Fighting the Fears
Sacred Phoenix
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SP: Yay! Writer's block is gone and 4th chappie coming right up!
Kai: Kill joy.
SP: *fake cries* so this is all the thanks I get for working so hard?
Kai: Hard work? What hard work?
SP: So you think it's easy writing a fic eh? Well why don't you try?
Kai: I got better things to do.
SP: Like what? Dyeing your hair? Hey! That's not a bad idea! *chases after Kai with hair dye*
Max: Sacred Phoenix does not own Beyblades, would anyone believe her if she said she did? Want some sugar? *offers sugar*
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"" – Talking
- Thinking
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Chapter 4: Peek into the Past
When the Shadow Rangers entered the rest room, the Bladebreakers were already there, ready to confront them. Rei stepped forward, a frown on his face,
"I think you owe us an explanation."
"Well, you think wrong coz we owe you no such thing," retorted Ally.
"You made a deal…" Rei started.
"The deal was that if Kai beat me, and only if he beat me, would I spill everything," cut off Ally.
"I didn't win, but I didn't lose either," said Kai, his crimson eyes burning.
"Your point?" Asked Ally defiantly.
"Tell us…" Rei sighed, "…as friends."
"At least give us a little time, will you?" Ally gave in.
With that, the Shadow Rangers pushed their way passed the Bladebreakers and into another room.
After a moment of silence, Sharon spoke,
"Are we going to tell them? I see no harm."
"We were going to become friends," said Cori.
"They might get the wrong idea," added Leila.
"So you're all saying we should tell them," snapped Ally.
"Well… yeah," answered Cori.
"Then why didn't you all speak up back there?" Demanded Ally.
"Well, coz, you're our leader and we wanted it to be a team choice! We don't have to tell them anything," soothed Cori.
"Bah! Whatever, I guess we'll all have to explain our pasts? I guess as leader, I'll go first," Ally was irritable. She was tired after the battle and she was feeling sick in the stomach about telling Kai about her past,
What if he guesses? Is that a good thing or a bad thing? I want him to know, to remember me, but at the same time, I don't. Is it because I'm afraid he'll hurt me again? What will I tell them? Should I leave parts of it out?
Meanwhile, the Bladebreakers were having their own discussion.
"I don't think they work for Biovolt!" Exclaimed Max huffily, "Sharon was a really good blader, sure she had Black Draciel to help her but, I think she likes Biovolt as much as we do!"
"We're not saying that they are, but we have to know for sure," Rei sighed, [AN: He seems to be doing that a lot! Lol!] "they don't seem to be like that kind of team, but how else would they have got their bit beasts?"
"I think they work for Biovolt! The way that captain is…" Tyson complained.
"Tyson! This is not the time for holding personal grudges!" Groaned Kenny, exasperated at the blue haired boy.
"Whatever the answer is, we'll soon find out," Cut in a quietly commanding voice. Silence fell and all eyes turned towards the door leading to the Shadow Rangers' room. Suddenly, it flew open, revealing an annoyed looking Ally and grim-faced rest of the team.
"You'd better sit down," Cori said, gesturing towards the couch, "we've got a long story to tell." The Bladebreakers obeyed, except Kai, who resumed his normal position leaning against the wall with his arms folded.
Ally eyed him with annoyance,
What makes him so bloody different? Every little thing provoked her at this moment; everything, from the emerald coloured couch, to the well-polished coffee table.
The Shadow Rangers also took a seat opposite the Bladebreakers, except for Ally, who purposely leant on the opposite wall, just to spite Kai.
"I guess I'll start," Ally began, "I was born in a normal family, with a mum, a dad, and myself. My grandparents were both famous bladers and because I spent a lot of time with them while my parents were working, I became interested in Beyblading too. I got my first blade when I was three after begging and nagging my parents for what seemed like eternity. I trained with my grandparents who taught me all that they knew. My parents never approved but they didn't tell me why, so I just kept on learning from my grandparents. " Ally paused.
"They should have told me… I would have been more discreet," she sighed to herself.
"Sorry, but I didn't quite catch that," Max said, blinking.
"Well, Biovolt had a kind of, I guess you could call it, a tracking system where they can locate all the famous bladers of the world for new recruits to their rat hole. They already had an eye out for my grandparents but because they were getting old, Voltaire let them off the hook. He was, however, constantly watching my parents. They realised this and turned their interests to sports other than Beyblading. I on the other hand, didn't know anything about this because my parents never told me, so I did nothing to hide my skills. The year I turned 5, I won the Nationals for under 10s and Voltaire noticed me," Ally explained. Her breathing became quicker and she looked at her feet.
"He… he…" Ally forced herself to look up, "He sent assassins to my home and… they murdered my parents. They were ordered to take me with them, but the police were here before they could find me, so they scattered and ran off. I was taken to a nearby orphanage, where I met Cori. She was the one person who made me want to live on. Her reason for being taken to the orphanage was the same as my own. One year later, Voltaire found out that Cori and I were both at the orphanage so he sent Boris to pick us up."
Ally drew in a deep breath and continued,
"By this time, we were 6, young but not too young for the tests," she shuddered,
"You also have to realise that at the Abbey, you mature very much faster because that was the only way to survive. We were taken into a dark room and tested physically and emotionally. Thank God Cori went in with me; it was only because of her that I passed. From that day on, I vowed to get revenge on Biovolt, and I haven't forgotten my vow." Ally's violet eyes blazed at this,
"When we turned 7, we started training with other bladers; Leila and Sharon. We formed the Shadow Rangers," Ally paused, not knowing what she should say and what she should leave out, finally she decided,
"I'd rather not talk about my life at the Abbey, let's just say that I gained Voltaire's trust and maybe respect, but then…" Ally looked towards Kai and continued forcefully,
"Then I met someone who I cared for, who also cared for me, or so I thought. Voltaire was furious. I helped that person escape and they promised to come back for me, but they didn't. Although I denied helping anyone escape, Boris and Voltaire both knew that it was me, and at Biovolt, their word is law, so they decided that I was to be punished to the worst living extent," Ally's voice quavered, as though it pained her to remember these memories,
"But another friend, a true friend saved me from the worst part," Ally looked back towards the others, her voice steady once more,
"The year I turned 13, that true friend helped me escape, and I took Black Dranzer, rightfully mine," her voice rose dangerously, daring anyone to argue,
"I came back, unlike someone, and helped the rest of my team escape too. They took with them, Black Driger, Black Dragoon, and Black Draciel. We trained like there was no tomorrow to be in top shape for this tournament. To prevent Biovolt from finding us, I changed my whole name, but the rest of my team, just their last names." Ally finished, looking relieved.
"Wow, you've had a hard life Ally, but obviously your team isn't working for Biovolt, maybe we can even help you," Rei said.
"Hah! Told you so!" Exclaimed Max, relieved and triumphant.
Tyson still wasn't convinced,
"Black Dranzer is evil! Look what it did to Kai!" That earned him a trade mark death-glare.
"Black Dranzer is NOT evil! Biovolt created dark replicas of the 4 sacred bit beasts which were supposed to be more powerful than the originals. Black Dranzer is a symbol of immense power, that power can be used for good or for evil, it's all depends on the blader it is in the possession of. Black Dranzer is my friend; we've been together through thick and thin, just like you and Dragoon. Same goes for the rest of my team!" Ally retorted defensively.
So I was right, she has a hard past, so much like my own, but why do I feel guilty whenever she looks at me? It's like I'm so close to remembering something, but then it just disappears without a warning, like it had never been there. Curse my memory! Something made me forget my past, and I'm going to find out what, Kai thought, a frown appearing on his normally emotionless face,
So Ally was punished to the worst possible living extent? I never thought a girl could withstand all the torture and… no! She looks too pure for that, but… what else could it have been? And her 'true friend', as she put it saved her from the worst part, but who would have had so much authority to challenge Voltaire and Boris? Even I rarely did so, the frown deepened on Kai's face,
Why do I care anyway? Is it because she drew with me in our battle? Or because I think, no, I know that she had a connection with Dawn, whom I can't remember but I know that she was really important to me. Ally makes me have flashbacks from memories so compressed that it had to have taken a strong emotion to force the memory out of compact form. But why? Every time we learn a bit more about the Shadow Rangers, it always ends up in more questions, and Ally, I know she's hiding something from me, but what and why? Kai was more confused than ever.
Meanwhile, Ally was preoccupied debating with the voices in her head,
Ok, so I left out the vital parts, I don't think he guessed. But he could have! I don't think so, wouldn't he have said something? Does he look like the kind of guy who would talk about something like that? I get the point! Fate will do what it likes, it's already twisted my life enough so I've gotten used to it messing around. I guess I'll have to tell him sooner or later anyway. The rest of it went well enough, I mean, it's perfectly normal to not want to talk about Abbey life, right?
"What about you Cori, what was your connection with Biovolt. And Leila, Sharon?" Max was asking curiously.
"My past was basically the same as Ally's, there's no need to hear the same thing over again," answered Cori quietly. Max turned towards Sharon.
"Me?" Sharon seemed uneasy,
"Well, I was born at the Abbey. My parents worked there. They were going to be two of Biovolt's successes for taking over the world, but just one thing went wrong… they fell in love. Because they were two of the best bladers they received a warning, one they would heed if they wanted to live. They tried to hide it from then on, but… I was born," Sharon gulped, as though a lump the size of a basketball had been thrust down her throat. Leila gripped her hand encouragingly and she continued,
"I… it was all my fault… when Voltaire found out, he was furious and he… he eli… eliminated them both," she swallowed slowly,
"I was also to be exterminated but someone, and to his day I have no idea who, suggested to Boris that I should be kept alive and that one day I would prove my worth to Biovolt. I thank that person from the bottom of my heart and for that reason, I trained as hard as I could and Voltaire was pleased. I grew up with Leila and we met Ally and Cori when they came to the Abbey at age 6. And you know the rest," She finished, sweating a little, and looking towards Leila for support.
Leila, however, was having her own troubles,
"I, well, I have also spent most of my life at Balkov Abbey," Leila began, her usual bubbly self had disappeared, replaced by a sombre faced, auburn haired girl.
"My family was poor and my parents tried their best to feed, clothe and house us all, but one winter, there just wasn't enough to go around. They had heard from friends that… " Leila drew in a deep breath and forced a brave smile,
"…that a place called Balkov Abbey bought children to work there," gasps filled the room, everyone knew what was coming,
"My parents sold me to Biovolt as a scullery maid, or the equivalent of that anyway, and they took my two older brothers with them as they moved to another city. I was 3 years old. I never saw my family again but I'd like to hope that the money they got from selling me got them through the winter, then it wouldn't have been for nothing," Leila laughed, as though it were the funniest joke in the world.
I've heard this a couple of times before, but every time Leila tells it, it's never been less touching than the very first time. She has such a brave and kind heart, and she never loses the will to live on, no matter how bad the conditions may seem, Ally thought, tears glistening in her violet orbs.
Leila, Leila… who would have thought, that this easy-going, happy-go-lucky mask, covered such a cruel and heart-rending story. Yet she treats it as though it were any other, with that unquenchable cheerfulness, thought Rei, in awe.
Leila noticed the silence that surrounded her laugh. Her attempt at lightening the mood of her past was in vain. She sighed,
"Guys, I know you're all feeling sorry for me, the poor little 3-year-old girl that was abandoned at the worst possible place on earth, Biovolt, but as touched as I am, I don't want your sympathies. I don't want people shooting me I'm-so-sorry looks every 5 seconds. Sure my childhood wasn't as good as some kids' and I have imagined what life would be like if my parents hadn't abandoned me, but I always come to the conclusion that I prefer Biovolt."
Leila scanned the shocked faces around her,
"If I was with my family, sure I would have had more to eat, drink, wear and I wouldn't have had to train as much but that's where the good things end. Sure, I would have had my parents, but they both favoured my brothers anyway, who were, as I last recall, thicker than this wall," she gestured to the wall beside her, earning a small round of grins.
"I would have had to do precisely as my parents commanded and I assure you, that wasn't good. But at Biovolt, although I started off as the lowest of the low and everyone jeered at me, my future was in my own hands, and I could make my life better by taking it one step at a time. First, I did all my duties, like cleaning beydishes, as fast as I could and watched 'privileged kids' as I put it, train. I learnt a lot just by watching. Then I started to sneak practise blades into my cleaning cart and practise blading at night," Leila looked triumphant,
"Then one day, my chance came. I was watching training as usual but one of the kids got injured, don't ask how, it wasn't a pretty sight. But the training had to go on and his partner still needed to battle, so a coach gave me a practise blade, not realising that I had about 5 in my cart, and sent me to the beydish. I knew that everything depended on that battle, insignificant as it would have seemed to the coach, this could have been my only chance at proving my worth," she paused to catch her breath, then continued,
"Thank God I didn't underestimate this kid. He was able to injure his partner, so he had to be pretty good, my 4-year-old mind chastised me. And I was right, this kid, was to become the leader of the Demolition Boys, Tala Ivanov."
Kai snorted,
He was hard to beat?
"Tala was really good, he was top rank in his year! " Protested Leila defensively.
"But our Kai was several years ahead of himself, wasn't he Kai?" Ally asked him in a sarcastically sweet manner.
"Hn," was all she got in reply.
How does she know, but not the rest of her team? Kai, as usual, had picked up the little observation.
"Errr… well anyway, in the end he beat me, but our battle lasted for a good half an hour, something the coaches didn't see very often, if at all from 4-year-olds. That was the upturn in the tide, the coaches reported my performance to Boris and after he tested me personally, he decided that I was too valuable to be a maid and I was to start training immediately. I had finally reached my goal," continued Leila,
"At first, training with the other kids was unpleasant and lots of them ganged up on me in groups, but soon I made friends with Sharon and became one of the crowd. After a while, almost everyone had forgotten that I was once the little maid cleaning up after everyone," Leila looked happy and grinned,
"Then when Sharon and I met Ally and Cori, we formed the Shadow Rangers."
Phew… glad that's out and over, thought Leila with relief.
I never thought my opponent had such a hard life! Thought Tyson, surprised.
"So, friends, questions answered?" Asked Ally, breaking the silence.
"Absolutely," answered Rei, grinning.
So all of them have pasts within the shadows of Biovolt. All of them have pains that demand revenge. This is very interesting, but there is still much I don't know and feel as though I must. Kai thought,
This is a peek into their pasts, and no more.
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SP: Yay! I finally finished this chappie!!!
Tyson: Took you a while.
SP: It's not my fault! Every time I get into it, I have to stop! Okay, enough with my blabbing, R & R !!!
