Thanks to Linvn89 for the previous review! I will be releasing a soundtrack list at the end of this story so you can check out the songs that inspired me to write it. Totally worth it. There is no Ming Ming with the BBoys scene, but I'll probably add one in at a later date. But you can imagine how that would've gone.
This chapter is more of a filler one setting up for the big one.
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Chapter Thirty: Atonement
Mariah dipped her toes into the glacial lake, snacking on a muesli bar, admiring the view before her eyes. Thick clouds engulfed the highest of the mountain peaks like a blanket, and down below hectares of dry shrubs and grass stretched as far as the eye could see. Giant icebergs creaked and cracked as they rolled into the water, occasionally revealing the belly beneath.
"I could never grow tired of this view. I wish Kevin and Gary had come to see it," Mariah said.
"Kevin didn't feel like walking, and Gary was hungry… As always," Lee answered. "Besides, they can always come down later if the wish. It's only a ten-mile walk."
Mariah rolled her eyes. "Only a ten-mile walk? You make it sound easy."
He chuckled. "Well, what can I say? I've spent a lot of time walking up and down hills. This is nothing. The trail was mostly flat ground anyway. Besides, someone must stay back and watch over the children. Tao can't do it alone."
"But Kevin and Gary?"
"It's responsibility. We all must learn to be leaders. We can't always look to one person to lead."
She grinned. "Oh, that's considerate of you. I thought you liked being in charge and flaunting your authority to younger members," she teased. Lee rolled his eyes. Mariah continued. "You know our grandfather wants you to take over the tribe, right? That's you were entrusted with leadership of the time. Even when Rei took back the captaincy, we still looked to you as the leader."
"Rei has earned his place amongst us, and he's a strong leader."
"But he's not here with us. You are." A strong blast of cold air swept through the open valley, the wind biting her exposed skin. Her face stung as if she had been bitten by numerous small insects. She pulled her feet from the water and dried them with her towel. There was something comforting about touching water.
After a moment's silence, Lee said, "Do you love him?"
"Who? Rei?"
"Rei will always be a White Tiger, but he's not destined for tribe leadership, Lee. It doesn't matter that he has the White Tiger in his possession."
Lee nodded, looking directly at her, his dark eyes boring into her own. "You were supposed to marry him. Grandfather had it all planned out."
She rolled her eyes. "I don't love Rei."
"Are you sure?"
She glared. "I might've liked him when I was younger, but I'm older now. Rei showed me a kindness no one else had – he taught me how to blade, and he stood up for me when you, Kevin and Gary decided girls shouldn't blade." Rei was the perfect husband. No wonder Tao had chosen Rei for her. But she didn't want to marry Rei even though he was the most suitable. He was a member of the clan. He knew all the rules and the laws. He was the owner of the sacred White Tiger. He was kind, considerate and passionate. But he was too similar.
Lee looked down at his feet, as if afraid to meet her withering glare. After a few moments he recovered and looked at her once more. "I'm sorry. I should've been kinder."
"You were such a brat as a kid."
"Thanks. If not Rei then, Mystel? That weird blond."
An image of blond spiky hair appeared in her mind. Mystel. She should've hated him. He worked for Boris. He was part of a rival clan. He had spied on her and her people. But try as she might, she couldn't. That pained look of hurt and rejection on his face haunted her dreams. Perhaps she had been too harsh towards him. Perhaps she should've given him another chance.
"Mariah? Hello?" Lee waved a hand in her face.
"Just thinking."
She gazed up at the sky, catching a brief glimpse of a blue patch of sky. In the distance, she heard rolling thunder. Not the sound of thunder, but the whumpfing sound of snowpack slowly collapsing. They were in prime avalanche country. She couldn't see the snowpacks falling yet, but the sounds were enough to cause the hairs at the back of her neck to rise.
"You know that guy is a jerk, right?" Lee took the towel from Mariah and dried his feet before putting his shoes back on.
Mariah glared. "What's your deal with him anyway? He didn't hurt you."
"No, but he hurt you. I can see it in your eyes, Mariah. You looked at Mystel in a way I've never seen you look at another man. I know you were smitten with him on the day he showed up out of the blue."
Heat rushed to her cheeks. "I wasn't smitten with him. I just thought he was nice," she spluttered.
"And hot. That was the word you said the morning after he left."
Folding her arms, Mariah said, "It's not often you see blond, blue-eyed men around these parts."
Lee sighed. "You know you would be disowned right?"
"I already had that conversation. It doesn't even matter what I think. I told him I didn't want to see him again." Maybe she would end up marrying Rei after all. The thought should've made her happy – so many women would love to marry a guy like that – but it didn't. "I blocked his number. He can't contact me. Anyway, I thought you didn't care about Mystel. A few months ago, you were warning me against him. You told grandfather, and he talked to me about marriage with Rei or face disownment."
Again, he looked away, finding something in the distance to stare at. "I want you to be happy, Mariah." He met her eyes again. "I was just being an overprotective older brother. But I saw your face that day when you walked away from him. I've never seen that look on you before. Even now when you smile, it's short-lived. If being with Mystel makes you happy, then I'll support you."
"It's too late, Lee. I appreciate your thoughts, but it's too late. He's gone."
"We can track him down."
"I told him what I thought. I was angry at the time. I said things I shouldn't have said." She wiped her eyes, and bit down on her lip. "Now he's gone."
Lee put down his bucket and pulled her into a hug. "I wish I could do something."
She accepted his hug and rested her head on his shoulder. "It's my fault. I told him to go." She then pulled away thankful no tears had spilled. Not yet anyway.
"Call him, Mariah. You've got his number."
Lee was right. She had the power to make the first step in repairing their relationship. Refuse now, and it was highly likely she'd never see him again. He certainly wasn't going to be able to contact her, nor find her. The power was in her hands. She sighed and reached into her jacket's pocket for her phone. "I'll send him a voice message."
She removed his number from the block list and dialed. No one answered. A tingling sensation gripped her stomach, and she brought her free hand to her left earlobe and pulled at it to help steady nerves. It had been sometime since they had last spoken. Would he even want to listen to her message? After a few rings, she was given the opportunity to leave a message.
"Hi. It's me, Mariah. I don't want things to me awkward when you arrive so I'm telling you this now. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have judged you so harshly. Love, Mariah."
"He'll answer it when he checks."
"I hope." She put on her shoes and climbed to her feet, watching as another iceberg crashed into the lake, creating a big splash. As she prepared to walk up the trail, a violent tremor shook the ground, and a loud boom echoed throughout the valley. She brought her hands to her ears to drown the noise out. "What was that? An earthquake?"
Alarmed, Lee turned to face the sky, as if expecting to see a mushroom cloud, like something out of an action movie. There was nothing. "It sounded like an explosion at the camping grounds."
"The children. Tao. Kevin. Gary. They're at the camping grounds. What if…" An uncomfortable pit of dread gripped her stomach, as if she had eaten something foul. "Lee. Lee!"
Lee turned and ran back up the trail. It had taken four hours to reach this place. It would take another four to get back. What if they were too late? No. She couldn't give up on hope. Breaking out into a sprint, she chased after her brother.
.
Robert addressed the group. "Tyson has been found."
Hilary's face brightened, and she unclasped her hands. "Where is he? How did you find him?"
Clearing her throat, Judy stepped forward. "I have resources available to me that allows me to track him down. He has his phone on him."
"But he didn't contact us?" Daichi said.
"He has the Mark, Daichi. He's not thinking straight," Max replied. He turned to Robert. "So, where is he?"
"At Uluru."
Raising an eyebrow, Rei said, "Why?"
Robert cleared his throat. "Oliver translated the book and learned bitbeasts were created at least seventy thousand years ago. The local inhabitants drew and painted stories of these creatures and called them ancestral beings. These stories can be seen at the base of the rock. The early ancestors were able to form bonds with these creatures, and they would fight side by side together to vanquish their foes," she explained.
"Spare us the history lesson. How does this help Tyson?" Daichi said.
"The indigenous people of Australia are the oldest human race on the planet. They've been on this planet for at least seventy thousand years," Judy said. She looked to Robert and Romero for support.
Robert nodded. "The book goes on to detail a series of battles and rituals that took place. My ancestors fought in many battles alongside the bitbeasts. I always assumed my ancestors were the among the first people in the world to summon bitbeasts in battle, but I assumed wrong. It all started in Australia. At Uluru."
"I thought the same thing myself until Oliver translated the text for us," Romero interjected.
"So, you think Tyson is back to where it all started? Where humans and bitbeasts fought as one?" Rei said with a frown. "I guess that makes sense. They would've been the first people to record the Leviathan's existence."
Daichi scratched his head. "I don't get it."
Kenny offered an explanation. "Bitbeasts have existed since the creation of the world, but humans didn't come until much later. These indigenous tribes of Australia were the first to fight side by side with the bitbeasts. If anyone knows anything about the Leviathan, it would be them. Uluru is considered a sacred site. Sacred bitbeasts. Sacred rock. It's where it all began – where beyblading began."
"Oh, I think I get it," Daichi said.
"You can get us there, mom?"
Judy nodded. "Of course. I can organize a private jet for you and your friends. It takes about four hours to reach Uluru from here. I can have you there by nightfall if we leave within the next hour." Not one to waste time, Judy pulled out her phone and made a phone call. She exited the room to speak.
"Are you going to come, Robert?" Rei said. "We might be able to use your help. We don't know what's out there, or what could be waiting for Tyson. What about you, Romero?"
"I can't," Romero said. "I'm a coach. I train people. But I'm no true bey-warrior."
Robert shook his head. "I would be honored to attend, but this is Bladebreaker business."
"Someone needs to record history," Rei said. "You're the expert."
Robert was tempted. It would be a big honour to travel with the Bladebreakers and witness history in the making. To visit the place where humans and bitbeasts became friends. But he could not. It was not his business to be there. "I must politely decline your offer. You have triumphed against all the odds. You will succeed in this battle too. Bring Tyson and Kai home. I will host a grand party in your honour."
"So soon?"
"People will make way for you if you pay them well. Go. Save your friends. You can tell us all about it when you get back." If anyone could triumph over evil, it was Tyson and his friends. Already, they had overcome challenges they were expected to lose. You would be a fool to place on their opposition.
"We won't fail," Max said.
Daichi grinned. "Aw yeah!" he said, throwing a fist into the air. "Me and Strata Dragoon are going to wipe the dirt with this Leviathan creature! No one gets to beat Tyson into the dirt but me!" He rushed out of the room.
"Well, we certainly missed his energy around here," Rei said.
Hilary folded her arms. "I'll be happy to shut his mouth if you need me to."
Rei grinned. "I'll consider it." Grin fading, he turned to Robert as the others exited.
"Something on your mind? You look bothered."
"You saw the Mark on Tyson's arm. I've read enough science-fiction books and seen a lot of motives to know that something like that can't be good. I worry about Tyson. And Kai too." Rei paused, falling silent, seeming to become lost in his own thoughts. As if he noticed he was drifting off, Rei shook his head, then turned to Robert again. "If we fail today…. They're lost forever."
"You will not fail."
Rei didn't seem convinced. "Sooner or later, our luck will run out."
"You've overcome tough obstacles before. You've defied the odds. You have the power of the sacred bitbeasts at your side, and with their power, and your strength of character, you will overcome any obstacle with courage," Robert said sternly. "Now go. Save your friends. Although we will not be present, the beyblading community stands with you."
"Thanks, Robert."
Robert opened the door for him. Rei headed out and joined his friends. The group exited the building together, but Robert stayed behind. A part of him wished he were boarding the private jet to witness history in the making, but he knew he had made the right choice staying behind. Tyson need his teammates. Robert needed to be with his own.
He returned to his room. Both Enrique and Johnny were present. The boys were watching old beyblade matches from the first world tournament. Robert grabbed the remote off the table and turned the television off. That caught their attention. "It's good to see you both back under the same roof. I trust you are getting along?" Nothing had been broken. A positive sign.
"Robert! You're back!' Enrique exclaimed, surging to his feet.
Johnny folded his arms. "Positive news?"
"Yes. Oliver was able to translate the passages. Judy is sending the Bladebreakers to Uluru to track Tyson down, and bring him back home along with Kai. Do not ask questions. Everything is under control."
Rising to his feet, Johnny said, "So what now then?"
"We are going to plan a celebratory party for their return."
Enrique's mouth dropped open. "A party? Now you're speaking my language."
"Something tells me this isn't for wealthy people," Johnny said.
Robert shook his head. "It's for beybladers. We are a community. The tournament victory was denied to us all because of the incident that happened that resulted in the stadium collapsing. But I know Tyson's friends will succeed. That is why we are hosting a party. Now Enrique – you are an expert in these matters. You will send the invitations and arrange the venue."
"I'd love to help out and all, but… I'm kinda busy tonight."
"What are you doing?" Enrique said. "You don't have any other friends."
For once, Johnny didn't get mad. In fact, he flashed Enrique a smug look. "I'm taking out Mariam for dinner."
"What? Mariam? The Saint Shields girl?"
"Yes, Mariam."
Enrique lifted a brow. "How did you manage that? Did you pay her?"
"I… lost a battle. So, I have to take her out."
Enrique breathed a sigh of relief. "Oh. I thought you had actually managed to win her over."
"Enrique. You will be responsible for this party then since Johnathon will be busy."
"Good," the blond replied. "I didn't want to share responsibility with Johnny."
To his Johnathon's credit, he didn't tackle the taller boy to the ground. That was behaviour he typically associated with the Scot. But he was managing to show self-restraint. Impressive. Perhaps the boy was finally learning something. Perhaps losing to Mariam had humbled him. "We'll hold the party this coming weekend at the Treasury Casino in Brisbane. We can hire out a room for us all. That will give all bladers a few days to get things ready."
Enrique grinned. "I'll get started on it now. This will be a party to remember."
Johnny groaned. "Yeah, well, you do that. I'm going to get ready."
"Wait. You need to wear something nice, Johnny."
"What?"
"You're going on a date with a hot girl. You got to look good yourself. Don't dress like a common street thug. Seriously. It's a dinner date. Dark denim jeans. Matching blazer jacket. Have a nice white shirt beneath. Oh, and shoes are important too. I'd say a pair of comfortable dress loafers."
"Are you serious?"
"Enrique is the expert," Robert said.
"But he doesn't have a girlfriend."
"I just can't find the right girl, but seriously. You want to look good, Johnny. I know that's hard for someone who looks like you to look as good as me, but the effort says something." Enrique was grinning like his birthday had just come early. "We are going to go shopping, and I'm going to get you something nice to wear." He grabbed Jonathan's arm.
The Scot looked towards Robert with a desperate look for help, but Robert just shook his head, folding his arms over his chest. "You'll be fine. Enjoy tonight." He watched as Enrique dragged Jonathan out of the room. Some peace and quiet. He could arrange the venue and Enrique could sort out the social side of things.
It was going to be an evening to remember. He never disappointed.
.
Ming Ming skipped into the main room, a wide grin on her face. Never had Mystel seen the girl so happy before – had she won the lottery or gained a new singing contract? Something major must've happened to put her in an energetic mood. The rest of his teammates were seated around the kitchen table eating bacon and eggs Garland had ordered.
"You came back late last night," Brooklyn said. He grabbed his murky green-colored smoothie and brought it to his lips. He took a sip then immediately recoiled, as if the drink were poisoned. He slammed it down on the table and looked at Garland with an accusatory glare. "What is that?"
Garland turned away from the blender. "It's a vegetable smoothie."
Crusher was about to take a sip but decided against it. He pushed it towards the centre of the table as if to say, 'no thanks.' "That's kind of you, Garland, but uh, I might pass."
"I was watching movies with the Blitzkrieg Boys," Ming Ming chirped, then laid down on the sofa, a foot dangling in the air. She curled a lock of her around a finger. "Bryan is actually a really sweet person when you get to know him."
"That maniac?" Brooklyn raised an eyebrow. "Do I need to remind you that 'sweet' person punched me? I thought he was going to kill me. Did you see that rabid look in his eyes? Like a wild beast," he added with a grin.
"He just doesn't like you."
"Garland's the one he should be trying to beat up. Garland sent them to hospital."
Garland sighed. "That wasn't part of the plan, but when you are in a fight, you don't hold back. You could be fighting for your life. There are no excuses to go lightly."
"But seriously, Ming Ming? Bryan?" Brooklyn said, rounding on the petite girl. "Out of all the men you could've gone after, you chose Bryan?"
"He interests me," she said nonchalantly. "Maybe one day you'll find a girl who will capture your interest."
Brooklyn gave her a bemused smirk. "Heh. Now that would be a sight to see."
"Please. Mystel. Have your smoothie." Garland pushed the glass towards him.
Mystel rolled his eyes at Booklyn's antics then picked up a glass, brought it to his lips then sniffed it. It was a mixture of smells, but the only scent he was certain of was carrot. He peered down into the glass. He could see small orange bits of shredded carrot, but what was the other stuff? "What did you put in it?"
"Spinach, kale, cauliflower, zucchini, and carrot," Garland said. "It's healthy."
"…On second thoughts, no hard feelings, but I think I'll pass too." He put the glass down.
Garland frowned. "What's wrong with my smoothie?"
"It's just the colour. It's… off-putting," Mystel said.
Brooklyn rolled his eyes. "Anyway. Enough about smoothies and dumb Russian brutes. Let's just focus on what needs to be done. The Bladebreakers will deal with this Leviathan stuff – that's in their hands now. We have our own issues to solve – The Bai Hu Clan." He looked at Mystel and handed him his phone. "Your phone was ringing earlier. You overslept. Here."
Mystel took it and turned it on. One notification. A text message. "Hi. It's me, Mariah. I don't want things to me awkward when you arrive so I'm telling you this now. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have judged you so harshly. Love, Mariah." He read aloud to himself, temporarily forgetting there were other people in the room with him.
"Aw, that's so sweet," Ming Ming gushed. "She still likes you."
Brooklyn made a gagging noise. "Well, we can celebrate the festivities later, but Mystel and I do need to get going. We found out yesterday – a lot can change since then. We must get moving. Garland's organized a tour bus for us to get on, but there's only two seats. It'll be here shortly."
Ming Ming pouted. "You're not taking us with you?"
"We can't fit more people on. You can get there if you want, but you'll have to find some other way." Brooklyn headed towards the door.
Mystel followed him, stopped, and gave Ming Ming a sheepish grin. "Sorry, Ming Ming. But this all happened because of me. I need to fix it."
"We're a team."
"And you can do more for this team by staying home and preparing a warm welcome."
She folded her arms. "That really dampens my mood. What if you get into trouble?" She then tilted her head at Brooklyn. "The last time Brooklyn tried to blade, he ended up collapsing. What if that happens again?"
Right. Brooklyn had claimed he wanted to be on an equal level playing field by removing his bitchip from his blade, but when he added it back and summoned Zeus, the boy had collapsed. "Hm. Maybe I should take Ming Ming along instead of you. I thought the problem would be solved now – Tyson and his friends won."
"And Tyson carries the Mark on his hand. I saw it with my own eyes. It's exactly like the one I saw when the Leviathan was communicating to me through Zeus. Zeus is a … Leviathan beast." Brooklyn raked a hand through his hair, then dug a hand into his pocket pulling out his bitchip. "I'll take him with me. But now that those Horsemen creatures have gotten out, I don't know how Zeus is going to react. But I can handle it without him."
"What if you get hurt?" Ming Ming said.
"The Bai Hu Clan need to be stopped. That's all that matters now," Brooklyn remarked.
Crusher frowned. "Monica and I will hold you both in our thoughts."
Ming Ming shook her head. "I don't like this at all. Garland. Don't tell me you approve of this?"
"I have faith in them both they will succeed and return."
"Sorry, Ming Ming. You're outvoted," Mystel said.
"You better both come back. We just started learning how to be a team," she replied.
Mystel glanced at Brooklyn. She was right. At the beginning, they hadn't gotten along, but circumstances had brought them together. "You're still an ass, but I wouldn't want you to leave. We are a team. Dysfunctional perhaps, but a team, nonetheless. It was the one good thing Boris did – he brought us all under roof."
"Crush them," Crusher said.
"Take care," Garland added.
"Right. We'll see you both later."
Brooklyn pushed open the door and stepped out, Mystel following close behind.
.
"I hope the selection of movies is good," Daichi muttered, grabbing the movie guidebook. He flipped through the pages, searching for the channels. "These are all boring," he complained, sinking back in his chair.
Rei was seated next Daichi at the left window seat. Hilary, Kenny, and Max were in the middle seats. "They seem boring at first, but when you get past the first few minutes, you start to get hooked," Rei pointed out.
"Ugh, I wish there were a beyblade dish on the plane. At least that would kill some time."
"That would be incredibly risky."
Daichi tilted his head to the right then sighed. "I hate flying. Planes are boring."
"And necessary for travel. It's a short flight. Just three hours to reach Brisbane." He dug a hand into his pocket and pulled out his own pair of earphones. The ones the people gave on the planes were not of good quality. "You'll find something to do, Daichi. I'm going to try and sleep."
Wishful thinking. Trying to sleep next to someone like Daichi was impossible. After a few moments, Rei opened his eyes and glanced to the right. Daichi was watching videos from the tournament hosted on the sports channel.
"I should've been here," Daichi muttered. "Those bastards. What did they want?"
Rei took off his earphones off. "Revenge. They're faces from our past. I guess you could say they were faces we had forgotten and left behind."
"What did you do to them?" Daichi said, an eyebrow raised.
Right. Daichi didn't know anything about their past. He doubted the boy even cared, but conversation helped to pass the time. He sighed. "We beat them in beybattles, and they didn't take it kindly. Bruce was banished from the tribe for breaking the traditional laws of our people. Alan stole the rock from Judy's laboratory. You can imagine how that went. Carlos used to be part of Kai's old gang. Kai called him out for being weak and sent him packing. And Alexander. Well, he was a Biovolt boy. Tyson beat him. Alexander disappeared."
"Well, they should've just gotten over it."
"In the same way you found it difficult to accept a loss when Tyson first beat you?"
Daichi glowered. "That was different!"
"I guess you could make that argument, but these boys… Their lives changed for the worse upon their defeats. They could've made their lives better for themselves, but they chose to take the wrong path of vengeance instead." He sighed again. "This is what happened. Douglas lured them in and promised them power. They took it eagerly, seeing it as a chance to redeem themselves by beating us."
"Douglas?"
"He's the man behind the PBB organization. You know, the All-Starz team and facility? That's all Douglas's idea. Judy is just the one who leads the projects and manages the people, but he calls all the shots." His mouth went dry, and his fingers gripped his knees. Never had he thought ill of the man, but his greed pushed him to breaking point. "He had a rivalry with Mr. Dickinson, but I didn't think it would ever result in his death."
"Mr. Dickinson didn't deserve to die. I heard about it the airport on the way to New Zealand. I thought it was a joke at first." He then frowned. "What happened to Kai? Did Mr. Sourpuss leave?"
"He fell," Rei said, recalling the hole in the ground. "And at the end of the battle… The stadium collapsed and the ground opened where Tyson and Kai were. They told us to leave…" He trailed off, preferring not to speak about the past aloud again. "The Leviathan bitbeasts… They escaped. Their escape caused something to happen. Another realm created by their power."
Daichi's eyes widened. "But Tyson was found. That's what Judy said. Why not Kai?"
"Kai would never allow someone else to take the fall for him. That's not what he is like, and I've known him for years. He's more stubborn than Tyson," he said with a slight grin. His smile was short-lived. "We don't know where Kai is, but we're hoping whatever Tyson found, will lead us back to Kai too. All I know for certain is that Tyson needs our help."
"Tyson better not fail. Someone needs to knock some sense into him."
Rei chuckled. "That's the spirit, Daichi."
"Where do you think those escaped bitbeasts went?"
Rei looked out the window. All he could see was the plane's wing and a sea of fluffy clouds. "No one can say for certain. They just… went up into the air and vanished. Maybe they went to Tyson, drawn to the Mark. Who really knows? Or maybe they returned from where they came from." He averted his gaze and leaned back in his seat.
Daichi switched the screen off, a rare look of concern on his face. He turned to Rei again. "What do you think the future holds for us?"
"Truthfully? I don't really know."
"Are you going to blade in another tournament?"
Rei shook his head. "I think it's high time I considered retiring from the competitive scene. That's what my plan was this year, but Tyson convinced me to stand with him once more. But after this… I can't do it again. I'll think about all the lives lost instead." All they had to do was not compete in the tournament. Winning had cost everything. Tyson and Kai would both still be here otherwise.
"But you'll still blade, right?"
"Blading is my life. I'm not going to walk away from it. Set up a blading school you know. Maybe I'll join the BBA and help rebuild it and promote blading all around the world. Boris's idea without his motivation. Make blading go pro." Like the White Tiger Hills. They could benefit with more resources and better opportunities to blade with the best. "What are your plans?"
"If you're not going to blade in the tournament then there's no point in me competing. How can I become the world champion if Tyson's not going to compete?"
"Fair point. Though, you don't need to prove yourself, Daichi. You're a champion even if you don't carry the title in the same way Tyson does." Sure, they had all received a medal for winning the world tournament, but Tyson had fought the toughest battles. He deserved it more. Up ahead he could see one of the flight attendants bringing the trolley out. Appetizer meals. "Are you hungry? Here's your chance to get something to eat. Fill your stomach up. We might not be eating anything else for a while."
Daichi grinned and patted his stomach. "You can count on it."
Rei didn't say anything and turned back to the window. Stay strong, Tyson. We're coming.
.
The Blitzkrieg Boys had gone down to the lake to catch a ride on the Earnslaw ship, while Tala had decided to stay at home, claiming he didn't feel too good. A lie of course, but his teammates didn't question him, and Tala was relieved. He needed privacy. Boris had wanted to contact him, and today was the online meeting date.
He sat down before his laptop and brought up the meeting link. Boris was online. The man's face appeared on the screen. Even though he was behind a screen, Tala's skin crawled. "Boris."
"Tala. It's good to see you again. Why, it's been a few months."
The man chuckled. An oddly discomforting sound. "What exactly do you want? I'm not sending you a best wishes card if that's what you were hoping for," Tala remarked.
"I wanted to talk to you. I saw your matches on the television. Very nicely done."
Tala scowled. "I don't need approval from you."
"I trained you well."
"You took my life."
Boris shook his head. "Your parents did. You were always going to be Biovolt's property as soon as you became a teenager. We had arranged a deal. You would become my legal property. Biovolt's property. Your parents met an untimely death earlier than expected. You were able to start your training earlier. Bryan, Spencer and Ian were at the same orphanage."
Tala gripped the handrails of the chair. An icy coldness poured through him. It wasn't a stroke of bad luck. All planned. "You had me signed up to be a soldier from the day I was born. My parents. They agreed. Why?" He tried to keep his tone steady. His parents had known this man. They had agreed to his terms.
"Yes. You were always destined to be a warrior, Tala."
He was gripping the chair so firmly his knuckles had started to hurt. "You ruined my life!" he snarled.
Boris chuckled. "I made you a strong beyblader, Tala. Without me, you would've ended up in a rehabilitation centre. Your father had been discharged from the army and he began to drink. He hit you and your mother many times. Your mother left and died in a car crash. Your father was thrown behind bars and left to rot. I saved you from that life. I gave you a home and a new sense of purpose. I made you the warrior you are now." The gloating smirk on his face widened.
Tala pushed his chair back. "I would rather have been living on the streets fighting for survival than to have been with you," he said through clenched teeth, his hands beginning to tremble. Again, he recollected himself, and changed the topic.
"You almost served your purpose, but those meddling Bladebreakers messed everything up as always. But I've heard their luck has run out. Those bitbeasts that escaped… The Leviathan. Fascinating really. I'm envious. I wish I had been there. Douglas got that idea from me."
Tala raised an eyebrow. "Leviathan?"
A pause then, "Yes. I came across it in my studies years ago before Biovolt was founded. Rumours of powerful ancient bitbeasts hidden away. That was going to be my next plan of attack, but alas, here I am behind bars. But Douglas has stepped up nicely. It all started with Black Dranzer. Then Cerberus. And finally, Zeus."
Of course, Boris would know about the Four Horsemen's bitbeasts. Anything shady and dangerous, and Boris was most likely involved in it. "Kai was supposed to be the one, wasn't he? Black Dranzer was a steppingstone. You wanted to train him so he could be the one to rule over us all."
"Voltaire offered his grandson as an experiment."
"Kai failed. You turned to me. I failed. Then Brooklyn became your master plan," Tala said smugly. "You failed again. All your plans ended up in failure, Boris. Let me guess. Were you behind Stanley's death?"
"No. That was someone else."
"Who?"
"Douglas."
Douglas. The man who was the brains behind the PPB All-Starz. "Why?"
"Douglas and Stanley had a long relationship. A strained one."
"How do you know Douglas killed him?"
"The BBA was financially close to ruin," Boris explained. "Stanley was borrowing money from Douglas to keep the organization afloat. The Bladebreakers were not supposed to advance past the American tournament, but Stanley didn't tell the boys that."
"You're making this all up."
Boris turned his head to the side and looked at him. It was like having death itself stare at him in the face. "Judy would know. She was covering up for him. How do I know? Douglas contacted me about science and technology because he knew I would have the answers. I told you earlier Douglas learned everything from me."
It always came back to Boris, but Tala couldn't pin the blame on him. Not this time. Boris didn't kill people. He played with their minds and enjoyed watching them fall. Killing someone took the fun out of the game. "How do we stop it?"
Although he was on deaths door, he still managed to utter a laugh. "I'm not going to tell you."
Tala scowled. "You're unbelievable. Your last chance to do something good for the world, and you're not taking that chance. You want us to suffer."
"Why would I not?"
He surged to his feet. Of course, Boris wouldn't give up the information. That would be too easy. He had no reason to see the world prosper and succeed. "If you believe in a hell, then I hope you find yourself at the very bottom," Tala whispered, tone laced with poison. "You raised me to be like you. To think like you. Your hatred made me into a blader. As long as my heart keeps pumping, I will forever hate you."
Boris smiled. "You're more like me than you'd care to admit."
Tala loosened his grip on the chair. "The clock is ticking, Boris. I will wait."
"Death won't change anything. You'll always be damaged. Forever broken. I win."
"I can't change my past, but your future is behind bars until your death. I think I win."
Tala slammed the lid down, and buried his face in his hands, heart hammering wildly in his chest. He waited for his body to calm down then peered at his laptop once more. Even when he was behind bars, Boris still made his blood boil. "You can't hurt me anymore, Boris," he murmured. "I'm free of you."
And with that said, he put his laptop back in its bag. Boris could no longer hurt him.
.
Dark clouds billowed above the mountains, shielding the world beneath in darkness. It was broad daylight, yet it felt like it was almost night. The air was crisp and cool, and a strong breeze blew through the valley. Mystel shuddered, wrapping his arms around himself, pulling the jumper tighter. "I feel like I've jumped into a bathtub of ice," he said. He gazed upwards. A few drops of rain fell on his head. He wiped them off. "A bit of an apocalyptic feel, yes?"
Brooklyn nodded. "Indeed. Now, where are they?"
Mystel looked to the mountains. "It's hard to say. They could be hiding anywhere. Knowing the White Tigers, they could be up in the mountains on a hiking trail." He tilted his head towards the campsite. "But let's check the grounds first."
The wind started to howl. Brooklyn grumbled. "This is not my idea of a fun adventure."
It took all his willpower to prevent his teeth chattering as they approached the campsite. He noticed there were some black scorch marks on the ground, and some tents had been blown away. Most alarming was the number of sore and tired bodies about. One of them was Kevin. Mystel rushed forward.
The green-haired boy stirred awake, uttering a low groan, and rolling over onto his back. He coughed a few times then forced himself to sit up. "…What the heck…" he murmured, rubbing his eyes.
Mystel knelt next to him. "Kevin?"
"Mystel? That you?"
"What happened here?"
Kevin wiped his eyes. "We were preparing food for the children… Then we were going to go on a hike through the mountains to build up strength and endurance. Mariah wanted to go down and see the glacier and Lee went with her. It's a four hour walk to get there and another four to return. Tao… Tao went on a hike alone to check the trail. He hasn't returned."
Mystel cursed. "And then what?"
"An explosion happened. We thought it was part of the storm coming through the valley, but we saw a bitbeast in the snow. Some… big cat. A beyblade came through and a blizzard happened. Then boom."
"The Bai Hu Clan. They're here." Mystel looked at Brooklyn. "That's a problem."
"What? They're here?" Kevin said, his eyes wide.
Mystel placed a hand on his shoulder. "Just stay here. None of you appear to be injured. Nothing more than a big snow blast." Fortunately. But it was just a distraction. The camping grounds was vulnerable. All part of the plan. The Bai Hu Clan had known. He wanted to hit something, but there was nothing but the ground to hit. Outsmarted. "We have to find Tao. He could be in trouble."
"But-"
"Kevin. You need to stay here. You can't fight these people."
He didn't give Kevin a chance to respond. The sound of footsteps caught his attention. Mystel climbed to his feet and turned around. Mariah and Lee were sprinting towards them. What was supposed to be a happy reunion between himself and Mariah would be delayed. "Mariah. Lee."
"Did you do this?" Lee demanded.
"We just got there like you two," Brooklyn remarked, folding his arms.
Mariah dropped besides Kevin. "Kevin! Kevin, are you okay?"
He nodded. "I'm fine. A bit sore, but nothing serious."
"And the children?" She glanced up searching for them. There were only a few sore bodies.
"They followed Gary towards the main building further down the road," he explained then climbed to his feet, a hand resting on his upper right arm. "We needed some water, so Gary took most of the group there to buy some."
She hurried over to the remaining children to check on their conditions. No one seemed terribly hurt. A scare. That was their intention. To give them a taste of their power. "You lot aren't safe here. You need to go. This is just the beginning."
Lee folded his arms. "We can't just leave. We took a tour bus to get here, and there's not another one until tomorrow."
Another strong icy blast blew through the valley. In the distance, he heard the thundering roars of an avalanche in the distance. "Stay at the camp and look out for trouble.
"We can help fight," Lee said.
Brooklyn shook his head. "I've seen your battles. You're not up for this."
Lee growled. "Hey. What's that supposed to mean? Galleon and I are not weak!"
"I've seen their bitbeasts. They're prehistoric creatures. Much older than yours, and they all have a blading style like Mystel," Brooklyn said, tilting his head towards the blond. He then frowned. "From what Mystel told me, you guys couldn't get the fruits on top of the mountain in your region… What makes you think you have the skill to compete? You can help us by getting out of there. We didn't come here to watch you lot throw your lives away."
"He's right, Lee. We can't risk fighting."
He grimaced. "I don't like it. This is our fight too."
"And it's because of me they're here," Mystel said.
Lee sighed. "Fine. But if you two are gone for too long, we're coming to look for you."
Brooklyn gestured to the sky. "In this weather? There's a blizzard coming."
"Then you better rug up so you don't turn into a human ice cube. We've got a lot of warm coats in the tents. Take them." Lee pointed to one of the tents.
Mariah met Mystel's gaze. "Please… Stay safe."
He nodded. "I'll do my best. Go. Take the children and leave. We'll talk later. I promise."
"I have no doubt." She walked over to the children and helped them to their feet. Once the children were gathered, she joined Lee and Kevin. Again, she glanced over her shoulder and looked at him then turned away once more, retreating into the distance.
Brooklyn approached a tent and peered his head inside. "This isn't going to be like any fight we've fought before."
"I'm aware of that."
"Think about it, Mystel. We're out here in the elements battling on foreign soil." Brooklyn gestured to the clouds above. "And there's a storm brewing."
"We can handle it. Well, I can. I don't know about you and Zeus. We're going to need him."
Brooklyn sighed, and pulled out his beyblade. He glanced down at Zeus. "I hope so too."