SailorStar9: Finally a review. I thought you guys don't love me anymore. (Sighs in relief). Anyway, this is Chapter 21. Read and review.

Disclaimers: I do not own both the animes. However, I do own the pairing, I hope.

Chapter 21: This Is My Path of Living

By the oil field...

"Oh right though." Rabeeder remarked as the workers fled. "There's got to be at least a few good-looking guys around here. Then again, I could be wrong."

"Get a hold of yourself, Rabeeder." she scolded herself. "You're here to get to the Infinity Core and the Purity Gem. Everything else is just have to wait."

"Hey kid!" one of the fleeing workers shouted as Christoper hurried to the battlefield. "You're going the wrong way!"

"So, that's Rabeeder." Alice noted as she arrived on scene. "Christoper!"

"I wonder if Tricloid is making out okay be herself." Rabeeder wondered. "I sure hope she's obeying Naga's orders."

"Ger ready!" Christoper shouted at the hybrid. "You're going down!"

"Come on, you're just a kid." Rabeeder looked at the boy. "But I guess I'd better fight ya. I got to take this way more seriously or lest Naga will have my head."

"I'm with you, Christoper." Alice jumped in beside him.

"Thanks so much, Alice." Christoper looked at her. "Where did you go, anyway? You had me so worried."

"I'm really sorry." Alice apologized. "I promise we won't leave you again."

"So, are you two just going to stand there or what?" Rabeeder asked.

I guess my battle's started. And not as Masquerade, but as me. Alice looked at Hydranoid.

"Okay." Hydranoid told her. "Let's do this. I'm with you all the way, Alice."

"That's great." Alice smiled. "Thank you, Hydranoid."

"Let's knock her off that throne." she told the younger Brawler.

"Bakugan, roll!" the two chorused.

"Juggernoid, stand!" Christoper summoned her partner.

"Hydranoid, stand!" Alice followed suit.

"You ready to do this, Hydranoid?" Juggernoid asked.

"Oh yeah!" Hydranoid replied. "We'll never let Naga have the Infinity Core and the Purity Gem. We no longer serve the likes of him."

"So you're the Bakugan I heard about that did dare turn his back on Naga?" Rabeeder noted. "Tou sure picked the right side there, buddy-boys."

"The Princess' light has guided us to our right path." Hydranoid growled.

"Enhancement!" Rabeeder summoned her attack.

"Hey, Alice." Christoper was by her side when Rabeeder's light shots rained on them. "Are you okay?"

"Yes, I am." Alice assured him. "Thanks Christoper."

"Back to work, Juggernoid." Christoper instructed.

"Got ya!" Juggernoid replied.

"Ability Card, activate!" Christoper tossed in an Ability Card. "Depth Tornado!"

"Say what?" Rabeeder demanded as the Aquos turtle spun in mid-air.

"All right!" Christoper cheered as Juggernoid slammed into the hybrid.

"Now, Alice!" Hydranoid stated.

"Right." Alice replied, tossing in an Ability Card. "Ability Card, activate. Flash and Blast Extreme!"

"I'm guessing this isn't a hug?" Rabeeder noted as Hydranoid's tentacles wrapped around her, before screaming as Hydranoid's middle head fired a shot at her.

"She's looking for love in all the wrong places." Christoper joked.

"Oh well." Alice shrugged. "You can't win them all."

"Wow, you're unbelievable, Christoper." she smiled. "You've so strong."

"I guess." Christoper replied. "My ranking as a Battler has gone up quite a bit. And it's all thanks to you, Alice."

"Why you!" Rabeeder fumed as she flew back.

"She doesn't look too happy." Alice noted.

Back at the docks...

"Poseidon Tornado!" Taygen released a hurricane.

"'Aquos Triple Chain Attack'!" Marucho pulled out an Ability Card.

"Blue Lagoon!" Preyas posed.

"Power Gate!" Diablo added.

"That's no possible!" Taygen squealed, as she was flushed down the whirlpool.

Meanwhile in the mountains...

"Bye-bye." Tricloid sank underground.

Billy retorted. "You're not getting away that easily. Sinister Smash!"

"Owie!" Tricloid was sent flying.

"Hey Gorem, try this!" Julie pulled out an Ability Care. "Grand Impact!"

"Now, this is going to hurt me a lot more than it's going to hurt you." Gorem remarked.

"Somehow, I find that hard to believe!" Tricloid squealed as Gorem smashed her with his hammer.

At headquarters...

"Come in, Master Dan." Kato opened the communicator. "Can you hear me?"

"I hear you." Dan popped up on screen.

"Master Marucho has beaten Taygen and Miss Julie has defeated Tricloid." Kato informed the Brawlers.

"Sweet!" Dan smiled. "That's the best news I've heard all day."

Outside Wellington Tower...

"I fear my brother, Naga, will find me." Wavern voiced her concern. "He will take the Infinity Core and then do away with me."

At Drago's stunned look, she added, "It doesn't matter to him that I am his twin sister."

"Yes, I'm afraid that will not deter him." Drago agreed.

"I also fear that I lack the strength to battle my brother." Wavern admitted. "Every time the Infinity Core inside me emits some of its positive energy, my own life energy is drained away."

"Please, don't worry." Drago assured her. "You leave Naga to us. We won't let him touch your or the Princess."

"Thank you." Wavern replied.

"But listen." she turned to him. "If it looks like Naga can't be stopped; that he is going to get to me, then Drago, I want you to do it before he does."

"Do what?" Drago inquired.

"I want you to process the Infinity Core before my evil brother has the chance." Wavern requested.

"Don't be foolish!" Drago scolded.

"But..." Wavern protested.

"It's impossible! Ridiculous!" Drago snapped. "How could you even ask that?"

"Drago, I ask because it is you." Wavern told him.

Inside the Tower...

"Bad news." Kato came with another report. "Hairadee has been sighted above Wellington City. Obviously, Centorrior and Druman cannot be very far behind."

"Right." Shun looked up. "Let me go after Hairadee."

"Sounds like a plan to me." Dan noted. "Kick it."

"Okay, let's do this up right." Shun took off down the staircase. "Bakugan, roll! Skyress, stand!"

"Come on, Dan." Runo started. "We should go too."

"Yeah." Dan replied. "But I have to find Drago first."

"Right here, my friend." Drago leapt into his partner's hand at the wind vent.

"Where the heck did you go?" Dan asked.

"Sorry." Drago replied and turned to Wavern. "Wavern, I can only promise this; I will protect you and Princess Eva from Naga, nothing more, nothing less.

"Let's rock!" Dan and Runo took off.

"Drago..." Wavern looked at the Pyrus Dragoniod before the lift door shut.

"Eva!" Joe gasped, looking over at the weakening girl who had sank to her knees in exhaustion.

Back at the oil rig...

"Ability Card, activate!" Alice pulled out an Ability Card. "Blinding Spike!"

"This smells like Retinal!" Rabeeder exclaimed as the Darkus energy swirled around her.

"Christoper!" Juggernoid called out. "We're up!"

"Ability Card, activate!" Christoper pulled out an Ability Card. "Super Shard!"

"Did it work?" Juggernoid asked after firing his shell shards.

"Not quite." Hydranoid replied.

"Diamond Reflect!" Rabeeder had summoned a crystal shield around herself.

"Oh no!" Christoper gasped. "She blocked our attack!"

"My turn!" Alice remarked. "Gate Card, set! Bring it on!"

"Sorry to bother you, miss." Kato's voice came over her Baku-pod.

"Yes, what is it?" Alice asked.

"Shall I have Master Marucho and Miss Julie come around to help you out a little?" Kato inquired. "Master Marucho has defeated Taygen and Miss Julie has defeated Tricloid."

"No thanks." Alice replied. "I'll be okay. I much rather have them protect Eva and Wavern."

"Roger that." Kato answered. "Over."

"Hey!" Rabeeder fumed. "What did he just say to you? Did he say that they defeated Tricloid?"

"Well, kind of..." Alice stammered.

"It can't be..." Rabeeder muttered. "My poor little Tricloid!"

"I'll get you for that!" she swore. "I'll make you all pay with your lives!"

"Juggernoid!" Christoper gasped as the Aquos Bakugan was slammed into the warehouse by Rabeeder's enraged punch. "Are you okay?"

"Gate Card, open!" Alice instructed. "Darkus Destroyer!"

"What is this?" Hydranoid winced as his Darkus power was weakened when Rabeeder shone her light through the dark energy. "My strength is fading..."

"Well, I thought I might just shed a little light on things around here." Rabeeder remarked. "And light counteracts your Darkus powers. All that's left is to turn you to stone!"

"Haos Freeze!" she released her attack.

"Hydranoid!" Alice gasped as the Darkus Bakugan started crystallizing feet-first.

"You shut down my Darkus powers with your Haos powers and now you're turning me to a statue?" Hydranoid growled.

"You're next in line." Rabeeder laughed and looked at Juggernoid. "So get ready!"

"How can I protectJuggernoid?" Christoper inquired.

"Use Dive Mirage." came Klaus' advice.

"That's right." Christoper noted. "Ability Card, activate! Dive Mirage!"

"That saved him." he beamed when Rabeeder's attack missed. "Hey, who said that anyway?"

"Looks like I got here just in the nick of time." Klaus remarked.

"But how did you..." Alice trailed.

"Who are you?" Rabeeder asked the newcomer. "Tell me!"

"My name isKlaus Von Hertzon." Klaus replied.

"Klaus, it's you." Alice blinked.

"I'm glad you're okay, Alice." Klaus told her. "I hadn't planned on helping you battle until I won against you myself. But what with the Earth in danger, I figured I could put aside my own concerns. It is time, for the world's finest Battlers to come together and combine forces."

"Klaus Von Hertzon?" Christoper echoed. "Hey, wait a sec. You mean the Klaus Von Hertzon, world's top ranking Aquos Brawler?"

"So, I gathered from your knowledge, that you're an Aquos Brawler too." Klaus looked at the child. "That's very commendable. And now I will show you how to engage in a perfect Aquos battle. You see, it's all in the wrist!"

"I got to admit, you're actually pretty cute." Rabeeder remarked. "Any other time, I'll be all over your action. But unfortunately, I'm not in a good mood right now. Time for revenge for what you did to my poor sister, Tricloid. I'm going to destroy each and every one of you!"

"Maybe you should take a second and look down." Klaus suggested. "Ability Card activate! Deep Sea Dive!"

"Don't want to get wet..." Rabeeder shivered. "Don't want to get wet..."

"I hope you brought a change of clothes." Klaus chuckled as Sirenoid dragged the hybrid down.

"I can't resist being pulled deeper." Rabeeder gaggled. "Let me go!"

"I'm going to drown!" Christoper choked as he and Klaus dived right in.

"It's okay." Klaus told the boy. "Don't worry. This water isn't actually real, it's just an illusion created by the 'Deep Sea Dive' Ability Card."

"Oh wow." Christoper blinked. "It's like I can breathe underwater."

"I'll get you out of this." Juggernoid told the trapped Hydranoid. "Hang in there."

"It's not that I have much choice." Hydranoid replied. "Now go!"

"Right!" Juggernoid remarked and dived in.

"Alice!" Hydranoid looked at his partner who was hurrying over. "You should go too! Is that kid okay on his own?"

"Oh yeah, Christoper will be just fine." Alice told him. "More importantly, we have to do something about getting you free. But what?"

"Gate Card, open!" came Klaus' next instruction. "Accelerate!"

"Hey, I only have Haos and Subterra powers." Rabeeder complained as Sirenoid washed her away with a whirlwind. "Don't you think this is a bit unfair?"

"Forcing one's opponent into a situation which is to one's own advantage and using the field's characteristics to increase one's chance of winning." Klaus continued his lecture. "These tactics are just common sense. Any good Battler can tell you that. Christoper, why don't you do the honors?"

"My pleasure." Christoper replied. "You ready, Juggernoid?"

"Ready and willing!" Juggernoid replied. "Water Slap!"

"Oh my!" Rabeeder exclaimed as Juggernoid's attack rushed towards her. "This can't be good! Ability, counter!"

"That's better." she nullified the 'Deep Sea Dive' Card. "But my hair's a disaster!"

"Oh no!" Alice gaped.

"She got out somehow." Christoper added.

"So, you managed to counter my 'Deep Sea Dive' ability." Klaus mused. "Let's see how you deal with this! Gate Card, open! Aqua Merge!"

"That changes every Bakugan's attributes, except for Subterra and Aquos." Alice realized.

"I see you really have a lot to learn." Klaus noted. "Lesson two: if your field card is been beaten, make your opponent's attributes the same as your own. Sirenoid!"

"Coming right up!" Sirenoid replied. "Wave Blast!"

"Christoper!" Klaus told the boy after Sirenoid blasted Rabeeder with a wave of water from her harp. "Why not deliver the ku na feus?"

"Do your thing, Juggernoid!" Christoper told his partner.

"Depth Tornado!" Juggernoid released his attack.

"We did it!" Alice beamed.

"Don't speak too soon there, girlie!" Rabeeder snapped.

"She survived." Klaus was stunned.

"I still got a thing or two up my sleeve, like maybe a Subterra ability." Rabeeder charged up. "I'll chew you up and spit you out like a bat for real. I'll avenge Tricloid if it's the last thing I do! And then after that, I'll revenge again!"

"Terra Crunch!" she released her attack.

"Sirenoid!" Hydranoid choked as the attack washed over the two Aquos Bakugan. "Juggernoid! If only I could move!"

"It's no use, Sirenoid!" Klaus growled. "Come back!"

"You too, Juggernoid, and hurry!" Christoper added, the two Aquos Bakugan returning to their partners' hands.

"Please accept our deepest apologies." Sirenoid remarked.

"We have failed you." Juggernoid added.

"No way." Christoper shook his head. "You two did your very best, and so did, poor Hydranoid."

"Oh no..." Alice muttered, stroking the crystal. "Hydranoid."

"A Bakugan who can only move his head isn't going to be a whole lot use now, is he?" Rabeeder mocked.

"I have three heads!" Hydranoid corrected.

"So you think that there's strength in numbers?" Rabeeder scoffed. "Then try this on for size!"

"It's hopeless." Alice muttered when Rabeeder used her 'Doppelganger' ability. "What am I supposed to do now?"

Flashback

"Shall I have Master Marucho and Miss Julie come around to help you out a little?" Kato inquired.

"No thanks." Alice replied. "I'll be okay. I much rather have them protect Eva and Wavern."

"I was wrong." Alice realized. "I should have asked them to help me. Why didn't I ask for help when I had the chance? Now Hydranoid's trouble and it's too late!"

"Get a hold of yourself!" Klaus scolded. "Calm down!"

"What's the matter?" Rabeeder mocked. "Is someone feeling outnumbered?"

"It's no use." Alice muttered. "We can't win all by ourselves!"

"Snap out of it, Alice!" Christoper barked. "Just listen to yourself! It doesn't matter how many opponents there are if you believe in yourself!"

"Believe in myself?" Alice echoed.

"Enough talk!" Rabeeder cut in. "It's time for revenge!"

"Sorry Hydranoid." Alice told her partner. "I believe in myself and I believe in you too. So, don't ever forget that, okay?"

"Thank you, Alice." Hydranoid replied. "That means a lot to me. Together, we cannot be stopped."

"Ability Card, activate!" Alice tossed in an Ability Card. "Trident of Doom!"

"So close!" the Rabeeder copies dodged the energy balls. "Yet so far! Is that it? You couldn't hit a duck in a water bucket! You're a little stiff, are you?"

Hang on!" the Rabeeder copies exclaimed when the energy balls was reflected into numerous smaller balls, each hitting a copy. "This wasn't supposed to happen!"

"Unbelievable!" Christoper blinked as the last energy ball took out the real Rabeeder.

"That's quite a technique." Klaus agreed.

"I broke a nail!" Rabeeder whined as she crashed to the ground.

"As long as I have a puff of breath left in my body," Hydranoid remarked as Rabeeder's spell wore off. "I can still draw circles around you. You've underestimated me."

"So, I guess this is it." Rabeeder noted Hydranoid came forward. "All I ask, is you do it quickly."

"Couldn't be quick enough for me." Hydranoid growled.

"Don't do it!" Alice shouted.

"What?" Hydranoid looked at her.

"What are you waiting for" Klaus demanded. "Masquerade won't have hesitated for a second!"

"Rabeeder is just doing what Naga commanded her to do." Alice told him. "So ease up, okay? Besides, I don't think Eva wants another Bakugan to be sacrificed anymore in this war."

"Listen to me." she told Rabeeder. "Please promise that you'll stop obeying Naga and won't try to take the Infinity Core and the Purity Gem."

"You got to be kidding." Rabeeder scoffed. "You take away Tricloid and have the nerve to ask me this?"

"Tricloid?" she blinked when the said hybrid burst out of the ground.

"Yippee! My sister!" Tricloid whooped. "It's you!"

"You're alive!" Rabeeder gushed as Tricloid drew her into a hug.

"Julie saved Tricloid." Tricloid informed.

"I thought I'll never see you again!" Rabeeder wailed.

"I thought I'll see you again either!" Tricloid wept.

"I don't know." Klaus sighed. "I think I'm getting a cavity."

"Let's never be apart again, okay?" Rabeeder cried. "Never!"

"Please listen." Alice called out. "You have to stop being Naga's minions. I think, you should go back to your home in Vestroia."

"Tell me, Tricloid." Rabeeder looked at her sister. "What you want to do?"

"I want to go home with you, Rabeeder." Tricloid replied.

"Sounds good." Rabeeder smiled. "Let's go home! I'm so happy to have Tricloid back that all the fight's gone out of me."

"You say the sweetest things!" Tricloid wept.

This makes me a traitor too." Rabeeder remarked.

"Yes, welcome aboard." Hydranoid commented.

"Now that's decided." Rabeeder started. "I think we'd better get going. Naga's not going to be a happy camper when he finds out about this."

"See you!" she bade the Brawlers farewell.

"Bye-bye!" Tricloid waved and the two sisters returned to Vestroia.

"Wow, they're going back home." Christoper noted.

"That's right." Alice agreed. "They'll be happy together in Vestroia."

"Well, that was an interesting way to battle." Klaus remarked.

At Alice's blink, he explained, "It wasn't the way Masquerade would have done things. Instead, it was your own way. I think I've learnt something here."

"I'm glad." Alice replied.

"Grandfather!" she took off after seeing Micheal's shadow over Klaus' shoulder.

"Hang on!" Klaus called.

"Grandfather!" Alice turned the corner. "Please wait!"

"Is that you?" she asked, stopping in her tracks as Micheal turned around.

SailorStar9: Alice's fight is done and a Klaus/Alice coupling is hinted! Next, it's Shun's turn to battle. Now that's done, read and review.