Hi Everyone! This is my first fanfictin - EVER. And since English is not my native language, please, note that my story will propably contain grammatical and stylistic mistakes, and updates will take time for me. I hope my English and writing-skills will improve in the process - that is why I've mustered my courage to start writing down this story. (Many thanks to Bling101 for supporting me! :)) Constructive criticism are very welcomed!

Also, I've decided to change the Russian beybladers name to the original ones. I love the Russian language and it's pretty painful for me calling them on non-Russian names. Except Tala. Tala is nice - as a nickname. So here's the list of the names were changed in my story:

Tala = Tala (as a nickname in the story) and Yurij (called occasionally, by certain people)
Bryan = Boris
Spencer = Sergei
Boris = Volkov

Hope this won't confuse you, dear Readers!

Have a nice reading, guys! :)

The Black Phoenix

Chapter 1

Kai was on the horns of a dilemma again. The fourth Beyblade World Championship was coming and he couldn't decide, in which team he should compete for the title. Or he should even compete at all. Since he had gotten the opportunity to beat Tyson again, to earn the World Champion title, and at the end, had failed it – again –, he didn't feel much potence in himself anymore. He didn't find his place in the team of Bladebreakers. Why should he keep trying then? Kai couldn't stand the failure. Actually, Kai has never known the definition of failure - back then, there was no luxury like that in the Abbey. (God, he didn't miss those days.) But then, he met Tyson. (God, he did miss those days!) When that ridicoulusly stubborn boy walked into Kai's life, everything had changed. Suddenly, he wasn't respected - or rather feared - by others in the town anymore, he wasn't the number one, only the second one blader. He was the "almost" Kai, now. The guy who almost won the championship; the guy who almost beat Tyson, the three times world champion; the guy who was almost defeated twice by a new talent, Brooklyn, because he couldn't handle the thought of being destroyed by anyone else but Tyson. He couldn't show up any results that the fans could have appreciated. Not that he'd have cared what they were thinking but deep inside, he knew that he longed for some acknowledgement. He had never been any good for his family. Now, he was nothing more but the former captain of the team, who betrayed his teammates for power and glory. No wonder his grandfather detested his "goals". He wasn't sure about them anymore, either.

He shook himself in the early night to get rid of his ridiculously childish and self-pitying thoughts. The wind was stronger up on the roots where he always sought his solitude, he crossed his arms on his chest tighter against the cold. The cat, of who Kai took care, was eating her canned cat food in satisfied silence. Kai softly pet her head with his index finger not to distract her but to distract himself.

Lost in his thoughts again, while was watching the cat eating, Kai finally made his decision. He has to try it again. There will be no more sorry for his mistakes. He will train without heart, with no mercy to defeat Tyson. He must prove himself. But then again – he did train really hard in the last year, as well, and for what? For another defeat. Tala despised him for his "honor", for fighting one-on-two with Sergei and Boris before the final match with Tyson in order to play fair, with the same advantages. Kai owed a lot Tyson for forgiving his betrayals in the past. He couldn't face him fully rested, meanwhile Tyson was tired, he used his energy to the previous match with F-dynasty. He didn't want a victory like that. At least, that was what he told the Blitzkrieg Boys. In truth, he was too stressed about the match with Tyson. He panicked and was desperate that he couldn't win that battle, so he needed some distraction. Beybattling with Boris and Sergei was a great opportunity to calm down himself, but he got into the swing of the work and before he realised, Kai was already exhausted. So he was beaten by Tyson, afterall. He did fail. Again. He didn't feel himself a great blader anymore, but he couldn't finish beyblading just like that. In deep shame. No, Kai was determined that he was going to earn his place in the Beyblade history. He can't turn his back on Dranzer or on those many hours with tiring training. He can't waste those years like it was meant nothing but failure.

Kai slowly inbreathed, considering his options.

He needs to talk to Tala. Maybe he will give him another chance to win the World Championship.

On the other day, Kai was waiting at the docks. It was there where Tala offered him a place in his team in the previous year. It has a nostalgic feeling. He hoped it was bringing him good luck, afterall, he didn't mean such a great advantage for the Russian team anymore, he was sure about that Tala had the same opinion about that.

The mentioned redheaded boy had just appeared at the end of the pier and was heading into Kai's direction with his usual dismissive look on his face. They welcomed each other with a short node, then Tala leant to the fence next to his former teammate. They didn't say any word for a few minutes, just watched the sea under the crying seagulls, in the shining sun.

"So what's the matter, Kai?" broke the stubborn silence between two of them Tala.

Kai didn't reply immediately. He hated to ask favor or help from anyone, however, he also knew that Tala was waiting for that. Kai still could see the resentment in the Russian captain's eyes for not winning the last championship, he was not so welcomed in his team like before.

"You know the reason we're here, Tala. I want to beat Tyson" said bluntly Kai, and Tala chuckled.

"As I've heard that before."

Well, this won't be easy, thought Kai. He needs to convince Tala that, in spite of that he lost the most important match, he still has potential. He turned to Tala and looked deep into his eyes, almost swearing an oath.

"I won't disappoint you."

He could see that Tala was seriously considering his offer. Neither of them was a man of words but they could read between the lines, see the other's soul, its fears, its wishes. This was another lesson in the Abbey that most of the children learnt, since there was no much opportunity to chit-chat. You had to know against who you battle and for that, you had to read in your enemy's mind. Who couldn't, was lost and that was unforgivable.

"You already did once." remarked Tala. "And actually, I've found someone who can meet our expectiatons."

Kai clenched his fists in his frustration.

"But..." continued Tala, "I'm not quite sure the new member could fit in the team."

"So?" Kai was starting to lose his patience. Sometimes Tala could easily ponder on things, and that was quite an annoying habit for him.

"So you will battle each other." said Tala firmly.

Kai crossed his arms and nodded. He really appreciated the chance that Tala had given him again, and it also was a fair decision, a fair judge. The better one wins and he'll make sure that he will be that one. Kai respected Tala's rank as a captain since the first time when he had joined to the Russian team. The strict and rigid Russian boy didn't like contradictions and didn't accept excuses in training (however, Kai didn't find Tala's training methods as hard as his own) but was always as fair and sportmanlike as he could.

"Come to the gym. Tomorrow. 2 pm." commanded Tala assertively and turned around to leave. However, before that, he added in a low voice, sounding like a friendly advise: "I suggest you to prepare yourself."

AN: So it begins...!