Jade: This is it—last installment for the update. Let's see how things fare his time…

Mike: It looks like it's getting better, though… Kind of…

Alexia: Just had to go and ruin the guy's beyblade, didn't you?

Patrick: (smirking) And you are defensive, why?

Alexia: Stuff a sock in it, Pat. All right everybody, read and review!!

CHAPTER SEVEN

The Majestics Arrive

By the time the Bladebreakers decided to pull out of the practice, it was already rather past lunchtime and they were forced to call it a day due to Tyson's griping in lack of food. Besides, none of them could do much now unless their blades were drastically upgraded to match their opponents'.

Kenny looked rather melancholy as they walked down the path in the grounds and headed for the hotel doors. "I think we're really going to have to burn the midnight oil, Dizzi," he murmured. "We really have to figure a way on this problem. Those blades were just…incredible. So much that no one would've thought that they would've existed…"

"Yeah…" said Max. "I heard that Michael's blade had to really be rushed into repairs… Mom and Emily are working on them."

Tyson, looking at the small bag that Kai grasped in his hand, said, "So how long do you think it will be before Kai's Dranzer is back from the dead, eh, Chief?"

"I'm not entirely sure, Tyson—Mike did some pretty serious damage on it without even trying too hard," remarked Kenny. "A day or so, I guess…hopefully by then I'd've found something that'll give us a shot against the Arcans. And our bit beasts will have to do extra well on that…"

"I know I will," Dizzi said, sounding very much unexcited of the prospect of working doubly hard on such pressure.

The other two said nothing, looking rather like they were thinking hard on what to do about this obstacle that they had to overcome before the tournaments actually start. Admittedly, this was not an easy one, for they already have the Demolition Boys to contend with.

As they walked down the grounds, though, they heard odd noises from one side of the grounds. There was the sound of feet rushing in grass, and then silence. And then again, and silence. Occasionally, there'd be a sound of metal, but then suddenly stopping.

"What do you think is going on over there?" asked Max.

"It's too foggy to see," said Kenny.

"We don't have time for this," said Kai. "Let's go back to the hotel room and do work on our blades."

"All right," said Tyson. "We'd better… looks like this tournament's going to be the hardest one."

The Bladebreakers vanished into the mists. The sounds on the corner of the grounds continued. A foot stepped on a twig. Instantly, arrows came raining down. A blade flashed, and the scythe slashed through the arrows.

Patrick gasped and had to leap back as arrows still came pelting at him and he continued to bat them away with his scythe. Jade seemed to be intent on landing a good hit, though, as she kept firing at him.

Meanwhile, on the other side, Mike stood, as still as a statue, eyes closed, holding a gleaming ceremonial katana before him in his hands. Suddenly, there was a gunshot that tore through the air, and in a flash of steel, Mike had slashed the bullet in half and it fell past him.

"Nice one," said Alexia, smiling as she blew on the smoking gun.

"Well it would have really hurt if I missed," Mike made a face at her.

"It's only a BB bullet," Alexia rolled her eyes. Mike looked up at the two who were still in combat and said, "Chill, you two. We've got company."

"Huh?" they both asked and stopped in what they were doing.

Indeed, figured were moving towards them through the mist. The Relic Bladers all stood ready, waiting for them to come clearly, weapons all drawn. As the figures approached, the shorter one said, "Hey, take it easy. We're not here to hurt you!"

The figures came to clear sight. The taller one had pale blonde hair and grayish eyes, and the other one, with a cap, had vibrant green hair and rather same color eyes.

"Who are you?" asked Patrick, who hadn't lowered his scythe an inch.

"Okay, take it easy," said the blonde one, raising up his hands. "We're unarmed. Why would we even hurt you anyway?"

The Relic Bladers all lowered their weapons. "Sorry," said Jade. "You startled us in the middle of our training." She stopped and tilted her head at them. "Do I know you guys?"

"I think we've met," said the green-haired one. "My name is Oliver, and this is Enrique. We're members of the Majestics—another beyblading group in the tournament."

"Oh, the Majestics," said Alexia, nodding. "I've heard of you all. You're the guys who used to be by yourselves and are now a group."

"That's right," said Enrique, nodding. "You're Jade, right?" he asked, turning to the green-eyed female blader.

"Yes, I am," nodded Jade.

"Well, we've been here since this morning, and we don't stay at this hotel," said Oliver. "Robert has been looking for you."

"Oh!" Jade smiled. "Robert is here? I would like to see him. We haven't seen each other in a long time."

"Well that's why we're here!" said Enrique. "He's been feeling a little off the weather. Why don't you come with us to see him?"

Jade looked at Mike, who shrugged, looking like her certainly didn't mind. He knew Robert, and respected him to be an exemplary blader worthy of great praise.

"We need a time out from practice, anyway," said Mike. "Guys, let's go upstairs. Jade, go with them."

"All right—see you later, you guys."

Ray watched quietly as Jade went with the two Majestics, her fellow teammates walking off to the direction of the hotel. Was it some omen that he suddenly realized that his ripcord was missing and he'd gone and retraced his steps to find it, only to overhear that Robert, who was obviously close to Jade, was looking for her?

Well…does that matter? he wondered. It shouldn't be a big deal if Robert wants to see her. But why does it bother me?

But then, he felt a twinge of discomfort. He didn't like the way Jade looked at him as she passed by him just this morning. And then he remembered Mariah and her destroyed Galix. Somehow, he felt so sorry for her when her blade got destroyed—she'd had it for a long time.

He'd gotten so wrapped up that he wasn't paying attention to what Jade was telling him, and he looked at her that way, upset that she'd destroyed his friend's beyblade.

I guess I have no choice now…since she's obviously upset with me… thought Ray as he watched her. I'll have to stick up for Mariah…somehow. I guess so.

"So I see that I'm not the only one staring into empty space."

Ray jumped. He turned around. "Kai, you nearly scared the life out of me."

"Hm," was the only reply from the Bladebreaker captain. He looked up and said, "Or were you staring not to empty space and rather to something—or someone."

Ray flushed and said, "What are you talking about, Kai? I just went to find my ripcord." And it was only then did he realize that the truth sounded rather lame when he said it outright.

Unable to think of any other argument, he walked off, passing Kai and hurried into the hotel. Kai raised an eyebrow. He walked back to the hotel, thinking, I've problems of my own… I think I'm going to have to arrange a meeting with Tala…

Boris stared at Tala. "Are you sure about what you're telling me?"

"Yes, sir," nodded Tala. "I've seen the power of the Arcan bladers first hand. They're undoubtedly a fierce opponent."

"Hm…looks like Arcanis holds many secrets…and among those the power to create incredible beyblades and the breeding of such powerful bladers," murmured Boris. "Admittedly, even we have not managed to break through their barricades to find and use these secrets for our own purposes."

There was a pause. "What do you think, Tala? How do they fare against the Demolition Boys?"

"I think, sir, that although they are powerful, they will still be unable to compete with us. We are still superior to them. Although…I'll have to say that the stadiums for the tournament will have to be greatly strengthened to hold the weight and force of the beyblades they own…"

Boris nodded, knowing that it will be tended to at once. And then another pause. He then smiled. "Tala…don't you wish you'd remained in Arcanis, then? If you only knew how powerful the team and their blades were going to be?"

The slow but tight clenching of Tala's fist went unnoticed and so did the almost unnecessary pause in his reply. "…No, sir."

"Why is that?" asked Boris, smirking, as he tested him.

Tala fought to keep himself under control and remain cold and impassive as ever and just blinked back. "Because I know that our technology and techniques are still superior, and no powers in Arcanis or anywhere else can possibly compete."

"And with the partial reason of you knowing first hand on things Arcan, I will have faith in that observation," said Boris. "You may go now, Tala."

Tala nodded and left, letting out his breath in the hall. Damn… Arcanis just had to send a team… And just the luck that they had to send Alexia… She's an incredible beyblader, I know… I should've expected it.

And he walked off. As his footsteps died away from behind the door, Ian materialized in the shadows of Boris' office. "You asked for me, sir?" he asked.

"You were with Tala when you two returned to Bolshiekovavitch park to scope out your competition, weren't you, Ian?" Boris asked thoughtfully, with a hand on his chin.

"Yes, sir."

"What were your observations on him?"

Ian stopped for the a brief instant, wondering if it would be a very good idea to say something about an obviously personal matter for Tala that he'd witnessed. And then he said, "He appeared to have been behaving rather oddly, sir."

"Odd in what way?"

Ian swallowed and said, "He…he seems to have…wavered, as I would put it, upon contact with the Relic Bladers from Arcanis."

"Wavered?" Boris asked, more concerned now.

"He…the training on him, sir…seemed to have rather…melted. Only very slightly. But he kept himself under impressive control and remained very focused."

Boris thought for a moment. He should've expected this since he'd gotten wind of a sudden Arcan team. He had thought that the training on Tala had been sufficient enough to fully blockade against memories and emotions of his past in that land he was taken from…but if he has wavered, then it wasn't quite enough.

"Ian, what do you think may be the cause of this?" asked Boris.

Ian stopped again. Demolition Boy or not, Tala was probably a friend to him—as he and the other Demolition Boys were the only ones who'd made it through the training of BIOVOLT—not counting the prodigy Kai—and he felt somewhat of a connection to him somehow. But it seems, though, that BIOVOLT's training overruled this.

"There was one of them, sir," he replied. "One of them, a girl they called Alexia, she ran to him and spoke to him. At that moment, Tala wavered."

"Alexia…hm…" Boris murmured. He was quiet for a very long while. Ian felt the slightest twinge of guilt on ratting out what happened to Tala.

He asked, "Sir…is it true? I have heard…but wasn't sure if it is…but…" he paused and said, "Is Tala…an Arcan?"

Boris looked up at him for a moment and resumed thinking as he answered, "Oh yes. Tala is an Arcan. Thus his incredible skill which is a heritage passed to all Arcans. But we took him from Arcanis and combined the Arcan skill with BIOVOLT technology and training, and produced the incredible beyblader that is Tala now."

Ian was surprised but resisted showing any signs of it. He did not know that Tala was Arcan. He wavered because of having contact with a team from his own land. But now, after what he'd told, Tala would be subjected to such means that it would completely drown out any other sympathies for his homeland.

And so it seems now, that the BIOVOLT training wasn't very wholly effective on Ian either. I know that we're supposed to be faithful to BIOVOLT…and I will be…but I still think that it would do incredible damage for Tala for something like that to be done to him…

He shook his head. What am I thinking? What is happening to me? BIOVOLT has all my loyalty. It's only unavoidable that I begin to think this way as Tala is our leader and leaders influence their members. No matter—they'll put Tala to rights soon. And then we'll crush every single one of our opponents who stand in our way. May they be Arcan or not.

The Majestics were in a hotel that was obviously fancier than that in which the Bladebreakers, the Relic Bladers, White Tigers and All-Stars were. Jade found that out when she arrived there—at the Majestics' penthouse.

"We're back!" said Enrique cheerfully as the elevator opened to receive them into the penthouse.

"Welcome to our penthouse, Miss Star," said Oliver grandly, and motioned for her to sit down at one fluffy and oversized pouf. Jade, who seemed surprisingly used to grandeur such as this, sat down, and Johnny walked into the room, wrapped in a coat.

"You guys are back I see," he remarked gruffly. He spotted Jade and said, "Oh is that her?"

"That's right," said Enrique. "This is Jade. Jade, this Johnny. He's another member of our team."

"Pleased to meet you," said Jade, smiling as she shook hands with him. Johnny said, after taking a good look at her, "You seem like a pretty normal girl. Makes me wonder how you'd gotten with Robert."

"I heard that," said the German blader, sounding only slightly stuffy, as he walked into the room as well. He blew his nose on a handkerchief and said, "I'm not going to tolerate remarks like that to her, Johnny—watch your tongue around the lady."

"All right," said Johnny, grinning.

Jade stood up and immediately ran over to him to give him a big hug. "Hello, Robert—I haven't seen you in such a while! I've missed your company."

"Jade, please," said Robert, peeling himself away uncomfortably, "Mind you, I am glad to see you but I must say that not only will you catch my cold—I also don't appreciate you doing this in front of my teammates."

"Sorry," said Jade, pulled away quickly, but still smiling.

"It's all right, Robert," grinned Oliver. "It's kind of nice to see a soft side of you."

"Shush," Robert immediately said. He put an arm around Jade and said, "Now you come with me—I don't wish to be in this room when we talk to each other because of these three's ill-mannered behavior…"

"Touchy…" Johnny smirked.

"Come now, Robert—don't be like that," said Oliver as he sat down, sipping his tea. "We'll be still if you allow us to meet this lady."

Robert sniffed, allowing himself to be persuaded. "You'd better." And he ended with an eruption of a sneeze.

Jade stared at him. "Robert, what has happened to you?"

"Ah, he already hadn't been feeling to well in Germany—and upon arriving in Russia he had a nasty trick of being out in that frigid Russian snow and climate all day…" said Enrique and Robert sneezed again. "See there now, what it brought him."

Jade rapped his knuckles. "See now, what you get! I suppose you were relentlessly beyblading again."

"But how funny you do look, Robert—I'm not used to seeing you like that," chortled Johnny.

Robert glared at him and replied to Jade, "You reprimand me as if you haven't been doing something of the same as well!"

"At least I'm not having the beginnings of a cold when I did," Jade answered reproachfully. "Oh but this'll serve as a lesson for you too…"

At this, Robert took a good look at her and noticed her only slightly dismal condition. He put it aside a moment and asked, "And your team? I'll still admit that I was startled when they sent you guys from Arcanis."

"Doing quite well, actually," said Jade, looking up at him. "Mike has been one great captain the whole way, and we're progressing quite nicely."

"I never thought that they'd send an Arcan team," murmured Oliver. "I've heard of your land…but I've never actually been there…"

"It is only very recently that Arcanis had been fully opening up to foreigners," said Jade.

Johnny put down his coffee. "Robert told us all about your kind's skills. We were almost—mind you, I said almost—glad that they didn't send a team."

"You're quite formidable, but we look forward greatly to seeing you in battle," said Enrique. "As well as we look forward to battling other teams like the All-Stars, White Tigers and the Bladebreakers, of course."

"As do we," said Jade, smiling rather faintly.

And now, Robert could not find it within himself any longer to keep back his observation. "Jade," he said rather somberly, "I've noticed how dismal you seem. Is there anything the matter?"

Jade's face only slightly whitened as she didn't expect him to notice. And, thinking fast, "I was simply…musing over how difficult a task it would be…to try and take on the Demolition Boys if we do face off with them… They are undeniably powerful in a way different to our skills."

"That, I agree on," said Johnny. "Their power is fearsome…but I'm sure that they aren't invincible."

Jade nodded, and for a moment, grave silence filtered in the room. Robert glanced at the Arcan female and said, "I have been thinking…just to keep a closer eye on everything going on…that we should stay in a room in your hotel. There is no need for being so damn extravagant when it won't matter a jot to the tournament."

The other Majestics stared at him, rather stunned. "Boy, he is sick," said Enrique.

"Cool it," snapped Robert. He turned to Jade. "I'm afraid that I'm rather concerned about everything that is going on here and things are starting look tense at the approach of the tournament. I'd like to keep an eye on things."

"You still haven't lost your inviolable protectiveness, haven't you?" Jade smiled. "But if you want to, you certainly can remain in the hotel. Do your teammates object?"

Oliver burst into laughter and said, "Actually, we'd proposed for that earlier—it was he who didn't want to. Quite a turn of tide, I'd say."

"And quite a turn it is at an odd moon, to be exact," laughed Enrique. "What do you think, Robert?"

"Hush," said Robert, standing up, and Jade rose with him. The Majestics all went down to the lobby with the two of them, as Jade was going to return to her hotel.

At the grounds of the hotel, Robert took Jade a little off from his friends and said to her in a low tone, "Now you listen—if there's anything wrong, you come to me at once, all right? I'll put it to rights for you."

"Why, Robert, what makes you say that there's something wrong?" asked Jade.

"Now, I don't exactly believe that you were merely 'musing over' things. I think something's wrong. But if you're not ready to tell me, that's all right—that means that it isn't too big a problem yet. And I'm just saying that the instant—the very instant, you hear?—that something off happens and it bothers you, you come to me."

"Ah, now I see why you're transferring to our hotel…"

"Jade!"

"Oh…of course. I certainly will."

"The very instant something happens?"

"The identical minute. I promise."

Robert finally smiled and hugged her a moment. "I'll see you soon."

Jade nodded and then hurried down the walk of the hotel as the Majestics came up behind Robert. Jade stopped and turned to wave at them, and they all waved back a goodbye. As Jade waved at them, she thought, Not yet, Robert…I can't tell you just yet… Not until I've sorted it out myself…

And she turned and ran off. Oliver smiled as she went. "Interesting character, that cousin of yours, eh, Robert?"

"Hm, and my only one," replied Robert. "That's why I treat her as a younger sister of a sort." He looked at Enrique and Oliver. "Well?"

"Oh, we did see something—we kept on the lookout of anything off like you said," said Enrique. "When we were walking off with her, I spotted Ray of the Bladebreakers staring rather oddly at her—he was by himself. But that's pretty much it."

"Ray, huh?" Robert said, frowning with a raised eyebrow, crossing his arms over his chest. "Well that settles it. You all get to packing—we're going there."

Mike: Jade, I've one thing to say to your cousin—over the top.

Jade: Don't talk about my 'brother' that way.

Alexia: Heh. Good luck, Ray. (bolts off as Jade fires an arrow at her)

Patrick: (rolling his eyes) While these juveniles go about their duties, review, everybody! Tell us what you think!!