SR: Woah, I'm already updating. Anyway, I'm a little perkier today seeing as I finally got my Inuyasha story up and all. Har! In case anyone was wondering, the silver-haired guard that made a brief appearance in the last chapter was Garland. I'd also appreciate if someone could tell me what the new G Revolution characters act like since I've only seen half the bloody series. x.x
That said I'd like to issue a thanks to all my readers for putting up with my sudden disappearances and all. Much love. Someone run the disclaimer!
Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of it's relating components.
What Now?
Kai perched in a tree munching slowly on an apple. About two hundred feet away, across an open stretch of land he watched as Mariah ran for all she was worth, behind her by about fifty feet was close to thirty fighters all clothed in the orange and black uniform.
The young prince only spared a quick glance to his side where Rei was knocking an arrow to his bow. Grinning wildly the neko-jinn laughed.
"Light me Maxie!" He called to Max who was clinging to the tree trunk for dear life as he touched the tip of his torch to Rei's arrowhead, which was covered in rags. The tip of the arrow exploded into flames and Rei turned his amber eyes back to the field.
Mariah was about a hundred feet away now and Rei sighted alongside his shaft. He had to get this just right or he'd kill Mariah instead of the soldiers. Mariah got closer. Only about seventy-five feet away…now! The arrow zipped from Rei's bow and flew straight by Mariah to land in front of the lead soldier.
There was an explosion and a large ball of fire appeared. Several more of these great explosions took place. Mariah had been flung forward by the immense rush of air and was currently face down and covering her head with both hands. The yells and curses of the soldiers could be heard as they tried desperately to escape the inferno. Very few would be able to get out alive though. They'd either burn to death or die from smoke inhalation.
Kai watched with boredom as the screams of the soldiers slowly became less numerous.
"Well, that's another mission completed." Ozuma said from the ground where he was crouching. A flick of his hand had outlaws and anyone else present rushing forward with large baskets of water and soaked sheets to smother the fire.
Kai groaned and jumped out of the tree. He really hated this part. It was long and tiring, not to mention you were bound to acquire a couple of burns if you weren't extremely careful. It was necessary though. If the fire was permitted to run unchecked then it stood a chance of burning the entire forest down.
Bending over to hefted his basket in one hand and the sheet in the other. This had become the routine for the past couple of days. The minute they'd taken out one regiment of troops and extinguished the fire they moved to a different area and started all over again.
Kai swore loudly as one of his bootlaces caught fire. He tipped his basket a little to dump water onto his foot.
"Y'know Kai, being around you I've learned more curses then I even thought existed." Rei said with a grin as he worked on smothering a patch of fire.
"Nice to know I've taught you something." Kai answered as he moved over to dump his water on Rei's fire. The neko-jinn had proved to be a conundrum to him. Kai couldn't figure out why Rei had chosen to stand by him instead of accepting Brooklyn's offer.
"Yak! My bag!" Tundra yelled. Everyone paused to look at the healer who was stomping on her bag to try and quell the fire that had caught onto it. Ozuma swung his basket of water at her and successfully put the fire out. He also managed to soak Tundra in the process. "Thanks…" She spat a small amount of water out of her mouth.
"No problem." Ozuma said. "Now, get back to putting the fires out." He ordered.
Kai scowled angrily. He didn't appreciate being told what to do. Angrily he tackled another area and put it out in record time.
"Where the hell is Set?" He asked. "Shouldn't he be here helping us? Or is the great outlaw leader above such menial tasks." The nobles all nodded.
"Set's busy trying to figure out where Tala's being kept. We need firetop to help us out a bit here. We need the best fighters we can get. The outlaws can only do so much. Same for you guys. We need more fighters." Ozuma stated.
"In which case you should try and get Tyson, Johnny and Robert as well." Mariah said flatly. "Not to mention the entire royal family. And all the guards and soldiers. If we could do all that then we'd be in a pretty good spot. The problem is that it's not that simply is it? Even if we know where they are, we can't get to them!"
"You think I don't know that?" A voice hissed angrily. All eyes turned to settle on Set's enraged face. "Listen Mariah…no, all of you 'nobles' listen, I'm calling the shots around here. If I pack up with my outlaws then you're left high and dry. Don't question my actions! Clear?" He asked glaring at Mariah.
"I believe you should curb that tongue of yours Set." Tundra said slowly. "I don't think you'll actually leave. Not without your brother."
"Go to hell." Set said and Tundra glared balefully at him.
"Listen, we're all on the same side here. So can we try and get along?" Rei asked. Tundra sniffed and Set scowled but both remained silent. "Good."
Everyone returned to the fire and worked in silence until all the fires had been doused.
Kai threw his sheet into the basket and began walking off when his foot tapped against something. Looking down he noticed one of the home-made explosives they used to cause the massive infernos that killed the enemy. He bent over and picked it up. Inspecting it quickly to make sure that it didn't have a chance of going off he tossed it into his basket as well. No sense in wasting it.
"Alright, change of plan. Instead of starting off another one of our firechains we're going to go back to camp. I've found out where Tala is being held and we've got 'till sunrise tomorrow to get him out of there." Set ordered.
"Why so soon?" Kano asked.
"Because they plan to kill him at sunrise." Set responded.
Back at the Castle
Brooklyn leaned on the windowsill as he admired the sunny day. A small bird was eating grain out of his hand as he smiled gently at it. He frowned as a round of coughs scared the bird away.
"Hmmm, not feeling well Tala?" He asked as he turned to look behind him. Sure enough, Tala was tied to a chair and looking extremely annoyed. Bruises and gashes covered his body and he was constantly coughing up blood, which was never a good sign.
"What do you think Smily? I'm half-dead and tied to a chair in the room that my enemy is currently using as his quarters? How the fuck do you think I feel!" He asked angrily causing the chair to jerk a bit.
"Now, now, no need to get yourself all worked up." Brooklyn said as he strolled over to Tala. "Hmm, pity they got so many times in the face. It ruins your pretty looks." He said and tapped Tala gently on the face.
"Don't touch me!" Tala yelled and Brooklyn leaned back sharply in surprise.
"Don't use that tone with me…I can arrange to have your execution postponed long enough to teach you a lesson that you won't live long enough to learn from." Brooklyn hissed.
"Spare me the threats Brooklyn…" Tala said rolling his blue eyes. Brooklyn just shrugged and then sprawled himself across the bed.
"You could save yourself you know…if you tell me where the Princes are hiding…," He said slowly keeping his eyes on the ceiling.
"Not happening so don't bother asking again."
Brooklyn turned his head so that he could smile at Tala. "As you wish Captain."
Kai and Co.
"Alright, we have our plan? Then let's do this." Set yelled and the camp immediately became a bustle of activity.
"Kai, ditch the cape will you? It'll hinder your movement and we can't afford any lost time." Rei said and Kai obliged him by removing the garment. He was to go with Rei and Mariah to the area where Tala was being held prisoner.
Mariah was going because she could think quickly. Rei because he'd already proven that he could break into the castle and Kai was going to act as the muscle. Everyone else was going to be positioned at the fringe of the forest. Armed to the tooth should they need to fight.
They made their way towards the castle under the cloak of night. Nobody really said anything since they were all thinking about what was going to happen. Providing the three chosen to carry out the mission managed to get in and out of the castle they should be all right. With the fields to their front and the woods at their back they would be able to get clear shots in and then disappear into the forest if the fight should turn against them.
Still, everyone was wondering about the what-ifs seeing as there were plenty to worry about.
So lost in his thoughts was he that Kai hadn't noticed they'd arrived at the edge of the forest until Kano shoved him forward.
"Alright you three, this is it so good luck." Ozuma muttered. All present muttered well wishes and encouragement to the departing trio as they moved quickly across the field.
Set had told them that Tala was being kept in what under normal circumstances would have been his own room but was currently being used by Brooklyn as well.
Reaching the castle walls they quietly slipped in through a side door and ran towards the area that Tala's room would be above. They had to think quickly a couple of times to avoid being seen by some of the Alderian guards but other then that the going was smooth.
They three stared up to where they could see a small balcony protruding about forty feet up. This would have complicated matters had Tala not taking the initiative to leave rope hanging from his balcony at all times. The redhead had always been keen on having a second way out of his quarters should he ever need to get out of them quickly.
They climbed the rope one at a time and soon all three were on Tala's balcony.
"Ok, Tala should be in the room somewhere. Remember though that Brooklyn's in there to so don't make any noise that may wake him up." Kai whispered.
Slipping a think strip of metal through the crack in the balcony doors he unhinged the doors and pushed them open slowly. Three heads peered into the room cautiously before actually entering.
Mariah quickly pointed to a sleeping Brooklyn and then nearly jumped out of her skin as she flipped her gaze to a glaring Tala.
Rushing forward Rei undid Tala's arms and legs and shoved him towards the door where Mariah and Kai were waiting.
"What are you three doing here?" Tala hissed. "Aren't you aware that it's dangerous?"
"Shut up and be grateful we took the time to come and get you." Kai retorted quietly.
"Ah, he's right Tala. Aren't you happy that they care about you?" Came Brooklyn's smooth voice. All eyes turned to his as he sat up in his bed smiling at them. "You didn't think it would be that easy did you? If you did then you're as pathetic as the stories say you are."
Rei turned to run out onto the balcony but found his way blocked by several Alderian soldiers. More were climbing up the rope and onto the balcony.
"So tell me…what will you do now?" Brooklyn asked.
SR: Ah dear, seems like our pretty friends are in a bit of trouble. Tch, evil Brooklyn. But I'm sure that Kai will think of something to get them out of there. Send me your comments, suggestions and complaints in your reviews cause if you don't then I'll tie you to a chair in Brooklyn's room.
