Uploading this one in replacement of regular chapter today. Enjoy all!
Another one down, two to go. It's been a long time coming, but I think we're ready for this! We've just recently saved Hanabi and recruited her and her brother, Yuri. But now, we've got bigger issues. We're starting to wonder where our other teammates have gone without any way to find out. But that's not the worst of it as the next trial draws near.
Powers locked away inside
Step up to give the gift of divine
There is no knowing what we face
But we know it to be unsafe
The time now to find
Our guiding light
And save everything that is known
To protect our home
"Okay Spectra, place Helios right there." Said the being. Bill came into the room.
"So, what's the plan with the new guy?" He asked.
"One moment." Said the being. He placed the die down. "I'm not sure yet. However, it happened so there must've been a reason. I don't quite know yet, but I have a few theories." The being stared into space, as if trying to see something very far away.
"So, now what do we do?" Asked Spectra. The snapped the being out of it.
"Right. Anyways, we just need to power the transposer up." The being pressed a button and energy began to flow from the die into the machine. It gradually lost its color.
"So, what happens now?" Asked Spectra. Energy began to flow into Viper Helios. He began writhing around. "Stay calm." The Helios paused for a second before continuing.
"It's probably painful." Said Bill. "After all, an infinity die has a lot of power. His body might not be able to handle it." Spectra glared at Bill.
"Don't ever say that Helios can't handle power! Understood!?"
"Sheesh! Calm down!" Said Bill. "All I gave was a possibility. I'm just letting you know the worst outcome." The Helios began to glow and the die was almost completely gray.
"Almost done." Said the being. The last of the energy was absorbed from the die into the machine. The being pressed a button, sending the rest of it straight to the Helios in one fell swoop. The energy levels skyrocketed and the Helios glowed brighter. Then, it stopped. The energy stopped pouring out. The Helios kept glowing, however, but it slowly faded. He had evolved. "Finally. Helios has evolved."
"What is he now?" Asked Spectra.
"He's Pyrus and Darkus Probability Helios." Said the being. He began laughing. "And now, nothing can stop you! This Bakugan is capable of fighting Bakugan, Digimon, Pokemon, and anything else thrown its way!" Spectra smiled.
"Very well then. So, what's out first move?"
"We wait." Said the being. "In a few days time, Invasion Core will be destroyed, ending Atom's trial. Left without his awakened power, he should be defenseless."
"And what do you plan for Setne?" Asked Bill.
"If possible, I would like to bring him back to life." Said the being. "He will be much more powerful then."
"And then?" Asked Spectra.
"Then the plan continues."
"What was that?" Asked Marucho.
"I'm not sure." Said Henry. The roar resounded again, this time slightly louder.
"Simple." Said the voice. "It's your next trial. Be ready, for the mysteries this thing holds are beyond what most of you can imagine." The roar resounded again. "I warn you, this trial has been made far harder due to your first choice, but it is still doable. Good luck." The voice fell silent as the roar crackled through again.
"Oh great." Said Hanabi. "Five seconds into this whole Reality Shifter business and I'm already regretting it."
"Don't worry, you'll get used to it." Said Andrew. Yuri looked at him.
"How long have you been a Shifter?" He asked.
"About twice as long as you have." Replied Andrew. The roar grew louder.
"Okay, can we please figure out what that roar is?" Asked Stan. "It's giving me a headache!" The ground began rumbling.
"Did you have to say that aloud?" Asked Dipper. Something crashed nearby, followed by the sound of a tree toppling.
"It's getting closer." Said Takato.
"Be ready everybody." Said Dan. The Brawlers grabbed their Bakugan while the Tamers readied their D-Powers. Ford prepared his blaster as Mabel grabbed her grappling hook. Wendy grabbed her hunting knife. More trees began toppling, several visible. The bushes rustled, then a tiny, adorable, black dragon came out.
"That's it?" Asked Runo, lowering Tigrerra.
"It's so cute!" Said Julie. "I just want to give it a big hug!" She ran up to grab it, but it growled at her and shied away.
"Careful Julie, we don't know what that thing is capable of." Cautioned Alice.
"Well, it seems harmless for now." Said Ford. The dragon sneezed and glowed purple for a second. Almost nobody noticed it grow a little. The only ones who did were Dipper and Janthide.
"Did you just see it grow too?" Whispered Dipper.
"Yes, I did." Replied Janthide. "Something isn't adding up here." The dragon sneezed again and the same thing happened.
"But, if it's harmless, then what kind of trial are we facing?" Asked Henry. Julie picked up the dragon, who sneezed again.
"Who knows?" Asked Julie. "But do we have any guesses on who it is?"
"What do you mean 'who it is?'" Asked Henry.
"What I mean is which one of the other two we need to save is it? We've helped Hanabi, so that leaves Cameron and Daniel." The dragon sneezed twice. "It feels like you're getting heavier." The dragon growled again.
"Julie, I think you need to put him down." Said Dipper.
"Why?"
"It's not as cute as you think it is." Agreed Janthide. The dragon sneezed again, but it was a powerful sneeze. It visibly surged in size.
"What the?" Asked Dan. Julie set the dragon down.
"Okay, I see your point now!" The dragon turned to her and she screamed. The dragon nuzzled her, then sneezed again. Its body stayed purple.
"What's it doing now?" Asked Stan. Ford did some quick calculations in his head.
"If I'm right, that dragon is currently growing at an exponential rate." He said. "Every time it glows, it grows." The dragon glowed brighter. "If it keeps glowing like that, I'm not sure how much bigger it's going to" the dragon stopped glowing and began shuddering. "Uh oh." The dragon surged in size, again and again.
"We have to stop it!" Shouted Marucho. The dragon kept surging higher and higher.
"Swipe the cards!" Said Takato. The tamers swiped their Attribute cards and their Digimon matched the dragon as they became Bakugan sized, but the dragon outpaced them after that. Its body began hardening as lightning crackled.
"Bakugan, Brawl!" Said Dan. The other brawlers followed him. "Rise Pyrus Fusion Dragonoid!"
"Let's go Aquos Preyas, Aquos Renas and Aquos Tsunami Slight!"
"Storm Skyress Descend! Teressmon, rise!"
"Let's go Tigrerra!"
"Show them what you're made of, Gorem!"
"We can do this Hydranoid!"
"Darkus Magnatron, Descend!"
"Bring the heat Pyrus Magnaliger!" The dragon growled as its ascent stopped.
"Rise Darkus Infinity Helios!"
"You guys have to put us in!" Said Pyreon.
"Yeah! We need to get in there!" Said Vladitor.
"Throw us in!" Said Janthide.
"I'll give it a shot." Said Dipper. He grabbed Janthide. "How exactly do I do this?"
"Throw me and call Bakugan Brawl. Then, when I land, call Bakugan Stand. Then yell my full name, Ventus Windstorm Janthide."
"Okay, I think I can do this." Said Dipper. "Bakugan, Brawl!" He threw Janthide. "Bakugan, Stand! Go Ventus Windstorm Janthide!"
"Same thing for me, except my full name is Pyrus Pyrokinetic Pyreon. Let's go Takato!"
"Uh, okay!" Said Takato. "Bakugan, Brawl! Bakugan, Stand! Rise Pyrus Pyrokinetic Pyreon!"
"I'm a Baku-Sky Raider, so call out Baku-Sky Raider, Jump instead of Bakugan Stand." Said Vladitor. "And my full name is Darkus Doomic Vladitor."
"I think I can do this." Said Ryo. "Bakugan, Brawl! Baku-Sky Raider, Jump! Let's go Darkus Doomic Vladitor!" Dipper, Takato and Ryo's hands all glowed. Dipper's hand symbol appeared as the Attributes appeared around it. Takato's Attribute Wheel appeared on his hand again, but stayed as the glowing faded. Ryo's hand gained a wheel.
"They got it!" Said Dan. "Let's go everybody!"
"You're missing us." Said Hanabi. "Bakugan, Brawl! Bakugan, Stand! Go Darkus Toxigon!"
"Bakugan, Brawl!" Said Yuri. "Bakugan Stand! Devour it Hungeron!" All the Bakugan stood together against the dragon, who was roughly three times their size. Its head glowed purple as energy built up. Lightning came from it, crashing down in front of them. Dirt got thrown up, blocking everybody's view. The land morphed beneath them, becoming a ruined castle. Through Cassie's drone, everybody saw the changes.
"What's going on?" Asked Tom.
"It looks like an arena." Said Cassie. Chaos gasped.
"What's up?" Asked Azion.
"I know what this is, and they're not ready for it!" Said Chaos. "It's the Lord of Lightning. That castle is from Crumbledon, in Super Mario Odyssey. They won't be able to beat it!" The dust settled, allowing everybody to look again.
"What the?" Asked Dan. "Where are we?" The dragon landed on the edge of the ruined castle. Its head began to glow again, shooting lightning. It traveled along the ground, forcing everybody to dive away. The Bakugan who could fly grabbed their partners.
"What is that thing?" Asked Henry. Ford took a longer glance at the dragon to see a very large crown on its head, held on by chains to small things on its head. Lightning landed right next to him.
"Grunkle Ford!" Called Dipper. Janthide swooped down and grabbed him.
"Thanks Dipper." Said Ford. "And thank you, Janthide."
"No problem." Said Janthide. "But we're going to need to head down again!" She swooped down again to grab Mabel and Stan, getting them out of the way of the lightning.
"I think I saw an opening to stop that thing." Said Ford. "Look at it closely." Dipper cast a glance at the dragon, and noticed the crown on its head.
"Do you think that's its weak spot?" Asked Dipper.
"Why else would it be there?" Asked Stan.
"I'm going to go tell the others!" Said Mabel. She grabbed her Grappling Hook and took aim at Drago and fired. It latched onto one of his horns, and bought her up. She landed next to Dan.
"What's up Mabel?" Asked Dan.
"Make it quick!" Said Drago. Lightning flashed in front of him. "This isn't easy!"
"Grunkle Ford thinks he found this thing's weak spot!" Said Mabel. "It's under the crown on its head!" Drago shot a glance.
"She's right. This thing's body is made entirely out of rock. Why would it need a metal covering anywhere?"
"I've got to go tell the others!" Said Mabel. She took aim at Magnatron, and fired. It latched onto his horn, and began dragging her. But luck wasn't on her side as lightning passed between her and Magnatron, cutting the rope on her grappling hook. She began falling, screaming on the way down.
"Mabel!" Said Dipper.
"On it!" Said Janthide. She tried to swoop down, but lightning blocked her.
"I got her!" Said Skyress. She dove down and Shun caught her. She continued screaming.
"You can stop now, you're safe." Said Shun. Mabel slowly quieted down. The dragon laughed.
"You ants are fun." It said. "I suppose I should tell you a little about myself. I am the Lord of Lightning! All who oppose me tremble before my power! And you are the next to face me. Be honored, for very few ever meet me." Lightning came down directly on Hydranoid, defeating him.
"Hydranoid!" The wind from the attack blasted Alice back. Hydranoid landed next to her as she laid on the ground. She vanished.
"Alice!" Called Runo. Lightning hit Tigrerra, defeating her. "Tigrerra!" Runo got blasted back as well, vanishing as she hit the ground.
"Runo!" Yelled Dan. Helios got hit, and glowed, defeated. Keith vanished. "Keith!" Dan turned towards the dragon. "You'll never get away with this!" The dragon laughed.
"Face it, fool. The only way you're getting your friends back is if you beat me, and that's impossible!
"If there's anything that the Shifters taught us," started Dan.
"It's that nothing is impossible except impossibility itself!" Finished Shun.
"That's right!" Said Takato. "No matter the odds, nothing is ever impossible! We showed that when we beat the D-Reaper!"
"We showed that when we beat Bill not once, but twice!" Said Dipper.
"And we've been showing it ever since!" Agreed Ryo. "Since we've left our Reality, we've shown how anything is possible!"
"Fools! Give up now, before you all perish!"
"Never!" Said Julie. "Ability Activate! Giga Impact!" Gorem readied his hammer, and threw it. The Lord of Lightning swatted it away.
"Your feeble attacks mean nothing to me! I hold the power of a Shifter within me!" The dragon slammed his head down, charging up lightning.
"Get ready!" Said Takato.
"Ready!" Said Pyreon.
"Don't let them touch you!" Said Ryo.
"You got it!" Said Vladitor.
"Get ready, Gorem!"
"Always."
"Let's do this!" Said Cindy.
"Of course." Said Magnaliger. "Though I feel as if we'll be split on how to do it."
"Ready guys?" Asked Marucho.
"You got it, Marucho buddy!"
"We've never been more ready!" Said Slight.
"Bring it!" Said Renas.
"Teressmon?"
"I'm ready!"
"Very well." Said the Lord of Lightning. Lightning began spraying out from his head, travelling around the arena. It bounced off the nearby walls and was heading straight to the Bakugan still on the ground. Vladitor and Pyreon jumped over the energy as it drew near, followed by Magnaliger. Gorem grabbed a small pillar and slammed it down in front of him, blocking the attack. However, Renas wasn't so lucky. He tried to jump out of the way, but jumped too early, landing on the attack.
"Renas!" Yelled Marucho. The attack approached Preyas and Slight, the former too distracted by what just happened to Renas to observe the attack. Slight jumped over the attack, but Preyas didn't. He glowed, defeated.
"Marucho!" Said Slight as he began to fall. Slight caught him, but was then promptly defeated by another arc of lightning. Marucho landed on the ground and vanished. Teressmon was doing the best out of the group, jumping around the attack as it moved.
"This is easy!" She boasted. Then she landed on one of the arcs, defeating her.
"Teressmon!"
"This is too fun!" Said the Lord of Lightning. Energy crackled towards Drago, who dodged with a second to spare. The attack swished around, almost hitting Magnatron and hitting Skyress.
"No!" Yelled Shun. He fell, but landed on his feet. He still vanished. Mabel was caught by Janthide again. More energy crackled, hitting the Digimon as well. Rika, Henry, Suzie, Kenta and Kazu vanished. Cyberdramon and Guilmon vanished.
"Shun!" Shouted Dan. He looked at the Lord of Lightning. "That's it! You're finished!"
"As if, human!" Said the Lord of Lightning. Another beam of lightning went towards Drago, hitting him. Drago fell, defeated. Dan vanished in the air. "So many fallen, and only a few to go." The only ones left were Andrew, Cindy, Hanabi, Yuri, Takato, Ryo and Dipper, with his family. "Time for you two to go!" The Lord of Lightning fired at Magnaliger and Magnatron, defeating them. Andrew and Cindy vanished. A purple glow filled the arena, and the Pines vanished, except for Dipper.
"Where did they go?" Asked Dipper.
"Where all of the others who were left unable to fight went." Said the Lord of Lightning. "That leaves you five. Once I defeat you, I'll claim my prize of power!"
"As if!" Said Ryo. "We'll never let you win!"
"It's going to take more than what you've done so far to beat us!" Agreed Takato.
"And we know your weak spot!" Said Dipper.
"Do you?" Asked the Lord of Lightning.
"Why else would you wear a crown?" Asked Hanabi. "Toxigon!" Toxigon dove down, attempting to knock the crown off. But, she bounced off, almost as if the crown was protected. "What?"
"It's the chains!" Said Yuri. The Lord of Lightning shook Toxigon off, then blasted her with Lightning. Hanabi vanished with her.
"No!" Yelled Yuri. Hungeron charged in, and the Lord of Lightning fired at him. However, instead of falling defeated, Hungeron began to absorb the power the Lord of Lightning was sending out. His body was soon glowing from the power he had consumed.
"Hungeron, stop!" Yelled Yuri. Hungeron didn't stop and continued absorbing the power. "Please, stop!" The Lord of Lightning stopped firing, but Hungeron was already too far gone. He collapsed, then vanished along with Yuri. That left Takato, Ryo and Dipper.
"Your battle is lost." Said the Lord of Lightning. "Give up now and you'll be spared."
"Us? Give up?" Asked Ryo. "Funniest thing I've heard in a long time."
"Let's show him that we're not ones to be messed with!" Said Takato. Pyreon charged.
"Fools! You'll never defeat me!" Energy was shot out at Pyreon, but he dodged it. Takato jumped off at the Lord of Lightning and grabbed onto one of the chains. The Lord of Lightning thrashed his head, but Takato hung on. The chain broke, sending him flying.
"I've got you!" Said Pyreon. However, he was hit by an attack. He glowed, defeated, as Takato vanished.
"Takato!" Called Ryo.
"I'm going in!" Said Dipper. Janthide flew in and he jumped off, grabbing onto one of the chains. He quickly followed it to where it connected the crown to the Lord of Lightning's head. Dipper began pulling, but it wasn't budging.
"Feeble attempt, fool!" The Lord of Lightning thrashed his head again, but Dipper managed to hold on.
"I will not be beaten so easily!" He said. The connector was slowly coming out.
"You can do it!" Called Janthide. The connector came free, but Dipper went flying. Janthide got hit, making them both vanish.
"One connector left." Said Ryo. "Think we can do it?"
"Of course." Said Vladitor. "We have to!" He charged forward. The Lord of Lightning whipped his tail at Vladitor, who jumped over it. Ryo held on tightly as Vladitor jostled him.
"Stay away! You cannot win!" Vladitor continued his charge, making lots of ground. But, one stray bolt of lightning hit him. Ryo was flung forward, landing on the Lord of Lightning. Vladitor was shot back, defeated. Ryo recovered quickly and grabbed onto the last connection, pulling it out.
"Victory is mine!" Said the Lord of Lightning.
"Wanna bet?" Asked Ryo. The Lord of Lightning looked at him.
"What? How are you still here?"
"To be honest, I don't actually know." Said Ryo. "But I'm glad I am, because it gives me a chance to do this!" Ryo ran towards the crown, ramming into it. It vanished, revealing a bump on the Lord of Lightning's head. "And I think that's your weak spot!" The Lord of Lightning grabbed Ryo, and threw him back into the arena.
"You may have revealed it, but that doesn't mean that you can use it!" The Lord of Lightning shot down several bolts, creating electrical saws out of them that began heading towards Ryo.
"I might not have a partner with me now, but I'm still capable of fighting!" He said. His Attribute Wheel glowed, then a red M appeared inside of it. He began dodging the electrical saws, running towards the Lord of Lightning. His response was to fire more attacks, which Ryo continued to dodge. However, one of the saws came at him from behind, hitting him.
"This battle is over." Ryo got up. "What?"
"I told you, I'm still capable of fighting!" Shouted Ryo.
"Very well then. I cannot seem to deter you through my normal means. Time to do this!" The Lord of Lightning slammed his head down, sending energy at Ryo.
"It's time for me to figure this out!" Said Ryo. His M symbol glowed, and he jumped over the first wave. The next came towards him, and he jumped over it. The third one was coming in close, but Ryo spun in the air, extending his jump just long enough to avoid it. "How did I do that?" He asked as he landed. The Lord of Lightning growled.
"Stay away!" He sent out another set of waves, but Ryo was unrelenting. He continued jumping over the energy arc, continuing to get closer and closer. The Lord of Lightning's energy failed him, and his head stopped glowing. Ryo jumped onto him.
"I think I know what I need to do, but this is going to hurt!" Ryo jumped on top of his head.
"Please, don't!" Ryo ignored the Lord of Lightning and jumped one more time. "This is the end." Ryo curled into a ball, then shot straight down, landing on the bump. It crumpled inward, hurting the Lord of Lightning. He screeched as Ryo jumped off.
"Man, that hurt!" He yelled. The Lord of Lightning began to glow, then slammed down onto the Arena one more time. Everybody reappeared on the arena, in the reverse order of how they left. Ryo walked up to the Lord of Lightning.
"You have bested me. Congratulations. But, your trial is not over yet."
"Are you serious?" Asked Dan. "We went through all of that, and we're still not done?"
"The final part of this trial is a mystery. This one will push your knowledge to its limits, but if you answer correctly you shall be rewarded. Are you ready?"
"Any mystery is solvable. Give it to us." Said Ford.
"You have come from far and wide, yet you still do not seek the right prize. What was it that gave you your power? What was it that allied you together? What is it that you fight as one? These questions three, so bleak. All it takes to solve is a will and to think."
"That's easy!" Said Dan. "We've been brought together by a strange voice, who's giving us these trials. We were given out power by the Commander at the Infinity Matrix and we fight the Destruction as one!"
"Wrong on all three accounts." Said the Lord of Lightning.
"What?" Asked Dan.
"You jumped too quickly to assumptions, Dan." Said Ford. He looked at the Lord of Lightning. "We were brought together not be a strange voice, but a common need to work together. We have been given our power by not the Commander, but by the Realital Genes we now all hold. And finally, we fight not the Destruction itself, but we fight against what it brings, Destruction to all Realities." The Lord of Lightning looked closely at Ford.
"You are wise, but not yet wiser. Two accounts are right, but one remains."
"What could it be?" Asked Takato. "What question don't we have right? And what is its answer?"
"What about us just being together?" Asked Suzie. "Surely that has something to do with this!"
"Suzie, I don't think that's quite" started Henry. Suzie ran towards the Lord of Lightning. "Suzie!"
"Our power is given to us not by somebody, and not by something!" She said. "Our power is given to us just by us working together!"
"Correct." Said the Lord of Lightning. Henry looked at him.
"What?" He asked. "Suzie was actually right?" The Lord of Lightning glowed.
"You have passed your test of fourth. Go back and bring this new force forth." The area began to glow, then flashed back to the forest. The Lord of Lightning had returned to being a tiny dragon, which began to glow.
"Here we go again." Said Dipper. However, instead of growing, a form came out of the dragon. The light began to build up, creating a human form.
"It's her!" Said Mabel. "It's Cameron!" Cameron stopped glowing, and opened her eyes.
"What the? Where am I?" She asked. She looked around. "What the? This place isn't real! I, I saw it in a dream! It can't be real!"
"Relax, Cameron Rusher." Said the voice.
"Who said that?" Asked Cameron.
"I am the voice telling you of who you are and what you're doing here. You were trapped within the Lord of Lightning after wishing for a world away from the ordinary. The people you see before you helped to save you. You should recognize some of them, but you will learn of all of them soon. For now, though, a few things to keep in mind. You are to help with the defeat of the Destruction, and to help save all Realities. Now, turn to your teammates. Introduce yourself. Learn their names." In the woods, someone was hiding.
"She's the one to replace me, eh?" Asked the Fifth Shifter. "I'm surprised at how quickly they completed that trial. It took us weeks to defeat him! Although, I guess we did only have the five of us. Anyways I suppose she deserves a portion of my power. Enjoy it Cameron, you'll need it." Energy travelled from the Fifth Shifter to Cameron. Her hand glowed, showing a seven fingered hand before fading. "Good luck."
"Uh, I'm Cameron." Said Cameron. "But please, call me Cam. I've never fully liked my full name. The group introduced themselves. "What's Bakugan? What's Digimon? What's Yu-Gi-Oh? I know Gravity falls."
"Here we go again." Said Dan.
We've gotten four of the five we've needed, but the biggest trial is ahead. Who knows what it'll bring? And then, behind the scenes, we've got more problems galore as the Destruction and Spectra test out their new weapon! Our problems are only compounding as we head into the final trial. Will we make it through?