Disclaimer: Does it look like I own Beyblade? In case you can't tell it's a
rhetoric question or that you can't figure out the answer, I will tell you,
It's "no".
The Blade Breakers sat in an ice cream parlour and were enjoying their rests, and in Tyson's case, that also includes stuffing himself silly with ice cream, despite the fact he just had a huge lunch. Unfortunately Shea had to pay for him, because of the bet she had with Ray. It was a bright afternoon, warm and shuffled with slight breezes.
"We did well so far." Said Kenny, who was watching the replays of their matches on his laptop while eating his hot fudge sundae. "I never thought we could claim three straight victories from the Majestics."
Shea laughed, "Oh come on, Chief! Give us a little credit!"
"Yeah, Chief!" Said Tyson through a thick mask of ice cream, "We beat them without breaking a sweat. I didn't even get to play! So when is the final? I can't wait."
"I will check on that." Kenny replied, "Dizzi, can you please check the schedule on the net."
Dizzi grumbled, "Of course, I will do all the work, and you can just eat your hot fudge sundae. And I don't even get paid!"
She did the job nonetheless, and she announced, "Sunday, July 11th, which is the day after tomorrow."
"Who are we facing?" Max asked.
"Not known yet." Said Dizzi, "We are playing the winner between the White Tigers and the Demolition Boys. They are having their match in exactly thirty minutes."
"Hey, why don't we check it out?" Ray asked.
Tyson grinned, "Yeah, Ray, any thing that involves your girl friend is worth checking out, huh?"
Ray threw him an irritated glance and didn't reply.
"Actually, it is a very good idea. We need to learn as much as possible about our opponents." Kenny said.
"We are going then." Said Kai, standing up and walking out of the door.
The others stood up to and made to follow him.
Tyson shouted, "Wait! I haven't finished my extra large banana split yet!"
There came a reply from Kai, somewhat faint because of the distance, "Shut up and follow."
The Blade Breakers reached the stadium and found themselves front row seats. The game was just beginning.
"Welcome! To our second semi-final match!" AJ screamed, "The winner of this match will go on to the finals against the returning world champions the Blade Breakers!"
Brad continued in his baritone voice, "And here are our competing teams, the White Tigers and the Demolition Boys!"
The audiences cheered as the two teams stepped into the centre of the stadium.
"Let us take a look at today's dish." Brad introduced, "We call this the Arabian nights!"
The mechanisms slowly opened to reveal a new dish. It was covered in nothing but sand, with a few cactus plants strewn across.
AJ shouted, "Wow! That is one crazy dish. Even the most balanced beyblade would have a problem spinning on that sand! Let's see how our bladers handle that. First up from the White Tigers is Kevin. This kid has some tough fibre within him, and his monkey bit-beast Galman is nobody's fool! From the Demolition Boys we have Ian. He must love this desert dish of ours more than others. His bit-beast Wyborg is a sandy snake."
The two bladers walked up to the dish and readied themselves. With the usual slogan line "Let it rip!" the two blades were off. They sailed into the dish and stayed spinning in their own corners.
Kevin shouted eagerly, "Galman! Attack!"
His lavender blade leaped, and soon many illusions of spinning blades accompanied it. They formed a circle and lunged at the other blade.
Ian smirked, "Is that the best you can do?"
With that his blade sank beneath the shifting sand and disappeared.
"That is not good." Said Shea with concern, "Ian's blade has too much of a field advantage."
Just as she finished her sentence, Ian's blade emerged from the sand and crashed toward the lavender one. But the other blade was not idle. It leaped again and landed on Ian's blade.
Kevin smiled devilishly, "Of course, I keep a few tricks up my sleeves as well."
Ian's blade struggled hard to shake the other blade, though it struggled in vain. Kevin laughed, but his laugh stopped abruptly and turned into a croak in his throat. Ian's blade sank into the sand again and was nowhere to be found. His own lavender blade was now spinning aimlessly on the desert floor.
Ian sneered, "Really, you think you can trap a desert snake in sand? I will show you how the desert works. Wyborg! Sand bind!"
The desert shifted and tumbled. Columns of sand rose. They lengthened and thinned and began to whip around, looking like monstrous arms flailing in the air. The sand ropes closed in around the lavender blade and wrapped around it tightly. The lavender blade slowed and finally stopped spinning.
"No!" Kevin cried.
Ian laughed coldly, "Don't lament so early. The good part hasn't even begun. Wyborg, absorb his bit-beast!"
There was a swirl of light. The golden monkey bit-beast rose from the lavender blade and was pulled to Ian's blade. It struggled and shrieked in vain. Soon the light was gone and all was still again. Kevin didn't shout, he was staring silently at Ian, an expression akin to horror on his face.
Tyson hit the railing of the watch stand hard, though he didn't say anything. He was too enraged for words. Max was staring down unbelievingly.
"No, not again!" Kenny murmured, "Isn't once enough?"
"The Demolition Boys win the first match!" AJ announced, though he sounded a little hesitant.
Kevin returned to his teammates, head bowed and crestfallen.
"Sorry, guys." He muttered.
Mariah said soothingly, "Don't let it get you, Kevin. It's only one match. We will win this."
With that she stood up and walked towards the dish.
"Mariah!" Lee called to her.
"Yeah?" She turned.
Lee was silent, as if choosing his words carefully. Finally he said, "Just be careful."
Mariah turned back and faced her opponent. She let out a low gasp when she saw him fully, for standing before her was a tall, pale Russian boy with lavender hair. It was Bryan. On the watch stand Ray tensed, and his eyes narrowed dangerously. Below, the two bladers readied themselves and loaded their launchers.
Bryan said in a flat voice, "Get ready to lose."
Mariah hissed, "Save you psycho warfare for one who can't handle it. I am not scared of that. I have a score to settle with you."
They launched their beyblades into the dish. The two blades crashed into each other and engaged in a head on battle. Mariah's pink blade was slowly loosing ground. It was pushed back against the wall of the dish.
Bryan said without the least facial expression, "Give up already. That pathetic blade of yours is not going to win against me."
Mariah shouted, "I am not giving up to the likes of you! Galux! Attack!"
Light exploded. The pink blade suddenly flared up. It leaped and pounced on the other blade. The impact sent Bryan's blade flying to the other end of the dish.
The pale Russian teen narrowed his eyes, "Is that all you got? Your defiance makes me sick. I guess I need to teach you a lesson."
Suddenly there was a howling wind, accompanied by grains of sand that were flying about madly. Mariah gasped in pain as something cut across her arm, tasting blood. She fell on her knees. Soon the wind was so strong that nothing could be seen. The dish and both bladers were covered with a yellow haze.
"No!" Max shouted.
Ray jumped up from his seat and leaped down from the watch stand. He landed and stood beside Lee, who was watching the bizarre scene with a stone carved face.
"Lee, call off the match." Ray said in a low voice, "Forfeit it."
Lee said nothing, nor did his expression change.
Ray gripped Lee's arm, his voice even lower though more urgent "Listen, Lee. I know it's hard to just forfeit a match, but you have to stop this!"
Lee wrestled free of Ray's grip, he was still silent. Now the wind around the dish grew stronger still. Nothing could be heard or seen except the howling wind and the yellow mist created by the sand.
Suddenly Lee turned to AJ on the referee stand, "Stop this now! We forfeit the match!"
AJ asked, "Are you sure?"
Lee screamed, "Just stop the match! I said we forfeit the game!"
Taken aback, AJ shouted, "Bladers, stop your match. The White Tigers have forfeited."
Bryan faced Mariah, who was kneeling on the floor, battered and exhausted, and mocked, "I guess they can't stand seeing you in trouble, huh? Too bad, I would have enjoined this a little longer. Floborg, take her bit-beast."
"No!" Mariah cried as her bit-beast was slowly pulled towards Bryan's blade, "Galux! Don't let him take you! Fight it!"
The great mountain cat shrieked and flipped itself right in the air. With one sweep of the paw, it sent Bryan's blade crashing into the wall of the dish. The blade bounced back and landed in the sand, a little wobbly.
Bryan looked angered now. He said coldly, "Don't blame me, you asked for it. Floborg!"
The wind grew more furious. Mariah cried in pain as the torrents of air struck her.
"Both bladers step away from the dish!" AJ shouted, "The match is over!"
No one replied but the howling of the winds.
"No! Mariah!" Ray called.
He ran up to the dish and plunged into the dome of wind and sand. He knelt beside Mariah, and wrapped one arm around her. Mariah was in a waking nightmare. Her eyes were wide but unseeing.
"Don't let him take away Galux!" She cried to no one in particular, unaware of Ray right beside her.
"Don't worry, Galux will never leave you." Ray said softly.
"What a show! Too bad compassion will not help you here." Bryan sneered, "You are going down with her Ray!"
Ray stood before Mariah, blocking the roaring wind with his own body. He clenched his teeth in pain as another onset of wind hit him.
He turned and faced Bryan. His voice low but firm, "Did staying in the abbey made you forget what being human is all about? I will show you then. There are things in this world that you can never conquer!"
He raised his voice and shouted, " Galux! Scratch attack!"
Streams of light shot forth from the pink blade, piercing and shuttering the dome of wind. The sleek mountains cat emerged from the blade, bearing flame around it. The magnificent beast lunged at Bryan's blade with full force. It sent the blade flying straight into the air. Before Bryan could react, the beast leaped again, this time sending it crashing into the ground. Bryan's blade landed on the floor, sliced clean into two halves.
There was silence. A confused, astonished, frightened, awed silence. Everything stilled, as time itself was frozen at that moment. Then finally Lee walked up. He took Mariah's hand in his own and clapped Ray's shoulder with another hand. His voice was low and hoarse, as if he was almost crying.
"Thank you, Ray." He said.
A/N: This is one of my favourite chapters, because from here on things are getting a little more dangerous!!! Haha! And sorry for the really late update, I was out of town for three days, and I haven't got a computer. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Thanks for all the encouragement. Please keep reading this story and tell me what you think.
The Blade Breakers sat in an ice cream parlour and were enjoying their rests, and in Tyson's case, that also includes stuffing himself silly with ice cream, despite the fact he just had a huge lunch. Unfortunately Shea had to pay for him, because of the bet she had with Ray. It was a bright afternoon, warm and shuffled with slight breezes.
"We did well so far." Said Kenny, who was watching the replays of their matches on his laptop while eating his hot fudge sundae. "I never thought we could claim three straight victories from the Majestics."
Shea laughed, "Oh come on, Chief! Give us a little credit!"
"Yeah, Chief!" Said Tyson through a thick mask of ice cream, "We beat them without breaking a sweat. I didn't even get to play! So when is the final? I can't wait."
"I will check on that." Kenny replied, "Dizzi, can you please check the schedule on the net."
Dizzi grumbled, "Of course, I will do all the work, and you can just eat your hot fudge sundae. And I don't even get paid!"
She did the job nonetheless, and she announced, "Sunday, July 11th, which is the day after tomorrow."
"Who are we facing?" Max asked.
"Not known yet." Said Dizzi, "We are playing the winner between the White Tigers and the Demolition Boys. They are having their match in exactly thirty minutes."
"Hey, why don't we check it out?" Ray asked.
Tyson grinned, "Yeah, Ray, any thing that involves your girl friend is worth checking out, huh?"
Ray threw him an irritated glance and didn't reply.
"Actually, it is a very good idea. We need to learn as much as possible about our opponents." Kenny said.
"We are going then." Said Kai, standing up and walking out of the door.
The others stood up to and made to follow him.
Tyson shouted, "Wait! I haven't finished my extra large banana split yet!"
There came a reply from Kai, somewhat faint because of the distance, "Shut up and follow."
The Blade Breakers reached the stadium and found themselves front row seats. The game was just beginning.
"Welcome! To our second semi-final match!" AJ screamed, "The winner of this match will go on to the finals against the returning world champions the Blade Breakers!"
Brad continued in his baritone voice, "And here are our competing teams, the White Tigers and the Demolition Boys!"
The audiences cheered as the two teams stepped into the centre of the stadium.
"Let us take a look at today's dish." Brad introduced, "We call this the Arabian nights!"
The mechanisms slowly opened to reveal a new dish. It was covered in nothing but sand, with a few cactus plants strewn across.
AJ shouted, "Wow! That is one crazy dish. Even the most balanced beyblade would have a problem spinning on that sand! Let's see how our bladers handle that. First up from the White Tigers is Kevin. This kid has some tough fibre within him, and his monkey bit-beast Galman is nobody's fool! From the Demolition Boys we have Ian. He must love this desert dish of ours more than others. His bit-beast Wyborg is a sandy snake."
The two bladers walked up to the dish and readied themselves. With the usual slogan line "Let it rip!" the two blades were off. They sailed into the dish and stayed spinning in their own corners.
Kevin shouted eagerly, "Galman! Attack!"
His lavender blade leaped, and soon many illusions of spinning blades accompanied it. They formed a circle and lunged at the other blade.
Ian smirked, "Is that the best you can do?"
With that his blade sank beneath the shifting sand and disappeared.
"That is not good." Said Shea with concern, "Ian's blade has too much of a field advantage."
Just as she finished her sentence, Ian's blade emerged from the sand and crashed toward the lavender one. But the other blade was not idle. It leaped again and landed on Ian's blade.
Kevin smiled devilishly, "Of course, I keep a few tricks up my sleeves as well."
Ian's blade struggled hard to shake the other blade, though it struggled in vain. Kevin laughed, but his laugh stopped abruptly and turned into a croak in his throat. Ian's blade sank into the sand again and was nowhere to be found. His own lavender blade was now spinning aimlessly on the desert floor.
Ian sneered, "Really, you think you can trap a desert snake in sand? I will show you how the desert works. Wyborg! Sand bind!"
The desert shifted and tumbled. Columns of sand rose. They lengthened and thinned and began to whip around, looking like monstrous arms flailing in the air. The sand ropes closed in around the lavender blade and wrapped around it tightly. The lavender blade slowed and finally stopped spinning.
"No!" Kevin cried.
Ian laughed coldly, "Don't lament so early. The good part hasn't even begun. Wyborg, absorb his bit-beast!"
There was a swirl of light. The golden monkey bit-beast rose from the lavender blade and was pulled to Ian's blade. It struggled and shrieked in vain. Soon the light was gone and all was still again. Kevin didn't shout, he was staring silently at Ian, an expression akin to horror on his face.
Tyson hit the railing of the watch stand hard, though he didn't say anything. He was too enraged for words. Max was staring down unbelievingly.
"No, not again!" Kenny murmured, "Isn't once enough?"
"The Demolition Boys win the first match!" AJ announced, though he sounded a little hesitant.
Kevin returned to his teammates, head bowed and crestfallen.
"Sorry, guys." He muttered.
Mariah said soothingly, "Don't let it get you, Kevin. It's only one match. We will win this."
With that she stood up and walked towards the dish.
"Mariah!" Lee called to her.
"Yeah?" She turned.
Lee was silent, as if choosing his words carefully. Finally he said, "Just be careful."
Mariah turned back and faced her opponent. She let out a low gasp when she saw him fully, for standing before her was a tall, pale Russian boy with lavender hair. It was Bryan. On the watch stand Ray tensed, and his eyes narrowed dangerously. Below, the two bladers readied themselves and loaded their launchers.
Bryan said in a flat voice, "Get ready to lose."
Mariah hissed, "Save you psycho warfare for one who can't handle it. I am not scared of that. I have a score to settle with you."
They launched their beyblades into the dish. The two blades crashed into each other and engaged in a head on battle. Mariah's pink blade was slowly loosing ground. It was pushed back against the wall of the dish.
Bryan said without the least facial expression, "Give up already. That pathetic blade of yours is not going to win against me."
Mariah shouted, "I am not giving up to the likes of you! Galux! Attack!"
Light exploded. The pink blade suddenly flared up. It leaped and pounced on the other blade. The impact sent Bryan's blade flying to the other end of the dish.
The pale Russian teen narrowed his eyes, "Is that all you got? Your defiance makes me sick. I guess I need to teach you a lesson."
Suddenly there was a howling wind, accompanied by grains of sand that were flying about madly. Mariah gasped in pain as something cut across her arm, tasting blood. She fell on her knees. Soon the wind was so strong that nothing could be seen. The dish and both bladers were covered with a yellow haze.
"No!" Max shouted.
Ray jumped up from his seat and leaped down from the watch stand. He landed and stood beside Lee, who was watching the bizarre scene with a stone carved face.
"Lee, call off the match." Ray said in a low voice, "Forfeit it."
Lee said nothing, nor did his expression change.
Ray gripped Lee's arm, his voice even lower though more urgent "Listen, Lee. I know it's hard to just forfeit a match, but you have to stop this!"
Lee wrestled free of Ray's grip, he was still silent. Now the wind around the dish grew stronger still. Nothing could be heard or seen except the howling wind and the yellow mist created by the sand.
Suddenly Lee turned to AJ on the referee stand, "Stop this now! We forfeit the match!"
AJ asked, "Are you sure?"
Lee screamed, "Just stop the match! I said we forfeit the game!"
Taken aback, AJ shouted, "Bladers, stop your match. The White Tigers have forfeited."
Bryan faced Mariah, who was kneeling on the floor, battered and exhausted, and mocked, "I guess they can't stand seeing you in trouble, huh? Too bad, I would have enjoined this a little longer. Floborg, take her bit-beast."
"No!" Mariah cried as her bit-beast was slowly pulled towards Bryan's blade, "Galux! Don't let him take you! Fight it!"
The great mountain cat shrieked and flipped itself right in the air. With one sweep of the paw, it sent Bryan's blade crashing into the wall of the dish. The blade bounced back and landed in the sand, a little wobbly.
Bryan looked angered now. He said coldly, "Don't blame me, you asked for it. Floborg!"
The wind grew more furious. Mariah cried in pain as the torrents of air struck her.
"Both bladers step away from the dish!" AJ shouted, "The match is over!"
No one replied but the howling of the winds.
"No! Mariah!" Ray called.
He ran up to the dish and plunged into the dome of wind and sand. He knelt beside Mariah, and wrapped one arm around her. Mariah was in a waking nightmare. Her eyes were wide but unseeing.
"Don't let him take away Galux!" She cried to no one in particular, unaware of Ray right beside her.
"Don't worry, Galux will never leave you." Ray said softly.
"What a show! Too bad compassion will not help you here." Bryan sneered, "You are going down with her Ray!"
Ray stood before Mariah, blocking the roaring wind with his own body. He clenched his teeth in pain as another onset of wind hit him.
He turned and faced Bryan. His voice low but firm, "Did staying in the abbey made you forget what being human is all about? I will show you then. There are things in this world that you can never conquer!"
He raised his voice and shouted, " Galux! Scratch attack!"
Streams of light shot forth from the pink blade, piercing and shuttering the dome of wind. The sleek mountains cat emerged from the blade, bearing flame around it. The magnificent beast lunged at Bryan's blade with full force. It sent the blade flying straight into the air. Before Bryan could react, the beast leaped again, this time sending it crashing into the ground. Bryan's blade landed on the floor, sliced clean into two halves.
There was silence. A confused, astonished, frightened, awed silence. Everything stilled, as time itself was frozen at that moment. Then finally Lee walked up. He took Mariah's hand in his own and clapped Ray's shoulder with another hand. His voice was low and hoarse, as if he was almost crying.
"Thank you, Ray." He said.
A/N: This is one of my favourite chapters, because from here on things are getting a little more dangerous!!! Haha! And sorry for the really late update, I was out of town for three days, and I haven't got a computer. Thanks to everyone who reviewed! Thanks for all the encouragement. Please keep reading this story and tell me what you think.