Just Dan and Drago
Answering reviews:
ShadowStriker- Oh, thanks! That's what I am doing now :) + PS: If only there was a chapter you could read what happens next XD.
Mark's POV
"If I'm not worth to you any more than that, then I guess our deal is done!"
Those words will never get out of my head. The way he said them...the thing he did after he said them...all because I just had to butt in!
Why am I always like that?! I always act like I know what to do, only making people see me as a know-it-all!
I just want to help everyone, but it always ends with me, or them getting hurt...Or worse, both...
This is the reason I don't have many friends anymore...my classmates started avoiding me after I tried 'to help' them like the little know-it-all I am...
Dan was the only one who accepted me and put up with me. I just wanted to prove myself. I wanted to show that I could help, by making Dan and Drago friends...
...
...ha...
Ha...ha...what a nice way to put it...that's not the only reason, and I know it...
I was being selfish as well... I thought that maybe I could be friends with Drago as well, not only Dan. How cool would that be? Being friends with the talking Bakugan?
...
It sounds even terrible when I think about it...I'm glad Dan didn't know about this at least...
The walk home was an emotionally painful experience. The only thing that confirmed the fact that he was aware of my existence near him, was the fact that he was holding my arm the whole time...
...he probably was thinking that if he let go, I would go get Drago back...
After we got home he let go of my arm and went to his room, not even bothering to look at me or even say something.
I wanted to do something to get my mind off this terrible event. Watch TV, read a comic book or even a normal book, eat something...
I couldn't. Everything just felt wrong...I just went to my room and locked the door.
I laid on my bed, letting go of all the tears I didn't know I was holding back this whole time.
Dinner was...awkward, to say the very best of it. I knew I couldn't cry all day because our parents would've questioned that.
If you were to add that to that the lack of emotion and talking from both us, they could easily come to the absurd conclusion that I'm bullied, or maybe that Dan beat me or something.
You know, parents being parents...
...I didn't mean anything by it... I'm glad they worry...
But the situation we are at the moment is too complicated to even talk about. For starters, they barely know anything about Bakugan, other than the fact that we're very passioned about it.
'Yeah, he's mad because I told his talking Bakugan to act nice around him even if it was fake, which resulted in a big argument, and for said Bakugan to be thrown in a river never to be seen ag-'
I'm stopping here!
Mom probably decided to l stay out of it for now, in case we make up later. It's not the first time we argued...but it's the first time I butt in his life so I'm not sure what's going to happen...
Things have to change.
If I want everything to be back to normal, I have to-
...
I have to do nothing...This is what got me into this whole mess anyway. He will forgive me when he will want to forgive me.
I just hope he will forgive someone else as well...
Okay, please don't hate me now! I know I said I won't butt in his life anymore...but I just couldn't help myself from leaning on his door and listen to the conversation he had with the others online.
"You're kidding! You threw Drago into the river?" I heard Marucho asking, not believing his ears what he heard. I wish Dan was kidding...
Dan made a sound of annoyance, probably to show he didn't care about what he did.
"Well that would explain why you're in such a grouchy mood today" Jullie said.
"What?! I'm not grouchy! I'm glad I got rid of that know-it-all!" Dan said, anger, or maybe annoyance in his voice. I flinched at that.
"But seriously Dan. Don't you think you should go back and try to find Drago?" Alice asked, her voice lacking any sort of anger or annoyance at what Dan did. Just concern.
Dan made a sound of confusion, signaling for her to continue "He's probably feeling lost and afraid down there at the bottom of the river" she said, now sounding very worried about Drago.
I considered going to look for Drago myself...but then again, would that help in any way?
Dan doesn't want to hear about Drago at the moment.
He would probably hate me even more for just going to find Drago after what I did.
And probably Drago doesn't even want my help to begin with.
Just...wait...
"I guess you don't realize what you have until it's gone. Personally speaking tho, my Bakugan, Tigrerra and I are as close as it can possibly be" I heard Runno say in a very cheerful tone. Even in situations like this, I can't help but roll my eyes. I just hope she's actually trying to help him, and not to just show off.
After a second of silence, I heard a sound which I assumed was Dan getting up from the chair "Who cares about him anyway!? He didn't really care, so why should I?" he said, the anger in his voice back. "They both lied to me". I covered my face in shame.
"Well, I don't really blame him for acting nice. You can reaaaally be a pain sometimes" Runno said in a 'duh' tone. It's not rocket science to figure out he was glaring at her.
"And wasn't Mark only trying to help you? You were arguing a lot with Drago and then you became friends after they both talked" Alice said. I smiled a bit. It was nice to know that someone didn't hate me after this whole mess.
"I was his friend the whole time! He was the one who decided to act like it! I'm glad I don't have to worry about him anymore!" those were the last words I heard from him before he (from what I assume) lied on the bed.
The others were worried, just like me. They didn't want to see Dan like that and hated the fact he didn't want to talk with them. After a few seconds of silence, I finally decided to go to my room.
Just...wait...
...everything will work out...I hope...
The next day was just...it felt like it didn't even matter.
School is basically over anyway. After this week ends, I'll finally be able to enjoy this summer. I hope I will...
The only thing I did today was to practice my apologies to Dan and think about poor Drago.
What if a fish ate him? What if he tried to ask a fish for help, only to have said fish swim away rudely? So many to think about for an eight-year-old!
All I know is that Dan came home angry and ran straight to his room shouting something about how this was all Drago's fault. I sighed.
Maybe next day...Friday is a lucky day...
Why did we have to go to the same school? We're in different grades, yes, but usually, Dan and I would talk on the way to school. This time when I looked at him, he looked lost in thoughts.
Again, not a right time to apologize...
"Hey, here comes Dan and his brother! This oughta be good" I looked up and saw some of Dan's classmates gathered in front of the entrance. They were smiling, but the look on their eyes gave away the fact that they weren't smiling for good reasons.
Great, that's what we need at the moment. Dan gasped and I turned my attention from them to what caused said reaction.
Across the street was this guy, which from what I assume and remember, is Dan's classmate. I don't really know him, but he seemed, I dunno...off?
"Oh, Ryo...were you able to fix your computer?" Dan asked. I raised an eyebrow.
Maybe that's why he was in an even worse mood yesterday... and also so lost in thoughts this morning...
"Look, about yesterday-" "Let's battle right now!" the guy - Ryo - shouted.
"What?! Dan asked, surprised by the sudden challenge "After all, I'm a nobody unless I battle, isn't that right?!" Ryo said angrily, while walking to Dan.
I considered leaving since this had nothing to do with me...until Ryo put something on his wrist...
Dan gasped and took a fighting stance "Masquerade!" I said shocked and scared at the sight of the purple shooter.
"You know what this is, I see. I made a little deal with your old buddy, Masquerade, and I'm about to keep my side of the bargain!" Ryo said with a smirk. Why does anyone related to Masquerade smirks?
"Don't you see? Masquerade is the enemy!" Dan said. I nod "He's only using you!" I said.
"Oh, really?" that voice...
Ryo raised his other hand, on which was Reaper "He's not the enemy! You're the enemy!" he said. Dan and I narrowed our eyes at him.
"Then let's battle!" he said "Sounds good to me!" Ryo said with a pleased look on his face. They both pulled out their cards and I hesitantly grab Dan's arm.
No matter what gets between us, Masquerade will always be a common enemy.
The Doom Card was set "I knew he would pull that stunt! Well, I'm sure not backing down now!"Dan said, not directly to anyone in general.
The Gate Cards were set. Ryo, who I forgot to mention that is a Darkus brawler, shot Fear Ripper on his card.
We jumped back to avoid his claws from killing us, then we checked our bakupods.
"Fear Reaper. Power level 320G. No other date available"
Dan threw another gate card next to Ryo's (from what I assume a Pyrus Normal) and threw Terrorclaw on it. "Be careful..." I said.
Ryo didn't seem impressed by Dan's move "Come on, give me a break! You think it's wise to try it out with me?!" he said in an annoyed tone while he threw a Gate Card in front of the one Dan placed.
He threw Mantris on it, and before I could even check its power level, Ryo already used an ability card "Ability card, activate! Marionette!"
Mantri's eyes glowed for a second and brought its arms-blades thingys together (I have no idea how to call those). Electricity came from them and it wrapped around Terrorclaw.
Mantris then managed to move Terrorclaw from Dan's Gate Card to the one it was.
"No!" "Terrorclaw!" we watched as in the second Terrorclaw landed on the card, Mantris send it to the Doom Dimension.
Mantris then returned to its ball form to Ryo.
Dan wasted no second to throw Juggernoid on the Gate Card Terrorclaw used to be. Ryo threw Mantris on the same card as Juggernoid.
Juggernoid seemed to win, as it jumped on top of Mantris, grabbing it by the neck with its mouth.
...until Ryo put out an ability card "Ability card, activate! Doom companion!"
A portal to the Doom Dimension opened above Juggernoid and Mantris, sucking both of them to the Doom Dimension.
Both Dan and I gasped "He sacrificed his Bakugan too!" I said shocked, remembering Rikimaru "Juggernoid!" Dan said, shocked as well by what Ryo did.
Ryo smirked "I can't believe you let that happen!" Dan shouted, anger in his voice. "Couldn't be helped" Reaper said, amused by our reactions.
We glared at them "His sacrifice was just a part of my strategy. He was just a tool to me anyway" Ryo said with no care what-so-ever about what he did.
"What?!" I said, glaring at him "Okay, you only got one Bakugan. If you plan your moves right you can-" Dan put his hand in front of me to stop me from talking.
"I know what I'm doing!" he said, not even looking at me. "You're all that I have left Robotallion" he muttered before he threw it on the same card as Fear Reaper.
"Ability card, activate! Robotallion Enforcement!" Robotallion began to glow and its power level began to rise. Flame came from it and burned Fear Reaper.
"Betting everything on Pyrus Robotallion? Where's your little pet, Drago?" Ryo asked in a teasing tone.
"I don't need him to beat a smart-ass jerk like you! You got that, Ryo?!" Dan said, mad about the fact that Ryo brought the topic about Drago up.
Ryo smirked, pleased with the reaction Dan had "Well then, let's get on with it" he said before he threw Reaper on the Gate Card.
"It's Reaper!" I gasped and Dan groaned at the sight of him. Reaper was, as well, pleased with the reaction he got from us "We meet again. I'm going to give your Robotallion a one-way ticket to the Doom Dimension" he said.
Dan glared at him "Okay...if Robotallion Enforcement ability card it's still doing its thing...and the area Reaper stands will give Power Robotallion an extra 150G...that means I can beat him!" Dan muttered before throwing Robotallion into the battle.
"Gate card, open!" as soon as Dan said that, I had a flashback from the battle Dan had with Masquerade.
Oh no...
"Wait! It won't work! Dimension 4!" I gasped, realizing what the outcome will be "Huh?" Dan said confused, and for the first time, looking at me.
Ryo laughed "Nice try Danny, but it seems like your brother was able to realize the mistakes of your plan. Ability card, activate! Dimension 4!" as soon as he said that, wind blew the flames made by the Gate Card, showing that it was nullified.
"What?! Oh no!" Dan said worried "Oh dear. It seems like you're back at 360G" Ryo said, amused.
"Robotallion!" we screamed, as Reaper send Robotallion to the Doom Dimension.
We turned to glare at Ryo, only to have him smirking at us "I win" he said as he caught Reaper, which returned to his ball form.
I looked up. The clouds signaled it was about to rain.
Dan dropped on his knees "I...I think I understand..." he breathed out "That was a counter ability which makes the Gate Card's attribute energy useless!" Dan said ashamed and full of grief.
"Ryo set a trap on me because he knew what I would do!" he said "No, no, no, no!" he began to hit the ground with each 'no'. I put a comforting hand on his shoulder.
"So I take it Dan didn't win this battle..." one of Dan's classmates said "Good job, buddy!" another one told Ryo, not sounding or looking as enthusiastic as I expected.
"It was no big deal..." Ryo said as he passed them, earning only gasps from them.
It began to rain...
"I couldn't do anything!" I turned my attention back to Dan "I was...totally helpless to save them! I lost Terrorclaw! I lost Juggernoid...and Robotallion! No!" he shouted in grief.
He stayed like that for a few heavy moments in silence. I didn't know what to do.
I wanted to say something but then Dan got up and slowly walked inside the school, with me following behind a few moments after.
It's easy to figure out that I barely paid any attention to anything else after the battle. All I could think about was Dan. I watched the clock ticking and ticking until the day finally ended.
As soon as I left the building, instead of savoring the freedom I was waiting for, I looked frantically around for Dan.
I don't care about what I said yesterday! I know my brother and I know that he needs someone right now! Especially after a battle like that!
I finally spotted him in the distance, and without thinking, I ran at full speed towards him.
I saw him dropping on his knees again, and I slowed down until I stopped next to him. He acknowledged my presence "...On the battle with Rikimaru, I thought I could attack with just brute force..." he said.
I just put a comforting hand on his shoulder "I shouldn't have got mad! I was brawling like it was some sort of game! I didn't even care about my Bakugan!"
He sat in silence for a moment "...I just cared about myself..." he ashamed of himself.
It was... finally happening...?
He turned to me, tears rolling down his face. I smiled at him and did the only thing I could do.
I hugged him, not realizing I began to cry as well. He hugged me back tight, and we sat like that for a few seconds, enjoying the moment.
He then pulled back quickly, holding me by the shoulders "Drago!" he said, the sad expression he wore replaced by one of shock.
My eyes widened, and I wiped the tears away. "Let's go!" I said and he nod.
3RD POV
They arrived at the bridge and looked near the edge "Do you see him?" Mark asked and Dan shook his head "Drago?" he shouted, hoping for the Bakugan to answer. The ran to the river.
Deep down in the river, if you looked close, you could see something - or someone, but due to his form, it will be considered a thing - down there.
"How did it come to this...? a voice of a certain Pyrus Bakugan could be heard from said thing "I chose to battle in this world in order to save Vestroia...but now..." he wanted to save his home with all his heart. He was ready to give anything for it.
He would've fought any evil in his way to stop Naga from destroying everything he loved. He would've done everything just to stop him, save Vestroia, and...
...return to her...
He would've done so much...but still...
He remembered the argument he had with Dan. The things he told him...the way he and Mark reacted...
He was ready to do all those things in order to save Vestroia, but couldn't just try to accept and understand one kid? "I was unfair to him..." he told himself as he remembered Dan's words.
"We were a team...remember the day we made that deal...?"
Dan really believed he was his friend, while he just acted like one...Just because Marcus told him-
No.
It wasn't Marcus's fault. That's not even what Marcus meant in the first place! He told him to act nice to Dan, while he just acted nice...
He shouldn't have been like that. He shouldn't have acted, he shouldn't have raged at them, he shouldn't have told Dan about the talk with Marcus...
"I'm sorry..." he said, hoping there was anyone there to hear him...
"Drago!" seems like his wish was granted after all... "Daniel?" he shouted as loud as he could, hoping Dan would hear him.
Looking for Drago was like looking for a needle in a haystack. Mark couldn't see what was in the water very well, but he saw something like a ball and grabbed it.
The feeling was familiar as well! He pulled it out the water with a smile...which turned into a look of confusion...
"Dan-" "Drago! Is that you!?" Dan spotted something shiny in the water.
...guess he had to tell him later...
Dan ran as fast as he could to it, hoping it was Drago. Mark could only walk a bit faster since Dan was taller than him.
Dan tripped and fell in the water. Luckily it wasn't very deep.
Mark was able to help him up. "Drago!"
The current moved Drago from his original spot "Wait! Come back!" Dan said, trying to catch up with him.
Mark was also trying to catch up with both, but that was ineffective.
"Drago!" "Woah! Ah" Dan caught him before it was too late. Dan put him out the water and gasped with a smile at the sight of him "Daniel? Is that really you?" Drago asked, happiness in his voice, hoping this wasn't some sort of dream or illusion caused by the loneliness.
"Yeah buddy..." Dan breathed out happy.
Mark watched them with a smile. He was so happy for them. He just wanted to go to hug them both-
He stopped mid track. He suddenly had a panic attack.
He began breathing heavily. He couldn't get between them after what he did.
He couldn't face Drago. It was him who got him in this situation by being thrown in a river.
Dan...? If he didn't butt in his life, they wouldn't even be in this situation.
But Dan forgave him, right? But what if he just needed a shoulder to cry on?
He left before they could notice him, not even realizing he began to cry.
This wasn't about him...
This was about Dan and Drago...
Besides, he had something more important to worry about at the moment...
(LATER)
"Man, I'm telling you! Drago was the best!"
After Drago was saved from the river, he and Dan had a serious talk. They learned to accept it other - 'You're not completely useless to me, so why shouldn't I take advantage of you as much as I can?' - well, one way or another, but Dan was really touched by Drago's words.
Together, they took down Ryo and made him see that the way he was battling was wrong and became friends.
Now, that they're back together, Dan had to tell his friends about that and believe me, they had enough of his PDA (public display of affection).
"Yeah, yeah. We get it already" they said in sync, sounding very annoyed.
Their answer didn't satisfy Dan "Hey, I'm serious! I'm ranked 60 now because of him! He's the best Bakugan a guy could have" he said the last part in a sweet voice before he started giving Drago small kisses.
"Ewgh! Stop it!" he opened on Dan's hand, shaking his little plastic wings as in disgust and also to stop Dan from giving him kisses.
Dan indeed stopped the kissing, but he began nuzzling his face against him like how Runno did with Tigrerra a few days ago, making the girl consider ever doing it again.
"You should've seen him! It was awesome!" Dan said, not stopping his nuzzling, not matter how many sounds of disgust Drago made.
"Look," Marucho said, sounding very tired from Dan's bragging about Drago "We're all very happy that you and Drago are a team again but..."
"DAN! WHEN ARE YOU GONNA STOP TELLING US ABOUT IT?!" they all said in sync again, sounding very annoyed.
They were ignored, again. "Who's my best buddy? Oh yeah!" Dan said.
"Daniel. Please, Daniel, this is not funny any longer. I do have a reputation to uphold, and all of your human friends are observing this!" Drago said, trying to be rational, but he actually sounded like an embarrassed teenage girl.
Ha. Tsundere Drago...
He looked at Dan's friends and saw their looks of annoyance and embarrassment.
Drago wasn't used to so much attention, especially THIS kind of attention "I'm...I'm developing a rash!" he said, but instead of sounding angry, he sounded even more embarrassed.
Enough is enough! "DANIEL!" Dan only laughed, not stopping.
Drago groaned, finally accepting his defeat "Marcus? Anyone? Somebody help me!" he shouted. To his surprise, Dan finally stopped, but he didn't have the reaction he expected.
Dan looked like he remembered something important, which he did.
Did they actually make up? He forgot to properly apologize to Mark, and before he could, Mark was already gone, not like he actually remembered about him.
The others noticed the sudden change of the mood "Oh, right..." Jullie said, realizing what was going on. The other soon caught up one by one "You two made up, right?" Runno asked with a raised eyebrow.
"I...need to go guys..." Dan said and the others nod.
"Bye!" Marucho said as he left the call "Bye Danny!" Jullie as well "Good luck!" Runno too "I hope everything works out." and last, Alice.
Dan set Drago on the table and rubbed his eyes. "What happened?" Drago asked and Dan sighed "After you mentioned that Mark told you to act nice around me I...kinda got my anger out on him a bit..." Dan said covering his face thinking.
Drago finally remembered "Oh...right..." Dan face-palmed after that, not feeling any better.
"If I happened to cause any problems between you and your brother, I'm sincerely sorry" he said "Due to my anger, I probably exaggerated a bit...Marcus told me to act nice around you, while I just acted instead..." Drago said "Yeah, I figured..." Dan sighed "I need to talk to him"
He picked Drago and walked to Mark's room. He knocked on the door and one second after, he cracked it open.
Inside was Mark, in deep slumber. Dan sighed "Perhaps now it's not the right time?" Drago whispered. Dan nod. He didn't even know what he was gonna tell Mark in the first place anyway.
He looked at Mark for another few seconds before he closed the door and left to his room...
...unaware of the fact that Mark was awake the whole time...
(Flashback)
After Dan went to his room, Mark did what he did two days ago. He leaned on the door and listened on the conversation. It was wrong, but he needed to know what happened after he, so cowardly, left.
Turns out Dan won the battle against Ryo, and he was happy because of that. He also heard Dan bragging about Drago to the others, and the kisses he gave Drago.
He was still happy because they finally made up. Plus, Drago's reaction to Dan's kisses was so funny that it actually made him giggle a bit.
And then...
"Marcus? Anyone? Somebody help me!"
After those words, he fell on his butt scared, backing away from the door and hoping they didn't hear that.
Fortunately, they didn't, but he was still scared. After the others left the conversation, he rushed to his room, trying to not make any sounds.
(End Of Flashback)
Fear? Maybe. Cowardness? That too. No matter how you put it, one thing is certain. He wasn't ready.
At least not yet...but, he knows he'll be...Maybe sooner than you'd expect.
He wants to show to Dan that he's more than his noisy noob brother, and he'll soon be able to do it.
Just...wait...you'll be surprised...
AN: Phew. The end of the chapter. To be honest, I didn't expect the chapter to be this long. Maybe 2000+ words, that's all, not 4756, but hey! Hope you enjoyed and sorry if this chapter felt a bit off.
Leave a review and I'll for sure gonna answer it the next chapter. See ya next time and have good day!