The stadium was packed. The people in the stands cheered at the top of their lungs, excited to watch the biggest Bakugan event ever as it unfolded.
The battlefield was like any normal battlefield, a massive glass floor that was like a TV screen. Only this one was four giant screens put side by side and divided by metal bands. Along the outer edge were glass walls that were also divided by concrete stripes, each with a single door on it. These were the bunkers, which each team could use as a base of operations.
And inside one of these bunkers, the team known as the BakuFighters sat on the benches filling the room. A TV hung from one of the walls, but it was currently off and they weren't in the mood for it anyway. They were all still shook up after what had happened with the Rainbooms.
"I can't believe they joined Phantom," Heath whispered as Wukong tried to comfort him.
"It doesn't make any sense," Lyra stated. "They hated Phantom. Why would they alley themselves with him."
"Something has to be going on," Soarin growled as he stared out the glass wall. "Phantom must have done something to them." The others frowned, unsure how exactly Phantom could do such a thing. He might have had a lot of unusual abilities, but brainwashing was a bit of a stretch...right?
"What are we gonna do?" Bonnie asked, everyone else silent as they didn't have an answer.
Then, they were suddenly shocked by a loud banging sound that filled the bunker. Their heads turned to see Flash, who had punched the back wall as a look of anger emblazoned his face. "Flash?" Derpy asked. "Are you okay?"
Flash was not okay. The dark look Twilight had given him was still burned into his memory. He wasn't sure why, but the way she talked to him hurt more then he thought it would. His friend had been taken from him and he wouldn't forgive the one who did that. "When I find Phantom, I'll make him pay for this."
Leonidas took this moment to jump up from the bench onto his shoulder. "I know this is hard, but we have to face the facts. Twilight and the others are gunning for us. And they don't just intend to win. They intend to destroy us and win me and the others for Phantom."
"He's right," Nimue agreed. "Currently, we have two choices. Forfeit this tournament, or stay in it despite the fact we'll definitely end up facing at least one of the Rainbooms each."
"We can't surrender," Leonidas stated. "That'd just make Phantom think we're scared."
"But can we really battle against our friends?" Gaia asked.
"Are they still our friends?" Wukong asked, "you don't usually say something like that to someone you care about."
"Our friends are in there," Garuda told him. "We just need to find a way to reach them."
"But how?" Derpy asked, everyone else remaining quiet once again. Silence filled the room for almost a whole minute, then was broken as the TV suddenly switched on.
"HELLOOOOO BAKU-FANS!" They looked up and saw one of the announcers they knew from their stadium on screen, this man being a tan-skinned man with a yellow sleeveless shirt, bandanna and shades. "Welcome to the first Bakugan Battle Tournament."
"I guess it's starting," Lyra told them before frowning. "Last chance. Are we gonna forfeit?" The others all shook their heads, all agreeing they wouldn't let what happened before stop them.
"Alright, it's time to explain how this event works. We have a hundred and twenty teams, ranging from between three to six members. Their goal is to be the last team standing at the end of the tournament. But this isn't your average bracket tournament. No, it's a free for all." As he said that, light began to shine from the battlefield. The competitors all turned towards the glass wall and watched the fields in front of them began to change.
In a flash of light, they found they were either looking at a forest, rocky canyon, island filled ocean or a giant city. The BakuFighters were in the forest area, whilst the Rainbooms were staring out at the canyon field.
"Brawlers will make their way across one of four biomes, searching out opponent. The minute two brawlers from different teams get within range of each other, a brawl will begin."
"So we won't know who our opponents are until the brawls already started," Lyra realised.
"That means we can't strategize," Bonnie realised. "Because we won't know what we're up against until it's too late."
"We'll need to think on the fly," Soarin stated.
"Only three brawlers from each team are allowed to compete at any one time. So if another brawler wants to brawl, they'll have to wait for one of their teammates to return to the bunker and tag them in. And when a brawler is defeated in battle, they'll be unable to brawl again and another member of their team must come out and replace them. And any team that loses all its brawlers will be eliminated from the competition."
"So the winners will be the team that has only its members left," Heath realised.
"So teams that have more members in them will be at an advantage," Lyra realised. "We only have five members, so we can only afford to lose four times."
"Whilst the Rainbooms have six members and can lose five times," Soarin caught on. "I'd be surprised if any team has less then five members at least."
"Maybe," Derpy replied. "But the more members you have, the more you have to split the prize." The BakuFighters only then realised they didn't know what the prize was, the announcer speaking up before they could ask.
"If one or more brawlers comes across a battle that's already in progress, they are allowed to enter said battle. However, should you do this, a penalty will be issued."
"What kind of penalty?" Bonnie asked, the others unsure.
"However, if two brawlers that are already battling find two more brawlers that are going at it, the system will switch to battle royal mode and the two pairs shall become one team of opponents."
"So we have to be careful where we go when we brawl," Soarin realised. "Or else we might end up being ganged up on by three or more brawlers."
"One final detail." They turned back to him. "The four battlefields are littered with power-ups, but that's not all they have. They'll also have Surprise Cards hidden around the place."
"Surprise Cards?" Flash asked, the others shrugging to show they didn't know. The TV then changed to show the image of a clear bubble with a card floating inside of it.
"Surprise Cards are special Ability Cards that will either help or hinder you when activated. The only problem is, you won't know what they'll be until they activate. Also, these Abilities cannot be negated and bypass any Ability restrictions."
Nimue hummed. "So it could get you out of a tough spot, or completely doom you to defeat."
"I guess they shouldn't be used lightly," Wukong guessed.
"Let's hope we don't get into a situation where we have to use them," Soarin told them. But despite saying that, he and the others all knew they'd likely have to use at least one. Especially with the Rainboom's earlier threat.
"That's everything you need to know," the announcer stated. "So teams, please select your first three brawlers. You have ten minutes to get to an area you feel the most comfortable battling on." As he said that, the screen changed to show a ten minute timer.
"Alright," Heath turned to the others, "who wants to brawl first?"
"I'll head out," Flash told them. "Leo and I don't really have a field we're good or bad on, so you guys can follow us and get a better look at the battlefields." They nodded as Soarin stood up.
"I'm in too."
"Me three," Lyra stated. Their Bakugan agreed and so, the three rushed out the battlefield and off to the battlefield they wanted to battle on. Meanwhile, the other brawlers all chose their members.
"You three ready?" Twilight asked Rarity, Pinkie and Fluttershy, the three nodding back.
"Don't worry," Rarity told her. "We'll find them and take them all down."
"I doubt the three of you will need to come out," Pinkie said a little to harshly. Rainbow and Applejack frowned, but said nothing back as Fluttershy headed for the doorway.
"Can we go. I don't like wasting time that we could be using to find those losers." Rarity and Pinkie nodded and stepped out into the canyon battlefield.
"Good luck," Twilight told them. "Not that you'll need it. Just remember what'll happen if we fail our master." The three said nothing back as they disappeared into the distance, Spike leaping onto her shoulder.
"You really think those three can beat them?"
"Rarity and Pinkie were able to beat Flash and Lyra before," Twilight smiled. "I don't see why they shouldn't be able to beat them again. And even if they lose, they should at least allow me to gauge the best way to beat them when we face off against them." Rainbow and Applejack frowned at this, clearly annoyed they had to wait for one of the others to lose to get their chance to crush the BakuFighters. "Either way, we will claim victory and take those Bakugan for our master."
All across the battlefields, brawlers were wandering around and getting a good understanding of the environment.
Flash, Soarin and Lyra were all in the forest, Lyra trying to get to the ocean field whilst Soarin had his sights set on the canyon field. Flash simply wandering the field randomly, unsure whether the forest was a good place for him.
But before he could decide to move on, the announcer's voice filled his ear. "The Bakugan Battle Tournament has now begun. In five, four, three, two...ONE!" With that, the BakuColars of every player out on the field beeped to show their first matches had begun.
Flash looked down at his watch and saw he was already in range of his opponent, the name appearing on screen. "Norman?"
"Right here." He looked around and spotted a cream skinned teen with brown hair, wearing a red shirt and grey hat. "Ready?" He took out a Pyrus Bakugan, whilst Flash held up his Bakugan.
"Ready."
He wasn't the only one to begin his Brawl. All over the four battlefield, brawlers were facing off and starting their matches. Lyra and Nimue were up against a Ventus brawler named High Winds, whilst Soarin found himself up against a Haos Brawler named Amethyst Star.
Fluttershy was up against a Subterra Brawler named Octavia, whilst Pinkie was creaming a Ventus Brawler name Jet Set and Rarity was up against another Subterra Brawler named Rover.
"Ability," Rarity held up a card, "Activate!" Cleopal leapt up as the crystals on her scarves glowed, "Gem Leech!" They shot out beams that struck Rover's Subterra Hynoid, making it howl in pain as its power was drained before it reverted back to ball form.
Rarity: 100%
Rover: 74%
"Hmm," Cleopal smiled as she returned to Rarity, "that'll teach them for getting in our way."
"Indeed," Rarity agreed. "Now let's end this and go find our real targets." She took out a Gate Card and threw it, then launched Cleopal the same time Rover threw Hynoid. The two Bakugan appeared and prepared to do battle once again.
Meanwhile, down in the lab below the stadium, Sombra was standing in front of the case with Lucifer inside of it.
He watched as the cables connected to the case sparked with different coloured energy, said energy coming down from the ceiling and being channelled into the case and hitting Lucifer. "Ahh," he sighed like a man who had just taken a refreshing drink, "so much power."
Sombra smirked as he turned to a computer connected to the machine. "This tournament was meant to be used to awaken you, but thanks to Ragnaroid we can start the second phase early."
Lucifer chuckled. "By the end of this tournament, I should have enough power to sustain myself in battle. That, coupled with whatever power Ragnaroid can accumulate, will allow me to become unstoppable."
Sombra smiled, "then this world will be ours."
"Ability," Soarin held up a card, "Activate!" Garuda began to spark with lightning, "Spark Streak!" The Bakugan flew around the woods, dodging the attacks coming from the Haos Abis Omega.
Garuda: 600Gs
Abis Omega: 550Gs
"Ability," Amethyst cried, "Activate!" The snake took a deep breath, "Shine Crasher!" It then fired a laser form its mouth, Garuda's increased speed barely allowing him to evade it.
Garuda: 600Gs
Abis Omega: 650Gs
Garuda then show down and grabbed the snake by the tail before shooting the air, pulling it up along with him. "Take this!" He rolled forward and whipped the snake around, throwing it up into the air as Soarin took out a pair of cards.
"Double Ability, Activate!" The cards glowed as Garuda's body sparked with lightning once again. "Thunder Gale, plus Sky Burst!" Garuda flapped his wings and the lightning shot off, the wind carrying it towards Abis Omega and causing it to be electrocuted. Garuda then shot forward.
Garuda: 750Gs
Abis Omega: 500Gs
"Raaah!" Garuda squawked as he smashed into Abis Omega, causing it to revert back to ball form and knocking Amethyst points down to zero.
Soarin 46%
Amethyst: 0%
"And with that, Amethyst Star is out. Team Morning Light is down to three brawlers and are currently sending out their next contestant."
"Alright!" Flash smirked before a roar from Leonidas made him look over and see Norman's Pyrus Stinglash had grabbed him by the tail and right wing.
"A little help...please." Flash nodded and held up a card.
"Ability, Activate!" The card glowed as Leonidas' mouth sparked. "Alpha Blaster!"
Stinglash: 760Gs
Leonidas: 850Gs
"RAAAH!" He cried as the laser exploded out of him mouth, hitting Stinglash and forcing it to release him. "That's right." He flew up, "nobody messes with the tail."
Over in the ocean field, Lyra and High Winds were battling hard. Nimue was up against a Falconeer and doing quite well.
"Ability, Activate!" Nimue leapt away from Falconeer and landed in the water as the bird man glowed, "Co-Side!" The light flew off Falconeer and into Nimue, powering her up.
Nimue: 550Gs
Falconeer: 440Gs
"Geeer," High growled before holding up a card, "Ability Activate!" Falconeer beat its wings and unleashed a powerful blast of wind that struck Nimue and pushed her back.
Nimue: 450Gs
Falconeer: 440Gs
Falconeer then charged at her, but she smirked and danced out of the way.
"Not enough!" She told it, preparing to punch the bird. But before she could-
"Bakugan...BRAWL!" With a powerful gust of air, another Falconeer appeared and tackled her. She cried out, staggering back as the new Falconeer joined the other one.
"What?" Lyra looked down and saw the new Bakugan's stats.
Nimue: 450Gs
Falconeer: 440Gs
Falconeer: 340Gs
"It's not High Winds," she stated before looking around. Then she saw another girl land on an island near her.
"Hey," the girl waved at High Winds, "bet you didn't expect that."
"Thanks Misty," High smiled.
"Misty Fly of team Skybound has joined her teammate against Lyra. However, that action won't go unpunished."
It was then that Misty's BakuColar beeped and spoke up. "Intrusion Penalty."
"Wait," she looked at it, "what?" She then felt herself get electrocuted, "GYAH!"
Lyra: 90%
High: 72%
Misty: 50%
"Ooh," Lyra hissed, "that had to hurt." She looked down at her BakuColar, "so we lose half our life gauge if this happens."
"Doesn't matter," High Winds stated. "We're still gonna win. Falconeer!" The two bird-men shot down, Lyra smirking.
"I don't think so," she stated before pointing to the ground. "Gate Card, OPEN!" The field glowed with that light spreading to the Ventus Bakugan, "Power Dip!" The light flew off the two and into Nimue, powering her up.
Nimue: 850Gs
Falconeer: 240Gs
Falconeer: 140Gs
"WHAT!" The girls cried as Nimue leapt into the air and swung her legs around, hitting both Falconeer in the heads and knocking them back. They both fell and reverted back to ball form, flying over to Lyra as the two's points dropped.
Lyra: 90% (Winner)
High: 0%
Misty: 0%
"Wow!" The announcer cried as the girls looked horrified, "incredible. Lyra defeated two opponents with a single move. Now Team Skybound are down to only two members.
"Alright Lyra," Soarin smirked as he made his way though the forest. He was close to the canyon field and so far, hadn't run into anyone after Amethyst.
But then, something happened that Soarin wasn't expecting. He suddenly felt something wet land on his arm, making him look down and see what it was. "Rain?" He then looked up and saw multiple dark clouds had appeared overhead, all filled with water that began to fall free upon him. "What the?" He asked, whilst the people watching were just as confused.
"That can't be real rain," Bonnie stated.
"I don't think rain is programmed into the system," Derpy agreed. "What's going on?"
The announcer seem to be just as confused. "Please give us a moment folks. We seem to be experiencing some kind of malfunction in the battle system. However, I'm told by the engineers that this shouldn't cause any issues with the battles. So just bare with it until we figure out how to fix it.
"Weird," Soarin whispered, "wonder what could be causing it?"
"That would be me." He looked around and saw a girl with pale white skin and long blue hair that was curled up at the ends, wearing a blue overcoat and dark blue hat. She was carrying an umbrella and tied to the front of her coat was something he recognised as a teru teru bozu.
He was about to ask who she was, but in that moment his BakuColar beeped and showed him that a brawl had begun.
Rainy: 100%
Soarin: 100%
"Rainy?" Soarin asked before turning to her, "what do you mean by you being the cause of this rain."
"It's always been like that," Rainy replied. "Wherever I go, it always starts raining. The day I was born, it was raining over the hospital. And that rain cloud has followed me since then."
"You can't be serious," Soarin told him. "There's noway it always rains wherever you are."
"It's the truth," she explained. "No matter where I go, the place becomes covered in rain. Do you have any idea what that's like? To never get to go to the beach, or enjoy a picnic. To never get to play outside or even pot around in a garden. To never get to see the sun."
"You've never seen the sun?" Soarin asked, feeling pity for this girl.
"When I brawled for the first time, I had hoped that I could escape the rain with the simulated environments. But even here, I cannot get away from it. No matter what field I battle on, the system glitches and caused rain clouds to form over the area. I'm cursed to forever be trapped under the shadow of a dark cloud."
"Poor girl," Garuda sighed before turning to Soarin. "But we can't allow that to stop us from giving it our all."
Soarin nodded back before turning to Rainy. "I'm sorry about your situation, but I'm here to win and you won't stop me from doing that."
"I understand," the girl nodded before throwing her umbrella into the air. "Let us brawl." She took out a Gate Card, "I only hope this rain does not dull your skills. Gate Card...SET!" She threw it and hit the ground, exploding in a flash of blue light. She then took out a blue Bakugan before leaping up into the air, landing on a large branch before springing into the air. Through the rain, she spotted some Power-ups. "Bakugan...BRAWL!" She threw it and hit a pair before landing on the soaked ground. "Bakugan," it popped open, "STAND!" The Bakugan was consumed by a tornado of water. "Aquos Elico!"
The water exploded to reveal a humanoid Bakugan with light blue skin, dark blue armor and an orange gem on its chest. Its shoulders pads that were designs like spiral shells and it had four long tentacle-like whips on its back, along with three razor sharp blades coming off the back of its arms.
Elico: 500Gs
"Five hundred?" Soarin cried as the power ups kicked in and pumped it up even more.
Elico: 600Gs
"Awe man," he groaned. "It's on Ragnaroid's level right from the start." He then turned to Garuda, "but it's nothing we can't compete with."
"Agreed," Garuda nodded before curling up. Soarin grabbed him and jumped up onto a tree-branch, then onto another and another before leaping off.
"Bakugan," he threw Garuda, "BRAWL!" The Ventus Bakugan shot through the air and hit a trio of power-ups before landing on the ground, "Bakugan...STAND!" He opened up and was consumed by an electrified tornado, "Ventus Garuda!"
"Raaah!" He squawked as it exploded out, the power-ups increasing his Gs.
Elico: 600Gs
Garuda: 600Gs
"Let's do this rain girl!" The Bakugan cried as he took to the air, whilst Soarin pulled out a card.
"Ability, Activate!" Garuda's wings sparked, "Lightning Wing!" He shot down towards Elico, preparing to slash at him with the electrified wings.
Elico: 600Gs
Garuda: 750Gs
"Ability," Rainy held up a card, "Activate!" Elico's wrist became surrounded by a spiral of water, "Screw Blow!" It threw its fist upwards and the water shot off before slammed into Garuda, drilling into him and making him groan.
Elico: 700Gs
Garuda: 650Gs
"Not bad," Soarin smirked as he took out another card. "Ability, Activate!" Garuda's body began to spark before he beat his wings to fly backwards, away from the water drill before dodging it at super speed. "Spark Streak!"
Elico: 700Gs
Garuda: 750Gs
Garuda squawked as he shot downwards and slashed at Elico with his talons, making him cry out as he staggered backwards. "Elico!" Rainy cried as Garuda swung around for another attack. "This isn't over." She pointed at Elico, "Attribute Change!"
"Did she say Attribute Change?" Soarin asked as Elico's body was suddenly consumed by a rainbow of light, which exploded off him.
His skin was now yellow and he had orange a brown armour, whilst his claws and the shell shoulder-pads had turned into drills. "Meet, Subterra Elico!" She held up a card as Garuda dived for another attack. "Ability, Activate!" Elico began to spin and somehow dug down into the ground, causing Garuda to miss him.
"What?" Garuda asked as he hovered over the ground, "where'd he go?"
"Fly up higher!" Soarin yelled, but it was too late. The ground exploded and Elico's hand reached out and grabbed Garuda, then pulled him down into a fissure.
"Ahh!" The bird cried as his lower body was trapped under the ground. He tried to pull himself free, but he couldn't and Elico suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Not good," Soarin looked down at their stats.
Elico: 500Gs
Garuda: 450Gs
"He brought them down to their base power," he realised before taking out another card. "No matter. Ability, Activate!" Garuda's wings sparked before he beat them, "Thunder Gale!" The lightning shot off and struck Elico, electrocuting him and allowing Garuda to pull himself out of the hole.
Elico: 350Gs
Garuda: 450Gs
"Smart," Rainy told him, "but we're smarter." She pointed to the ground, "Gate Card...open." The field glowed before water exploded out of it, "Aquos Reactor!" Soarin's eyes went wide as both he and Rainy leapt into a tree above the ground.
"Water?" He asked, "but I thought he turned into a Subterra Bakugan."
"He is," Rainy held up a card. "But this allows me to fix that problem. Ability, Activate!" It glowed as Elico held up its arms, "Arculus!" He began to spin, dirt appearing around him, turning him into a tornado of earth that sucked up the water and made a mud tornado. "This Ability not only decreases your power, it restores Elico's Aquos nature."
Elico: 550Gs
Garuda: 350Gs
"Garuda!" Soarin cried over the wind of the attack, as his Bakugan was suddenly sucked into the mud tornado. "NO!" He tried to pull out an Ability Card, but Garuda was thrown out of the tornado before he could.
"AAAAARRRRRHHHHH!" He cried before reverting back to ball form.
Rainy: 100%
Soarin: 60%
"Garuda!" Soarin rushed over to his friend and picked him up off the soaked grass, "you okay?"
Garuda opened up and groaned, "I'll live. But that Bakugan is powerful." Elico returned to Rainy as he said that, Soarin agreeing.
"That much power, coupled with attribute change and the ability to use his other abilities at the same time. Talk about tough." He then took out a Gate Card, "but I'm not giving up. Gate Card...SET!" He threw the card towards the ground before leaping up into a tree, Rainy doing the same.
Both of them climbed higher and higher until they reached near the top, spotting a bunch of power-ups nearby, and leapt off. "BAKUGAN...BRAWL!" They both threw their Bakugan and hit the powers, flying through them before hitting the ground. "BAKUGAN...STAND!" In a tornado of water and wind, the two Bakugan appeared and powered up.
Elico: 650Gs
Garuda: 700Gs
"Ability, Activate!" Rainy held up a card as Elico's arm became surrounded by water, "Screw Blow!" He thrust his fist forward and fired the water at Garuda, slamming into him and making him cry out as his power was stolen.
Elico: 750Gs
Garuda: 600Gs
"Garuda!" Soarin cried before taking out a pair of cards. "Double Ability, Activate!" Elico glowed as Garuda flew forward, his wings sparking. "Lightning Wing, plus Co-Side!" The light flew off Elico and into Garuda, who then slashed Elico with his wing.
Elico: 750Gs
Garuda: 850Gs
Elico cried out as it staggered back, whilst Garuda flew back up and prepared to attack again. But before he could, Rainy interjected. "Elico, Attribute Change!" The fish man jumped up and was once again consumed by light, which then exploded off him to reveal his skin had turned white and armor was yellow whilst his claws had turned into sai. "Haos Elico!"
"Haos too?" Soarin asked, only to then realise that without an Aquos Bakugan on the field his Co-Side was now useless
Elico: 750Gs
Garuda: 750Gs
"Alright then!" Soarin took out a card, "Ability, Activate!" Garuda's body sparked, "Spark Streak!" He then shot around at incredible speed, making it impossible for Elico to land a hit on him.
Elico: 750Gs
Garuda: 850Gs
"Ability, Activate!" Rainy held up a card as the now blue gem on Elico's chest unleashed a flash of light, "Flash Freeze!" The light swept through the battlefield, making it impossible for Garuda to dodge it. And when it struck him, his entire body suddenly froze.
"What?"
Elico: 750Gs
Garuda: 750Gs
The light faded to reveal that Elico was gone, Garuda wondering where he went only to suddenly finding him appear right in front of him. "AUGH!" He cried as Elico spun around and slashed his foot into him, knocking him backwards.
"Ability," Rainy held up another card, "Activate!" The tendrils on Elico's back began to glow before the light shoot off, "Mythran Judge!" Garuda was stabbed by the six spears, causing him to fall to the ground and as they pinned him to it.
Elico: 850Gs
Garuda: 550Gs
"Not good," Soarin realised. He took out an Ability, but found it wouldn't activate. "What?" Garuda let out a groan as he tried to break free, but couldn't. Meanwhile, Elico charged in and prepared to stab him with his sai. But Soarin wasn't having that. "Gate Card, OPEN!" The field glowed green as a gust of wind swept over it. "Ventus Saver!"
"What?" Rainy asked as the wind struck the light spears and caused them to disappear, second before Elico could stab him.
Elico: 750Gs
Garuda: 750Gs
"Not today!" Garuda raised his foot up and slammed it into Elico's chest, causing him to stagger back and allow Garuda to roll to his feet and take off. "Now Soarin!"
"Right!" Soarin held up two cards as they glowed. "Double Ability, Activate!" Garuda opened his mouth as his wings sparked. "Thunder Gale, plus Blitz Bolt!" Garuda fired a blast of lightning from his beak, then beat his wings and unleashed an electrified gust that shot towards Elico and slammed him.
Elico: 600Gs
Garuda: 900Gs
The fish man cried out as he was electrocuted, Rainy unable to activate an Ability. This allowed Garuda to soar down and slash at Elico, the attack knocking him back and reverting him to ball form.
Rainy: 40%
Soarin: 60%
"Wow! It looked like Soarin was on the defensive there, but it seems he managed to pull of a comeback and take the lead."
As Garuda returned to Soarin, Rainy picked Elico up. "Even now, the rain of hopelessness drenches my thirst for victory."
"Don't be so hard on yourself," Soarin told her. She turned to him as he held Garuda. "I don't know why the rain continues to follow you around. Maybe it's a curse, or maybe it's meant to be for your own good. Who knows. Honestly, I think you might be the one to cause it."
"What?" Rainy asked.
"Maybe the rain started following you, making you miserable, but at some point things changed. Maybe instead of the rain causing your misery, you misery started causing the rain. I don't know. All I know is that we humans are incredible people, with powers that might even break physics. But what I do know is when life puts a rain-cloud over your head, you can either let it drench you...or look for the silver lining. So," he flicked his Bakugan up, "which will you pick."
Rainy seemed to be thinking about this. As she did, Soarin heard the announcer call out. "What's this?"
Rewind one minute
"Ability, Activate!" Flash held up a card as it glowed. "Brawling Dragon!" Leonidas charged towards the ground and started throwing punches, slashes and tail whips in Stinglash's direction.
Leonidas: 600Gs
Stinglash: 460Gs
The scorpion cried out, trying to strike back with its tail and claws, but Leonidas was too agile to do so. Norman then took out his own card and held it up. "Ability, Activate!" The card glowed, Stinglash's tail stinger along with it. "Sting Blade!" The stinger extended into a blade almost as long as its tail, the arachnid swinging it around, Leonidas forced to leap back but getting hit in the shoulder.
"Ahh!"
Leonidas: 450Gs
Stinglash: 460Gs
"I don't think so!" Flash cried as he held up a card, "Ability, Activate!" The card glowed, "Alpha Blaster!" Leonidas began to charge up his laser attack, Stinglash trying to crawl away but found itself trapped by a large wall of close together trees.
Leonidas: 650Gs
Stinglash: 460Gs
Norman tried to find a way to save himself, but only had one Ability card left and it wouldn't be enough to save Stinglash. But then, he noticed something a ways off and smirked. An Surprise Card. "My only hope!" He rushed towards it, Flash seeing it and running to try and get it first. But Norman was ahead of him and managed to grab it before he could. "GOT IT!" He cheered, pulling the card out of the bubble and leaping back.
But when he turned it around, he was suddenly met with an electric shock. "AAARRRHHH!" He cried as the card disintegrated, Flash hissing and looking down at his BakuColar.
Flash: 62%
Norman: 8%
"What's this?" The announcer asked, "It appears Norman was unlucky with his Surprise Card and got Negative Feedback, a card that takes away ten percent of his current life points."
"No," Norman cried as he fell to his knees. Whilst this was happening, Leonidas unleashed his attack and struck Stinglash. The beast roared in pain and was thrown into the air, falling towards Norman. The teen gasped, but Stinglash returned to ball form before it could hit him.
Flash: 62% (Winner)
Norman: 0%
"With that, Flash Sentry claims victory over Norman." Flash recalled Leonidas before looking over at his opponent, who was picking up Stinglash and a frown on his face.
"Good match," Flash told him. "It was fun." This seemed to cheer Norman up a bit, the teen nodding before he headed off. Flash then turned to head back through the jungle, all the while trying to keep an ear out of any info on Soarin. "Come on man. You can do it."
"Don't you lose this quickly, Garuda." Leonidas stated as the two climbed over a large root.
"Gate Card," Rainy threw said object towards the ground, "SET!"
As the card exploded, she and Soarin once again took to the trees, leaping as high as they could get until they were in line with the power-ups. "BAKUGAN!" They threw Garuda and Elico, "BRAWL!" They flew through the air and hit multiple targets, then landed on the ground before popping open. "BAKUGAN...STAND!" In a tornado of wind and water, the two Bakugan appeared and powered up.
Elico: 750Gs
Garuda: 800Gs
"Alright!" Soarin smirked at the higher points, "I got this!" He took out a card, but before he could activate it-
"Gate Card...OPEN!" Soarin looked down as the ground lit up, surprised she activate the Gate Card so soon. "Tri-Elico!" The light flew towards Elico and surrounded his body, then shoot off him and split in two before taking shape. Soarin and Garuda suddenly found themselves staring at three Elico, one for each of his attributes. Then, the three Elico seemed to merge. Soon enough, Elico's right arm and leg were that of his Subterra form, whilst the left were the Haos. Meanwhile, his chest and head remained the same and four of his six tendrils changed to either yellow or orange.
Elico: 950Gs
Garuda: 800Gs
"Tri-Elico boosts Elico's power by two hundred and lets him count as being any of his three Attributes."
"Not good," Soarin frowned before holding up his card. "Ability, Activate!" Garuda opened his beak, "Blitz Bolt!" He then fired a blast of lightning out of his beak, which shot towards Elico.
Elico: 950Gs
Garuda: 950Gs
"Double Ability, Activate!" Rainy held up two cards, which glowed along with Elico and Garuda. "Aqua Shield!" A large bubble appeared around Elico, the Blitz Bolt hitting it and bouncing off. "Plus, Co-Side!" The light flew off Garuda and into Elico.
Elico: 1050Gs
Garuda: 950Gs
Soarin frowned, but then took out two cards. "Double Ability, Activate!" Garuda's body sparked as he began to fly around incredibly fast. "Spark Streak, plus Sky Burst!"
Elico: 1050Gs
Garuda: 1200Gs
Rainy watched as Garuda shot down with incredible speed, moving so fast and aiming right at Elico. She then held up a card. "Ability, Activate!" Elico's arm was surrounded in water, which then shoot off towards Garuda. "Screw Blow!" The water struck Garuda and pushed him backwards, making him cry out as his power was drained.
Elico: 1150Gs
Garuda: 1100Gs
"Get him!" Rainy cried as Elico charged forward, ready to impale Garuda with his drill and sai. But before he could.
"Ability, Activate!" Garuda rolled to his feet and swung his wings around, lightning sparking around them.
Elico: 1150Gs
Garuda: 1250Gs
He managed to slash Elico in the gut, making him cry out and stagger backwards. Garuda then charge forward like an angry roaster and slashed at it several more times, Elico hissing but Rainy was quick with the assist.
"Enough of this!" She cried before holding up a card. "Ability, Activate!" Elico crossed his arms and began to spin, drilling into the ground. "Gaia Loose!" Garuda's eyes went wide and he tried to take off, but before he could the ground beneath him split open and Elico's hand grabbed his leg.
"NO!" He cried as his lower body was once again pulled under ground, the two's power dropping back to normal.
Elico: 500Gs
Garuda: 450Gs
Elico shot out of the ground, whilst Garuda tried to pull himself out. As he did, Soarin took out his card. "Ability, Activate!" Garuda flapped his wings as they began to spark, launching the electricity off of him. "Thunder Gale!"
It shot towards Elico, ready to power him down. But before it could reach him, Rainy held up a pair of cards. "Double Ability, Activate!" Elico's gem unleashed a bright light, which froze both The electrified wind and Garuda. "Flash Freeze!"
"Not again," Garuda groaned as he tried move but couldn't. The light then faded, revealing Elico wasn't there. But then Garuda suddenly felt a presence behind him.
"Plus, Mythran Judge!" Elico's tendrils glowed again, the light shooting off and stabbing into Garuda once again.
"AUGH!" He cried, his power being drained away.
Elico: 600Gs
Garuda: 250Gs
"Garuda!" Soarin cried, as Elico then used his tendrils to smash into the lightning bird again and again. Every time, Garuda cried out in pain. "Gotta think!" He tried, but remembered Mythran Judge prevented Abilities. "Not good."
"That's it!" Rainy told him, "give into the despair. Let the hopelessness soak you like the rain." Soarin frowned at this, getting really annoyed by all this doom and gloom.
"No way," Soarin told her as Garuda did his best to endure the whipping. "I told you, I wasn't gonna just give up when things get bad. I'll always search for the silver lining. Because humans are incredible people, who can find a way out of any situation." It was in that moment that a gleam reflected through the rain and caught Soarin's eye, making him flinch but then turn towards it. And when he did, he saw something. "A Surprise Card!"
Rainy turned to see the card, floating in a bubble on the end of a branch. She then saw Soarin rush towards it, a frown on her face. "Elico. Finish this before it's too late!" Elico doubled the force of its whipping, whilst Soarin leapt over to a branch and then jumped into the air.
"Soarin," Garuda groaned, "I can't...hold on much longer."
"Just hang on!" Soarin cried as he got up to the same level as the card, which was on the next branch over. "I GOT THIS!" He jumped for it, whilst Elico brought all its tendrils together before swinging them down with as much force as possible. And when they struck...nothing happened.
"Hahaa!" Garuda cheered, looking around at the energy dome that suddenly appeared around him. At the same time, the light spears vanished from him.
Rainy gasped and looked around, seeing Soarin hanging from a branch with the Surprise Card in hand. "Check it!" He smirked, "Defence Reload!" Garuda jumped to his feet and leapt into the air, the dome around him fading. "Not only does it negate you Ability's effects, but it also lets me regain one of the Abilities I used before." He let go of the tree as Garuda flew under him, then took out a pair of cards. "Now, Double Ability, Activate!"
"Let's do this!" Garuda cried as Elico glowed, the light flying into Garuda. "Co-Side, plus Blitz Bolt!"
Elico: 600Gs
Garuda: 500Gs
"FIRE!" Garuda fired a lightning blast towards Elico and before the attribute changer could dodge, the it struck Elico and made him cry out. The lightning sparked around his body, Rainy gasping.
"Now you can't use your abilities," Soarin stated as he leapt off Garuda and landed opposite Rainy. "Not so nice when the shoes on the other foot." He stood tall and smirked as Rainy looked worried, Garuda landing behind him.
"No," she whispered, "again the rain of defeat falls upon me."
"Enough!" Soarin called out, Rainy turning to him. "Until you try to look passed the dark clouds, you'll never see the light. The cloud will just get darker and darker." He took out a card. "Elico can change to make the situation suit him, so why can't you?"
"Raaah!" Garuda charged forward, as Soarin held up a card.
"It's time you got enlightened. And maybe this electrifying display will help with that. Fusion Ability, ACTIVATE!" Garuda leapt up and began to spin, the tornado of green wind spiralling around him as lightning sparked around it. "Lightning Vortex!"
Elico: 600Gs
Garuda: 850Gs
The storm drill shot towards Elico, Rainy gasping as she tried to think of a way to save herself. She then noticed something a ways off, a Surprise Card.
"There!" She ran towards it and grabbed the card as Elico was slammed by the lightning drill, the card activating as Elico cried out. And when she looked at it, she saw the effect and gasped.
"Power Down. Which removes a hundred Gs from every Bakugan the user has out.
Elico: 500Gs
Garuda: 850Gs
Elico cried out more as the drill pushed it up into the air, being electrified as they reached the clouds.
KABOOM!
The lightning drill exploded, unleashing a powerful blast of wind in every direction. The wind struck the forest battlefield and caused everyone in it to be knocked off their feet. This included Rainy and Soarin, Rainy crying out as she felt herself flying backwards. And as she flew through the air, she felt something hit her face. Something...bright.
She opened her eyes and looked up, causing her to gasp as she saw that the force of the explosion had destroyed the clouds above her head. They had vanished, ceasing the rain and allowing the light of the sun to shine down upon her. "Beautiful." She was so stunned by this, she didn't notice Elico cry out and return to ball form, falling to the ground as her life points dropped.
Rainy: 0%
Soarin: 60% (Winner)
"It's over!" The announcer cried as those in the bunker cheered, "Soarin has defeated Rainy Day and Team Weather Warning is down to two."
Rainy simply laid on the ground, staring at the sun and completely mesmerised. "I never thought I'd get to see it." She heard laughing and turned to see Soarin and Garuda, now back in ball form, moving over to her.
"I guess my optimism was to much for your doom and gloom to contend with." She sat up and stared at him as he tossed something at her, Rainy catching it and seeing it was Elico. He then looked up and saw the sun, a smile on his lips. He basked in the glow, Rainy staring at him in amazement. "This is nice." He looked down at her, then held out a hand. "Hopefully, you'll get to enjoy this sunlight for a while. And maybe it'll help you perk up enough to constantly chase those clouds away."
Rainy staring at him a moment, then smiled and took his hand before letting him lift her to her feet.
"I...I don't know what to say." Then she did something Soarin didn't think she was capable of. She smiled. This, made him smile.
"Just...remember not to let all the despair wash over you. When things seem to get hard...think of something that makes you happy." He said nothing else and turned to leave, Rainy continuing to smile as she watched him go. She then looked down at Elico and held him to her heart.
"I can change too." She looked up at the sunny sky once again, "I'll look for the silver lining." With that, she turned to head towards her bunker. She might have lost the brawl, but she had won something even better. And the next time she met Soarin, she would show him a brighter and cheerier version of her that the rain couldn't wash away.
Flash and Leonidas had finally made their way through the forest and reached the edge of the treeline.
They stepped out and found themselves at a strange location, where the four battlefields met. Across from him was the canyon field, whilst the city was to his left and the ocean to his right.
He stepped over the line and traversed the rocky environment, seeing multiple rocks of varying sizes filling the arena. There were several fissures in the ground, leading into ravines of varying sizes. But before he could get a proper look at any of them, his BakuColar beeped to show the start of his next brawl.
And when he looked down at the screen, his eyes went wide seeing the name.
Flash: 100%
Rarity: 100%
Panic filled the two as they looked around, seeing no sign of the fashionista anywhere. But then they noticed the shadow of a nearby rock change, as a humanoid figure appeared out of it. He spun towards the rock in question and was met with the sight of a smirking Rarity, hand on her hip and finger twirling her hair.
"Finally found you."