Episode 2: "Friendly" Competition

[Tank Stryker]

"Don't worry, Tank," John said, stepping forward with Steve by his side, "We've got these two losers."

"Yeah," Steve added, "If their leader was that weak, then these guys must really suck!"

John and Steve both threw out their bakugan onto the field. John's bakugan, a Pyrus Cerberoid, roared with ferocity as it rose from its ball form and tackled the Ventus bakugan to the ground, biting at its throat. Steve's bakugan, a Darkus Ziperator, stood on the field silently before disappearing and reappearing behind the opponent's Subterra bakugan. The Ziperator grabbed the Subterra bakugan and flipped it, sending it to the ground. Ziperator got on top of the Subterra bakugan and began to hit it repeatedly in the head.

"Do you really think you can take us?" Tank yelled at the two kids, "We're the Colts! We're unstoppable! Did you not see what I did to your 'leader'?" Tank used air quotes on the word "leader". "I mean, come on! She's crying after losing! Seriously, who does that?"

[Noland Hardy]

Noland was disappointed that Tracy was unable to defeat Tank. Although she was obviously the weaker brawler from his point of view, it would have been nice to see her win the brawl. By observing the attitudes from both brawlers, Noland could finally determine why there is so much conflict between the two teams. Tank's side was definitely strong, but they were too arrogant; the words they were using should not have been said against their fellow students. They should have been shining examples of what everyone should be like since they're at the top. Tracy's side was too meek; their attitudes were a lot better than Tank's, but they were too weak to stand up for anything even if an important task was presented to them. From the way he looked at it, both sides should learn from each other in terms of their positives. "So that's why they were suggesting I make my own team. You can't get anywhere with these two..." Noland said to himself.

Before Noland made an attempt to leave to see what he could do about this dilemma, those who were on the battlefield caught everyone's attention, so he naturally looked back to see what they were so interested in. Tracy's teammates decided to avenge their leader by attacking Tank with their Bakugan. As expected, Tank's teammates defended him by throwing in theirs. Drago perched on Noland's shoulder to see what was going on; he was undoubtedly appalled with how they were acting and the audience cheering them on. "Was this fun for you back then, Noland?" Drago asked in reference to how involved Noland was in a community center years ago. Noland thought that Drago was being overly harsh with that question, but he knew how things were before everyone started cooperating with each other under one sole unit. "It wasn't like this..." Noland responded even though it was a half-truth. 

As Tank's teammates began to subdue Tracy's, it became obvious who the weakest link was in the student body and who should really represent them; however, both Noland and Drago had enough of watching the growing tension between these two teams. "Do whatever you need to do to get them out of here. We need to break this up before this turns into a more serious situation," Noland instructed. He placed the dragonoid in his hand as he prepared to throw him to the battlefield. Before he did, he said something to himself in his mind since he didn't know how the Bakugan would have reacted to this statement. "You're a lot like my father, Drago," he said to himself with a slight smile on his face. With that said, he threw him towards the field, and the Bakugan stood while in midair with an attack procedure already in mind; at the same time, Noland rushed towards the battlefield to meet him there.

The other students looked up at him with awe since they already knew who he was, but were surprised to see him in person. "Now you'll see the verdict of your superior," Drago roared at the fighting Bakugan. "Meteor Strata!" Drago opened his mouth as a red-colored attack was being charged. He fired a volley of giant fireballs that were equal in size to a meteor; he targeted the entire battlefield with this attack in order to effectively "nuke" the field. The attack hit its mark and caused massive explosions, and waves of fire were emitted across the field from the impact sites; all of the Bakugan involved in that scuffle were sent back to their owners in their ball forms as smoke was rising from them. 

Drago hovered over both teams and was rather disgusted with both sides, but chose not to say anything to either of them. On the other hand, Noland walked onto the field on Tank's side with the intention of picking Drago up, and said to him, "People could tell just by watching you battle that this is a Varsity team, but what they hear would paint an entire different picture. You should be a role-model for those who aren't at your level; instead, the only thing you want to do is bring them down. Why is bullying your way of saying that you're at the top?" The principal and the security arrived with their Bakugan shortly after the brawl ended to deal with the situation accordingly. At that point, there was no reason to stay there. "You are able to talk that way to someone who is weaker than you. We'll see if you keep that same mentality when you battle against someone who is stronger than you," Noland stated. Drago returned back to ball form and landed in Noland's hand. He turned around and exited the stadium with the mission of finding a solution to this problem.

[Tank Stryker]

"Hey," Steve said, turning to go after Noland, "Who the hell do you think you are-" Steve was cut short by Tank's grasp on his shoulder. Yanking him back, Tank growled in his ear, "Shut it, you dumbass!" Tank gave Steve a shove, put on his jacket, and walked towards the exit of the arena, his friends in tow.

"Well, then," Steve continued, "What're we gonna do?"

Tank stopped in front of the exit and did an about face. Being taller than Steve had its advantage, especially since Steve was only five foot nine. "I told you to shut your mouth, stupid! The principle is right there, along with the school security!" he growled, stabbing Steve with his finger. Tank turned around again and walked cooly out of the stadium, his fans cheering for him as he walked by.

After weaving his way through his fans, Tank, Steve, and John arrived at Tank's car. The normally soft-spoken John was the first to speak.

"Alright, Tank," John said, his voice low and soft, "What's the plan? I'm ready to take down that Noland kid! Who does he think he is, butting in like that?!"

"He KNOWS," Tank said immediately after John finished, raising his voice for emphasis before going back down to a low, almost whisper, "that he is one of the best brawlers in the school, hell, maybe the world, and he also is the kid that took down the terrorists years ago. You wouldn't stand a chance!" Tank ran his hand through his hair, "But that doesn't excuse his behavior. He hasn't brawled in years, and there is a new brawling king in this town, and his name is Tank Stryker." Tank pointed his thumb at himself.

"But what are we gonna do?" Steve prodded.

"Don't worry," Tank said, getting into the driver's seat of his car, Gladion taking a perch on his shoulder, "I have a plan. Hardy's dead meat."

"It will all come to fruition, soon," Gladion chimed in, "After all, Rome wasn't built in a day."

With that, Tank and Gladion took off towards Flannigan's for his date.

[Tracy White]

"Whoa!" Tracy exclamed, "Who and what is that." The battle was interrupted by a guy who obviously looked like a pyrus brawler and his dragon-like bakugan. "It's the famous kid, Noland Hardy. The best brawler.", Tracy's subterra teammate responded. Tracy faced the subterra brawler and asked, "Blake, are you serious?!" "Yes I am. He's at the top." Blake answered. Without hesistation, Tracy rushed at Noland. She began expressing her gratitude and praised. "Don't you think Tracy is a bit acting weird? I mean she's embar..." Blake said facing Aeris, the ventus teammate. "I heard that." Tracy cut in while looking back. "I think we should be partners. I mean, you and I, working as a team and all that. I should be able to also learn a two or three things from you. What do you say?" Tracy proposed, ending with a question of alliance.

[Noland Hardy]