NOTE: Sorry, this took so long, but I genuinely didn't like writing this chapter. Like, I'm so happy that I never have to write another four-way battle for this story ever again. I can finally focus on one-on-ones! The way this chapter ended up is due to me being tired and just wanting it done. I tried my best to give you guys something filling.
Enjoy and Review!
Chapter 23: Messy Intervention
"I can't believe you three, out of all of the…the…the shenanigans you've ever gotten into, this has to be the dumbest of them all!" Alice scolded the three children kneeling in front of her. Currently, the non-brawler was standing in the security office of the stadium after being informed of the actions Serena and her friends have been getting up to this week. And considering the terrible week Alice has already been having, this was just another headache to deal with. "Seriously?! Kidnapping people and putting them through 'interrogations'?! You three are very lucky nobody wanted to press charges!"
Serena pouted at the floor. "Nobody got hurt." She mutters but unfortunately for her, Alice managed to hear that.
"That's not the point, Serena!" Her shout made the girl flinch. "You can't just do bad things to people and expect to get off scot free! Nobody got hurt this time, thank goodness, but if you were to do something like this again, and if somebody got hurt, what do you think would happen?!"
Serena didn't say a word, clearly understanding Alice's point. Akira and Nene usually didn't care too much about their actions, but the way Alice was tearing into them made them feel incredibly small.
"I am severely disappointed in you, and I know Yuji is too." Alice's words cut deep into the youngest Shujin. "Instead of security, I'll be the one to inform your parents about what you three have done. Whatever punishments they decide to give you is justified and earned, understand?"
"Yes, Alice." The children muttered.
Taking a deep breath, Alice turned back to security. "I'm sorry for the mess these three have caused. I promise that it won't happen again."
"You better. Next offense these kids cause will result in a permanent ban." The officer said. "Now, get out."
"Yes, sir." Alice responded. "Get up, you three." Alice ordered the kids. They complied without a fuss and followed the Battle Brawler out of the office.
"So…this is a hospital!"
"Yes, Leo, this is a hospital."
"Feels…depressing."
"They usually are." Yuji replied to his partner. He remembered the last time he went to a hospital was when his grandfather passed away. That was back when Serena was still a baby, so she didn't have any memories of him. Yuji loved his grandfather; he was a great man who lived his life without regrets. He didn't like hospitals, because of the painful memories associated with them and this one certainly wasn't the best one either.
Yuji stood in front of the door to Dan's hospital room. He did regret avoiding this visit for so long but he…he really didn't want to see his mentor in such a state. But now? After the declaration of war was thrown his way by the Battle Brawlers, Yuji felt he had no choice but to see Dan and Drago. The battle they'll be facing later this afternoon was going to be tough and he needed all the strength he could get.
Entering the room didn't ease his worries, nor the sight of the comatose Dan Kuso lying still on the bed. Resting on the small table next to the bed was Drago, who was stuck in ball form as told to him by Alice.
"Hey, Dan." Yuji spoke softly. He wasn't expecting any kind of response, of course. "I know this is sudden, but I just wanted to say I'm sorry. If I was there, then you guys never would've ended up like this. A good student-a friend-would've had your back. But it's too late to do anything about that now, what's done is done."
Leonidas gazed down at the one who had handed him his first defeat. "Drago, you are the strongest opponent I've ever faced. It still infuriates me that I lost to another Bakugan but I respect the strength that you hold. That's why I cannot accept the reality that you suffered defeat at the hands of someone other than me."
"Dan, you and Drago inspired us to become better, to grow stronger as partners. These finals are gonna be tough, your friends aren't going to be holding back. Honestly, it scares the hell out of me just thinking about it." Yuji admits. "But this isn't the time to be scared. Leonidas and I have to prove ourselves in this battle, and we still have to find the ones responsible for who did this to you."
"On my honor and pride, I'll crush every single Bakugan in my way. My ideals have never changed, however, this time I won't be doing it just for myself. I'll be doing it for the sake of my partner…and you two as well." Leonidas declared proudly.
SHINE!
Suddenly, in response to the bonds shared between the four, a bright light started to emit from Dan's deck case. Yuji stumbled back in surprise, especially when two cards shot out towards him. He and Leonidas stared at the cards in shock, unable to understand the phenomenon happening. A glowing card floated in front of the two, simply waiting for the brawler to make a move. Yuji slowly reached up, allowing the card to descend between his fingertips, its light fading away to reveal the truth.
Yuji's eyes widened. "T-this card?! But how is this…?!" He turned his eyes back to Dan and Drago. "You guys…? Do you guys want us to fight with this card?"
"We don't need it, Yuji. We'll fight using our own strength." Leonidas argued.
"And we will, Leonidas. But right now, it looks like Dan and Drago want to fight with us too. Our battle is gonna be tough, and I don't think we're in the room to be turning down help."
Leonidas grumbled softly before nodding. "Fine, but they won't be our first move. I want to beat them with my power, to show them how strong we are."
"Yeah, I agree." Yuji nodded, then looked back down at the cards. "This card responded to our feelings, which means Dan and Drago wants us to use it. But there has to be more…a purpose behind choosing us instead of Runo and the others."
As he focused on the card, Yuji failed to notice that Dan's hand twitched.
"Marucho!"
The tiny brawler stopped his trek through the halls to see Julie running up to him. He returned the wave as she slowed down her pace to reach him. "Good afternoon, Julie. Gorem."
"Heya, Julie! Gorem!" Preyas exclaimed from Marucho's shoulder.
"It's good to see you both doing well." Gorem speaks from his partner's shoulder.
"Have you guys seen Runo lately? I keep trying to call her but she's not picking up my calls." Julie asked, looking concerned.
Marucho's head shake didn't ease her worries. "Not at all. I don't understand why she has gone as silent as she has. It's made me worried."
"First Dan, then Alice, Shun, and Runo now…" Julie clenched her fists. "J-just what in the world is going on with our friends?!"
As much as Marucho didn't necessarily want to pin all the blame on him, he couldn't deny that all of these problems only started happening when Yuji Shujin appeared.
Dan and Drago's involvement with Yuji lead them into a coma in a hospital bed.
Alice's change in behavior started the more she continued to interact with Yuji.
Runo's declining mental health was a result of Yuji and Leonidas' involvement with Dan.
Shun…was an unreliable variable that he was still struggling to figure out. But Marucho does think that his sudden radio silence has to do with Leonidas.
However, even with these thoughts, there was nothing Marucho could say that would make it believable that all of this was done purposefully by Yuji. He doesn't have his answers, and as he decided the other day, there was only one way to reach a conclusion. "I agree, our group, the Bakugan Battle Brawlers, are in danger of falling apart. But that's even more reason to continue forward."
"Marucho?"
"We'll be seeing Runo and Yuji in battle today, Julie. No matter what happens, the victor is the one who is right in the end. That's what we've all decided, right?" Marucho declared.
Julie thinks back to her conversation with Alice and Yuji the other day, when Leonidas spoke similar words. She pushes her worries aside and gives her friend a determined stare. "Right! Gorem and I are gonna give this everything we have!"
"Preyas and I shall do the same." Marucho declared.
The two turned away from one another, determined to use this last remaining time to prepare themselves for the difficult battle ahead.
Tigrerra stayed silent as her partner continued to watch replays of their previous battles against Yuji and Leonidas. Since that brief confrontation with Masquerade the other day, Runo had begun acting strange. She had asked her lady if the monster had done something to her, but the Battle Brawler denied all accusations, proclaiming that she was alright.
However, Tigrerra wasn't stupid, it was clear as day to her that Runo's heart had been poisoned. Ever since Dan was hospitalized there was a seed of poison that embedded itself in her heart, slowly corrupting her from within. The sweet girl that she had developed a strong bond with had grown colder, more distant. Her attitude towards her friends and family became more violent as well.
Runo's furious outburst at Yuji and Alice came to mind.
As her partner, as her guardian, and as her friend, Tigrerra knew she had to do something. If she continued sitting passively, waiting for Runo to sort herself out, then Tigrerra knew that the girl would be lost forever in her darkness.
She bounced forward on the desk. "Runo, I-"
"Not now, Tigrerra. I'm busy."
"Runo, you've been watching the same two videos for the past two hours! Give it a rest already! This isn't healthy!" Tigrerra yelled.
"It's fine, Tigrerra."
"What do you even hope to gain from watching the replays of our defeats?! A new strategy?! Some kind of weakness?!"
"A reminder."
"Reminder?!"
"Everything that's happened…all of the battles, the pain, the humiliation, and the despair has been leading up to this moment." In her mind she could see it, the two responsible for all of the pain she and her friends have gone through. Runo pictured crushing them to pieces, destroying whatever semblance of hope they have. Everyone else has been fooled by their deceit but not her, she won't let them hurt anyone else she cares for.
Runo will show everyone who the true monsters are today.
She shut off the monitor and looked down at her partner. "Come, Tigrerra. It's time for our battle."
Tigrerra's eyes watched in sorrow as that sickening black aura continued to eat away at Runo's heart. She didn't know what to do to save her friend from this pain. All she could do now was follow Runo and ensure that she doesn't fall further.
"Thanks for handling that Serena situation for me." Yuji stands in the empty hallway with Alice. Just down in front of them is the battle area, where the finals for the tournament will take place, and where he'll have to fight hard to clear his and Leonidas' name.
"It was no problem, Yuji. You already have a lot on your plate, and you don't need any other distractions." Alice closed their distance. "I made sure to really scold them this time. They'll never repeat an incident like this again."
"Good. I know Mom and Dad aren't going to be happy about it. But I can focus on that later." Yuji said.
"Right, Yuji. It's time for you and Leonidas to kick some butt!" Alice exclaimed.
Leonidas nodded his head. "Yes! We shall tear into their butts with vigor!"
"Please don't word it like that…" Yuji groaned.
Alice giggled. She gave the volatile dragon a smile. "Do your best, Leonidas."
"I will. That's a promise." Leonidas swore.
Alice looked up at Yuji, staring into his eyes. Her hands pressed against his chest, causing a slight shiver to run up his spine. "And you…just know that no matter how all of this ends… I'll always have your back. I'll… I'll…" She couldn't find the right words. But then Yuji's hands touched her own, pushing them gently to hold them.
"I'll give it everything I've got. Anything less would embarrass all of the hard work we've put into getting this far, right?" Yuji spoke the words, assuming those were what she was going to say.
"R-right…!" She turned away with a blush. "You two should hurry up now. The others are probably waiting inside."
Yuji nods his head, his hands releasing her own. His warmth lingered on her digits as her eyes lingered on his back, the two boys that had grown so close to her heart were walking into battle. "When did his back grow so big…?" Alice wondered. "Is this how wives felt when they watched their husbands walk off to war?"
Alice still hadn't gotten to convey her true words to him. Every single time she tried either she hesitated, was interrupted, or he spoke before her. For once…can't she be the one to take the first step?
Yuji paused when he heard rapidly approaching footsteps. He turned around to see Alice throw her arms over his shoulders, press her body against hers, and connect her lips to his own. The poor boy's mind broke as he underwent his first ever kiss with his crush. It only took a few more moments of brain freeze for Yuji to realize he should return the affection. His arms wrapped around her waist, and he engaged in the kiss himself.
When they finally broke apart, their feelings were clear as day in each other's eyes. Alice giggled happily, a young girl in love. "Go get 'em, tiger."
Serena, Akira, and Nene looked over to see Alice coming back to their seating area. They noticed a certain glow around her body, a giddy smile laced across her beautiful features. If the children thought Alice looked angelic before then she looked like the divine being herself right now.
"Uh… Alice? Is everything okay?" Serena asked.
"Yes! Everything is okay! Yuji and Leonidas are going to win this!" Alice pumped her fist. Even still, there was something off about her that they couldn't put their fingers on.
When Yuji walked into the battle area, his opponents were waiting for him. He locked eyes with the three Battle Brawlers who had caused him a ton of grief ever since he arrived in Wardington. A part of him would always wonder if he would've been friends with them had he never met Leonidas or if they would have interacted with him at all.
Had he never met Leonidas would he have gotten this far at all? Would he and Alice have grown so close?
This journey…this path…it really did start with Leonidas, didn't it?
"I hope you're ready, Yuji Shujin! Leonidas!" Julie's voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Gorem and I are gonna win this thing!" She whipped out her Gate Card.
"Preyas and I shall claim victory in this battle." Marucho declared with his own card ready.
Runo didn't speak a word, but the fury seething within her eyes spoke volumes about her feelings. She raised her own card, clearly prepared for battle.
"Right. This isn't the time to be questioning any of these things. Right now, I have to battle with everything on the line!" Yuji raises his Gate Card. "Let's do this thing!"
"FIELD, OPEN!"
"GATE CARD, SET!"
Four cards flew through the Subterra space, each landing right in the center. The cards enlarged themselves in a bright flash of light, signaling the beginning of the match. A randomizer on their watches went off, flashing over their icons before landing on Runo to start first.
Tigrerra rested on her shoulder. "My lady, considering that this is the Subterra field, Julie will have the advantage in this fight. There's also Preyas who can switch his attribute to Subterra to gain a boost as well. We must-" She stopped when a black wave of animosity invaded her senses like a virus. Whatever this feeling was, it was overloading her like a cloud of poison gas.
The Haos Bakugan wasn't the only one, as the others in the battle could also feel that dark energy emanating from Runo.
"R-Runo…?!" Julie stumbled back.
"Julie!" Gorem cried her name.
Tigrerra could only scream in concern. "My lady, get a hold of yourself!"
She went ignored, Runo's eyes were glaring hatefully at her fellow Haos user and his dragon. Runo reached into her deck case, grabbing for the card inside that had been gifted to her. A part of her wanted to fight it, knowing that there would be no going back after doing this, but…
Don't be afraid to take what is yours.
But she couldn't care anymore.
Runo raised the card, drinking in the dark power that coursed through it. Her eyes surged with black sparks, the beating of her heart echoed like a drum in her ears. All at once, Tigrerra, her friends and their Bakugan, Alice, and everyone else watching were left stunned at the words that exited her mouth.
"DOOM CARD, SET!"
The malicious card soared through the air before submerging itself into the field like water. A pulse of black vibrated through the field, similar to a heartbeat. Yuji felt a chill crawl down his spine, while oddly enough, Leonidas felt a sense of familiarity.
Whatever happiness Alice was feeling died the moment Runo played that card. Hands flew to her mouth, tears welling up in her eyes as she stared at her fallen friend. "No…no no no no no no! Runo!"
"What the heck?!" Akira screamed. "There's no way, right?! There's no way she actually played that card!"
"I have to say…this was not the turn I thought this battle would take." Nene shivered slightly. They weren't the only ones, every single audience member was also horrified to see one of the Battle Brawlers using Masquerade's cursed card.
The only one confused was Serena. "Can someone explain what all the noise is?! What's wrong with what Runo just did?!"
"It's the Doom Card, bratty blue!" Akira yelled.
"I'm only letting that pass because I'm still confused." Serena hissed.
"Serena." The youngest Shujin turned to look at Alice, who was fighting to not cry. "That card is a plague. All it does is bring pain and suffering to the user's Bakugan…something we Battle Brawlers all promised to stop at all costs." Alice explained. "I-I have to tell Yuji! He doesn't know what that card is!"
"Runo! What the hell?!" Julie screamed, a sense of betrayal coursing through her.
Marucho was trying to find the reasoning behind his friend's action, but he was drawing a complete blank. "Runo…why?"
"Oh man! Oh man! Marucho, I don't like the looks of this!" Preyas panicked.
"...To think you'd actually use that card, Runo…" Gorem muttered.
However, not a single one of them was as disappointed or furious as Tigrerra. "RUNO! WHAT ARE YOU THINKING-"
"SHUT UP!" Runo's shout silenced all of them. Tears were almost spilling out of her eyes, the consequences of her actions were more than clear. "This is my battle! I have to win! I have to win!"
Yuji was very confused. "J-just what kind of card did she just set?"
BEEP!
"Yuji!"
"Hm? Alice?" Yuji looked down at his watch to see Alice was calling him. "What's going on?!"
"Be careful, Yuji! That card Runo just set is the Doom Card. Any Bakugan defeated by her gets sent to the Doom Dimension, where they'll never return!" Alice explained, worryingly.
"What?! Something like that exists?!"
"It's one of Masquerade's dirty cards! I… I don't know how or why Runo grew so desperate as to get her hands on it, but you have to win now more than ever! Losing this battle may mean losing Leonidas forever!"
Now knowing there was far more at stake than previously, Yuji increased his focus. "Right! Thanks, Alice!"
"G-good luck!" She ended the call.
Leonidas was growling with animosity at Runo. "Resorting to dirty tricks of a lowlife with no honor?!"
"SHUT UP!" Runo roared. She pulled out one of her Bakugan and launched it. "Bakugan, brawl!" The Haos Bakugan rolled across the Gate Cards before landing on top of hers. "Bakugan, stand!"
Haos Terrorclaw: 250 Gs!
"Then I'm up next! Bakugan, brawl!" Yuji tossed out his own Bakugan. But instead of challenging Runo, he landed on his own Gate Card. "Leonidas, stand!"
Haos Leonidas: 430 Gs!
Leonidas roared proudly as he stood on the Gate Card. His eyes glared fiercely at Runo, who didn't buckle at all under his gaze.
"Tch..! Avoiding me, huh?!" Runo hissed.
"Runo, I'm not your enemy!" Yuji argued.
"Wrong! You've always been my enemy! Only now can I finally put an end to all of it!" Runo declared.
"Bakugan, brawl! Gorem, stand!"
Runo's eyes widened when a familiar Subterra Bakugan landed on her Gate Card, standing off against her own. The gigantic golem-like Bakugan towered over everyone like a skyscraper.
Subterra Gorem: 440 Gs to 460 Gs!
"What?! Gorem?!" Her head snapped towards Julie, who was glaring at her. "What are you doing, Julie?!"
"Runo, I understand that you're upset about what's happened to Dan, I am too. But what you're doing is going against everything the Battle Brawlers stand for! As a member and as your friend, there's no way I can let you do this!" Julie declared.
"So, you're going to side with the enemy?!" Runo hissed.
"No… I'm siding with Dan!" Julie shouted.
Runo gasped, then snarled at her friend. She was about to open her Gate Card until she remembered that Gorem was standing on it. Any attempt to even win this battle would mean Gorem would go to the Doom Dimension. Runo hesitated, which gave Julie her opening.
"Finish it, Gorem!"
"With pleasure!" Gorem's fist crashed down on the cretaceous-like Bakugan, ending the battle with Julie's victory.
Runo just stared down at her defeated Bakugan with confusion, anger, and pain filling her head.
"Julie!" Alice gasped.
"Alright! Kick that twin-tailed butt!" Serena cheered.
"She hesitated." Nene noticed.
"Yeah, I guess even when she's acting like a psycho she doesn't want to hurt her friends." Akira realized.
Alice placed a hand to her heart. "Runo…"
"Bakugan, brawl! Preyas, stand!"
Aquos Preyas: 310 Gs!
Unlike all of the previous times, there was no wacky fanfare to follow the Aquos' emergence. He stood on Marucho's Gate Card. Instead, he turned his gaze to Runo as well to show his disappointment in her actions.
Runo's eyes quickly shifted between Marucho and his guardian. She flinched, her breathing turned uneven. "S-stop it! Stop judging me! Neither of you-none of you understand what I'm going through!"
"This isn't all about you, Runo!" Marucho exclaimed.
"Oh?! Then it's okay when it's all about HIM!" She pointed at Yuji. "I thought you were on my side, Marucho! That you would understand who the true monster is here, but I guess, just like Julie, you're my enemy now too!"
"None of us are enemies, Runo! You're not listening to us!"
"SHUT UP!" Runo shouted, her voice screeching like chalk. "I don't have to listen to any of you! I just have to win! Win! Win! Win!" She pulled out another card. "Gate Card, set!" Then she fired off another Bakugan to land on the card. "Bakugan, stand!"
Haos Gargonoid: 250 Gs!
"Ability Activate! Dive Mirage!" Marucho declared, throwing the card into the field. It dived into his Gate Card, allowing Preyas to travel to the one Runo had just placed. "And knowing the effect of Dive Mirage, your Gate Card is unable to open!"
"Who cares?! I have to win!" She raised a card to use. "Even if it means making sacrifices! Ability-gah!" Runo cried and held her head. The black sparks in her eyes flickered slightly. "I-I-I can't… I can't hurt Preyas…!"
"Runo!" Tigrerra exclaimed.
"B-but I have to win! I have to win!" She kept shouting.
Marucho narrowed his eyes. "Why?! Why do you need to win so badly, Runo?! Are you really that desperate for victory that you have to resort to being like Masquerade?!"
"SHUT UP! I'm not like him…! I'm better…! I'm better…!" Even if she shouted these words, she didn't know if she could fully believe it.
Seeing as he couldn't get any concrete answers out of her, Marucho called out to his partner. "Preyas, finish it!"
"Got it, buddy!" Preyas sprinted forward and struck Gargonoid. The gargoyle-like Bakugan screamed painfully as he returned to ball form.
Runo's clouded my just stared at her defeated Bakugan. Everything had just started and yet she was already down two Bakugan, one more loss, and she'll be knocked out of the battle. She couldn't lose now, not when there was so much riding on this.
Her friends, the people she's been counting on to have her back in her time of need have betrayed her. Why? Why did they turn against her? Where did she go wrong? Did she go wrong? Was she the problem?
Runo's eyes locked onto Yuji.
"You…you're the problem! It's your fault! You're the reason everything is going wrong! If it weren't for you then my friends wouldn't be turning against me, Dan and Drago wouldn't be hurt, and my heart wouldn't be in so much pain!" All of the darkness that had encroached her heart was spewing out of her as a pure black aura. Runo released a pain filled cry, her aura exploding outwards, poisoning the field around them.
"RUNO!" Marucho and Julie cried.
"MY LADY!" Tigrerra tried to keep herself steady, wishing to save her partner at all costs.
Yuji could feel every inch of Runo's pain and anguish, since it was all being directed at him. It reminded him of the day when she cornered him and Alice at the store. Since then, all of that pain must've continued to fester without anyone to nurse it. Runo had lost herself in her grief and none of them tried to help her.
"I get it now, Dan, the reason you entrusted this card to us. It wasn't to win this battle to become champion, but to save her, wasn't it?" He clenched his fist, a strong determined gazed fixed upon his face. "Okay, then! As your student, as your friend, I'll carry your wish and save her!"
Leonidas released a mighty roar, shaking the pocket dimension with his power. His body was responding to Yuji's own growing determination. He couldn't care less for what kind of turmoil that Runo was under, but he cared for his partner. If it was Yuji's wish to save this troublesome girl, then he'll fulfill that wish without question!
Seeing her friend, someone she views as a sister, in so much pain placed heavy grief under Alice's own heart. Why? Why had she ignored all of the pain Runo was in? Why hadn't she tried harder to help her friend? Here she is, sitting on the sidelines while Yuji does all the fighting!
"I'm a coward…! What kind of friend am I?!" Alice scolds herself. "Didn't I say that I would start taking the first step?! Haven't I grown at all?!"
Dan wouldn't be sitting on the sidelines. Dan would've already fixed the situation by now. But Dan isn't here now. It's all on them to save Runo.
Alice jumped from her seat, shocking the children. The Russian non-battler sprinted through the rows of seats. "Alice, where are you going?!" Serena asked, but received no answer.
"Well, what are we waiting for?! Get your butts moving!" Nene yelled.
"Right!" Serena and the siblings hurried after Alice, thankfully managing to catch up to her as she sprinted down the halls.
"I'm coming, Runo! Yuji! Leonidas!"
"HEY!" Leonidas shouted, gaining Runo's attention. "It's me you want, right?! Then come on! I'll defeat you once again right now!"
Teeth clenched with dark fury. "Keep talking…! I'll shut you up in a minute!" She grabbed her partner before Tigrerra could say anything. "Bakugan, brawl!" Tigrerra went flying right towards Leonidas. "Tigrerra, stand!"
Haos Tigrerra: 340 Gs!
While familiar with the sensation of standing against Leonidas, Tigrerra didn't feel any of the excitement that the battle would have brought her. Instead, she looked mournful and regretful.
Unlike the previous times, Runo did not hesitate to battle. "Ability Activate! Cut in Saber!" She threw the card towards Tigrerra to strengthen her up. The Haos sabertooth felt her power increase thanks to the ability, however, she made no move to attack Leonidas. "W-what?! What are you doing, Tigrerra?!"
"Why are you not fighting me?" Leonidas asked as well.
"...I refuse." Tigrerra said.
"R-refuse?! Why are you refusing?! We have to win, Tigrerra!" Runo shouted, furious.
Tigrerra turned around to face Runo. "And I refuse to fight alongside a mistress who has lost her way!"
"W-what?!"
"Ever since the incident with Dan…no, even before that, since our first defeat against Yuji and Leonidas, you have been on a downward spiral! Your antagonistic behavior towards such an innocent boy, your attempts to take away Leonidas, and the way you broke Alice's heart have done far more damage than good!"
"T-Tigrerra…" Runo stared wide eyed at her guardian.
"I am at fault as well for not curbing your behavior, for failing you as much as I have! I have allowed my mistress to fall hard enough to listen to the words of Masquerade, to betray everything the Battle Brawlers stand for!"
Another sense of doubt struck Runo once again. "T-Tigrerra…even you…?" Despair fell into the girl's heart. "W-why…why can't anyone see who the real monster is?!"
"The only monster I see here is you." Leonidas caught everyone's attention. "You, since the day we met, have done nothing but attack and assault us. You have threatened to shatter the bond that I hold with Yuji, because of some hero complex you have. You are the one who used a card that robs people of their partners and friends. If there's anything I've learned from Drago it's that strength and bonds are one and the same. And you have broken both in one breath."
"What would you know?! You're the ones who hospitalized Dan and Drago, all because you can't handle the fact that you lost!" Runo shouted. "You're no better than Hydranoid and Masquerade! All you do is take! Take! Take! Take! AND TAKE!" The darkness in her heart was corrupting her further and further.
"I'm sorry, Runo." Yuji said. "I should've talked with you a lot sooner. But Leonidas and I weren't the ones who hurt Dan and Drago. And we'll prove it right here, with the card they entrusted to us!" Yuji declared, shocking everyone. He raised the chosen card into the air, its blazing energy swept across the field. "Ability Activate!"
Leonidas' eyes glowed as he felt the card's power invade his body. A card that didn't match his attribute was fighting against his body, burning his insides. But he was stronger, no weak normal Bakugan would even be capable of what he's accomplished! He was stronger, stronger than everything else! And he'll keep growing stronger with each and every battle! "Drago…just this once… I'll borrow your power! RAAAAAAAAHHHH!" His body was encased by a sizzling bright tornado of flames, shocking Tigrerra.
"Fire…?! But how…?!" Julie gasped.
"It can't be…?! Leonidas is…" Marucho stumbled slightly.
Runo had to cover her face to protect herself from the heat. She couldn't believe her eyes as she stared at what was in front of her. Standing Leonidas' place was Drago, the Pyrus Dragonoid looked downright furious, scaring the hell out of her.
But what struck her heart even more was Yuji. As if like a ghost, she could see Dan standing right next to him. No amount of darkness could deny the truth right in front of her.
This power coming from the two had been given to them. As if Dan and Drago had entrusted their wills to Yuji and Leonidas.
…Dan didn't pick her. Once again, she had been left in the dust thanks to Yuji and Leonidas…and she only had herself to blame.
"FINISH IT, LEONIDAS!"
Leonidas pulled back his head, a ball of flame building between his jaws. With the ferocity of a wild creature, he unleashed his attack. "BOOSTED DRAGON!"
Tigrerra did nothing to stop the attack, allowing it to swallow her whole. The force of the explosion knocked Runo back, sending her flying through the air. Her hair pins broke, causing her long hair to flow freely as if signifying the breaking of the chains that trapped the heart.
Runo crashed along the sandy ground, dazed and broken. Tigrerra rolled alongside her in her ball form.
"RUNO!" Marucho and Julie sprinted towards their defeated friend. Yuji caught Leonidas in his hand, and followed after the two. All three abandoned the battle, understanding there were far more important matters going on.
The audience complained loudly at the competitors not taking the match seriously, shouting that they should hurry back to continue the battle. At least, until the feed of the finals cut completely, the screen turned to static. Confusion hung in the air as everyone wondered just what was going on today.
Julie carefully held Runo in her arms, while Marucho held Tigrerra. "Runo! Runo!" The Subterra user called for her friend.
"Careful, Julie! Her body is extremely exhausted!" Marucho warned.
Yuji was about to say something until a flash of light caught their attention. The trio turned to see Alice and the kids had invaded the battle space. "Alice!? Serena?!"
"Yeah, we're here too." Akira muttered before getting elbowed by his sister.
Alice ignored everyone else to reach Runo. She carefully grabbed her friend's hand, tears streaming down her face. "Runo! Runo!"
Runo gurgled slightly as her eyes slowly blinked open. Her vision blurred slightly but she was able to fully see Alice's face. "A-A…lice…?"
"Runo! Runo, you're okay!" Relief was all that Alice felt at the moment. One look at her friend was all she needed to see that Runo's eyes finally looked awake. Whatever darkness that had clouded her before had been blown away.
As Runo stared at Alice's crying face, memories of her actions the past week returned to her. All of her toxic and violent actions towards her friends and Yuji pained her heart. Sobs coughed from her mouth as tears fell down her face. "A-Alice…! I-I'm sorry…! I'm sorry…!"
Alice pulled her from Julie's arms, bringing her in for a tight hug. Runo just kept apologizing while they both cried loudly. Everyone else watched in silence, giving the two space to air out their emotions.
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
Everyone turned around to the source of the clapping. To their surprise there was an individual dressed in black exiting a white dimensional door. "Well, I have to say, that was the most pathetic excuse of a battle I've ever seen!"
Immediately everyone was on guard. Alice held Runo close, while Yuji stood at the front of the group. "Who are you?!"
"You really don't recognize me?" He points at his hair.
Alice gasped. "You're M! The guy who insulted Yuji and Leonidas!"
The evil brawler smirked, pleased to see someone had a good memory. "I'm glad I left a good enough impression on you, Alice, dear." She scowled at his tone.
"What do you want, jerk?!" Julie demanded.
"Nothing too big. I just want him." Marduk pointed at Yuji, surprising the group. "You and me, Shujin. A one-on-one battle! You and Leonidas vs me and…"
Leonidas' senses exploded as a pulse of dark energy tore through the pocket space. A purple ball of power descended on the space between them and Marduk. The dust cleared to reveal a Bakugan of the Darkus attribute.
"Darkus Vladitor!" Marduk declared.
"Darkus…" Serena began.
"...Vladitor?!" Marucho gasped.
"I've never heard of that Bakugan before." Alice muttered.
The air around Vladitor vibrated from his power. "I am Vladitor, the ruler and strongest of all Bakugan!"
"The strongest Bakugan?" Akira repeated.
"I don't care who you are, pal! We don't have time for a battle! We have to get Runo to the nurse's office!" Yuji responded.
Marduk rolled his eyes, but he knew how to goad the two into a fight. "Oh really? Then I guess you'll be okay with running like a coward. Even when outmatched, your friend Dan didn't give up till the end.
Everyone paused after hearing that. Runo especially was trembling as the weight of the implications came crashing down on her.
"What did you just say?" Julie asked.
Marduk smiled sadistically. "What? Just that your dear ol' Dan didn't give up? Such determination meant nothing against real strength. Too bad he's in the hospital, because I'd love to tear him and Drago down again!"
…
…
…
Rage.
Pure unfiltered rage exploded in the field.
Eyes turned to the two-time champions, stunned to see such animosity rolling off of them. Yuji and Leonidas stomped forward until they were face-to-face with Marduk and Leonidas. The Darkus duo were unfazed by the bloodlust directed at them.
"You two…! You're the ones who did that to Dan and Drago?!" Yuji hissed angrily.
"That's right." Marduk held no shame.
"What are you two going to do about it?" Vladitor asked.
Leonidas' own aura clashed against Vladitor's, the dragon's eyes promised nothing but a painful demise. "For taking away my right to defeat Drago and for claiming to be the strongest Bakugan, Vladitor, I will personally send you straight to hell!"
Chapter End
NOTE: Yikes! That was one hell of a chapter, huh? The chapter title has a double meaning: Runo getting an intervention about her behavior and Marduk interrupting the finals. I guess you can say that the next chapter will be the TRUE finals of this arc.
Yeah, I realized as I was thinking over this chapter that most of the buildup was more about Runo than Yuji or Leonidas. Thus, I decided the battle focused on the others trying to get through to her.
People asked me if Leonidas can change attributes. He can't, but he can use abilities of different attributes. There will be some limit to it, though.
Alice and Yuji finally kiss! The two will have plenty of time to talk about their feelings once they get through the current mess. But I hope you guys enjoyed the buildup to it. Honestly this arc is the midpoint of the story. There will be a sort of tone change in the story now that Marduk has really made himself known, the stuff with Runo, and Leonidas.
Again, sorry I couldn't give you guys a fulfilling battle royal. I just couldn't do it.
Have a great day!