I'm sorry you're an only species." Armagedoid looked down towards him. "Seeing all these Bakugan with same species but different colors, but you're just you…and I'm sorry."

Armagedoid could see the fallen look Riaan had. It was making him sad as well. But when he looked back at the many Interacians that had Bakugan by their sides. When he looked at Riaan to see him pity himself, he turned and faced his creator with a sympathetic smile. "…so then, I'm a one of a kind…?"

Riaan solemnly nodded. "Yes, Armagedoid. You are."

The Darkus Bakugan looked out again, seeing other Darkus Bakugan out there, like more Darkus Fangoid, and others as well. "I guess…I can be okay for now…I think. But…" he faced Riaan again. "C-can I…can I see more of this world?"

Riaan looked up towards him. "If that's what you want."

Armagedoid nodded. "Yes. I want to see the world that I was born on with my own eyes."

"…alright then. But I should warn you, there is a lot you may question. Some parts you'll like, but others you may not…" he smiled. "But remember, one step at a time, alright?"

Armagedoid nodded. "Yes, Riaan." He turned and began to glide skywards, as though flying was natural. He left the building and went up and around the city. As he glided about, on occasion, he flapped his wings, and gained greater altitude to see the many Bakugan and Interacians beneath him. He saw the few streams of water flowing through the city, and beyond that, land.

Intrigued, he looked towards the light shining above. He wanted to know about it. He turned skywards and went sailing up. He ascended so high and so fast that he reached the opening in no time. When he did, however, he got even higher, looking around the outer lands of Interacia with widened magenta eyes. A gasp escaped him as he saw the view. It was enchanting. The landscape was hilly, but forests were growing. The sun was slowly rising as well, bathing everything in a cascading orange radiance, including Armagedoid.

"Beautiful…" he breathed. Looking up at the sky, he saw another planet so massive and so close. Everything looked stellar, he didn't know what to think.

"This…this is Interacia…" He looked down, seeing something off. "Huh?" He saw far away, bits of the land was denting in, caving in it seemed. Intrigued, he scooted over, overlooking to see a sinkhole slowly forming. "What…is that-!?" With a gasp of shock, he saw parts of the beautiful land plummet. "No!" Hastily, he overlooked the whole thing, startled as he didn't know what was happening. He went back down the hole he came from and went under, seeing the view of the land that caved in slowly plummeting into rocky terrain. Seeing all that beautiful lush life plummet and shatter, it made loud, terrorizing rumbling sounds that startled him to no end. A moment's worth of fear made him anxious, and he looked around, noticing the life underneath was brown and hard rocky road.

Having enough of a sight, he decided to go back. He flew back towards Riaan, who remained stationary as Armagedoid returned to him. "So then, how was it like?" he nonchalantly asked.

Armagedoid blinked. "It…was pretty…" those eyes narrowed. "But then…it started crumbling away. Like…I was…happy, but then…"

"Was it scary as well?" Riaan asked. "It's alright if you were. To be honest, right now, Interacia is…how should I say this…? Changing."

Armagedoid blinked. "Changing?"

"Exactly. That beautiful land, it was bound to come down…after all, nothing lasts forever…"

Armagedoid tilted his head. There was something that Riaan said just now that hinted sadness and grief. As much as he wanted to dwell on that, he had his own curiosity to look after. "…Riaan. What is this planet exactly? Why is it changing?"

Getting out of his woes, Riaan faced Armagedoid and smiled. "Well…" he chuckled. "It's a long story. But really…it all started with something that happened thousands of years ago. When two life forms came into coinciding with one another."

"What happened?"

Riaan chuckled. "Like I said, it's a long story. But I think it's better to have you process everything. Why don't you go look around some more. Just mind others and their space if needed, understand?"

Armagedoid nodded. "Okay." He faced the city and took off yet again. He flew a little lower this time, scouting through midair and seeing the sights.

As he glided about, a soft smile came on Riaan's face. 'Code Eve…if only you were willing to be here to see this.'

---

Construction engineers were busy working around the clock, paid promptly to do so by their hirers. As they were building up from the balcony that certain Bakugan jumped from, Cale was with a group of engineers going over directions and plans for the repairs. While he was working and everybody else making their own living, those inside the family estate were settling in quite reasonably.

"Well, Esther, what do you think?" Shawn gestured to the room around them.

The Darkus battler slowly walked in, her eyes wide as she took sight of the massive room. "It's…very prestige." Even she was at a loss for words, and considering how often she loses her cool, this was a rare sight.

The room the group was in was a large room, one so big that one could've mistook it for another dining hall. It had red carpeting and massive windows with brown curtains to cover them. And two chandeliers hung near the center. On the far left was a little lounge area with a few small sofas and a massive TV on the wall. Was this an actual room or a 5-star hotel?

"I have never seen such a place." Atchibee awed.

Shawn crossed his arms and chuckled. "Not bad, right? And this is just the guest bedroom."

Esther looked at him with shock. "Is this really, Luke?"

The Aquos battler looked away nonchalantly with arms behind his head. "Well, yeah. It's not a big deal or anything. We hardly use it anyway."

Esther's brow furrowed. "Sounds like a waste of space."

Shawn chuckled. "Well, not anymore. We won't have to worry. Luke's folk were surprisingly generous to allow us to use this since we know each other. Right?"

Esther sheepishly glanced away. "Y-yes…I suppose that's true."

"That being said, Luke…" Shawn turned towards his best friend. "Where does that leave you? I mean we did kinda trash you whole room."

Luke glanced away, his disposition looking to be sheepish now. "Well, actually…" he paused, allowing his friends to raise brows in question. "I was…actually thinking of bunking here with you guys…if that's no trouble of course."

"Luke…" Esther awed.

Shawn chuckled again. "Well look at that. You actually want us to sleep in the same room."

"What's that supposed to mean?!" a flustered Luke snapped.

"Nothing! But you know…" Shawn smiled. "I was kinda hoping the same thing." He looked towards Esther. "It's not like the Trailer, but it's roomy enough for all of us, don't you think?"

Atchibee looked towards her partner, seeing her look at Luke for a moment before grinning. "…yes. It certainly does have a homey feel when you think about it."

A chirpy smile crossed Luke. "Alright! I'll go get some more sheets!" he yelled as he hurried for the nearest closet. This left Shawn and Esther alone yet again.

The Darkus battler had a smile cross her face yet again. "Honestly, some things never change…"

"Maybe." Shawn agreed. "But he is doing his best you know. We can't fault him there." Another grin crossed his face. "I'm pretty glad to have him as a friend, you know?"

"Shawn…"

"Maybe Luke isn't the most resourceful yet, and maybe he isn't one who thinks about the future, but I gotta tell ya. The way he's doing now, it's pretty inspiring when you think about it." He chuckled again. "Man, how helpeless."

To his surprise, Esther gave her own chuckle. "True. You're both deep friends who count on one another. I've seen that now."

Shawn turned towards her. "Well then, you know what you didn't see?"

"What?"

"That big screen TV over there." He walked over, grabbing the remote off the stand next to the main couch in front of a glass coffee table. "Let's just kick off our shoes and ease a bit while we're guests."

Esther blinked once, then twice. She finally gave a soft sigh. "Good grief."

Eventually, Luke came back with fresh sheets for his own bed. He, Esther, and Shawn were all sitting right beside the other; their Bakugan on the glass coffee table as they flipped through the varied channels offered. Some discovery channel documents, some crime syndicates, and quite a few cartoons out there. For a while, they did watch some battling from a recent footage in a local tournament.

The kid onscreen had very spiky bleach blonde hair with sharp eyes with intense short red pupils in them. He had a vicious glare as he raised his red Bakumeter, which contrasted his royal blue shirt and tan khaki pants. "Ability, activate!" he roared. "Tetra Blaster!"

The Pyrus Ziperator he commanded let out a cry before a dense red beam shot from the chest area into an opposing Ventus Scaboid. The Bakugan let out a shrilled cry as the beam reverted it to ball form, leaving the younger battler's life gauge to drop to 0%.

"A dominating show of intense power and skill, from the rising star of the Bakugan community!" the announcer roared. "Winning by a landslide, Logan Maverick wins!"

Logan looked down at the ground as his Ziperator glowed red and went back to him. He snatched him with ease before turning away. "What a waste of time that was." He mocked. "Next time, try and do a little better."

The audience was in a frenzy as Logan walked away, being given a bunch of prize money he won. As such, Luke and everyone else watched with mixed shock.

"So that Logan guy…" Luke started. "Just who is he?"

"I'm not sure. But I can say he certainly looks strong." Esther commented.

"You think so? Kinda looks like a wannabe to me." Abis remarked.

"Yeah, guess so." Luke said.

"I think I heard about this guy on the news." Shawn answered. "I think his name was Logan Maverick. Last I heard, he's making himself known as the next Number One out there." He looked unsure then. "But his records are showing displeasure in some communities. And you can't blame them."

Luke looked at the disgruntled expression Logan had onscreen, seething disgust and annoyance at the audience. His own brow furrowed as he could feel his own displeasure rise. He looked down at Abis, who faced him as well.

"Breaking news…" The television's screen changed to get their attention once more. "Live form the Everglades in the United States, the Everglades have been recorded to have a mass of their own water being noticeably less than what it was just yesterday." They saw the screen show the Everglades, a bunch of plains with water levels remarkably low. They could see some parts already dried up. "Reptilian wildlife and amphibious activity has drastically gone down, and the result is being of dryer environment that is making these cold-blooded inhabitance far more aggressive. At the same time, noticeable climate changes in Chili and along the direct axis amongst the Earth's hemisphere…"

Luke's eyes slowly began to widen as the reports began to flood in. "What is…"

Esther's eyes narrowed. She chose to keep quiet as they continued.

"Noticeable temperatures have dropped along Egypt. Along that, more reports of Brazilian wild jungles are beginning to show leaves falling. Now Chuck, are these by any means deciduous trees?"

"No Margaret, the wildlife and soil is not deciduous. In fact, due to climates, these showings of climate and behavioral patterns are continuing to increase I area according to graphical research."

"What's happening?" a shocked Luke gasped. "This all sounds, so…unnatural."

Esther nodded. "Yes, it is. And I think we know what's going on here, don't we?"

Atchibee turned towards the others. "It seems as though Riaan's influence is finally beginning to flow through this world now."

"You really think so?" Shawn inquired, before Verias spoke up.

"Well it's not something we can rule out. Isn't Riaan a life form that copied the traits of planets and feeds off of them for his own world?"

"I think that's the case, if what we were told was correct." Atchibee said. "Then this means that Riaan is now making his move on Earth."

Shawn's gaze fell down as the air around them grew serious. "This is bad. If it's already begun here, then maybe it's passing over to other worlds with Bakugan inhabitance."

Esther nodded. "Yes. Sounds accurate enough."

Luke was surprisingly quiet as he looked down at his clutched fists sitting on his lap. He was seemingly displeased hearing all this, but regardless of circumstances, he knew he got Esther back for a reason. When he looked at the screen again, he saw New York forests looking to have falling leaves as well. All over the world, there were small but noticeable traits of life draining; life that he should be trying to save. Finally mustering himself up, he stood to everyone's surprise. "…alright. Let's go!" he enforced.

"Luke?" Esther and Shawn question in unison.

"There isn't anymore time to waste. You said it yourself that these planets are in danger, right? We don't even know where the Battle Brawlers are, or…if they're even around anymore…but we've made it this far. We should at least keep trying to fond the others, right?"

Getting up as well, Esther nodded as Atchibee got onto her shoulder. "Yes. You're right. Relaxation can wait until we know we're well again."

"So then it's back to the mission then it seems." Atchibee said.

Shawn put a hand to his chin knowingly as Verias was on his shoulder. "Looks like I'm gonna have to hook up my Bakumeter again." He looked at Luke. "Luke, would it be okay if I use your internet? I can get a signal at my place, sure, but I think your family's range should be a lot easier to manage."

Luke nodded. "Right. Do what you gotta do, Shawn."

"Consider it done." Shawn left the couch and made way for the nearby computer. There, he went and hooked up his Bakumeter to the laptop and began to work his magic.

Meanwhile, Esther looked over, watching Shawn beginning to work his magic. "…he's very genuine, isn't he, Luke?"

The Aquos battler looked towards Esther, before having to sheepishly turn and scratch his head. "Well…I suppose so…" He sulked. "A lot more than me apparently."

Esther however smiled I comfort. "Don't sell yourself short yet, Luke." Luke perked up. "You cared enough to come look for me, and you got us back on track. If anything, your actions are just as genuine."

A nervous pink sprawled on Luke's face. "Esther…thanks." He meekly smiled.

Abis Omega and Atchibee saw both of their comforts and looked at each other before looking back at them. In the lowest way possible, Abis scoffed jokingly.

"Hey, guys! I got it!" Shawn shouted from the laptop.

"Already?" Luke gasped. He and Esther worked their way over towards Shawn as he clicked on his mouse. He looked at the geographical screen that reminisced of his own as a radar-like projection went out. From their point a little further southwest, something red was blinking. "Is that…?"

"You guessed it. That's another point." Shawn answered. "Although…"

"It looks rather far." Esther remarked. "Where is this again, Shawn?"

"Truro. At least, the general location. It could be the outer lands there in my best guess."

"Then we should at least try to get there somehow." Esther said determined. "If that's one of our friends, then their cooperation is vital."

Luke smiled. "Alright then, let's take my family's helicopter! We'll break distance in a few hours or so, right?"

Esther once again held shock. "Family…helicopter? You have those too?"

Luke shrugged. "Yeah, but my family doesn't call for it often. I guess we should tell my Mom and Dad about this." He started walking out. "Guys, I'll be right back!"

Once again, Luke was out of sight, leaving Esther to sigh heavily. "…Luke…he's becoming much more involved." A morose look came across her face. "Now I'm worried."

Shawn shrugged. "I don't see a problem. He's been helping us out a lot, hasn't he? I think this is a nice skip in the right step. Even if it's taking some adjustments."

"I suppose so."

---

The small group assembled soon found themselves under the blistering sun outside the mansion. There, in the small area with some pace, a normal helicopter began to come down, its propellers slowly coming to a halt. Once close enough, Luke's folk looked at them as they were going to step foot.

"And you're sure about this?" Claire confided.

Luke nodded confidently. "I am. We shouldn't be gone too long this time, I promise."

Augustine nodded back. "Alright then. We' paid good money to have this transportation fit for your friends' trip. So please, keep to your word…and make sure you come back this time."

Luke smiled. "Right. Let's go, guys."

"No time to waste. Time to get going." Abis enforced.

"Right!"

They all entered the helicopter, given the standard equipment. Once strapped in, they were all fixed and ready for takeoff. The pilot nodded and began to lift into the air, and soon enough off they went, leaving the state and for Augustine and Claire to see their son once again embarking on another mission.

---

In a rather large lab with silver walls and chrome pedestals containing a number of biological and mechanical experiments, there was a floating chair containing Cesar, who was overlooking a massive desk with holographic screens everywhere. He was touching so many at once, and through it all he gritted his teeth in frustration.

"Gnnnngh…! Curse that Lucia, making me voluntarily aware of all these readings." He swiped across a panel to make room for another one, in which he began to type again. "That woman…no matter what she always just predicts everything that's going to happen. She can predict her own lunch as far as what I have calculated!" he huffed in exasperation. "Honestly, I already know where the rocks of the outer lands are gonna fall, but she doesn't have to say it before I do." He pinched the bridge of his nose in utter frustration. "Being such a critical genius acting as a stooge to foresight is so degrading. It's making me the fool."

On anther screen that popped up beside him, it was all black, meaning it was just audio. "Cesar, I know you can hear this." The voice belonged to Lucia. "Quadrant 413-Q will crumble in precisely 7 hours, 23 minutes."

Cesar waved at the screen dismissably. "Understood. I got the plans already under way."

"Those plans will be done in 34 minutes, 17 seconds." She stated.

"…tch." He looked away in annoyance.

"The graphical barriers around quadrants 218-F, 65-B, 96-Y, and 200-X, all three will be coming down in precisely 12 hours and 36 minutes. Establish support pillars to help lower the lands for less collateral impact."

"Yes, madam…"

"…and I can predict you will be ranting about your superiority complex." She sniped. "Be wise to be careful with what you say."

A bead of seat dropped from Cesar's face, eyes wide as a small shiver went down his spine. "Y-yes madam."

"Then resume your irate, and remain to schedule." The screen faded away, leaving Cesar to do just that. Just as she said, the Haos professor jutted up his glasses and growled low with annoyance.

"Gnnnah!" he roared to the ceiling. "Universe! You have blessed my mind and my looks with your beauty! But why is it that you have to forsake my beauty? What have I not done to make you sully the good name that is my beautiful genius~?!" Knowing he wasn't getting any answers other than echoes bouncing off the walls, he lowered his head again in sadness. He sighed. "It's always the same…day after day…sequence by sequence…ever since that day…"

---

Cesar, a man with no other ambition than to o the one thing he was good at: Technology. From a young age, tinkering and meddling with simple twigs and sticks to make a cage, to discovering minerals in Interacian mud to being used for facial and skin treatments. Truly, nothing seemed impossible that he couldn't resist. Day by day, one crazy idea after another, eventually with his renown ideas making him well-known by the age of 10. Top of his class. Top in school all the way to the end. With all his achievements, and the many industrial tactician work he was experimenting with all the years, leading up to Troposphere having recycled seawater for a sublime power source. It reduced costs, as well as establish the building of watercrafts, and the core of it all designed by hand. And Cesar meddled with every bit of it. A proud man of science and revolution, and that's when Riaan met him.

At the age of 18, Cesar, while still standing on two legs, was quivering as he gawked at Riaan. "W-what's this?! Y-y-you…you…!"

"Yes, Cesar. I have heard and seen all of the scientific achievements you have done here. I think that a man like you should be expanding his reaches further throughout Interacia, don't you think?"

"Uh…uh…" Cesar was stammering to no end. His whole body shook with so much shock that he was about to melt. 'This…is this truly…my big break?! The one that I have been looking for?!' He turned around, his face darkening as his glasses refracted light. 'This is PERFECT! Now, I will be able to extend my growing genius not just to the streets of this little place…but now to the Capital, where EVERYONE will benefit from my scientific breakthroughs!' He began to chuckle low as a dark aura filled his background. "I knew at some point the world would HAVE to give into its knees and look at my prestige art of science. At long last, this ever-changing world will be corrected, by me! Hyahahahaha!"

Little did he know, Riaan was standing right there, trying to pay no heed to his misfits. Though he did clear his throat to get him to face him again. "Mhm!" Cesar adjusted and faced him again. "A-a thousand apologies, your prestige." He bowed.

Riaan grinned. "All is well. In fact, I was expecting this behavior of you, Cesar."

Cesar looked surprised. "You…did?"

Riaan nodded. "The reason I have chosen you is because someone I have known has been keeping significant tabs on you. She and I, WE require your technological advances to help pursue our wishes. To make this world great, will you fulfill her foresight, and your ambitions together?"

Cesar, however, was caught in his own thoughts. 'Wait…if I was watched this whole time…no, that can't possibly be. My lab is underground, out of communication lock. Certainly who could-'

"Cesar Ventriliqua." A voice came from afar, closing in. When he turned, he saw a dainty, well-dressed woman who seemed regal. She looked very serious behind her eyes, and she gave him a respected bow. "To you, Cesar Ventriliqua, I welcome you."

"Yes…? Can I help you, ma'am?" Cesar asked awkwardly.

Riaan gave a courtesy. "Allow me to introduce my associate here. I'd like to welcome Lucia Artemia. And she is the one who wished to see you in person.

Lucia walked closer, meeting Cesar at eye level. She bowed her head with a soft smile. "Gracious Cesar, it is a pleasure to meet you."

Little did Cesar know, that woman who bowed to him…he would be bowing to for the rest of his days.

---

"She foresaw my first project." He bitterly sniped. "The ability cards…the schematics for Thermosphere's conjoint structures; she knew each and every point and predicted the best outcome with little cultural hindrance…" his teeth bitterly grit together, his frustrations simmering to grieving sighs and chuckles. "To think even after all these years she can see far ahead…" he smirked. "But I can see right in front of me, and I see potential!" He gestured to the massive loads of diagrams he had floating all around him. "And with this, I can do more than just see the future! I can make it! And that is what will lead my will to live on~!" He finally made his next move, swiping his hand across again to show a side panel. It had the pictures of all 6 Rogue Zero Bakugan, and wavelengths of various strands recorded beside them. "And once I finish all these fundamentals, we can get to the more enthusiastic part of my experiments." He chuckled low with a cynical smile. "Let's see Lucia predict what I can make. Freezer!"

Right beside him, Haos Freezer popped open, facing his master. "Yes, Master?"

"You've had your rest. Enter battlefield Block-A. You will be battling Dynamo. I will be examining your energy wavelengths thoroughly. Understand?"

"Of course." To his chagrin, he closed into ball form and rolled on over to an opening beside him. He dropped into it and the opening went shut.

Onscreen, another monitor showed, revealing a secluded battlefield. Here, Haos Freezer stood, howling outwards. And already in play, the Bakugan Trap Dynamo exhibited a cybernetic roar.

"Hmph! There. That should speed things along." Cesar huffed. "Now where was I?" He resumed his works, his genius working to calculating the outer lands as Lucia predicted.

Meanwhile, in another secluded chamber, it looked like a radiant chamber with a glistening light over Lucia as she sat in the center of a small garden-like area with engraves of water flowing. She sat on the island-like middle, taking a meditative stand as her eyes flashed open, both concealing golden magical symbols. 'I see it…the rumbling of the lands…the anguish or Riaan…the fate, of which Armagedoid decides…' Her eyes shut, ending her foresight. She hung her head and sighed. "Milord and pleasure…the decisions you've left this one have now been seen…you may soon live to regret it."

---

The helicopter took off back into the air, leaving grass and other means of foliage to shift through the atmosphere. Luke, Shawn, and Esther waved the pilot off as he waved two fingers face, before turning the flying transportation and sending himself off.

Shawn had hands to his hips. "Well, guess that takes care of that."

"Yes." Esther nodded before turning. "So then…this is where one of us lives then, yes?"

Luke and Shawn turned and looked around, seeing the sights for themselves.

All around them, it like farmland with decent fencing. There were a few kids around with Bakugan included, and pass a single hill leading up to a trail went for miles on end towards the main city, which was barely within eye distance. The air was nice and crisp, and the temperature was well. But in all, it was…open. The exact opposite of what Luke was accustomed to.

Luke's eyes widened. "So then…this is country?"

Shawn smirked. "Not bad, right Luke?" he put a hand to his chin. "Though, now that I think about it, I haven't been out too far in country either. The air is pleasant."

Luke smiled. "Yeah. It's a lot more air to take in rather than being cramped in one room your whole life…I guess."

"So I take it that signal is around here then, right?" Atchibee asked, getting the group back on track.

Esther looked around. "Yes, if memory serves. We were dropped off around the general area, weren't we Luke?"

"That's what I told the pilot." He answered.

Shawn looked down at his Bakumeter, activating the tracking sequence he made. "Already on it. Now, let's see here…" He turned and zoomed in on the location. His body adjusted in the direction of which the signal originated from. "It should be right over…here." He started walking off.

"Let's go." Abis said.

Luke nodded. "Yeah…"

As the group started their next venture, they began to take in the sights. They noticed how there were a few small watering holes, and a few arrays of animals. It intrigued Luke to see so many up close, especially to where he could touch them.

"Being out in the open certainly has its perks." Esther commented. "I suppose they can earn some nice money for the livestock and crops they're able to furnish here." She looked over at Atchibee's stare out. "Is something wrong?"

"No, no." she stammered, continuing to look at horses. "It's just…you humans are so strange."

Esther grinned. "So we've been told."

In a short while, after passing a suburban domain with kids all around, the group soon stopped in front of a very small house. It looked like a small bungalow even. In fact, that's what it was. It had small white board fencing with a large tree growing in the back, with a small swing set made up of a wooden plank and two ropes on either side.

"So is this it?" Luke questioned. "It looks rather small."

"Maybe so. But one of our colleagues is here." Esther remarked. "Try not to say such things, okay?"

Realizing his mistake, Luke recoiled and sulked forward again. "S-sorry…"

Shawn stepped forward, examining the property. "Well, the signal lead here…" he frowned. "But you never know. Maybe their Bakumeter could be off and it's a trap."

"Maybe Rogue Zero." Verias figured.

Esther's eyes narrowed. "We can't rule out any possibilities." She closed in on the door. "But still…we should see and wait." She made way and knocked on the door. It sounded hollow.

A few seconds later, they heard a small shout from the other side. "Just a minute." It sounded feminine. They looked at each other and waited for a few moments. They watched the knob turn, opening the door.

There, on the other side and greeting them. A woman gave a small cough. "*cough* Oh, sorry about that." The woman looked to be in her mid the late-30s. She had a simple dark magenta dress on, matched with a black choker and fluffy bracelet. She had wavy black hair with bangs going down her shoulders, while the rest was curved into a bun on her head. She had brown eyes with a slightly paled face, but charming smile. "I didn't mean to take so long. I was doing laundry." She said. "You know how it is with line dry material and these occasional winds we get."

Shawn grinned. "It's fine. Sorry to trouble you, miss."

The woman waved them nonchalantly. "Oh don't worry about it. It's not often I get visitors…" she nervously glanced away. "Unless it's those damn tax collectors." She mumbled low.

"What?" Abis questioned.

"Oh nothing, nothing."

"Mommy~?" a voice called inside. "Mommy, who is it? Is it those loaners again?" A pair of familiar feet rushed out in front, revealing an all too familiar little girl with big brown eyes. "I thought I told you loafers to go and…and…" The girl's tongue ran dry as her eyes widened with a massive gasp. The faces she saw were not the kinds she thought she'd see.

Esther smiled genuinely with everyone. "…Maggie…"

"E-Esther…is that you?" Maggie gasped again. "And Shawn?!"

The Haos battler grinned. "Maggie, you're looking well."

Maggie suddenly pulled her friends into a hug at their waists. She smiled happily as the action startled them for a few moments. "You guys! You actually came! HAHA! I was actually beginning to worry about you!"

Esther put a hand on Maggie's head and smiled motherly. "We're sorry. We didn't mean to make you worry."

Maggie pulled away and smiled. "It's fine. I'm just happy to see you guys again. You, Shawn, Atchibee, Verias, and…" The moment she turned towards Luke, her happiness died. "…oh, you." She said flatly.

Luke scratched the back of his head uneasily. "It's good to see you again, Maggie…"

Maggie put her hands to her hips. "Hmph! You're lucky we all got back to Earth. Do you have any idea how much trouble you were?"

Luke head lowered in shame, but he held a strong enough smile. "I know. I'm sorry."

On Maggie's shoulder, a familiar Bakugan showed his face and gasped. "G-guys?" He floated in front. "Atchibee? Verias! Abis Omega! You're all okay!" he cried happily. "You all are alright!"

"Jelldon, how nice to see you again." Atchibee greeted.

Comical tears could be seen spouting like waterfalls from either side of Jelldon's eyes. "Gahahahaaah~! You're all okay! Come here!" He floated inwards, and the Bakugan all floated into the center, joining in on a small group huh lead by Jelldon. Once satisfied he pulled back. "How did you find us."

"Easy." Verias turned towards Shawn. "Just ask them. They did all the work."

"You guys did?" Jelldon gasped, looking at Luke and the gang with awe.

Luke nodded. "Is it okay if we come inside?"

---

They all met in the front room, or rather the room immediately on the left side. Maggie's mother sat in a single rocking chair while others found themselves comfortable…as comfortable as they could get that is. "I can't begin to tell you how much it pleases me that my little Maggie was able to make friends." She praised. "I didn't know what happened to my baby."

"M-mom!" a flustered Maggie chirped.

Esther smiled. "It's fine. Your daughter wasn't any trouble at all, Miss…"

"Rebecca."

"Right. Miss Rebecca. In fact, Maggie was a very valuable asset to us. She's done more than a frequent on her fair share for us."

Maggie nervously laughed as her cheeks went rosy. "Hehe. Oh stop, you're flattering me!"

"She has, huh?" Rebecca sighed heavily like a weight was lifted from her heart. "Thank goodness…you all…" She hung her head, her fists starting to ball on her knees. Maggie looked over and tilted her head as she saw her mother starting to shudder. "I…I can't believe that my little Maggie went through all that…and she's still here…alive…"

"Mom…"

Rebecca slowly got out of her seat, getting to her knees and bowing her head to the three. This left them embarrassed and startled. "You all…thank you so much, for taking care of Maggie for me!" she cried, tears in the corners of her eyes starting to bubble up. "I am forever in your debt!"

"H-hey! Don't be like that, c'mon!" Luke countered.

Shawn's brow furrowed as he grinned. "Miss Deering, it's alright. No need to be so formal with us…in fact, your daughter has been handling herself quite alright on our watch."

Maggie puffed her chest in pride. "Hehe! Finally, someone notices that I'm a big girl now!"

"Maggie." Esther chided.

Noting how the situation wasn't revolving around her, the Pyrus girl meekly chuckled before she frowned at the floor. "S-sorry…" she turned towards her mother. "Sorry I made you worry, Mom."

Rebecca got back up, wiping a tear from her eye and sniffling. "It's okay, sweetie." She regained her composure. "I'm just glad that you managed to come out in one piece. And on top of that…you've made some friends too. They all look so strong."

"Hehehe…well, some more than others." She shot a look at Luke. The Aquos battler looked away calmly.

Shawn stepped forward. "So then, did Maggie fill you in on what happened, about our planet?"

Rebecca nodded. "Yes, I understood. I was trying to comprehend at first, but the recent news about these climate changes have been getting me worried. That's when I started to realize it." She looked down shamefully. "How did my daughter get mixed up in all this?...*cough cough*"

"Mom?" Maggie gasped.

Rebecca composed herself and adjusted from her cough. "I'm fine, sweetie." She clasped her hands together. "Hey, I got an idea. You can all try my stuffed salmon! I'm sure you'll love that!"

Maggie's eyes sparkled with pride. "Oohhh~! Mommy's stuffed salmon? Sign me up for a piece!"

"We'd be delighted, Miss Deering. Thank you." Esther thanked.

Rebecca nodded and chimed happily as she turned and made way into the kitchen. As she walked away, Maggie looked at her mother worriedly while the others took notice of the way she was walking. It didn't seem to be right for some reason.

"…she doesn't seem well, does she?" Luke examined.

Shawn frowned. "Yeah." He watched Maggie sigh. "Maggie, your mother, is she alright?"

She shifted back towards them. "H-oh, her? Yeah! She's fine! Yeah! Hehehehe…" She meekly laughed to help get the tension to ease, but it wasn't helping. No one was fooled. Her face fell yet again. "…guess that's not cutting it then, huh?"

"No, I wouldn't think so."

Maggie took another breath. "…well, it's not that I'm not liking it here…it's just that things with my Mom have been stressful ever since I got back."

"How so?" Esther questioned.

"She's been coughing a lot, and she's been on her feet way too often. She's been like that since I was born." She sighed. "Honestly she's been hovering over me that it's wearing her down…but maybe that's what happens when you grow up without a Dad."

Esther and the others gave her a sympathetic expression. They were wondering why Maggie was looking down; not from events outside, but about her family. Actually, when Luke looked over towards his left, there was a small stand next to a tiny bookshelf. On it, he could see a trifold frame with a few pictures in them. They were all of Maggie with her mother, playing on the swing set, or her as a baby cradled in her arms, even to a poorly made but still edible cake for Maggie's 10th birthday. It was enchanting, but through them all, not one had a pic of her father…until he looked over to a solemn frame sitting nearby. It had a man's face, one with a green bandana and a small stubble. He seemed a little muscular but also heartwarming. Beneath it had a starting and ending date. His face fell as he knew what that meant. He chose to say nothing, that being a better course.

"I'm…sorry." Esther apologized.

Maggie waved her off with a sappy smile. "No, no! Don't worry about it. Even if we don't make a lot of money, we're still good…hehehe…" Hurrying along, she turned towards the kitchen. "But just wait, you guys will love my Mom's stuffed salmon!"

Esther smiled. "We'll hold you to that."

---

"And that's the backyard." Jelldon floated back through the slightly cracked window, with Abis, Atchibee, and Verias following behind. They were following Jelldon around as he showed them around. "So what do you guys think?"

Abis lowered his head. "Well…it's not the worst thing I guess."

"That's true. But I think it's homey enough for something far from civilization." Atchibee commented. "It's different, I'll say that much. What about you, Verias?"

The Haos Bakugan shrugged. "It's not bad. But what about you, Jelldon? What do you think about all this?"

He chuckled. "Oh, heh, me? It's not bad…" he turned away. "I mean aside from a few insects every now and again, and Maggie fretting about her mother every time she nearly falls over…"

"What was that?" Atchibee questioned.

"Oh, nothing!" he chirped. "So is there any other places you wanted to see? Bedroom? Closet?...uh, maybe not the last one. It's a bit too dark." He mumbled.

Verias moved an arm. "I've been wondering about something for a while. Don't these humans use something to make food?"

Atchibee faced him. "I do believe so. What do they call it again? A…kitchen, perhaps?"

"Well, guess now's as good as time as any." Abis said. "Jelldon, you know the way?"

"Oh, uh...I think so." He floated away, with the others following. "Yeah, I, uh…think it's this way." He floated to a different part of the small house, making way closer towards the small island where on the other side was a stove, sink, and cabinets with a fridge. He floated onto the island-like top and faced his fellow Bakugan. "Okay guys, I think this is it."

"So this is a kitchen?" Verias questioned.

"Yeah. I mean I've seen her mother turn in here but I haven't seen…!" He turned around, only to flinch at the scene: the kitchen. "Geh!" He cringed at all the knickknacks. He saw the dozens of sharp knives sticking up like spikes. "Dooooiii…" he shuddered as he tuned towards the sink, seeing the dark hole that looked like a void. "Eeeeheheheeee…" he sourly whined. He wasn't liking what he was seeing. But what was perhaps the more terrifying part of the kitchen – out of everything – was something that was right below the cabinets. It was a purple jar with black goop inside, labeled "JELLY" "NOOOO-HO-HO-HOOO! THE HORROOOOR~!" He shouted to the heavens before retreating to his ball form. He cradled back and forth, shuddering madly. "I-I-It's gruesome! Hide me! Save me! Ehohoohoo~!"

The other Bakugan turned towards the other in question, nervous beads of sweat dropping. "Pull yourself together Jelldon. For heaven's sake." Atchibee insisted.

Jelldon stopped shuddering and one of his eyes flipped open. "Huh…?"

"I don't think those are actually Jelldon guts."

Jelldon slowly retreated out of his ball and looked towards Abis and Verias, who were snickering at him. "Oh, uh…I knew that." He said coolly.

The Bakugan floated around the kitchen, seeing the many contraptions available. They saw the large fridge, which might contain ingredients to make food. "So then, this is where these humans store food, huh?" Verias looked towards Abis, who was using his head to turn the small nozzle of the sink. Instantly water rushed out. In a hurry he moved it the other way. He looked down and watched it all drain into the dark hole.

"So instead of relying on battle energy to survive, these humans require water and nourishment from food they digest. Interesting." Atchibee looked around, noticing something was off. "Wait…Jelldon? Jelldon? Jell-oof!" From out of nowhere, a blob of purple goop got her.

"Atchibee!" Abis exclaimed.

"You okay?" Verias inquired.

Atchibbe maneuvered out of the stuff on her. "Uuugh…I'm alright, but…what is this stuff?" She sniffed it. "Why is it smelling so…sweet?" She gasped when she looked up in realization. "Jelldon?!"

"Cannonball!" The Pyrus Bakugan plopped onto the open container of grape jelly, his landing cool and felt like a spongy bed. "Hehehehe!"

Abis peered inside. "What are you doing…?"

""H-huh? Oh, sorry!" Jelldon slowly prod himself out of the jar of jelly. He came out with small goops on him. "I was wondering what it was if it wasn't me."

"And…?"

"Well…I don't know." He bounced in again, immediately met with squishy trampoline-like filament. "Hehe! But this stuff smells good and is squishy!"

"I'm not sure if you're supposed to…" Abis trailed off as the smell got to him. "Wait…" he sniffed again. "I-is it that sweet?" He looked towards Jelldon, who nodded dumbly. Looking back down, Abis could see it being a blubbery purple bed. It started making him curious. He faced Jelldon again and back down the hole. "…well, guess one dip wouldn't hurt."

Atchibee sighed. "Honestly, what are they doing…?" She started hearing footsteps close in, making her gasp. "Quick! Someone's coming!"

The Bakugan all turned their heads towards the area of the sound and knew they shouldn't be here. In a hurry, Abis scrambled out of the jelly and they all hurried behind the coffee maker. They remained silent as they watched Rebecca walk in with an apron.

"Okay, time to make that salmon." She walked in, noticing something was off. "Wait…why is the jelly jar open?" she sighed angrily as he went and prodded the lid back on. "I told Maggie not to leave it open. We'll get fruit flies again." Closing the lid, she made way towards the fridge, where she pulled out a raw dead fish from the freezer section. She took it over towards the counter and placed it on a small cutting board. She then pulled out one of the knives.

"I think we're about to see how humans make food." Atchibee awed.

Abis Omega looked at the dead fish and questioned it. "How're they gonna eat that stinky old-!"

CHOP!

Abis and everyone fell silent as they could hear horror music play. They all watched in horror as the fish's head was chopped off, and Rebecca looked so casual about it. Abis shuddered as a fellow fish's head was chopped. But it didn't stop there.

CHOP!

"Wha…what are they doing…?" Atchibee mumbled. She watched the tail end get sliced off now.

CHOP! CHOP! CHOP!

They all watched in horror as Rebecca continued to butcher the fish, its body getting cut up to five slim pieces. It looked refined to where she seemed satisfied, but she started peeling the skin. When she started, Jelldon's shuddering form just couldn't take it. He rolled backwards and fainted from shock, while Atchibee caught him. Verias pat Abis Omega's back as the water creature paled.

"What kind of sick creatures are we dealing with here?" he mumbled.

Rebecca put the knife down and began to hum. "Okay, I hope that does it. Now onto…" She coughed again, though this time far more intense. Her cooking preparations fell unanswered as she caved into her knees, her lungs gasping for air.

"Mommy~? Are you making sure mine has the most stuffing?" Maggie chimed from the other room. She got no answer. "Mommy?" She went into the kitchen, where she turned to look over. Instantly she gasped when she saw her mother lying in the ground.

"MOM!"

---

Luke, Esther, and the others were all on the other end of the bedroom, watching quietly as Rebecca was under sheets with a wet cloth over her head. Her face looked red as Shawn and Maggie were right in front of her, examining her condition.

"…how is she?" Luke muttered.

Shawn kneeled up and looked down at the sleeping woman. "…doesn't look too bad…" his brow furrowed. "But not good either. She's got a hefty fever going on right now. We tried to lower the temperature, but that's all."

Luke glared down at the wooden flooring. "Damnit…"

"Mommy…" A meek mutter got the gang to turn their attention towards Maggie. The poor little Pyrus girl had her head down with a sad look as she knelt down to her beside. She grabbed her mother's hand and held it tight. She stared at her cold and pale face, which was making her eyes soften. "…I told you. All these years…"

"Maggie." Jelldon looked towards his partner, but stopped when Verias tapped him, shaking his head in a way of saying no. He backed off.

"I told you doing all this stuff for just me…that spending all this money for me and not for yourself would be wrong…" She lowered her head, still holding her mother's hand tight. "But…Daddy died…and I can't afford to lose you too." Her body tensed up. "This is the fourth time this week now. First it was monthly…now, it's weekly…a-and now…now…" Small tears began to billow around Maggie's eyes. "Now…even I can't afford THIS! MOMMY!"

Maggie bitterly sobbed into her mother's bedsheets, her muffled sobs running through the bed and its fabric, but even deeper through everyone else.

They all watched Maggie in angst over her mother's illness, sad looks of empathy on them. When they thought about it, at least to some extent, they never actually saw Maggie cry that much, except on a few emotional occasions. Their positive, upbeat-bringer of the group being down like this really did bring a pain to them. Shawn could relate to Maggie, having grown up with neither a mother or father…but while Esther was along those lines of never loved, hers are technically around…but otherwise at the moment, dead to her.

The Bakugan themselves were equally as sad. While they never had parents per se, that didn't mean they learned to accept themselves as family, at least the group available. Luke and Abis already swore to die together, so commitment there…but Jelldon was looking at his cheery partner's worry, and it made his eyes droop. And his self-esteem was low enough. 'Maggie…'

Luke gritted his teeth. "Gnnnngh…" He turned and started for the door.

"Luke." Esther called to stop him. "What are you doing?"

"What's it look like? I'm gonna go into town and find medicine!" he snapped.

Maggie's ears twitched, her sobbing beginning to settle down.

"Luke." Shawn stepped forward. "I agree, but do you have any idea how much a doctor or medicine around here costs?"

Luke turned back and gave Shawn a serious look. "Maybe not…" his furrow brow hardened. "But what I do know, is that a life is on the line…and it's better to try something than nothing at all." He turned back towards the door. "So if it means so much to Maggie, then I'll fork whatever I have to."

Maggie looked over her shoulders, tears running down her face. "Luke…"

Shawn crossed his arms. "That's all gusto…but Luke, can I ask something?"

"Yeah, what?" he replied.

"Do you even have your own bank account or card?"

A small silence fell for Luke's end of the stick as he realized what Shawn meant. "I…I-I…" Ultimately, he sulked forward, defeated by his own gung-ho. "No…"

Maggie looked back towards her mother, a cough palpitating. She saw how terrible she was by the bags under her eyes. She worked herself so hard over the years caring for Maggie's every well-being, so now it's her turn to repay what she owed. Even if it wasn't money, what you are given you can give back, in full. She stood up, looking down at her mother in determination. "Mom…hang in there for a little longer, okay?"

"Maggie?" Jelldon questioned.

She faced her Bakugan. "C'mon, Jelldon! Now it's our turn!" She seized her Bakugan and ran pass Luke, startling him and the others.

"M-Maggie…!"

Esther's eyes gazed upon Maggie as she took action. She looked towards Luke, seeing as how he was the reason behind this. With a smile quickly growing as it did fade, she persevered. "She must be going into town. We should follow her."

Luke nodded. "Right."

Shawn stood next to Rebecca. "You guys go ahead. I'll stay here and do the best that I can for her."

"We're counting on you, Shawn. Esther, let's go!" In a hurry, Luke and Esther rushed after Maggie, while Shawn looked down at Rebecca as she was trying not to cough so much.

---

Down the hall around Galilea's quarters, the Ventus superior had hells on as her hips swayed her ripeness about. She had a serious look on her face as she thought about Armagedoid. 'What is Lord Riaan thinking? I thought it would be better to have Armagedoid programmed while he was still in the early stages. Why was he so against it…?' She stopped and looked out the large windows following on her right. She got a massive view of the city, along which she saw something black sailing across the horizon. From the chill running down her spine, she could only guess what it was. She sighed. 'And he went as far as allow the Bakugan to roam outside unattended. Doesn't he know how dangerous that is?' She turned and began her path again. "By all accounts, we better hope Lord Riaan's solution with Armagedoid goes well…I'd rather not have anymore lives accounted as another sacrifice." She closed in on Killian's dorm, which was down the hall of where her own quarters were.

"Is something wrong?"

Galilea stopped in her tracks when she heard a voice on the other side of the door. 'Wait, isn't that…?' She turned towards Killian's door and held her tongue, choosing to listen in. 'Is that Killian? Or is it his Bakugan…?'

On the other side, Killian was lying in his uncomfortable bed, bags under his eyes as he was watching his ceiling fan go around in circles at massive speeds, not that he cared. He was silent as Moskeeto asked again.

"Is it our latest mission?" the Bakugan questioned. "If it is, sorry to disturb…or is it your very bad mattress? You're waking up every night and wake up further groggy."

Killian weakly shook his head. "No." he muttered. "Not that. Besides, I can't just ask for a new mattress. That's not something I wanna burden Galilea with."

Galilea's brow furrowed. She continued to listen as she was pinned to the door.

"But isn't she still in charge of you? I'm not sure how this whole affiliation goes for anything, but you care, right? Killian…?" The Bakugan got no answer. "…no…yes…?"

"…Moskeeto." Killian paused. "Do you know what today is?" He knew his Bakugan didn't know, but he opted to explain further as he listened. "Two years." He said. "Two years…since my family has been gone."

Moskeeto floated from his nightstand onto his bed, right on his pillow. Killian turned his head a little and saw Moskeeto staring in inquiry. He turned his whole body, his poor mattress creaking beneath.

"I had a mom…a dad…brother and sister. My sister was older but still lived at home. We all did actually. We were looking at moving cities away from Malzu. My siblings worked, but I still didn't have my own first job yet. Though I still had the better work ethic." He meekly chuckled as he recalled the memories. "We actually settled near Solaris, and I started to find work…"

---

"Killian, are you sure about this?" Killian's mother, a short woman with brown bowl cut hair with fancy clothing, meaning she was rich, looked at her son with a disapproving frown. "You know you can't drive a hovercraft. It seems risky."

"Yeah, I don't think this is gonna work out." Killian's father said. He was a taller man with very short brown hair, almost to where it seemed faded. He had blue eyes, just like Killian. "I mean we're not gonna be living here much longer. Maybe about two years, depending on how marketing goes, but-"

"You guys told me to get a job, didn't you?" Killian countered. He was in tattered blue jeans, with a cream-colored t-shirt with his large glasses on. He seemed visibly upset. "I just turned 18. Phoebe is working overtime as a nurse in Solaris, and Cole just got a job. You guys keep telling me to get off my butt and work, do you not want me to?" he sassed back.

His mother shook his head. "No, we want you to work…it's just that…"

"We don't know if you'll be able to make this work." His father interjected. "Seriously, Killian. This is kind of a rough time for us."

"Oh yeah, and how do you think I feel about this?" he sniped, jabbing at his chest repeatedly. "You guys keep telling me I would be a great worker, right? When we were in Malzu, who mowed the lawn? Who watched the house those lonely knights while you were out of town? Who watched our dog for 9 years before he died, huh?! Don't you think I have a say in this crap? Well?!"

His parents looked at each other in worry over their adult son getting into a small fissy-fit over his lack of standing in society. In a way, he wasn't wrong. At the very least, he deserved to make his own living somehow. They kept telling him since he was 16 to find a job; it'd be hypocritical to back out now. But their problem was their own abode. They moved into it just 3 months ago, and it was only to be secure for their finances since the mother and father worked a lot. They wanted something cozy, lavish, and more important to them – space.

The mother gravely sighed for her son. "Look, it's gonna be tight, but I think they have a job fair in Solaris."

"Really?"

"Yeah, so if we have time when I'm not in the office, we'll go tomorrow and get you signed up. Okay?"

Killian nodded. "Yeah, sounds good."

---

"Killian, can you get the trash?" A slim man with an apron had a clipboard in hand, giving Killian an order. "Galilea's waiting for someone to do it."

Taking a moment to stop bagging the ordered groceries, Killian tied the bag up and presented it to the customer. "Got it!" He rushed off away from the front.

Two weeks in, and he managed to find his own job. That day soon came, and the day the job fair was, was also the day Killian was hired. It was at the local market for food maintenance and cleaning up – essentially the chore boy of the bunch…but the rate Killian was working within two weeks, along with his bright smile and simple nodding, left many enamored with his mild disposition through the ever-changing world around them. And today was no different.

Soon reaching the back of the market in front of a garbage shoot, piles of trash bins were stockpiled and eft out. It was atrocious, but the smell didn't deter Killian. Back there, the manager of the whole market, Galilea, turned and gave Killian a serious look. "You here for the trash?" she called.

"Yeah, sorry for the wait." He walked on over in a hurry, making way closer towards Galilea. This being the first time meeting her in person, he noticed how young she was. She was looking around 25 at the very least, it had to be. Without question or complaint, he picked up the heaviest bag there and began to throw it into the disposable void, which shut almost immediately. He proceeded to the next bag.

"Are you the new hire?" Galilea questioned.

Killian turned towards her as he threw the next bag in, smiling. "Yeah, how ya doing?"

Galilea smiled. "Pretty good. Thanks." It wasn't often she was asked that same question."

Killian kept smiling. "Well…first time for everything." He moved to the next bag, throwing it in like it was a stack of hay. He moved onto the next, and then the next one. The whole time, Galilea watched him work with no slack, like he was proving himself.

"And…there!" He threw the last one in. "That should be it." He turned towards her. "You need anything else?"

Galilea looked serious. "Actually, if you could clean the restroom in the back, that would help a lot."

Killian nodded. "Okay." Without question, he smiled at her once more before going back inside. Galilea watched with a look of her own.

Overtime, however, within the short span of a few months, Killian came back to do trash and more work for her. Trash, restrooms, all the chores that no one is able to do. Galilea made him do it all. As he worked, she caught people slacking off and she scolded them – harshly. She had her own reputation of a strict boss with a hawk's eye. But, to Killian, personally, she was just doing her job, and yet he wasn't scolded…probably because he's kept busy and moving. And his demeanor made Galilea more willing to see him more and more; going as far as call from intercom for him to come to the back to do trash.

With one more trash bag thrown, Killian patted his hands together. "And that should do it." He sighed. "Phew. Okay, back up front."

Galilea intervened. "Killian, excuse me?"

Killian stopped to look at her. "Yeah…?"

Galilea walked towards him, giving him a small grin. "I'm gonna need a word wth you in the office."

Immediately, he paled. 'Is she…?' "Whatever it was, I didn't do it. It was the economy."

Galilea chuckled as she rolled her eyes. "You're silly. No, something else."

"What's that mean…?"

Galilea grinned. "You'll see…"

---

"…A promotion? This early?" Killian's father couldn't believe his ears. "What's that about?!"

"I know, right?!" An excited Killian chirped. "She said the job pays well, and it gives me my own living quarters! I'm finally moving up in the world!"

Killian's mother smiled for her son. "Is this true?"

Killian nodded. "Yeah…it is." He moved ahead and hugged his mother, who returned the hug. "Mom…thanks."

The mother smiled happily. "…my little baby is finally growing up…." She held her hug tighter. "I'm so proud of you…our hard worker."

---

"And that's how you became part of Rogue Zero?" Moskeeto surmised.

Killian nodded. "At the time, Galilea got Riaan's attention by her management. When she recruited me, it meant I had to quit my market job, and that was just a few months in…" his frown went deeper. "So I was near 19 when I was Rogue Zero, but six months later, my parents and family, they moved out to the open just like they wanted. I kept telling them it wasn't a good idea, but Dad wanted space and privacy…and that's when two months later…" he fell silent, pinching the bridge of his nose I angst.

"…what is it?" Moskeeto asked. He feared he may not like the answer.

"…the Devil Miasma got them."

Moskeeto fell silent at that moment. On the other side, Galilea backed away with surprise.

"I told them it was stupid. I told them, over and over, that moving sucks. Just once is enough...but they went and did it anyway for space…god." He turned over in his bed, hiding his pained face from his Bakugan. "My Mom. My Dad. My brother. Sister…all gone. If it wasn't for Galilea…I'd probably be with them…" He clutched his pillow tighter. "…and today is their 2 years gone…" he strained to hold back misty tears.

Moskeeto grew unpleasantly quiet for his mourning. He wished to feel empathetic, but he didn't know how. All he could do was see his partner in pain in more ways than just the lack of sleep. "…I'm…I'm so sorry." He said.

"Don't be." He sat up, using a thumb to wipe away a stray tear from his eye. "If it wasn't for Galilea, I wouldn't be here. I was just plain lucky. Sure, maybe people didn't like her…but she wasn't mean to me. And I appreciate that. So the least I can do is do anything she asks me…I owe her my life after all. Besides, I'd rather not have my sleep problems stress her out."

Moskeeto nodded in understanding. "…you're a good person, Killian."

On the other side of the door, Galilea backed away, hearing everything about Killian. She couldn't help but feel touched by his words. Rather than give him work, she chose to turn back around, looking down in question of what to do. But through it all, hearing how he appreciated her, she felt…happy.

---

The town of Truro. While it wasn't the biggest city out there, it was in fact still very large. With commodities like churches, museums, and everything that made it admittedly a very nice place. Even within the city confines, there was also a small Bakugan arena.

Luke looked around, a bit tranced by everything he was seeing. "W-whoa…not bad…"

"Yeah. Not too shabby." Abis admitted. "In fact, it looks better than our town, right, Luke?"

"It certainly does have a lively feel to it." Esther noted, but then she drew back towards the subject. "But remember why we're here. We need to find medicine for Miss Rebecca."

"Right!" they exclaimed in unison.

"So which way, Maggie?" Atchibee questioned.

Maggie looked around, trying to find the way to a nearby medical facility. In worry, she knew time was short. She hastily looked at the signs. "Uh…uhhh…." She pointed at notable sign. "That way!"

"Are you sure?" Jelldon asked.

"No doubt! My Mom and me always go in this direction. It passes the pharmacy and other facilities. It has to be!"

"Then, let's go!" Esther and the others followed Maggie and Jelldon as they hurried along with their journey for scuttling for medicine. Little did they know, that direction also lead them to the Bakugan arena, where inside of it advertisement was everywhere.

And also, behind them, someone was casually walking in the same direction. He was hunched over and carrying a sac while others stared at him, like they knew him. Much to his chagrin, he could hear some meek whispers.

"Hey, isn't that guy…?"

"Yeah, I think it is…"

"What is he doing here? Wait, is he…?"

The unknown individual scoffed as he craned his head away. He continued his path onwards, giving no abominable care.

---

"Is this the place?" Luke looked up at the small clinic. It wasn't big, but inside the windows he could see rows of medicinal needs with people and otherwise doctors in the works. They all looked extremely busy as customers and patients were lined up. "Man, there's a lot of people here…"

"Certainly makes it hard for us to get service then." Atchibee surmised.

Esther nodded. "Yes. But we can't be too sure. Remember what's at stake. We need to get a medic and prescriptions, and fast."

Abis raised his head. "That's good, but how do we do that? Hmmm…?"

Maggie was looking in the window as well, but then she gasped in realization.

"What is it, Maggie?" Jelldon asked.

She turned around. "Guys, I just realized something!" She pointed away. "Look!"

"What?" Esther and the others looked to where she was pointing at. To their surprise, they saw that her attention lied in the stadium just down the road. Cars and parking lots were looking to be piling up as many were seeing fans inside the arena cheering as battles raged on.

"The battle arena?" Luke questioned. "What about it?"

Esther suddenly gasped, as if she knew the answer. She turned towards Maggie. "Wait, are you thinking…?"

Maggie nodded. "Mhm! If I can enter today and sign up for the silver cup, then I can probably win…" she smiled. "And then come home to at least 500!"

Atchibee grinned. "Hey, that's an innovative solution."

"Yup!" she chirped.

Luke tilted his head away. "Mmm, the silver cup…? Aren't those weekly or daily tournaments that I always see on TV?" he faced Maggie. "If we're going to do that, then shouldn't we try and enter altogether? That way, our chances will be better?"

"Heh! Don't flatter yourself!"

Above everyone, a single question mark sprouted. The unknown voice came from nearby, getting them to turn around. There, they saw a kid with a punk-like disposition.

Luke raised a brow. "What the…?"

The kid put his hands into his pocket and gave a grim look. "What's with that look? You look like you've just seen a ghost." He mocked. "Chill, I'm real, so quit staring at me like that. It's annoying already!"

Abis Omega glared. The kid they were talking to seemed oddly familiar. 'Wait, this guy. Isn't he…?'

Esther's eyes widened in recognition. "Wait, one second!"

"What is it, girly?" he mocked.

Her disposition hardened. "Are you perhaps…Logan Maverick?" When she asked that question, those around her seemed to have gasped in realization.

The renown Pyrus battler raised his neck and chin like he was a king. "Yeah? So what?" he squinted. "I don't do autographs. So what? You're wasting my time."

"Just what are you doing here?" Esther continued to question.

He looked even more annoyed than before. "What the hell…?" he sniped. "What's it to ya? I'm here to win the Gold Cup this week, simple as that."

"The Gold Cup?" Luke questioned. "But isn't that once a month from what I've heard?"

Logan shot him his own annoyed look. His bloodthirsty look put Luke on his guard. "Listen, punks. If you're thinking of entering that tournament, don't bother." He balled a fist and held it up. "As far as I'm concerned, I'm gonna be the next Number One, so better stay put if you know what's good for ya."

"W-what-?!" A flustered Luke snapped.

Logan smirked mockingly. "You heard me kid." He looked away nonchalantly and smirked. "I've dealt with enough wannabes who tried their luck against me, and I still showed them what happens. I know what I'm doing, unlike most battlers out there."

A bead of sweat ran down Atchibee's face. "Well…he seems to place himself on high standards." She whispered to Esther.

"Yeah…"

However offensive and arrogant he was, someone too urgent to care stepped up, getting him to glance at them. "Listen, you!" Maggie sniped.

"Huh?" the kid looked down at her.

"I'm in the middle of something important, and I need the money. I don't care what cup it is or how I get it. I need that prize money to help my Mom. And you being a big meanie about it isn't helping!"

"Maggie…!" Jelldon nervously reached out, but it was too late. Logan's fingers were already twitching with veins showing.

"Is that so you little squirt?" he raised his head, giving a dark glare provided by his bangs. "You've got a lot of nerve speaking to someone not your own size." He bent down, glaring with a tick mark on his head. "You've gotta be kidding if you think a twerp like you knows how to play big leagues with us pros."

Maggie shrugged nonchalantly. "Coming from someone whose ego is so big that his mouth is too big for his own brain to keep up."

"What was that?!" he fumed in rage.

Those around were stopping as the scene was getting out of hand. Luke and Esther were all staring in shock was Maggie was standing up against the ego-induced wannabe.

"You heard me, buddy. You can act all big and scary in front of a little girl, but I've been through tougher looking guys whose grandmas had more fuss to buck up themselves. I've been scared by pretty creepy stuff before…but if all you're doing is threatening me, then I'm entering, and I'll see you in there as we-"

BAM!

All eyes widened as a harsh shove slammed Maggie onto her bottom. The girl back on her back with a squeal as her friends flinched.

"MAGGIE!" Jelldon shrieked. Luke rushed to help Maggie as she tried to get up from her shock. Esther immediately intervened and stoof out towards Logan's face, which had a grim shadow as he was slouched forward like a zombie. The patrons and people alike around were gathered as they felt bad and disgusted by the scene.

"…okay you twerp, that does it." Logan growled.

Luke helped Maggie up as they looked at Logan. The girl coughed some before she widened her eyes, her face red with small tears from the shock. Jelldon looked equally as mortified.

"You wanna win that bad for some petty cash? Fine. I'll make ya a deal." He lifted his head, giving an intimidating snarl as he pointed a thumb to himself. "We fight. My sponsors will supervise the arena. If you win, I'll pay for whatever the heck your mother needs." His teeth gritted. "But if I win…I get your Bakugan, to make it as mine's own punching bag!"

"What the hell?!" Luke snapped.

"Yeah, that's out of line!" Abis Omega sniped. "That isn't a fair deal!"

Logan leered at them. "Stay out of this!" He looked back at Maggie. "So kid, you wanna chicken out?"

"Maggie…" Jelldon faced his partner in worry.

Maggie struggled to her feet, but thanks to Luke and eventually Esther supporting her, she shook her head and glared up at the bully. She saw that he was challenged, but some little girl who had her own big mouth. But she knew after what she went through that she can sport herself now. She thought back to her mother, who could be dying as they spoke.

"Maybe not…but what I do know, is that a life is on the line…and it's better to try something than nothing at all. So if it means so much to Maggie, then I'll fork whatever I have to."

That line Luke spoke made her realize too much was at stake. If she wanted to save the Earth and her mother, she was gonna have to give him a taste of his own medicine. "…accepted!"

"Maggie!" Esther gasped.

Logan smirked. "Heh, then it's settled. You're gonna regret this, kid. I'll show you why I'm the rising Number One."

Maggie gave her own challenged glare. "Well too bad, hothead. All I see is Number None!"

Another tick mark flared on his head as he shuddered. He had to restrain from any outbursts. "Okay…YOU'RE ON!" He turned and began walking into the ground. He shot them growls and leers as he passed them, warning them not to get in his way.

Maggie stared at him coldly as her friends joined up with her, looking shocked.

"Maggie…" Luke muttered solemnly.

"Do you have any idea on what you have just done?" Atchibee exclaimed. "You just bet Jelldon without thinking!"

Jelldon shuddered. "Doooii…I don't wanna be a punching bag…" he whimpered.

Maggie shot him a look. "Then we won't lose, Jelldon." She said confidently. "We've been through worse, before, right?"

"Y-yeah…?"

She then smiled, this time cheery. "Then let's show him what real experience means. You'll put some real shock into that bully, I just know it."

While they were all worried, something caught Esther's nose. She turned towards Luke. "Luke?"

"Yeah, Esther?" he asked.

"Have you…been smelling something sweet the entire time?"

"Huh?" He sniffed the air, noticing something odd. "Huh? Now that you mention it, it's smells…like sugar." He looked towards Abis Omega, who smelled vaguely sweet. "Abis…?"

Both Abis Omega and Jelldon both sweat-dropped. Both said nothing as Atchibee had a bigger sweat drop. 'Good grief.'

---

Shawn walked through the open door, carrying in a fresh metal tray of soup for Rebecca. "Sorry if I took so long. It took me a while to get the stove started." He apologized.

Rebecca coughed as she laid in bed. She smiled at Shawn. "Thank you, young man." She had the metal tray placed in front of her. On it was nice hot soup, with creamy noodles inside, and on the sides looked like bread for dipping with apple slices. She sighed solemnly. 'You make it look better than what I do."

Shawn nervously chuckled. "C'mon, don't be like that." He answered. "Just try and eat it, okay? Better to regain what strength you can until the others get back."

Rebecca lowered her head. "You're too kind…to think my little Maggie has friends like you looking out for her." She sighed. "I'm glad."

Shawn meekly smiled back. "Honestly, we're the lucky ones. Maggie's upbeat really gave us a little thrill through our time together. She's more support and help than you realize, Miss Deering."

"Guys? Are you seeing this?" Verias called.

Shawn turned towards him. "What is it, Verias?"

"You guys might wanna see this."

With the small TV still on from Rebecca browsing, they all looked and saw the news. They saw the channel for the battle arena, and they saw what looked like two people opposing one another on two massive platforms high up in a stadium. When they saw a girl in a pink dress, immediately both gasped.

"I-is that…Maggie?" Shawn gasped.

The spoon in Rebecca's hand shakily fell out. It plummeted into the soup, her shock overwhelming her. "…what…what is my baby doing…?"

Shawn's eyes narrowed. "I don't know…" he answered. He fell silent as he started watching.

"Maggie…"

---

The crowds gathered roared as they watched the two competitors stepped onto their podiums. Both platforms were well above the ground. They glared daggers at one another as Esther and Luke were within the crowd, giving their friend worried looks, but tried to remain confident all the same.

"Esther…" Luke started.

"Yes, Luke?"

"…do you think it was wide of us to not stop her? I mean, a lot's at stake."

Esther blinked, giving a pause before she answered. "That's not easy to say. Personally, I think this is a hardy gamble…but this is something I think Maggie has to do for herself." She glanced at Luke. "She has to prove to everyone she's not some kid…like how you proved yourself."

Luke sheepishly rubbed his head. "Yeah, guess you're right…" he looked back ahead and glared. "Then, we'll just have to support her all the way."

"Right."

On the battlefield, the announcer in the booth started the openings. "This quite a show we have today, ladies and gentlemen. It seems we have a special exhibition match wagered between all these rounds today. For this sudden sign up, we have the rising star with a feeding frenzy as vicious as his tongue, Logan Maverick! And his opponent, with spunk of her own to be standing up in those glossy heels, Maggie Deering!"

Logan shot Maggie a bloodthirsty leer. "This is seriously your last chance, squirt. You really wanna bet it all?"

"I wouldn't be standing up then if I wasn't now, would I?" Maggie challenged.

Logan's fangs showed. "This is gonna be a hoot."

"Bakugan field, open!" the announcer exclaimed as the battlefield they were on began to ripple. As the ripples faded, it revealed their life gauges.

Logan: 100% Maggie: 100%

Immediately, Logan went first. "Gate Card, set!" he threw the card first. It landed and faded in a red shockwave across the ground, which meant it was set. With a stout snort, he whipped his arm back and threw. "Bakugan, brawl! Pyrus Ziperator, stand!"

Rising in a swift red blur, the ground was met with a pressure that made Maggie cover up. In speeds even she couldn't keep up with, she was nearly knocked over when the wave ceased. "Aw man, what the heck was…?!" She looked up towards the sky, gasping in shock.

Logan sneered, as the Bakugan he had before was present. Pyrus Ziperator floated in place while glowering down, arms folded like he was staring down a meek little insect. Already man fans were whistling.

"O-oh boy…" Maggie muttered. She swallowed a lump as she felt an estrange pressure coming from it. "This guy's looking strong."

"Y-yeah." Jelldon muttered. "Perhaps maybe they'll take it easy on us? Maybe…?"

Despite her initial shock, Maggie realized the stakes and shook her head away of negativity. "But we're not here to show mercy either! Jelldon, let's give it our best shot, okay?"

"Roger that!"

"Okay! You're on, bub! Bakugan…brawl! Pyrus Jelldon, stand!" Maggie threw Jelldon, who came out in a gurgling howl with squiggling tendrils.

Ziperator: 800 Jelldon: 350

Logan began to laugh. "C'mon, is this even a joke?! It's not even funny! Whose power level is that low anymore, huh?!"

Maggie's brow furrowed. "Don't count Jelldon out yet, pal! Jelldon's got more spunk in him than you!"

"Grrrr! Let's do this!" Jelldon tried to charge electricity into his four limbs, giving a low hum to try and wear down Ziperator, but the Bakugan countered with his own harsh hiss, this one making Jelldon flinch.

"Heh, please. That thing's weak, and I'll prove it." He held up his Bakumeter, showing an ability. "I'll show you what it takes to be Number One! Ability activate, Chain Whip!" Ziperator's fingers folded on its right arm and created a long, red whiplash. It lashed its arm at Jelldon, lashing like a whip in front. It made the ground spark upon contact, making him recoil.

Ziperator: 800 Jelldon: 350 (-200) = 150

Ziperator retracted the whip and immediately lashed again. However, Maggie wasn't gonna take it lying down. "Jelldon. Let's go! Ability activate, Jolt Eraser!" The frills around Jelldon's midsection began to glow as a loud um vibrated. As he tensed up, he squinted, but very much roared out as red electric bolts discharged everywhere, zapping the whip and traveling up towards Ziperator, enveloping it in a small burst of smoke in midair.

Jelldon eased up, and Maggie smiled. "Yes, we got him!"

Logan smirked. "Think again."

"Huh…?" Maggie waited, and to her shock, the smoke cleared, revealing Ziperator a little closer to the ground than before. It gave an annoyed scowl down at Jelldon and Maggie, both startled at the outcome.

Ziperator: 800 (-200) = 600 Jelldon: 150 (+200 +200) = 550

"Not bad for a start, I'll say that." Logan remarked. "But now you just made us mad!"

Jelldon's eyes widened. "Oh crud!"

"Ability, activate! Swap Ton!" Ziperator let out a howl as its wings straightened out, expelling pressurized gusts that went at Jelldon full on without warning. In waning shock, Jelldon braced for the winds heading his way, trying to keep a brave face.

Ziperator: 600 (+300) = 900 Jelldon: 550 (-300) = 250

As the winds drew closer, Jelldon looked back at Maggie as she nodded. In turn, he nodded and looked back ahead. "Ability activate, Gel Shield" Jelldon held his arms out and let out a shout as a liquidy red energy forcefield sprouted. The winds all but blasted into it, saving Jelldon and bringing their power levels back to 600 and 550. Maggie then reached out. "Show them your stuff, Jelldon!"

"You got it!" As the winds dilated down, the veil vanished, and reacting on instinct from battling so hard in the past, Jelldon struck a tendril out and yanked at Ziperator's leg. With what strength he could, he grunted and charged static in and numbed the leg, making Ziperator twitch. The crowd cheered for that attack. "How's that?"

Logan smirked. "Heh, you wanna pull legs, we can do just that." He pointed at the sky. "Ziperator, go up!"

"Wait, wha~AAAAH!" Finding himself unable to keep anchor, Jelldon found himself hanging on for dear life as Ziperator shot towards the sky with no effort. He climbed higher and higher, and Jelldon clung on like his life depended on it.

Maggie gasped. The others watched in shock. "Man, look at that guy go!" Luke snapped. "He's like a missile!"

Esther nodded. "Yes. And unfortunately, it looks like Jelldon's hanging on frantically…"

"GAAHAHAHA~! Someone put the brakes on this guy~!" Jelldon cried as he went higher.

High in the air, and the opposing Jelldon screaming like a sissy girl, Logan made his next move. "Ability, activate! Ninja Booster!" Ziperator kept climbing, and its body suddenly glowed bright red. It beamed out of Jelldon's hold, leaving him suspended in midair.

"…huh?"

In a suddenly flurry, a red zigzag beamed everywhere, slamming into Jelldon at one point, ricocheting him skywards. A red line went across, sending him back down. Another suddenly bounced him back around, a shock of pain running through every bit of his jelly body.

Ziperator: 600 (+300) = 900 Jelldon: 550

"JELLDON!" Maggie cried.

Logan shot her a scowl. "See what I mean? My own personal punching bag. You're Bakugan isn't so tough in the air, is he?"

Maggie snarked a growl and looked back up. "Don't count us out just yet. Ability activate, Power Sting!"

As Jelldon was in the air, he barely caught glimpses of a red line zigzagging so far away until it darted towards him, reveling Ziperator. His composure returning, his tendrils all had intense red electricity charged and Ziperator crashed in again, only for Jelldon to cling this time and discharge voltage into Ziperator as he held on.

"Alright!" Luke cheered.

Ziperator: 900 (-200) = 700 Jelldon: 550 (+200) = 750

Jelldon held on as Ziperator flung itself through the air, spontaneously collapsing as red static paralyzed it. "Graaah! HRAH!" Jelldon brought Ziperator down due to his massive weight, sending him crashing and sliding across the battle arena. Jelldon bounced right off and glared ahead as the dust trail, a confident look on his face.

"Yeah, bull's eye!" Maggie chimed.

Logan gave a harsh snort. "Tch. Gate Card, open! Forcement Wind!" The Gate Card glowed, revealing itself as an updraft caught Jelldon by surprise. He felt little balance as the dust around Ziperator vanished, making it slowly rise with a hiss.

Ziperator: 700 (+200) = 900 Jelldon: 750

"What the…?" Maggie trailed off. She and Jelldon were baffled by this rise in power.

"Guess no one's kept you up, huh? Forcement Wind makes Ziperator's power level rise by 100 Gs times the number of the same attributed Bakugan." His eyes sharpened. "So sucks for you."

Ziperator let out a scowl as the winds around it subsided. It let out an intimidating howl that actually made a small pressure wave that made Jelldon cover up. Maggie again gasped in shock.

"Now let's screw this brat over! Ability activate, Duke Gear!" A glossy red beam shot from Ziperator's front pattern, beaming and striking the ground in front of Jelldon, exploding red energy swallowing him and his squeals.

Ziperator: 900 (+300) = 1200 Jelldon: 750

As the smoke cleared, Jelldon was seen falling backwards, morphing to ball form and landed in front of a startled Maggie, her life gauge dropping drastically to 10%. The crowd cheered for Logan as he snorted with no words.

"Oh, and the little fighter was brought down! Logan Maverick, once again, showed us why he's top-ranked!" the announcer roared. "Will Maggie make a comeback?"

"What an embarrassment that was." Logan snuffed. "That seriously it? That thing is worthless."

Jelldon groaned in sadness, but Maggie immediately picked him up. "Hey you, don't you dare talk about my jelly-welly like that!"

"Maggie?" he gasped.

She faced Jelldon. "Jelldon, are you okay?"

He nodded. "Yeah, I'm okay. But…I'm sorry. He was so strong back there…" He began to feel bad for his lack of power, but to his encouragement Maggie tilted her head and gave a motherly pout.

"Now Jelldon, what have we talked about?" she wagged her finger. "No moping on the job, kapeesh?"

"But…he…"

"Is strong. Yeah, I know…" She shot a look at Logan, waiting for her next move. She looked back at Jelldon. "But you know what, it doesn't matter. What matters is that you try your best. And if that's not good enough, then we'll try harder." She smiled. "Because we won't let the other frown or we won't be happy in the end, right?"

"Maggie…" touched by her spirited words, the jellyfish Bakugan felt his confidence rise again. He nodded. "Yeah! Okay! We'll do better this time, I promise!"

"That's what I wanna hear! Let's channel some of that sting you had against Rogue Zero. And I think I know just how to do it." She winked. "So, Jelldon. Ya trust little ole me to beat that 800 Gs meanie?"

"It sounds rough…but okay! Let's give it another try…yeah."

"Thatta boy! Gate Card, set!" She threw her own card out next, facing Logan. "Ready bigshot? Bakugan, Brawl! Bakugan, stand!" Once more, Jelldon arose, his body squirming tendrils.

Logan held out Ziperator. "Bakugan, brawl! Ziperator, stand!" Ziperator arose high again, howling down.

Ziperator: 800 Jelldon: 350

"I'm through pulling punches on ya…ability activate, Tetra Blaster!" Logan commanded. Ziperator's chest area where his ability unleashed shot brighter red beam, this time with more range and power down at Jelldon.

Jelldon held his ground as Maggie provided a counter. "Alright pal, we can play hard ball! Double ability, activate! Gel Shield, plus Shockwave!"

Logan raised a brow. "What? Double?"

Jelldon raised his tentacles as they began to spark red electricity. Once ready and the beam closed in, the jellyfish used all his might and let out a shrieking battle cry as he slammed the four limbs against the earth. The watery red veil expanded from his body with the electrical shockwave, expanding its radius and dissipating the energy blast. The shockwaves and shield passed Ziperator, enveloping it in static and making it shriek and lower its altitude.

Ziperator: 800 (-200) = 600 Jelldon: 350

"Yeah, go Maggie!" Luke cheered.

"She used Jelldon's shield for offense." Esther evaluated. "That defense is very heavy…it was a good call."

Jelldon watched as Ziperator lowered towards the ground, where it shook off the sparks on its body and glared with Logan. "So you think a little trick like that will be enough?" he sniped. "Think again! How's about I show you why! Ability, activate! Chain Whip!" Ziperator's arm morphed again into a red energy whip that he lashed into Jelldon.

WHAM!

"Gaow!" Jelldon's body flinched as the whip lashed against the shield. Due to his ability, he only lost 100 Gs, bringing him down to 250. Ziperator lashed again, hurting Jelldon more through the liquid veil. He kept swinging, trying to wear down the struggling jellyfish.

"Jelldon, hang in there!" Maggie encouraged.

"Don't bother." Logan sniped, startling Maggie. "I told ya before not to get in my way, squirt, so here's a lesson for ya: Don't pick a fight that you can't win!"

Ziperator lashed again, and Jelldon's already soft body rippled from shock. He tried staying strong just like Maggie said, but as each lash was straining him incredulously, he started to think back.

"Then we won't lose, Jelldon. We've been through worse, before, right?"

'She's right. We have been through worse, right?' Jelldon's face stung again from another whiplash. He persevered. 'Just gotta…hang in there just a little more…' He held his own as another lash smacked him. And another. And when Ziperator brought its arm back again, both he and Maggie saw the opening.

'There!' they thought.

Immediately Maggie attacked. "Ability activate, Power Sting!" Jelldon's tendrils all enveloped in red electricity as he swung one of them, sweeping right into Ziperator's ankle. The harsh collision with electricity rendered it off balance and smashed into the battlefield, making smoke rise.

"What?!" Logan's glare squinted.

Ziperator: 600 (-200) = 400 Jelldon: 250 (+200) = 450

Ziperator grunted through the dust, getting up, only for Jelldon to whip another tentacle in the face, sending it back into the ground with dust rising. The crowd cheered yet again by her comeback. Maggie smiled. "Don't count us out just yet!" she yelled. "We're just getting started, too!"

Logan, however, was not pleased with all this. His eyes narrowed in disgust while he glared at her. "What does a witless nobody like you…know about power?" he seethed through his teeth.

"Hm?" Maggie hummed oddly.

"What do you know about gaining power, huh?! I have no reason to lose! Because losing isn't an option at all, do you hear me?!" Logan flashed back to when he was still a few years younger, when he was seeing Dan and Gunz in their final fight. He was on pins and needles, but he had a big smile when he saw Drago was still standing while Reptak was down. "To be Number One, means that no matter what kind of fight, I'll have to win! NO MATTER THE COST!"

Maggie gasped at her own shock she felt. "Wait, are you serious?"

"Just shut up and watch me, brat! Ability activate, Duke Gear!" As dust settled around Ziperator, a intense glossy beam suddenly shot up. Jelldon looked up as the remaining dust dissipated as Ziperator was back on its feet, glaring seething daggers at Jelldon as its power jumped to 700.

"Somebody's really got a short fuse for their pride." Maggie nervously huffed.

"I'll show you what it means to be Number One! This is for questioning my will! Ability activate, Omni Pulse!" Ziperator brought its hands together and jutted forward, expelling an expanding red pulse wave at Jelldon. It shook the ground beneath as it roared in.

Ziperator: 700 (+400) = 1100 Jelldon: 450

As the beam closed in, the others in the stands were gasping in shock. "Maggie! Jelldon!" Atchibee warned. If that blast wave hit, it could be dangerously bad.

However, Maggie smirked. "…too easy."

"What?"

"Alright Jelldon, Gate Card open! Ventus Battle Audience!" The Gate Card opened, revealing itself. Suddenly green clouds arose from down under. As the attack raced, Jelldon's coating began to take a Ventus pattern, which was bright green, with a more jungle green along where yellow would be. The eyes also became purple. He suddenly faded, leaving the attack to dissipate. Logan gasped.

'He vanished?!'

Ziperator: 1100 (-400 -500) = 200 Jelldon: 450

"Ventus Battle Audience is a command card that changes the battle environment to any attribute I said. It also changes my Bakugan on my side to that attribute, and any who aren't have their abilities nullified and lose 500 Gs."

Logan raised a brow. "That so? Not bad." He smirked. "But I'll smoke you out. Ability activate, Omni Pulse!" Ziperator turned and discharged yet another pulse wave around. It tried to smoke him out.

Ziperator: 200 (+400) = 600 Jelldon: 450

The green energy pulse fired into the ground, trying to get Jelldon, or show an explosion, but nothing was coming up. 'The hell is that thing…?!' For a moment, he saw a green tentacle beneath the clouds where Ziperator was. "Underneath you!"

Ziperator looked down, but it was too late. Jelldon got two tendrils laced to the feet as Maggie called it. "Double ability, activate! Correlation of Pyrus to Ventus, plus Sting Ray!" Jelldon held on as green static discharged, while a cyclone of wind expelled from around him, swallowing Ziperator. The whirling winds shredded into it as green static paralyzed it again, howling in angst.

Ziperator: 600 Jelldon: 450 (+300 +200) = 950

The wall of swirling winds suffocated the Bakugan as they constricted it, until finally having his fill, Jelldon let go, sending Ziperator into a whirling mess spinning skywards until it was spit out of the tornado's top, sundering into the ground. With that crash onto its back, it went to ball form, shooting back to Logan's feet as he seemed shock by his life gauge dropping to 30%.

"But…how did she…?"

The winds faded, and Jelldon glowed red and went to ball form back to Maggie's hand. "Ha! That's how you learn to play in big league's right?"

As the crowd cheered in praise, the group was surprised by her comeback. "Woah…" Luke awed. "Maggie turned that around."

"I never thought a card like that could be used so handedly." Esther admitted. "She used her opponent's Pyrus attribute and used that against them. Impressive."

"Yeah…" Luke's frown grew serious. "But it looks like this next one decides it."

As the audience's adrenaline was in the background, Logan had bangs covering his eyes as he picked up Ziperator. He remained quiet, but his composition inside was starting to break apart. 'How'd that squirt know how to counter me? She can't be that good.' He saw her praise her Jelldon. 'No way…her conviction's…' He thought back to her when they met.

"I don't care what cup it is or how I get it. I need that prize money to help my Mom. And you being a big meanie about it isn't helping!"

'No way…that's ridiculous! Some petty poor kid…' He looked up, his eyes full of rage. "…isn't gonna STOP MY DREAMS~!" his roar startled Maggie and Jelldon as he pulled out a Gate Card. "You wanna win that badly, then fine! I dare ya to try! Gate Card, set!" He threw the Gate Card, sending a red shockwave all around. "Okay, squirt, this time I'm kicking that jellyfish and you down! Bakugan, brawl! Bakugan, stand!" Ziperator arose again, ready for battle.

"Here we go, one more time Jelldon! Bakugan, brawl!" Maggie threw Jelldon in, He roared as he arose.

Ziperator: 800 Jelldon: 350

Immediately Logan went for the attack. "Try and keep up, shorty! Ability activate, Ninja Boost!" His Ziperator was enveloped in a red glow and began to zigzag again through the air, leaving Maggie and Jelldon startled at its speed.

Ziperator: 800 (+300) = 1100 Jelldon: 350

Maggie inserted another ability of her own. 'He can't beat what he can't hit.' "Ability activate, Jolt Eraser!" Jelldon's frilly midsection began to charge up again, and by no means was he giving in.

"Gnnngh! COME GET SOME!" He discharged electricity again, zapping the air around him in a flashy manner. Ziperator hurriedly close the gap on Jelldon, but when it drew close, it stopped when it got too close. It veered higher to evade any electric charge.

Ziperator: 1100 (-300 -200) = 600 Jelldon: 350 (+200) = 550

"You think hiding away will get you the win?! I'll smoke you out for good!" He showed another ability, which was on his arm as he faced Maggie angrily. "Blast that pudding sack to splattered pieces! Ability activate, Tetra Blaster!" As if responding to the young man's plight, Ziperator let out a shriek and expelled a streamlined bright red energy blast down towards Jelldon.

Ziperator: 600 Jelldon: 550 (-400) = 150

Maggie pulled up her Bakumeter. "Ability activate, Gel Shield!" Jelldon did just that and quickly made his red liquid shield around his body, nullifying his ability.

"That won't save you…" Logan scowled. "NOT FROM ME!" Proving his point, Ziperator's blast made impact, making a powerful energy rattle the shield to where it made Jelldon beneath grunt as he tried to hold it together. The strain his gelatinous body felt was incredulous to where it felt like he was being ripped apart indirectly.

"Jelldon, hang in there!" Maggie encouraged.

"Oh no you don't!" Logan pointed forward. "Ziperator, more power!"

The Pyrus Bakugan made its range and excessive force accelerate. Its blazing attack made the shield ripple and bubble harder, and Jelldon was screaming inside as he was using every muscle to keep the attack at bay. But it proved futile as his shield shrunk, and the range of the attack exceeded out and around the shield.

Parts of the field were shaken up as they were hit. The magnitude of Logan's rage was getting out of hand as many saw his power going out of line as beams spritzed about. Maggie looked around as beams flew everywhere, even over her head.

Luke gasped. "MAGGIE! LOOK OUT!"

"Huh-?!" A rogue beam nearly strayed into her, her eyes reflecting the attack incoming before it all turned white.

BOOM!

"MAGGIE!" Luke yelled in great fear. Esther yelped in civic fright, while Abis Omega and Atchibee stared in horror.

The blasting attack subsided, and Jelldon finally let up, slumping down. As he heard smoke and crumbling behind, his exhaustion turned to shock as he saw smoke where Maggie once was. With a horrified gasp, he saw the smoke clear, revealing Maggie having been knocked onto her back, the stand she was on fractured. She was in one piece, but the indirect waves left her dress a mess, and there were injuries on her legs as she shakily tried to stand again.

"M-Maggie…?" Jelldon was in stiff shock as he saw Maggie having tears in her eyes, fighting through the scrapes she received because of his failure. Then then heard laughter, causing him to turn towards Logan.

"Yeah, that's right you twerp! You and that jellyfish are nothing but weaklings! You're weak! You all are!" he snapped so loud and so harshly as his left eye twitched. "You got that?! Got that message?! If you did, then stand up so I can show you again! NUMBER ONE IS ME, NO QUESTION!"

There were mixed feels about the battle right now. Many were awing, but mostly some were scared. Frightened even. Some scattered boos were about for Logan, but Maggie's friends were quiet with horror. But perhaps the most horrified was Jelldon. He saw his partner get hurt, and she was fighting through the pain. He looked back at her, seeing her try and hold her leg as dirt and scrapes covered the tattered sock. He looked back at Logan, who was laughing arrogantly for power. That laughter just echoed, signaling the ridicule, the degrading things, and painful events that Maggie suffered…and here he was, shaking like a puppy scared for his life.

"Then let's show him what real experience means. You'll put some real shock into that bully, I just know it."

Those words Maggie spoke to Jelldon earlier – the same ones by the cheery, happy, smiling girl – rung like a bell as he stared back at his partner. This wasn't the same Maggie who encouraged him all their time together. The little girl, so bright to his timidness…and she was in pain, and tears.

And that's when something went wrong. The startled shuddering Jelldon had didn't stop like others would…instead, this was shuddering of something he never felt before; something that was coming up for the first time. "Grrrrrr…!" He slowly looked back ahead and glared at Ziperator, small sparks of electricity getting around his whole body as his eyes dilated uncontrollably. "GrraaaAAHHHHH!"

Jelldon was angry.

Logan smirked. "C'mon…let's finish this."

Jelldon raised his four arms and began to bounce in place, a seething fire emitting from his dilates glare.

"Ability, activate! Chain Whip!"

Once again, Ziperator unleashed another red energy whip. It lashed at Jelldon, but this time, with red static enveloping his arms, Jelldon fought back, lashing one lash away. Ziperator went again, and Jelldon swatted with the second arm. A third time, and Jelldon whipped both arms up, deflecting it skywards with a shrieking cry.

Getting back up, Maggie looked forward to find Jelldon fighting back. "Jelldon…?"

"HRAH!" Finding an opening from afar, Jelldon jutted an arm forward, sending a Sting Ray at Ziperator's chest. It only made it step back once.

"That's it, Jelldon! C'mon!" Luke cheered.

Jelldon backed off and gave another glare. He bounced continuously as electrical charges coursed and he jutted forward and arm, sending yet another jolt at Ziperator in the same spot, making it scowl annoyingly. Shaking its head, it tried to fly skywards to attack, and Jelldon made one small bounce of his own and slammed his four tendrils into the earth, sending him airborne and grab Ziperator's legs. "HRAAAHHH!" He dragged Ziperator back down, mustering all his might to drive and throw him into the ground head first. The impact made Ziperator bounce once.

"What?" Logan seethed.

Ziperator was still in shock as it tried to get up. It looked back, only for Jelldon to give another bounce and lash his electrical tendril, slugging Ziperator across the face. As he recoiled, the static around his body was boiling to a glowing red aura.

"Jelldon…" Maggie was speechless. She noticed something about Jelldon's power level as it was going from 650 to climbing quickly. 651. 653. 657. 660…It kept climbing, and as that happened, the Bakumeter suddenly expanded a card, one that shined brightly for Maggie to behold.

As Ziperator was staggering around out of disorientation, Jelldon let out a cry as he arose again, this time piledriving with his massive weight onto Ziperator, sundering it yet again. "What the HELL IS THIS?!" Logan sniped.

Maggie understood completely as she saw Jelldon fight on. The red aura surrounding his body continued to flare as red energy charges enveloped and gathered into the four small ovals. A strong heat signature arose as he glared and felt his inner fire heat with the battle. Immediately, Maggie took action. "Jelldon, let's go! Ability, activate…Pyrus Volting!"

"HRRAAAH!" Flailing his arms and squiggling forward, he lurched ahead and the center of his body unleashed a pressurized blast of fire for the first time. It shot into Ziperator, making the Bakugan shriek in greater pain and actually slide back.

Ziperator: 600 Jelldon: 700 (+300) = 1000

Luke's eyes widened. "Wait, that ability…that's Hyper Dragonoid's attack! So then Jelldon…"

Esther's brow furrowed. "Jelldon is channeling his inner fire now. I think this battle's tides are finally changing."

The molten blast of broiling fire made Ziperator howl, but it held on. Behind him, Logan's fists balled as he fought back. "OH YEAH?! THEN TRY THIS, SQUIRT! ABILITY, ACTIVATE! OMNI PULSE!" While trying to hold itself together, Ziperator looked forward and generated a red pulse wave. It let out its own shrilled cry as the pulse wave met the flames. The two attacks made the whole air around them violently shake, both fighting valiantly; though Jelldon was surprisingly hanging in there.

Ziperator: 600 (+400) = 1000 Jelldon: 1000

Both Logan and Maggie were going head-to-head. Fierce rage against one's greater needs. Pride against will. As Maggie was balling her fists, Jelldon was responding by the red static around his body suddenly accelerating. It gave a loud hum as the ovals around his entire body had glossy shines and glossy red electricity surging.

"Wait, is that…?" Logan was seeing Maggie notice her Bakumeter showing yet another new card. She looked even more determined after seeing it, making his eyes dilate as illusionary flames surrounded her. "No way…NOT TO YOOOU~!"

"This is what we think of your stupid pride…" She reached forward with the new card. "Now, Jelldon! Fusion Ability, activate! Plasmatic Discharge!"

Ziperator: 1000 (-300) = 700 Jelldon: 1000 (+300) = 1300

Logan shook his head. "No…NOOO!"

"HAAAA~H!" Jelldon let out the most gruesome, primal cry he had ever given in his life as he brought his four tendrils back, time slowing down as he jutted them all forward, expelling intense red plasma that shot across his pressurized fire and towards the collision. It made a compressed spear at the end that cut clean through the red energy and raced intertwined with the fire. The air rattled violently as Ziperator was too in shock. An intense, volatile red explosion of fire and electricity went everywhere, leaving Logan and the audience all stupefied.

As the explosion began to settle, the intense rage Jelldon felt subsided. He came back to reality, realizing what he did. Much to his shock, the superior Ziperator fell backwards and thudded, unable to move. It morphed to ball form, but instead going to Maggie.

Logan: 0%

Suddenly doing a 180, Jelldon began bouncing up and down in proudness over himself. The audience and everyone shrieked in joy at the surprising upbringing. "IT'S ALL OVER! I DON'T BELIEVE IT!" the announcer roared. "LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE WINNER OF THIS EXCITING MATCH, MAGGIE DEERING!"

"JELLDON, WE WON!" In sheer joy, Maggie jumped off her massive stand, expecting him to catch her. He did, and he held her close before putting her on his head and cheering in the air with his partner. She bent down and hugged his head. "I knew you could do it! I just knew it!"

Logan however was another story. He plundered to his knees and had dilating eyes. His lips made uneven waves as beads of sweat went down his face as he was at a loss as he recounted that sheer fire he saw around the little girl during that last move. It made him feel fear. He couldn't even swallow a lump.

Meanwhile, at home, Shawn balled both fists and smiled. "Yes! They won! I knew they would somehow pull through!"

Rebecca, however, was completely at a loss for words. She was on pins and needles the whole time. She sat in her bed, finally relaxing with tears falling from her face. Seeing her daughter take that battle, and smiling with her jellyfish partner…she realized just how much of a young woman her baby had become. "Maggie." She sniffled. "My dear…you've grown so much…"

---

Outside the stadium, Maggie rendezvoused with Luke and Esther. Both had a lot to say. "Maggie, that was…that was…" Luke scrambled to find his words. "I…"

Maggie chuckled at his stumbling. "Teehee. Did I leave you at a loss, Luke?" she chimed. "Well, can't say I blame you! Hahaha!"

"You certainly sound happy." Esther smiled genuinely. She sighed. "Honestly, you scared me for a moment. Are you sure you're alright?"

Maggie nodded. "Yeah, we're okay. Thanks you guys. We mean it."

Off to the side, Abis Omega, Atchibee, and Jelldon were praising the latter. "Congratulations, Jelldon. You did an excellent job." Atchibee praised.

Jelldon sheepishly giggle. "Thank you."

"Well, I wish I could say mercy to that guy…" Abis said. "…but you did good in giving him his just deserts. You were good."

"Thank you, Abis Omega. Thanks a lot to you both. I couldn't have done this without…or Maggie."

Maggie cooed. "Aww~! My big boy Jelldon's all grown up!" She grabbed him and held him tight. "Thank you for doing the awesomest thing ever, jelly-welly! We were totally amazing!"

"Yeah!"

As they were in their little celebration, a pair of footsteps came forward. Maggie was the first to turn, followed by the others. Standing in front of them was Logan, and he and Maggie locked eyes.

A long silence fell between the two as they waited for their next move. Holding their ground, Maggie and Jelldon remained vigilant and gave Logan a death glare. Logan offered nothing as he lowered his head and advanced. Luke moved in, but Esther blocked him. Both stood back to see what would happen.

Standing feet away, soon to meters, Logan loomed over Maggie like some villain. His pained glare was seething hate-filled daggers into her big brown eyes, but she refused to give in. Expecting him to push her away or yell at her, she tensed up. However, what she expected never came. He reached out, shoving something in front of her.

"Guh!" Staggering some at the small shove, Maggie gasped when she looked down. In her hands, there was a massive stack of rolled up dollars that left her speechless. "Huh?"

"There. Happy? You're paid now, so you can fix up your mom." He seethed.

"Logan-"

"Shut up!" he snapped, causing her to grow silent. He hid his eyes as he looked down at the ground. "I don't know how…but I know this was a fluke somehow, otherwise I wouldn't have been beaten at the end. Lost. And to make matters worse it's to a brat who now has a Ziperator! You got so lucky…" he shuddered. "Just…damnit!" His lips quivered as the others remained quiet. "Better enjoy it while you can…" He lifted his head, showing everyone his gritting teeth and mist around his eyes. "Because this is the one time I will ever show mercy to a squirt like you, got that?!"

"Logan…" Maggie didn't have time to say thanks as the boy walked away with hands in his pockets. His pride took a hurt, but all he did was give a snort before completely walking away. Once he was out of sight, a smile came across her face. "Thank you!" she yelled.

Far away, Logan gritted his teeth, groaning.

Maggie looked back at everyone, showing all the money she had won fair and square. The others smiled knowingly, and they knew what they had to do. "Okay, let's get your Mom fixed up." Luke smiled.

---

Two days passed by relatively quick for Luke and the gang. Luke informed his parents about the situation and they allowed the chopper to wait. Within the two days, and with the money well spent, Maggie stepped out of her small house, seeing her friends standing there.

"Hey, Maggie." Luke greeted. "Is this a bad time?"

Maggie shook her head. "Nope. It's okay. So what is it, guys?"

Esther came forward. "We wanted to check on you and your mother. Is everything okay?"

Maggie gave a chirpy nod. "Mhm! Yeah, Mommy's doing a whole lot better now thanks to those prescriptions the doctors gave to us! We were lucky to have gotten them to diagnose her and get the proper treatments. She's doing just fine now, thanks to all you guys being here for us."

Luke sighed in relief. "That's a relief."

"By the way, Maggie." Atchibee intervened. "Not to divert the subject, but where exactly did you put that Ziperator?"

Maggie shrugged. "Oh, him? Well, since he's mine now, I just gave him to Mommy." She beamed. "Yup, now she doesn't have to be so lonely anymore. Now she can fully defend herself, too."

Shawn grinned. "Well that's being productive with your winnings."

"Yup!"

A strong silence loomed over the group as they took a moment to collect themselves. Luke finally broke it. "So…what are you going to do now? Are you going to…?"

Maggie chirped a smile. "Don't worry about it. I talked with Mommy, and we both thought about it hard…" she frowned in sadness. "But…we think I'll be better with you. She can't support me and her together."

Luke frowned. "I'm sorry."

Maggie tilted her head, raising a brow. "Huh? Why the mopey face, silly?" She caught Luke confused. "If it wasn't for your encouraging, it'd probably be way worse at this point." She shot him a look. "Though I still think you're a little despicable…" Luke sulked. "But I think I can give ya another chance."

Luke perked up. "Thanks, Maggie."

Maggie moved off to the side, the attention drawing towards Rebecca. Unlike before, she seemed to be a little better. A few bags under the eyes, but her complexion seemed a little healthier. "Hello, Miss Deering." Esther greeted. "How are you feeling?"

She smiled. "Thank you for asking…but I'm okay now. Thank you all so much, for everything you've done for us."

"Don't mention it." Luke chimed. "That's what friends are for, right? We're supposed to look after the other…at least that's what I'm trying to master right now."

Rebecca giggled. "Well I think you're doing a good enough job. I'm so glad Maggie's got you all…" her eyes softened. "So please, look after her for me. I don't know how I'll sleep at night knowing my baby girl is off without others."

"Mom…" Maggie said softly.

Esther nodded. "You have our word. She'll be fine with us."

"I'll hold you to that." She turned towards Jelldon. "And to your friend here, please. Look after her for me, okay?"

Jelldon nodded. "Yes ma'am."

The helicopter was beginning to fly into view. Time was running out to say goodbye. Hurriedly, Maggie turned towards her mother and softly smiled. "Mommy…"

"Maggie…" With nothing holding her down, she got to her knees and looked at her daughter in the eye, a proud smile on her face. "I'm so proud of the girl that you've become. I've never seen you so strong…stronger than your own mother."

Maggie's eyes misted. "Mommy…"

"So…so please, make sure you eat right while with them…and make sure that you bathe every day…and make sure you brush your teeth, too. You always forget after you have your sweets." She wiped her tears and sniffled. "And…please, just be careful out there. Please, my sweet Ma-!" She was instantly silenced when Maggie globbed her mother, wrapping her arms and around her neck and leaving her startled.

"…you don't have to worry anymore. Mom…" She whispered softly, a few tears falling from her face. "Because I can take of myself now…thanks to these gullible people. They're really fun once you get to know them. They're why I wanna play with them a little more. What we have…it's the most fun I'm having in my life."

Rebecca and Maggie hugged the other as tears fell from their smiling faces. Everyone present held their tongues and looked towards each other with approval. A hand touched Luke's shoulder, getting him to look at Esther. Another hand touched his other shoulder, revealing Shawn. He, too, wasn't alone. He had them, and that's all he needed, too. He looked at Abis Omega on his shoulder, smiling at his partner.

The helicopter soon landed, meaning it was time. "That's our ride." Shawn said. "We better get going."

"Yes. We should." Esther followed Shawn as they made it towards the chopper. Luke paced behind, but he stopped a few meters and looked back at Maggie and Rebecca.

The mother/daughter duo finally parted, with Rebecca looking at the helicopter in the distance. "This is your ride?"

Maggie nodded. "Yup, looks like it…Luke sure has up hooked up, huh? Lucky."

"You should go now. Can't keep them waiting."

"I will…I love you, Mom. I'll stop by real soon!" With those words, Maggie ran and waved back to her mother one last time before passing Luke. "Hey, slowpoke! Let's get going! I'll beat you to that thing!" she challenged.

Luke seemed offended. "Really? Not with those short legs! You're on!" He followed Maggie towards the chopper, with Rebecca smiling at her daughter's path taken.

The chopper soon took off, leaving a strong wind that made Rebecca hold onto her hair as she watched her daughter go off one more time, only now she knew this was for the best.

---

Riaan remained silent as he was in an empty chamber connected to a massive corridor and balcony set. He had his back turned as he began to ponder. 'Armagedoid has been taking his time over the last couple days. Has he decided to go wild with his powers? No. I would've felt it. He must be circling over Interacia twice to marvel it in some way…' As if on cue, he heard a low roar from outside. "And speaking of the devil…" A shadow eroded from outside onto the balcony carefully. It revealed to be Armagedoid as the Bakugan finally landed. He walked inside, looking down at Riaan's head with wonder. "You sure took your time." Riaan mused. "So, what did you think of this place?"

Armagedoid looked rather intrigued. "It's…very weird, but also…interesting?" he started, but awkwardly trailed off.

"I see…explain. And remember, piece by piece."

"Well…this world, it's constantly changing. I saw land above continuing to fall to land beneath. I have seen this off purple mist in some spots underground that has been consuming life…and yet, more life sprouts." He paused, looking up at the massive vaulted ceiling, having constellations and planets above. "The life from up there falls to here, and when I saw closer, it started to grow. The land is changing…like it's…evolving, right?"

Riaan held his tongue for a moment. "…very good. You've been observing quite well, Armagedoid."

"But…" Armagedoid intervened. "There's something I wanted to know."

Riaan looked back, facing his Bakugan, intrigued. "Oh? Do ask. Exactly what has been on your mind."

Armagedoid struggled to ask, but he opted due to Riaan's willing demeanor. "This…what is it called…a planet?"

"Yes."

"This planet, something about it makes me tingly. It's like, when I see the changes, it's like I feel them somewhere. It's like…I know these changes, and yet…I don't know…but…I know so little…" He gave Riaan a serious look. "What is this we are on? Is this a planet…?"

There was a long silence that fell before anyone could say anything. Riaan came out with a sigh, facing the ground. "…well…I suppose that question was bound to come out sooner or later." He faced Armagedoid. "Listen, Armagedoid. I will tell you, but you must behave, understand? If I see any sort of fussing or your voice raising, I'm stopping. Am I clear?"

Armagedoid lowered his head, accepting like a child scolded. "Yes…?"

Riaan nodded and began. "Very well then…" He closed his eyes, gathering his energy. "Do you remember what I said about that tale of two life forms?"

"Yes…?" Armagedoid fell silent as he saw something Riaan do.

"Well…there's more to it than what I said before." The energy roots beneath them began to glow bright blue, that same glow traveling to Rian's feet. When he opened his eyes again, they were a glowing bright blue. "Let me tell you…about the story of the birth of Bakugan."

---

Sorry for it taking about a week for this update, guys. I'm really slagging aren't I? So, just like last chapter, I had to go over 20K, and maybe I'll have to for the rest of the arc's time, which is two more chapters I do believe. But really though, I wanted to give Maggie and Jelldon a little more attention this chapter and where they stood. I also wanted to give Jelldon a chance to buck up and get stronger, though in an angry rage sort of ordeal. Way to step up big guy! You earned it! And also, it looks like Armagedoid is starting to learn on a behavioral path rather than as a weaponized path. Just what exactly is Riaan planning for his new creation.

But seriously, as of this time, I have been having some thoughts go through my head as of late. I have been doing okay if you're wondering that, it's just that with where I stand now, I feel like I might need to get in touch a bit with reality. My little brother started college today, and here I am making stories and part-time working. Essentially, I don't know what to do. I want to succeed, but I also love doing this. But I know neither can last forever. It's just something bugging me as of late. Maybe I'll try to go for a drivers license gain within the year, and maybe, just maybe, try and go back to college at some point, but I don't know what I want to do. But I'll try to progress, and in doing so I'll also be doing art. I need to do some to help me in some cases, but also because people really like my art. So I'm gonna try and do art, meaning less time for FanFiction. Hope you guys understand. But the pacing may very well be the same as it is now, so once a week sort of ordeal. No biggie.

Now then, onto a more important question. I've been wondering what you guys have been thinking about Abis Omega and the other Non-Guardian Bakugan I made being the stars? I know people rather have Guardian Bakugan because they're stronger, but be honest, compared to the show, am I making these non-guardian Bakugan OP? I want to show some growth and evolution like I am with power levels rising and new abilities, but lately I've been thinking and are they should be conveyed weaker? I mean compared to 350 Gs against 800 Gs, it's obvious who has more of a betting chance, but I was just wondering if what I'm doing is okay with you guys, with Abis Omega and the others attempting to stand out.

So with that off my chest, I hope you guys enjoyed and leave reviews! Thanks again, and next time we'll be seeing the history of Riaan and Code Eve!