"Hey, guys - check this out!" Kenny exclaimed the following day. "I've got an email from Mr. Dickenson."
As we gathered around Dizzi, the Chief read the message aloud.
Mr. Dickenson had found out some information on the shady team that had attacked Bay City. Named the Black Hell Bladers, not much was known about them except that they came from Slovakia and had strange unearthly creatures as Bit Beasts. They possessed nightmarish powers, people said and there were rumours that the Beybladers themselves were neither human nor earthly. Mr. Dickenson told us to watch out for them as they struck anytime, anywhere. He even said they would possibly be in the Olympics.
I had felt myself shudder involuntarily when Kenny had said they could strike anywhere because "anywhere" could mean my own world. That's not possible, I thought. They would need to have Bit Beasts or something from my world in the first place to get there…but they might have powers that allow them to travel between universes anyway without needing objects as portals. Tyson and Daichi scoffed at my idea when I voiced it to the team and Kenny was dubious. The others, however, thought I had a point.
"Alana's on to something," Lee remarked. "'Cause if she's right, her own world could be in danger like ours."
"Maybe those Bladers' Bit Beasts have the power that she mentioned!" suggested Hilary.
"You're right," Kenny mused. "I guess until I get any data on them, we won't know much."
"We got Mr. D's email, so that's a start," Tyson put in.
"There's one other thing…" I began.
My friends looked at me expectantly.
"Go on," encouraged Max.
"Well…Beyblading's not as popular in my world as it is here," I explained. "Since the end of last year, it's begun to fade out. There aren't many blades in the shops anymore and there are hardly any tournaments. There's a rumour that the World Championships might be held…"
Tyson raised an eyebrow. "Might be?" he repeated.
I nodded. "Bladers are so scarce and so many websites have been closed down that even the official site's gone too," I sighed. "It's like everyone's given up on the game. People my age and your age too think it's last year's fashion, like it's some kind of fad!" My voice had risen in anger. "I won't give it up and neither will Rebecca but the Beyblading spirit is vanishing from our world and there's nothing we can do about it. Beyblade will disappear forever…that's why I need your help."
I hung my head, my voice cracking and tears splashing the dojo's wooden floor. "I can't let go of the game I grew up with…I just can't…"
"Alana…" Hilary whispered sadly.
The team could only watch helplessly as I buried my face into Kai's broad shoulder, sobbing. No one noticed my boyfriend stroking my back soothingly.
Tyson placed a gloved hand on my shaking shoulder. "I know how you feel," he said gently. "Beyblade will be back in your world, you'll see. We saved it in our world, so we can save it in yours. So how about it - is there any way we can get to your universe?"
My sobs gradually subsided and I slowly lifted my face to meet his kind, sympathetic dark-brown eyes. "Yes…there is a way," I replied quietly.
After telling them about how Bit Beasts could travel between universes and that objects from my universe acted as portals, I added that I would have to introduce them to some fellow Bladers so news of their presence would spread quicker as they were thought of nothing but made up characters.
Over the following days, we took action. I introduced the team to James and his cousin Ryan while Ray and Tyson set up Beyblade training sessions in the local park. More Beybladers knew about the existence of the G-revolutions with aid from James and Ryan and articles we created on the Internet helped all the more to spread the news. Lots of Beybladers attended the sessions. Mr. Dickenson travelled to the Japan and America in my world to talk to the companies that produced Beyblades, hosted the TV show and tournaments. Rumours circulated that a real Beyblade Battle Association was going to be established.
I could just imagine the looks on the Beyblade voice actors' faces when they heard that the supposed TV show they took part in was real. Things looked bright for Beyblading in my world, with talk of an actual BBA, international tournaments and events, another season of the TV show, a proper World Championship… The UK's Beyblade spirit - and the world's - was on the way to burning even brighter than before and it was all thanks to the doings of merely twelve Beybladers who loved the game more than anything.
There was now a week left of the Easter holidays. Things had been very hectic due to getting Beyblading back on its feet in my universe. We knew that we could leave it to Mr. Dickenson and all the dedicated Bladers to strengthen the passion and popularity of the game even more.
The team and I were sat in a large circle in the room at Tyson's dojo where the Dragon Heart sword at one end. We discussed how well Beyblading was doing in my world, knowing even as we spoke websites including the official one were being resurrected, the BBA was beginning to form and the international Beyblade community was reviving and would no doubt be expanding soon.
"I can't believe we did it!" I exclaimed happily. "Beyblading's really on the way to being as popular as it is in your world. I can't thank you all enough."
"Seeing the passion in Bladers' eyes again does it for me," Tyson beamed.
"Plus the fun they're having!" added Max cheerfully.
"I've heard that BBA points and headquarters are going to be opened in countries all over the world," I continued excitedly. "Once the BBA's in business, Beyblade will truly have become a sport just as it is in your universe."
"When that day comes I wanna see it," Daichi replied. "Make sure you tell us, Alana."
My smile broadened. "I definitely will!"
Just then, Tyson's grandpa came in and told us that some of the Beyblade teams representing countries in the Olympics had been announced on television. "Word up dogs! The Majestics are playing for Europe in the Games, the PPB All-Starz are in it for America and the F Dynasty are representing the other part of Europe."
Presently, there were three other Beyblade teams entering the Olympics. That number would increase rapidly over the following week and only the next day another round of teams was announced. "Breaking news for the sport of Beyblading, folks," the reporter informed us on television. "Beyblader Battalion, formerly known as Barthez Battalion, have returned to represent Mexico after winning the country's Preliminaries. The Global Bladers, once named the BEGA Bladers, are also back in the game to play for Africa this year in Olympics. New Beyblade teams have emerged to join the fray with the Outbackers for Australia, Team Tribal from India, the Black Hell Bladers from Slovakia and the Chinese Snow Leopards."
"Not the Snow Leopards!" Lee growled. "They're White Tiger X's biggest rivals in China and they've scooped up a place in the Olympcs…just great. Well I guess we'll just have to beat them right, Ray?"
"Yeah!" his partner agreed.
"But the Black Hell Bladers…they're gonna be there too," Hilary said in a small voice.
Tyson placed a hand on her shoulder. "Don't worry Hil, we'll defeat them! Just wait and see."
Hilary nodded slowly. "Okay, Tyson." She sighed, her brown fringe shadowing her flushed face.
"Tyson's right, Rebecca," Max told his blonde-haired team-mate, who was looking as worried as Hilary had been. He took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly.
This made Rebecca brighten. It also made her blush like crazy and she hastily looked away, coughing nervously.
Max, Tyson and Daichi exchanged perplexed glances as they looked from the suddenly shy Hilary to the quiet Rebecca. Ray and I smiled knowingly whilst Lee and Kenny stifled chuckles. Kai watched the whole thing in amusement.
"Today, the Blitzkrieg Boys have entered the Olympics for Russia with their leader Tala," the news reporter told us on TV that weekend. "They hope to once again have a shot a defeating the World Champion team G-revolutions, which is representing Japan in the games."
My heart skipped a beat as a thought struck me. "Kai," I began tentatively.
My boyfriend glanced at me. "Yeah?"
"Are you…are you…going to leave the te - " my question was cut off as the ground shook violently beneath us, throwing us off our feet and rocking the Granger dojo.
"The Black Hell Bladers!" Kenny cried. "This time I'm certain they're at the park!"
We rushed to said destination. The Black Hell Bladers faced us, a team of eight cloaked teens, their attire whipping around in the gale that ripped through the park. "What you do want here? Why are you doing this?" Tyson demanded.
A tall member of the team smirked beneath his dark hood. "We've come…for her."
In the moment that I held his gaze, I swore that the pupils in his eyes thinned to slits and the teeth he disclosed as he smirked elongated to fangs, although when I blinked they were normal again. My heart quickened. "What do you want from me?"
Your Bit Beast, hissed a chilling, rasping voice in my head. But also your soul.
You're not getting it! I screamed back defiantly. As long as I'm alive, Goldflame will never be yours - so just leave us alone!
The dark voice chuckled harshly. Is that so? Then I'll just have to send you back where you came from and make sure you never come here again.
The gale tearing through the park worsened, threatening to hurl us off our feet. The ground juddered terrifyingly underfoot. A large jagged crack zigzagged between Tyson's legs. Hilary, Rebecca and I screamed as the ground split open slightly and Tyson was hastily pulled away from the crack by a panicked Ray and Max.
We rushed for cover and sheltered beneath a tree. Kai's hand caught mine and he steadied me when I was almost blown away by the fierce wind. I clung to him in fear. He shielded me from the gale. Tyson protected a frightened Hilary, holding her close to his body and whispering reassurances. Max did likewise with Rebecca whilst Ray and Lee did their best to prevent Daichi and Kenny from being claimed by the wind. We huddled together at the tree trunk, fighting against it with all our might.
The tempest grew ever stronger, dragging me out of the protective circle we had formed toward the Black Hell Bladers. I was swept off my feet, only saved by Kai's firm hold of my hand. The stiff breeze was so strong that it stung my eyes and made tears fill them. It battered at my body, ripped snags from my clothes.
"K-Kai!" I choked. "Don't let go, please!"
His grip tightened. "I won't."
Gradually, my hand slid from his grasp and I was whirled through the air. Kai's angry face and the fearful, anxious ones of my friends shrank into nothingness as I vanished from the Beyblade world, my cry of despair ringing in my ears.
I landed with a dull thud on the gravel drive at the front of my house, back my universe. The throbbing of the cuts the strange, savage wind had inflicted was enough to banish any doubts that what had just happened had not been an illusion. Again and again, I tried frantically holding and touching Goldflame in desperate attempts to get back to the Beyblade world. Nothing happened. My posture sagged in defeat and anguish.
My mum came out of the house and saw my miserable form. She knelt down beside me in concern, saw the tears in my downcast hazel eyes, placed a hand on my shoulder.
"What's wrong, Alana?"
"It's…it's gone," I whispered hoarsely, half to myself, half to her. "I can't believe it's gone."
A huge sob escaped me and I burst into tears.
Mum hugged me. "Oh, Alana…what on earth?"
