"A Clash Between Friends"

Lexi sat at the back of the bus, ignoring her teammates and mother as they got closer to the glitter dome for the finals, staring down at her beyblade.

Dramon cooed, trying to calm down her master who as still conflicted over what would happen after the match.

The blunette smiled down at her beast gratefully and then kissed the chip as a thank you.

The bus finally stopped and the All Starz walked off, Judy leading them into the dome and down the hallway, Lexi feeling even more stressed as they got closer to the arena.

They walked in and were met by the screaming fans, who were getting riles up by DJ Jazzman and the announcers, but Lexi wasn't really listening to them because it was the same old boring stuff about getting pumped up for some awesome battles blah blah blah.

She was really more focussed on the team across the bey dish, the Blade Breakers, who all saw her looking at them and gave her a smile, even Kai, as Tyson and Max waved at her making her smile softly too.

The first match was about to begin so Ray went up to represent his team and Eddy exchanged some serious looks with Michael, Steve and Emily before he went up, which confused Lexi.

What did she miss?

"Eddy, wait." Judy said.

The five teenagers all gave her confused looks.

"You won't be in this match today, I'm afraid." the female scientist said with a sad look in her blue eyes.

"What? But why not?" Eddy asked with wide eyes.

"Because Alexis will."

The All Starz gasped in disbelief as they stared at the woman.

"WHAT?" they all yelled.

"You can't be serious!" Michael said outraged.

"That wasn't in the plan!" Emily exclaimed.

"Uh, All Starz? We need you to send a blader out...now." Jazzman said.

"Stay out of this!" the five teens all yelled making the man shrink back in fear and let them be to work out their problem.

Lexi turned her cold red eyes on her mother, rage and betrayal radiating off of her.

"No. I refuse to blade. We all decided that Eddy was going to be a part of this match. You can't just make those kinds of changes without confirming them with us at the last minute." she said.

"She's right. How is that fair to any of us?" Michael said stepping in front of the girl as she stared at his back in shock.

Did he just...agree with her?

"Alexis always blades! Let her take a break for once and let us do this." Steve insisted.

"She at least deserves that." Emily said with her arms crossed.

What the hell happened to her teammates? Were they abducted by aliens or something when she wasn't looking? And were they actually defending her?

"I know and I agree with all of you. I understand why you are all upset, but this isn't my plan. It's Douglas'." Judy said.

Dramon snarled at that name, feeling her master's anger when the man was mentioned.

"What did he do?" Lexi asked.

"He threatened to fire me if you don't battle. All of us for that matter. I truly am sorry." Judy said sadly.

Lexi bit her bottom lip feeling conflicted again.

She really didn't want to battle any of her friends, but if she didn't her team and mother would get fired, all of their hard work and dreams getting thrown out before they could be truly realized and that just weren't right.

Sighing, Lexi walked up to the dish, surprising the two teams as they watched her.

"Lex?" asked Ray.

"I'm so sorry about this, but I have no choice. My mother's job and teammates' futures are on the line if I don't battle today." she said with sorrowful eyes.

Ray smiled in understanding and nodded knowing that she would do anything to help the others and he respected that about her.

"Don't worry about it, Lex. Besides, I really wanted to battle you for a while now." he said.

Lexi smiled at him.

"Thanks, Ray. Just be warned that I will not go easy on you just because we're friends." she said.

"That just makes this even better." he said back.

The two laughed in good humour as they got their launchers and beyblades ready.

"Good luck you two!" Tyson called.

"Now isn't that some great display of sportsmanship ladies and gentlemen! This is what the game is about. Friendship, excitement, challenge-" Jazzman was cut off.

"Shut up and start the match!" the All Starz and Blade Breakers yelled at him.

"Right, sorry! Three...two...one..."

"LET IT RIP!" the crowd roared.

Dramon and Driger were sent flying, the dragon/phoenix lashing out all her power, blasting the white tiger out of the dish before the match even truly began, shocking everyone while Kai smirked at the display of power from his sister.

"Told you I wouldn't go easy on you." Lexi said with a smile and a playful wink as her team snapped out of their momentary stupor to cheer, although it was awkward for her since they never did that before.

The neko jin laughed again and got ready for the next round.

"I guess I should listen to you more." he said.

They started again, their blades clashing together, sparks flying from the metal of the attack rings.

The two wouldn't back off from each other, green sparks and white flames leaving marks around the dish.

"Play time's over, tiger boy. Dramon!" Lexi yelled.

"No, it's just beginning, Lex. Driger!" Ray yelled.

The two beasts rose from their chips and clashed again, growling at each other as they fought, Driger pouncing on top Dramon, making her cry out in pain as Lexi called out to her beast in worry.

"Dramon! Fly and use Spirit Flame!"

Dramon nodded and flew up high in the arena, flung the tiger off of her back, watching as Driger fell for a bit before she blasted him with a stream of white flames making him retreat back to the safety of his blade and it stopped spinning, declaring the females the winners of the second round.

Ray collected his blade as Lexi's returned to her, the boy's gold eyes narrowed and his pupils becoming more catlike as they met the girl's flashing red ones that burned like a flame.

"You're doing pretty well, Ray. No one's lasted against me that long before." Lexi said complimenting him and making Emily bristle in jealousy and anger at that as the boys laughed at her.

"Thanks, but let's see how this ends. I'm not gonna lose to you this time." he said.

"Right, but I just wanted to let you know...this has been real fun."

The neko jin smiled at that.

"Yeah, I agree."

They loaded their launchers and then sent their blades flying back into the dish, their blades making contact directly, the force sending a flash of light out that blinded everyone for a few seconds as Dramon and Driger rose from their chips and began fighting, destroying the dish as they went.

The female beast flew circles around the tiger and he jumped around trying to catch her, looking more like they were playing and their masters laughed at them, feeling light and good.

The two beasts soon stopped their playing and turned serious, slamming into each other again, getting ready to end the battle.

"Now, Driger. Tiger Claw attack!" Ray yelled.

The tiger roared as green sparks crackled around him.

"Looks like I get to try out a new attack." lexi said sending a smile over to her beast.

Dramon nodded.

"Spirit Flame Inferno!"

The female beast was covered completely in white and purple flames as she charged at the tiger, the two hitting head on, the force of their attacks destroying what was left of the bey dish.

The two beasts retreated to the safety of their blades as they were both knocked out, Driger getting flung over towards Lexi, who raised her arm up and caught him in her hand as Ray caught Dramon in his that he held out in front of him.

Lexi looked down at the tiger and smiled.

"It was nice fighting you, Driger." she said.

The bit chip shined a soft green color for a second before it went back to normal, as if the tiger himself had agreed with her.

She shook her head and walked over to the blade Breaker's side of the dish where the chinese boy stood with the beyblade in his hands.

"Great match. I'm almost sad it ended." she said handing over his dark gray blade.

"I agree. It was great to finally battle you." he said handing over her white and purple blade.

"Although, you could do it more often if you joined our team. No pressure or anything."

Lexi rolled her eyes as she crossed her arms and gave him a mock glare.

"I rold you all before, tiger boy, I'm not telling anyone what my choice is until after the tournament is over."

Ray frowned.

"What's up with the whole tiger boy thing?" he asked.

"Would you rather I call you kitten?" she asked with a playful smile.

"Tiger boy's good." he shrugged.

They both laughed and turned to go back to their teams, Lexi becoming weirded out as her teammates all gathered around her, congragulating her on the win, thanking her for deciding to battle today and complimenting her on her power.

"Great work, ALexis." Eddy said kindly.

"Yeah, you really saved our hides." Steve said patting her shoulder.

"It was a no brainer that she would win." Emily said.

The boys shot her a warning look.

"But it was still a nice performance." she relented.

Lexi narrowed her red eyes, unsure of how to react to her teammates new attitudes, even Judy was surprised by it.

They were all being nice and calm for once, not to mention supportive and Michael was even being good by keeping his mouth shut, only speaking to say good things.

She was begining to believe that her alien abduction theory may be aqurate after all.

Why else would they be acting this way?

TBC