Chapter Text
Runo's POV
"Drago!" Dan shouted throwing Drago an Ability Core. "Burning Dragon!" He shouts as Drago revs up his wings with balls of fire and flaps them down towards Munikis! He tries spinning his scythe to block as many shots as he can, but the attack is too strong causing Munikis to retract and drop to Alice's feet. Both Dan and Alice pant in the dessert as they walk to each other with looks of content.
"Oooh trouble in paradise?" Leoness snarked on my shoulder as I raised my brow.
"What do you mean? Did something happen I didn't see?" I asked as I saw them begin to walk back.
"I'm just saying, your man's eyes keep wandering!" Leoness points out as I chuckle to myself.
"Sorry to spoil your fun. No drama to be found Leoness. But you can say Dan and I have similar tastes." I say as I get up to give Dan and Alice their towels. I totally forgot today Dan and I were gonna ask Alice if she wanted to be part of our relationship. "Do Bakugan ever have multiple partners?" I ask as Leoness pauses.
"If they have, I've never paid attention. Just seems like a bunch of blushy crushy crap to me." they answered as I met up with my boyfriend and hopefully-soon, girlfriend. The two of them went to shower as I noticed the new clothes in my room in the base. Mira probably had these prepared so we can blend in better. The vest is comfortable and the gloves with gold tiger claws are a nice touch! I could get used to this. I heard a knock at the door so without thinking I shout,
"Come on in, Mira!!" Only to hear a young boy's voice I've never heard before.
"Mira's working on recalibrating our Gauntlets, I don't think we've met." He stuttered as I shrugged leaving the room with Leoness. Outside was a kid with a white button up with blue shoes and spiky magenta hair. And people think my hair is weird. "A-Are you Runo Misaki of the Bakugan Kin?" He asked as I nodded with a smile.
"Yeah! Oh you must be the Baron that Ace talked about." I said as he nodded shyly.
"That's right, Baron Leltoy! I'm a really big fan of you and the other Bakugan Kin, Lady Runo!" He rushed out bowing.
"Huh?"
"Huh?" Leoness repeated.
"I am here right now to apologize! Before he was captured, I learned about you from Tigress! I know you two are partners and it's my fault that he's been taken by the Vexos!" He bursts out as I'm just kind of surprised. I see a rotund Haos Bakugan land on Baron's back to try to comfort him.
"Baron, you don't have to hold yourself like this!" He tried to comfort only for Baron to bow even further, what?!
"I have to, Nemus! I must be punished!!" He shouted, and I'm really concerned so I get on my knees to try to get Baron to look at me.
"Listen Baron, I'm not upset at you for losing Tiga to the Vexos. You're what, ten?" I asked as Baron wiped his left eye.
"11 actually."
"Exactly, and you were going against the toughest Brawlers on your planet. You gave it your all, and while, yeah it sucks that Tiga is stuck, we're gonna save him." I said as Baron started to calm down a bit.
"I just, I really wanted to be like you, Lady Runo, you and all the other Bakugan Kin." He said sitting down.
"What do you mean?" I asked as he took some deep breaths with Nemus helping him.
"When Vestal found Bakugan, I thought they were so cool, and I snuck out of my house and met Nemus. He introduced me to Tigress and he told us about the six of you. Kids who risked their lives to help alien species from another planet all on their own." He continued as I thought back to when I was twelve. "And then I asked questions, like why Nemus and Tigress could talk to me but not my brothers' or sisters' partners. Then I learned what Vestal was doing, I wanted to be a hero! So I joined Mira and Ace in their fight!"
"And they let you?" I asked shocked. Mira and Ace don't seem like the type to just let a random kid join the fight against a royal empire.
"Nope! I snuck onboard, and by the time they noticed, it was too late!" He answered as I fell to the ground. His impulse reeks of Dan, "They called my parents to try to get some way to pick me up, but didn't want to risk getting my family arrested for associating with the Resistance. Mira and Ace have kind of been like family to me since, and with my family's support, I thought, 'I could be a hero!' Funny how that turned out." He sighed holding Nemus in his hand. "Now I'm just here, and I feel like crud. I'm too scared to brawl because I don't want to lose Nemus like I did Tigress..." He said as I gauged if I could give him a hug only for him to immediately grab on and hug me back.
Julie's POV
"Thank you for the uniforms Mira!" Marucho said getting himself situation in his blue outfit.
"Sí! These look great!" I exclaimed spinning around, appreciating the belt with my custom Golem Hammer keychain. I've gotta say, orange really does work for me!
"No problem, we're going to be comrades, after all." Mira said guiding us to a room made to look like a mini Wonder Vestroia. This is our Bakugan Sanctuary. Bakugan that we're able to free from the Vexos and choose to work with us can stay here." She said as I saw- No way!
"Tuskor! C'mere you!" I exclaimed as the elephant Bakugan flew to my hands!
"I see you're acquainted with this Subterra Bakugan?" Mira asked smiling as I twirled.
"That's right!" I smiled as he rolled into my vest pocket. I noticed another Subterra Bakugan, but this one was away from the other Haos, Pyrus and Darkus Bakugan. One with two pieces of metal around them "Hey Mira? Who's that Bakugan?"
Mira looked where I looked with a somber expression. "That is Gran Panzer. They were my first rescue, though I have no idea why they steer clear from the other Bakugan here." She explained as I noticed Marucho sneak out, probably to find an Aquos partner. He's a strong lil' guy so I know he can do it!
"Maybe I could try talking to them?" I asked as Mira nodded leaving the room. I slowly walked to where Gran Panzer was, and knelt down to be at eye level. "Hola, Gran Panzer, I'm Julie Hayward! I was wondering, if you and I could talk a bit, and maybe, you and I could partner up together?" I asked as I gave Gran Panzer some time to decide. Slowly, he decided to roll into my hand as I smiled. "Now let's get to know each other better."
Marucho's POV
How did we get ourselves in this mess?! Just as I meet Elfin and am trying to prove my worth as a partner, Mylene of the Vexos shows up with an Aquos Abis Omega! "Please, tell me this isn't your best?" Mylene taunted as she tried to slash me with her Gauntlet blade! These Vexos don't fight fair! As I'm dodging, trying to find an Ability Core, I think of Preyas, and how he helped me stand tall as a man! Gathering up my courage, I spot just the right one! I dive for it, and toss the Core to Elfin!
"Our counterattack begins now, Elfin! Aqua Reverse!" I shouted as two spinning disks of water levitated in Elfin's hands.
"I like the way you think, kiddo!" she croaked as she prepared the disks. "Aqua Tiara Action!" She shouts, tossing the disks at Abis Omega, defeating the opponent and freeing him from Mylene! Yes! I hold both Elfin and Abis Omega in my hands after the brawl.
"Thank goodness I'm free. That dastardly woman works us Aquos Bakugan to the bone!" Abis Omega hissed as Elfin hopped on my shoulders.
"You said your name was Marucho, right? I guess Preyas had the right mindset about you, I'll work with ya." She shrugged as my eyes lit up. Abis Omega nodded and hopped on my other shoulder.
"I must agree with the lady. You have my gratitude and assistance in your quest, Marucho." He finished as I almost wanted to tear up.
"Thank you both!" I said with glee before feeling a sharp pain in my face.
"You truly are a child. A soldier should never take their eyes off their opponent!" She grunts as I hold Abis Omega and Elfin in my hand to guard them. It's clear she doesn't care about the brawl anymore.
"I don't care what you say! I won't let you lay a finger on these Bakugan!" I shouted as she smirked.
"That's exactly what I'm hoping for." She said preparing her blade.
Runo's POV
"Uh, Lady Runo? Why did you want to brawl out here?" Baron asked me as I got my Gate Cards ready.
"Because I can tell that you love Bakugan, especially your partner Nemus, right?" I asked, knowing I was right on the money. He nods in turn. "And because of that, you don't want to worry about losing Nemus. I know that feeling very well, because I felt the same way with Tiga. The best way to get these anxieties out in the open is to battle in a controlled environment where there's no chance of a Bakugan being taken by the other Brawler! It's why we're brawling in this room instead of outside, would draw too much attention of enemies if our partners grew to their standard size!" I explained as he nodded. "This'll also give you a good chance to practice! Dan's raw power may be good for Critical KOs, but without consistency in your rolling, that's just a pipe dream!" I finished as Baron and I set our Gate Cards in the field.
"Bakugan Brawl!" We both shout, shooting our Bakugan to separate Gate Cards. Leoness stands on his Character Card while I notice Nemus lands on one of my trap Gates. When we flipped over the Gate Cards, he noticed and started to freak out a bit. "Whaaa?? Why would you set down a Gate that could hinder your Leoness' chances?" He asks as I won that Brawl.
"Because I do my best not to aim for that one. It's a trap I set for Haos, Aquos and Pyrus opponents! The game is all about strategy. When you think with both your heart and mind, that's when your battling at your best!" I said as Nemus nodded.
"She does have a point. Do you want to keep practicing?" He asked as Baron nodded. Good, building up his confidence will help his spirit. If we're gonna save all the Bakugan, we're gonna need all the spirit we can get.
Julie's POV
"OK! So I have an idea, if you have trouble communicating, maybe you can type words by using this keyboard!" I offered as Gran Panzer looked between the keyboard and me. "Only if you want to of course." I said softer as they lowered their head. They leapt onto the keyboard and began typing.
"you don't need to spend time with me. i know wHat i aM."
"And what do you think you are?" I asked as Gran Panzer began grunting and my heart shattered at what I heard. "No, you are not an abomination!" I grunted as they looked surprised at me. They began grunting some more but "I don't need to know why I can understand you and others can't! Please don't call yourself an abomination!" I begged as they grunted and grumbled again. "Being experimented on by the Vexos is not your fault! That doesn't change that you deserve life! And I know every fellow saved Bakugan in that other room agrees with me on this!" I continued as Gran Panzer turned away from me slightly. "Trust me, I have choice words for those Vexos myself, capturing my precious Golem.." I said gripping my hands which they noticed. "I do have anger and sadness at them.. I'm gonna channel that energy into taking them down." I finished as Panzer looked up to me. "I know it may be hard to believe, considering the feelings you have. But you are absolutely worth it. I'll be with you every step of the way." I said as Panzer floated up to me. "Yes, even after this battle is over, if you wish to stay with me on Earth, I'd be more than happy to welcome you!" I answered with a smile as I notice Gran Panzer take a pause.
Seeing Panzer think like this just tears me up inside. They truly believe they don't deserve to exist because of what's been done to them. Gran Panzer landed in my palms and spun softly. "You're welcome Panzer. You're my new amigo now, you're not getting rid of me that easily!" I said as Panzer leapt onto my shoulder.