Disclaimer - I do not own Bakugan

I still have not come up with at better summary yet either :(

(Recap)

"Ren, stop! He's gone, Dan is dead"

(End Recap)

Ren watched as Marucho calmed himself, and Shun looked as though he was barely holding his own tongue from snapping

"But what if he's not" he said to them, that seemed to get their attention. Until Shun shook his head

"Dan and his parents died in a car crash months ago" he firmly told the Gundalian, refusing to accept anything else

Ren quizzingly looked at him, a little bit surprised considering that this was a topic that none of the original brawlers liked to speak about

Maybe we should tell him, he's our friend we can trust him thought Marucho

Once he steeled himself, he started to explain

"You're aware of the events that took place from New Vestroia correct?" Ren nodded, having learned about them from Julie. Marucho continued "After we came back, we had a, uh…a falling out. Alice being the only one who wasn't present at the time, we sort of pushed Dan away"

Shun couldn't contain his scoff

"Pushed him! That a mild way of putting it" he said under his breath that the two had to strain to hear him

Marucho internally winced, out of everyone it was Shun who took this the hardest

"We spent weeks searching for him, it wasn't until we came to Bayview that we found out about the crash, let alone that his family had moved"

Ren quietly listened to their 'version' of the story. "How did he die exactly?" he questioned with a blank face. In hindsight it probably wasn't the best thing to say, but he wanted to gather as much information as possible

Shun stay quiet through the whole story, leaning back on his chair, arms crossed, and eyes closed. He recalled what they were told by the adults

"Dan and his family were on a drive, and an oil truck had skid on the road and collided with them" he spoke flatly

"…the oil truck caught fire…it exploded. There was nothing left" Marucho finished

"If there were no bodies, then how do you know that he died?" challenged Ren

Shun's eyes snapped open

"Didn't you hear us? There was nothing left. No one could have survived that" he hissed

"He is alive though, I've seen him with my own eyes" Ren quickly tapped on his bakumeter, images started to show up on the main computer

…What?

Marucho gasped as he and Shun started at what they were seeing

They were multiple images of Dan. Some looked as though he were in a battle wearing a white suit of armour, other were taken from a distance he always with what looked to be guards.

However, what disturbed the two brawlers was another set of images.

Dan's unconscious from restrained on a bench of some kind, his body bloody and bruised. Another of him in a jail cell by the looks of it, he looked exhausted with blood shot eyes. His clothes were torn and Shun could just barely see what looked to be bruises on Dan's neck.

Marucho was worried about the sickly pallor to Dan's skin, his clothes were very baggy on him as well like he hadn't eaten in days. Marucho felt sick to his stomach.

It was not a pretty sight

Ren had to pity them, even though he had already seen these images, still didn't like seeing them. he didn't know Dan as well as they did. So, what was it like? For two people seeing someone who they considered a friend or brother…. someone who they thought was dead…Alive but shattered

It took a bit before someone spoke up

"What about Drago?"

Two heads turned to Shun, the normally cool-headed ninja had to turn away from the monitor, fists clenched tight on his lap. He was barely keeping his rage in

It took Marucho a second before he caught on to what Shun was trying to say

He's right! Where's Drago? He would have never let anything like this happen to Dan thought Marucho

Damn it Shun, you're making this harder as it already is Ren thought that just seeing their friend would sway them more onto the Gundalian's side. It's a good thing that he had a backup just in case, he pulled up more images on the screen

This time they showed the said Pyrus bakugan in ball form, he was kept in a cage. Another image showed him fighting against other bakugan.

"Him and Dan are…How do you humans say it? In the same boat? Basically, both Dan and Drago are being forced to fight for the Neathians" he told them

Marucho shook his head "It doesn't make any sense" he said

"Dan loves bakugan! He wouldn't use them for war, and Drago is the same he would side for anyone who uses bakugan"

"That may be true Marucho, but what if they can't control what they're doing"

That got Ren some quizzical looks from the other two

"The Neathians are known to use unscrupulous methods of persuasion. Such as…. hypnosis. he told them slowly allowing them to absorb the meaning behind the words, and come to a realisation

"You mean they brainwashed him" Shun spat

Marucho couldn't help the shiver that went down his spine as heard the tone in Shun's voice. He couldn't tell if it was fierce or malicious…. maybe both

He made a quick glance at Shun, his face as calm looking as it normally would be

It's a good thing that I'm not one of those Neathians right now. May the core help those whoever gets in the way of Shun

If Ren saw Marucho move his chair away from Shun, then he took no notice of it

"To put it bluntly then yes. The Neathians brainwashed your friends, but its not just him. There are other kids who have been put under their control as well" confirmed the Gundalian

This is our fault. If we had never had that stupid fight then Dan would be here, by our side Marucho thought morosely

"We need to get him back" he said determinedly

"It won't be easy. From what I've heard, the longer you're under their spell that harder it becomes to break it." Ren told him

"Doesn't matter. We'll do what ever it takes to bring him back" Shun shot back it him, Marucho nodding his agreement. They both had looks of fierce determination

Hold on just a little longer Dan. I'm coming for you

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