Heya guys, well here's the next chapter. I've decided to put my original idea into two chapters because a) its not so long to read then and b) I can update sooner.

LunaRavenCroft: Oh dear, that's just typical you don't have that song. Well I guess it isn't one of their most famous songs so you know, can't blame ya. Hope you've got it now and I hope it was worth the effort to find it too.

Ms.SoUrPuSs: Ah yes I am mean... but with good reason. I mean, if I'd explained the moonstone thing straight away, then where would be the motivation for people to continue reading my story. Hope you didn't mind too much, I'll pre-warn you there's no info on the moonstones in this chapter, just a little mention of them. The explanation is definitely in the next chapter.

archangel-warrior: I was happy to answer your question. If you've got anymore queries then just ask, I'd be happy to help. That goes for anyone else as well.

Diamond Core: Hey great minds think alike! Glad you liked the eye thing going on. I totally agree - thanks LunaRavenCroft for the encouragement your stories are awesome too!

Plushie Ray: Heya can't really think of anything to say as such, but didn't want you to feel left out. Thanks for reviewing the last chapter and... your plushie Rei sounds sooooo cute!

Ilovecake2: Glad you like cliffies 'cause there are much more to come! Yeah I think Tyson and Hilary make a cute couple too.

Bloody-Shadows: Um well if I'm honest I haven't thought of a pairing for Rei... yet. If you want him to be with someone, well I could give him a love interest. But it would probably have to be later on in the story and most likely with Mariah. What you think?

Now that I've dealt with my wonderful reviewers, lets move swiftly onto the next chapter. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade, however my characters are my own creations and so are their Bitbeasts.

Chapter 19: Moonlight Battles

The Bladebreakers waited patiently at the edge of the North Forest. For some reason the woods had an ominous feel to them at night. This added to the already eerie atmosphere. A thin layer of mist had settled on the grassy ground, and it seemed to glow as the moonlight hit it.

"I'm cold," whispered Hilary

"Here, have my jacket,"

"Thanks Tyson," replied the girl as she kissed him on the cheek.

"I can't believe its so chilly tonight, it was baking today." Shivered Max

"Well the night changes everything," replied Rei

"What time is it?" asked Kenny in hushed voice

"Nearly ten past ten." Answered Kai

"I don't think our challengers are gonna show. Hey they're probably too chicken!"

"Tyson don't say that! You don't know if they're listening on us this very instant... They could be waiting in the woods for all we know. I don't think you insulting them is gonna help us." Hissed the lilac eyed girl.

"Hey chill Cassie, I'm just joking... Hear that people in the woods! I DIDN'T MEAN IT!"

"Tyson shut up! We don't want to attract any unwelcome visitors,"

"But you...you said... Ah never mind"

Dragoons master plopped himself on the floor and pulled a face, and started muttering something to himself. All of the gang rolled their eyes.

A rustle in the trees startled the team. The rustling slowly grew louder as it came closer, Cassie moved behind Kai and held onto his shirt gently. No one knew who or what to expect to come out of those trees.

Finally, the rustling stopped as five hooded figures stepped out from the bushes. The strangers were all clad in long brown cloaks, making them look identical, well except one who was considerably shorter than the rest. They all stood in a long line facing the Bladebreakers. One of the strangers stepped forwards. He appeared to be their leader.

"You must be the Bladebreakers, you got my letter then,"

"Yeah and your little gift," said Tyson as he held out the moonstone.

"Ah I see you brought along my Shining Light," replied the figure as he glanced to Cassie.

The Korean girl averted his gaze.

"Cut the chit-chat," demanded Kai. "Who are you?"

"That will be explained soon... We're here to battle."

Although the figure was hooded you could tell he was watching Cassie. In fact he never took his eyes off her, which made her feel slightly uncomfortable. When Kai realised this he glared at the stranger.

"Keep you eyes to yourself!" barked Kai.

"Oooo touchy aren't we?" The stranger turned to Cassie. "Is he always this protective?"

This made Kai even madder, the boy clenched his fists. Cassie gently held onto his hands and tried to turn him around to face her.

"Kai we need to discuss who's battling who. Leave him, he's not worth it."

In the moonlight you could see the stranger smirk at this comment.

"Yeah you best listen to your girlfriend now," he said mockingly.

Kai sent the stranger another death glare.

"That's it!" shouted Kai. "You want a battle? I'll give you one!"

"Kai don't!"

"I'm not gonna let him ogle at you; he has to be taught a lesson."

"Kai you can't battle him! You still haven't recovered properly from..."

"I'M FINE!" he snarled

"Fine!" huffed Cassie as she turned away and crossed her arms. "But if you're battling, I am too!"

"What?" cried the strangers in unison.

"You heard." She replied simply

"Sorry, but we're here to challenge the Bladebreakers," said another of the figures, to which the rest of the hooded people all nodded.

"But Cassie is a member of our team," replied Rei calmly

You could hear the strangers gasp as they turned to their leader for guidance. The leading hooded figure paused shortly then looked at the lilac eyed girl.

"Very well, Cassie may battle one of our team."

"What!" cried some of the strangers.

The leader summoned his team into a huddle. They began to whisper to one another. Some seemed to protest about something. Then the short figure began to shake his head nervously.

"I can't battle her!" he shrieked

"You can and you will," threatened his captain.

Shortly after this 'debate' they turned back to face the Bladebreakers.

"We have decided on the battles," announced the mysterious leader.

A member of the new team then went to stand opposite each of the Bladebreakers. The leader stood opposite Kai and the short one faced Cassie. Hilary and Kenny sat to the side to watch the battles.

"I don't like this chief," whispered Hilary as she watched her friends prepare for battle.

"Neither do I Hilary, but we'll just have to see what happens."

"3... 2... 1... Let It Rip!"

- With Cassie -

"Go Patiere!"

"Go Aysel!"

"...Aysel?" questioned a shocked Cassie.

The small boy's blade began to glow as a racoon emerged form his blade. The girl stood shocked, then she began to smirk.

"Now I know why you didn't want to battle me. This won't take long... Patiere finish him off!"

"No Aysel!"

His red blade fell still after only one attack from Patiere. The little one fell to his knees in dismay.

"I knew I shouldn't have battled you," he sobbed.

- With Tyson -

"Dragoon, get him!"

The blue dragon began its assault on the brown bear of his opponent.

"Chandra you know what to do," cried the hooded boy.

The bear roared on command and struck Dragoon with its large paw, sending the dragon to the ground.

"No dragoon! Get up buddy... please!"

But the dragon remained on the floor. Chandra went to investigate the lifeless body.

"I thought you were supposed to be good?" sneered the figure.

Tyson just smirked as the bear turned its back on Dragoon.

"NOW DRAGOON!"

One this command the dragon leapt onto its enemy. This represented Tyson's blade slamming into the figures brown blade. It only took this one hit to make Tyson the victor.

"I guess you've never heard of playing dead." Smirked the navy haired boy.

- With Rei -

Driger was now deep into a battle with a bat bitbeast named Nuray. However the match was not going quite to plan as far as Rei was concerned. Each time Driger went to attack Nuray, the bat would fly out of Driger's reach.

"Kitty can't get me can he?" teased Rei's opponent.

"Batty can't battle can he?" retorted the neiko jin.

The hooded figure grit his teeth.

"Nuray Vampire Bite!"

The bat zoned in on the tiger and sunk its fangs into Driger.

"No Driger! Shake him off!"

Driger efforts were in vain, Rei's silver blade began to slow as the bat drained Driger of his energy. Eventually it was all over as the silver blade lay on its side, motionless.

- With Max -

"Draciel Fortress Defence!"

The turtle like bitbeast retreated to the inside of its shell. This was the perfect defense against its opponent, and owl named Selene. Draciel's shell kept it safe from Selene's talons.

It may have seemed that Max was hiding from his battle, but as we all know his speciality was winning his battles by a defensive strategy. The blond boy knew, that each attempt the owl made to attack Draciel, would make it a little more tired. However Max had not accounted for one thing.

In one of the owl's assaults, Selene had some how managed to flip Draciel onto its back. Now Dracile was in a vulnerable position, there was no way the turtle could get off his back. The owl now began attacking it.

Soon Max's opponent was the winner, much to the blond boy's disappointment.

Only Kai's battle was still in progress. The rest of the team members gathered to watch their team captains battle each other. The Bladebreakers, including Hilary and Kenny stayed close to one another. Cassie seemed quieter than usual as she watched her boyfriend battle.

So far neither bladers had called out their bitbeast. They wanted to see how strong their competition was first. The two blades one blue (Kai's) and one black and white clashed together several times. Sparks flew each time they came in contact with the other.

"You're gonna have to do better than that to beat me." Said the hooded blader.

"I haven't even started yet," replied the cool two-toned haired boy.

The hooded figure looked once again to Cassie, and smirked devilishly, sending a shiver down the Korean girl's spine.

"Hey keep your eyes off my girlfriend!" yelled Kai.

The boy made no reply but turned back to the battle. Kai had had enough of his opponents advances to Cassie.

"DRANZER!"

The fiery phoenix rose out of its blade and lit up the night sky.

"Impressive," remarked the hooded boy. "KAMARIA!"

The black and white blade began to glow as a Tasmanian Devil emerged from the blade. It snarled viciously at the phoenix.

"It's rather an ugly bitbeast," stated Kai. "You know a bitbeast is supposed resemble its owner... No wonder you wear a hood."

"Silence! Do not insult me! You will regret it I promise."

"Really..."

"Kamaria attack!"

Obediently the Tasmanian devil began to attack the phoenix by snapping at Dranzer's talons. Occasionally he nipped the phoenix's wings which made the bird screech in pain.

"Dranzer Flame Sombre!"

This attack made the devil retreat immediately. It was now covering low to the ground with its jaws wide open in a threatening manner.

Kai summoned his blade to attack Kamaria several times.

"Oh man Kai's got this in the bag!" yelled Tyson

"It sure looks like he's gonna win," added Rei

"Don't be so sure," answered Cassie in a low voice that was barely auditable.

"What do you mean Cass?" asked a confused Max.

"Just... Just don't count his opponent out of the game just yet."

Kenny was about to enquire further but was cut off by the continuing battle.

"Dranzer attack!"

The blue blade went in for the kill, but then something unplanned happened. The moon that had lit up the battle went behind a cloud. Darkness fell over everyone. It only lasted a few seconds, but when the moonlight returned, Kamaria was no where to be seen.

"What the?" said Kai as he looked around for his enemy's blade.

"Awww can't you find my blade?" taunted the hooded figure.

Kai grit his teeth and clenched his fists. If he didn't where Kamaria was, Dranzer was vulnerable to a surprise attack.

"Kamaria! Ambush Assault!"

Everyone gasped as the black and white blade flew out of a nearby tree and headed straight to Dranzer. But it was blocked by a certain purple blade and black panther.

Cassie stood strong, her hair blowing in the breeze, as she glared at the hooded captain. Kai and the others remained speechless.

"Your tactics never change," she said with no emotion in her voice.

The stranger called back his blade.

"Neither do yours," replied the stranger in a cocky tone.

"Wait a second," interrupted Kenny "You know each other?"

Hehe another cliffie! Did you like that chapter? I did a lot of research on the animals that I used as bitbeasts. For example how a bear will leave something if it thinks it is dead. I also found out the habits of Tasmanian devils; they snap and growl when they are threatened. They are also good at climbing trees which is where I got the ambush idea from.

The names of the bitbeast do mean something but that will all be explained in the next chapter. As will the moonstone thing too, I promise. I hope this chapter made sense; if you have any questions about it or anything else for that matter then just ask.

From now on, because of school work etc, I'll probably only be able to update once a week - providing I've written the chapter of course. Please review as it gives me the motivation to write quicker. Thanks.

- Wreckless Spirit -