SailorStar9: Finally a review. I thought you guys don't love me anymore. (Sighs in relief). Anyway, this is Chapter 19. Read and review.
Disclaimers: I do not own both the animes. However, I do own the pairing, I hope.
Chapter 19: Man's Decoration
"Ow, my butt." Dan winced.
"What's that?" Marucho asked.
"Hey, that's Wellington Tower!" Julie exclaimed.
"So, we're back on Earth again?" Dan inquired.
"Dan, can you hear me?" Joe's voice came over the Baku-pod. "Come in, Dan!"
"Joe, what's up?" Dan asked.
Around the city...
"Attention citizens of Wellington. Aliens are approaching city. Do not panic. Please follow the instructions in your 'Alien Invasion Manual' and evacuate to the nearest available shelter." the announcer came. "I repeat, please evacuate to the nearest available shelter."
At Dan's place...
"Miyoko!" Dan's father called. "Are you almost ready to leave the town?"
Around the city...
"Please do not run and scream." the announced droned.
In a shelter...
"I'm coming to you live from a helicopter above the ocean." Tiffany reported. "The aliens that first appeared off the coast of Africa are now heading for Wellington City. We'll be sure to let you know if we see any sign of them. Nothing appears unusual at this time. Oh my, there's something coming this way. It appears to be a young girl surfing. "
"Can you hear me down there?" she shouted over the loudspeaker.
"Oh, I hear you." Taygen replied.
"It seems to be an alien!" Tiffany exclaimed as Taygen revealed her full form.
"Oh no!" someone gasped when the broadcast was cut off. "What can we do?"
"There's something fishy about this!" Tiffany exclaimed as the helicopter dodged Taygen's attack.
"Now it's time to take this city!" Taygen headed towards the shore. "And it looks like I'm the first one here."
"A forcefield?" she fumed when she rammed into an invisible shield. "So, they think they can keep me out, do they? I'll show them how strong I really am!"
Inside Wellington Tower...
"What?" Dan demanded . "All the evil Bakugan that have appeared all over the world are headed towards Wellington City?"
"That's right." Joe replied. "And Wavern's Infinity Core is starting to heat up. It's sensing the presence of Naga's Silent Core, here on Earth."
"Can we stop those Bakugan from getting to the city?" Shun asked.
"Hope so." Joe replied. "Wavern's using the Infinity Core's powers to keep the forcefield up all around Wellington right now. But it's a real struggle for her. She can't take much more. If we don't do something real soon, we'll lose her."
"Wavern, come on! Hang in here!" Drago urged as Wavern let out a pained scream.
"Wavern!" Joe picked up the glowing Bakugan.
"Drago..." Wavern choked. "Help... me..."
"This is bad." Shun noted. "Soon that forcefield will disappear completely."
"Snap, and you know who's responsible for this!" Dan hissed. "It's Naga!"
"I know things are heating up, but this is no time to lose your cool." Kato came over the Baku-pod.
"That you, Kato?" the Brawlers exclaimed.
"Yo." Kato winked. "Those evil Bakugan are pretty close. There's not a moment to waste. You'll have to work fast if you want to stop them."
"Hey, what gives?" Preyas inquired. "Who put the old-timer in charge?"
"Look here, Preyas." Kato retorted.
"Hey, how did you know my name?" Preyas inquired.
"I've assessed Master Marucho's family's private satellite network and made some very unsettling discoveries. As you're about to see, you'll soon be doing battle with a combined forces of some very dangerous Bakugan. I know some of you will recognize these nasty characters from your previous battles. I'll zoom in to give you a better look."
"Tricloid?" Runo exclaimed.
"Rabeeder?" Julie blinked.
"And Taygen." Dan added. "So, they're all coming for the Infinity Core and the Purity Gem."
"They tricked us!" Preyas fumed. "They pretended to lose their battles and came to Earth for a sneak attack."
"If that's the way they want to play, then let me at them!" Diablo growled.
"Preyas, are you ready for a battle?" Marucho asked his Bakugan.
"Marucho..." Runo remarked.
"Runo, Preyas and I can handle this." Marucho assured her. "Somebody has to stop those evil Bakugan from getting into the city."
"Okay, then why don't Gorem and I go after Tricloid?" Julie offered.
"Excellent idea." Gorem agreed. "It'll be a pleasure."
"Right!" Dan decided. "Then I'll taker Rabeeder."
"No, Dan." Alice cut in. "I'll take Rabeeder. I think Drago needs to stay here with Wavern and Eva."
"Yeah, but Alice..." Dan protested.
"I'll be okay." Alice assured him. "I have Hydranoid here to help me and I want to show you guys that I'm a real member of the Battle Brawlers too, okay?"
"Okay." Dan agreed.
"Rabeeder and Tricloid will be close to Wellington City very soon." Shun added. "We should stay here and watch out for them."
"Alright!" Dan agreed. "Be careful, Alice."
"I will." Alice nodded.
"Julie, Marucho, you too." Dan turned to the other two.
"The Battle Brawlers to the rescue!" Julie beamed.
"Wavern?" Joe blinked at the wincing Bakugan after Alice, Julie and Marucho headed off to their battlefields.
"It's the Infinity Core." Eva concluded.
"I'm sorry." Wavern apologized. "The forcefield... I can't hold it anymore!"
"No!" her scream rang out as the forcefield receded.
"I should be the one apologizing, Wavern." Eva rested a finger above Wavern's forehead. "It was I who burdened you with this, afterall."
With a sigh, she turned to the window with a determined look in her eyes. Without warning, her Cosmo flared, forcing everyone else to back off.
"Shun?" Skyress looked over at her contemplating partner who she noticed was staring unwaveringly at Eva and fingering his mother's engagement ring hanging around his neck.
"I see... so that's what his grandfather meant." the Ventus bird muttered. If she was in her real form, you could see her knowing smirk.
Shun's POV
It's that feeling again... the teen ninja-in-training thought. Every time I see her, I get this strange sense of over-protectiveness; like I'm supposed to protect her from something.
Flashback
It was late in the evening one night when Shun's grandfather called the teen to his room. Pulling out a box of mementos, the aged ninja showed his grandson a ring box.
"I believe it's time you inherited this." the elder Kazami remarked.
At Shun's blink, he reminisced, "I can still see it clearly. She received that from your grandmother and had such a smile on her face when she put it on. I asked her what was so great about getting an old ring. 'It's the only one in the world. Why wouldn't it be great?' she said."
"Shun," he looked at his grandson. "I may be old, but I'm not blind. I have eyes that see; at how you've looked at the patient on our house. Your soul is calling out to her, just as hers is calling out to yours."
"Grandfather..." Shun protested.
His grandfather raised a hand to stop him.
"I know a pair of Soul Twins when I see one." he remarked.
Handing the silver circlet to the teen, he added, "I trust you'll know when is the right time to give it to her."
By the docks...
"Oh dear!" Angelo exclaimed when Taygen smashed through the weakening forcefield. "We're too late! Taygen's broken through the forcefield."
"Here they come." Marucho stopped at the docks.
"I knew we'd break through eventually." Taygen scoffed. "Now, lets find the Infinity Core and the Purity Gem. Naga will be so proud of us."
"We'll have to try to stop them on our own." Marucho remarked. "Right, Preyas? You know what to do!"
"Bakugan, roll!" Jenny and Jewels tossed in their Bakugan.
On the water's surface, Jenny's Siege and Jewel's Centipoid appeared.
"What?" Taygen gaped when Siege charged at her.
"Hold on!" Marucho exclaimed, when Siege's spear was caught between Taygen's teeth. "Where did those Bakugan come from?"
"Sorry sister." Jenny retorted. "We can't let you pass."
"Yeah, don't go there, girlfriend." Jewels agreed. "This is a bad-guy free zone."
"So, get lost." Jenny added.
"Yeah, hit the road, okay?" Jewels remarked.
"JJ Dolls say go away." the pair chorused. "Bang!"
"Oh my!" Marucho went into 'fan-boy mode'. "It's Jenny and Jewels. Oh, I downloaded all you music, but what are you doing here?"
"Well, we're supposed to be on tour." Jenny replied. "But when we got here, we found out that our sold-out show has been canceled because this evil Bakugan was on the attack."
"And everybody knows our fans mean everything to us." Jewels added. "JJ Dolls are mad."
"Oh yeah!" the two chorused. "Very mad!"
"What a couple of divas." Preyas sweatdropped.
"I guess our fans are going to see a different show today." Jenny decided. "Okay, let's get busy!"
"I'm their big fan." Marucho admitted. "Do you mean to tell me that the JJ Dolls is doing this all for me?"
"Marucho!" Preyas chided. "Get with the program! This is no dress rehearsal! This is the real deal!"
"Yeah, you're right, Preyas." Marucho agreed. "Hey I know. If you're up for a match, we can form a new group and battle together. What do you say?"
"Oh man." Preyas sighed. "This kid's got stars in his eyes."
"Sure!" Jewels beamed.
"Whoa, check that out!" Preyas noted as the JJ Dolls started their new dance routine. "You go girl! Show us what you've got!
"Did you like that one?" Jewels smiled. "Jenny and I were rehearsing for our tour, you know. K, thanks, but we'll handle it from here. Now ,why don't you just sit there quietly and watch us do our thing?"
"Okay, Gate Card set!" Jenny tossed in a card. "Aquos Siege battle!"
"Subterra Centipoid!" Jewels shouted.
"You just can't attack!" Preyas exclaimed. "You have to have a plan."
"It looks to me that they've done this before." Angelo noted.
"The show must go on." Jenny remarked.
"You bet!" Jewels agreed.
"They don't stand a chance against me." Taygen smirked. "Aquos Shotgun!"
"Sorry." Jenny smiled as Siege swatted the attack aside. "But that's not going to work. Gate Card, open."
"I'll try this one." she tossed in an Ability Card. "Dive Mirage."
"Okay, my turn." Jewel revealed another Ability Card. "Desert Hole!
"Now what are they up to?" Taygen wondered.
"What's this?" she looked down at the glowing Gate Card.
"Now, the 'Mind Ghost'!" Jenny winked.
"Bye-bye now!" the pair chorused.
Taygen screamed as she was blown off.
"We did it!" Jenny cheered.
"All right!" Jewels gave her partner a high-five. "Good job!"
"You guys really are the greatest." Marucho applauded. "I think I'm in love!"
"Hold on, it's not over!" Preyas warned as Taygen came back.
"You're just a couple of showoffs!" Taygen growled. "I'll take care of you both at the same time!"
"Lower Fluxes!" she released a new attack.
"Uh oh... Jenny muttered.
"AH!" the two girls squealed.
"I'll save you!" Marucho placed himself in front of them. "Go, Preyas!"
"Aquos Preyas is here!" Preyas posed.
"Maybe I'll try another move instead." he sweatdropped.
"Aqua Guardian!" he raised a water wall to deflect the attack.
"That hurt." Jewels whined.
"Are you two okay?" Marucho asked his idols.
"How sweet." Jenny muttered.
"Marucho, believe me." Jewels stated. "We've been through much worse than this and we never give up. Ever!"
"That's right." Jenny agreed. "As long as there are fans like you cheering us on, I know we'll make it."
"JJ Dolls are going to be Number One." Jewels declared.
"Oh yeah!" the two chorused.
"And to you folks at home, be sure to pick up our brand new CD." they turned to the camera.
"Er, ladies." the cameraman started as the girls posed for the camera. "There's no time for this."
"Well, all this free publicity has to be worth something to us." Jewel remarked.
"Cheese!" the girls posed.
"This has to be the greatest thing that ever happened to me." Marucho gushed.
"Oh, give me a break." Diablo chided.
"Everyone, get in front of your TV." Jenny requested. "Give us your strength, so we can win."
"Now, here's a song just for you." Jewels added.
"I've got the best seat in the house." Marucho flushed.
"We're gonna give you a surprise." the JJ Dolls sang. "We're gonna battle against the bad guys. We can beat them cos everyone's on our side."
"That was close." Preyas sighed when he caught the falling Siege.
"And the Bakugan are free." the girls continued to sing when Centipoid was smashed against the water wall.
"Centipoid!" Jewels gasped.
"Ah!" the girls squealed.
"I've got you!" Diablo pushed the falling wall off.
"Do I have to do all the work?" he sighed after the girls posed for the camera once the danger was over.
"Hey, you guys, over here!"" one of the JJ Dolls' fans shouted from the other side of the docks. "Jewels, Jenny, we're rooting for ya!"
"Thank you, everyone!" the two beamed.
"This has gone on long enough!" Taygen fumed and shot two blasts at Preyas and Diablo.
"That'll leave a mark." Diablo muttered as the two climbed out of the warehouse they had crushed into. "It's not I don't enjoy your music, but I really feel it'll work big and tough, it'll be a great idea to concentrate on the battle. I mean, really! What's with all the hip-hop?"
"Like you can do any better." Preyas scoffed.
"Hey, that's it!" Marucho exclaimed when an idea came to his head. "I've got it! We can all do much better. All our Bakugan have different strengths. If we combine them all, we can win this. We'll be an unstoppable force. We'll use the' Aquos Triple Chain Attack'!"
"But, that's never been done before!" Preyas noted.
"Yeah, that's a gusty move." Diablo agreed.
"That sounds like of complicated." Jenny noted.
"Of course it is." Marucho replied.
"Yeah, but what will our fans think?" Jewels asked.
"I don't know." Marucho admitted.
"Is it safe?" Preyas exclaimed.
"Well, it's worth a try." Marucho remarked.
"Oh, it's okay." Jewels replied. "Trust us. I think what we're doing at this point. Watch, a Trap Door!"
"What's she doing now?" Preyas panicked.
"Oh no!" Marucho exclaimed. "All those people on the wharf are getting in the way of the attack!"
"If that's your strategy, then I'm definitely not joining your fan club." Diablo added.
"Relax." Jenny assured. "This way, everyone can get a better view of the both of us and all the action."
"And if we add a dramatic finish, I'll be fun for the whole family." Jewels added. "So, are you ready for this, Mr. Cameraman?"
"Let's give them a show!" Jenny declared after the two recalled their Bakugan.
"Watch as JJ Dolls put an end to these evil Bakugan once and for all!" Jewels added.
"Enough of your games!" Taygen growled. "Get on with it already!"
"Here we go, everyone!" the girls chorused. "Bakugan, roll!"
"Take this!" Taygen conjured up a whirlwind that blew the idols off.
"Oh no!" Jenny gasped when the underside of her skirt was caught on a hanging hook of a crane. "Somebody help me, I'm stuck!"
"Don't let go!" Jewels exclaimed.
"Help me!" Jenny cried.
"No, help me first!" Jewels whined.
"Oh no, Jenny, Jewels!" Marucho gasped.
"I guess that's showbiz for ya." Diablo noted.
"What a tragic turn of events." Angelo added. "Hang on, my ladies, I'll fly right over there and rescue you."
"Mesmerize!" Taygen sent her scales flying.
"Angelo!" Marucho gasped when the Aquos-Haos Bakugan splashed into the water.
"Nope, can't do it." Preyas remarked, landing back to his partner when his rescue attempt failed.
"I've wasted enough time with these two." Taygen growled. "It's time to do what I really came for! Get the Infinity Core and the Purity Gem for Naga!"
"What are we going to do, Preyas?" Marucho asked. "We have to save them or else they're goners!"
"This can't be the end of JJ Dolls!" he panicked when Jenny's skirt started to tear.
"This is not good." Preyas noted. "If I go over there, I'll just get shot down again."
"If only there was some way we can stop Taygen from using her abilities." Marucho mused.
"Don't forget." Angelo reminded. "Taygen can use both Aquos and Ventus abilities. Stopping her isn't going to be easy."
"Aquos and Ventus..." Marucho thought for a while. "Wait! I think I've got it!"
"Here comes my final attack!" Taygen grinned.
"Oh no!" Preyas muttered.
"We'll just have to go for it, Preyas." Marucho told his partner. "Are you ready for this?"
"Alright, Gate Card set!" he tossed in a card, pretty much ignoring Preyas' protests. "Bakugan, roll! Gate Card, open! Subterra Hazard!"
"What's happening?" Taygen demanded when she turned brown.
"Hey! I didn't go through an attribute Card, but I changed to Subterra anyway." Preyas noted, looking at himself.
"What did you do, Marucho?" Angelo asked.
"It's quite simple." Marucho explained. "With the 'Subterra Hazard' Card, I make all Bakugan in the battle area Subterra attributed. So now, Taygen can only use Subterra abilities. And that means..."
"It's going to have a tough time, cos it can't use all the water and wind abilities it liked so much." Preyas finished the sentence.
"I'll make you pay for that!" Taygen fumed. "But wait, you lost your Aquos abilities too. Dio you really think, you can win against me by throwing away your best weapon? I know you're not that powerful."
"That's right." Angelo agreed. "Marucho, what are we going to do?"
"It's okay." Marucho replied. "Preyas didn't know that he can always change attributes to Subterra. Taygen won't battle him while he's a Subterra attributed Bakugan."
"Just do the best you can for a while, Preyas!" he shouted.
"Come on Angelo." he turned to the Aquos-Haos Bakugan. "We've got to save JJ Dolls while we still have time!"
"Now I get it." Angelo realized. "Okay, let's go."
"Wait, don't leave me!" Preyas exclaimed when the two took off. "Explain that again!"
"I'm out of here!" he fled as Taygen chased him.
"You guys okay?" Marucho peered over Angelo's shoulder once the Aquos-Haos Bakugan saved the girls from falling.
"For a minute there, I didn't think you were going to make it." he admitted once Angelo placed the girls on the ground.
"Thanks." Jenny replied. "You saved us."
"Yeah." Jewels agreed. "We owe you, Marucho."
"We have to finish the battle." Marucho reminded. "Let's go!"
"No thanks." Jenny remarked.
"Yeah, I don't feel like going through that again." Jewels added.
"But Preyas is battling all by himself and we need you two to win this." Marucho protested. "Please!"
"Sorry, I won't do that." Jenny backed off.
"I guess you'll have to do it yourself." Jewels added.
"No way!" Marucho complained.
"And you call yourselves JJ Dolls!" he fumed. "You said you'd do anything for your fans and that you'll never give up no matter what! Or was that only when there's a camera on you?"
"Well..." Jenny started.
"Can't you hear their voices?" Marucho pointed to the growing crowd over at the wharf. "Listen to that! They're still cheering for you! The JJ Dolls have fans all around the world and they still believe in you! You can't hear what they're saying?"
"Let's do it!" Jenny decided.
"Yeah!" Jewels agreed.
"So you guys will help me finish this battle?" Marucho inquired.
"Sure!" the girls replied.
"Great! Then let's shake on it!" Marucho remarked.
"All right!" Jewels took his hand.
"Marucho, we'll do anything for our Number One fan." Jewels told him.
"Anything at all!" they chorused.
"I've been waiting to hear that all day long." Marucho noted.
"Yeah, let's get to work!" the girls commented.
"I could use a little help out here!" Preyas shouted when he was half-swallowed by Taygen.
"Hold on, this looks like a job for Diablo." Angelo noted.
"I wouldn't eat Preyas if I were you, he'll only give you indigestion." Diablo remarked.
"I'm free at last." Preyas sighed in relief when Diablo's kick freed him from becoming fish food.
"If we work together, we can win this battle!" Marucho was determined.
"Count on it!" the girls chorused.
"Gate Card, set!" Marucho tossed a card.
"Bakugan, roll!" the girls tossed in their Bakugan.
"Gate Card, open!" came Marucho's next instruction. "Aqua Hazard! Now, watch this! I've changed the battle area into an Aquos controlled area and Jewel's Centipoid is also changed from Subterra to Aquos."
"Wow!" Jewels gushed. "And blue's always been my favorite color!" causing Preyas and Diablo to face-fault while her Centipoid managed a sweatdrop.
"Now I can use the 'Aquos Triple Chain Attack'!" Marucho declared.
"Oh yeah!" the two Preyases noted.
"I don't need my Ventus power to beat you." Taygen grinned. "I can take you all down by using only my Aquos power. No problem."
"We'll see about that!" Marucho retorted.
"He's the man!" Jewels declared.
"And JJ Dolls are right by his side!" the two chorused.
"Here we go!" Marucho posed. "You'll never get your claws on the Infinity Core and the Purity Gem now!"
"Poseidon Tornado!" Taygen released a hurricane.
"'Aquos Triple Chain Attack'!" Marucho pulled out an Ability Card.
"Special!" the JJ Dolls chorused as their Bakugan started spinning around.
"What's this?" Taygen demanded when the four Bakugan's whirlwind overpowered hers. "No!"
"No, it's no possible!" she squealed, as she was flushed down the whirlpool
"We did it!" Jewels beamed as the four Bakugan returned to their partners' hands.
"All right, it's all over!" Marucho cheered. "Marucho and the JJ Dolls have done it!"
"Oh wow, that was really exciting." Jenny gashed. "Let's do it again."
"Marucho." Jewels turned the pre-teen to face her. "You're the best."
"Me?" Marucho blinked, his brain short-circuiting when the two kissed him on the cheek.
SailorStar9: Marucho's fight is done! Next, it's Julie's turn to battle. Now that's done, read and review.