"And here I thought finding a good Haos Brawler was going to be easy…", Sonoko complained.
"Yeah, most kids we found suck and so do their Bakugan…", Pegatrix groaned.
"You two are very much alike.", Leonidas noted.
"Yeah, when I met Pegatrix the first time, that's the first thing I thought when I saw her and Sonoko talking.", Ran chuckled.
She and Sonoko were walking in the streets of Beika, searching manually for a Haos Brawler. They had tried the Bakugan Ranking to help them, but they only found out about Runo, and she's a Battle Brawler, and Julio Santana, and there was not much information on his whereabouts.
"HELP! HELP!". Sonoko and Ran's eyes widened once they saw a Haos Bakugan flying towards them.
"MY PARTNER IS BEING ATTACKED BY KID'S OLDER THAN HIM!", He cried.
Ran and Sonoko shared a look before they followed the Bakugan, and arrived at a crossroad on the street.
They saw a three older boys, ganging up on one boy, who was hunching in the middle of the group, covering his head.
"You think you're so cool beating everyone at our school?! Just wait until our boss arrives, and he'll wipe the floor with you!", One of the boys cried, before his eyes widened once he received a flying kick from Ran right in the back, sending him flying into two other boys.
The boys looked up, and the beaten boy adjusted his glasses to look at his savior. Ran stood in a fighting stance with a determined look on her face as she said, "Picking up on a boy just because he wiped the floor with you in Bakugan battle? How pitiful can you be?".
The Haos Bakugan floated towards the boy as he cried, "Eisuke! Are you okay?".
Eisuke smiled at his Bakugan, "Artulean! Thank god you managed to escape before they took you from me!".
"I met up with those two girls and asked them for help. And luckily, one of them seems to know how to fight…", Artulean replied, surprised at Ran's strength.
Two other boys glance at each other before they charged towards Ran. She ducked one's punch before she kneed him below the belt, causing him to hunch over as he screamed like a girl in pain, and she kicked the other's ankle, causing him to fall on one knee, before she slammed her fist into his face.
The first and third boy looked at Ran angrily, slowly getting up as they rubbed their bruised back and face, wanting to attack Ran for revenge.
"Hold up now!", One boy cried as he arrived at the scene with two other boys. The leader had spiky hair with green eyes and light skin, the second had blonde short hair with black eyes, while the third had a buzz cut with blue eyes. The three boys were older than Ran, Sonoko, and Eisuke, and they all wore the white training suits of their school, but Ran noticed something much more important.
"Sonoko, the launchers on their wrists.", Ran pointed out to Sonoko.
Sonoko glanced at Ran before she looked at the Bakugan launchers at their wrist, and Sonoko recognized those round launchers; Masquerade's.
"Do you three know Masquerade?", Sonoko demanded.
"You mean the guy who gave us better Bakugan? We sure do!", The leader laughed, "I'm Seto, and the blonde is Asahi, and the buzz cut is Kento. And we are going to defeat you and take your Bakugan, and have our revenges on Hondou.".
"What did you do to them?", Sonoko asked Eisuke curiously.
"I just defeated them all easily with Artulean.", Eisuke adjusted his glasses as he walked ahead to stand next to Ran and Sonoko, "I'm Hondou Eisuke by the way, and this is my partner, Artulean.".
"Pleased to meet you, and thanks for helping us.", Artulean nodded.
Sonoko and Ran shared a look before they nodded and Ran said, "Mouri Ran, and this my partner Leonidas.".
"Suzuki Sonoko, and this is Pegatrix and we want you to join-".
Ran covered Sonoko's mouth with her hand, silencing her in the middle of her sentence before she continued, "We'd like to talk to you after we defeat those three.".
"Defeat? Ha! You're overconfident!", Kento laughed at Ran's words.
"We're going to defeat you three and send your Bakugan to the doom dimension, just like we did to other kids at school!", Asahi added.
"You guys can go, we've got this.", Seto told the other three boys. They nodded before two of them helped the third that Ran had kneed below the belt and walked away.
The 6 children pulled out their field cards and cried, "Field Open!".
The arena around them changed to the Bakugan field before the six pulled out a Gate Card and threw them, "Gate Card, Set!".
"You start, since we are going to win anyway.", Seto smirked.
"Arrogant brats… I hate them.", Sonoko mumbled as Pegatrix closed and she grabbed her before she threw her, "Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Haos Pegatrix!".
Pegatrix landed on Sonoko's card before appearing in its true form in yellow light, neighing loudly as she spread her wings, her majestic Pegasus body glowing.
Haos Pegatrix: 390 Gs
"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Subterra Centipoid!", Asahi threw his Bakugan on his card.
Subterra Centipoid: 400 Gs
"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Haos Leonidas!", Ran threw her partner on her card.
Haos Leonidas: 450 Gs
"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Darkus Mantris!", Seto threw his Bakugan on his card.
Darkus Mantris: 390 Gs
"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Haos Artulean!", Eisuke threw his partner on his card.
Artulean let out a robotic roar as he spread his arms, his android body with the armor shoulder and leg pads glowing brightly.
Haos Artulean: 380 Gs
"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Ventus Ravenoid!", Kento threw his Bakugan on his card.
Ventus Ravenoid: 390 Gs
"Ability Activate! Bright Shooting Star!", Sonoko cried with a confident smile.
"Time to teach you peasants a lesson!",Pegatrix cried before she flew high upwards, trails of glowing light behind her, energy being gathered in her horn on her head.
Haos Pegatrix: 390 300 = 690 Gs
Subterra Centipoid: 400 – 100 = 300 Gs
Darkus Mantris: 390 – 100 = 290 Gs
Ventus Ravenoid: 390 – 100 = 290 Gs
"Who you're calling peasants?! You ain't even on our card!", Asahi cried, "Ability Activate, Desert Hole!".
Subterra Centipoid: 300 50 = 350 Gs
"I'll make you regret ever speaking up!", Pegatrix laughed before she shot from her horn a yellow energy beam at Centipoid, but the Bakugan dug down into the ground before it came out on Sonoko's card.
"Missed!", Asahi cried with a smirk.
"Not!", Sonoko replied with a smirk. And then the beam changed directions, and hit Centipoid in his back, making the Bakugan cry in pain, before it returned to his sphere form, falling at Asahi's feet, while Pegatrix returned to her sphere form and fell in Sonoko's hand.
"Ability Card, Activate! Shadow Scratch!", Kento activated his ability card, Ravenoid flying off his gate card towards Artulean.
Ventus Ravenoid: 390 Gs
Haos Artulean: 380 – 50 = 330 Gs
"No Gate Card for you!", Kento laughed.
Eisuke adjusted his glasses before he activated his ability calmly, "Ability Card, Activate. Reverse Reflection.".
"Not that ability again!", Kento cried angrily.
Ventus Ravenoid: 390 – 50 = 340 Gs
Haos Artulean: 330 50 = 380 Gs
Artulean then formed out light wings similar to Ravenoid and flew towards him with a charge, imitating the Bakugan's actions, but then he ducked, avoiding Ravenoid's claws, before he sent a hard uppercut into Ravenoid's chin, and then he grabbed him from his neck and threw with him high in the air, before he charged down with him, slamming Ravenoid head first into the Gate Card.
Both Bakugan returned to their sphere form, with Artulean landing in Eisuke's hand while Ravenoid fell at Kento's feet.
"Ability Activate, Marionette!", Seto cried. Leonidas did nothing as Mantris formed strings from his arms and moved him onto his card across him.
"Gate Card, Open! Positive Delta!", Seto cried, activating his gate card.
Darkus Marionette: 390 Gs
Haos Leonidas: 450 – 200 = 250 Gs
Before Seto can order Mantris to attack, Ran activated her ability, "Ability Activate! Alpha Blaster!".
Darkus Marionette: 390 Gs
Haos Leonidas: 250 200 = 450 Gs
Leonidas jumped and flew high, charging blue energy in his open mouth with his arms outstretched, before he shot the beam down at Mantris, slamming into the Bakugan's head, before both Bakugan returned to their sphere form. Ran caught Leonidas while Mantris fell at Seto's feet, the Haos Trio officially winning against the three boys.
"From now on,", Ran started sternly as the world around them returned back to normal, "You won't bully Hondou-kun nor anyone else, and if I found out you did…".
Ran made her point by slamming her fist into a light pole, forming a large dent into it, making everyone's eyes (but Sonoko) widen at her shear strength.
The bullies looked at her fearfully before they stuttered, "H-Hai!", and dashed away, running away from them.
"I don't know how to thank you both, but thanks.", Eisuke started with Artulean nodding from where he rested on Eisuke's right shoulder.
"It's our job as Vanguard Brawlers, after all.", Sonoko flipped her hair with Pegatrix pointing her head upward, looking posh.
"Vanguard Brawlers?", Eisuke and Artulean chorused.
"We were actually looking for a good Haos Brawler, and since you are one, we'd like to invite you to join us, and we will explain everything on our way back to our headquarters.
Eisuke raised his eyebrows in surprise at the mention of a headquarters before he smiled, "Sounds interesting and fun, tell me more then on our way there!".
Meanwhile,
Ekoda City,
"Thank God! You came!", Aoko cried once she saw Kaito approaching her in the park, "Did you come without Jii-san?".
Aoko was wearing white pants and sneakers, with a blue shirt over it an orange jacket, her hair reaching past her shoulders a bit.
"Yeah… although I don't get why you didn't want him with me. He said he doesn't mind though, and will be nearby in the park.", Kaito nodded before he smiled at her, "Did you have fun in your vacation?".
Aoko smiled widely, "Yeah! Aoko doesn't remember the last time she got to spend so much time with Otousan and Okaasan, it was amazing!".
"Well, I'm glad.", Kaito smiled before he raised an eyebrow, "So what's going on? You sounded worried and confused when I called you, not to mention how you asked Jii to leave.".
At that moment, Elfin got out of Kaito's pocket and popped out in the air, before she floated around Aoko as she cried in excitement, "Is that your girlfriend?! She's very cute!".
Aoko was taken back by Elfin's appearance and words, blushing profusely, while Kaito yelped with a blush before he denied, "She's not my girlfriend!".
Elfin then turned to Kaito and floated up to his face and exclaimed, "Yet!".
"He's an Aquos User too!". Kaito and Elfin looked at each other in surprise, before they looked around, searching for the source of the voice.
And then, an Aquos Bakugan floated out of the pocket of her jacket and popped out, floating across Kaito and Elfin.
"You didn't tell me your boyfriend has an Aquos Bakugan.", The Bakugan said.
Aoko blushed profusely before she cried, "He's not my boyfriend!".
"Wait! You called me to tell me you've got an Aquos Bakugan as your partner?", Kaito asked, trying to contain his excitement.
"I was playing in the sand when I found him there, hiding in the sand from people. We spoke a bit before we became friends, but I was worried my parents would be terrified of him, so I hid him.", Aoko explained, "And then I remembered that you loved Bakugan, and knew you will be the one to help me.".
"Hi! I'm Elfin, what's your name?", Elfin asked the Bakugan happily.
"Akwimos! Nice to meet you!", The Bakugan nodded, replying in the same happiness.
"So, I guess you need some help learning how to brawl.", Kaito guessed.
"Yeah, I like Akwimos, and he told me about Bakugan. I understand why you love it so much now.", Aoko nodded.
Kaito shrugged, "I loved it before Elfin can speak.".
"The best way to learn is practically, so let's brawl!", Elfin suggested.
"Yes, indeed.". A new female voice said.
Kaito and Aoko looked sideways to see a girl their age, wearing a black skirt, shoes, buttoned up shirt, with a dark purple shirt underneath, a Darkus Bakugan on her right shoulder.
"And you are?", Aoko asked confused.
Kaito, on the other hand, recognized her, "Koizumi Akako and Darkus Eenoch.".
Akako smirked, "So you recognize the best Darkus user there is, female at least.".
Kaito deadpanned, "Dude… you're below Masumi in the rank…".
Akako glared at him before she hissed, "You're gonna pay for this you sorry excuse of a Magician.".
Kaito frowned, "I'm a Magician!", he then turned to Aoko, "Aoko, you're gonna beat that witch's butt!".
"Eh?!", Aoko cried in disbelief while Akako narrowed her eyes.
"Kaito! I just recently acquired the other Bakugan with the cards, how the hell am I going to defeat someone in the Bakugan ranks?", Aoko pointed out.
"Aoko, Shuji is in the ranks, they're no indicator.", Kaito deadpanned.
"Who's Shuji?", Akwimos asked the first thought on Aoko's mind.
"Someone who claims he's the best Bakugan brawler, but he's the worst ever.", Elfin explained.
"Let's do this then.", Akako said determinedly as she pulled out her field card.
"Do as she does until she throws her Bakugan.", Kaito informed.
Aoko nodded and pulled out her field card.
"Field Open!", Both of them cried before the world around them changed to the Bakugan arena.
"Gate Card, Set!", Both girls threw their Gate Cards across each other.
"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Darkus Fear Ripper!", Akako threw her Bakugan on her Gate Card, and Darkus Fear Ripper roared as he appeared in purple light.
Darkus Fear Ripper: 350 Gs
Aoko was taken back from Fear Ripper's appearance before Kaito surprised her by pulling the other two Bakugan she had out of her pocket.
"Terroclaw and Centipoid… Centipoid is not bad, but Terroclaw will be a huge disadvantage in this brawl.", Kaito said before he pulled out Aquos Griffon and placed it in Aoko's hand, "This will be good.".
"Should I throw any Bakugan?", Aoko asked.
"Be careful, you can only use one ability card, and the Bakugan you use once can't be used again unless you're done using all of them.", Kaito warned before he pointed at Centipoid, "Use him.".
"Leave me as the element of surprise!", Akwimos nodded in agreement with Kaito.
Aoko nodded before she picked up Centipoid and threw him across Laserman, "Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Aquos Centipoid!".
Darkus Laserman: 390 Gs
Aquos Centipoid: 400 Gs
"You're still a beginner, huh? I'll enjoy wiping the floor with you!", Akako cried viciously as she activated her Gate Card, "Gate Card, Open! Energy Merge!".
Darkus Laserman: 390 100 = 490 Gs
Aquos Centipoid: 400 – 100 = 300 Gs
"Ability Activate! Spiced Assault!", Akako activated her ability. Kaito then whispered something in Aoko's ear and she nodded.
Darkus Laserman: 490 100 = 590 Gs
Aquos Centipoid: 300 – 100 = 200 Gs
Laserman pointed his blasters at Centipoid and started to charge them.
"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Aquos Griffon!", Aoko threw her second Bakugan on her card.
Aquos Griffon: 390 Gs
"Ability Activate! Dive Mirage!", Aoko cried just as Laserman shot his beams.
Griffon flew down on Akako's gate card, nullifying its powers just before the beams hit Centipoid, but the Bakugan moved around, evading the beams easily, before it slithered its way towards Laserman, just as Griffon flew down towards him.
"What the?!", Akako cried in disbelief before she looked at her Bakupod.
Darkus Laserman: 590 – 100 = 490 Gs
Aquos Centipoid & Griffon: 200 390 100 = 690 Gs
Centipoid buried its pincers into Laserman's chest just as Griffon buried its claws and teeth into its neck, making the Bakugan cry in pain, before the three returned to their sphere form.
Laserman fell at Akako's feet who had a shocked look on her face, while Aquos Griffon and Centipoid fell into Aoko's hand.
Akako Koizumi: 0
Aoko Nakamori: 1
"You've gotta be kidding me…", Akako mumbled.
"Nice work, Aoko!", Kaito cheered.
Akako then narrowed her eyes at Kaito and how he was still cheering on Aoko while the latter was blushing and saying she did nothing special.
"He is your source of power huh… face me without his guidance now! You know the rules now!", Akako demanded.
"You just hate being a sore loser.", Kaito countered before he struck his tongue out at Akako, making her almost growl at him in anger.
"I can handle you.", Aoko said confidently with a determined look.
"Go Aoko!", Elfin cheered, "You can beat her and her creepy Bakugan!".
"I'm not that creepy…", The Darkus Bakugan resting on Akako's shoulder mumbled.
"Don't listen to those lower life forms, Eenoch.", Akako scoffed, "They won't be talking much when we defeat them.".
Aoko then looked at Akwimos, "Ready for our first battle?".
"I was born ready, partner!", Akwimos exclaimed.
"That's the spirit!", Elfin complimented.
Akwimos closed and Aoko grabbed him before she threw him on her Gate Card, "Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Aquos Akwimos!".
"I'm ready to drown all my opponents with my cool partner!", Akwimos exclaimed once he appeared in his real form in blue light.
Aquos Akwimos: 380 Gs
"Piece of crap.", Akako snorted before she threw her second Bakugan across Akwimos, "Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Darkus Mantris!".
Darkus Mantris: 390 Gs
Aquos Akwimos: 380 Gs
"Ability Activate! Twin Machete!", Akako activated her ability card.
Darkus Mantris: 390 100 = 490 Gs
Aquos Akwimos: 380 Gs
"Gate Card, Open! Final Judgement!", Aoko activated her gate card with a smile.
Akako frowned heavily once she saw Mantris returning back to his sphere form before he fell at her feet, while Akwimos returned to his sphere and fell in Aoko's hand.
Akako Koizumi: 0
Aoko Nakamori: 2
"I didn't need Kaito to pick for me a Gate Card.", Aoko winked at Akako.
"Aoko!", Kaito started.
"Akwimos!", Elfin continued.
"The best Aquos du-o!", Kaito and Elfin chorused, cheering Aoko and Akwimos.
Akako growled angrily as she and Aoko pulled out a gate card and threw them across each other, "Gate Card, Set!".
"Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Darkus Eenoch!", Akako threw her partner on her Gate Card.
"You two got lucky.", Eenoch growled, his demon-like appearance with the horns and wings making him even more terrifying.
Darkus Eenoch: 430 Gs
But Aoko was not scared, she was getting the hang of the brawl, so she grabbed Akwimos and threw him on her gate card, "Bakugan Brawl! Bakugan Stand! Aquos Akwimos!".
Aquos Akwimos: 380 Gs
"Think you can escape me?", Eenoch growled just as Akako activated an ability card.
"Ability Activate! Demon's Wrath!", She cried.
Eenoch's eyes glowed purple before he gathered purple fire in his open mouth and shot the fire beam at Akwimos.
Darkus Eenoch: 430 200 = 630 Gs
Aquos Akwimos: 380 Gs
"Gate Card, Open! Hyper Merge!", Aoko activated her Gate card before she activated an Ability, "Ability Activate! Spiral Pressure!".
Darkus Eenoch: 630 – 100 = 530 Gs
Aquos Akwimos: 380 100 200 = 680 Gs
Akwimos grabbed the gun-like blasters attacked to his belt and shot two beams of spiral water towards Eenoch.
The water and fire clashed, both fighting for strength, before the water won and pushed the fire back until the water slammed into Eenoch.
"IMPOSSIBLE! THERE'S NO WAY!", Akako cried in disbelief as both Bakugan returned to their sphere forms, with Akwimos going back to Aoko and popping out in front of her face while Eenoch fell at Akako's feet.
Akako Koizumi: 0
Aoko Nakamori: 3
Winner: Aoko Nakamori
"Nice work partner!", Akwimos exclaimed happily.
"You were amazing back there, Akwimos!", Aoko exclaimed happily.
"ALRIGHT YOU GUYS WON!", Elfin and Kaito chorused in excitement just as the world around them returned to normal.
"If you think this is over, you're dreaming.", Akako said as Eenoch rested back on her shoulder.
"Then why don't you join us? Then you can face Aoko again?", Kaito asked with a smirk.
"Join you?", Akako asked suspiciously.
"The Bakugan Battle Vanguard, we only let the best Brawlers join.", Kaito explained, "And we train with each other.".
"Sounds interesting. It could be a chance for us to achieve our goal.", Eenoch pointed out calmly.
Akako listened to Eenoch intently before she sighed heavily and crossed her arms, "Alright… I'll join you…".
"Awesome! The Vanguard is complete!", Kaito cheered as he pulled out his phone to send a text to the Vanguard chat group.
"What is this Vanguard?", Aoko blinked in confusion.
"You'll see.", Kaito smiled as he sent the message, updating Ran's last message.
Pyrus: Complete
Aquos: Complete
Haos: Complete
Ventus: Complete
Subterra: Complete
Darkus: 1 joined, 1 left in progress