It's been 11 hours since I uploaded chapter 3. 100 new views so far though I think 2 or 3 were mine since I checked how my story looked like. 2 new reviews. When I made this story I didn't mean to make Runo a villain. The original role Runo was supposed to have was much smaller than the one she has here. Well let's see if I can make a redemption story for her. Now both Alice and Runo are in doom dimension and have to find out a way out. Now let's get to the story.

Update written in 12th of January 2020. I plan to write all of the chapters now and I won't be publishing any of them until they are all finished. Once all of the chapters are finished I will be updating the story once a week until the story is finished and will not change the chapters much in between. Hopefully this means that no longer will happen that I will upload a chapter and then half a year later an another one.

Another update written in 22nd of January 2020. Originally I was supposed to upload this once I had the entire story made. Reason why I decided not to is quite simple. 1 it means it'll take quite long time for me to make this story and 2 I'm not sure what direction this story is going to go past chapter 6 so I am going to ask you but in order to do so I would need to upload the 6th chapter already. So that is why.

Never in my life I had seen a place as desolate as this. It seemed like straight from a post apocalypse movie. And looking around I saw bakugan turned into stone which only made this place even more creepy.

I didn't want to spend a second more of my life in this place but it wasn't like there was a way out. Runo on the other hand couldn't look around. Right now she was too busy avoiding Hydranoid which at this point only wanted her dead. Runo went under Tigrerra only to Tigrerra move out of the way as she said. "Sorry milady but you have to deal with this on your own." as Runo barely avoided Hydranoids hand as he tried to snatch Runo.

Hydranoid then tried to Hit Runo with his tail only for Runo to jump over it. However Hydranoid began chasing Runo and this time catching her. "You will pay for... What you did." The left head started and the right head finished. Hydranoid proceeded to open his mouths as Runo desperately tried to get out of his grip not wanting to be eaten. At this point I knew I had to interfere.

"Hydranoid that's enough!" I ordered as Hydranoid stopped and Runo gave me a confused look. "But she.." Hyrdanoid tried to start but I wouldn't let him finish. "I know what she did but this is not a way to deal with it. Now let her go." I ordered as Hydranoid dropped Runo and the drop seemed to be painful for her.

Don't get me wrong I certainly didn't like what Runo did and I don't think I will forgive her soon. But I don't think Runo deserves to be killed for what she did.

Runo got up and started to go on top of Tigrerra who still looked disappointed at her but allowed her to get on top of her. "Let's just find Dan now and hopefully get out." She said as I began going on top of Hydranoid as well.

"Which way?" I asked as I looked around the lifeless space and there wasn't any indication to where Dan would be or an exit would be. Not that I even think that there is an exit as I knew from my memories as Masquerade that only Naga can get us out from Doom dimension. And if he did that well I would turn into Masquerade in no time and something similar might happen to Runo as well.

"That way." Runo said as she pointed west. And without saying anything we went to that way.

Our journey was wordless we just looked around at the frozen statues of Bakugan that had been sent here and the scenery that didn't change at all.

After few hours I could see from Runo's expression that it was dawning on her that perhaps there wasn't a way out after all and that we'd be stuck here for rest of our lives.

That was something that I really tried not to think about even though I knew this was the most likely possibility.

Eventually I was starting to get hungry having not eaten anything since before I was found out to be Masquerade. Looking around there was no food nor water here so it could be that we might last just few days and then we will join these statues of perished Bakugan.

Our situatuion seemed hopeless until it was sparked up after we saw a red Dragon roam across the sky. We instantly recognized it to be Dragonoid and Dan.

However my feelings began to change when it seemed to attack us well me to be exact however just as Hydranoid and I prepared ourselves Dragonoid landed just in front of us.

Dan jumped out of Dragonoid's back and judging by his expression he didn't seem to be pleased. "What is he doing here!?" Dan asked as he pointed at Hydranoid.

Runo's expression seemed to turn smug at that as she turned to look at me. "Well how about you ask miss Masquerade herself." She said looking at me. It seemed that Dan hadn't noticed that I was on top of Hydranoid and now on a closer look now saw me.

His expression turned from angry to a shocked one. "Alice is it true?" He asked with the look that he hoped that I would tell him that it's all a lie.

"I can explain." I couldn't lie to him and all I could do was hope that unlike Runo or the other brawlers he would listen. Before I could start to explain I was cut off when we were surrounded by these 6 beings. Each one of them seemed to be colored the same way as all the attributes were.

"W-who are you?" Runo asked as she looked at the 6 beings.

"I am Apollonir an ancient Pyrus soldier." The red being answered.

"I am Clayf a Subterran soldier." The brown one answered.

"I am Lars Lion a Haos solder." The white one answered.

"Exedra Darkus." The black one said.

"I am Frosch an Aquous." The blue one said.

"Oberus I am a ventus soldier." The green one said.

"The legendary six soldiers of Vestroia!" Drago stated as he recognized them. "You have heard of us then." Said Oberus. "Then you shall hear the history of our plight." Frosch continued.

Before he could start a history lesson Runo interrupted. "What do you want!?" She asked them.

"Our mission is very clear. We seek a new band of brothers to save Vestroia from total destruction." Apollonir explained to us. "Are you talking about us?" Dan asked him.

"We have a little proposition." He answered. My hopes got up this could very well be the chance for us to get out. "You will help us and we will help you escape doom dimension." He continued.

"But first we must test your mettle to see if you are worthy of the challenge." Clayf said. "Worthy?" Runo asked them slightly confused. "Yes we must put you through series of tests."

"Our mission is the same and we need your help to leave." Drago said to them. "Yeah. What kind of tests are we talking here and how do we even know you are going to help us out if we pass." He asked them.

Appolinir's answer wasn't that helpful. "You can't."

Dan seemed to think for a moment before he spoke up again. "Here's the deal. If we help you then we want you to release every single Bakugan that's ever been sent to the Doom dimension." He said as he laid out his terms.

"Impossible." Exedra said.

"It seems that these beings really love their Bakugan. We must help them. I implore you to." Lars Lion said to the group. "Unfortunately three people is just too little for such a request." Appolinir said.

We were all disappointed and I started to panic as I knew Dan or Runo would cave in as this was the only way to get out of Doom dimension. And this release was more important to me than to them since this was the only way I could be redeemed for what I did as Masquerade. If I can help to release all of Bakugan from Doom dimension I can prove to everyone else that I have changed.

"You have to. We will not do any of those tests unless you will not." I told them hoping that I can negotiate my way to redemption. "Kind of ironic coming from you considering how many you have sent here." Exedra said to me.

It hurt so much to be reminded of my past that way but I have to push this if I want to be redeemed. "That's why I want you to release them so I can be redeemed from what I did as Masquerade." I told him.

"Commendable. But 3 people is still too little for such a request." Apollinir told me. I had to think long and hard. If there is 6 warriors then that means they want 6 brawlers me, Dan and Runo will make 3 so all we need is 3 more people.

"What if we had 3 more people coming here?" I asked him hoping that would be enough to fullfill their needs. "Alice what are you doing?" Dan asked me before Appolinir answered. "3 more warriors. I think that would be enough to warrant such a request. But how do you bring these 3 people here?"

I'm pretty sure when the other brawlers hear about this from Dan or Runo they will agree to do those tests if it means that all Bakugan will be released. "They are right now in Earth but if we get out of Doom dimension they will come here to complete those tests." I explained to them.

"Then we have a deal. If you pass your tests you shall be released from here and if the other 3 will then pass their tests then all Bakugan shall be released." He said to them as I quietly celebrated inside my head.

"Now let us commence with our tests." He said as they all began glowing and then the ground began shining very bright as the attribute symbols appeared. I was being transported somewhere along with Dan and Runo as we all screamed for our life.

The the transport split with each of us going our own way as me and Hydranoid were transported somewhere.

..

I woke up with a bright light shining at my face. Once my eyes adjusted to the light I can finally see where I have been transported. I woke up in a hill and from the hill you can see a city. I immediately recognize the city. It's Wardington. Had they lied about the tests and just sent us back to the earth or was this somewhat related to my test?

I find Hydranoid next to me in his ball form as I pick him up. He then opens up and looks around. "So where... is this test going to be?" He asked.

"No idea." I responded. As I started to walk towards Wardington. When I finally make it there something strange is happening people are avoiding me.

Everywhere I go people are giving me dirty looks and making sure they are as far away from me as possible. Every now and then I would hear murmurs such as a parent telling a kid to stay away from me or that's Masquerade.

Then I realize it these people know. Everyone knows who I am. I try telling myself that it's just a test and none of this is real but it feels too real. In my panic I began to run as more and more people just keep staring at me with these disgusted looks.

Eventually I found myself in a mall that was unfortunately crowded. As I walk around there seems to have formed a giant circle around me of people avoiding me have made. I try to find a place where there are zero people but I can't.

Hydranoid tries to tell me this is just a test but at this point I'm not hearing him at all as I make it into a bathroom in the mall. Only to find out it was full of people as they are give me that disgusted look.

I left the bathroom just as quickly as I entered there. Eventually I finally found a spot where I can go. A store that was completely empty with no one inside. I entered it as I finally found a spot where there is no one to judge me.

That is until I look at what store I am in. A Bakugan store. Filled with Bakupods, launchers, gate and ability cards and even some Bakugan. It was everything that I was afraid of even before I found out who I was.

The clerk spots me and you could see from his eyes that he is afraid. "Don't hurt me just take this and just leave please!" He says in his state as he threw a darkus bakupod at me.

I take the Bakupod and leave the store as quickly as possible. I needed to get out of this mall as soon as possible.

Once I was out of the mall the same crowds still looked at me. When I looked at the crowd however there was someone that stood out. Someone I recognized as soon as I saw him and his mask. None other than Masquerade himself. I feel an anger boiling inside me when I see him. He is the reason for all this. If it wasn't for him none of this would be happening.

I began to chase him right away and he began to run away from me. I continued to chase him through out the city as onlookers looked at us with shocked expressions. I can feel my legs giving up but by some unnatural force I managed to continue to give him chase.

Eventually he lead me to the docks where I still continued to chase him until he finally stopped at a certain dock. I recognize which one it was. This was the dock where I no Masquerade sent Dan to the Doom dimension.

"You are not going to get away from what you did to me and the others." I said to him. He just smirked at that. "The things that you did." Was his answer. I felt a bang of guilt hit me. As I remembered all the things I did. "It's just a test Alice. He is messing with your head on purpose." Hydranoid reminded me.

"You know full well that I wasn't controlling my actions." I told him. He again just smirked. "Maybe. But deep down you always knew, you just never wanted to have to confront your inner demons." He answered me. And it had an effect on me. There was a reason why I remembered after I had been exposed but could I have found that out if I had really tried before?

I had to keep him out of my head. "Just s-shut up." I told him. "Well I was starting to get bored of talking. How about some action." He said as he held up his Bakugan card.

My hand was shaking when I finally took my card and held it up.

"Field open!"

The ground started to glow as the attribute symbols appeared. But rather than transport us to the usual battlefield our surroundings began to change. Once our surroundings stopped transforming I could start to look at where we were. The answer was simple the doom dimension. Then I noticed him. Exedra standing behind Masquerade.

"You ready?" Masquerade asked as I picked my gate card.

"Gate card set!" We both exclaimed as we threw the gate cards. I then took the Bakupod that the clerk had given me and put it to my wrist. "Your turn." Masquerade said to me. I started to think of an strategy before I picked which Bakugan I was going to use.

I then chose my Bakugan and aimed.

"Bakugan brawl!" I exclaimed throwing the Bakugan at my gate card where it landed. "Wormquake stand!" I exclaimed. as the ball containing the dark worm oppened and the giant worm transformed into it's true form.

I then took the Bakupod that the clerk had fearfully given me. Once I had put it to my wrist I open it up.

"Welcome Alice. Darkus Wormquake enters at 380g's."

How would Masquerade respond to my Wormquake? What Bakugan would he send? Was he going to use an usual strategy such as using Mantris and using doom companion on my wormquake? Perhaps use marionette and transport my Wormquake and then use mind ghost. No too predictable. Knowing Masquerade from my memories he is unpredictable but smart which is what makes him so dangerous.

"I think it's time to introduce you to your old friend." He said as he put a Darkus Bakugan into his Bakugan launcher. "Bakugan brawl!" He yelled as he launched his Bakugan.

"Reaper stand!" He loudly exclaimed. "Reaper!?" Both me and Hydranoid said in shock. The Bakugan that transformed in front of us was familiar. It was the same Reaper that I used as Masquerade before I replaced him with Hydranoid by sending him to the doom dimension.

You could definitely see that all this time in the doom dimension had not done him well. With one of his eyes missing, one of his horn missing, his wings being ripped and tattered and looking malnourished. "Finally I will get my revenge." He said to me while looking at me.

"Darkus reaper enters at 400G's. Certainly doom dimension had done well when it came to his power level as it had increased.

However it wasn't time to be reminded of those old memories. If I wanted Reaper and all of the other Bakugan freed I needed to win this. "Gate card open level down!" I exclaimed as the gate card opens that decreases Reaper's power.

"Reaper's power decreased by 100G's. Wormquake leads by 80G's." My Bakupod told me. Masquerade just smirked at this move. "That's it?" He asked and then held up an ability card. "Ability card activate. Dimension four."

The all familiar ability card then nullified my gate card. "Reaper's power increased by 100G's." My Bakupod told me as Reaper with few hits finished my Wormquake. As I stood frozen. Wormquake then turned into a ball and returned to me as his Reaper did the same.

'This is still just a minor setback. I can still beat him' I thought to myself. "Gate card set!" I exclaimed as I threw an another gate card. I then picked up Laserman and began aiming at his card.

"Bakugan brawl!" I exclaimed when I threw my Laserman at Masquerade's card. "Laserman stand!" I exclaimed. The robotic Bakugan then transformed. Masquerade seemed to be unimpressed with my move.

"Laserman enters battle at 370G's." The Bakupod told me. "Bakugan brawl!" Masquerade roared. "Reaper stand." The withered Reaper appeared. "And now let's remind you who you really are." Masquerade said to me. What was he going to do? I was afraid to know what he meant by that very soon.

"Gate card open. Third judgement." That card. I thought as flashbacks when I no Masquerade sent Reaper to the doom dimension flashed by. "Well it's your turn." He said to me as he gave me only one option. Play his game.

I looked at Hydranoid who seemed to be about as comfortable about this whole situation as I. "Should we go?" I asked. "I see... No other option." He said. I nodded and then picked him up. "Bakugan brawl!" I.. well didn't exclaim this time.

I didn't say anything as Hydranoid transformed when he went to the card. "Dual Hydranoid enters at 480G's. Laserman is at 370G's and Reaper at 400G's. Advantage Hydranoid." My Bakupod told me. Reaper smirked as he feverishly began gripping his scythe.

"Good move. Now with just a few ability cards I'll finish both of them and get my revenge." He said and looked at Masquerade. Masquerade only gave back his cruel smirk. "Or not. Well Alice can you find yourself be able to do it?" He asked me as he gave that same cruel smirk to me.

Reaper looked furious and looked at Masquerade. "How can you do this! You will regret this!" He shouted at him.

"Reaper you will thank me later." I said to him with a saddened voice but it was for the best. "Now Hydranoid." I commanded but it was hard with that lump in my throat. Hydranoid swiftly with one hit from his tail made Reaper turn into a ball and sent him back to Masquerade. He then turned to look at Laserman which he will be forced to finish off as well.

"Laserman... I'm sorry." He said as he hit Laserman as well causing Laserman to return back to me before Hydranoid returned as well. That was a dirty trick forcing me to do that. Not only did he force me to sacrifice one of my own Bakugans he intentionally remade the Reaper sacrifice scenario.

"Don't let him... get into your head." Hydranoid reminded me. But how could I that brought back memories that i'd rather not remember. "Gate card set." Masquerade said as he threw a gate card next to me.

"Bakugan brawl! Centipoid stand!" The Darkus centipide appeared. "Darkus Centipoid enters battle with 400G's." My Bakupod told me. Obviously a trap. Mind ghost perhaps or something else. I can either spring the trap or go elsewhere.

Well if I want to spring the trap he at least needs to waste an ability card to do it. I decided to send Hydranoid to my own card. "Bakugan brawl! Hydranoid stand.!" The two headed Hydra appeared on top of the card ready to battle.

"Darkus dual Hydranoid enters at 480G's." My Bakupod told me.

"Gate card set." Masquerade says as he throws his final card at the field.

The Exedra behind Masquerade spoke to him. "Now is the time." He said as the robed figure collapsed and turned into a Bakugan. "Bakugan brawl! Exedra stand!" Masquerade exclaimed.

I didn't know what to expect but this was certainly not it. The eight headed Hydra looked freaky. "Exedra enters battle at 500G's." My Bakupod told me. That was the highest G power I had ever witnessed a Bakugan have up to this point. I don't know how I'm going to beat this but I have to.

"Gate card open! Character card!" I exclaimed. "Hydranoid's power doubled to 960G's." That should be powerful enough to go against most ability cards. Masquerade though seemed to have other ideas. "Ability activate demon wizard." The Centipoid that was on the other gate card turned into stone.

"Centipoid's G power of 400G's is transfered to Exedra." My Bakupod told me. 900G's that was still less than what Hydranoid had but then the real disaster happened. The gate card broke completely.

"Hydranoids power decreased to 480G's." My Bakupod told me. I had to do something quick. "Ability card activate double dimension." The ability card that reversed his ability card. "Exedra's power decreased to 500G's." My Bakupod said. However there was nothing to be done with the gate card and my Hydranoid was still 20G's lower tham him.

This was it. The battle was over. He won and I failed and because of me Dan and Runo won't be able to get out of Doom dimension nor will the Bakugan be released. All because I wasn't strong enough. They will be so disappointed when they realize that because of me we failed.

"Hydranoid's power inreasing."

What?

I look at my Bakupod as Hydranoid's power increases by single digits going to 490 and it kept increasing.

Exedra could sense this and began attacking Hydranoid to finish it off but it wasn't having any effect.

"Hydranoid's power increased to 500G's." Bakupod informed me. They were not equally strong now as they battled until both of them turned into balls and were sent back to us. Masquerade seemed flashbanged unable to comprehend what just happened.

"That was... close." Hydranoid said to me in his ball form. "Yes it was." I answer him. But all it did was buy me some time. "We need to... finish that Centipoid." Hydranoid tells me. "But how it's obviously a trap?" I ask him. "I don't know... but that's what powers that exedra."

I needed to finish it but how? I still decided it was too risky to fight Centipoid and decided to attack him at his own turf.

"Bakugan brawl! Hydranoid stand!" As I threw it at Masquerade's other card that was empty.

"Hydranoid enters battle at 500G's." That power increase was permanent.

Masquerade smirked as he put Exedra to launcher. "Now to finish this. Bakugan brawl! Exedra stand!" The eight headed hydra went against my two headed hydra.

"Now Hydranoid this battle will be finished." Exedra told Hydranoid. "I don't... think so." The dual headed hydra responded. "We'll see." Was all Exedra responded with.

Masquerade commanded the gate card to open and it was revealed to be Exedra's character card. "Exedra's power doubled to 1000G's."

"And to finish this off." He said while holding up an ability card. "Ability card activate Final Wizard!" He shouted.

The Centipoid again turned into stone. "Centipoid's power level transfered plus Exedra's power increased by 100G's. Exedra's power is at 1500G's." When I saw that number my eyes widened I had never seen anything so powerful before.

That last one was close but this was definately it. There is no way I can counter Exedra when it has that power level.

I failed Dan and Runo, The other brawlers, The six legendary soldiers, all of the Bakugan in Doom dimension and Hydranoid. Because I couldn't be strong enough Vestroia and Earth are both doomed to face the wrath of Naga.

I failed all of them but more importantly I failed myself. This proved to me how big of a failure I am as a brawler.

Because I'm not strong enough to be able to beat Masquerade. Exedra then began attacking Hydranoid as Hydranoid began to lose his ground and soon would be finished. "Alice!" He screamed at me.

"Think of... what Masquerade would do!" Why is he asking me that? Why does he want me to act like Masquerade? "W-WHY!?" I ask him

"That's... the test! You need to accept... that Masquerade is a part of you!" He told me.

The test. I haven't been able to fully forgive myself nor accept that Masquerade is part of me. Every time I say Masquerade did it not me. That's what the test is about. I need to accept that I was Masquerade and he is still somewhere in me. I don't need to embrace him and all the things he has done but accept these things.

I began to get into the mindset he would have been. He would try to find a solution to this. Then I remember that the Centipoid powers the whole thing and that's what I need to get rid of. A smirk starts to creep into my face as I pick my ability card.

"Ability card activate dual gazer!" Hydranoids both heads start to form balls of energy he shoots one of them at Exedra which did nothing. "Is that all?" Exedra asks me. "It wasn't targeted at you." I say as Hydranoid shoots the other at the Centipoid which destroys the stone and turns back into a ball and is sent back at this 'Masquerade'.

"Exedra's power decreases to 1100G's. Dual Gazer increases Hydranoid's power to 550G's." Bakupod tells me.

"A good move child but still not enough." Exedra tells me and I smirk in return as I unveil the final ability. "Oh I wasn't finished yet. Fusion ability activate! Destruction Impact!" I exclaim.

Hydranoids power up for his final move as Exedra's gate card becomes useless. "Destruction impact not only increases Hydranoids power by 100G's it also makes you gate card useless."

"Exedra's power decreased to 600G's. Hydranoid's power increased to 650G's."

The 'Masquerade' on the other side looked shocked at this move. "And now attack!" I command as Hydranoid uses his attack and finishes off Exedra.

The battle was over. I won my tests. I can't believe it.

The 'Masquerade' on the other side starts to clap. "Congratulations you have passed your test to accept who you are. But this was only the first test of the many." Then an image of Runo appears. "Your second test is to defeat her and the 3 others that are coming." The 'Masquerade' explains.

Then an another image appears this one of Dan. "And once you have done that he shall be your final test."

So these tests are far from over.

"But for now you can finally rest." He says as a bright light begins to surround me and I feel being transported again.

So this is it. And I really have the urge to upload it now but I decide to wait until I have finished the other chapters. (that's a lie past me) I think this turned out good. Anyway hopefully you enjoyed this I pulled an all nighter to make this one. Also if I do actually follow what I said then I really won't change the future chapters at all because of your reviews which I think is for good. Since it wouldn't be my story if I do it to be a story that appeases all of the reviews. Anyway hopefully you enjoyed this and if I do follow what I said you will see next chapter in a week.

Viva out.