^ ^ ^ ^ ^

* * * * * * Change in setting

" . . . " Talking

' . . . ' Thinking

` . . . ` Bitbeast talking, if any

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

"How is she?" asked a low voice. The voice was kept to a minimum volume.

Michelle stirred. Her eyes opened to see Kai beside her, talking to Vivian whom spoke, "She should wake up by now."

Truly, Kai turned around and saw Michelle conscious.

"Thank god! How are you?" He propped Michelle up with pillows.

Michelle answered weakly, "I am fine. Vivian, what happened to me? I had been feeling suffocated at times!" She scrutinized the surroundings and found herself in a white room.

Vivian's eyes glittered as Michelle queried her. "I would suggest that you rest for a while. We cannot afford to lose you now."

"But what about the competition?"

"You want to blade straight away?" questioned Vivian.

Michelle nodded her head vigorously. Kai rejected the idea.

"The finals can go on tomorrow. I want you to get checked, Michelle."

"You know this is impossible. The people have been waiting, especially if I am one of the finalists. If this match is postponed, people might think that I am pushing the limits as a BBA official! I am the director of BBA and I will never tarnish the image of BBA too. No one can stop me."

"Michelle!"

"Kai! Believe me. I can have a check up tomorrow instead. However, this means that our original plan to go to Russia tonight has to change. Vivian, please inform Fann, Alex and Angel to leave for the mansion in a later date."

"What mansion?" asked Kai.

"Boris' place of stay in Australia." Replied Vivian, her eyes glittering yet again. Then, she took out a red pill from her pocket.

"If you insist on battling now, swallow this down. It will clear your throat."

"Thanks."

"You're welcomed."

Vivian left the room.

* * * * * * *

"Are you sure of continuing to battle?"

"Of course I'm sure and ready!"

"What ever you wish. I thought I'd lose you."

"Not till I get our revenge." swore Michelle.

* * * * * * *

"Ladies and gentlemen, the moment all of you are waiting for. The Finals between the Siblingsblade and Bladebreakers! Lets start the first round! It's Kenny vs. Max! 3-2-1 let it rippp!"

"Don't think I'll let you go easy on me!" smirked Kenny at his friend, Max.

"You too!" exclaimed Max.

"Stratch!" Draciel's head grew long and intertwined itself round Kenny's blade.

Dizarri could not arise from the bit. She was powerless to attack Draciel!

However, Dizarri glowed and Draciel released its grip from Kenny's blade even when Max did not tell him to do so.

"Draciel! Why are you retreating?" questioned Kenny.

Dizarri arose and looked at Draciel sadly.

` Don't fear me. I am your opponent. Please forget our relationship. `

Draciel bowed its head and moved closer to Dizarri again. Its head bided Dizarri.

She telepathed to Kenny.

` Master, command me! `

"Dizarri, veer yourself to the wall. Knock Draciel numerous times!" Kenny blurted out.

Suddenly, her powers increased tremendously as she did as told. Draciel was being slammed to the wall. It slowly released its grip on Dizarri.

"Sacred heaven!"

"Max loses to Kenny in the first set! We will take the best of three results to determine the winning team!

The second set will be Kai vs. Mica! 3-2-1 let it rippp!" announced Nick.

* * * * * *

Kenny stared at his blade thoughtfully.

'My blade suddenly increased its power!'

` It's supposed to be so, Kenny. `

'Dizzi!' telepathed Kenny back to Dizarri.

` I hope that Michelle can discover this power too! `

'What power?'

` The power of the heart and mind. `Dizarri replied Kenny's question mysteriously.

* * * * * * *

Meanwhile, the battle of Kai vs. Mica was underway.

"Dranzer, Fire arrows at Tri-star!" commanded Kai.

"Escapoly, Tri-star!" Mica gasped. Dranzer is too powerful for Tri-star to handle. Because Dranzer is, after all, an Ancient Element Bitbeast.

And it's left with the battle of Michelle vs. Tyson to determine the champion team.

* * * * * * *

` Let me say this straight. I don't want Dragoon to be the same as Draciel. ` Swen telepathed straight to Tyson. He was shocked to hear Swen's voice. Dragoon was startled too.

` I'll try my best. ` Dragoon replied to Swen.

"Dragoon, let them taste your Storm Attack!" Tyson ordered, he is confident of providing tough resistance to Swen's power.

` This is the last test for you, Michelle. Please use the power of your heart and mind to increase your ability. `

'I know I still have lots to learn and I'll defeat my opponent.' Smiled Michelle.

She shouted as the storm approached her blade.

'I don't need you to appear, Swen.' Telepathed Michelle confidently.

"Dodge the storm! Shieltor!"

A wall appeared in front of Michelle's blade. Swen was nowhere to be seen.

* * * * * * *

Max clutched his fist. "She's arrogant!"

` She needs to be that confident. ` Spoke Dizarri in her angel form.

"Dizzi! How can you appear as and when you like to?" exclaimed Max.

` Swen and Dranzer can appear as and when they like too. Why can't I? ` Retorted Dizzi.

` Frankly, I have curbed myself to speak sarcastically already! I really want to pick a fight with someone. ` Sighed Dizzi.

The others sweatdropped.

* * * * * * *

Suddenly, Michelle boomed, "Waterdance combined with Ocean Tremble!"

Then, something strange happened. Dragoon was stopped, hovering in mid air, like a stone.

A snake-like creature was seen. In fact, it was made of water.

The dish, where both blades were, trembled slightly. The creature splashed itself onto Michelle.

"What the . . .?" gaped Tyson.

"What happened?" Kai asked loudly. "Michelle!" He screamed her name as he saw in horror that Michelle collapsed right in front of his eyes.

He did not notice his blade glowing red. Dranzer, clad in red clothes stood beside Kai.

In split seconds, air stood still.

Everything, including people, became like stone carvings.

Time was stopped!

* * * * * * *

Michelle was dazed. She felt a warm feeling in her heart and was about to sleep eternally when a pair of wings wrapped round her body.

Michelle was forced to stay awake.

` Michelle, you have risked your life to reveal my real power. And you'll get an insight to all my capabilities as an Ancient Bitbeast. ` A voice entered Michelle's head.

She clutched her head tightly.

'I'm hardly breathing . . . please stop . . .'thought Michelle. 'Am I dying?'

` Don't resist it, Mistress. Embrace it. ` Spoke the voice again. ` You know who I am very well. `

'What terrifying power.' Thought Michelle as she relaxed her body. 'I can finally take my revenge. Why am I chosen?'

` You are not chosen by me. You are Destiny's child. One day, you'll return to the skies, but not until your soul awakes. `

'What does it mean?'

` You have stopped time. I'm here to lead you. ` Spoke the voice again.

* * * * * * *

Michelle, who was floating in a lying position, glowed a pure white light. Purer than Dizazri's golden light.

All these while, tears kept on flowing down Dranzer and Dizarri's eyes. Their times were not stopped. The others were.

` It's begun . . . The curse that plagued the Mystical Heyday of Beyblade origins. ` Dizarri muttered. As she did so, a dark shadow crept out of her body.

Dranzer just cried, ` Swen. `

Time resumed.

* * * * * * *

Kai sunk to his knees. But when he looked up, he saw Michelle smiling.

Michelle looked as if she has aged dramatically. There were even white hairs to her bangs.

Tyson had no idea what happened exactly. But his blade lay under his feet.

Meanwhile, Michelle's blade still spun beautifully.

The commentator was speechless for a while.

"Though with no idea as to what has happened, the result is clear. Siblingsblade wins the 10th Team Beyblade Australian Championships!" Nick shouted excitedly.

* * * * * * *

Tyson stared into his blade. He could not believe that he had lost without knowing.

He was dazed by the result. Michelle came to him and took out her hand. He shook it.

"Aren't you splashed by the snake-like water?" Tyson exclaimed, as Michelle was not wet at all.

"I am." Michelle smiled.

Tyson exclaimed again, "Your hair!"

"I had a weird encounter."

"What encounter?" questioned Kai from behind. "Tell me."

"Um . . . ah!" Michelle's head felt like splitting into two and she collapsed into Kai's arms.

As Michelle fell into unconscious, the same voice spoke, ` This is a secret between you and us, no one can know this, except you. Remember that. `

* * * * * *

Dranzer and Dizarri entered their blades when time resumed. Kenny still stared his blade thoughtfully.

'Something out of this world has happened just now. But what is it?'

* * * * * *

The spectators cheered as Mica represented her team to receive the golden trophy. Mica was grinning when she went on stage. Kenny was

The Bladebreakers, however, were not that happy. Especially Kai, he was brooding over Michelle.

When he carried her to her room, he noticed that Michelle's bangs were decolouring itself to white colour.

Swen then appeared and spoke, ` I'll take care of Mistress. `

He looked tired too.

Kai could not stop himself from asking, " What happened out there?"

He was curious to see Swen gazing at him with a melancholic expression.

`You'll understand someday. ` He relied mysteriously.

* * * * * * *

Max nudged Kai's arm.

Kai snapped out of his thoughts and received the silver trophy.

Vodablade received the bronze trophy.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, we'll gladly announce the end of the 10th Team Beyblade Australian Championships. We'll now invite our deputy director of the BBA to end this tournament! Mr. Dickinson please."

The people in the stadium mumbled. "He is the grandfather of Jason of the Siblingsblade, the person who killed the person who took hostages in the Ball Dance Incident."

Meanwhile, Mr. Dickinson delivered his speech.

"This tournament had its excitement and as well as happenings of the unusual. I really hope that all the spectators, who have paid money to watch this tournament and staying with us throughout it, have enjoyed all the matches.

I represent the BBA in thanking the competitors for the interesting matches you've played. Thank you for making this tournament a success!"

* * * * * * *

In a mansion in Canberra, smoke came out from a television screen.

"Damn it!" A hand bent the surface of a wooden table.

The man, with purple hair, gritted his teeth in utmost hatred.

"Boris, Master Voltaire wants to speak to you." Spoke a woman, her face wearing a hate expression too.

Boris staggered to his feet but sat down again.

"I'll make Michelle pay for this poison! Beatrix, join the phone line!" snarled Boris.

"Don't shout at me!" Beatrix did as told.

"Boris, how are you?"

"Fine, Master Voltaire."

Boris' finger trembled.

"You have failed. But, I'll give you your last chance. If you fail again, come back to Russia. Understand?" cackled Voltaire.

"Also, keep an eye on Kai. Persuade to join our forces. If not, KILL!"

"Gladly." Grinned Boris, even though his lips twitched a bit. A plan was formed in his mind.

"When will you recover?" queried Voltaire.

"In another three days, I will take action." smirked Boris. "They are dead for sure." Eyes narrowed, Boris laughed loudly.

"Come here, Driana. My black Dranzer!"

The angel bitbeast appeared in front of Boris from thin air.

`I'm at your service, Master. `

* * * * * * *

Oh dear . . . The competition has finally ended! This must be the longest story on one Beyblade tournament, ain't it? Anyway, I'm glad to move the story onto another country as I've said earlier on!

How you've enjoyed reading those matches!

Bye-bye.

Signed Virginia.