A/N: Chapter number 8. In this chapter there will be Gus rescuing Julie, a DanxRuno flashback, an explanation of Masquerade's return, the return of Baron and Mira, and the start of a fight between Masky & Spectra. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Bakugan.

"I don't believe it, not Julie." Runo protested.

"I dunno makes sense, she was always way to perky." Masquerade argued.

"You idiots are missing the point!"

Runo turned up her glare even higher, "Look I know Julie and she would never betray us. Your just paranoid, Gus."

Gus groaned in frustration, "But that's just it! It's not-"

"Gus why don't you drop it for now." Spectra commanded.

Runo stomped away probably to go talk to Julie or Alice while Spectra left the room as well. It was only Gus and Masquerade.

"If no one will believe me I'll go after her myself." Gus said more to himself than anything. He headed for the door.

Masquerade stood there not really knowing why then said, "Hey I believed him. No one is always that happy.", before heading out of the room. "Wonder where Alice is?"

A few minutes later with Masquerade and Alice…

"How are you here anyway, Masquerade? Aren't you like my split personality?" Alice asked Masquerade out of curiosity as they sat talking.

Masquerade started to explain how everything had happened, "It's a long story, but no I am not your split personality. It all started that day you went to your grandfather's lab, that same day I was coming through the dimensional-transporter. There was some sort of problem that day and since you were there in the lab too it also affected you. So in result of the glitch I was turned into your split personality as you put it, though I am and was before, my own person."

"That's...that's...just whoa, Masquerade. Do you know what set you free again?"

"No idea, but I've been free for months and it's amazing to be ,well, me again." Masquerade answered before getting up and walking out of the room.

With Gus….

"Gus! My hero!" Julie squealed throwing her arms around Gus excitedly after he'd untied her. She'd been kept in a small room with only the chair they'd tied her to and the rope they'd used to do it. After leaving the palace Gus'd made fast progress and by going the opposite way of last time he'd found Julie surprisingly quick.

"Okay you can let go now, Julie. Seriously, let go. We've got to get out of here." Gus told her.

"Okay! Come on this way!" she yelled grabbing his hand and running for the door.

"Wait. I hear something." he replied walking to the far wall and kicking it which effectively opened it to reveal a smaller room with a gagged and tied up Mira and Baron. Upon freeing them they began heading down the narrow corridor for the exit again when they heard voices from a door off to the right side.

"Yes Melissa, things are going well. The brawlers fell for my little trap. I was briefly concerned when that loud mouthed Becky told them she wasn't the real Julie but thankfully they didn't figure out that the 'real' Julie was really Zenet who can now spy on them for me 24/7. To think I'd thought Becky had outgrew her usefulness! Her loyalty is immensely questionable but she still makes a useful pawn. Zenet is loyal enough but lets trivial things like friendship and emotions get in the way. She'll never have what it takes to make it."

Once Mason finished talking they heard silence that may have been the Melissa person he was presumably talking to speaking and then he continued talking again, "Now you Melissa have potential. Succeed and you could have half this crummy planet. Failure will result in death. Understood?"

Gus and company ran for the door gasping for breath once they were out of sight of the Gundalians' lair.

"Thanks...for...saving...us...guys...by...the...way...why...are...you...two...holding...hands?" Mira managed to choke out.

Gus and Julie quickly separated and mumbled incoherent responses in between blushing.

Back at the palace they were greeted by Becky and Zenet still in her Julie disguise.

Julie angrily yelled at her imposter, "What is that twice now? When will you Gundalians learn your no match for the original!"

With Runo and Alice….

Runo heard Alice humming a pop song and told her to stop, it reminded her of Dan.

*Flashback*

"Here Runo, this is for you." Dan handed her what looked like a diamond bracelet.

"It's beautiful Dan!" she'd cried hugging him as she admired it.

"Ya well you know had an extra quarter lying around thought you'd like it..."

"You got it from a gumball machine!"

"No! I found it on my way here."

"Dan Kuso you are the worst boyfriend ever!"

"Aw come on Runo don't be mad!"

She'd run up to her room to get away. Seeing she wasn't coming back Dan eventually left the Misaki house. The next night she'd come home from school where she'd ignored the still unapologetic Dan all day, to find a table set up with a fancy table cloth and a vase of roses with a huge plate of spaghetti. Next to the plate was a jewelry case made of blue velvet. As she wandered over to it Dan appeared holding even more flowers, this time violets. He walked over to the table telling her to sit down as well, then he opened the box to reveal a bracelet with not only diamonds encrusted on it but her birthstone too.

"I'm sorry about yesterday, Runo, but I got you this and I paid for it too. They're real diamonds straight from the store." Dan told her not daring to meet her eye lest she still be angry.

She was touched that Dan of all people would do this. The rest of the evening was flawless to her, sure you'd die if you really ate the spaghetti, but it was perfect anyway. It was also the night of their first kiss.

*Flashback*

She was startled out of the memory by the sound of yelling and she and Alice raced outside to find Masquerade with a bloody nose, a seriously bloody nose.

"You hit hard for how pathetic you are." Masquerade sneered at Spectra.

There was no question of who'd given Masquerade the bloody nose since he and Spectra were the only other two out there and Spectra's fist was still clenched.

A/N: Sorry if the explanation of Masquerade's return was suckish ,anyway, review!