Battle Brawler Headquarters, one of the city's main buildings, and a hot spot for tourists, when allowed on the grounds. It is the current residents for what remains of the Bakugan Battle Brawlers. What started out as just a group of friends from over the globe during the early days of Bakugan coming to Earth, they are responsible for saving the Earth, and other worlds time again. Growing in members, what started out as just six kids, has become something larger, and much grander than they realize, having members from different worlds joining their ranks to save their own worlds. While they all come from different walks of life, some not even being human, and others originally being their adversaries, they are all united in their love for Bakugan.

Many of the original brawlers have a home in Bakugan City, although most of them haven't had the need to take up brawling for some time, not since their leader and his partner Bakugan left the city to start their own solo adventure.

Mei Fan is currently at the headquarters. She's dressed rather formally, wearing a lime-green ao dai. She stands in a long corridor, waiting outside a large set of double doors. She hears a voice from the other side, "Ms. Fan? You may come in now." Mei takes a deep breath before entering the room.

The room is a large office space, with bookshelves, a large hard oak desk, massive window with a garden view, this room was made for someone into the higher things in life. Sat behind the desk is Marucho Marukura, one of the founding members of the battle brawlers, an active member of the team since the beginning, and a current backer of Bakugan City.

Marucho is wearing a light navy suit with a dress suit underneath. Sitting on his desk are three blue Bakugan, resting beside his computer monitor. Two spherical and one prism-shaped. Marucho smiles upon seeing Mei enter his office. He adjusts his glasses before pulling his chair out to speak to her, "Thank you for coming, . I'm glad to see that you could make it."

Mei bows slightly to greet him, "Thank you for having me, sir." She straightens herself out. Her partner Cangdi leaps out from a pocket on the leg. Mei catches him in her palm. "It's an honour to see you today, Master Marucho," Cangdi springs out of its spherical form, and nods their head in politeness.

"Please, you don't need to be so formal. I'm glad to finally put a face to your name. I've been following your work via your field reports," Marucho sits up in his chair, and rests his head on his hands. "I'm sure you're wondering why I've asked you here on such short notice."

"Yes, sir. It was a surprise to be certain," Mei speaks respectfully towards Marucho, Cangdi sits in her hand quietly. "I was just thinking about my training when I received your summons to see you."

"Yeah, sorry about that. I felt like this was something too important to just be said to you over the phone," Marucho has a cheerful expression on his face, "I've had a look at your application for the position as one of the cities Vanguards. While I've had a fair amount of applicants both in and out of the city for a spot, I believe that you have what it takes to join."

Mei's eyes widen. While she maintains her blank expression, when Cangdi looks over his shoulder to look up at Mei, he recognises the look in her eye, "...Hmm." Mei keeps her cool head as she responds, "Thank you, sir, that means a lot."

"Great! I have a few forms, and documents I need you to look over, and when we're done with that, we can get you your key to your new room," Marucho is chuffed for Mei, happy to have a new member on the team. "If you can give me a day, I can have them all sent over to your current residents, and I'll give you time to get your affairs in order. I still have another agent in the run for a position, so I'd like it for both of you to be here at the same time to build up on your teamwork."

The meeting between the two continues until lunchtime, by then, it was set in stone Mei's new place as a member of the battle brawlers.

The shopping district is the second most popular attraction in Bakugan City, which has nothing to do with battle. It's a whole area in the city built like the inside of a shopping mall, outdoors. Cinemas, clothes shops, butchers, food courts, clubs, if you can think of a shop, the shopping district will have you covered.

Caleb is out in the shopping district, dressed in his usual attire, with the white hoodie opened up as the sun is out. He is accompanied like always by his partner Leonidas, however, they have a third in the group. Caleb is waiting outside a music shop with Leonidas resting on his shoulder, "So remind me again why we're out here so early?" "It's nearly lunchtime. You need a better sleep schedule," Caleb replies to his partner's question with a general statement, "And I told you before. I need to get some new threads. I need more red in my wardrobe. I don't want people mistaking me for supporting a different attribute."

"But what does that have to do with me? I'm not a tailor, nor do I care for fashion like the rest of you humans," Leonidas jumps onto Caleb's arm, and then into his open pocket, "If you need me, I'll be taking a well-deserved nap."

Caleb shakes his head, "I'd thought you'd be all up for this. But unless a battle is involved, you're just not interested."

"Firefly!" a woman's voice calls out from inside the shop. Coming out of the entrance was a beautiful mature woman. Her eyes and hair are the same as Caleb's although hers is shorter around the sides. She wears white skinny jeans, a striped tank top, and a jean jacket. She's carrying two shopping bags, one in each hand. "Sorry I took so long. They asked that I come in real quick to show the newbie how to do something."

"It's alright Mom. Are you ready to move on to the next store?" Caleb smiles upon seeing his mum returning from her detour.

She notices Leonidas is missing, "Where's Leo?" She points to the empty space on his shoulder.

"Oh, here's just having a nap in my pocket because we got him up early."

"I can still hear you!" Leonidas calls out from the inside of Caleb's pocket, "And I would prefer to be left alone to enjoy my nap!"

Caleb's mum reaches her hand into Caleb's hoodie pocket and grabs Leonidas. She pulls him out and holds him upside down, keeping a tight grip on one of his legs with her fingers, "Is that any way to speak to your parner, and his mother?" Leonidas goes quiet as she waves him in her hand, "Well? I can't hire you."

"No! Sorry, ma'am, I won't talk back to you again!" She tosses him back at Caleb. He catches his partner like a ball as she smiles at them, "Good. Now then, let's not burn daylight. We've got more shops to visit."

Further down from the shopping district is a small cafe. It's a cozy place, surviving humans and Bakugan with a smile on their face, and a song in their heart. It's a family-owned business, being run by a mother and a father, with their own employees, and occasional help from their daughter and friends.

Jayden is sitting at a table for two, sweating bullets as his face turns pale with anticipation. He's dressed rather smart, wearing some black jeans with matching hightops, a white button-up shirt, and a dark navy jacket with fur around the colour. He has a hot cup of tea sitting in front of him at the table. He stares into it, hoping to find comfort, but instead sees a reflection of the nervous wreck that he is.

Beowulf rolls over on the table, stopping in contact with the cup. He opens up to talk to Jayden, "Jayden, relax. You talk to this girl nearly every day over email, why is meeting her in person such a traumatic event for you?"

"It's just different okay. She's seen what I look like from my televised brawls with you, but I have just basic information on how she looks, and…well, it's different talking to someone face to face than it is with a screen between you," Jayden tries to explain himself, his hands rapidly tapping the table.

"I've never seen you like this. You were so nervous when leaving the house, you put on your mum's perfume." "No, that was on purpose. Women wear it, which means women like it. So if I were it, she'd like me." Beowulf just stares at their partner without a response, "I'm going for some water, brb." "Wait no, come back!" Beowulf leaps off the table to waddle over to the front counter.

Jayden sits there, his heart pounding within his chest before he hears a voice call out to him. "Umm, excuse me, are you Jayden Thornwood?"

Jayden's eyes become the size of dinner plates when he hears this voice calling out to him. It's feminine and sweet, the vocal equivalent of a rose's smell. He lifts his head to see a young woman, around the same age as him, Luci. She has her hair tied back in a long ponytail while wearing a long, dressed summer dress with a small blue and yellow jacket over it.

Jayden is at a loss for words. Looking up at Luci, his heart pounds against the inside of his ribcage, "Luci? Luci Bloom?" She smiles, getting verbal confirmation that she has found the right man. She smiles and nods.

His mouth goes dry, his throat cracks up with barely a word coming out of him. He grabs his tea from the table and takes a sip of it, downing half of its contents. He puts it down and gets up from his seat to greet her. "Hi, I'm Jayden, it's so great to finally meet you in person," Jayden goes in for a handshake while she goes for a hug. All of this is watched from the sidelines by Beowulf, "Bad start."

They both awkwardly laugh as they take their seats opposite each other. "It's amazing to finally see you too. I should confess, I was a little nervous meeting you for the first time." Luci slides her hair behind her ear before giving a cute smile to Jayden.

He finds some comfort in her also being nervous, but also disappointed in himself. He takes a deep breath and clears his thoughts. "I…I know how you feel. I was admittingly a little shaken too. I'm not…very much a people person, so I was worried I'd make a bad first impression."

Luci laughs a little at what he says, "What's so funny?" Luci just shakes her head, "It's just weird to say 'first impression' when we've been speaking to each other online for about what, 3 months?" Jayden tilts his head, agreeing with her, "I'd say coming up to the 4th, but your stands." Jayden runs his finger around the ring of his cup, "You're right. I guess I've been overthinking things."

"You don't have to be sorry. I'm guilty of the same crime," Luci comforts him with her words. "So does that make us partners in crime?" Jayden says off the cuff without thinking. When it finally occurs to him what he just said, he blushes a little. "Crap, crap, crap," he thinks to himself. Before he could say something else, Luci starts laughing. Not a small teehee, or fake pity laugh, but a genuine one. The poor girl has tears in her eyes.

Jayden waits for her to stop laughing, but anytime she tries to stop herself, she just starts up again. Watching this up close, Jayden himself can't keep himself from joining her in a laughing fit. They go on for some time, catching the attention of most of the other patients. A member of staff walks from behind the counter. Beowulf leaps onto their shoulder to catch a ride.

As their laughter dies down, the staff arrives at the table, "Before you two can continue your, what I gather is a hilarious conversation, can I get you anything else?" They look at each other, then at the member of staff. "Oh, yeah, sorry. I'll have another Early Grey please mate." Luci picks up the menu, and examines it, "Oh uh, Oooh, I'll go for a strawberry milkshake, please."

"Coming up," the member of staff turns and calls to their wife behind the counter, "Honey, one Earl Grey and Strawberry Milkshake for the love birds." Hearing this, the two fall into silence. They begin the competition of whose face can turn the brightest red. Beowulf leaps off their back and onto the table. "What did I miss?"

Seeing Beowulf land, Jayden uses him as a scapegoat, "Oh, there you are Wolfie!" Jayden's voice becomes high-pitched. "Luci, this is my partner Bakugan, Beowulf. I hope you don't mind me bringing him, but I thought you'd like to meet him too." Jayden picks up Beowulf and presents him like he's a puppy.

"Oh wow! This is Beowulf? It's nice to meet you. You looked so cool in that battle the other day. I was rooting for you the whole time," Luci greets Beowulf. In her jacket pocket, her own partner watches through the pocket. They shake their head, unimpressed.

Beowulf gets a taste of what Jayden had been feeling, "Oh..well…uh, thank you," he turns to Jayden, "I can see why you like her so much." Jayden just drops Beowulf onto the table, "I deserve that."

With the awkward tension dissolved, the two of them continue with their 'date'.

The monorail system is one of the biggest transport systems within Bakugan City. It stretches all around the city, accommodating humans and Bakugan alike. It connects the whole city together, having stations at the arenas, the shopping district, housing, and the gate port to name a few important stops.

Returning from their meeting with Marucho, Mei Fan takes a seat aboard the monorail. Cangdi rests in her open palm as she takes a breath.

"So…what's the deal with you? You look like you've just been torn open," Mei hears a voice beside her on the monorail. She turns to see a blue Bakugan rolling up beside her above the seat. It opens to reveal Aquos Preyas. "So toots, what brings you on the monorail today?"

Mei is a little taken aback by Preyas's sudden attempts at flirting, "What did you say?" Mei keeps her composure, but the cracks in her expression do form upon getting annoyed.

Candgi leaps from her palm, meeting Preyas on the seat, "Don't take what he says too seriously, Mei. Preyas here has a rather 'unique' sense of humour."

"Do you know this Bakugan?" Mei goes from annoyance to confusion, mostly brought on by the idea of Cangdi knowing a Bakugan like Preyas.

"Indeed. This is Aquos Preyas. He's a…colleague of mine from New Vestroia," Cangdi admits to his connection to Preyas, although begrudgingly.

"Cangdi! How have you been you old stallion? Is this your partner? You sure can pick them. Is she strong?" Preyas gets in Cangdi's face, their words coming out rapidly as he asks one question after another.

"I'll have you know that Mei Fan is as strong as she is beautiful. So believe me, annoying her would be the last thing you need." Cangdi goes to great lengths to defend his partner, "Did you come here just to mock Bakugan's partners?"

"Hey, don't get crazy. I'm just out having a trip to the city, before returning home to my boy, Marucho," Preyas tries to defuse the situation, not wanting things to get hostile between him and his old friend.

"You know, Marucho?" Mei's confusion just grows. She forgets to keep her face straight as she tilts her head to the side, and her brow raises.

Preyas puffs up his chest and puts on the smuggest tone anyone could put on, "Yeah! The big guy and I are partners, buddies, brothers!"

Mei grows curious, sitting up in her seat wanting to listen to his explanation, "I knew he was an Aquos brawler, but I didn't think you were his partner."

"Oh yeah, he's had plenty of us in his time. In fact, I'm actually here visiting him with my fam. Brought my brother and girl with me to see him."

Cangdi picks up on this, and asks the question on his mind the most, "Curious. Why are you out here now, if you're solely here to visit your 'boy'?"

Like air from a balloon, Preyas starts to deflate, "Well, you see. Elfin and I…are going through a rough patch at the moment, and I thought I need to get out and cool off for a bit before I did anything stupid."

"Well, I'll be. Preyas finally grew a brain cell to know when to stop running their mouth. I'm impressed. Truly, I am," Cangdi chastises his former friend for what he's done.

A voice over the intercom comes over the air, "We are now approaching the Shopping district. Please make sure to grab your bags and belongings before leaving the rail."

"This is our stop," Mei gets up and grabs Cangdi, "It was interesting meeting you, Preyas."

"Thanks. I'm going to hang on here for a bit longer before meeting back with my homie, Maruch. Later gator."

Mei walks off the rail, her nerves having been calmed after encountering the jokester Bakugan.

On one of the tallest buildings in the shopping district of Bakugan City, Reaper keeps himself in the shadows, out of sight of the residents of the city, and any potential trouble. Laying by his feet are scattered Bakugan of different attributes, all just sitting there in spherical form, waiting for orders. Reaper's body feels heavy, he's not as strong as he used to be. He lifts a clenched fist up to his line of sight, and opens it, revealing an unformed, transparent Bakugan. "Master…," Reaper's sinister voice is weighed down by an obedient, exhausted tone, "Is it time?"

The Bakugan in his hand glows, "Yes." A deep voice is heard in Reaper's ear, "It's time to reveal ourselves to the world. Can you stand?"

Reaper grabs their scythe and uses it to push themself back on their feet, "Yes, my master. But, I'm losing energy. I'm not sure how long I can maintain this form."

"Loyal Reaper. I ask you to hold out for just a little longer. And have faith in me, as your one, true master," the voice smooths the weakened Reaper.

Reaper reaches down and gathers as many of the Bakugan off the floor into his hand. The clear Bakugan leaps onto Reaper's shoulder as he holds up his hand, revealing the collection. "Good, now to influence these like I did the others." Reaper's master begins to mentally communicate with the Cyber Bakugan Reaper is holding. "Now Reaper, take flight and rain down our reckoning."

Reaper finds the strength within himself to take flighty, leaping off the building. His shadow is cast down on the street floor, casting the attention of many onlookers. The residents of Bakugan City look up upon seeing the devil Bakugan above them. Reaper clenches his hand tight before tossing them all over the city streets, "Bakugan, brawl!"

In ball form they land all over the shopping district of the city, some crashing through windows, while others land by people's feet. They all open before transforming into their true selves. With purple eyes, they all become hostile, attacking people and building alike. Reaper hovers in the sky, watching the carnage play out, "Yes. Yes! YES!