Chapter 8
When in Romeā¦Let it rip!
The music stopped as we walked back over to our teammates.
"What time is it?" I asked.
"It's around twelve fifteen." Oliver said, "We should head home."
I called to the Windwakers and grouped them together with us. I stopped for a minute and walked over to Lee and the White Tigers.
"I'll see you tomorrow Lee." I said, shaking his hand, "good luck."
"Same here." He said with a smile.
I walked back over to my team and the Windwakers. We walked towards the door. Suddenly, Mr. Dickinson's voice blared over a loudspeaker.
"I would like to thank everyone for coming to our invitational party, and I'd like to say, good luck in tomorrow's matches!" He said.
Everyone gave Mr. Dickinson a round of applause before we walked outside into the cold air.
We walked up to the Limousine that had brought us here earlier. We all squeezed inside and started the ride home. My mind wandered off to tomorrow's match. We'd each have to fight a member of the White Tigers Team. I'd fight Lee, Enrique would battle Gary, Robert would battle Mariah, and Oliver would battle Kevin. Pitting Kevin against Oliver was a good idea because Kevin's Bitbeast, Galman, was a tricky monkey that could easily make Johnny loose his cool. Enrique and Gary, I didn't want to be cocky, but Enrique would win, I believed it with all my heart. Enrique loved me, and the team, and would never let us down. Gary had one tough shell, but Enrique could crack it. I knew it.
The Limousine pulled into the driveway of the Training Base. The Windwakers stared at it in awe. We all got out and walked inside.
"Where can these guys stay?" I asked Robert.
"There's a room in the main room, and three at the top of the staircase." He said, "you guys can pick where to stay."
"Miriko, Remei, and I will stay at the top of the stairs." Mimiru said, "and Skylar will take the one in the main room."
"Sounds good." I said, "I'll see all of you guys in the morning."
We all went our separate ways, but not before I felt a hand on my shoulder, I turned around to see Oliver.
"We never got to that painting lesson, did we?" He asked, "I could teach you really quick, come on."
"Oh-okay." I said as I followed him into the main room. He walked to where the staircase was. Below that staircase was a small door handle leading to another room; the next room had a candle on every wall that lit the room. There were bookcases around the back walls and a large canvas sitting in the middle of the room. Next to it were bottles and bottles of every color of paint with all different sizes of brushes next to it. I sat on the small stool in front of the canvas.
"Now." Oliver said, taking out my sketchbook, "Pick one."
"How about the one we looked at earlier?" I asked.
"Sounds good to me." He said, "Now, just lightly sketch it on the canvas."
I picked up a small pencil and started to draw Orelin.
"Make everything smooth and straight," He said, "Try not to jag your edges."
"Okay." I said, straightening out my hand as I rounded the tip of Orelin's snout. I traced down the mane and its paws.
After about an hour, I had finished the pencil sketch. I set back, looking at my finished product.
"Great!" He said, now, there's only one rule to painting."
"What's that?" I asked.
"Not everyone's art is the same." He started, "You're trying to paint things in your view, try to make people see things how you see things; it helps people understand you more."
"Like
Beyblading." I said
"What?" He asked.
"Everyone's Blading style is different," I started as I grabbed bottles of paint, "When you battle against other people, you learn their view on Blading, and likewise to them. It doesn't always just explain their Blading style, but their life, so you add another person's view to your own, and you see life in a different way, sorta."
"You're--right," Oliver said.
I grabbed a bottle of blue paint and tried to pour it onto a paint tray. Nothing came out. I tried to squeeze it, still nothing came out. I pointed it at my face, trying to see if anything was blocking its flow. I squeezed again. The blue paint squirted out of the bottle and onto my face. Oliver and I started laughing.
"Most of Orelin's white." I said after cleaning off my face with a towel that Oliver had handed me.
"But you have to think about shades." Oliver said, "Instead of using black, give it a softer look with a purple."
I mixed white and purple in the paint tray to make it a light frosty purple color. I then skipped to the mask and the armor. Then I painted the sapphire gems. Last I had to paint the eyes. They couldn't be just a normal blue; they had to be Orelin's eyes. They had to match it and add the power and character so that people could know it was a force to be reckoned with. I grabbed almost every shade of blue and combined them together. After mixing them, I found a color that explained Orelin, but it reminded me of Tala's eyes too. I couldn't seem to forget him, but why? He had already seemed to have forgotten me, but he wasn't the same, he didn't act like himself. I could still remember the hollow color of his eyes. It almost made me shiver. I added the blue to the eyes and stood back, looking at the painting. It looked like something you would see in the Louver.
"It looks amazing!" Oliver said, admiring the painting, "I tell you what, meet me after the match tomorrow, and I'll have a surprise for you."
"Really?" I said.
He nodded.
"Oliver?" I asked.
"What?" He replied.
"Do you think we'll be enough of a team to win tomorrow?" I asked.
"Do you doubt us?" He asked.
"No." I said, "It's just that I feel so welcome here, it's almost scary, we fit together so well, it's almost perfect."
"Really?" He asked.
"Yeah," I said, "and Enrique's treated me really well."
"What do you mean, Enrique?" He asked.
"I feel special when I'm around Enrique," I said, "I don't feel normal."
"Do you mean," He started, "You love Enrique?"
"I guess so." I said, "Last time I felt 'love,' it felt right, but it turned out wrong, and now it's come back to haunt me."
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"Tala." I said
"Tala Ivanov?" Oliver said, "How do you know him?"
I told Oliver about Tala and how I used to live in Balkov Abbey and how Enrique and I ran into them during the party.
"That's terrible!" Oliver said, "they should never treat you like that!"
"Enrique makes me feel respected," I said, "and like I'm the only person in the world."
"Yup." He said, "You're most defiantly in love with him."
"How would you know?" I asked.
"Because." He simply stated.
"Because why?" I asked.
"Because people just know these things." He said, "You seem to be really attached to him."
"Oliver, Enrique and I may have a type of love for each other, a really strong one, but we have the most important love of all." I said, "The love teammates share. All of us share it; you, Enrique, Robert, and even Johnny and I, even though we don't act like it, and it'll show during the Championship, stronger than ever, all we have to do is have our bond, and never loose faith in one another."
"You're right." He said, "You may be a new teammate, but tomorrow in your battle with Lee, we'll all cheer you on, even Johnny."
"Johnny?" I said.
"Johnny too." He said.
I could picture Johnny sitting in the stands being his sarcastic self, supposedly 'cheering me on', with a small, sarcastic, "woo hoo."
I chuckled underneath my breath.
Oliver and I walked back out into the main room.
"I'll see you tomorrow." I said to Oliver as I shook his hand.
"Same here." He said.
We turned and went our separate ways. I was walking towards my room when I saw a distant glow coming from inside a cracked open door. I peered inside too see Johnny sitting by a fireplace in his room. He stared at a Beyblade in his hand, Salamulyon. Something seemed wrong. I walked through the door and walked next to him. He turned his head up to see me. His lavender eyes were filled with doubt and sadness. I had never seen him so sad.
"What's up?" I asked, "Can I sit down?"
He nodded his head in a yes as I sat down.
"You okay?" I asked, "You seem a little down."
"It's just," he started, "I want to battle tomorrow, and if I don't, I feel like I'm not doing anything for the team."
"Johnny," I said, "It's about more than battling, it's about being a team, even when one of you is in the stands, and one of you is at the dish. We have to act as one team, and cheer each other on."
"I know," He said, "It's just that I have a lot of family pride, and a lot to prove to myself."
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a silver chain with a silver dragon pendant dangling on the end. It looked like Salamulyon.
"This
is my family's battle crest." He said, "I'm a knight, just
like my family and inherited Salamulyon. I feel I must battle."
"Johnny," I said, "You are an important member of the team,
whether you battle or not. You're special in every battle, whether
you have the winning move, or the cheering to spur your teammates to
victory, you matter."
"I guess you're right." I heard Johnny mumble a bit.
"What was that?" I said, "Did the great Johnny McGregor just say that I was right?"
I put him into a headlock and dug my fist into his hair.
"You're right!" He said, "You're right!"
"Thought so." I said.
"I know," Johnny said, "what's the world coming to?"
"Johnny!" I said, digging my fist farther into his hair. He wriggled free and pushed me over and clamped his hands to my shoulders, pinning me in place. I looked up at Johnny, a smile on his face. He seemed to be happy again. For no apparent reason, we both started laughing. Johnny tumbled over beside me, both of us still laughing. I turned over to see Johnny with his eyes halfway closed in contentment.
"Feel better?" I asked.
He lazily looked over at me.
"Yup." He said.
I nodded. "That's good." I said. I thought tomorrow's match over a bit. I was new here, and Johnny wasn't going to battle, I did feel bad. It was like I had just taken his spot, his role for the team. I turned over onto my back, "Johnny?"
"What?" He asked.
"If you really want to battle tomorrow," I said, "Robert could battle Lee, and you could battle Mariah-because I could always sit out."
"No," He said, "You need to battle. I'm pretty sure you've never been in a championship, right?"
"Yeah." I said.
"So, you deserve a first try at knocking a person out of the dish." He said, "I've already experienced it, there's nothing like it; it feels like the whole world's watching you on your every move, and tomorrow, we're gonna show 'em what we've got!"
"You've got that right!" I said, sitting up, "I'm going to get to bed, you should too."
"Okay," Johnny said, "Seya tomorrow."
"Goodnight Johnny." I said before he hugged me. Now I didn't know what the world was coming to. Johnny McGregor and I were hugging, like teammates. We let go for a minute.
"Goodnight Johnny." I said again, fluffing his spiky brown hair.
"Goodnight Ayia." He said as I walked out of the room.
I walked into my own room. I set Orelin on the wicker dresser and lied in bed and drifted into an uneasy slumber.
Darkness was around me, just like in my last dream. I then stood alone in a small alleyway. I looked around to see tipped trash cans, a small lamppost with a small flood of light that streamed through the alleyway, and a surrounding mist I couldn't seem to get rid of.
I started to walk down the alleyway, feeling so alone. But, it was what my life was before I found the Majestics.
I suddenly looked up to see a marking on the wall. It was a large white wolf, a Blading symbol.
'Wait.' I said to myself, 'where have I seen that before?'
I couldn't find the answer, but suddenly, it hit me, the Blader that stole Amphilyon. That was the symbol on his coat.
'What does it mean?' I asked myself.
I suddenly saw a looming figure appear in front of me. It looked very familiar.
"Hi Ayia." A boy's chilling voice replied. He was wearing a long black coat with a gold metal chain connecting the front. The front of the coat had a large white wolf on it; he was the thief! He wore two long black boots that were made of leather. They stretched up his legs until they disappeared beneath his long coat. A hood was drawn up over his face. The only part of his face I could see were the two piercing ice blue eyes that only brought one name to mind, Tala.
'No.' I told myself, 'it couldn't be.' But, what hadn't Tala done to me that didn't surprise me?
"Who are you?" I asked.
"I thought you would have figured it out." The voice said. A gloved hand rose up to the top of the hood and yanked it down, revealing the last face I wanted to see.
"Tala!" I said, "you're the thief!"
"You've got it." He said with a sneer.
"But," I started, "why?"
"It doesn't matter!" He said, "All you need to know is that your precious teammates are in danger."
"What?" I asked.
"Tomorrow at the tournament, my boys and I will go on a Bitbeast capturing spree!" He said, "and there's nothing you and your team can do about it, because I own the strongest blade there is! Just you wait, Your team's time will come when all your Bitbeasts are mine!"
Suddenly, I saw small little glowing Bit Chips appear in his hand. I recognized them immediately; they were ours! I saw Enrique's Amphilyon, Oliver's Unicolyon, Robert's Griffolyon, Johnny's Salamulyon, and my Orelin.
His hand closed on them, crushing them all into small little bits that tumbled to the ground and glistened in the flooding light of the street lamp.
"No!" I yelled as I fell to my knees and picked up what was left of Orelin. The pieces of dust glowed weakly, like old fire embers, then lost their glow and scattered off into the wind, "Orelin."
I got up and walked towards Tala.
"Tala," I started, "why are you doing this. Why are you stealing Bitbeasts?"
"That is none of you concern!" He said.
"Yes it is, Tala," I said, "You're my old teammate, and I still care about you, I don't want anything happening to you."
"Really?" he asked.
"Of course." I said.
I saw Tala eyes turn a light blue, the color I knew. His hand reached out for mine. But suddenly, his eyes turned a deep hollow black.
"Out of my way!" He yelled as he took back his hand and pushed me back. He walked past me and started walking away. I turned and grabbed his hand.
"Tala, wait!" I said.
He turned to look at me with the angriest face I had ever seen. I had seen it somewhere before, but where? They looked so inhuman, almost true darkness.
'Darkness--Motoki--no--that couldn't be--could it?' Thoughts ran through my mind at a hundred miles a minute. No one could control that beast but me, and I didn't think that Tala was anywhere near capable of that power, and when Enrique showed me Wolborg, the Bit Chip was missing; Tala must still have Wolborg.
Tala pushed me to the ground and walked off, leaving me alone in the darkness.
"Tala." I said quietly.
I felt alone, but I still stared at the blank space where the bits of Orelin once lied. My hand touched the ground and felt nothing but the cold cobblestone, "Orelin."
I suddenly saw my hand start to glow. I looked up to see Orelin in front of me.
"Orelin." I said, in awe of the mighty beast.
"Ayia." It said in a voice almost inhuman, "Tala is slipping away."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"To darkness." Orelin said, "We need to help him."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"The time will come when you two battle," Orelin said, "only when we win will the seal be broken and he will return to normal."
"And if I lose?" I asked.
"All will be lost and Tala will slip away, permanently bonded to darkness." Orelin said.
I sat in silence. I had so much on my shoulders. Tala's life was on the line, but how could I fight him?
"I--" I started, "I don't think I can do it."
"Yes you can." I heard from behind me. I turned to see the Majestics.
"But-" I started.
"We all have faith you can do it." Oliver said.
"We believe in you." Robert said.
"What?" Johnny said, "You're going to chicken out, not on my watch!"
Enrique walked up and sat next to me.
"We'll always be here for you." He said, placing his hands on mine, "and nothing's going to change that."
I turned back to Orelin.
"I'll do anything you want to," Orelin said, "It's totally up to you."
I thought it over for a minute, Tala was like a brother to me, and if I wouldn't save him, who would? I stood up.
"Let's do it!" I said.
"Alright!" The Majestics said.
I woke up and looked around the room. I looked at a nearby clock that said it was 6:00am. I saw Orelin on the wicker dresser glowing a brilliant white. I got up and walked over to the dresser and picked Orelin up. I stared at the Bit Chip.
"Let's do this, partner." I said, putting Orelin back down. I walked over to the closet and looked inside. I picked out a dark red turtleneck with one long sleeve connected by a brown leather belt fabric and one short sleeve and a pair of blue jeans. I tied my hair up into a long ponytail and grabbed Orelin.
"I'll just bring my old Launcher with me," I said to myself, "I don't want to wake anyone else up."
I grabbed my old Launcher and put them in my pocket. I walked out of the door to my room and walked down the hallway. I walked past Enrique's room and curiosity grabbed at me. I peered through the door to find him asleep. I felt worried about his and his blade's safety. I walked into the room and looked for Amphilyon. I saw Enrique sleeping.
"They sleep in awful late." I said softly. I usually woke up at about four, but I was up late last night.
I saw something under his arm glimmer. I looked closer to see a small bag with golden lace on it. I lightly picked it up. I looked inside the bag to see Amphilyon and a Launcher- good- it was safe. I placed it back under his arm. I raised my hand up and ruffled his blond hair a bit. I didn't want to wake him up, so I pulled back my hand and walked out of the door. I walked out the front door to see everything covered in snow. I walked down the large hill away from the mansion. I walked into town and looked for any Back Alley Beybladers that wanted a challenge. I suddenly spied a young boy standing by a dish. The boy was dressed in a long robe like Tala's, I wondered if it was one of the Demolition Boys. There were other boys around the dish; one boy was facing him in a match.
"Attack!" The boy in the coat yelled as his blade tore the other boy's blade to pieces as it flew out of the dish.
I launched my blade into the dish, knocking the other blade back,
"Hey," I said, "Spread the love around a little, why not take on me instead?"
"You?" He asked in a familiar voice, "I wouldn't waste my time!"
I recognized the voice.
"Bryan?" I asked. He pulled down the hood, revealing the face of one of the Demolition Boys, and probably the one I didn't really want to see, "Why not?"
"Why should I?" He asked.
"Come on!" I said, "scared?"
I knew just about anything I said would set Bryan off.
"Why you!" He said as his blade hit mine, "Let's go!"
His blade rammed into mine again, knocking it back a bit.
"Come on Orelin!" I yelled as Orelin dodged another attack, "Extreme speed!"
Orelin made copies of its blade and started to ram against Bryan's blade from all sides.
I heard Bryan growl beneath his breath.
"Come on!" I heard him yell.
'All I have to do is make him loose his cool.' I thought, 'and I think I know exactly how.'
"Orelin," I said, "Let's blow him away with a Frozen Hunter attack!
Orelin started to glow a blazing white. Its eyes turned a deep blue, almost black, and it rushed forward. It hit the blade and instantly, the blade was frozen over with a white frost. The blade came to a slow wobble.
"That's it!" Bryan yelled, "Falborg!"
The blade stared to glow as a large falcon arose from the blade. It was a glowing, light blue color with white wings and red and yellow armor on it. It had a white chest with a yellow piece of armor on it. It let out a deafening cry.
"Attack!" He yelled as it swooped down on Orelin. It collided with Orelin and knocked it back, but it didn't stop there. It kept coming, but its target this time was me.
It collided with me as its long talons ripped through the loose bottom of my shirt. I fell backwards onto the cobblestone only to have the bird's claws scratch the side of my cheek. I got up as quickly as I could to see Orelin being pummeled by the power of Bryan's blade.
"Orelin!" I yelled as Orelin pushed the giant bird back, "Now, Cleansing Light!"
Orelin opened its mouth and a large white beam came out and engulfed Bryan's blade. I closed my eyes and re-opened them to see Bryan's blade out of the dish and Orelin still spinning. I picked up Orelin and walked over to the other side of the dish. Bryan was already starting to leave. I grabbed his collar.
"Hold it." I said, turning him back around, "What's up with Tala?"
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"He's not himself, and you know it." I said.
"You don't need to know." He said.
I pushed him against the side of the wall.
"Bryan," I said, "Tell me, now."
He pushed me back and started walking away.
"All I'm saying is that I wouldn't read into it if I were you." He said, "Tala will only stand up to you in the dish, and I was just a warm up for what Tala is now, so if you know what's good for you--"
"What?" I asked.
"You'll re-join us." He said.
"What?" I said, "Never!"
"Fine," He said, "If we can't get to you by Blading, then we'll get to you by your teammates."
"Enrique." I said softly. I didn't want anything happening to him, but I was not re-joining this team. I would help Tala, but I'd do it with the help of my team, "No Bryan, no."
"Boris will hear about this." He said as he disappeared.
I looked up to see that the sun was rising, it must be around seven. I needed to head back. I walked back to where the Majestic's base was with Bryan still on my mind.
I walked up to the mansion when suddenly, I heard someone talking. It was coming from an open window near the side of the mansion. I walked around to the side when I heard two people talking.
"Very good, Enrique." I heard and older voice say, must be a tutor, "I have to go grab something, and I'll be back in a few minutes, so---no escaping."
"Yes Mr. Davis." I heard Enrique say. The window the conversation came from was around five or six feet above the ground. I peered in the window to see a young man leave the room and Enrique run over to the window and start to pry open the hinges. He opened the window.
"He's not doing what I think he is." I said, "He's not gonna jump, is he?"
Enrique jumped out the window, but I saw his shoe catch the end of the window and trip in mid-air. He fell out of the window and landed on me. I fell to the ground with him sitting on me.
"Well, that was one of the softer falls." He said, "Aww, nuts! He'll be back in a few minutes, I've gotta get out of here."
"Well," I said, "Take me with you, I like the ground view, but I could get used to standing."
"Ayia?" He said, looking down, "Oh, hi!"
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"What do you think I'm doing?" He said, "That trigonometry tutor's evil! He's the third different one I've had this month!"
He got off me and flipped over onto his back. I suddenly heard a yell from inside the room.
"Not again!" I heard Mr. Davis yell.
Both of us started laughing.
"I have an idea to get you out of this." I said as I got up and walked over to the window, "Mr. Davis?"
He walked over to the window, "What is it?" he asked.
"I'm sorry about Enrique." I said, "But he has just been informed that one of Master Robert's family members is ill."
"Oh," He said, "who is it?"
"His great, great, great, great--" I started.
"You're right, that's terrible!" He said, cutting me off, "he needs to go and comfort Robert and his family!"
"Thank you for your leniency." I said as I ran off with Enrique.
"That was great!" He said, "I think I'm actually starting to enjoy Robert's family history, thanks."
"Hmm." I said, "I think I know how you can repay me."
"What'd you have in mind?" he asked as he put his arms around me. He noticed my cheek and put his hand against it, "What happened?"
"Beyblade battle this morning, long story." I said as he rubbed his thumb across it gently.
"With who?" He asked.
"One of the Demolition Boys." I said, "I had to help some kids out, and didn't realize it was him until the battle started."
"You need to watch out for them." He said.
"Enrique," I said, "I can take care of myself."
"I know." He said. "I just don't want anything happening to you."
"Me too." I said, "It's just my old team's been known to be ruthless, and they want me back."
"What?" He asked.
"And I'm afraid they'll resort to hurting you guys," I said, "I think I should just leave--I mean, they could hurt you guys."
"Not a chance." He said with a smile, his eyes suddenly brightened, "Oh, I got you something."
"Now Enrique," I asked, "You don't have to spend any money on me, as you know, money wasn't exactly my strong point."
"I know that," he said, "I found it a few days ago in that old room while you were out, and I didn't get a chance to give it to you until now."
"But--" I started.
"Just take it." He said. He pulled his hand behind my head and flicked his hand. He brought it back out to reveal a necklace. It had a thick black string with sapphires laced into it and a sapphire in the middle. Its colors seemed to swirl together strangely. I looked in the center and saw a depiction of a wolf. It glimmered in the sun.
"It's amazing." I said, looking at it in awe.
"I thought you'd like it." He said, "turn around."
I turned around and lifted up my ponytail. The necklace came around my neck as he fastened it in the back. I turned back around.
"I love it." I said.
"Good." He said, "I saw it and it just looked like your style, besides, the wolf reminds me of Orelin."
"You know," I said, "You're a lot more than I first thought you were, Enrique."
"What do you mean?" He asked.
"I always thought that all of you guys were rich, and didn't care about anything but money." I said, "But, I was wrong, you've really proved yourself to me, and I love you for who you are, you have a great personality, you're nice too, and easy to get along with."
"Is that all?" He asked with a smirk, I could see his head filling with air by the second.
"Not even close." I said as Enrique wrapped his arms around me and pulled me into a warm embrace as I lightly nuzzled against him, "Now come on, we've got a match to attended to."
"You mean to win." He said.
"Right." I said as we walked around to the front and in the door.
"I wonder where the others are?" I said.
"They're probably in the training room." He said as we walked into the long hallway and to the large door at the end. Enrique placed Amphilyon into the small box by the door, and the door opened to reveal our team and the Windwakers launching their blades.
"Hi guys!" I said with a smile as we walked up to our team and the Windwakers.
"Why don't we have a quick battle?" Skylar asked.
"Why don't you wait until my battle today," I said, "You may not even want to battle me after you see what I can do."
"Is that so?" He said.
"Yup." I said. Not only had my team welcomed me, but they gave me a lot of confidence too.
"Alright, Alright." Robert said, "Now calm down you two."
"Yeah!" Johnny said, flashing me a smile, "I'm the only one who can argue with her!"
"Got that right!" I said, "Wait, Johnny's right, holy cow!"
"What was that?" He said, taking me into a headlock like I had last night to him.
"You're right, you're right!" I said as he let go.
"Of course I'm right." He said.
"What's the world coming to?" I said.
"Why you!" He said as he raced towards me. I lightly stepped out of the way and stuck my arm out to catch Johnny as he went by, and drug him into a headlock.
"I wouldn't try anything smart." I said as he tugged his ear.
"Ouch!" He yelled as I let him go. He regained himself and faced Skylar, "And that's why I can only argue with her."
"Well what about me?" Enrique said.
"Because you two would kiss and make up way too easily, maybe you wouldn't even have to argue!" Johnny said with a laugh.
"Why you!" Enrique and I said as we tried to gang up on Johnny, but not before Oliver held Enrique back and Robert held me back.
"Settle ---down!" Robert said, straining to keep me under control.
"Fine!" We both said.
All the Windwakers looked at us with strange faces. We all started laughing.
"Now, about that battle." Skylar said, itching to take me on.
"Wait until after my battle today." I said.
"Fine." He said.
I walked into the other room, grabbed my Launcher, and walked back out. I walked up to the side of the dish and launched Orelin. It spun around the dish before coming to a halt.
"Now," I said, "Evasive maneuver!"
Orelin then went in speedy zigzags across the dish.
"Good," I said, "Now, attack, then switch to defense and maneuver to the left!"
Orelin sped towards the middle of the dish, then stopped, and sped over to the left, and came into a tight turn. Orelin flew back into my hand.
"Good job." I said, admiring the blade as it glimmered in the light of the training room.
"Nice maneuvering!" Enrique said, "Keep fighting like that, and the match will be ours."
"Yeah!" I said happily. I looked over at Robert, who seemed to be in thought, "Hey Robert, what's up?"
"Just thinking about my battle with Mariah." He said.
"Oh." I said, I then smile, "Well just play smart, and stick with us, and you'll be great!"
He let out a small chuckle, "Guess you're right." He said.
"Yeah," I said, "We've gotta be a team to win."
"That's true." He said.
"We'll always stick by you Robert," I said, "No matter what happens today."
"Good to hear it." Robert said as he grasped my hand in a firm shake.
"Now," I said to the others, "Let's go!"
We walked out of the Training Base and were picked up by a limousine. We all squeezed inside. The limousine rolled into town and drove south.
"Where are we going?" I asked, "Isn't the tournament here?"
"No." Enrique said, "It's in my hometown, Rome."
"Italy!" I said in surprise, "But, I never was packed, I mean like, clothes and stuff."
"We already packed your stuff." Oliver said.
"Oh," I said, "That's good to know. Wait, are we going to drive all the way there?"
"No silly," Oliver said, "We're flying."
"Flying!" I said, "On an airplane! I've never flown before!"
"It's alright." Enrique said, clamming me down, "You can sit by me if it'll make you feel any better."
"Sure!" I said, my face brightening.
"Aww." Johnny said, "How sweet, I'm gonna barf!"
"Johnny!" I said angrily; I suddenly smiled, "Or if you want, I could sit by you, and toss you out the window!"
"Shutting up." Johnny said.
"Good." I said, staring forward and nodding at Enrique.
Enrique suddenly set his hand on mine and rubbed it softly. He leaned over and whispered in my ear.
"Good luck today."
"You too." I whispered back as he brought me into a light hug. My face turned a bit red as I leaned lightly against him and closed my eyes. I suddenly felt myself being pushed forward into him. I looked behind me to see Johnny with his arms outstretched like he had pushed me. At first I was ready to kill him, but then I smiled.
"Well Johnny," I said, "I hope I make you barf."
I looked back to see Enrique's face inches from mine. I lightly gave him a kiss the turned back to see Johnny with his hand over his mouth and a green line across his cheeks. He lightly moaned.
We all laughed.
"Now I know a way to terrorize Johnny when he annoys me," I said, "and it's a win-win situation for me."
"Johnny," Enrique said, "annoy her as much as you possibly can, whenever you want."
I laughed, "So," I said, "I suppose you don't mind the extra attention huh?"
"Not at all." He said.
"And since you pushed me into him, Johnny," I said, "I think I'll stay here for a while, just to make you so happy."
Enrique's arms pulled me closer, "Yeah," He said, "Thanks Johnny, I owe you one man!"
Johnny's face turned an even deeper shade of green as we all laughed.
I looked over to Oliver. He was staring out the window, seeming to be looking out into space.
"You ready for your match today?" I asked.
"More than ever!" He replied happily, "What about you?"
"Yeah!" I said. I couldn't wait to battle with Lee.
I looked out the window to see an Airport. It was very large with an opening in the front and I could barley see a runway in the back where planes, like giant birds, were taking off. The limousine pulled up to the entrance and stopped as we all got out. I saw Enrique and Skylar head to the back and pull out numerous bags. Enrique handed me mine. It was a blue backpack-like bag with strange symbols on it and it had one sling in the front that I put around my shoulder. We all grabbed the rest of our luggage and walked into the airport. It was huge! It was lined with windows that allowed you to see outside. The inside was made up of tables and a small restaurant on one side and a line and ticket booth. We walked through the line and up to the woman behind the counter.
"Tickets, please." She said as Robert handed her a set of tickets, "Thank you." She said. She began picking our baggage up and placing them on a moving strip. She turned to me.
"Yours is small enough for an overhead compartment, so you can take it on the plane with you." She said.
"Good." I said nodding.
We then left and walked down a large hallway.
"What plane are we on?" Mimiru asked.
"Place 1096," Robert said, "Hallway C-4, gate 7."
"Here's the right hall." Miriko said as we walked down it to lead us to another circular room. It had gates at every few feet with planes hooked up to a few, including gate seven.
"Let's go!" I shouted as we ran into the gate and off to the next championship that would soon be the greatest match I had ever dreamed of.
