A/N: Need to get the creative juices flowing, come on brain let's let em flow!
Sorry needed to psyche myself up, we're nearing the end of this arc and I want to get it done, so I can take a breather from DD for a bit.
So since I'm too tired to give someone the same glowing endorsement as I gave mana, I'll instead endorse an old friend who's rejoined me in working on Mishap. Kdandsheela.
She and I are best friends (since 4th grade if you can believe it), and she's contributed some good pieces for bakugan, A very Masky X-mas and Another One (I may be wrong on that title though). As well as working with me on Mishap of Epic Proportions which if you haven't already, check it out, its been recently revamped and we've added a freaking amazing fourth chapter. So yeah go check that out and leave your support for us.
Moving on to replying to reviews:
Mana: Why you no reply to my PM? T.T And well I wouldn't say things are getting better. More exciting? Most definitely, but better…. Uhh…
Jordan: Uh, I don't think Spectra would waste Drago like that (and ew cannibalism), after all he was irritated with hydron's wasting the power of the six fighting bakugan by having them be statues. So I'm sure he'll find some use for Drago, if not just to have him to rub in Dan's face.
Teen Authoress: Thank you, your support is appreciated!
Antex: Better pay close attention cause a certain someone's showing up in here.
Lightus: He does seem to have lost his marbles.
Breezy: Yayz! Glad to have you back and reviewing (I missed you the last few chappies T.T). Uh, I think I'm really just going to throw him in at the end, because everything's moving so fast. Don't have the time to go 'oh wait we need to introduce an important character!' So yeah I'll figure out something, he'll appear before the end, I think.
retheah343: Unfortunately there's not going to be a lot between now and the ending of DD, but if you want a healthy dose of Jet and Masquerade, you can read the Mighty Fall, I wrote it specifically to pick up the JetxMasky slack in DD. Granted its not terribly prominent yet, but it'll get there.
S1erra107: Hmm, indeed what's up with the temple and all the neo brawlers bakugan being 'destined' for their respective brawlers? So curious. All will be explored in D&D.
Anyways that's all the reviews so lets get this party started, we are heading down the Road to Doom so prepare yourselves, things are about to get rocky.
Chapter 73
Mike winced as he and Shun drew near the scene. There was a whole lot of yellow tape surrounding the area, blocking it off from pedestrian and vehicular traffic. The two walked until they reached the yellow tape and peered down at the scene before them.
It had yet to rain, so the rusty brown stains were still very clearly present, as were the words that were written in blood on the ground nearby.
Shun was frowning as he swept his gaze over the scene, pausing and focusing on the spot where several partial bloody handprints were present. That was undoubtedly were Dan had collapsed.
"This is horrible." Mike muttered as he knelt down and shifted forwards so he was just underneath the yellow tape. He didn't move beyond it but it showed him how much blood had really been used, and lost. Poor Billy, the kid hadn't deserved this. "What could've possibly driven Masquerade to do this?" He said shaking his head.
Shun scowled. "Who knows, all we know is he has to be stopped." He said clenching his fists.
Mike glanced up at him, "Yeah." He said before sweeping his eyes over the scene once more.
"Although," Shun said making Mike look at him again the ninja having his hand under his chin as he eyed the words. "Why write 'Long live the King'?" Shun asked. "Is he talking about Naga?" He asked.
Mike's eyebrows furrowed as he processed this. The message was strange. In truth it sounded more like a message Spectra would leave behind, as he was the one with the ambitions to be king. But then why attack Billy? No, it had to be Masquerade, considering his recent brutal attacks on Jet and poor Jewls.
Also, he clenched his fists, if he remembered correctly Julie had mentioned something about Billy falling out of good graces with Masquerade. But that still left the meaning of the message, what did he?
"Wait," Mike said. "This happened just after Spectra sent out that message boasting about his victory?" He inquired looking up at Shun for confirmation.
Shun's eyes narrowed. "I do recall Dan telling me about Masquerade's apparent defeat at the hands of Spectra," He said grabbing his chin as he narrowed his eyes. "But… Do you think this is his way of saying he survived and that he can't be beaten?" He looked at Mike, Mike blinking when he was fixed with Shun's green eyes, rather than his amber that they should've been.
Shun frowned when Mike didn't say anything. "Mike?"
Mike blinked and shook his head. "It's highly likely," He managed running a hand nervously through his hair. "Masquerade probably doesn't like the competition that Spectra is poising himself to be. His writing its meant to be an intimidation to us, maybe to imply that he and only he is king and that no one can topple him."
Shun snorted. "Sounds like him." He said shaking his head. "But, what caused Dan to collapse?"
Mike frowned. "I'm not-" He began but trailed off when he saw Shun looking at something on the other side of the roped off area. Mike raised an eyebrow and followed his gaze and his heart jumped as he spotted the silver haired man standing there. Mike blinked and the man seemed to be gone. Shun remained stiff the ninja glancing around for any sight of him. They both jumped as two large gloved hands landed on their shoulders, the two boys whirling around to face the mysterious spiky silver haired man.
"Greetings," The man said calmly, ignoring the glare Shun was giving him and the wariness in Mike's gaze. He released their shoulders. "My apologies for frightening you, but I needed to get your attention as quickly as possible."
Shun's eyes narrowed. "You're one of those aliens? What the hell do you want?" He said clenching his fist at his side.
The man merely inclined his head back looking at them both solemnly before he spoke. "I have come to warn you."
"About what?" Shun said taking a step forwards.
The man sighed. "About your friend's impending doom."
/-/
Dan glared at Masquerade and the blond merely responded by tightening the grip on his throat.
"As much as I'd love to hear what you have to say, I've got things to do, and unfortunately I can't get to them until I take care of you." He said releasing Dan's neck and then in one smooth movement punched him across the face sending the brunette tumbling out of his bed and crashing to the floor.
"Dan!" Drago cried from where he'd been sitting on the bedside table on the other side of the bed. He moved to jump to Dan's aide when a white gloved hand snatched up the pyrus bakugan and trapped him within his grasp.
"Now now Drago, no need to get so excited, your brawler won't be around for much longer, so I suggest you enjoy these last few moments." Drago grunted as he managed to pop his head out of his ball form and stare dumbstruck at the man who claimed to be their ally.
"Spectra?! But, I thought." Dan wheezed as he struggled to pick himself up one hand pressed to the side of his face that Masquerade had hit.
"Never mind what you thought," Masquerade said kicking him in the stomach and knocking the brunette onto his back on the floor. "I've taken far too long in ridding myself of you."
/-/
Mike's heart sank at those words and his eyes widened. "What-what do you mean?" He asked.
The man bowed his head, "My name is Antex, I am a Docorrian. I have suffered at the hands of the unfair system that governs Docorrus." Antex lifted his head and looked at each of them in turn. "And through some great deity's grace I have been able to reach this world with a warning."
"What warning." Shun said whipping out a kunai and pointing it at Antex. "I don't have much patience for alien invaders these days, so I'd speak quickly."
Antex sighed. "Your friend has been targeted, and he will soon be taken away to Docorrus."
"What?!" Mike and Shun said in alarm.
/-/
Dan winced as he scooted back from the evil masked blond jumping as his back met the wall. "What about Jet?! She cared about you! She wouldn't approve of this you know!" He said desperately. "Come to your senses! Stop this madness!" Dan said as Masquerade stalked forwards.
Masquerade flashed him a wicked smirk. "Oh, didn't you hear Danny-Boy? Jet crashed and burned?" He raised his hand and clenched it. "And now," He stepped back from Dan the pyrus brawler slowly picking himself up only to stiffen as a tall female figure stepped out beside Masquerade.
"I'm taking you and your precious brawlers out, one by one." He said with a sneer as the woman raised a hand flexing her fingers. Dan's eyes widening in horror as blades slipped over her hands making it look like she had claws.
"But don't worry about them." The woman said advancing towards him smiling darkly red eyes gleaming. She crouched near Dan her clawed fingers moving dangerously close to his face. He closed his eyes reflexively afraid to look at the sharp blades that were so close to his face anymore. However he was shocked that rather than slash him or gouge his eyes out she merely began ruffling his hair. "Oh you'll do nicely indeed." She purred, Dan's eyes snapping open as the woman chuckled and sheathed her claws. "As I was saying, worry less about them." Then she back handed the boy across the face, the pyrus brawler's head jerking backwards with the force of the hit and his head hitting the wall with a bang.
Immediately his body jolted and he slid down the wall to the floor his eyelids slipping closed. But just before unconsciousness could take Dan, he saw Vanessa towering over him sneering, Masquerade and Spectra standing behind her grinning like the chesire cats.
"And more about yourself." Vanessa finished as Dan fell out of consciousness.
/-/
"As we speak," Antex continued despite Shun and Mike's words demanding explanation. "He is being taken down by Docorrians."
Shun's eyes narrowed and he jabbed his kunai at the man. "And you're standing here distracting us from him!" He snarled
Antex merely ducked underneath Shun's slash and slammed a hand into Shun's chest knocking the unsteady Ventus brawler backwards and onto his rear. The weakened ninja growled jumping back onto his feet immediately.
"Shun there's no point to this!" Mike shouted as the Ventus brawler rushed at Antex once more. "We should go to Dan! Try to-" He trailed off as something loud caught his ears. Something that sounded like a space ship's thrusters in various sci-fi movies Aidan had dragged the group to see.
Mike's whipped around and stared in shock and horror as a black ship rose from around where the hospital was. Shun stopped dead in his tracks and gaped at the craft as it took off.
Silence fell upon the group for a moment. Shun sank to his knees and dropped to the ground his arms moving forwards to weakly support him. Mike watched as the ninja's whole body shook with the impact of the loss, that his best friend had just been taken away on a ship while he did nothing.
Mike moved to reach for Shun when Antex spoke up.
"My warning was too late to save your friend from his terrible fate." Antex said with a sigh shaking his head. "For that I apologize, however." Squaring his shoulders he stepped towards Mike and Shun. "There is still time to save yourselves." He said.
Mike stiffened up. "But what about the others, at the hospital? They'll be right in the line of fire." He said. "You want us to just abandon them?!"
Antex shook his head. "Their fate is already sealed, they will be sent to the doom, if you flee now, you can escape the same fate." He sighed. "You will not stand a chance against the dark forces you are up against, I implore you, be smart, run now and survive. For if you go to their aide, you will only seal your own fate."
Mike clenched his fists and looked off to the side. Shun was still bent over on the ground, and he showed no signs of rising any time soon.
"No." Mike said at last turning to meet Antex's golden eyes with his hazel colored orbs. "This running thing, this whole save yourself BS isn't what friends do." He said taking a step forwards waving his hand dismissively. "No what friends do, is they stand by your side, even if things may be horrible, you never abandon a friend in need. No matter what." Mike closed his eyes. "Otherwise if your friend's can't count on you, then how can you possibly count on them to help you out when you need it?"
Antex scoffed and shook his head. "You are a fool." He said simply.
Mike worked his jaw as he moved towards Shun and crouched down helping the ventus brawler to his feet, the ninja looking at him in confusion as Mike stared Antex down. "Wouldn't be the first time someone's called me that." Mike said simply. "But I'd rather be a fool who fights to support and defend his friends, then a coward who abandons his friend to save himself."
Shun glanced at Mike with a strange look that was a mix of respect, shock and the faintest, just the faintest of glimmers, of appreciation.
Antex frowned and sighed. "Very well then," Mike and Shun watched in shock as the man's body began to turn see-through. "I've used up all the time I've had, I tried to warn you. But, well… Don't blame me for what's to come."
"I don't." Mike said simply. "Thank you for trying at least." He said smiling weakly.
The man blinked in surprise then managed a weak smile back, before he faded away from sight completely.
Once Antex disappeared Mike turned towards the way to the hospital. "We need to get there." He said to Shun. The ninja removed himself from Mike's person.
"Right." He said.
The two moved to head in that direction when the wind suddenly picked up. Mike grunted as he was nearly blown over by the strength of the wind. Shun grunted throwing an arm up over his face as he turned to look around them.
"What now?!" Shun demanded frowning as he heard chuckling as the wind died down. He and Mike exchanged glances with each other before they turned around searching out the source of the ominous chuckling.
"Up here boys!" A voice called from above making the two look up. Shun and Mike's heads snapped up, Shun's eyes narrowed at the sight of the green cloaked figure whereas Mike's eyes widened.
"No, Alica?!" Mike said taking a step forwards, before stopping. "No, but you- you're-"
Alica grinned down at them before she jumped off the building and landed gracefully in front of them, Mike's expression darkening. "I'm not what Mikey? Here to kick your asses to the doom dimension?" Alica asked as she held up an all too familiar black card with a skull. Mike paled slightly.
"They did get you, and then that must mean, Aidan too." Mike muttered quietly shaking his head.
Alica smiled, though it was a dark crooked smile promising dark things and evil deeds. "You could join us too Mikey, we could use you. Cool-headed, able to do what is necessary, and not one to talk unnecessary or one for posturing." She held out her hand to him. "We could use you, come, come join the winning side!"
Mike's eyes fell on her hand and he bit his lip. "I can't." He said simply.
Alica's smile became strained. "What do you mean can't?" She hissed lowly.
Mike's eyes hardened as he lifted his head and looked her straight in the eyes, hazel eyes filled with internal resolution. "Because the brawlers are my friends, Jet is my friend, Aidan is my friend, as is Tyler, and even you Alica. But I know the side you serve, has hurt you all, twisted you all." He slapped her hand away. "I'd sooner die before I joined your side!" He snapped.
Alica's face contorted into an angry scowl as she leaned forwards right into Mike's face. The boy calmly met her gaze, not flinching. "So be it, I will enjoy banishing you to the doom dimension Micheal Paster-" She was cut off as a bakugan ball whistled through the air and flew between her and Mike forcing the two to jump apart.
"No," A calm female voice said, Mike, Alica and Shun turning as a tall black haired girl dressed in a silver sweater, with a purple shirt underneath, a gray skirt that reached just above her knees and black leggings walked over to them.
Alica's eyes narrowed. "Meredith."
The bakugan that she'd thrown flew back to Meredith and hovered at the other girl's shoulder. The girl came to a stop several feet away from the group and folded her arms across her chest.
"You want them, you'll have to go through me first." Meredith said simply Superior popping open in front of her.
Alica sighed and tossed her hair whirling around to face her. "Fine, I'd be happy to dispose of you first Merry." She cast a glance at Mike and Shun "Don't go too far boys, this won't take long."
Mike and Shun looked towards Meredith who waved a hand. "Don't worry you two, I've got this, you go help the others!" She said.
Mike nodded grabbing Shun's wrist and tugging him back towards the hospital.
Alica sighed. "How tedious, now I'll have to chase them down again, but I suppose burying you with your sister will be worth it." She grinned as she whipped out a field card. "Ready to fall?"
Meredith smirked as she pulled out a card. "Sure, come and have a go." Her lip curved upwards slightly. "If you think you're hard enough."
/-/
A/N: I borrowed the last line from Tanith Low from Skulduggery Pleasant.
Anyways yes its been a while, but I have a break for a bit so hopefully I can get through this.
Also great news I created a cover for Doom and Docorrus, its presently on my DA so if you want to go take a look at it, comment on what I could do to make it better, etc, do that. I'll post a link on my profile.
So tell me what you guys think, it was a bit rough to get started, writers block hasn't been fun.
Also one last thing, I am planning to write a series of bakugan x-overs which will feature my characters: Jet, Mike, Tyler and Aidan bouncing through various bakugan stories and messing with them. For example they'd go into Breezyfeather's Ultimatum and screw around with things there.
Thus if you guys have any stories you'd like to see me do, or you'd like to see me have my characters jump into your world just let me know in the reviews.
Catch you later guys.