I'd like to thank the guest reviewer for asking me to continue! Thnak you! You really encouraged me to keep going.

So here we go! (P.S. I'm not sure how good I am at describing battle scenes so please let me know.)

We got to one of the overly complicated-looking domes and scheduled the first match. Kit was still ticked off at his sister who was walking ahead like she had already won, while Manny and I were looking around like tourists. All of this was still sinking in for me. Not just that Chaotic was real, but by the fact that Dad's stories could also have been real!

"Did my mom ever know about this?" I asked no one in particular.

"Did she ever talk about Chaotic or Perim?" Kat asked from ahead.

"Just when she was telling Dad that he shouldn't get me excited and that I was getting too old for it."

Kit looked over at me quizzically. "Hmm." He shared a look with his sister that she just shrugged at. "Maybe she did know, and she just didn't want you to feel disappointed that you would never get to see it too."

"Dudes, this place is beyond awesome!" Manny cried, pumping his fists in the air. "Why would it just shut down out of the blue?"

"No one knows." Kit told us. "Our dad never really told us that part. But apparently it's back up again. Should we tell him about this?" He directed the question to Kat's back.

She replied. "Maybe not in text. The next time he comes home we should say something." Suddenly she stopped. "You know-oof!" None of us had been ready for her to stop and we all crashed and toppled on top of her. Kit fell on her, I tripped on Kit and Manny tripped on me.

People were laughing around us. When no one came to help we got off ourselves. Brushing ourselves off, Kat said, "As I was saying: we never settled on a prize for the victor."

"You get to say you beat all of us on your first day." Kit said. "Aren't bragging rights enough for you?"

"Never." She deadpanned. "How about this, little bro? Since it's our first day in Chaotic, the winner gets to decide where we first go in Perim."

That offer made me do a double-take. Go anywhere in Perim? All the places I've battled, all the places I used to dream of seeing, all those places Dad talked about; I could ACTUALLY go! The Forest of Life, Kiru City, Lake Kenepo… All in my scanner and now just a button away?

"Yes!" I jumped and agreed before I could contain myself. People stared at me and I laughed in embarrassment.

"Whao," Manny patted me on the shoulder. "Somebody's hyped! Angel's usually the in-the-cool one."

"Then the prize is set." Kat put her hands on her hips.

"I-It makes more sense too." I said, overcoming my sudden shyness. "To go in a group I mean. I want go, but I'd be afraid going by myself." I'd always imagined going there with Dad. In his stories he'd said that Locations alone can be more dangerous than running into Creatures. As we walked on to the Battledrome, I flipped through the locations in my deck to decide where might be a good place to start. Tourist sickness, and I haven't even battled yet.

We actually went to the BetaDrome and got a match right away. Kit was still fuming over his sister teasing him, so they went first while Manny and I waited outside the dome.

"Pretty funky looking, eh Ange?" Manny elbowed me pointing up to the BetaDrome.

"Yeah…" I replied. I was only half-paying attention to what Manny was saying. "This whole thing overwhelming, Manny. What did that masked-guy mean when he said we could turn into Creatures? Do you think he was serious?"

"People in masks shouldn't generally be trusted, Angel." He said. "Masked wrestlers, masked intruders, masked emails, masked ninjas, masked magicians-" I quickly covered Manny's mouth with my hand.

"I get it." I took my hand away and said, "There are just so many questions I have. But most of them lead back to: how real were the things Dad told me? He never, ever said this was real. Mom is the realistic one and she always put it down like it was just a game. Did she know about it? Did my Dad ever got to Chaotic?"

"Whoa-Whoa! Easy does it!" Manny was gripping his head with both hands. "I'd be taking the math test than your line of unanswerable inquiry."

"Well, you've already used two words I thought you wouldn't know." I said.

"Okay there!" He smiled and pointed right at me. "That's the Angel I know. Now just make sure she stays there and we can ride this ride out."

Sometimes Manny is a goof, and sometimes he's the brother I've never had, But looking up at Kit and Kat right now, their sibling relationship is a battle in and of itself! I watch, learning how everything is set up. The scanners are put in pedestal-like holders, and then some screen projections appeared in front of each of them. We could hear them talking as we watched on some stands outside.

"Think Dad's gonna flip when we tell him about this?" Kat asked as she arranged her deck.

Kit answered her crossly. "That Chaotic is back? Maybe. But me beating you in a Chaotic match? That's happened before." That earned him an angry look from Kat.

"I wouldn't bet on your Mom believing you, Angel." Manny said sitting next to me. "If she ever did go to Chaotic, you would have heard her talking about it."

"Welcome, Players to Battledrome Crellan! " A deep, mechanical voice seemed to echo from that floating symbol target above Kit and Kat. They did, and the Drome-voice spoke again. "Kat Kalinkas, online name Taki-Names67 and Kit Kalinkas, online name All-H'earring53; this is the first Chaotic match for the both of you. Since Taki-Names issued the challenge, All-H'earring shall be the attacking player."

I watched as closely as I could. Seeing them turn certain spinner and moving cards around on the effects screen. Just like in the online game, then. It's good that the rules and layout aren't all that different. I thought that would make the game easier. The match was set up to be one-on-one. So I figured it would be over quick.

Then things got freaky.

The location was chosen: The Lava Pond. Kit called out like a battle cry. "Magmon attacks… Takinom."

We watched at the touched their scanners one last time, before the pedestal sunk into the floor with the devices. The moment they were gone a vortex of white light swirl around the red-head siblings. Manny gasped along with me as we watched as the light gave way to the very forms the two had declared for their match.

Magmon, a humanoid mass of black rock with lava visible beneath his form, studied his arms and legs and shifted around like he was uncomfortable. Takinom, the winged, scaly, female general of the Underworld examined her claws in awe, then looked behind her to test her wings like she had never had them.

"Kit? Kat?" I stood up and stared at the screen. Are those… real? Is this what that guy meant? Where are Kat and Kit?

"I think that's them!" Manny exclaimed.

In the Battledrome, Magmon said to Takinom, "…Sis?"

Taknom looked across the room at Magmon, "Kit…?"

The look on their faces were mirrors of shock despite that looked much less similar to each other now. "Awesome!" the both cried out.

And the Drome was filled with a white light. When it cleared, they were facing each other in the dark, rocky, lava filled wasteland of the Underworld. I tried to make eye-contact with Manny, but he wasn't looking away for anything. It looks like the two of them are okay, despite their bodies completely changing. If that's gonna happen to me and Manny, I should watch and learn while I can. So I glued my eyes to that screen.

Kit charged and Kat, he was slow to start but gained some momentum. Kat extended her claws like she was going to stop him. But it wasn't enough as she was slammed right into a boulder behind her. Is he really trying to hurt his sister?! The next second Kat, as Takinom, called out, "Eat flames!" and fire shot out of her mouth like a dragon!

Magmon only waved it out of his face, but it was enough for Takinom to break free. She tried to fly, but Kat was new to having wings and stumbled after just a few flaps. "Okay, okay!" I heard her saying. "Work with me here."

"Try this!" Magmon yelled. "Rock wave!" He hit the ground with his fists a series of rocks shot out of the ground towards Takinom, as did the lava that was part of the environment. It hit her hard. It showed on another screen the power and states of the match, and Takinom's just showed she took some damage. Back in the Lava Pond, Takinom looked like she definitely had taken a good hit.

"Kat!" Magmon called out like he was worried and regretful. He started lumbering up to his sister' new form when she leapt in the air and cried out, "Flame Orb!" Sending him toppling onto his back.

Takinom laughed triumphantly as she took to the air. "I'm just fine, bro. But a battle is a battle! Neither of us leaves here until the other goes down." Magmon growled at her in response. He rolled to the side and pushed himself up, but he quickly fell down again. Magmon looks like he'd be really heavy. Guess that means in the dromes you get the 'real body' experience. I wondered if that also means he's impervious to the heat from lava.

Takinom took advantage of his unbalance swooped down on him. She tried to pick Magmon up, but he was too heavy for her. She ended up dropping him… right into the Lava Pond! They both cried out, until Kit's Creature disappeared under the glowing liquid earth. Takinom fell to the ground, all thoughts of her wings gone. "No! Kit!" she sounded like Takinom (or something different than her own voice) but her words were 100% Kat. "I'm so sorry!"

Outside, where I was watching with Manny, I said. "Manny… Did….Did Kit just die?"

The sound of a soda slurping broke my focus from the monitor. Apparently Manny had gotten a soda. "What? Sorry, I missed it." I punched him on the shoulder, and not in the friendly way.

"Pay attention this time!" And my sight returned to the match.

Somehow Magmon had managed to climb up one of the boulders, simultaneously shooting fire attacks back and forth with Takinom. The two weren't bantering any more, the attacks were speaking for them. Rock waves, Flame Orbs, even old-fashion fist fighting were going on in there. So it's all fair game in there, huh? I recognize those attacks too. Normally you need a card or know the ability to state the attack, how do Kit and Kat know what to do?

"Alright, Magmon!" Takinom roared furiously. "Time to remind you why Takinom is the alpha-female of the Underworld!" Dodging a flame attack Takinom swooped in and picked up Magmon from behind. He cried out, but this time she wasn't going to drop him. She started flying around in a circle with him, picking up speed a little at a time. Faster and faster, until even Manny and I started feeling dizzy! Then he grabbed his arm with both claws and used her momentum to start spinning him around and around just herself. Until, finally, she threw him… Right. Into. The wall.

The screen went white. Then the green room inside the Battledrome returned. Standing right where they had started was an unharmed Kit and… Takinom? "The winner of this match: Taki-Names!"

"Wo-hoo!" Takinom cheered as she jumped up and morphed back into being Kat. "Taking names and taking out! That's me' game!"

Kit, back in his human form, groaned and placed his hand to his head. The other hand picked up the scanner. "Yeah, yeah… Fine. Go ahead, brag away. You only win for today, Kat." I didn't see them walking out, it only took one shared look between me and Manny before we rushed off to see them.

We met them outside the Drome a short time later in the Port Court. Manny burst into a fan-craze before I could even get started. "Bros! That was- Like- INSANE! I mean, you were Takinom and Magmon! And you were REALLY fighting at Lava Pond!"

"I know right!" Kit answered back just as excited. "I was practically starstruck! Nothing could have prepared me for this! I even FELT like I was Magmon."

"Did you guys really get hurt?" That was my big question. What are we really getting into if we go in that drome?

Kat answered. "Thing is: We did and we didn't." We sat on a bench near a plant-like-hedge as we listened to her explain. "When we were the Creatures we could tell we were hurt, and how much, but it wasn't like taking a real hit. And believe me, I've taken a few."

"She has." Kit confirmed.

"Anyway, when the match was over Kit and I were back to 100%. It was more like we had run a marathon than thrown fireballs at each other. It's really like the Creature is the one fighting. Once you set your mind like that, you get what you're supposed to do!"

Well, that's helpful. So no one really gets hurt. But we are doing some of the work because the player feels tired afterwards. Knowing that, I did feel like I could begin enjoying coming to Chaotic now. It's still a game, just a lot more interactive!

"So, who's my next victim?" Kat asked, rubbing her hands together.

"Me! Me!" Manny stood up and raised his hand. "Sorry Angel! But this game looks too good to miss out on."

"That's fine with me." I said. "I'll can go after."

"So Mr. Man thinks he can beat me when my own brother couldn't?" Kat challenged. Maybe she just likes getting her potential opponents worked up and ready to go? Kind of like how I tease Manny right before an online or card match.

"Imma lot more man than he is!" Manny laughed patting his large stomach. We all laughed.

As Manny and Kat went to the Drome to get ready, I had some time to talk with Kit. That match had kinda dried him out, so we each got a drink while we waited. "Um…." Kit said, scratching his head nervously. "Sorry about my sister."

I blinked up at him. "What are you apologizing for? She hasn't done anything wrong."

"Well… thanks. But I know she and I can be hot-heads. Kat's always been aggressive, but she's not mean or anything. This Chaotic thing is also a huge deal for her… She really used to get into Dad's games when we were little. Safe bet if she could have come to Chaotic before this: she would have gone straight to the Underworld."

I took a drink of my own soda. I could taste it, feel it, and it was good. I was talking to Kit, though I couldn't look up from my drink. "Same with me…" I remember sitting on my bed, looking up at Dad as he explained every Location, and told me about every Creature. They all had personalities some were funny, others were brave, some were loyal and others were wise. There were bag guys in the stories plenty of times. Dad even used had a few of those in his deck. "When I was a kid my Dad made his stories seem so real! Mom was my anchor back to reality, but she never stopped me from playing the game. I'm still going over what he used to tell me! If I knew all this was for real, then for sure I would have wanted to come."

"Well, we're all going once this little tournament is finished!" Kit seemed to have regained some his enthusiasm. "Kat will stand by her deal that we all go together. Even if she loses. It's safer anyway since no one has any idea what to expect. Our dads' generation or not, it'll be rough territory wherever we go."

"If Manny wins, he'll definitely want to check out a Mipedian Location." I said. "That's fine… I just might be on edge in a place where giant lizards and turn invisible and sneak up behind me."

"If you really like Overworlders, then you already know they won't lay out the welcome mat either." Kit pointed that out. "I'm not trying to offend anybody, I just want to have a clear picture of what expect. Humans haven't been in Perim for about three decades or so. Chances are these Creatures might or might not be so accepting of us coming back."

"Why do you say that, Kit?" I asked.

He leaned back and folded his arms, with an unsure look on his face. "Realistically: we don't know why Chaotic was shut down. There's a good chance that something in Perim happened and it wasn't safe for humans afterward."

I had wondered about. In all the excitement I guess it just slipped my mind. "But that Codemaster guy said we could go."

"Yeah, he did. But he didn't guarantee that the residence would be okay with us. That's why here you're scanner is your life!" Kit was totally serious behind those pinkish glasses. "The breaking of your scanner is the breaking of your body."

"And vice versa." I agreed.

"Either way, you're gone and out." Kit continued. "So be careful with what you chose as a prize. Kat will choose an Underworld Location. I don't know which, but it's no place for a rookie to get their feet wet. She'll get in way over her head even if we don't run into a creature and be code right from the start! Ugh, plus if she wins it will really go to her head…"

As Kit groaned in annoyance, I could stop myself from giggling. He looked up at me oddly. "No! No! I'm sorry!" I quickly apologized though I kept on smiling. "It's just- That's probably the same thing Manny will do!" As I talked with Kit he listened on with mild interest. "Manny isn't my brother. But we've been friends for so long that it feels like he really his. Even back on Earth he would usually do or say something crazy and I would have to bail him out. And just as many times when I wanted to do something, Manny's always had my back. If he wins I'll back him up on where he wants to go. Part of the fun is the surprises. I'm sure you just want to choose a safer Location in the Underworld than Kat might want!"

At the end, Kit's eyes looked bigger. Like he was realizing something or had just heard something so new to him. I did get a little too open there. Maybe I just said too much? "Erm… Sorry. That was kind of out there!" I took a huge sip through my straw to wash down the embarrassment. I hadn't meant to reveal so much! But there's just something about those two. It's so odd… but it feels like I've been friends with both of them for a long time, and we only met a few hours ago.

"No it's…" Somehow, he seemed almost as embarrassed as I was. "It's just that hard to find someone who relates to my situation with Kate." That was the first time I heard him call her that. "My sister… You've seen how she is a little, but I know where it counts she's got my back too. Just wish she wasn't so forceful about it. You're easy to talk to… Angel."

Before we could continue, Manny and Kat's match just got started. Manny would be the attacking player, since this was still her challenge. I need to watch this real close now. I'll be going up against either one of them next. Manny chose Siado as his attacking Creature. Kat was sticking with Takinom.

"That's kind of unfair." I stated. "She's already gotten used to Takinom. Shouldn't Kat be trying someone new?"

"If it's not in the agreed rules, she can do it." Kit simply replied. "Kat's a big Takinom fan. She probably wants to learn (heaven forbid) whatever she can about her big hero."

I kind of agreed with that. I wasn't even sure of where I wanted to go in Perim. Really I should have been concentrating on who I was going to battle with! I thought of my Danians… but it might be too big of a change to suddenly get four additional legs. Manny might let me get used to that, Kat would be a different story. She was playing to win! Plus not a lot of Danians are good at water, and that definitely would be a big help if she sticks with Takinom. Then maybe I-

"Angel, are you watching?" Kit snapped me out of my thoughts. "The Location is the Sha-Kree Flats. You remember that Location's influence right?"

I did. "Each Creature's health drops after each attack. It's also a strategic place for an Elementalist because they can gain one elemental attack at the start."

Kit blinked twice. I guess he wasn't expecting me to know. He picked up his drink and said. "I think you and I are going to get along a-okay. Watch the match, you'll have the best chance if you can pick up on my sister's strategy."

Following Kit's advice, I did. Sha-Krees Flats is nothing but dry, cracked earth for miles and miles. I called it a good strategic move on Manny's part. It's the complete opposite of where Kat was battling in the Underworld. And she doesn't have any rocks to throw him against or hide behind. Manny really was watching! Takinom (Kat) was firing orbs again from up in the air, getting visibly tired after each throw.

"Guess ya didn't know!" Shouted Siado (Manny), dodging attacks by moving left and right. "You can't afford to miss! Every attack does damage on ya Taki!"

Takinom growled angrily. She landed on the cracked earth, sweating hard. Why didn't she sweat in the Lava Pond? I decided not to question it too far. Siado turned invisible, which made the match seem all the more frustrating to Takinom. She looked around, even spreading out her wings like she was ready to jump and take flight at even the hint of an attack.

The whole Drome was still. Only the wind made any noise. Yeah, there's apparently wind.

Takinom's eyes were darting in every direction. Manny was smart to pick this Location. I wonder how does he goes invisible? I didn't see him activate anything like mugic. So I can guess special abilities like that just play in with the Creature. This is so cool! I can't wait for my turn! The match was still going. Takinom won't make any kind of attack now that she knows it will weaken her. It's possible Manny is waiting for her to run out of patience so she attacks and he can have a little more of an advantage over her. Manny's pretty much a goof in every area except in Chaotic games. There, he's serious.

Kit and I were on the edge of our seats waiting for something to happen. Manny must really be enjoying his dramatic approach. If only he would GET ON WITH IT!

Then right behind Takinom, he appeared. "Cyclone Slash!" I gust of air came off of Siado and hit Takinom right in her wings! The impact caused her to cry out and knocked down onto the ground. Next Siado raised his hand in the air, a BattleGear I recognized as The Indigo Arc.

"How do you summon BattleGear?" I asked Kit watching Manny approach Kat.

"I- I don't know!" Kit gasped. "It didn't use any! I wanted to settle the match the same way Kat did. Real fighting with no gear!"

"Guess that's fair game too. Manny really was watching. He knew he needed to be unexpected to beat Kat at this." I felt proud of him for minute. Then realized that Manny winning would mean I'd have to face him next. I didn't feel too good about that…

The axe he had summoned was known not to miss, and Takinom was too damaged to be able to move very fast. I bit my lip, guessing at the outcome. She glared over her shoulder at the approaching Mipedian. "Fortissimo!" She called out.

Mugic?!

I heard the tune play and a shower of golden light fell over Takinom. The moment it did, she grew to at least ten times her original height! Blocking out the sun over the dried wasteland, casting a dark shadow over Siado. He froze. Eyes bulging he dropped his axe, completely taken off guard. Giant Takinom grinned sadistically, raised her foot and stomped him out.

Kat had won again.

Since I hadn't wanted to fight Manny I should have felt relieved then. Instead there were about five knots on my stomach. I pushed my soda away. "Well…" I breathed. "That's that."

"Yeah." Kit agreed. "Did you learn anything?"

I looked up at him. I got the feeling that somehow Kit wanted his sister to lose. Not just so he wouldn't have to go to her Underworld choice prize, from talking to him I knew there was more to it than that.

"Um…" I replayed the two matches I had watched today side by side. "Kat really like Takinom… and since she's won twice with her, Kat's likely gonna use her again. I should pick a Creature that counters out Takinom, like one with water abilities."

"That's good." Kit stated like he was a professor and eagerly urged me on. "Now on strategy…"

A/N: Who will win?

Where will they go?

Who will they fight with?

Do you careto know?

How is this looking so far? Seriously, I'd like to know.