The day after returning to base, Drogo seemed to be lost. He had not left his quarters at all since returning. Much to the relief of the guards who feared him. His room emitting a bitter dark aura filled with a mixture of negative emotions. No one dares to get too close if they valued their lives. Monark had not been seen either. Seems like none of the workers knew her "true self" as Drogo's partner. Apparently Drogo only appears when Marduk wishes.

As if he was a familiar for a spellcaster. Called from thin air. A phantom like the meaning behind Drogo name.

Often at times when Marduk was busy in the facility labs. Researching for any possible way to resurrect the Diamond Faction, who had been erased from existance. All for a reason that wished to kept in the dark. Marduk only found the existance of the Diamond Faction after a horrific accident.

The very accident that placed his fate on a different path. A path which he was blessed to be given, but also a curse in a way. A curse that made the boy keep all his sorrows in check. Having to conceal his feeling in a wall that he must never break.

Three years ago, Marduk came across a strange underground temple. Stone morals told the scientists of a species that consists of great warrior. Protectors of the weak, strong willed and powerful. Even if they fallen in battle. As long they protect those of whatever world, they would be gladly keep them safe.

Marduk became fascinated by the morals that led to a grand throne room. There upon the throne were two items. A draconic mask and a diamond sphere like ball. The throne was quite large in size, possible for one of the creatures from the moral. Marduk climbed the long pillar like arm rest. After what felt like a climb which lasted for an eternity.  Taking nearly all his strength is how he made it to the top.

Though it seemed a tad underwhelming from his previous scientific searches. The mask appeared to be for a child of one of those creatures.

Marduk leaned in to examine the black mask that appeared to be made out of crystal. A crystal whose material structure was unlike any that the young scientist had ever seen before.

"Amazing!" Marduk praised, his hand reaching to touch the mask. Drawn to the mask like it was calling to him.

The moment his hand made contact, he became engulf in a blinding white light. There a voice called to him. A male voice.

"I began to lose hope that you find me, "King of Traps". Though I suppose "Better late then Never" applies here. God I sound like Genesis.That dragon really rubs off on you. Be careful that his reincaranation does not do the same. Now to business. I am Traxxarus. I was once the overseer of my faction till I had be spared by a dear friend. It seems that my faction has been destroyed by a power hungry balugan. The very one who sits high on the Supreme Council. I ask a favor of you. A favor which will cause great pain in turn, something close to you shall be harmed. I wish to grant you my power, Marduk Matthew Jenkins. Please resurrect my people. A selfish request I know but please....." The voice began to crack as it sounded like it was holding back a sob.

Marduk felt for the voice. Not knowing the identity of someone always made him cautious. This voice seemed different, as if he was speaking to himself. The light which was blinding him was now like a comforting blanket over him.

"Please for those who I failed.... My friend who had to soak their hands with the burden of destroying me. To bare with the sin having to harm a friend who truly accepted them. The annoying yet short tempered dragon. No matter how much he annoyed me, he truly was one of the best friends I could have asked for.  Times I would tease him. Never thought there would be a day I miss it. The most painful of all? Failing my dear little sister by failing to keep her safe" The voice radiated immense emotions of hurt.

Before he had a chance to answer, Marduk returned to the crystal throne back to realty. 

"I see what you mean by great power comes pain" Marduk sighed.

He took the two items with him. The mask had shrunk to the point where  he could wear it. The ball in his hand still a mystery. Even as he left the temple, he wondered what it was?

A creature like the morals? Traxxarus?  What were these creatures?

He soon had his answer as a rattlesnake came from underground. It's body completely coated in gold scales. Glaring red eyes and it's tail rattle sounded like a death call.

"Foolisssh boy, you really ssssshouldn't have come here. Now I musssst dessssstroyed you" The rattlesnake creature then striked.

In a searing light burning his face as the golden serpentine creature laughed. Mocking the inferior child before him. It decided to finish the boy quickly. It be a pity to all him to suffer.

Marduk believed in that sole moment his life was over. He would not see his family or his fellow scientists ever again. The pain he felt before was nothing compared to what he felt now.

This was what the people meant the saying " Fear of Death".

Then he seemed to be saved by a guardian angel. Well in this case, guardian Bakugan.

"ENOUGH! HAVE YOU GOLDEN BAKUGAN NO SHAME?! DESTROYING MY HOME! SLAUGHTERED MY PEOPLE! NOW YOU SINK LOW TO THE POINT WHERE YOU HARM A CHILD?! I DIAMOND VLADATOR SHALL NOT LET THIS STAND!" Another creature appeared. His hand crushing the rattlesnake mouth shut.

Breaking the monster's fangs like potato chips. In only what appeared to be four swift movements, the rattlesnake creature fell. Becoming a golden ball like the one he found in the throne room.

Vladator then turned to the child, kneeling down to his eye level. "I apologize for not being swifter. I take full responsibility for the injury that you have sustained.It shall forever remain on my shoulders of that failure" His head hung low in shame. He should have been better.

HE WAS A PROTECTOR! HE MUST BE BETTER.

That was the moment where Marduk made his vow. He would take on Traxxarus request. To revive the great faction of Protection, warriors like Vladator that go out of the way to keep others safe.

"Are you certain of this, Marduk?" Vladator asked the boy who had been going down memory lane.

"I have to Vladator......" The boy sighed before leaving his lab. It would be time to face what he wished he did not.

The moment he exited the facility, he took out the draconic mask. One where he became someone else. Swapping in with his "shadow". Placing the mask over his face.

There Marduk vanished and Drogo came.

"Time to face my "Diamond Queen" He brawled out Dharak who seemed pleased to see him.

Siblings of the past always seem to face each other in battle. Once as allies.....

Now enemies....

Truly fate is a sad thing for some.
************************************
Dan had invited Dia to spend the day with him. He wanted to make up for all she had went through while he was in the  hospital, he also wanted to ask her about that masked brawler. The one that had beated him. Framed Dia for the crime, and turned the brawling world against her. Being the only other Diamond Faction brawler meant she might know something.

Not a guarantee, but Dan really wanted answers. Drago had never been injured like that Bakugan Trap made him. Though it was rare that Dia could know, maybe Leonidas did.

Leonidas was the same faction as his look a like, Viper Helios. He could know about these living Bakugan traps.

He was going to take her to the park to hang out. Have a few brawls before asking about Drogo. He's been dying for another brawl against her. No way he could accident the last match as a personal win since the others help him. This time he and Drago would beat her on their own.

HE WOULD FINALLY BEAT THEM IN A ONE ON ONE BAKUGAN BRAWL!!

They planned to meet up with Dia at the park where they first met her. Dia's uncle Jasper was not too keen in seeing any of them. Not surprising since what his niece was put through. He could remember how Jasper met with all their parents. Facing Jasper's fury was like facing the most horrorfying monster of scary movies. After apologizing for their actions to him for two weeks straight, the only way that Jasper would allow them to hang out with Dia and Leonidas again. It was clear that they were on thin ice with him. Best they don't ruin it.

Dan made it to the park, he looked really excited to hang out with Dia. Nearly forgetting the other reason he wished to met with her. Just as he spotted her, Dan froze at the sight before his eyes.

"I-t's him... WHY IN THE WORLD IS HE HERE?!" Dan raged as he dashed over to where Dia was.

He saw Drago ready to challenge Dia to a brawl. He barely made it before the drome was called up.

"Well, well, well. I see we have an uninvited guest. No matter, I am only here to capture LE0 as my boss has ordered" Drogo tuned out any distractions as he focused on his target.

Chatterbox Kouzo was NOT as easy to tune out as others were. Though he would make this work.

"Dia, this is the one who framed you! He the one who send us the video-" It was then that Dan saw the look on Dia's face.

Her eyes looked to be ones in deep pain. No matter how strong of a front she tried to put on. Sorrow practically cried out of her heart.

"Take off the mask if you want to face me" Her words made both boys freeze.

Drogo was taken back. Had she figured it out? No, he was careful in his alter ego.

"Marduk.....take off the mask....if you really love me as your sister, then....at least brawl like yourself" Dia repeated. Not bothering to look him in the eye.

Drogo sighed. He had a feeling she knew from the time he saved her. This was HIS SISTER after all. A keen eye for detail. He was curious what gave him away. Dan couldn't have told her much about the brawl yet, so how did she know.

"When you gave me the necklace....., we chose each others strings remember?" Dia shown her treasured necklace to Drogo.

A solid white string with tiny lings of gold and rainbow thread.

"Mine is all black though" Drago revealed his next. The string as pitch black as he proclaimed it to be.

"Yet it matches my half" Dia fists balled up. Rage....betrayal...

The toxic laced emotions had come back to her. All by the one who she had put the most trust in.

Drogo could not believe he allow himself to fall for this. He was smart enough to revive warriors of a fallen faction ,but not smart enough to not be fooled by his own flesh and blood sibling. Oh how Brontes would be laughing at him for days.

THIS REALLY WAS EMBARRASSING!

"Very well sister"Drogo mask was removed which revealed the face of Dia's brother.

Dan gasped! Not only was this guy Dia's brother, but he wore a mask under another mask! WHY TWO MASKS?!

Not really the main issue here Kouzo.

"Grrrr" Leonidas recognized that boy immediately. Being the one who tormented him for two years.

"I see that you been helping LE0 unlock his true potential. I though you might aid my super weapon" Marduk could sense how much stronger LE0 became.

"YOU?! YOU DID THIS TO HIM?! DIDN'T MY NINE YEARS OF BEING MADE INTO A WEAPON NOT TEACH YOU ANYTHING?! HOW COULD YOU?! HOW COULD YOU DO ANY OF THIS?!" Tears spilled down Dia face as she was barely keeping it together.

"Reasons I don't wish you to know. Brawl out now" Marduk harden his heart before brawling out his bakugan.

There a four legged pitch black dragon stood. His colossal size made many other Bakugan pale in comparsion. His black crystal scales were decorated in dark amythest armor plates. Mostly around his feet and tail. The tail tip were two twin amythest sickles. His chest was armored with a   jade green plate which it's spikes mimicked the fangs of beasts.  A black crystal at the center of the chest plate, symbolizing it's heart. Cold and merciless. Six reaper scythe like wings with beared ancient crystals hand overed the view of the sun. Crescent horns were the crowned jewels of this Bakugan as they glew with dark magic in the sun light. Finally it's void of onyx eyes. Ones which the only thing one could see were it's crimson eyes of hatred. This was Diamond Dharak.

"Dia, allow me this brawl" Leonidas intented to crush these two.

Not for just his suffering. No! FOR THE PAIN HIS PARTNER SUFFERED HERE AND NOW! HE WOULD SMASH THAT LIZARD TEETH IN!

Dia dried her tears before obliging to her partner request.

Marduk wanted a brawl? FINE THEN! HE WOULD GET ONE!

"Looks like she is angry. Poor thing, shall I made this quick?" Dharak asked mockingly.

Leonidas snarled before using Diamond Spiral.

Dharak tail  intercepted the move easily. The pitch black dragon did take 200g of damage, but now Leonidas was open for a counter attack.

"ONYX PHOTONS!" Sharp particles of onyx gem shard were coated in Darkrus energy. They then shot at Leonidas for a direct hit.

"Leo!" Dia looked to see her partner struggling to get up.

Leonidas was at 400g. He could still feel the sharp pain that attack inflicted. His muscles burning from the sheer power of Darkrus and Diamond energy combining.For the first time in his whole life, Leo felt fear.

Fear of losing and returning to that same place. The lab were he was treated like a pin cushion for a "Special Purpose". He did not want to go back to a life of pain and tests.

Dia then felt the surge again. She and Leonidas both shared a connection once more. TO NOT ALLOW MARDUK TO HAVE HIS WAY IN THIS BRAWL!! Time for "DIAMOND JUSTICE!"

"We are not going to be separated!" There Dia eyes glew with a rainbow like aura, before she transformed.

Dan could see nothing in the blinding light. Well almost nothing. It may be a hallucination, but he saw two Bakugan were the Jenkins siblings stood. They looked sad.....

Then he saw Dia and Leonidas transformation. DIA AND LEONIDAS TRANSFORMED?! LEONIDAS WAS NOW AT 1800G?! WERE THEY SUPER HEROES?!

Oh man, would the others flip when he tells them! Lia would probably be upset that this would not be filmed.

Dia picked up a Diamond bakucore and strengthened it with her power. Hurling it towards Leonidas. Both intended to finish this brawl quickly.

Then to their surprise, a Diamond bakucore illuminated near Marduk. Shining like any other core except this one had a Darkrus symbol. Dan felt his blood run cold.

No....NO! NOT AGAIN! NOT THAT THING AGAIN!!

Marduk picked up the bakucore and a cyclinder Bakugan came from it. Slitherion was called out not too long after.

"NOT AGAIN!" Dan could only tremble from seeing the serpentine dragon again.

Unlike Drago, Leonidas used Diamond Spiral to defeat Slitherion before it activated it's ability.

PRAISE TO LEONIDAS!! YOU HAVE GOTTEN REVENGE FOR HOW DAN AND DRAGO WERE HUMILIATED!! YOU ARE REALLY A TRUE FRIEND THERE!!

"Time to end th-" Then Dia felt a sharp pain radiating in her body.

The last image Dia saw was Leonidas calling her name.

Dan rushed to her as Leonidas when to her side. Abandoning the brawl to make sure thst his partner was okay.

Marduk froze. He wanted to check over his sister, to check that the negative effects of her power had not kicked in. However Dan gave of a danger glare.

One that meant conquences if he dared to step closer. That was all Marduk needed to know he was not welcomed near her.

Dharak used his "Onyx Photons" to destroy the drome, allowing the two of them to escape.

Dan took Dia straight to Benton. Knowing this have something to do with that energy he told them about.

Oh Dia....please be okay