Now you'll have to pay close attention to all that's going on in this chapter because things move quite fast. I'll do a brief explanation of what happened to the Bladebreakers in the (Canadian) TV series, and then I'll continue with my modifications of the plot. I'm going to cover the Asian, American, and European tournaments, but to you Demolition Boys fans, don't worry. There's a lot happening at the Russian tournament, much too big to squeeze in this chapter.

6. The Tournaments

Showdown in Hong Kong

Kai had just disappeared from the Bladebreakers, and now the others are looking for him in the Chinese town's streets. Kochab had left at the same time he had, though they went separate ways. Kevin and Bruce of the White Tigers then confronted the Bladebreakers in a back alley. Kai came to their rescue and the other White Tigers came to reveal themselves. The Bladebreakers were left to stare in shock as the White Tigers left them, and that was when they were confronted.

"Who are you and what do you want?" Lee demanded.

"I say we just ignore them, Lee," informed Mariah as she stepped out from behind him to look at the two girls standing in front of them.

"Why ignore us when we are a vital link to your victories?" asked the brown-haired girl.

Lee folded his arms and scowled at them. "Since when did you help us to win?"

"Since now. You'll need help against the Bladebreaker team," the dark brown haired girl added.

"The Bladebreakers? We beat them easily in the alley back there," countered Mariah.

Sarah glared at them. "I'm Luyten, and this is my friend, Wirtanen, and you'll need our help for the tournament," she said, lying through her teeth once again. Her brown hair was in a bun in the middle of her head tied with a pink ribbon. She had a uniform of navy blue Chinese styled shirt with red lining, navy blue pantaloons and yellow-soled red Chinese slippers.

Wirtanen placed her hands akimbo. "The Bladebreakers are a strong team, and we want to help you. " Her long brownish black hair was in a braid low on her head that ended at her upper back. She had a gold elastic at either end of it. She wore a white vest that had a purple lining around the neck, down the middle, and on the sleeves. Underneath that, she wore a magenta shirt that reached down to her mid-forearm, with purple ribbons tied to her wrists. To match those two ribbons, she had another two ribbons that railed from the magenta sash at her waist, both with a magenta cloth flower at the end. Like Luyten, she also had purple pantaloons and white socks with purple Chinese slippers.

"I say we give them a chance. They could be helpful," Gary said with sarcastic doubt in his tone.

"We knew you'd see it our way," Luyten and Wirtanen chanted at the same time.

A Score To Settle

Wirtanen and Luyten had followed the White Tigers around throughout the tournament, Wirtanen more than Luyten, because Luyten's alter-ego duty as Kochab called from the Bladebreakers. The two transferred information between the two teams. At the actual tournament, the two sat in the audience to watch the outcome of the battle along with their other two team members. They were happy to see that the Bladebreakers had won- they were fulfilling their mission they had set out to do.

After the match, the Celestial Myriad gathered in the administration hall of the stadium building.

Elvin made his report," The American Tournament is next on the Bladebreakers' schedule. The threat teams' name is the All Starz, their names being Michael West, Steven Vidor, Eddy Swanson, and Emily Williams. Their Bit Beast connection lies between animal species native to the U.S.A.; an alligator, a bull, a scorpion, and an eagle- America's national symbol, of course."

"And I discovered the link between the White Tigers' Bit Beasts- the link you couldn't find," taunted Philemon.

Sarah scowled at him. "Okay then, mister, what is it?"

"They're all mammals!" He replied with a big grin.

Everyone sighed. "Yeah.whatever." Eva answered with a shake of her head.

"Oh! And they like sports," added Elvin. "Therefore, I'll be Alkaid, professional hockey and soccer player," he explained while making a heroic pose.

Sarah perked up. "I'm not a big fan of sports, but I'll be- "

Elvin cut her off. "Uhh.actually, I already chose your identity for you.You see, I didn't think you'd have time after the Asian Tournament because the Bladebreakers were going straight to the American."

Sarah looked at him in confusion. "O-kay, then.But really, the Bladebreakers are stopping over in Japan, first. I spoke to them about it. I should probably stay with them, but Elvin, or should I say, Alkaid, you go to the US and familiarize with the All Starz. I shall be with you in a couple of days. "

"And we.?" Eva vociferated, making the presence of Philemon and her known.

"Help him. Though remember, the American Tournament's his."

"What about the European Tournament?" questioned Philemon.

"That too. Say, does anyone have my Kochab clothes? They weren't in my bag when I last checked."

Eva and Elvin glanced at Philemon. Philemon withdrew. "Wh-why's everyone looking at me?"

Eva folded her arms. "Because you were in charge of our bags."

"Th-that doesn't mean anything."

It's All Relative

While the Bladebreakers were busying themselves by exploring the All Starz' test facilities, Elvin had introduced Sarah to the All Starz, since she hadn't been there for the first encounter.

"This is my friend Miranda, skater and swimmer extraordinaire," he said, motioning to her.

Miranda smiled gingerly. "Oh, stop it, Alkaid. You're making me blush!"

Michael surveyed her with cocky eyes. "Hmph! I'll bet you that she's all that good compared to you, Alkaid."

"Be nice, Michael." Emily scolded.

"Yeah! I take offence to that! I wager I could beat you in a contest any day, any time!" Miranda countered.

Eddy began to spin his basketball on his finger. "I say you challenge her, Mike. If that's what she really wants. Prove to her your point."

"Steve! Eddy! Intruders on level five," came Judy's voice over the walkie-talkie. "And Emily I need your help on level five, too."

Steve glanced at the intercom and then back at Michael, Alkaid and Miranda. "We've got to go, so if you guys are going to compete, wait for us to get back. I've got to see the entertainment of Michael's loss to a girl!"

"Who says that's going to happen?" growled Michael as the other three ran away. He glanced at Miranda, determination and confidence showing from the pigtails tied by pink glass balls high on her head to the red turtleneck to the white bolero with red wrist bands to the blue belt to the white knee-high sarong and green and black boots. "What are you looking at?"

Miranda just continued to smile nonchalantly as Alkaid looked away, laughing. Alkaid had his same gold rimmed glasses, but different white turtleneck, blue and white hockey jersey, turquoise soccer shorts, white knee-highs and cleats.

Practice Makes Perfect

Kochab followed the Bladebreakers to the mountain retreat with Antonio. That's all.

Bottom of the Ninth

The same as before, the Celestial Myriad sat in the audience and watched as the Bladebreakers won yet another tournament. As soon as the dust had cleared and Max's blade was left spinning, Philemon uttered one word: "Europe."

Without turning her head to look beside her, Sarah replied, "That's right. I can assure you this team will be harder. I don't think they're going to submit to the Celestial Myriad that easily."

"Yeah. After the research that Philemon and I did, we found out that Europe doesn't exactly have a threat team- they have a set of four individuals who are threats." Eva explained with a nod.

"And these four don't know each other presumably?" questioned Elvin.

Philemon leaned forward slightly and unfolded his arms. "Wrong. They know each other, all right. They're practically the best of friends, though they live in different countries. They just have yet to form a team."

"That's going to be hard for you two, then. If the threats are all spread out, then how are you going to get to them all in time before the tournament?" Elvin said with a smile that displayed the humour of their misfortune.

Sarah put her arm around Philemon's shoulders. "Don't you worry, Elvin. Phil and I will find out some way or another. That tournament is good as the Bladebreakers'! Besides we need to put that 'Academic Award' brain of yours into gear, kid."

Philemon scowled at her. "Don't call me kid, nerd."

Play It Again Dizzi!

While Kenny was busy reminiscing all that the Bladebreakers had gone through and configuring the new training regimen in a secluded bar, the Celestial Myriad was doing a little configuration among themselves.

Sarah analyzed the notes that Philemon and Eva had made of the European threats. "Hmm.So their names are Oliver Sartre, Enrique Puccini, Johnny McGreggor, and Robert Jergins is their leader. Oliver's French, Enrique's Italian, Johnny's Scottish, and Robert's Norwegian?"

Eva nodded and leaned forward across the table to point out something else on the paper. "Yes, that's right. We found that their Bit Beast connection is between legendary l creatures. See? Oliver's Bit Beast, Unicolyon, is a unicorn. Enrique's Bit Beast, Amphilyon, is a hydra, Johnny's Bit Beast, Salamulyon, is a salamander, and Robert's Bit Beast, Griffolyon, is a griffin."

Sarah leaned back in her chair like a well-pampered cat. "Intriguing."

"I thought there was another threat team, wasn't there?" asked Elvin as he searched through the pile of papers.

Philemon pulled out a paper from under the pile in front of him. "Um- hm. These guys are an actual team, though they're no real threat to the Bladebreakers."

"Who are they, though? Just in case."

"Since when were you cautious, Elvin?" grilled Sarah.

"Since now, I guess.Why? Is there something wrong with that, Miss Perfect?"

She glared at him suspiciously and shook her head. "No."

"Anyway, as I was about to answer," Philemon interrupted as he leered sarcastically at Sarah. "Their names are Sanguanex, Lupinex, Cenotaph, and Zom. It would seem they have no last names, nor a true identity. From what I could find, they're 'monsters', though they prefer the term 'humanly challenged.'"

"Like you, Philemon?" Eva quipped.

Philemon narrowed his eyes at her, but didn't say anything.

"How exactly are they 'humanly challenged'?" Asked Elvin as he slouched back in his chair.

Eva sat up to explain. "Sanguanex is a vampire, Lupinex is a werewolf, Cenotaph's a mummy, and Zom is a zombie."

"And their Bit Beasts reflect what they are," Philemon added.

Sarah glanced at him quizzically. "How are they not a threat team?"

"The Majestics defeated them- they're pushovers," clarified Eva.

"They're just out to try to steal Bit Beasts and wreak havoc," Philemon concluded.

Sarah gave him a look that showed she only understood half of what he was saying. "I see."

A Knight To Remember

Sarah and Philemon, rather Rosalind and Mathilde, were with Robert and the other Majestics in Robert's castle. The six had already met each other (as you can see I've skipped quite a bit of episodes), and were just playing a friendly game of chess while thinking about the tournament.

"So how are you going to deal with the Bladebreakers at the tournament?" asked Rosalind.

Enrique, who was leaning against the wall answered. "You have no need to worry, Rosalind. A pretty face like you should have faith in the Majestics."

Mathilde struggled to keep from laughing. "Pretty?"

Rosalind turned and scowled at him. "Well, I don't hear anyone saying you're handsome!"

Johnny had just made a checkmate on Robert and leaned back in his chair with a confident attitude. "She's got a point there, Mathilde."

Mathilde glared at Johnny. "Oh yeah? Then why aren't you helping me?"

"I don't root for the underdog."

Rosalind simpered with glee and giggled a little to herself. "Wow, Mathilde. Am I actually winning this argument?" She fiddled with her hair, tied back in a ponytail with a red band that was near the bottom of it (see Excel from Excel Saga or Lin from Spirited Away). She had her yellow T- shirt on, her white pants with red designs, her pale yellow boots, and a black sweater that went down to her knees.

Mathilde folded his arms. He wore a white sleeveless shirt, maroon vest, blue, baggy pants, black boots, and blue wristbands. "I hate to admit it, but I think you are. Only this one time, though. Never again!"

"Oh I have a feeling she'll be winning a lot more arguments with you," vociferated Oliver.

"Why?"

Robert looked up from his match with Johnny and straight at Mathilde. "We'll help her come up with counters. Women should be equal to men. It's only the chivalry of a real knight. You could stand to take a lesson in nobility."

A Majestic Battle. A Majestic Victory?

As you can guess, the Celestial Myriad was there as before to watch the European and final juvenile win of the Bladebreakers.

"Playtime's over. The Russian tournament will be no where near as forgiving,' Sarah said solemnly.

Eva stood up from her seat. "Yeah. Even hacking in to the All Starz' databases revealed next to nothing about the Russian threat team."

"Since when were you hacking in to the All Starz' databases?!" Sarah cried frantically.

Elvin looked at the floor in shame. "Since we found out they had one.It's just makes our job a whole lot easier.Besides, you're the one who says 'Find information with any resource possible.'"

"I guess so. Well then, what did you find?"

Eva, who had really had no reason to stand up in the first place, sat back down again. "Their names are the Demolition Boys. Their Bit Beasts are unknown, so we weren't able to make any connections. We've heard that they aren't mainly Beyblading for the BBA's sake, but more for that of another company."

"An unknown one," appended Elvin.

"We're basically kept in the dark, aren't we?" Philemon questioned rhetorically.

Sarah stared at the floor, pondering what to do. "I guess I can't really help the Bladebreakers then, can I? And if the Demolition Boys are unwilling to reveal information, then why should we?"

"You're doppelganging this tournament, right?" queried Elvin.

Sarah glimpsed at his dark blue eyes. 'Something about blue eyes . The Russian tournament . They have some sort of linkage . though I can't think of what .' "Yes. You can't even tell me their names, Eva?"

"Oh. I can tell you that. Spencer, Ian, Bryan, and Tala, the leader, though their last names were lost in the BBA databases. It would seem that the company erased all of their personal records."

'Of course! Those names rang a bell! Blue eyes- Tala had blue eyes!' Sarah didn't reply, though she had her eyes wide open, as if in fear and shock. The three ogled the strange appearance.

"Sa-rah?" Philemon called queerly.

"Huh? Sorry ." 'Could it really be them? After all these years? It had been Kai, could it be Tala? Had the four changed? What about Boris? Was her uncle still alive?'

"Celestial Myriad . I suddenly know a whole lot more about the Russian Tournament!"

Oohhh! Interesting. What'll happen next? Will Sarah fully reveal her presence to the Demolition Boys, or will she deceive the m like she did the other teams? What will her reunion with Tala be like? Will he recognize her? Will the other three? Does Tala still have Sarah's ribbon? Will the actual The Hilanov Prophecy story get going? Find out soon!