Disclaimer: I do not own Bakugan
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"Ugh…" What just happened?
Drago slowly opened his green eyes, awareness coming back to him. All around him was a never-ending sky, the colours of what the original Vestroia's space was like
"What is all this?" wondered Drago as he looked around him
"At last, it is good to find a friendly face
Drago turned quickly at the sound of a relieved voice. His eyes widened upon seeing Neo Zip Zam standing behind him
"Neo! Thank the core you're alright" rejoiced the dragonoid. The feeling however was brief as he noticed that the Neathian bakugan seemed off "Neo, what's wrong?"
Neo looked at him tiredly, mournful as he spoke "Drago, I am afraid my time here is short now, I can only hold on for so long now"
Drago gawked, not believing what he was hearing "What? That cannot be, is this some sort of joke!" he choked out
Upon the sullen shake of Neo's head, Drago tried to make his friend see reason
"What about Linus and the element, Neathia! You cannot just leave them"
Sadness clouded Neo's eyes at the name of his partner, his heart aching. But he had no other choice
"Until now it has been my responsibility to protect the element, but the time has come for me to pass it on" lamented the Neathian "To this day I believed that it was fate that we met Drago, and I believe that fate played its hand once again today"
"Fate?"
"Yes" nodded Neo "Neathia needs a protector for the element. My mission is over, I can no longer be that guardian" giving Drago a sad smile. The element started to remove itself from his body and floated towards Drago "Which is why I am passing it on to you…"
Drago startled abruptly as his friend started to fade "What! Wait—Neo!"
"I can think of no other bakugan as worthy as you. Thank you, my friend. I am glad to have met you. Good luck Drago"
Neo vanished as Drago absorbed the element, the element's light consuming everything once again
Dan watched as the light started to fade, revealing his partner. The brunet stared in surprise as he took in the sight of bakugan's new appearance
"Wha? What just happened?" Drago breathed out as he looked down seeing his new body, the glow on him receding
"D-Drago? You've evolved again pal" gawked Dan, awe on his face. Before looking curiously at the card in his hand which had started to glow
Turning it upwards and bringing it closer, he saw that it had changed, and he read out loud the name written at the top
"Lumino Dragonoid!"
The Gundalians looked at the two in shocked stance, disbelief at what they were seeing
"What! Lumino Dragonoid, huh—but how? How did this happen, tell me? Tell me, how!" Stammered Sid, face contorting in rage
Ren understood straight away what happened "Neo made Drago evolve. I guess Neo did posses the element after all"
"Who cares if he's evolved, so what" snarled Rubinoid as he glared at Drago "I'm not through with him yet!" he declared as he started to surge towards Drago
Unfazed, Drago stood his ground, his new wings twitching slightly
"Kick it Drago! Ability activate 'Cross Fire'" shouted Dan as he activated the new ability
Drago's four wings turned to fire, lashing out towards Rubinoid. Power level increasing at the same time
Rubinoid screeched with fury as he was sent back to ball form
'Sid's life force zero'
Sid growled in fury as he picked up the fallen bakugan "Argh! No way"
Ren glowered at him with disdain "Yes Sid, they got the element back. Nice play" he snarked before running through the arena exit
"Hey, it's not my fault" cried Sid as he followed the dark us brawler
The brawlers hurried down to Dan and Drago's side, awing at Drago's new form
Fabia gazed at his new form, wonder across her features
"I must admit I never expected this to happen" she said quietly to Aranaut "Me neither"
Drago shifted slightly, still unused to his new body. Not to mention the attention he was receiving at the moment
"I feel very strange now that the element is a part of me" admitted the Pyrus bakugan
Dan looked up to his partner's face, brown eyes full of concern at those words "How so, pal?" He asked him
"I feel…. tapped into the entire universe" he said, an uncertain undertone in his voice
Hold on! Where's? Dan realised that something wasn't right, quickly looking around he noticed someone missing
"Hold on a sec! Where's Neo?" he spoke frantically
The brawlers having noticed as well, also looked around. Upon seeing the somber look on Drago's face, she knew something was wrong
With a hand against her heart she steeled herself "Drago. Is he…?" She faltered not able to say the word
Drago closed his eyes, letting out as sigh as nodded. Confirming her suspicions
Later, Outside of Bakugan Interspace
"Sigh…. What a day"
Exhausted from the day's events, Dan collapsed down on the grass and closed his eyes. Drago rolled on to his chest, just over his heart watching him
The two of them had snuck away from the others, only letting Fabia know through a message so that they wouldn't worry. The two of them just needed a breather, ands that how they found themselves on a quiet grassy hill that overlooked Bayview's harbour
"Agreed" said Drago "It feels like we've done nothing but run around and battle. I'm starting to think that we should…" he trailed off, noticing that in the time that he spoke Dan still had his eyes closed. "Dan? Daaan? Dan are you listening to me!"
…nothing
Drago hurriedly closed into a ball and started rolling back and forth, building up speed. The dragonoid suddenly rolled forward
Smack!
Dan sat up, instantly alert. "What the hell Drago!" He yelled, wincing slightly as he brought a hand up to his chin
Drago huffed as he floated in front of Dan. "That's what you get for falling asleep. Honestly Dan, you'll catch a cold sleeping out here"
The human puffed out his cheeks before letting out a harsh breath "Yeah, yeah I was just tired" he grumbled half heartedly. Dan proceeded to bend one of his knees and wrap his arms loosely around it, his other leg staying stretched out. Looking at his partner, expression blank, he spoke to him softly.
"What about yourself, how are you holding up? New body and all, it's been awhile since you last evolved"
The bakugan settled on the human's knee before replying "Like I said before, strange. My new form, I'm getting used to, but having the element in me is…different"
Brown orbs blinked in confusion "Different? In what way?" asked Dan
"In a way, the energy feels similar to that of the perfect core. But it also feels…as though there's another presence, like it has a mind of its own. That's the best way I can say it" explained the dragonoid
Dan's mouth twitched slightly as he gave his partner a mirthful look "Another presence? Careful Drago, you don't want to be possessed or something. Those things never work out for us, and I don't think I can deal with an evil Drago. My heart just won't take it, I'd rather lose the will to live" he joked
Drago chuckled "If I were evil, then I would keep you locked in a tower just for all the trouble you've gotten me in to" he jested playfully
Dan laughed loudly, an image of him in a tower came to his mind with Drago guarding the door. "Oh god no! You make it sound like I'm a damsel in distress, like out of a fairy tale"
As much as a bakugan could, Drago levelled Dan with a straight face, speaking with all seriousness "Dan, at this point from all the other times you've had to be saved. You ARE a damsel I distress"
Eyes wide, the human sputtered indignantly. "Wha? —No! —What are you! —Tell me! Name one time!" He sputtered out
"Let me see now: The doom dimension, Wardington tower, the dimension tower alongside Baron and Ace. Hmmm, where else…" With every event Drago listed, the colour of Dan's face grew whiter and whiter. "Oh yes, multiple times on Neathia, such as nearly getting crushed, your midnight atta—!" "OKAY! I GET IT ALREADY! Sheesh, I'm sorry I ever asked"
The brunet lowered his head, burying it in his arms to try and hide his embarrassment
Drago gave Dan a few moments to calm down, before going on to a more pressing topic "So what's our next step. Is Fabia going to be joining us on our return to Neathia with Linus. We cannot stay here long; we have to go back"
The response he received was muffled, due to Dan still not removing his face from his arms. Drago couldn't make out what he was saying and told the human so. Dan turned his head to the side, still resting it on his arms but now able to speak clearly
"Fabs is actually speaking to the others right now about that, she's asking if they'll come with us. I already know the answer for Shun and Marucho, Jake I'm not to sure though. His expression than became pensive "I'm more concerned about Linus, I feel like shit. It's our fault we lost Neo"
Drago sullenly nodded as he thought back to when they told the castle knight about Neo's fate. As soon as they walked through the infirmary's door and saw the dried tear marks on Linus' face, they knew that the Neathian was already aware of his partner's fate
"I know, not only did we lose a good friend today…he lost something someone more, a brother"
Dan was silent, a far off look in his eyes, throat tightening up as old memories flashed in his head
"No one should have to go through that, ever" he whispered
Yes, we both know full well what its like. To lose what matters to us ruefully thought Drago as he watched his partner
"We should start heading back now, it's getting dark" he said eventually, however is appeared that Dan did not hear him "Dan!"
The boy startled as he was brought back to reality "Hmm, oh! Sorry Drago yeah let's get going". Uncrossing his arms, the brunet slowly stood up, his face scrunching up slightly, he brought a hand up to his temple pressing his fingers to it rub it, the action did not go unnoticed.
"Another headache again, you've been getting them a lot lately" pondered Drago, his concern showing through in his voice
"It's fine, it's just because I'm tired not enough sleep. Come on let's go, everyone is waiting for us"
Gundalia
"So, Drago has been infused with the element. You had best not waste any time capturing Dan Kuso and Drago, I want them both and the element. Don't make me regret giving you a second chance Ren"
"Y-Yes Sire"
An evil smirk formed on Emperor Barodius' face, despite the fact that Ren's team lost the element to the Neathians, he was quite pleased with the new development
It would appear that my pet has become of even more value to me, soon. I will reclaim what belongs to me
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