SailorStar9: Finally a review. I thought you guys don't love me anymore. (Sighs in relief). Anyway, this is Chapter 17. Read and review.
Disclaimers: I do not own both the animes. However, I do own the pairing, I hope.
Chapter 17: Sniping
After having Klaus take her to the portal on his plane, Alice dived straight into the wormhole without hesitation
"I beg you." she muttered. "Please, Masquerade, please give me strength."
At that, she morphed into her alter ego as she entered the portal.
Meanwhile...
Centorrior thrust the fallen Drago with his spear, sending the Dragoniod crushing against the ground.
"This pathetic human-loving Bakugan is somehow supposed to save the world?" Druman scoffed.
"How ridiculous!" Centorrior declared.
Just then, Alpha Hydranoid's energy blasts interfered, forcing the two hybrids to dodge.
"How did that?"Centorrior demanded.
"Wait." Dan pulled himself up as Masquerade came into view. "Isn't that..."
"I hope you liked the calling card I just sent you." Masquerade remarked. "Not very subtle, I admit. But effective, don't you think? I am none other than Masquerade."
"Masquerade?" Dan blinked in surprise.
"Alpha Hydranoid!" Drago exclaimed.
"Pathetic." the Darkus Hydranoid chided. "You're a sorry sight since the last time we saw you. I guess it is up to us to help you out of this."
"Then, does this mean..." Dan trailed. "That you'll..."
"Just this one time." Masquerade replied.
"Thank you." Dan smiled.
"I wish I could say that we did not need your help." Drago admitted. "But that is not the case. Will you please help us?"
"With pleasure." Hydranoid replied.
"Naga's underlings, I see." Masquerade noted. "Be prepare, cos I will be your next opponent."
"Listen to that filthy traitor." Druman snorted.
"And I do so despise traitors." Centorrior added.
"There's not much, I know." he noted as Drago fought the in-coming Pyrus Serpenoids. "But I don't see any point wasting my stronger Bakugan on the lights of you."
Hydranoid retaliated by firing numerous energy blasts at the Serpenoids and Gargonoids.
"Hold your fire." Drago warned. "These poor Bakugan are just being used."
"Don't worry." Hydranoid assured. "I'm using my lowest energy level."
"Good thinking." Drago sighed in relief. "Okay, cover me."
"On your mark, get set." Dan started as Hydranoid continued to rain his attacks.
"Go!" Drago barked, taking to the skies.
"Let her rip!" Dan hollered.
"Ultimate Dragon!" Drago let loose a fireball at Centorrior.
"What?" Drago gasped when Centorrior dodged the attack.
"Close but no cigar!" Centorrior declared, thrusting his spear at Drago, knocking both him and Dan back to the ground.
"That's going to leave a mark." Dan winced.
"Hydranoid, incoming!" Masquerade warned.
"Time to teach you a lesson!" Druman attacked the Darkus hydra.
The three-headed Hydranoid fired his energy blasts at the incoming Druman who merely dodged the energy balls.
"Oh, come on, I hope you could do better than that!" Druman then rammed himself into Hydranoid.
"Masquerade!" Dan ran towards him. "There's no way we can do this separately. Let's combine our powers. My Pyrus and your Darkus and take these jokers out."
"Pyrus and Darkus together?" Masquerade echoed.
"Yeah!" Dan smiled. "We'll give these guys a battle they won't forget!"
"Count me in." Masquerade smirked.
"Ability Card activate!" the two tossed down a card each.
"Ultimate Dragon!" Drago released his fireball just as Hydranoid fired his combined energy blasts.
"Pyrus Reflector!" Druman summoned an energy shield, sending the combined attacks at Centorrior's feet.
"What?" Dan exclaimed. "How the heck did he do that?"
"He used the 'Pyrus Reflector'." Masquerade explained. "It's a counter ability that deflects any kind of Pyrus attributed attack."
"If that is the extent of your pathetic human abilities, then I'm afraid you two are in trouble." Centorrior remarked.
"Book it!" Dan warned, the two teens running backwards to dodge Centorrior's rain of energy.
"Man, those guys are pretty tough." Dan admitted after they leapt off the cliff and hid themselves underneath a ledge. "Even Drago and Hydranoid working together couldn't defeat them."
"Listen to me, Dan." Masquerade started.
"Okay, I'm all ears." Dan replied.
"I think I may have an idea." Masquerade remarked.
Up top, Centorrior laughed as he rammed his spear into Hydranoid's body.
Climbing back up, both Dan and Masquerade were attacked by Druman's energy blasts, the shockwave breaking them apart.
"That's it!" Masquerade growled. "Gate Card set!"
"Get on!" Drago landed in front of his partner and Dan climbed onto his head.
"You want some more?" Druman mocked as Drago took to the skies.
"Ability Card activate!" Dan pulled out a card. "Dragon Blood!"
Druman was stunned to find his attacks were deflected by a fire wall around Drago.
Dan smirked as he recalled Masquerade's plan.
Flashback
"I think I may have an idea." Masquerade remarked. "When the time's right, I'll set up a 'Third Judgment' Gate Card."
"How will you know when the time is right?" Dan inquired.
"When Hydranoid and Centorrior are close together, then you lure Druman in." Masquerade explained. "The fact is only one Bakugan can survive the 'Third Judgment', and with Hydranoid's superior strength, we'll take down both of them at once."
"You're a disgrace to the Darkus name." Hydranoid growled. "Pathetic! I'll finish you."
"Huh?" Centorrior was startled when Hydranoid wrapped his mechanical tentacles around him.
"Looks like you're a bit tied up." Hydranoid mocked at the struggling Centorrior.
"Good!" Masquerade smirked. "Now pull him over."
"Come on now." Hydranoid chided as he dragged Centorrior towards Masquerade's Gate Card. "Quit putting up such a fuss."
"My new shoes!" Centorrior gasped.
"That's a good Bakugan." Hydranoid remarked.
"Nice work, Hydranoid." Masquerade noted. "Third Judgment!"
"What have you done?" Centorrior demanded.
"Okay Drago, now!" Dan barked.
"This would do it." Drago decided. "Boosted Ultima!" and sent Druman crushing into the Gate Card with a stream of fire.
"The Third Judgment's been activated." Dan noted.
"All the pieces are in place." Masquerade smirked. "Time for the curtain to drop. There can only be one victor and so do forth, Alpha Hydranoid. Let those vile creatures receive their just reward."
"You will never..." Centorrior growled.
"Win against us!" Druman declared as the two charged at Hydranoid.
"Oh really?" Hydranoid mocked.
"Here we go, Alpha Hydranoid." Masquerade pulled out an Ability Card. "Destroy Vanish!"
"Say goodbye." Hydranoid clumped his teeth on the two hybrids.
"Nice try." Druman chuckled.
"Did you really think it'll be that easy?" Centorrior added.
"Eyes of Destruction!" Druman forced Hydranoid's teeth off the two hybrids.
"Oh no!" Masquerade gasped. "What happened to the 'Destroy Vanish'?"
"Grand Down!" Centorrior chuckled, slamming his spear into the Gate Card.
"Oh no, they're going after Hydranoid!" Dan exclaimed.
"Stay away!" Masquerade barked.
"Masquerade!" Dan shouted. "I can't let you do this alone!"
"Ultimate Dragon!" Drago rushed to the Darkus Bakugan's aid.
"Pyrus Reflector!" Druman deflected the fire blast, sending it towards Hydranoid, causing both Bakugan and human to fall down the crumbling cliff.
"Masquerade!" Dan shouted.
"Oh no, Masquerade!" he gasped, peering over the cliff at the lava river below.
"Looks like two down and two to go." Centorrior remarked.
"Now, you got our undivided attention." Druman appeared in front of a stunned Drago.
"Hey you!" Dan growled and took off running.
Flashback
"But Dan, 'Third Judgment is just a cover and not our real plan of attack." Masquerade added. "And if I get taken down, Dan, you have to cut and run."
Jumping out of the smoke cloud that Centorrior churned with his energy blasts, Dan landed on the ground.
"Come out, come out, wherever you are." Centorrior taunted.
"You can run but you can't hide." he chuckled as Dan continued his marathon.
"Ultimate Dragon!" Drago released a fireball.
"Pyrus Reflector!" Druman deflected the blast. "You can try and try, but your feeble attacks won't even leave a scratch on me."
Meanwhile, Dan was skidding down the cliff as he avoided Centorrior's energy blasts. Leaping off the cliff edge, he jumped onto a protruding rock before clinging onto an overhanging rock
"Having a bad day over here!" Dan hollered after Centorrior fired a blast underneath the spot he was clinging on, causing the rock to fall into the lava below. Climbing on top of the falling rock, he then leapt off the edge to the other side.
"Impressive, but a waste of time." Centorrior remarked.
Drago continued raining his fireballs at Druman who used his energy shield to block the attacks as Dan continued to run.
"Can't... run... anymore..." Dan panted in exhaustion as Druman swatted Drago's fireballs away. "That's it. As far as I can go."
"Well, well, well." Centorrior mocked as he trotted forward. "Have you finally given up trying to avoid your doom?"
"Something like that." Dan replied. "Yeah."
"I should have expected you to turn tail and run when things got dangerous." Centorrior chuckled. "Humans are such cowardly creatures. Now, hand over that statue!"
"What could you possibly find amusing?" he asked upon hearing Dan's chuckle.
"I wasn't running away." Dan corrected. "I just need to get you to stand on the 'X' ."
"And I intentionally used my weakest attack." Drago added, landing beside his partner. "Just so that I can bring you here as well."
"What?" Druman demanded.
Elsewhere on a mountain, Masquerade and Hydranoid stood ready.
"Now, for a real plan of attack!" Hydranoid stated. "Let's see who survives this time. Trident of Doom!"
"Final Destruction!" Masquerade pulled out an Ability Card.
At that, Hydranoid fired his attack, the three energy balls merging into one which flew towards where Centorrior and Druman were gathered.
"Dan, hurry!" Drago urged.
"Right!" Dan climbed onto Drago's head and the Dragoniod took off to the skies.
"This is... impossible!" Centorrior was stunned as Hydranoid's attack hit the two hybrids on the back. (A/N: Now that's what I call a backstab.)
"What was that?" Druman demanded as Hydranoid's attack impacted the ground. "I could've sworn that shot came from way over there!"
"That 'Darkus Long-Range Attack'!" he realized what had happened. "You had this planned all along!"
"Heh, guess we suckered you guys, huh?" Dan taunted.
Flashback
"And if I get taken down, Dan, you have to cut and run." Masquerade stated. "You got to somehow lure them into a wide open area with no obstructions. Then Hydranoid will take aim and shoot this 'Long Range Attack'."
"So then, Hydranoid and Masquerade being taken down was all an act?" Druman snapped.
"Precisely." Drago replied. "Once that was accomplished, we predicted you'll use a Pyrus attribute to fight me off. So, to prolong things, I lowered the strength of my attacks and chased you here. You two were far too self-absorbed to realize."
"We've been tricked!" Druman growled.
"Let's finish this, Drago!" Dan instructed.
"Ultimate Dragon!" Drago charged up his attack.
"Exceed!" Dan pulled out an Ability Card.
Drago then let loose a massive fireball that engulfed Druman completely.
"That ought to do it." Dan smiled.
"Well done, Dan." Masquerade gave a thumbs-up.
After the battle...
"Thank you, Masquerade for all your help." Dan remarked after the two met up once more. "You really saved our bacon. This doesn't have to be the only time though. We should get together and do this again sometime."
"I already explained to you." Masquerade stated, plainly ignoring the raised hand. "I can't do that. It's not my destiny."
In Alice's mind...
"No!" Alice protested, the two now standing face-to-face. "Don't go. Please, we still need your help, Masquerade."
"I cannot help you." Masquerade told his counterpart. "That destiny is your alone."
"No, I can't." Alice objected. "Not all by myself. It's just... I've only began to learn about Bakugan. And I feel so inexperienced. It all seems too much for me."
"You will be fine." Masquerade assured. "I know you can do it."
"But..." Alice stammered. "How?"
"Don't you know?" Masquerade added. "It's because I am you, Alice."
"But Masquerade..." Alice blinked at the Darkus Hydranoid in her counterpart's palm.
"And so, this is our final farewell, Dan." Masquerade stated, as Dan took the handshake.
"Masquerade..." Dan blinked.
"I'm glad my final battle was alongside you." Masquerade finished and removed his mask
In Alice's mind...
"I wish you good luck." Masquerade told his counterpart.
"Masquerade, wait!" Alice called out as the masked blond faded away.
"Alice..." Dan blinked as Masquerade disappeared, for good.
"Goodbye forever." Alice muttered at the mask in her hands. "I'll never forget you."
With that, the mask in her hands broke apart and was blown off.
"Dan!" Runo hollered, the rest of the team walking towards them.
"Hey!" Dan waved.
"Hey guys!" Marucho greeted as the teen ran towards them.
"What's up?" Julie squealed.
"Hey wait!" Runo exclaimed.
"Is that..." Marucho was stunned.
"It is!" Julie added. "It's Alice!"
"What is she doing in Vestroia?" Marucho asked.
"Alice!" Runo picked up her pace.
"Runo!" Alice blinked as the said girl buried her head on her shoulder.
"Where were you?" Runo sobbed. "I was so worried about you."
"I'm sorry to make you worry, Runo." Alice apologized.
"I really must apologize to all of you." she bowed in apology after Runo released her.
"Don't mention it." Marucho beamed. "Afterall, we are your friends aren't we?"
"But, can someone tell me why Alpha Hydranoid is here?" Julie asked.
"And tell us why he's on our side?" Shun added.
"That's because he's my Bakugan now." Alice giggled. "Isn't that right, Hydranoid?"
"From this day forth, Alice." Hydranoid replied. "I battle with you."
"I just realized!" Marucho exclaimed. "Now we have them all!"
"Them all?" Julie echoed. "All who?"
"Aquos, Ventus, Pyrus, Subterra, Haos, and now Darkus." Marucho recited the six attributes. "As of this moment, we have all six Bakugan attributes."
"All six attributes?" Alice echoed. "Marucho's right."
"All right!" Dan whooped. "This is perfect! Now, we're ready to go take down Naga."
"Perfect." Druman laughed at the rejoicing teens.
"Just as Naga planned." Centorrior added.
On Earth...
With the six attributed Bakugan finally in place, the Purity Gem started pulsing.
"Grandfather." Joe nodded a greeting to Shun's grandfather as Wavern urged him into Eva's room, the Infinity Core within the female Bakugan resonating with the Purity Gem.
"Princess!" Wavern exclaimed in surprise as Eva awoke.
SailorStar9: Wee, Eva's has finally awoken. Now that's done, read and review.