"He's too powerful!", Shinichi found himself crying, but he noticed that was he not 12 years old, but an 18-year-old teen, and he was standing on Nillious's shoulder. He couldn't see Nillious's form as his vision was blurry, but he could recognize him.
"We can't give in though!", He heard Dan crying from his side, and he looked at him.
He was also capable of recognizing 18-year-old Dan standing on Drago's shoulder, who stood next to Nillious, and when Shinichi took a quick look around them, he saw different people with their Bakugan, whom he could not recognize.
He managed however to recognize Ran, Kaito, Julie, Marucho, Runo, Alice, and Shun among the Brawlers, and they were all near the same age.
When Shinichi looked ahead, his eyes widened, and he let his heart almost stop from fear. His blurred vision made him incapable of recognizing what was ahead of him, but he knew it was a Bakugan and his partner.
And everyone's lives were at stake because of that Bakugan.
Shinichi and Dan snapped their eyes open as they sat up with a cry.
"Woah, where is the fire?". Shinichi heard Kaito say, and that was when he noticed he was in an unfamiliar house, him and Dan placed on opposite couches, with Kaito and Ran standing near him while Runo and Marucho stood near Dan.
"Where are we? What happened?", Dan asked as he looked around and his eyes landed on Drago and Nillious, who were closed, and placed on the table between the couch he lied on and Shinichi's.
Both Bakugan popped up and floated towards their partner and Drago spoke up, "The field was unstable from our power.".
"So, we were all knocked out.", Nillious finished.
"Thanks to Marucho and his butler, we rushed you all to his house. And his butler took care of our bikes.", Runo explained.
"How long have we been out?", Shinichi spoke up.
"Around an hour.", Ran replied, "You scared us back there.". She said her second sentence as she unconsciously placed her hand on top of Shinichi's.
In another situation, Shinichi would have blushed and acknowledged her act, but his mind was occupied with the strange dream he had just seen.
"I saw a strange dream… of Dan and I… against something.", Shinichi mumbled.
"You too?!", Dan asked in disbelief. At Shinichi's nod, Dan continued, "It was very weird, us as teenagers, facing some sort of Bakugan with Drago and Nillious, but they looked different.".
"You guys were there too, alongside Brawlers we have never seen before.", Shinichi continued.
"So, you think this was some sort of a vision or a prophecy?", Elfin asked from where she rested on Kaito's right shoulder.
"Most likely, the description doesn't fit a nightmare or a normal dream.", Leonidas commented from where he rested on Ran's right shoulder.
"I think it had something to do with your battle.", Marucho spoke up, "The vision may have been triggered by Drago and Nillious's power increase, maybe there is a connection between them and between you as their partners.".
"Like hell am I connected to him.", Nillious spat, his anger directed towards Drago.
"Do I look happy to you about this?", Drago asked rhetorically with an annoyed tone.
"I think we shouldn't think about it much now, since you two didn't see much to be told in this vision.", Tigrerra voiced her opinion.
"Yeah, most of the vision was blurry, but the Bakugan we were facing, I couldn't see him, but I could see that he had all six attribute colors together.", Shinichi recalled.
"You mean like how I can change attributes?", Preyas asked.
"No, as if he were a product of the fusion of a Bakugan from each attribute.", Dan replied.
'So, it wasn't Naga, what could be a bigger threat than him?', Drago thought.
'I thought it was him for a second…', Nillious thought.
The Brawlers and their Bakugan remained silent for a few seconds before Ran suggested, "I think we should all go home and take a break now, we are all very tired, especially Dan and Shinichi.".
"Yeah, I wanna go to sleep even if it's still Noon. Thanks for having us at your home, Marucho.", Dan nodded.
"Hey, no big deal, anything for a friend!", Marucho smiled.
"Anyways, Marucho, Runo, and I with the others will continue investigating and finding more about Masquerade.", Dan said as he stretched a bit, "As much as I want you Kudo to join our work too, I think it will be much better if you did so after finding the other three Vanguard Brawlers.".
"You do realize we're capable of doing both actions, correct?", Shinichi asked Dan with a raised eyebrow.
"It's not good to multitask.", Dan countered.
"It's not even multitasking since they're both connected to Bakugan.", Shinichi frowned, "Why are you trying to prevent my team and I from joining you against Masquerade?".
"Now you're just jumping to conclusions.", Dan said
"No, he isn't. And the biggest proof is that whenever he asks you for any information about Masquerade you refuse to tell him.", Ran said.
"Okay, no need to jump in and defend your boyfriend.", Dan frowned, "There isn't really much to know about Masquerade.".
"Other than the whole Doom card thing that has defeated Bakugan sent to the doom dimension? You think that wasn't important to mention?", Kaito frowned and at Dan's surprised look he continued, "I asked Runo. We all had a long chat until you two woke up.".
"Runo!".
"What? They have the right to know, Dan.", Runo pointed out the obvious.
"Why aren't you seriously letting them help us Dan? The more the merrier.", Marucho said.
"I know why, it's because the great Kusou Dan here wants to be the number 1 Brawler by any means, which means defeating Masquerade by himself, and if that means he has to keep his friends from helping him and off his track, then so be it.", Shinichi deduced.
"Oh and you want to be the fifth or something? You too want to be the top brawler!", Dan cried.
"Everyone wants to but there are priorities Danma! This Masquerade is shady and dangerous, and with what our Bakugan said about Vestroia, this isn't just a game, and something is definitely going on.", Shinichi cried before he explained quickly to the Battle Brawlers what Elfin and Nillious had told him.
"I find it funny how you believed, no, how you actually ended up with a criminal Bakugan. Everyone ended up with a Bakugan similar to their personality you know.", Dan said darkly.
"What's that supposed to mean?", Shinichi almost snarled.
"It means you're not a hero nor a goody two shoes! You're not even a real Detective! And yeah, you're right! The whole Vanguard idea is fake, there is and there won't be a Battle Vanguard, I did this to throw you off my track of becoming number one! You would've done the same anyways, you arrogant cocky brat! If Shun did what he did, then so can anyone!", Dan cried at the top of his lungs.
Silence filled the room and no one dared to make a sound after Dan's outburst.
Ran was looking at Dan in disbelief, the same with Runo and Marucho, while Kaito was frowning heavily, and Shinichi had a cold facial expression on his face. The Bakugan, however, no one could tell what their facial expression was, but their silence meant that they too were shocked.
"Thank you for telling me the truth, Kuso.", Shinichi said coldly making Dan frown heavily at the mispronunciation of his name, and Shinichi had done it on purpose.
"Since I was a Battle Brawler at first and thought I was joining a new team, I quit the Battle Brawlers, and I will form the Battle Vanguard… as Bakugan needs a team who will take things seriously, with a serious leader, when things go downhill, not someone like you, who has no problem whatsoever insulting my Bakugan and I.", Shinichi said before he walked away as he mumbled, "Thank you again, Marucho.".
He stopped and looked at Kaito and Ran, "You guys can decide for yourselves, I won't force you to join me.".
"I wasn't even a Battle Brawler in the first place, and I'm the Aquos Vanguard Brawler, remember?", Kaito lightly smirked.
"I quit too, and I'll join you Shinichi.", Ran said.
"Yeah, sure. Follow your boyfriend around like a lost puppy, you were an awful Brawler anyways until Leonidas showed up.", Dan mumbled under his breath, but Ran, Kaito and Shinichi heard him.
Kaito and Shinichi turned to Dan and almost walked towards him until Ran walked towards the boys and placed a a hand on their shoulders.
"Let's go guys, he's not worth it. Sooner or later, he'll realize how awful it is to be lonely like Shun.", She mumbled calmly.
Kaito then looked at Shinichi, waiting for his action, as the boy who had a crush on Ran, and the leader of the Vanguard.
"Let's go.", Shinichi said, as he walked away with his two teammates and their Bakugan.
Kudo Manor,
"It's alright Runo.", Shinichi said. He was sitting at his desk with his laptop open, video chatting with Runo, Marucho, Makimoto Julie, and Alice Gehabich, with Kaito and Ran standing behind him.
"No, it's not! What Dan said was awful.", Runo insisted.
"He shouldn't have said that by any means.", Marucho said as he adjusted his glasses.
"I can't believe Dan said such things… he's a nice guy so what happened?", Julie said in disbelief.
"Him desiring to be number one and defeat both Masquerade and Shun by himself is what happened.", Ran mumbled.
"Well, I hope they both kick his ass, but without the Doom card. The poor Bakugan he has don't deserve such fate. You know, I won't be surprised if he ends up getting rid of Drago, that Bakugan is too good for him anyways.", Kaito voiced his thoughts angrily.
"I think it's best for you to avoid him now. Dan's a good person, he'll realize his mistake sooner rather than later and apologize to you.", Alice said.
"Well until he does that, the guys and I will continue assembling the Vanguard.", Shinichi said seriously before he heard a beeping sound, with his laptop showing a message that it needed to be charged.
"I forgot to charge my laptop. I gotta go now, before the battery dies out.", Shinichi said before he waved at his hands, who waved back, before he turned off the laptop, plugged the charger, and closed the screen.
"I'm so glad my laptop did this because I wanted to end this conversation quickly.", Shinichi sighed as he turned to face his two friends, "I know they had nothing to do with this, but talking to them reminds me of Dan.".
"Naturally, they're the main Battle Brawlers and he was the leader and founder, with you and Ran being the Secondary ones.", Kaito pointed out.
"Yeah, well now we're the Primary Vanguard Brawlers with us and three others being the main ones, and I being the founder and leader.", Shinichi mumbled.
He then grabbed a nearby notebook and a pencil and started writing something quickly on it.
"Can someone look up the names of the Ventus Brawler of Osaka, the Subterra Brawler who defeated everyone in Ekoda and Osaka, and that mysterious Darkus Brawler who defeated Runo?", Shinichi asked.
Kaito and Ran pulled out their phones and both did a quick search on the Bakugan news.
"The Ventus Brawler is Hattori Heiji and his partner is Ingram. The Subterra Brawler is Hakuba Saguru and his partner is Cyndeous, he looks like a prick though.", Kaito commented as he eyed the image of Saguru smirking arrogantly.
"There are no images for the Darkus Brawler or any information about her, yes, she's a girl. But one boy she defeated at their school said her name was Sera Masumi, and her partner is Darkus Vladitor.", Ran said.
Shinichi nodded at them before he continued writing.
"What are you writing?", Both Kaito and Ran asked.
"You'll see.", Shinichi said before he spread the notebook on his desk for them to see.
Bakugan Battle Vanguard
Primary Brawlers:
Pyrus: Kudou Shinichi & Nillious
Aquos: Kuroba Kaito & Elfin
Haos: Mouri Ran & Leonidas
Ventus: Hattori Heiji & Ingram
Subterra: Hakuba Saguru & Cyndeous
Darkus: Sera Masumi & Vladitor
Possible Secondary Brawlers:
Pyrus: Tsukamoto Kazumi & Kelion, Ooka Momiji & Howlkor
Aquos: Wada Hina & Tristar, Nakamori Aoko
Haos: Suzuki Sonoko & Pegatrix
Ventus: Toyama Kazuha & Hawktor, Okita Soshi & Taylean
Subterra: Kyogoku Makoto & Maxotaur, Kyogoku Haruka & Trox
Darkus: Koizumi Akako & Eenoch
"Hey, I told you Aoko isn't into Bakugan.", Kaito pointed out.
"You and I know very well you'll stop at nothing until Aoko becomes a Brawler and an Aquos one too.", Shinichi deadpanned.
"Nah, whatever makes you say so?", Kaito replied with a sheepish grin.
"Shinichi, how did you know about all of them? I understand Sonoko, Hina, and Kazumi, but what about the others?", Ran blinked in surprise at the number.
"I was going to discuss things with Dan but since he turned out to be a shit… I did my own research on our way back home with my phone, gathering data about the other best Brawlers, who haven't faced the Battle Brawlers or met them before, and those came up to me.", Shinichi explained before he glanced back at the paper, "I had hoped we could have two secondary Brawlers in every attribute, but I couldn't find ones for Haos and Darkus.".
"It's alright Shinichi, you did your best as our leader.", Ran gave him a supporting smile as she placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Yeah dude, I bet Dan never even thought about expanding the Battle Brawlers like you did, you're a genius.", Kaito grinned.
Shinichi smiled as he stared at his secret crush and best friend, happy that they were supporting him through everything.
"Does that mean I'll meet more Bakugan and befriend them?!", Elfin asked excitedly.
"And mentor them.", Kaito added.
"Wicked!", Elfin exclaimed.
"Practice is good to keep our heads up, not just improve ourselves.", Leonidas nodded in agreement.
Nillious said nothing.
Midnight,
Shinichi could not sleep. And it was not because Kaito often snored around that time often, but because of what happened today.
"You didn't have to get angry at him like that because of what he said.", Nillious finally spoke up from where he was placed on the bedside table.
"He insulted me, you, and then Ran. I had every right to get angry, not to mention that he lied to me for a stupid reason.", Shinichi said.
Nillious popped out, "I get why you're mad about everything, but the part that involves me. I thought you hated me.".
"Why would I hate you?", Shinichi asked confused as he turned to Nillious.
"Because I'm indeed a criminal, Kusou wasn't lying nor Dragonoid.", Nillious pointed out.
Shinichi remained silent for a few seconds before he said, "But you're now my partner, and we are one. So, when someone insults me, he insults you, and vice versa.".
"Strange… I didn't expect that from you, Detective.", Nillious mumbled.
"Look, I don't how things go on Vestroia, for all I know, what counts as a crime there, isn't one in my world and vice versa.", Shinichi shrugged, "I'm honestly waiting for you to tell me everything, until then, I'll not judge you. Besides, you didn't try to escape nor try to attack me or hurt me during our battles, so that's a good thing.".
When Nillious said nothing, Shinichi turned around in bed, preparing to sleep.
Until Nillious spoke up again, "I did nothing wrong. It was all his doing.".
Shinichi turned back again to face Nillious before he sat up properly and listened to Nillious's backstory.
"Since we are beings of energy, we don't reproduce in the same manner as you Humans, but spawn another on our own, which is an alternative to evolving. I was known back on Vestroia of being one of the best Bakugan in battle for my strength.".
"And then, he came. He never said his name. All I know and will always remember was his appearance, and his Darkus attribute. He came to where I lived with my ancestors and descendants in the Pyrus world, and I wasn't there… He massacred them all.".
"I arrived at the last moment and seeing my dead family and friends sent me into a berserk mode. I chased him in the six worlds, using my attacks recklessly on him, injuring innocent Bakugan on the way.".
"Nothing was on my mind then, just a desire to kill that Bakugan. I was out of control. And then, he escaped through some random portal, and I couldn't reach him. My rage increased at the mere idea that I couldn't reach him, and I lost control even more.".
"I didn't kill other Bakugan, but I did injure a lot, and I did damage the six worlds. Dragonoid arrived, and he stopped me, before I was prisoned back on my world for years, until a portal opened, and I entered it, thinking I was escaping into another world. But then I found myself changing into a sphere, and landing on your desk here, and you know the rest.".
Shinichi said nothing as he registered the backstory of Nillious, thinking about everything he had been told, to choose his words wisely before he can speak.
"I may not agree with your method, but I understand why you did what you did.", Shinichi said, "But why didn't you tell anyone?".
"No one saw what happened but me, and I was completely out of control in my berserk mode, so I had no chance of telling anyone anything.", Nillious shook himself.
"Why now though? Why tell me now? Thought you wanted me to figure it out.", Shinichi asked confused.
"I thought to myself that I at least owe you the truth, since you felt insulted because your friend insulted me.", Nillious pointed out.
"Former friend.", Shinichi corrected, "He's no friend of mine now.".
Nillious sighed before his head perked up and he floated towards Shinichi as he said, "You know what's the best way to make him pay?".
"What?", Shinichi asked interested.
"Forming the Vanguard, not just with the primary Brawlers but with the secondary ones, to show him you are the better leader, and then you kick his ass in battle, to show him you're the better brawler.", Nillious said, and his tone was a mixture of excitement, smugness, and if he was in his true form, Shinichi would've been able to see the smirk on his face.
Shinichi blinked a few times, registering Nillious's ideas, before a smirk slowly formed on his face.
"I like the sound of that.".
Due to sudden circumstances, the second chapter will be published tomorrow or after tomorrow max! Sorry about that!
