BEYBLADE: THE NEXT GENERATION Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade, do own my characters!

Chapter 3: Melting Ice

"Wow, I can't believe we were chosen to become Mr. Tyson's new team" gleamed James as he, Graham, Maria and Liam waited at the bus stop for Tyson to come and pick them up and take them to their mysterious destination.

"Maybe we should think of a team name?", said James, "how about the Blade Destroyers, or the Armageddon Squad".

"How about the Shut your gob and or I'll smack you one!" said Maria through gritted teeth.

"I don't think she likes me that much" whispered James to Graham and Liam.

"Maria is cool", said Liam, "she just has a heart of ice".

"Means I don't get soft like you starting to become Liam. Soon you'll be like Graham and James and believing in team-work".

"You know, you sound exactly like my old team-member Kai" said a voice. The gang turned round to see Tyson hopping out of a black limo. "You're not his daughter are you?".

"I don't think so" snarled Maria as she and the others piled into the car.

"Wow, this car has a TV and a DVD player and a hi-fi and...." gasped James.

"All it needs now is a Jacuzzi" joked Graham.

"That could be arranged" said Tyson with a smirk and the gang burst out laughing.

"Looks at them all being so friendly", thought Maria to herself as she glanced down at her necklace and grasped the picture inside, "We don't need them Canini, we can do this on our own".

The limo came to a halt outside a huge limestone building. "Welcome to my home" said Tyson and could tell the gang were impressed.

"Well come on in, and close your mouths or you might trip over them they are hanging so low" joked Tyson and before he could say 'Let It Rip' the gang had piled inside his mansion.

"I see we have guests" said a man wearing goggles and had wavy ginger hair.

"No way, that's Kenny from the Bladebreakers!" cried James and Graham in unison.

"My reputation exceeds me" smiled Kenny. He was wearing a white lab coat with a white shirt and green bow tie underneath and grey trousers.

"I wondered when you guys were going to get here" came a voice and out stepped a familiar face.

"Adam Lewis! What are you doing here?" asked Graham. (A/N: Adam was mentioned in chapter 1...so you all know).

"Adam is going to be the technician of the team like Kenny was to us Bladebreakers", said Tyson, "he has brilliant know-how of the ins and outs of the physics behind Beyblades. He's a valuable asset to the team".

"What good is a geek?", snapped Maria, "I thought we were chosen to beat everyone into dust....not to talk about algebra" and with that she stormed out of the building.

"I swear she is so much like Kai it's scary" said Tyson.

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"Stupid team", thought Maria, "who needs them anyway. I can win no matter what!"

"Oi, girl" came a voice which snapped Maria out of her thoughts. She turned and saw a boy with spiky hair with blue tips and wearing a black hoodie and denim jeans. "Wanna blade?" inquired the guy.

Maria smirked. "This will be easy" she thought.

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"I don't see why we should go looking for her. I mean she was so mean and nasty to us she deserves to get lost" sulked James as he, Graham, Liam and Adam wandered the streets.

"Maria is my best friend. Sure she may be a bit cold but I couldn't live with myself if something happened to her" said Liam.

"We understand mate", said Graham as he put his hand on Liam's shoulder, "we'll help you look" and he glanced back and gave James a scowl.

Suddenly two small boys ran past. "Can you believe some girl decided to take on Dave? He's the toughest blader is these parts" said one of the boys to the other as they ran to the action.

"That must be Maria" said Liam and he darted after the boys with the others in hot pursuit.

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"Girl, you might as well go back to playing with your dolls 'cos I'm gonna grind you into the dust" smirked Dave as he and Maria's blades collided in the stadium.

"Whatever jerk" snarled Maria and she focused on the match. "I have to find an opening in his attack" she thought to herself.

Suddenly there was a commotion behind her. She turned to see Graham, James, Liam and Adam standing there.

"Oh great" she said out loud and turned back to the battle.

"Maria, we're here to help", said Liam, "We're your friends".

"I don't need any friends", growled Maria, "so go back to your precious Tyson and leave me be".

"You're one of the ones that was selected to be in Tyson's team? This victory is going to be even sweeter" smirked Dave. "OK, knock her out" he shouted to his blade.

His blade sweeped forward catching Maria off guard and sending her blade into a spinning frenzy.

"Maria let us help you" cried Liam.

"I don't need your help so just leave me alone" she cried back and tried to work out a strategy in her head.

"Right that's enough", said Graham, "Maria we are a team. you may not like the idea but we are and we need to be able to work together and listen to each other otherwise we aren't gonna get anywhere in any championship. But we're not just a team, we're your friends and friends stick by one another and we aren't going to leave you to get your ass kicked!".

Maria turned and looked at her team mates. "Friends....", she thought, "but I've never had any friends".

"Maria" came a voice. Maria looked around then realised the voice came from her necklace.

"Who are you?" she thought. "I am your guardian spirit. I am Canini. Believe in yourself and friendship and you will succeed."

"I believe" she thought. "I believe" she cried out loud and her necklace shone sending out a green light straight into her Beyblade.

"What the f....." said Dave.

"Canini, unleash your power and together we shall destroy him" Maria cried and her blade shone with a bright green light. Then a wolf began to rise out of the blade. It had huge paws and teeth and it's tail was just pure fire.

"Canini, use your Fire Wheel attack and show him the true power of friendship" commanded Maria and Canini, and Maria's blade, began to spin and it appeared that Maria's blade just exploded into a ball of flames. The flames charged towards Dave's blade and engulfed it sending out a huge ball of light and sent Dave's blade flying out the ring.

"Maria is the winner" cried Liam and the crowd cheered.

Maria walked over to Dave and stuck her hand out. "It was a good match" she said and smiled. Dave looked down at her hand, then knocked it away.

"I don't need your pity. You may have won this battle but I guarantee we shall meet again and next time you won't be so lucky" he growled and picked up his blade and walked off.

"Great battle" said James and smiled.

"That was amazing. I'd love to study your blade when we get back to Tyson's...if you're coming back." said Adam.

The team looked at Maria waiting in anticipation. "Course I'm coming back. Can't get rid of me that easily" she said.

"Cool", said Graham, "maybe we could call the team the Ice-Breakers".

"Maybe we could", smiled Maria, "maybe we could".

TO BE CONTINUED..............

(What you think? I know it's rather cliched but hey I think it works)