A/N So I was going through my reviews and I had gone and reread a few chapters and I was like, 'okay before classes start on Monday I need to get this chapter up'

Because this is the beginning of the end for the Dual Dimensions Arc. The trouble is, once I seriously get the ball rolling I need to throw in Tyler quick so things can keep moving.

You know what he doesn't need much intro, I threw Mike into Masky's brawl with Vanessa, I can toss Tyler in right before the big blowout of an ending this arc will get.

But here's where everything you thought you knew begins to get flipped on its head, the throwing it into the sun part isn't due until we hit Doom and Docorrus.

Anyways, let it begin! The beginning of the end!

Chapter 67

Carts full of luggage were pushed by and Billy could make out the blurred shape of people going by as he glanced away from the one object he did not want to look at. He looked out the window at the big white machinery being prepped for flight. He glanced over at the family with the weary mother letting her sleeping child rest at her side while her other one rattled off questions and statements as he looked about his new surroundings.

Billy swallowed shifting in his hard plastic seat, one of many in set up in a row. And one of many rows set up around the area leading up to the terminal. His flight was due to board in any moment, and he still couldn't find the courage within him to do it. His hand shook shaking the device in his grasp slightly.

Cycloid watched this going on from his perch on Billy's shoulder. He couldn't fully grasp what was going on but from what he did know, the boy was having some sort of difficulty with using the device. Which was odd since Billy had used both it and his bakupod all the time. But for some reason, his coach couldn't bring himself to key in the number, the one number to the person that he needed to speak to the most.

Cycloid perked up when he saw people getting up and moving to line up and board the plane.

"Boss," Cycloid urged, Billy not responding right away. "Boss?" Again no response, Billy had taken to staring blankly at his phone, at the contact page that was up, with a smiling silver haired girl in the left haired corner with her phone number and everything listed. "Boss!"

"huh!" Billy jumped nearly dropping his phone. He quickly moved to get a better grip on it before shooting an irritated look at Cycloid. "What was that for I was-" He trailed off as he heard the crying of the child as the mother was forced to rouse it to allow for the family to board. Billy took a quick look around and jumped to his feet shoving his phone in his pocket. "Oh we're boarding?"

"Yeah, the planes here," Cycloid said nodding as he turned to look at the terminal really quick before looking back at Billy who had sighed and grabbed his backpack and made his way to the terminal. "Boss aren't you gonna call her?"

Billy looked down the brim of his hat shadowing his face. "It can wait Cycloid, it can wait." He said shouldering his backpack and walking into the terminal with his head down and a frown deeply etched upon his face.

/-/

Dan was coming back from the hospital at a break neck pace, eager to share the news of Shun's recovery with the rest, a huge grin on his face. But when he came to find a group of young kids he knew brawled at the park he slowed down, his eyebrows furrowing as he tilted his head walking now to the entrance to Marucho's home.

Kato stood at the door, greeting the kids in front of Dan and beckoning them in. As they entered he turned to look at Dan who he smiled at.

"Ah, Dan, Marucho and the others are waiting for you in the ballroom." The butler said gesturing into the open door he held open for the boy.

Dan uncertainly stepped forwards, a small frown making its way on his face. "I don't understand," He said turning his head to look up at Kato. "What's the celebration for?"

Kato raised an eyebrow. "Marucho didn't contact you? As soon as the news of Spectra's news came in about his success, Marucho thought a party to celebrate would be what everyone needed to cheer everyone up." He said chuckling. "He thought you could use something nice and relaxing for a change,"

Drago popped open on Dan's shoulder and looked at Dan. Dan frowned before he nodded managing a smile. "Oh yeah, that sounds like a great idea, wish I'd thought of it." He said quickly nodding his head once more before he stepped inside and began to make his way down the hall. Though his expression became more grim as he walked.

"We shouldn't be celebrating." Drago said quietly. "We haven't won yet," He looked around. "We have yet to find where the Infinity Core lies, and Naga is far from defeated." He lowered his head and kept his voice down.

Dan sighed as he paused at where the hallway split into 3 possible routes Dan turning his head to consider each of them before heading down the right hallway. "I hear you buddy," He said glancing at him. "And even though Shun's getting better, I don't like that we're here partying while we leave him all alone in his hospital bed. I mean who wants to come out of that crap and then be left alone while everyone celebrates without him?" Dan said sighing to himself as he came up to the ballroom doors and paused.

Drago was silent for a moment. "Maybe we're looking into this more than we should, it has been rather rough going, perhaps we should just enjoy this moment of happiness while we can. I mean we did score a win in this battle…Right?" Drago said looking up at him.

Despite his urgings, Dan could hear the hesitation, the uncertainty in his partner voice. As much as Drago probably wanted to believe what he was saying, he didn't fully accept his own words. But Dan knew Drago was trying to make the best of things, and he decided he ought to as well.

Dan forced a smile. "Yeah, this is a win," He said before he turned to the ballroom doors and went inside.

And was shocked by what he saw. Spectra had only contacted them short of an hour ago, but within that time Marucho had managed to throw together quite the bash.

One side of the wall was filled with tables containing heaping platters of food. Then the rest of the room was filled a good bit by the guests, many of them fellow brawlers, as well as the brawlers parents, all to celebrate.

While the other brawlers all mingled around with each other in the center of the cramped ballroom Dan could spot the parents standing close together not quite aware of what the party was really for but ready to enjoy it all the same. They were talking and laughing near the punch bowl, Runo's father embarrassing his daughter as he showcased all his pictures of his oh so precious little girl he had in his wallet.

"Dan!" Dan turned to see Marucho run up to him grinning broadly. "Isn't it great?! As soon as I heard the news, I just had to call everyone together to celebrate."

Dan didn't get a chance to say anything as Runo raced in followed by Julie and Mike. Though Dan could see some dark emotion barely hidden away from sight in Mike's eyes. Though the other boy did his best to hide it behind a soft smile, inclining his head to Dan as he came up shoving his hands in his pockets as he stood beside the two girls.

"Yeah once Marucho spread the word about Masquerade's defeat, people flooded the chat to find out how they could come to celebrate!" Julie gushed clasping her hands together.

"Yeah! Its so amazing! Even the higher ranked brawlers who lost their bakugan came as well."Tuno added gesturing towards Klaus, Julio, Chan and Komba who stood off to the side not mingling with anyone and keeping to themselves, arms folded and looking grim.

"Its too bad Billy didn't come." Julie murmured though her expression was conflicted.

Runo shrugged. "Eh, who cares, hey is that sushi?!" She said jabbing a finger at one of the platters on the buffet.

Marucho turned and focused on the platter she was pointing at and nodded. "Yes it is, and all sorts of various kinds, here I'll point them out to you!" He said heading that way.

Runo grinned. "Sweet always wanted to try sushi, come on Julie, some food'll take your mind off that dumb boy." She said grabbing Julie by her wrist and dragging the tanned silver haired girl towards the buffet.

Dan surprisingly, was not drawn in by the mention of the food. Instead he found himself still focusing on the brawlers who had at one point been Masquerade's allies. "That's odd, they don't look to be in the partying mood." He murmured, Mike moving closer to him.

"I'd put money on them waiting to see if Spectra intends to bring the battered and beaten Masquerade in." Mike said quietly as he moved to stand at Dan's side, but unlike Dan he didn't stay focused on the 4 brawlers instead sweeping his gaze around instead seeming to be searching for someone. "They're hoping they'll get a piece of him,"

Dan swallowed. Yeah he could definitely see that as he studied them again. They did look grim, and there was a hungry vengeful look in their eyes. He wasn't sure what he'd do when Spectra arrived with Alice, and possibly Masquerade. Could he stop them from attacking the evil boy?

Did he want to?

Mike patted him on the shoulder. "I wouldn't worry too much, I doubt Spectra has him, just giving you a little forewarning so you can keep a huge fight from going down if he does." He said his hazel eyes glowing with sympathy

Dan frowned and raised an eyebrow looking at Mike. "Why tell me this? It's Marucho's house shouldn't you be warning him?" He asked.

Mike didn't say anything seeming to lick his lips as he glanced away before turning back bobbing his head. "You're in charge, I figure you'd be the one they'd turn to make that call, and you'd be the only one who could stop them." He said heaving a sigh as he pulled his hand back and shoved it in his pockets and leaned back a bit. "But the decision rests with you."

Dan frowned as a thought hit him and he scowled "You blame me for Jet leaving don't you?" He hissed eyebrows furrowing as he turned to face Mike, who hadn't shifted his stance at all.

Mike's expression was impassive and he paused before speaking again. "No," He said at last. "But I don't trust Spectra, there's something off with the guy. Surely you've picked up on it as well? Or at least how convenient the situation was. I mean we turn him down for allowing him to go pick a fight with Masquerade, and then a situation arises where he 'seems' to be the only option we've got." He said frowning slightly. "Surely it seems odd."

Dan frowned and looked away. "I guess it does seem odd, but you know we had no other option."

"Did we really?" Mike asked tilting his head.

Dan gritted his teeth and turned back to Mike. "Yes." He said tersely. "There was no other option to secure Alice's safety."

Mike frowned. "But doesn't it strike you as odd that he'd kidnap Alice, when he released Jet and Julie who he'd had captured earlier? Or when he'd just put Runo and Marucho in an unlocked room when they'd ended up in his mansion? Why kidnap Alice after sustaining such bad injuries when he had plenty of opportunities to take many more of us prisoners before?" He pressed.

Dan's eyebrows furrowed as he looked down.

"Because he was desperate." A smooth voice came from behind them.

Mike's expression tightened as he turned to look at the masked blond that had come up behind him and Dan.

Dan blinked and turned to Spectra trying to smile but finding it escape him. So his expression remained neutral as he said. "Oh uh, hey Spectra."

"It was nice talking to you Dan." Mike said quickly "Just remember what I said." He said fixing him with a look before he turned and walked towards where the other brawlers had gone by the buffet table.

Dan watched him go before Spectra sighed.

"I'd heard that Jet had decided to leave, he must blame me for causing her to leave, she never liked me." He shook his head as he looked at the aquos brawler before he turned back to Dan. "Such a pity."

Dan tried to catch his tongue to summon up words before he swallowed and then he spoke. "How'd it go?"

Spectra smiled as he nodded to his side, Gus coming up with Alice leaning slightly against his shoulder. "We were able to rescue poor Alice. But it was not easy, Masquerade would not give up."

"Master Spectra sustained rather grievous injuries at the time." Gus said frowning slightly as he looked up at Spectra whose lips tightened as he looked at his companion sharply.

"Indeed." Spectra conceded with a sigh as he raised a hand to his forehead where several bandages were wrapped. "But it is all right now, my darling Viki," He said smiling as he looked towards where the girl was by the punch bowl. "Was able to patch me up nicely."

Dan frowned. So far he grasped that it was a success, but… "What happened? Where's Masquerade?"

Spectra glanced away sighing heavily as he ran a hand through his hair. "Unfortunately it was not as easy as I'd hoped. I arrived at the mansion and began to make my way around, when Masquerade jumped me. I fought him off to the point where he decided he'd battle me in a brawl."

"And?" Drago said glancing around. "I don't see Helios-"

There was the sound of a bakugan pop and an aggravated sigh as the other pyrus bakugan floated to perch on Spectra's shoulder.

"Because battling a very powerful bakugan is tiring Drago, I was merely resting. Despite being inferior to me in every way Masquerade had his weaker bakugan attempt to 'soften me up' for his Hydranoid to make it an easy victory." Helios said with a huff. "The fools bakugan were no match for me, and my might, I crushed all his weak bakugan and his hydranoid shortly afterwards."

Dan blinked. "Okay, so you won the brawl, then what?" He asked.

Spectra scowled and clenched his fists. "Just as the brawl ended Masquerade attacked me once again, he fought with such ferocity and viciously that I was forced to retreat." He said sighing raising a hand to cover part of his face. "I am ashamed to admit that had I stayed I would've suffered far worse injuries, and that would have jeopardized my chances of rescuing Miss Alice." He said nodding to the quiet red head who merely looked blankly ahead.

Dan frowned as he looked to Alice looking her up and down. Despite a vacant expression on her face and that she was leaning heavily on Gus for support she looked unharmed. He turned to focus back on Spectra. "So you retreated and then what?"

Spectra nodded. "I retreated and made my way through the mansion when I found my way to the dungeon area where I found Alice tied down to a lab table prepped to be subjected to all sorts of cruel and insane torture." He scowled and raised his hand and clenched his fist. "Of course once I saw this I couldn't stand by idly, so I abandoned caution there and rushed to her side moving quickly to free her from her bonds. But just as I freed her Masquerade struck me down." He said lowering his head.

Dan's eyes widened. "Is that how you got the head injury?" He asked pointing to the bandages.

Spectra nodded reaching a hand up to rub the bandages slightly. "He pinned me to the floor and proceeded to bang my forehead into the ground until I couldn't process a thing. When he thought I was unconscious he moved to deal with Alice and I began to shout, cursing him out for being a coward and fighting so dishonorably." Spectra smiled slightly. "That got to him and he rounded on me prepared to attack me more."

"Seems Masquerade has a shorter fuse than I thought." Dan murmured softly.

Spectra snorted. "A miniscule fuse, and all too easy to rile him up and make him unfocused and foolish." He sighed. "So he turned to finish me off when he was struck down by little Alice over here." He said nodding to Alice who looked up weakly and nodded.

"I-I lifted something heavy… And… dropped it on him…. I hope I didn't hurt him… too badly." She managed wincing before turning to Gus. "I'm sorry but could you please take me to my room? I am not feeling very well."

Gus blinked and looked to Spectra who glanced at Dan.

"It seems that her efforts in taking down Masquerade has taxed the poor girl, is it all right if I let Gus take her to her room?" He asked.

Dan blinked. "Huh of course!" He nodded to Alice smile softly. "You just take it easy, I'm sure Runo and Julie will go up soon to see you."

Alice shook her head. "No thanks Dan, I'd just… Really like to rest… Please."

Dan was taken aback, never before had Alice declined to visit with the other girls but he relented nodding. "O-okay, I'll let them know where you're at after the party."

Alice nodded. "Okay, sounds good." She said managing a small smile before she leaned heavily on Gus's side one arm wrapped over his shoulders, limping heavily alongside Gus's even steps they slowly made their way out of the ball room. Spectra and Dan watched them make their way out of the room. Dan didn't release the breath he was holding until they had exited and Gus had closed the door softly behind them.

Spectra sighed as well. "It is too bad, it is thanks to her I'm alive and despite how Masquerade had probably tortured her she still managed to make him pay for it." He said as Viki came over to join him handing him a cup of punch. He sighed and gave her a teasing look. "Took your time with it didn't you?" He said taking a sip smiling at Viki.

Viki nodded. "Got a bit held up, hope you don't mind. I didn't want to rush and spill a drop." She said smiling as she took a sip of her own drink.

Spectra smirked as he lowered his head and kissed her his tongue flicking out to catch a drop that had slipped past her lips. "Of course, we can't have that now can we?" He said softly as he placed a hand under Viki's chin to tilt it up as he gazed down at her.

Dan frowned ignoring this show of affection in front of him as he muled over what he'd been told. 'That doesn't sound like Alice really, she's not the type to attack people, she's too kind for it. According to Runo she can't even bear to kill a single spider, she picks them up on a piece of paper and takes them outside. Would she really lift a dangerously heavy object and drop it on someone's head?' He worried his lower lip a bit.

"What happened after Masquerade went down?" Drago asked cutting into Spectra and Viki's make out session. The two pulled apart shooting him a dark look.

Sighing, sounding irritable. "What is this? Don't you trust me? I've brought back Alice, and I've taken care of Masquerade forever."

"How." Drago growled. "What did you do that convinces you he's done for good?"

Spectra grinned. "Well when Alice finished him, an enemy of his came out of the shadows and applauded our efforts." Dan stiffened. "Then in exchange for us defeating Masquerade for her, she let me take this from Masquerade." He said producing the all too familiar Dimensional Transport that Masquerade used. "Without this he won't be getting anywhere far, and I doubt that she'd leave him to walk away from her. When Alice and I made our hasty escape I heard our masked friend cry out in pain, as his other enemy attacked him. So you don't have to worry Dan," He said smirking as he patted Dan on the shoulder. "Masquerade's history. Now," He said turning to Viki and offered his elbow to her. "Excuse me as I take my darling Viki for a spin on the dance floor." He said as Viki took his elbow and the two made their way away from Dan.

Dan stood there frozen unsure what to do. When he finally realized he was just standing there, he jolted a bit and looked around. He saw Spectra and Viki disappearing into the crowd, and he couldn't see his friends anywhere either leaving him with his swirling hurricane of confusion and uncertainty. With a slow shake of his head he walked towards the other side of the ballroom and out the doors.

'He's evil! He can't be trusted!'

'I don't trust that guy, there's something off about him'

Dan swallowed as Mike and Jet's words against Spectra tumbled around in his mind as he picked up the pace.

'I've known the guy all of 5 minutes and I already hate his guts.'

'I don't like him already.'

"Dan where? Where are we going?" Drago asked as Dan broke out into a run racing out of the mansion.

"I-I need some air Drago." Dan said in one breath as he tore down the street ignoring Kato's cry for the boy to come back.

'Jet's Masquerade's lover,'

'She's never steered any of us wrong before'

Dan's breath came out in harsher pants as he pushed harder till he was all out sprinting, trying to make the thoughts leave

"Dan?!" Drago pressed as the pyrus brawler continued to sprint. "Daniel?!"

'It doesn't make sense! Who's right! Is Jet and Mike right? Or is Viki right and Jet's trying to protect Masquerade, and Mike's just backing her up. But Julie trusts Jet, and even Skyress and Shun didn't seem to like Spectra either. But that could be because they thought he was too similar to Masquerade. And if Spectra is evil what do I-'

Dan gasped as his foot caught on something and he was sent flying, the pavement rushing all too fast up to meet him. Throwing his hands out Dan grunted his hands making contact with the concrete with a smack, pain radiating up into his shoulders as he managed to just keep his head from cracking against the pavement. Wincing he let his body drop to the concrete and he lay there letting the cool concrete hit his face when a rusty coppery smell hit his nose.

"Dan. Dan, there's something wrong." Drago said slowly. Dan frowned as he turned his head and rested his cheek on the concrete so he could see Drago popped open near his face, the concrete a bright damp crimson beneath his ball form.

Frowning Dan reach a hand forwards to grab Drago only to find the concrete he was stuck on was sticky.

Dan pushed himself to his feet grabbing Drago and rising up and turning, his heart jumping into his throat and his stomach tightening.

"Oh god." Dan said as he covered his mouth and staggered back from the sight that he hadn't noticed in his crazed running.

Lying on the ground was Billy, in one bloody hand he gripped a phone with Julie's contact info displayed brightly. His head was tilted to the side blond hair matted with blood from a wound on his head. His cap lay a good distance away from his body. But what made Dan's stomach clench was the fairly deep X-shaped cut in his chest with fresh blood flowing out and staining the white and orange clothing he wore. The boy's chest was barely rising and falling.

Dan looked around at the bloody streaks everywhere and looked down at himself his stomach heaving as he saw that there was some blood on him even. Bile rose in his throat and Dan forced it down as best he could.

'They'd turn to you to make the call.'

Dan's eyes widened as he whipped out his phone and hastily punched in 911. His breathing quickening. "Who could have done this?" He whispered to Drago as he stepped back so he was away from the bloody lines and streaks on the ground near Billy's body. His phone ringing as he waited for the operator to pick up his leg twitching as his nerves began to run wild with nerves.

"I have a bad feeling." Drago said slowly turning his body slowly left to right from a good ways away from where Billy lay. "Dan come see this."

Dan swallowed afraid of what he was going to see as he moved towards where Drago stood and turned to look at Billy's body. His hand holding his phone dropped to his side as he gaped at the sight.

"Hello 9-1-1 what's your emergency?" Came the operator from his phone. "Hello? Is anyone there."

Dan dropped to his knees and let his phone drop. "Oh god, oh god, oh god." He said reaching his hands up to clutch at his hair his breathing coming quick and fast.

"Sir? Sir?"

"Dan, Daniel it'll be okay…." Drago said flying over to Dan's side as the boy began to shake his hands tightening their grip on his hair as his chest heaved.

Dan swallowed trying to get his mouth to move as his eyes traced the letters slowly to confirm he was reading them right.

"Sir I'm dispatching police to your location they'll be there in a moment-"

Dan could hear the faint sounds of sirens in the distance but his hole world had thinned to one point. "Long. Live. The. King." He said shakily tears welling up in his eyes.

'It's your decision.'

"NOOOOOOO!" Dan screamed throwing his head back and screaming at the sky as he felt the pressure press down on him. His responsibility, his decision, his fault. His failure.

Perched atop a building above the scene where Dan screamed himself hoarse, and Billy lay limply in a puddle of blood beside the large bloody words glistening slightly from the still fresh blood used to write them. A figure stood, his white coat stained crimson in places, his red and black gloves spattered with crimson, and when he tilted his head to the moonlight a few drops of blood were illuminated upon the mirror like surface of the mask he wore.

Grinning madly the figure threw back his head and laughed.

/-/

A/N:

Yup whole world flipped on its head.

Anyone see that coming? Raise your hand?

I did plan on writing Billy getting hunted down, but I think next chapter I'll do it instead, I just liked Dan cracking under pressure and the discovering the scene by tripping over Billy so much more fun than just hearing it on the news as I'd initially planned to have all the brawlers discover it.

Bwahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.

Well this may be the last update in a while unless I get one in before classes start on Monday and then I have no idea when I'll be able to fit in an update with College and commuting to and from it. I'll figure something out. Or I'll just go update crazy when winter break rolls around.

Anyways we are nearing the end, the big end. The holy crackers that just happened end.

Or at least ill hope it be that awesome.

Anyways want an update soon, drown me in reviews so I'll have no choice but to update.

And tell me what you think of this new twist. What in the seven blazes is going on here?

Sometimes I don't even know, after Billy's part in the beginning the whole thing was the train of thought chugging down some crazy twisted track that my brain crafted up all on its own on the fly.

But anyways, we want to find out what happened so review and I will in turn try to update as soon as possible.

EDIT: I thought i deleted the repeated line, because that was how i opened Dan's part at the party and I was like, wait that sucks, then went to delete it the first time then went 'wait i can use this later to describe the party' and then in my haste to post this chapter i forgot to delete the first one. Whoops. Thanks for picking up on that Breezy