Chapter 2

Skyress

A forest in New Vestroia, Unknown time

On a wide limb of a tree, was a tiny green bird bakugan, Skyress in her ball form. She stared into space, not noticing a newcomer to her tree. She only noticed when a hand closed over her, muffling her startled cry. She was more surprised however, when the hand opened again, and she could see her captor. He held her up to his face, and she could see her own reflection in his blue mask.

"Masquerade?" She whispered, dumbfounded

"The one and only." He replied, his voice as hoarse sounding as ever

"What do you want?"

"Straight to the point aren't we?" Masquerade smirked "I want you to help me Skyress."

"Why would I do that?"

"Why not?" the blonde shot back "Shun obviously doesn't want you anymore."

"How can you say that?" Skyress nearly fell off his gloved hand as she yelled

"Well, Ingram seems to have filled your place pretty well; I'm just offering you a chance to show Shun who's best, you, or Ingram."

"...Shun..." Skyress whispered, wishing she could cry right then. Masquerade was right, Ingram had replaced her. "Alright Masquerade, I'll do it." Skyress said decisively.

"Good choice Skyress..." Masquerade smirked evilly, "...Very good choice." The masked blonde vanished in a shower of vivid sparks.

Wardington City, 1:10PM

Runo lay slumped on her bed, wondering what to do with Tigrerra; she seemed really concerned about Hydranoid. The Blunette sighed; she wondered what Dan, Marucho and Shun were doing in Vestroia. She heard her door opening.

"Runo?" a soft voice called

"Alice!" Runo yelled, flinging her friend into a hug.

"I'm glad to see you too Runo" She gasped, trying not to let Runo suffocate her. The Haos brawler eventually let go of her friend, seeing another familiar face.

"Julie!"

"Hey Run...OOF!" Julie was hit by a forceful hug, causing Alice to giggle.

"You're here!" Runo squealed as Julie disengaged the hug

Gorem and Tigrerra watched from the top of a side cabinet. Tigrerra turned to Gorem and said: "You know, for the life of me I will never understand humans." Gorem said nothing, but nodded his agreement.

New Vestroia, Unknown Time

Drago watched Dan as he inhaled his food, and Mira and Ace watched with utter amazement. Marucho and Shun, who were long since caring, watched Preyas as he teetered on the edge of a huge bowl of salad, and Percival, who was next to him, pushed him in. Preyas' head popped up out from the various leaves in the salad, and attempted to climb up the edge of the bowl, without much success. Percival laughed so hard at the Aquos Bakugan, that he fell in the salad too. Shun took the salad tongs, and took both out from the salad and put them onto the table. The chameleon bakugan immediately started chasing the knight bakugan down the length of the table.

"Oh Preyas..." Marucho sighed, resting his face in his hands. Shun just watched in silence, as usual. Suddenly an automated female voice started to blare out from every speaker in the room "INTRUDER ALERT! INTRUDER ALERT!"

Dan looked at Mira and Ace "You really need a new alarm."

"This isn't the time Dan!" Ace practically screamed at Dan

"Alright alright, if you say so..." Dan threw his hands up in mock terror. The Bakugan Resistance cautiously tiptoed down a corridor, picking up Baron along the way. Shun was at the back, so was the first to hear quiet footsteps behind them. He whirled around, Ingram hanging onto his shoulder for dear life. There appeared to be nothing there, although the ninja was sure he saw a flash of white material disappearing round a sharp kink in the metal hallway. He turned back, assuring himself it was nothing.

Eventually, they got bored searching for someone, after they had scoured the entire place top to bottom. Ace collapsed moodily onto a nearby chair, grumbling about something. Mira deactivated the alarms and reset all the security measures, then screamed when she saw a blonde guy, with a mask and a white trench coat leaning against the far wall. He hadn't been there a minute ago.

"Mira?" Dan began, then turned to where she was shakily pointing, and jumped when he saw the teen.

"Masquerade." He stated, his hands clenching into fists.

"Hello Dan" he said, smirking

"You died!" Baron piped up

"Obviously not." Masquerade sniped, "Weirdo"

"I am not a weirdo, am I Master Dan?"

"Uh...No..." Dan said awkwardly "Why are you here anyway?"

"Shun"

"Me?" Shun asked, curiously. Masquerade smirked, and held up his closed hand in from of Shun, then slowly opened it.

"Skyress!"

"Shun." Skyress said. She seemed to cast a dark aura somehow. Her green colour was darker, and the dark green markings had changed to black. As she looked up at Shun, they could see her eyes were crimson. She popped back into a ball, and Masquerade put her back into an inside pocket.

"What have you done to her?" Shun screamed at the masked blonde, shaking with anger. He pointed at Masquerade.

"I challenge you"

"I was hoping you'd say that Shun" Masquerade smirked, and disappeared, leaving a few sparkles in the air. A white card remained on the floor, which was picked up by Ace. "(35,08)" It said.