Episode 4: Unwanted Visitors

[Noland Hardy]

As Alana's words replayed in his mind, Noland had a smile on his face as he was reinvigorated with the strength to keep on fighting regardless of the conclusion. He held up his right hand as it began to glow with a bright aura; Drago simultaneously changed his color scheme into a rainbow color as he had done in the past within the presence of a multitude of attributes. Using this power, Drago held out his palm and dispersed the incoming attack with ease, nullifying the ability and sparing Gladion and Skystar a terrible fate. With this new-found power, he arose immediately as if he was fully rejuvenated. "Shame on me, Drago," Noland stated. "I haven't been the person she believed I was. I neglected the Bakugan for over a year, and continuously harbored my hatred as I used darkness as an ally. I'm still the same Noland as I've always been, but the pain I feel from that event is never-ending, but that's okay. I know you get sick of me every time I mope about it. It's been rough on my end since they meant a lot to me, and I can't say that about a lot of people or Bakugan. I probably will never get over their losses, but that memory is what highlights why I fight against people like Daniel; it reminds me of who I am as a person, and a leader as people expect me to be."

Noland pulled out a rainbow-colored card and began to activate it, hoping that this attack would do the job unlike his previous attempt to end the battle. Noland began looking at Daniel with a fierce, angry look as he made what could be his final play as he was drawing on the last of Drago's current power. As he began placing the card onto the gauntlet, he began to speak out against Daniel in order to defend himself from the statements that were used against him. "I may be engulfed with rage, which is rightfully so, but I'm also consumed with righteousness. I'm not just someone who battles for revenge; I battle to destroy the cancer that you're spreading because you think that terrorizing innocent people is acceptable. As long as you continue being an ally to darkness, YOU will be the one that won't go anywhere." With that said, he declared his final move, hoping that this would really be the end. "Ability activate! Fusion Supremacy!"

Drago rose in the air and appeared as if he was inhaling a lot of energy particles that seemed to be near him while he was charging his attack. "You said yourself that you'd have to be destroyed as a whole, right, Belphenoid?" Drago asked in delight. "I didn't think you would be stupid enough to let your opponent know that kind of information, but maybe your ego got the best of you. I'd thank you, but you're not going to enjoy the gratitude long enough once you're out of here." As soon as the process was completed, Drago unleashed the energy of all of the attribute power that he was absorbing in the form of a concentrated laser attack, which covered a large portion of the enemy battle space. "See ya," Noland said.

[Daniel Andersen]

Sakura managed to jump swiftly to the left side of the field, but was partially caught in a blast and turned back into her ball form.
Belphenoid looked at the blast with rage in his eyes: "I know this technique...it can't be!"
He was completely caught in the blast and was fried like chicken.
"Gah...hhh....This...can't...be...no...I refuse...to believe..." hissed Belphenoid in pain before letting out a powerful roar and turning back into his ball form.
Daniel picked up both balls and jumped out of the blast's way to the safe part of the field.
He looked back at Noland and said: "So...this is your legendary power...Thank you for revealing me your weakness, fool."
He turned his back to Noland, Tank and Tracy slowly walking away with Sakura and Belphenoid in his hand and with a silent laughter on his mouth.
"We will come back...and you legendary power...will mean nothing...Now that you revealed it and showed us your greatest weakness...." said Daniel in a cold, dark tone while walking away

[Tank Stryker]

"YOU'RE NOT GOING TO GET AWAY!" Tank yelled as Daniel was walking away, "KILL HIM, GLADION!"

Gladion rushed after Daniel with his shield and sword raised, ready to destroy Daniel.

"You think you can get away with murder?" Tank yelled, swiping a card, running after Gladion, "You're stupid to think someone like me won't let you! Ability Activate! Earthshaker!"

Gladon jumped into the air and slammed down, sending slabs of earth into the air, one with Daniel on it. Launching himself off a slab, Gladion flew at Daniel, ready to kill.

[Nero Bullock]

A portal suddenly opened above Daniel as Gladion approached with the intent to kill. A mysterious voice began speaking from the dimensional object and said, "Do YOU think you can get away with murder?" A sound was heard from the portal that sounded like an ability being activated. "Shadow Shroud!" An ominous presence emerged from the portal and began circling around Daniel and the chunk of earth that he was standing on as a platform; this guarded him against incoming attacks. As soon as Gladion attempted to make contact with Daniel, a purple barrier became visible that appeared to surround him, essentially making Gladion's attacks ineffective.

The protection stayed active until Daniel was in the proper distance to retrieve him safely. Once he was close enough to the ground, an unknown Bakugan was sighted at the portal, but only its eyes were visible as it glared in a dark red color. It launched a chrome-colored grappling hook-like ability that latched onto Daniel and pulled him back toward the portal. A mysterious man began walking out of it onto the campus to take a good look at the brawlers who were able to prevent Belphenoid from accomplishing its objective a second time. "Your failure to defeat the Dragonoid the first time was only a minor disturbance. Failing to do so for the second time shows your lack of competence and consistency. I'm disappointed in you," the man said as he looked at Daniel. He looked around and saw three brawlers standing before him; however, he was primarily focused on Noland as he was the main point of interest. "It's an honor to finally meet face to face, 'Master Blaze'." He gave a slight smirk, hinting at his thoughts of his plan for the youth.

"The only name you'll address me as will be Nero, a name that will carry as much infamy in today's society as it once did in the past. The power you hold is extraordinary; it is much more devious and potent than anything I've ever witnessed. It is too powerful to simply be left unopposed; it must be vanquished in time for the hour to come upon us when things will no longer be as they seem." Nero laughed a little at the confused looks on his opponent's faces. "Don't look so confused. It's meant to be a delightful 'gift' that I have wrapped for this world, so it would be useless if I ruined the surprise now. It'll all come to fruition soon enough, and when it does, have some common courtesy and accept it for what it is; you won't have a say in the matter anyway." Nero began walking backwards back into the portal in order to exit the premises. "You have my undivided attention, and I will personally keep a close eye on you. Remember our faces; you will see us again. You are forever cursed." The Bakugan began dragging Daniel inside the portal, and Nero followed shortly. Once they exited, the portal closed, and the barrier barring everyone inside of the school shattered, leaving energy particles raining down over the entire area.

[Tank Stryker]

"COME BACK HERE, BASTARD!" Tank yelled as Gladion flew back to him. He was ready to throw Gladion again, but Gladion prevented Tank from throwing.

"This fight's over," Gladion said solemnly, "There is no need to fight him right now."

Tears streamed down Tank's face, silent sobs shaking his shoulders. Tank put his arm down and tensed up. The memory of John's death still very fresh in his mind. Anger boiled inside Tank, his mind racing, trying to figure out what brought Daniel here. Then Tank remembered. It wasn't him, John, Steve, or the school; they weren't high priority targets. But Noland was. Tank swiveled around quickly, his face twisted in anger, wet from the sadness of losing one of his best friends, and ran up to Noland. Tank grabbed Noland's shirt and lifted him off the ground, driving him into the remains of a wall, pinning him. Tank's grip was like steel, and it's strength only increased the angrier Tank got.

"THIS IS YOUR FAULT!" Tank yelled, "BECAUSE OF YOU, ONE OF MY BEST FRIENDS IS DEAD AND THE OTHER MIGHT NOT RECOVER!"

Tank dropped Noland onto the ground and turned away, only to turn back to continue his tirade.

"When my dad beat me, they were there, when I had to switch sports after my accident, they followed me, when I became captain of the brawling team, they stood alongside me, when we won state, they were there with me!" Tank continued, "They are my best friends, and now..." Tank trailed off, "And now one's gone for good, and the other might be soon."

Tank stomped up to Noland, jabbing him with his finger, "You just had to play hero back then! You just had to be like your daddy!" Tank backed up and threw his arms into the air in a grandiose gesture, "You had to be the savior of the world!" Tank dropped his arms with a slap to his thighs. "Did you ever think of the consequences? Did you ever think of the people you would hurt outside yourself? You're no better than that freak that just attacked!" Tank turned around quickly and began walking back to where John and Steve's bodies were.

"You're no hero, Noland Hardy," Tank called back, anger shaking his voice.

[Noland Hardy]

The reaction Tank had for the events was shocking at best. The only thing Noland could do while Tank did what he did was look at him. After being handled in such a manner as this, Noland was quite upset; however, hearing about Tank's friends made Noland aware of how he was feeling at the moment and held no ill will towards him as he had been through it as well. "..." Noland remained speechless throughout Tank's breakdown and waited for him to conclude before making an attempt to get up; he did not want to anger him any further.

The sound of sirens became louder than ever as the police were able to move onto the campus following the destruction of the barrier. As Tank walked further away, Noland began to defend his choices in life as he disagreed with how they were interpreted. "If not me, it would have been someone else; if not someone else, it would have been no one at all. The cycle remains the same," Noland stated. "He was a controller and a murderer; he had to be stopped, and while some may have fallen, many were saved. I'm sorry for your loss, but I'm not sorry for being a sensible human being and denouncing the ways of terrorism."

Drago nodded in approval as he was pleased to see Noland's attitude return to how he was known to be. "He would be proud of you. I'm sure of it," Drago said in his mind. Noland ended the confrontation with these simple words: "Doing what's right isn't always easy...but it's always right." Noland and Tracy were seen looking at the saddened Tank depart from them, but they knew that the tension between them was far from being resolved. A tragic ending befell upon him, but as Noland had seen before, there was no solution.

[Noland Hardy]