Season 4, Ep 11: Grudge At First Sight

[Jason Cross]

The final match of Round 2 has begun. Justin Airfields has risen to the occasion, but his next opponent, just like Gin and Jason's opponents, is from the mysterious team Shadow Storm. This opponent is none other than the second-in-command of Shadow Storm, Valentina Grudge. Not much is known about this Russian beauty, but she has risen to the ranks with brutal efficiency. She and her bakugan, Subterra Terrakinox are quite the pair, but can their power break through the bonds of Justin and ZeoFlaire?

[Justin Airfields]

Justin stepped on to the battle field, ZeoFlaire in hand. "Alright bud, let's win this match like we won the last one, swift and easily." ZeoFlaire popped open in his partner's hand and flew up on his shoulder. "Well, you seem a lot more confident than last round. What's up?"

Justin shrugged, "I don't know. I just feel like that last match showed that I have more power than I originally thought. I feel like I can take on the world. It doesn't matter who our next opponent is. We'll take 'em down anyways!"

ZeoFlaire chuckled, "Good to know, so you won't have a problem taking on a pretty girl, right?"

"A what?" He turned to see his opponent. She was a tall, slender woman dressed in a fur coat. She had long, silky brown hair that fell just below her shoulder blades and piercing brown eyes. "Woah." Justin murmured, "What a babe."

"Just remember," said ZeoFlaire, "She's a member of Shadow Storm, Jason said to watch out for those guys.

"Aw, don't be such a worry wart, ZeoFlaire. There isn't a woman on Earth that can resist my charms. Gate Card Set! Bakugan Brawl! Rise Ventus ZeoFlaire!"

ZeoFlaire appeared in a cyclone of green energy. "If you say so. I hope you know what you're doing."

Justin: 800G
Valentina: ?G

[Valentina Grudge]

Valentina gracefully walked on to the field. She looked odd compared to the riff-raff that attended being that she was dressed in a heavy fur coat, black leggings, and large fur boots. In comparison to those that had attended except for a trifle few, she looked elegant, graceful, and dangerous. As she walked from the elevator to the platform on her side of the arena, her long, flowing dark brown hair swayed gently from side to side. It moved lightly as a breeze caught it, playfully threatening to blow it into the crowd. She gazed at her opponent with deep and piercing brown eyes. He was a fairly tall fellow, but that meant nothing since she herself was tall for a woman. He was also built with a good set of muscles. On the outside, Valentina deducted that he was a fairly tough looking character. However, when she looked into his eyes, she didn't see what she was looking for: The fiery passion and determination that she expected from a challenger. She had only seen it once, never to see it again now that they were teammates. On top of that, he seemed like the easily distracted type.

The young woman blinked, then looked down at the rugged brown bakugan ball in her hand. This match would be unfortunately short, just like the last one. Oh well, she was hoping to have a tougher opponent before she faced Kaden in the semi-finals. She knew she couldn't beat the man that recruited her, he had to much skill and nobility. However, she could easily have some fun making a fool out of the Ventus brawler before her. As the opponent threw out his bakugan, Valentina sighed with boredom. "What a shame," she spoke in her thick Russian accent. "I was hoping for more of a challenge than this. A little boy and his pet bird is nothing more than a trifle thing."

She gripped the bakugan in her gloved hand and flung him on the battlefield, "Bakugan Brawl! Stand Subterra Terrakinox!" The ball opened with a flash of golden-brown light. In its place stood a massive golem that was close to three times the size of ZeoFlaire. It roared with anticipation, awaiting the orders of its master. Valentina smiled deviantly. This battle would be entertaining.

(Subterra Terrakinox has entered the battlefield at 800G.)

Subterra Terrakinox: 800G
Ventus ZeoFlaire: 0G[/size]

[Justin Airfields]

"What!?" ZeoFlaire shouted, insulted by the Russian girl's comment, "Woman, I am nobody's pet bird. Not now, not ever. I am a dignified ninja warrior." He turned to his partner, hoping to get some agreement. "Can you believe this chick?"

Justin didn't respond. ZeoFlaire, trying to get some sort of response out of his friend, waved a massive hand in front of his face. "Uh...Justin?"

Justin nodded, "Uh-huh," He murmured, "Yeah. That's cool."

"Cool!? No it's not cool. It's insulting and...Justin? You're drooling."

Justin snapped back into focus as he shook his head furiously. "What? No. I'm good, see? Let's take this foreign chick down." He took a good look at the girl again. She was quite the sight. But...

"Hmm. I've heard you're pretty good, but you've insulted my partner. I'm gonna have to make you apologize for that." His eyes flashed a bright green two times.

"Double Ability Activate! Eagle's Freedom and Zephyr: Tornado Thunder!" Zephyr Pawn suddenly appeared and landed by ZeoFlaire's side. ZeoFlaire jumped up and landed on top of his new partner, combining their G-Power. A clone of the two bakugan suddenly appeared as the four bakugan charged at Terrakinox. Their hands were surrounded by small electrical vortexes.

Eagle's Freedom: Send in another bakugan in the field. You may also drop opponents G to 0. I send in Zephyr Pawn at 800G.

Zephyr: Tornado Thunder: Create a clone of ZeoFlaire and fuse it with the original and transfer 400G each turn. That's another 1200G for me.

Justin: 2800G
Valentina: 400G

[Valentina Grudge]

Valentina laughed. "What a comical little parrot. You're quite the charmer, aren't you ZeoFlaire? I'm sure all of the other little birds think that you're quite the catch, huh?" She gave another hearty laugh as she tossed some of the hair that was getting in her face back behind her head. She gestured for ZeoFlaire to attack as she continued her taunting, "What's the matter little bird? Did I ruffle your feathers? Are you gonna squawk at me until I give you crackers?"

Suddenly, her eyes narrowed as she got serious. "Now come at me if you dare. Terrakinox and I will smash you into tiny pieces." She blinked with curiosity as Justin launched his attack. She noticed how he now had four bakugan on the field, each one of them activating the Zephyr: Tornado Thunder ability. It was quite an unorthodox attack, but it would be effective if it hit. The keyword being "if".

Valentina's eyes started to glow a deep dark brown as she shouted, "Ability Activate! Tremor Seal!" A magic circle appeared on the ground below Terrakinox. He placed his fist into the middle of the circle and roared, causing the arena to shake with violent tremors. The intention of the attack was to knock the opponent off his footing in order to make him easier to deal with in the long run.

(Tremor Seal: Your Opponent is prevented from trying to copy effects on the battlefield until the end of his third turn [AND/OR] Increase your G-Power by that of the double of his/her current G's. If you choose only one of the two effect, then you may also return the opponent back to base level. I will only use the last two effects.)

Subterra Terrakinox: 5200G
Ventus ZeoFlaire: 1200G[/size]

[Justin Airfields]

"Parrot!?" ZeoFlaire shouted, he was starting to get irritated by all of Valentina's comments. She was mocking him and Justin was just letting it happen. "Justin! Come on let's show them what we're made of."

Justin gave a half-hearted nod. "Yeah, sure...Let's do this!" His eyes started to glow green with anticipation of his own next attack.

"Ability Activate! Zephyr: Salvo Storm! Turn this rock into dust, buddy! Fly up!"

ZeoFlaire nodded as he started glowing green. Two electric vortexes appeared in either hand as he and his clone flew upwards, avoiding the Tremor Seal attack. Unfortunately, the Zephyr Pawns were caught in the attack as the original one was sent back into ball form.

The two ZeoFlaire's landed as the tremor stopped. Their hands now surrounded by tornadoes of crackling green energy. They released the cyclones, hoping to sweep up Terrakinox in the four vortexes.

"This is what you get for calling me a parrot!" Zeo Flaire shouted.

Zephyr: Salvo Storm: Pick 2 cards from the opponents bakupack, I may prevent the opponent from using one and use the other. You may not use Geo Revival and I will use G-Power Boost.

Justin: 2000G
Valentia: 4800G

[Valentina Grudge]

Valentina playfully shook a finger at Justin as if telling him no. Her intention was to toy with him and catch him off guard, even though she had him right were she wanted him anyways. "Ah, ah, ah. I wouldn't just rush into battle if I were you. Terrakinox and I aren't going to be defeated so easily. You'll need to be a lot more strategic if you plan on winning little boy. Isn't that right, Terra?"

Terrakinox roared loudly in response to his brawler. He wasn't much of a talker, but the Subterra bakugan understood his master very clearly. He didn't have a need to talk much and therefore chose to listen. It was the reason why they had gotten along all of these years. He banged his fists together as if to say "Let's crush these wimps!" Valentina nodded. Just like her bakugan understood her, so did she understand her bakugan clearly. Their understanding for each other was, in Valentina's opinion, the pinnacle of their success.

"Ability Activate!" She shouted proudly, "Igneous Halt!" Terrakinox thrust his hands forward, creating a magic circle on either hand. The circles were launched in different directions. One went towards the vortexes. The other one was launched forward at the two ZeoFlaires. The first one hit its target, sucking in the vortexes and neutralizing them. The second one reached its own target, ZeoFlaire's clone. The bakugan became trapped in an invisible field. It was then instantly shredded within the circle by a barrage of microscopic rocks. The clone was destroyed while the same circle headed towards the real ZeoFlaire. If the attack hit, the Ventus bakuga would share his clone's fate. "Feeling confident now, boy?" Valentina taunted her opponent.

(Igneous Halt: If your opponent has a bakugan and SW on the field, or either one of any number. You may choose one bakugan/SW and exclude it from the opponents total G-power and effect. Also you may prevent your opponent from decreasing your G-Power. I exclude Zephyr Pawn from your G-Power and effects. You may no longer use your continuous transfer effect to decrease my G-Power.)

Subterra Terrakinox: 4800G
Ventus ZeoFlaire: 1200G

[/size]

[Justin Airfields]

ZeoFlaire gulped, "Uh...Justin? A little help would be nice!" He took a few steps backwards as the magic circle from Terrkoinox's Igneous Halt attack headed towards him.

"Right!" Justin nodded, his eyes flashing as green as ever, "Ability Activate! Zephyr: Solar Winds!"

ZeoFlaire's body turned green as his hands were covered in a mystical green energy. He thrust his hands forward releasing the energy at the magic circles. Sure enough, the energy surrounded the attack, smothering it and eventually destroying it.

Justin continued his attack, "Gate Card Open! Windy Delivery!" The Gate flashed with a blinding green light as the field was enveloped with a torrent of wind. It blew around the whole arena, making it hard for someone who wasn't used to the conditions to move or even breathe.

"Now ZeoFlaire!" Justin shouted, "Take 'em down!" ZeoFlaire quickly flew towards Terrakinox and came to deliver a rapid succession of kicks and jabs.

Justin smiled at Valentina. "You're cute, I'll give you that. But this match is mine to win, even if a pretty girl like you stands in my way." He winked as his bakugan charged at his Subterra foe.

Zephyr: Solar Winds: Negate any of the opponents effects, I may copy on the opponent's effect that I negated.

Windy Delivery: Send the opponents bakugan out and switch it for another, transfer 300G each turn. Can't really switch it out can I?

Justin: 3500G
Valentina: 0G

[Valentina Grudge]

Valentina smiled back at her opponent. He was quite the interesting fellow, and she hadn't expected him to flirt back in retaliation the way that he did. No matter, she would win the way she always had, not with cheap flirtation and distraction, but with pure skill.

"You're not too bad yourself, little boy." She bit back, half joking and half annoyed. "However, it's time that I put you out of this tournament and show you why Shadow Storm is supreme. Terrakinox!" She shouted at he bakugan as her eyes flashed a golden brown, "Let's give them a taste of our true power! Ability Activate! Sinkhole Fissure!"

Terrkinox let out a massive roar as a magic circle appeared just below the flying Ventus bakugan that was charging towards him. Suddenly, the circle emanated a massive gravitational energy that pulled a ZeoFlaire, intending to smash him into the ground. To make things worse, the ground within the circle started to swirl. That portion of the arena had turned into churning quicksand that would pull in and crush anyone that was trapped within.

"Escape this, little boy." The Russian girl taunted as Justin's bakugan was pulled into the earthy vortex.

(Sinkhole Fissure: Combine your G-Power with one of the opponent's bakuagn. The opponent And the user are disabled from using that bakugan or its cards. You may choose to protect yourself from the opponent's cards and effects. I choose your ZeoFlaire, since you have a clone of him on the field. You may not use him or his cards, and since your olny bakugan left are Zephyr Pawn and the ZeoFlaire clone, good luck trying to use cards that don't belong to ZeoFlaire. I also protect myself.)

Subterra Terrakinox: 5600G
Ventus ZeoFlaire: 400G

[/size]

[Justin Airfields]

"Kyaaaa!" ZeoFlaire shouted as he prepared to give Traakinox a swift kick to the jaw. However he was brought down by a massive gravitational force.

"ZeoFlaire!" Justin shouted as his bakugan crashed to the ground, only to be pulled underground by the swirling vortex of land.

"Dangit!" Zeoflaire grunted, "Can't...move! Must get out...Gyahhh!" The Ventus bakugan returned to ball form as he was crushed by Terrakinox's Sinkhole Fissure attack.

As the bakugan returned to Justin's hand, Justin glared at Valentina. He was done flirting and goofing off with this girl. He had to win this fight, especially after Gin lost his own fight against Kaden. Jason couldn't be the only one going on to the Semi-Finals.

He gave his opponent a stern glance and then looked down at ZeoFlaire. "I'm sorry ZeoFlaire, I need to be more focused and on task. Let's do this right, okay?"

Zeoflaire popped open in his partner's palm, "There;s the Justin I know and respect. Let's go!"

Justin turned to look at his Subterra opponent. "Alright cutie, it's time to get serious. Throw down the gate and I'll show you my true power."

New round

Justin: ?G
Valentina: ?G

[Valentina Grudge]

Cutie? Seriously? That was the best he could come up with? Valentina shook her head at the amusing boy. No matter, he was just another easy opponent to defeat in the end. She had already won the first round. What was keeping her from winning the second? She gripped the rugged bakugan ball in her hand as she gave an irritated look at Justin.

"Somebody's confident. Don't be surprised when that confidence turns to shame from being defeated by me. You want me to be serious? Then you've contracted a death wish. Gate Card Set!" The field pulsed with a brown light as Valentina flung her bakugan onto the field, "Bakugan Brawl! Stand Subterra Terrakinox!" The golem roared as he entered the field.

Valentina laughed. "Now, let's see just how 'serious' you really are!"

Subterra Terrkinox: 800G
Justin's Bakugan: ?G
[/size]

[Justin Airfields]

Justin smirked at his opponent. He was amused by the fact that she was starting to get irritated. This next round would be fun and in his favor. He motioned a challenge at Valentina with a finger.

"Alright then," He responded to the Subterra brawler's challenge, "Show me your seriousness, cutie, and I'll show you mine."

His eyes narrowed as he gripped his own bakugan ball. Although he was having fun, he had to completely put his head in the game.

"Bakugan Brawl! Stand Ventus ZeoFlaire!" The Ventus bakugan appeared on the field in a flash of green light.

ZeoFlaire cracked his knuckles, "Alright! Look here you rouge mountain face! I'm gonna carve you up so much that you're gonna look like Mount Rushmore!"

Justin nodded. "Okay, Valentina, let round 2 begin!"

ZeoFlaire flapped his wings and bolted towards Terrakinox. He pulled back a fist as he charged, ready to knock the beast down. "Now, fall!"

Justin: 800G
Valentina: 800G

[Valentina Grudge]

Valentina glared at Justin with a fierce intensity. His persistent flirtation and teasing was starting to get real annoying. She wasn't exactly sure why he was getting on her nerves, but he was pressing some buttons and she did not like it. Valentina flipped some hair out of her face so that she would have a clearer view of her opponent. She turned to her partner. "Terrakinox! It's about time that we teach this chauvinist a lesson, don't you think?" The golem roared in response as if he was agreeing with his partner.

With a confident smirk, Valentina held up her left hand, revealing a stunning ring adorned with an amber gem. The gem was glowing, indicating the activation of her Evo-Gear. "Evo-Gear, Enhance!" She shouted as the ground began to shake with an unknown tremor. "Geo-Gate!" The rocky bakugan's body became hardened as if he was being adorned in some type of armor. His fists expanded and grew spikes on the knuckles. Three spikes formed a crown on his head as he roared once more, asserting his dominance in the arena.

Valentina laughed at her Ventus opponent. "Well well, little boy. Since you seem to be so adamant on defeating me, I have no choice but to become serious. You should be careful what you wish for." She turned to look at her bakugan. "Terrakinox! Ground that parrot for eternity!" The golem clanged his fists together as if he was saying "With pleasure!" and sent a spiked hist flying towards ZeoFlaire.

(Subterra Geo-Gate has entered the battlefield at 400G.)

Subterra Terrakinox: 1200G
Ventus ZeoFlaire: 800G
[/size]

[Justin Airfields]

"Oh?" Justin raised an eyebrow, thoroughly interested in his opponent's strategy. "You've decided to use your Evo-Gear? Sounds fun to me, cutie, let's duke this out!"

"Justin!" Zeoflaire shouted at his partner, "You know what to do!"

"I'm already twenty steps ahead of you buddy!" Justin held up his hand to reveal his own ring. It was a simple silver band with an eagle on it. The eagle had two green eyes that were now glowing due to its activation.

Evo-Gear, Enhance!" Justin screamed as his bakugan was bathed in a glowing green light. "ZenAvisX!" Zeoflaire became cloaked in armor as his body was transformed. Two wings burst out of his back under his two original wings. The bakugan stood in a battle ready stance as he prepared to take on his monstrous foe.

"Ability Activate!" Justin let out as his eyes glowed with a green flash, "Zephyr: Tornado Thunder!"

In similar fashion to the first round of the brawl, ZeoFlaire's clone appeared as both bakugan's hands became coated in vortexes of electricity. The two eagle bakugan rushed at Terrakinox, hoping to trap him in a devastating pincer attack.

ZenAvisX: +400

Zephyr: Tornado Thunder: Create a clone of ZeoFlaire and fuse it with the original and transfer 400G each turn.

Justin: 2400G
Valentina: 800G

[Valentina Grudge]

The Russian brawler smiled. Her opponent was finally getting serious, good. Now that he was going all out, she wouldn't feel so bad going all out herself. That was always her thing. She never used Geo-Gate unless her opponent was absolutely serious about taking her down. It wasn't like the kid had a chance or something, she just wouldn't feel bad crushing him underneath her feet now. Justin was a good brawler, she would give him at least that. However, he didn't have an ounce of opportunity for a victory, she was sure of it.

Valentina's eyes started to glow as she activated not one, but two attacks. She pointed at Justin as if motioning for her bakugan to attack him. "Prepare to face my power!" She shouted as loud as she could. "Double Ability Activate! Igneous Halt!" Her bakugan performed the attack as before, but with a different angle. Although he had missed with the punch because of the split up bakugan, two bakugan on either side did not bother him. He thrust out a spiked arm on either side as two magic circles appeared on each fist. Out from the circles came an onslaught of razor sharp, minuscule rocks that intended on shredding both ZeoFlaire and his clone.

The Subterra brawler laughed, then shouted out the second ability, "Tremor Seal!" Another magic circle appeared but this time the circle was not on the ground as it was in the first round. This one was in the air in front of Terrakinox. The golem stepped back so he had both opponents in front of him. He then roared as the circle unleashed an aerial tremor sending a shockwave towards the flying bakugan, hoping to slap them out of the air, crashing towards the ground.

Valentina laughed. "I'm having fun! Think you can keep up, little boy?"

(Igneous Halt: If your opponent has a bakugan and SW on the field, or either one of any number. You may choose one bakugan/SW and exclude it from the opponents total G-power and effect. Also you may prevent your opponent from decreasing your G-Power. I choose your bakugan, ZeoFlaire. Also I you can't transfer my G-Power anymore.

Tremor Seal: Your Opponent is prevented from trying to copy effects on the battlefield until the end of his third turn [AND/OR] Increase your G-Power by that of the double of his/her current G's. If you choose only one of the two effect, then you may also return the opponent back to base level. I choose the second effect in order to return your G-Power to base level.)

Subterra Terrakinox: 4000G
Ventus ZeoFlaire: 1200G[/size]