Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade in any way. The only character I own is Marina as she's my OC. I have permission to use Tari from my friend, Smiffyizdabest. Any other references I make are purely coincidental.
Chapter 10: Clash of Powers
In the Blitzkrieg Bladers' base, Kai and Tari had told the others what happened when they encountered Boris.
"You gotta be kidding, a beyblade came flying out of nowhere, cut down a tree and nearly squashed you!" said Tyson, getting very panicky.
"Calm down, Tyson. We have to think through what we're going to do next." said Hiro.
"Yeah, I guess you're right." said Tyson and he sat down on the nearest chair.
"Did Boris give you any hints of what he's up to?" Hiro asked Kai and Tari.
"No, he said about how me and Tari had turned down our chances of becoming powerful bladers." said Kai.
"What's that about?" asked Brooklyn, who knew of Kai's past with Black Dranzer, but knew nothing about Tari and Black Spiked Tiger.
"None of your business." said Kai to Brooklyn.
If Brooklyn had been anyone else, he would have retorted to that, but he just silenced and turned back to Hiro.
"And this beyblade that cut down the tree, you have no idea who its owner was?" asked Hiro, trying to get everything together.
"We didn't see it properly, just heard it, though worst case scenario means it was probably Marina's." said Kai.
"Yeah…" said Hiro, who had to admit, he agreed.
"But Marina isn't mean or heartless, she wouldn't do that to Kai or Tari…or any of us." said Tyson.
"So, if it was her, that means Boris has done something to her." concluded Hiro.
Tala had his fists clenched in anger and Brooklyn wasn't showing how he was feeling.
"Tala, calm down. If Boris has done anything to Marina, he will pay, guarantee it." said Hiro.
Tala unclenched his fists, but he was still angry. Brooklyn was starting to develop a look of revenge.
"So, this warehouse. It's not that far away, is it?" asked Hiro.
"Well, that small Siberian town was nearby along with the woods we explored. You get there and the warehouse is a fair size." explained Tari.
They heard the door open and close and they all looked over.
"Where's Brooklyn? Don't tell me he just left." said Tyson.
"What a fool. Strongest blader or not doesn't make him safer from Boris than us." said Bryan with his arms crossed.
"He's Marina's cousin. He cares for her a lot…most likely, more than or equal to Tala." said Tari.
"Good luck to him." said Kai and he walked away.
"Brooklyn, be careful." Tari said to herself.
In the warehouse, Marina was destroying practice beyblades with Black Zeroth. She wasn't holding back in any way…Black Zeroth's influence was taking over.
"Nothing will stop me from being the best blader in the world. Only two others know the kind of power I'm experiencing and they turned it away…their loss." she said to herself and smirked to herself.
Above the dish, Boris was watching. He was pleased that Black Zeroth's influence was working and that Marina would become the ultimate, emotionless beyblader he's always wanted.
Not far away, Brooklyn was nearing the warehouse when he heard voices. It seemed, no matter how much of a criminal Boris was, he still had guards and other lackeys on his side.
"I better watch it. This isn't the sort of place I want to attract attention." he said to himself and used the trees and bushes to reach the warehouse undetected.
He just reached the last hiding spot before the warehouse's side wall when he heard an animal noise. A young rabbit hopped along the path not far away from Brooklyn. He smiled as he saw it…until…
"These little guys should learn to stay in their holes. They would have a much better chance of survival." said a guard and he cocked his gun.
The gun shot and the rabbit hopped away. It got back to the woods without a mark, fortunately…but the simple fact that these guys were harsh enough to even attempt killing an innocent rabbit was enough to push Brooklyn over the edge.
"There is no logical reason to injure small animals." he said to himself and put his blade into his launcher.
After finding a suitable target, he released his blade and charged Zeus' power, causing a lot of damage.
"It's you." said a guard when he spotted Brooklyn.
Brooklyn ordered his blade to attack the warehouse and it crashed through the wall a couple of times.
"Boris, we have a code red." said the guard through his comlink.
On one of the warehouse's higher levels, Boris received the message.
"Who's causing all that trouble?" asked Boris.
Through a viewscreen, he saw the black blade of Zeus and as the camera moved, he saw Brooklyn.
"Oh, yes. This is a better opportunity than I expected. Marina, this is your first chance to battle a real opponent with Black Zeroth." he said.
He left the room and Marina followed.
Outside, most of the guards had fled or at least gone far enough away to avoid Zeus' power. Brooklyn caught his blade as Boris and Marina exited the warehouse.
"Brooklyn, it's been a long time. I guess your winning streak hasn't changed much from when I first met you. Instead of undefeated, you're undefeated but 1 battle." said Boris and evilly laughed.
"I've become a better blader since your shady BEGA were closed down." answered Brooklyn.
"Then why don't you test your new strength and skill on the strongest blade ever to be made." Boris asked and turned his gaze to Marina.
"Marina, what has he done to you?" asked Brooklyn.
"Nothing, cousin. He has only given me the chance to become the strongest blader who's ever lived. The temptation, I guess, comes from you. Both of us will do anything to win, and with this blade, I can always win." she answered.
"I wouldn't trust Boris with anything and I thought you knew better than to trust him." said Brooklyn.
"You always win, Brooklyn. I was second best, I never used to mind, but when I realised this blade could make me stronger than you, I made my choice." she said.
"'This blade'?" he asked and then noticed she wasn't using Zeroth. "If that's not Zeroth, than what is it?" he asked.
"That doesn't matter. Either way, it can beat Zeus." she said.
"In your dreams, Marina. I will finish that blade and Boris, then get you back to normal." he said and put his blade in his launcher.
"I'm going to enjoy this." she said as she put Black Zeroth in her launcher.
Boris did the countdown and both bladers released their blades.
"Zeus, attack." commanded Brooklyn and his blade went at breakneck speed towards Black Zeroth.
"Dodge and counterattack." commanded Marina and her blade avoided Brooklyn's then came round and slammed into it.
"Maybe your new blade will be a challenge, but I know Zeus can do it. Attack!" he shouted and a purple blast of energy was shot at Marina's blade.
"Electric Sphere!" commanded Marina and a small gold shield surrounded her blade.
"If that's not Zeroth, then do you want to explain how you're using his moves?" asked Brooklyn.
"Gladly. Black Zeroth, reveal yourself." she commanded.
The black unicorn rose from the blade, with his gold tail, mane and horn shining in the sunlight.
"Black Zeroth?" said Brooklyn in shock.
Marina laughed at the look of shock and surprise on Brooklyn's face.
"Black Zeroth, show him how we take our opponents down." she said and the black unicorn charged towards Brooklyn's blade.
"Zeus, King of Darkness." said Brooklyn and the demon rose from Brooklyn's black blade and conjured up a black vortex.
Marina used to be slightly confident with this attack, but now she was laughing.
"Black Zeroth, Lightning Flash Beam." she said and the black unicorn blasted a red and black beam of electricity into the centre of the black vortex and it disappeared.
"Not good." muttered Brooklyn.
"Black Zeroth, make your move." she commanded.
"Now Zeus' strength will fall apart." muttered Boris to himself.
The black unicorn charged forwards, horn pointing straight, and pierced one of Zeus' wings making the demon roar in pain.
"Zeus!" shouted Brooklyn and he felt a sharp pain hit him as he shared in Zeus' pain.
"Back off, Black Zeroth." said Marina and the unicorn pulled back, removing his horn from the demon's wing.
"My power is diminishing. I have to think of something." Brooklyn said to himself.
The bit beasts were in a stand off, facing each other.
"You're not a challenge to me anymore. This is getting boring. Go, Electric Vortex!" she commanded.
Brooklyn gasped as the black unicorn charged up a vortex similar to his own, but surrounded by electricity sparks and lightning bolts.
"Zeus!" he shouted and as the electricity charged vortex came towards him, Zeus dived in front and took the full force of the attack.
"Oh, that is just terrific." Marina said sarcastically. "I forgot that Zeus shares a bond with Brooklyn and would risk his life for him."
Soon after, Brooklyn went flying backwards and hit the ground hard.
"Marina, why did you…do that?" he asked weakly.
"Well, no matter. It's over now. Take a look at your blade, cousin." she said.
He did, it had stopped spinning and the bit piece was blank…Zeus was gone.
"Did you take him?" he asked.
"Hn, no. I don't need any more than Black Zeroth. Your little demon disappeared after taking my attack and saving your life." explained Marina and she caught her blade as it flew back up to her.
"Zeus saved me." he said, a little surprised.
"I don't need to stay here battling you any longer, so tell the others that I'll see them in battle soon…oh yeah, you can also take this." she said and threw Zeroth at Brooklyn's feet.
"You're disregarding your friend, Marina." he said as he picked up the blade.
"I have Black Zeroth and he's more powerful. That's all that matters. Catch ya later, cousin." she said and walked away back to the warehouse.
"You'll pay for this, Boris!" Brooklyn shouted in anger.
Boris ignored him and followed Marina back inside. Brooklyn then set off back to the Russian team's base.