So I changed this episode around a bit. I needed Alice to fight the Doom Card. Oh well. Tell me what you think.

Disclaimer: I don't own Bakugan

Alice walked through the park, enjoying the sunlight hitting her skin and the wind on her face. The people were all around her and the birds were chirping in the trees. A lake glistened down the hill below her and the sky reflected off of it beautifully.

Things had been so much better since the brawlers had heard her story. They might watch her when she wasn't looking, Julie and Runo, but they seemed to actually care about her. It wasn't as if they were looking for any spy behavior, they wanted to make sure she was okay. It was nice to have people care about her again. She hadn't had that since her grandfather disappeared.

"Isn't it a lovely day?" Alice asked, never looking anywhere but ahead of her. To an onlooker, she might have been talking to herself.

"Yes," Hydranoid replied from her shoulder. "The day here is beautiful. There is nothing like this in my home world."

"That's a shame," Alice said, shaking her head. "I can't imagine not ever having days like this."

"Well," Hydranoid said. "When you live in Darkus, you never know about this so you don't miss it. But you're right. It is sad that those in my home do not have this."

Alice chuckled slightly as she looked down toward the lake. Standing there, bakugan in hand, was a little boy with brown hair and overalls. He stood, facing the water stiffly.

"Oh, look. An up-and-coming brawler." Hydranoid turned in the direction of her gaze and said "Ah yes."

The smile on Alice's face slid off when she saw the boy raise his hand. Almost mechanically, Alice raced down the hill toward the boy. As she ran she picked up speed and cried "NO! Don't do it! Stoopp!" Alice lost control of herself and rammed straight into the boy. The force of the impact sent him hurtling into the water.

"Hey," the boy yelled, muffled by water. "What'd ya do that for? Get me outa here!"

Unnoticed by anyone, cloaked in the shadows of the trees above, a boy with blond spiked hair and a mask watched the scene with a twisted smirk on his face. Then, he vanished.

Travis smirked wickedly as the little twerp in front of him ran off. Toby had been easy to defeat. He only wished he could find a brawler worthy of his talents. All the punks around him could barely tell their bakugans' attributes.

"Looking for a real challenge?" said a voice from behind him. He turned to see a guy with pointed blond hair and a mask. He wore a white trench coat and purple pants. He would have looked ridiculous had it not been for the smirk on his face.

"Yeah! What's it to ya?" Travis raised his fist as if to punch the mystery man. The guy's smirk widened and he took a step closer.

"I can get you a real challenge. All you gotta do is take out one, little brawler." He drew out every word at the end of his sentence. He held up his hand to show Travis a card. On it there was a picture of a skull-like dragon head. The Doom Card.

So this was Masquerade? Travis didn't think he looked that tough. Still, he wasn't about to lose any of his bakugan to the creep so he took the card.

"Deal. Now who is it?"

A slow, menacing laugh left Masquerade's lips. "Oh, just a redheaded girl I know…"

Alice sat on a park bench thoughtfully. Christopher was at her side and Hydranoid on her shoulder. She looked over the bakugan Christopher had and the cards that went along with them. Christopher didn't have the cards to play an offensive strategy so he would have to go for subtlety.

"You have great cards Christopher. Not many attack cards, but some decent ability cards that should get you through almost any battle."

"I agree," Hydranoid said from her shoulder. Christopher had quite a shock when Hydranoid first spoke but after a few moments he was in owe of the talking bakugan. "With proper strategies these cards could be lethal."

Christopher looked up from the ground. "You think so?" He had never thought of his cards as useful. They were not dangerous and he didn't see the use to them.

Alice nodded with a smile. "Of course. Like this: your Aquos Robotallion. It had a low power level. But if you hook it up with the Trap Census Command Card, it'll trick your opponent big time."

"Just remember," Hydranoid added, "Always stick to your Aquos abilities. You'll never succeed with abilities that don't match your attribute."

"I never really thought that there were so many ways to play bakugan." Christopher picked up his Juggernoid and studied its ball.

"Oh of course. There are so many ways to win. It all depends on your choices." Alice looked at Christopher and said "I can teach you a bunch of strategies but with no confidence then they're no use. You need to believe in yourself. We both know you love bakugan so now it's time to master the game."

"That little twerp? Please!"

Alice and Christopher both turned to see Travis about twenty feet away. He stood there with a smirk on his face and a gleam in his eyes as they zeroed in on Alice.

"Hey Alice! Your buddy Masquerade sent me to give you a gift. Let's battle!" With that, he put up his hand, which she noticed had a launcher on it. In between his fingers was…

"The Doom Card! Why'd you take it?" Alice couldn't understand why anyone would want to get rid of bakugan.

"To get rid of you. Now let's battle!" He held up his card. "Field Open!"

"Field Open!" Alice said as she held up her card. The world swirled around her, colors mixing together. Christopher latched onto her arm and was pulled into the arena with her. As the world stopped spinning, Alice and Travis were on opposite sides of an arena.

"Gate Card…Set!"

Both of their gate cards sailed across the field and enlarged. Travis Threw the Doom Card and said "Doom Card…Set!" Black pulses radiated from where the Doom Card was set. "I'll start!" Travis yelled.

"Bakugan…Brawl!" He threw the bakugan and it sprang to life. "Darkus Mantris Stand!"

"Darkus Mantris enters battle at 340 g's. No other data available."

Alice looked intently at Mantris before nodding her head. "Gate Card…Set!" Alice's gate card sailed down to the spot next to the one Mantris was on. It grew to full size and Alice smiled slightly. She reached into her bag and pulled out the custom-made launcher Marucho got for her and put it on her arm.

She loaded her bakugan and said "Bakugan…Brawl! Tuskor Stand!" The giant elephant appeared on the card and trumpeted, ready for battle.

"Darkus Tuskor enters battle at 350 g's. No other data available."

"That's it?" Travis yells. "That's your move? What a waste."

"I wasn't done," Alice said. "Ability Activate! Nose Slap! This ability let's my Tuskor attack any bakugan on an adjacent card without having to worry about their gate cards." Suddenly, Tuskor's trunk elongated and began whacking down on Mantris' gate card. After a few tries, it landed a hit on Mantris. The bakugan glowed bright purple before shooting onto the floor by Travis' feet. Tuskor then glowed purple and shot back into Alice's waiting hand.

"Wow, good move Alice. You took out his bakugan and his gate card all in one move. Smart." Christopher wished he could brawl like that.

Alice giggled slightly and said "Thanks."

"My move again," Travis yelled. "Bakugan Brawl! Fear Ripper Stand!" A giant humanoid figure with enormous claw-like hands stood on Alice's gate card.

"Darkus Fear Ripper enters battle at 320 g's. no other data available.

Alice loaded her bakugan into the launcher and yelled "Bakugan Brawl! Centipoid Stand." A large centipede-like insect rose on the same gate card as Fear Ripper.

"Darkus Centipoid enters battle with 370 g's. No other data available."

"Ability Activate! Slash Zero! Ha! This ups my bakugan 80 g's. Your Centipoid's toast." A dark purplish glow surrounded Fear Ripper as it stalked toward Centipoid.

"Darkus Fear Ripper power increase of 80 g's. Stabilizing at 400 g's. Advantage Fear Ripper."

"Not so fast!" Alice countered. "Gate Card Open! Level Down!" The glow faded from Fear Ripper.

"That's impossible!" Travis cried in outrage. "How could you have known how to counter my Slash Zero?" Centipoid dove at Fear Ripper, taking him in his pincers and the bakugan glowed purple before falling to the floor at Travis' feet. Centipoid glowed and shot into Alice's waiting hand.

"That's strategy! I figured you would use an ability card to boost your bakugan's power. It wasn't difficult to counter."

Though still grumbling, Travis threw down a gate card. "Gate Card…Set! Bakugan Brawl! Warius Stand!"

"Darkus Warius enters battle at 350 g's. No other data available."

There was wariness in Alice's gaze as she looked at the gate card. There was surely a trap there but she couldn't find a way out of the battle. So long as it wasn't a mind Ghost she was alright, and that was unlikely since he would lose his bakugan.

"Bakugan Brawl! Centipoid Stand!" The insect rose up. It swarmed onto Warius and began squeezing it with its pincers.

After a moment of this, Travis yelled "Gate Card Open! Character!"

"Warius power surge to 700 g's. Centipoid remains stable at 370 g's."

Suddenly, Warius had the upper hand and he began squeezing Centipoid. Finally, he threw Centipoid into the air and a large black hole appeared. It sucked Centipoid in and then closed while Alice cried "Centipoid, No!"

Travis laughed at Alice's distress and Alice turned her glare onto him. "You'll pay for that! Your move!"

Still chuckling, Travis said "Bakugan Brawl. Warius Stand!" The troll-like warrior rose up again and this time it stood on the only remaining card.

Alice pulled Hydranoid into her hand. "I need your help with this one."

Hydranoid sealed itself and said "It would be my pleasure."

"Gate Card…Set! Bakugan Brawl! Hydranoid Stand!" The two headed dragon rose up on the empty gate card. The occasionally rotating saw in his chest lied still and his two tails whipped around.

"Darkus Hydranoid enters battle at 480 g's. No other data available."

"What? Where did he get so much power?" Christopher looked on in shock. Alice was such a sweet and kind person. It seemed unbelievable that her partner bakugan could look so terrifying.

"Haha! It doesn't do anything! You're not on my gate card! You can't fight. So—"

"Ability Activate! Gazer Excedra!" A glow of Dark energy surrounded Hydranoid as he reared his head back. "Sorry Travis! This ability card ups Hydranoid by 100 g's and allows him to attack anywhere on the battlefield."

"WHAT!"

"Hydranoid power surge to 580 g's. Warius remains stable at 350 g's."

"Fire Hydranoid!" Alice yelled and the dragon started firing blasts of purplish electric energy balls at Warius. After the first one, Warius fell and landed at Travis' feet.

At the conclusion of the battle, Travis picked up his bakugan and ran. He didn't say a word to Alice of Christopher as he ran away with a shriek. Alice stared after him for a moment before turning to Christopher.

"So what'd you think?"

Christopher stared at her for a moment before uttering the only word he could think of. "AWSOME!" At that, Alice giggled and motioned for Christopher to walk with her up the hill.

"So you want me to keep teaching you?" Alice smiled as he spluttered.

"Yes, of course. That would be awesome. I can't wait to learn how to battle like you do. That'll be amazing. Thank you so much Alice!" He was practically jumping up and down in his excitement and it made Alice giggle.

"Well why don't you come by my friend Runo's café at four. I'm finishing my shift tomorrow then. I'll teach you a little on my break. I've gotta go now. Bye!"

With that, Alice hurried in the direction of the café and left Christopher staring after her.

So how was it? I know Travis didn't work for Masquerade but I thought it needed to be done. Alice needed to lose some bakugan to the Doom Dimension and she had to face Masquerade's minion. So, this was how I did it.

Bad. Good. REVIEW!