"Oh yeah! I remember you mentioning a Tasha! Didn't know she was your cousin though." Aubrey said. "Well well well some family assistance!" Wokko smiled. "I fucking hate her." Sally said. The rest of the team jolted at this. "Why? What did she do?" Aya asked. "Don't worry about it. You'll probably see when we meet her. We'll go to her tomorrow." Sally said, starting to leave. "Ok then. I'm going to head home." Jamie said. "Yeah same. See y'all tomorrow!" Wokko said. "See ya!" Aubrey said, waving to the two. "Hey, Aubrey?" Aya said. "Wassup?" Aubrey asked. "You mind if I stay at your place tonight? I just...don't want to be by myself tonight." Aya asked. "Of course, Aya. I'll let mom and dad know you'll be there tonight. Aubrey said. Aya thanked her and Aubrey pulled out her phone.
7 HOURS LATER
Aya lie awake staring at the window. He fell asleep on Aubrey's bed and now found himself in a warm embrace. Aubrey's sleeping breaths echoing in his ear. He didn't move, not wanting to wake her up. Aya, now aware of the scale of the threat was feeling many emotions. Especially the burning. The burning was worse than it has ever been. But he also was scared. Scared for himself, scared for their Bakugan, scared for Dragonoid, all around just scared. "I can sense your fear, Aya." Cendrillion whispered. "Cendrillion?" Aya asked. "I'm confident we will be alright. We've pulled through before, we'll do it again." Cendrillion added. "Yeah." Aya smiled slightly. A few more minutes went by before Aubrey groaned as she woke up. Her embrace on Aya tightened. "Morning." Aya said. "Murmin." Aubrey mumbled. Aya rolled over to look at Aubrey's face. He moved Aubrey's bangs to get a better look. The two smiled at each other, feeling safe in each other's presence. "You're uh...r-really pretty." Aya said quietly. "So are you." Aubrey replied. Both of their faces were red. "Hey Aya?" Aubrey said. "Hm?" Aya asked. "Are you ok?" Aubrey asked. Aya paused for a moment. "I'm...scared of Antivirus." Aya said. "Yeah. Me too. I think we all are." Aubrey said. It's ok. We...we can do this." Aubrey said pulling Aya closer. There was another pause before Aubrey's phone started ringing. Aubrey let go of Aya and grabbed the phone and picked up. "Hello?" Aubrey asked. "Hey. It's Sally. It's go time." Sally's voice came from the other and. "Wha? It's like 6 in the morning!" Aubrey said. "Just...trust me on this." Sally sighed. "Are...you ok?" Aubrey asked. "Just get ready. Me n the rest of us'll be there soon." Sally said before hanging up. Aubrey sighed. "Sally and the others are coming. Let's get ready." Aubrey said. "Ok." Aya replied. Aubrey sat on the bed pondering. Why did Sally hate Tasha so much? Just what was Tasha like? Well they were about to find out. Aya exited the bathroom in his staple outfit. "I'm ready." He said. "Ok. We'll wait in the living room. Bring your Bakugan in case we get jumped by a Masquerade Minion or Antivirus." Aubrey said. "That was the plan." Aya replied. The pair headed down into the living room, waiting for the rest of the group. The wait felt like an eternity, but soon there was a knock at the door. As they got up, Aya did the "Catholic Cross" over his chest. "Didn't know you were religious Aya." Aubrey said. "I'm not but I'm taking all the help I can get." Aya said. Aubrey chuckled a bit at this. They opened the door to see Sally at the doormat with Wokko and Jamie behind. "Ready?" Sally asked. "Yeah." Aubrey replied. "Let's get goin then." Sally motioned everybody to follow her. They had walked and walked for roughly 10 minutes before Aubrey spoke up. "Hey, Sal?" Aubrey started. "Yeah, Aub?" Sally said. "I'm...lost here. Why exactly do you hate Tasha so much? It's just kinda sudden." Aubrey asked. Sally paused for a moment. "I'll tell you later. Let's just get all this over with." Sally sighed. "I-" Aubrey started again. "Aubrey. Let's just drop it for now. She has her reasons." Jamie brought up, putting a hand on Aubrey's shoulder. Aubrey sighed. "Woah Jamie! Putting a hand on Aubrey in front of Aya? Bold move my man!" Wokko joked, trying to lighten the mood. "Yeah what the hell man!" Aya said in mock anger. Everybody laughed at this...except Sally. "We're here." Sally stated. The group looked up to see a decently sized church. "A...church?" Aya asked. "Yeah. C'mon." Sally said. She opened the large door in front of them and they went inside. The main chapel was huge. Stained glass depicting the birth, life, and death of Christ were just about everywhere. Paintings of the same images were on just about every wall. In the middle of the room, a single nun was knelt, preparing things. The nun got up and spoke. "Terribly sorry, but our service doesn't begin for another 2 hours. You're more than welcome to at-" the nun turned to see the group, but she recognized only one face. "Sally." The nun spoke in a less kind and gentle tone. "Tasha." Sally growled. "Please tell me we got something in case Sally decides to use those teeth for something other than food?" Wokko whispered. "You think any of us can actually stop Sally? I'm flattered you think so high of us but that ain't happening." Aya replied. "I see you've actually managed to make some friends." Tasha said. "More than you apparently." Sally retorted. "I'm just going to pretend I didn't hear that as I'm in a good mood today." Tasha said. "Good cause I sure as fuck ain't." Sally said. "I ask you refrain from that language in here." Tasha warned. Sally simply rolled her eyes. "Well I doubt you came here for the service. So, why are you here?" Tasha asked. "Much as I hate to say it, we need your help." Sally said. Tasha threw up a brow in curiosity. It was rare that Sally asked her for help. "I'm listening?" Tasha asked. "Sally maybe I should explain our situation. You're a little bit...unstable right now." Jamie brought up. "One, I'm always unstable, two, shut it four eyes." Sally said. "Sal. Come on. Let Jamie handle it this time." Aubrey said. Sally thought for a moment. "Fine." She said. "Tasha right? My name is Jamie. This is Aya, Aubrey, and Wokko." Jamie introduced. "Good to meet you. I'm not exactly sure how you're friends with someone like her but nonetheless." Tasha said. Sally started to feel her blood boil. "Regardless, have you heard of the man named Masquerade?" Jamie said, fixing his glasses. Tasha thought for a moment. "Can't say I have. Why? Is that a friend of yours?" Tasha asked. "Far from it. Very far from it. He is our enemy. Given you're Sally's cousin I'm sure you've at least heard of Bakugan?" Jamie asked. "No. No I can't say I have." Tasha replied. Sally's pupils narrowed. "BULLSHIT! YOU'RE THE ONE WHO TAUGHT ME THE GAME! I CAN SEE ARCHANGELO IN YOUR POCKET!" Sally shouted in fury. Everyone flinched at this. "Arch...angelo?" Aya asked. "She's referring to me." A voice called from Tasha. Suddenly a Haos Bakugan floated up and opened. It was tall with an angelic design. "I am Haos Archangelo." Archangelo spoke. "So what was with the lie?" Aubrey asked. Tasha didn't have an answer. "If what Sally says is true, and you have a partner with you, you must care to some extent. Then you'll want to hear this. Masquerade is a horrendous man who uses a special card known as a Doom Card. When played, any Bakugan he defeats is sent to the Doom Dimension. Where they go to die slowly." Jamie explained. Tasha jolted at this. "So...it's like hell for Bakugan?" Tasha asked. "Essentially yes." Archangelo said. "We've been making efforts to stop Masquerade, but he's caught on to them. He's assembled a team of 6 powerful brawlers who call themselves "Antivirus". They were hired specifically to hunt us. But if you notice, we only have 5 members in our group. We're missing a Haos user." Jamie continued. "So you came to me to ask for my help?" Tasha asked. "Yes." Jamie confirmed. "I'm sorry but you came here for nothing. I'm a devout servant of God and have no time for childish games." Tasha shook her head. Now Sally was furious. "Childish games? CHILDISH...FUCKIN...GAMES!? MAYBE IT DIDNT GET THROUGH THAT THICK SKULL OF YOURS BUT THERE ARE LIVES ON THE LINE AND YOU WANNA CALL IT CHILDISH GAMES!? ALL BECAUSE YOU'RE "DEVOUT" TO SOME GOD!?" Sally yelled. "He is not just "some god"! He's THE God! You listen-" Tasha retorted. "NO. YOU LISTEN! I'VE BEEN LISTENING TO YOU! I'VE ALWAYS LISTENED TO YOU! BUT WHENEVER I NEED YOU TO LISTEN TO ME WHERE ARE YOU!? NOWHERE TO BE FUCKING FOUND! I'VE CALLED YOU! I'VE TEXTED YOU SO MANY TIMES WHEN I NEEDED AN EAR BECAUSE I WAS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING! BUT YOU NEVER PICKED UP! YOU ALWAYS LEFT ME ON READ! YOU ABANDONED ME! THAT'S WHY I HATE YOU! I HATE YOU MORE THAN MY OWN MIND AND BODY CAN TAKE! I HATE YOU SO MUCH I FEEL LIKE MY HEART IS GOING TO ROCKET OUT OF MY CHEST EVERYTIME YOU'RE EVEN MENTIONED! BUT IT ISN'T JUST ME YOU ABANDONED FOR YOUR STUPID RELIGION! YOU ABANDONED UNCLE PAT! YOUR OWN DAMN DAD! YOU'RE NOT A DEVOUT SERVANT OF GOD! YOU'RE NOT A PURE HEARTED CHRISTIAN! YOU'RE A PIECE OF SHIT!" Sally shouted in fury. Tears were streaming down her face like waterfalls. "Sally..." Aubrey said in shock. She reached out a hand to her, only for Sally to smack it away. "Ow! The hell man!?" Aubrey asked. But before she could say anything else, she stopped. Aubrey looked at Sally as something familiar. It was almost exactly how she looked when Aya had shut himself in. When Mary died. She knew that feeling all too well. But this was different. Aya didn't abandon Aubrey. But Tasha abandoned Sally. Sally suddenly pulled out a field card. "WELL NO MORE! YOU AND ME! RIGHT NOW TASHA! I'M GONNA KICK YOUR ASS!" Sally shouted. "Do tell how you're going to do that? Both players have to open the field. If I don't do it, how do you intend to battle me if I have no interest in doing so? Come Archangelo. Back to me." Tasha said holding her hand out. "...no." Archangelo said in a stern voice. "Huh?" Tasha asked in surprise. "Bakugan thrive off of battle. It's our life. I can't even remember the last time I've actually battled. I've held my tounge for long enough. I have a prime opportunity to battle many times but you won't let me. So now you must make a choice." Archangelo said floating to in between Tasha and the group. "Go with them and help them, and I shall stay by your side. But if you choose to stay here, I'm going with them and I'm not looking back. The choice is yours." Archangelo spoke. Tasha was silent. "Well Tasha? You gonna abandon Archangelo like you did with me and Uncle Pat?" Sally growled. Tasha looked up. With one swift motion, she reached into her bag and pulled out her field card. "Fine then. But if I win you are never to come back here again." Tasha said. Archangelo flew back into Tasha's hand. "Finally." Sally said. "You've never been able to beat me, and you never will." Tasha said. "We'll see about that!" Sally replied. "Sally." Aubrey said. "Aub don't even try-" Sally was about to say. "Kick her ass." Aubrey said. Sally's eyes widened. "That's the plan." Sally replied. "FIELD OPEN!" Sally and Tasha said in unison. Just like that, the field was open and the two cousins stared each other down. "GATE CARD SET!" The two called. Yellow and Blue lit up the floor. Tasha grabbed her 1st Bakugan. "BAKUGAN BRAWL- NNGH!" Tasha threw her Bakugan, but grabbed her shoulder in pain. It had been forever since she had thrown a Bakugan, and the strain hurt. "Tasha!" Archangelo called. "I'm fine. MONARUS STAND!" Monarus stood on her card. "Tch. She's rustier than a bike that's been through a tsunami." Sally mumbled. "A prime opportunity in my eyes. Weakened prey may be less fun, but it's easier on the jaw!" Abyssion joked. "Guess when you put it that way...GATE CARD SET!" Sally shouted. "BAKUGAN BRAWL! MANTRIS STAND!" Sally threw Mantris onto the card she set at the start of the battle. "And, DOUBLE ABILITY ACTIVATE! MARIONETTE PLUS AQUOS FORCE!"
Aquos Force: an Ability Card for Aquos. Force one of your Opponent's Bakugan onto a gate card regardless who's turn it is.
Mantris moved Monarus to the other card Sally set. One of Tasha's Bakugan was forced out onto the same card, a Haos Hynoid. "GATE CARD OPEN! MINE GHOST!" Sally commanded. The Gate Card exploded, defeating both Bakugan. "Tch!" Tasha said in frustration. "Well? Come on! Bring em out!" Sally said. Tasha looked down at Archangelo. "GATE CARD SET! BAKUGAN BRAWL! ARCHANGELO STAND!" Sally's smirk faded in to a mixture of disappointment and anger. The Bakugan in front of her was not as she remembered. What was once a powerful and majestic angel Bakugan was now a simple Bakugan in a hunk of armor.
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"What...the fuck...is THAT SHIT!?" Sally yelled. "Sally. You may not recognize me, but it is I, Haos Archangelo. Although I have long lost my splendor, forming this shell around me due to my lack of battle. Now go on. Bring out your Aquos Fear Ripper." Archangelo said. Sally's teeth gritted as she pulled out her ace.. an ace that Archangelo and Tasha never seen before. "Right...you weren't there for when I got Abyssion...well you're in for a rude awakening." Sally mumbled. "BAKUGAN BRAWL!" Sally shouted. "Hang on. That's not Fear Ripper..." Archangelo thought. "ABYSSION STAND!" Sally shouted. Abyssion rose and roared at Archangelo. "WHAT IN THE WORLD!?" Tasha shouted. "I am Aquos Abyssion!" Abyssion shouted.
"Abyssion Power Level 520g. Archangelo Power Level 350g."
Sally sneered at her Bakupod. "350? 350!? WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS!?" Sally raged. "Shut it! GATE CARD OPEN! CHARACTER!" Tasha shouted.
"Abyssion Power Level 520g. Archangelo Power Level 700g."
Abyss Predator: Ability Card for Abyssion. Increases g-power by 250g. Decreases opponent's Bakugan by 50g for every Aquos Bakugan that has been used in this game.
"Abyssion Power Level 770g. Archangelo Power Level 650g."
"YOU'RE FUCKING WEAK!" Sally shouted again. Abyssion clamped its jaws on Archangelo, thrashing and slamming Archangelo on the ground repeatedly. Archangelo was defeated. Sally had flawlessly won. But she wasnt happy about it. The field dissipated. "I take it that you won?" Aya asked. Sally walked over to Tasha. "You're on this team, but you're gonna be battling non-stop for the rest of the week. We CAN'T have a Bakugan and a Brawler so damn weak when we fight Antivirus. Do I make myself clear!?" Sally said. "Fine." Tasha said. "It's a shame you won't have the opportunity for that training." A voice called. The group looked at the top of the ceiling. There was a familiar figure wearing a gas mask. "DUSK!" Aya shouted. "Hold on! You said we had a week!" Wokko shouted. "Yeah. To find a Haos Brawler. And you found one." Dusk said. "Sorry, but we ain't battling you until we're prepared." Jamie said. "Oh I don't think you understand. I'm not giving you a choice." Dusk said. She suddenly pulled out something and threw it to the ground full force. Gas spewed everywhere. Sally suddenly shoved Tasha out of the range of the gas. "Oh? Last ditch effort to save her? I thought you hated her?" Dusk taunted. "I do...but I HATE YOU MORE-" Sally fell to the ground coughing. Dusk jumped down, knocking out Tasha. Everything was going black for the Kara. Aya was the only one awake, but that was changing quickly. "You'll pay blood for this..." Aya said before falling unconscious. "We shall see." Dusk said pulling out a warp card. She began the warping process. "Let the Guantlet begin..."
