Lirin: Back once more on this joyous Christmas day. As always I don't own Beyblade or its characters. I don't make a profit. Enjoy while I take a cat nap with my cats.

Chapter 10: Training Begins Now

Things are a lot different from when I woke up this morning. Heck they're even different from half an hour ago. Yes that is how long Johnny and I refused to budge as our lips got well acquainted with each other.

A burden has certainly been lifted from my mind and heart. I don't have to lie to myself anymore. There's no more worry of having to face things alone anymore. I'm Johnny's now and he's mine.

I'll be the first to admit my foolishness for so long. After that I'm sure the world, minus his mother and Rebecca, will agree it was totally and completely stupid.

Not like that matters now. The thing that is important is Johnny and I are sitting side by side in the gazebo with out feet dipping into the water of the fountain. He has one arm around me. My head is resting on his shoulder. This is bliss just being here with him like this.

"Are you happy Princess?" he asks out of the blue.

I pull my head up to see his face. For a guy walking on clouds not long before this Johnny has an oddly serious expression on his face. "Of course I am," I reply.

"But you'd be happier if Tom was free, wouldn't you?"

One name and my blissful bubble is popped leaving its soapy residue stinging in my eyes. My body starts shaking as reality returns to focus. Boris is free. Tom is his prisoner. What right do I have that deserves happiness? My mind is back to its cruel way of thinking. Just lovely.

Johnny shifts us so I am sitting on his lap. Instinctively I wrap my arms around his torso and lower my head to the crook of his neck. His arms are tight around my waist.

"It's alright my Princess," he tries to reassure me. "We'll see that Tom is rescued. Boris will get his just desserts."

"How?" I whisper. "How can you be so sure of that."

"That's easy." There is an unmistakable laughter in his tone. I don't like it for this subject matter. "The bad guy never wins. At times they will have the upper hand but never claim total victory. Boris is as bad as they come so he can't beat us, the good guys. Not us when the troops are together. He'll go down hard. I'll even give my knightly vow to you about this."

Something in his words has me stop shaking. It could be just the idea of Boris being stopped. Or that Johnny had said us. Maybe it was something else entirely.

I shake my head. "Story book ideas don't always pan out in reality Johnny. We can't just barge into Boris' hideout, where ever that is, and take him down. We need to carefully weigh our options. Formulate plans and back ups. We have to prepare for any possible out come imaginable. If we want hope we need to train in Abbey ways."

"Sounds like you and I should head back to the others. Get them prepared for some serious training."

"I guess you're right."

XxXxXx

After dinner that night the boys and I head towards Oliver's private training grounds. The complex is on his family's property but has to be reached by boat. It's a man made island in the middle of a lake. There's not much here besides the dock and three buildings. The first one, closest to the dock, is set up like a typical training gym. The second, and smallest, is really a mystery. Only Oliver has ever been in there and he doesn't speak much about it. Truth be told I would not be surprised if this building was another one of his art studios or maybe a kitchen. I wouldn't be surprised if it were both.

The final building and easily the biggest here is his private beystadium. Upon entering lights automatically turn on revealing his many trophies and awards for Beyblading. This room doesn't have much else besides two doors. One leads to spectator seating and the other puts you into a hall. The corridor is line with his family's battle armor throughout the ages. Both sections are set up to psych challengers out.

Finally we reach the battle arena. Oliver had it designed to be very close to what the BBA offers for their major competitions. The center of the floor slides open to reveal a large Bey arena that is actually able to spin to change up the battle conditions. A feature that we won't be using for our training this time.

"Here we are," Oliver announces now that we're all standing around. "What should we do?"

He and Enrique are looking at Johnny and I. Johnny glances at me out of the corner of his eye.

"It's gonna be best for you all to suit up first. This training wont be like what you're used to."

"How so?" Enri asks. He's clearly doubting what I'm telling them.

"Cause it will be a piece of hell. No honor. I'll explain more once you're all back from changing." My tone hardened to being close to what Mona had used so long ago. It left no room for discussion. The three left me for a side room. Just the way they walked I could tell they were nervous.

XxXxXx

It took them twenty minutes to change. In that time I switched my normal boots for the steel coated boots from my own set of armor and slipped on the arm guards. I also loaded Tsubasa in my new crossbow launcher. The armor and weapon were both gifts from joining the team. Shiny perks I mostly adore.

They come back in talking like nothing is going to happen. My back is facing them so they can't see what's going on. Quickly I double check that Tsubasa is properly in place. I smirk knowing she is snug and ready to go.

Quickly I turn. They haven't even gotten half way to me. My finger presses down on the trigger and Tsubasa is released as the boys as her targets.

"What the?" Oliver proclaims as they all jump out of my blade's path.

She did a sudden stop just before the wall and backtracks along the same path. She finally stops completely at my feet where I bend to pick her up.

"Welcome to boot camp boys. This is going to be a rough course in Abbey battling. There are no rules in fighting. Anything goes. Beybattles and hand to hand combat are simultaneously going to be going on. Attacks come from all sides. Hold nothing back. Fight as if your life is on the line."

"Why are we doing this?" Oliver asks. The way his eyes shift he wasn't too keen on an honor-less battle. Guesses would be that Enrique has his doubts about this too.

"Why?" I repeat the word drawing it out. "Mostly it is because I'll need help. My past is coming back in a dangerous way. One of my brothers is already captured and needs to be rescued. The other reason is I want you all to be prepared if we get attacked. Being connected to me puts anyone in danger. If at all possible I'd like each of you to be ready for what is to come. I won't ask you to come on the rescue mission. Only to bare with this training hell for your own protection. What's planned wont be simple. If it were that would make it pointless. At the same time it wont be like the Abbey drills and training. I know I can't force any of you to stay and put up with this. All I can do is ask for help and patients."

Oliver and Enrique continue to look worried as they debate this in their minds. Johnny needs no time to think it over.

"I can't allow a Princess's plea for help fall on dead ears. I know you need no sword. Consider me your shield. I will do all I can to protect you as best I can."

"Johnny's right. We can't let you enter a dangerous battle alone. The way of fighting sounds wrong, but we will do everything we can to help."

"I have a hard time saying no to pretty females. How is this going to work?"

That's a relief to hear they're all in. "For now we'll start simple. A two on one battle. If the challenger wins they'll get to face me will all my tricks at full power. For now the training will focus only on beybattles. In time hand to hand will come into play. At that point attention will have to be split. When a blade falls that person is out. And do not be afraid to use the blades to attack each other directly. Got it?"

"Let's so this." Johnny is eager. His promise from earlier is fueling him now.

"Enrique and Oliver, you're not supposed to use full power for this. Work together to stop Johnny. Nothing is out of bounds in this fight. Johnny do what you can to take them both down."

I watch as the three take positions to launch. Johnny's eyes are burning with fire for battle. Oliver and Enri stand side by side making a menacing blockade. It will be interesting to see how the honor bound dance in a new situation they are not accustomed to.

"3...2...1...FIGHT!" I call taking to the air. The blades launch and our new training sessions are under way.

Judging by the way they're clashing, the boys will make me proud. Together as a team and as friends we just might be able to stop Boris once more. Maybe this time it will be for good.

Kisa: Lirin is still dead to the world. Her "cat nap" turned out to be full out sleeping. I'll let her continue as this completes our Christmas gift to all our fans. Once again the request is made if you can please spare a couple of moments to leave a review for Lirin's hard work. They also make nice holiday gifts :) Merry Christmas all and we will see you soon.