Part Eleven

As the Beyblade World Championship heats drew near, the news was nearly impossible to escape. Even the occupants of secluded fortresses were not immune to the aggressive advertising.

Upon hearing the news, Johnny and Enrique had arrived back at Jürgens Castle, signed entry form in hand, to discuss their strategy with Robert. The new format of the competition suited them much more, and for the first time, they were considering working together.

So far, Robert had avoided giving any interviews, or telling his friends about his plans. He knew the controversy it would cause if word got out about his decision, but he knew he would eventually have to tell them...

"I will not be entering."

He still had his individual titles, and a team title was not an option whilst he was bound to the terms of Judy's contract.

"But, Robert... why?" Enrique was visually horrified.
"I made a promise to someone." He sighed. "And because of that, I cannot enter the tournament."

"What have you done?" Johnny narrowed his eyes. "No. What has he done?"
"There is a... conflict of interest which the All Starz - and I - wish to avoid."
"Fuck them!"

"Johnny." Robert cautioned; enough intent in his name alone that the rest of the warning didn't have to be spoken. "I thought you would be pleased. Without me, you will be the number one blader in Europe."

"I don't want the title by default; I want to earn it! Do you think my family got where they are by default? Did any of us get to where we are by default?!" He spat the word like it left a bad taste in his mouth. "Lose to me with a knight's honour; don't just hand me the title without a fight!"

Robert met his friend's anger with a well-practised calm. "Standing down is the most honourable thing I can do in this situation."

"Why do you have to miss out? You're ten - no, a hundred times the blader he is!"
"The PPB owns the All Starz. Michael has no say in it; he has to compete." Robert knew all too well what it was like having his life controlled by someone else. "So, I have to be the one to step down."

"You've given him everything!" Johnny yelled, throwing his arms out in disbelief, "And now you've got nothing left, you want to start giving him our things? No! He's not having what belongs to us!"

Robert shook his head, taking a deep breath. He knew that if they got into a serious argument, they would be screaming at each other well into the next morning, and he just didn't have the energy for it.
"It is not like that."
"You and I are going to win this thing!"

Enrique gave an indifferent shrug. "It's not like we need a team of four this time."
"Well, we can't be a team of three!" The Scot returned fire. "They might force us to play with some other blader - a stranger who isn't as good as us!"

"Look around. We're not a team of four anyway."
Johnny scowled. "Where is Oliver?"
"He mentioned wanting to focus more on his cooking. Those ties really shook his confidence, so maybe he doesn't want to compete this year?"

Robert remained silent; his armed folded. He would not betray the turmoil running through his mind.

If Oliver didn't accept any more challenges, he would keep his undefeated status - and Sanguinex and his Dark Bladers would remain cursed indefinitely. With the vampire's threat still plaguing him, he needed to uphold his promise to him.

"I'm not going to team up with you!" Johnny was getting louder and angrier. "You don't even know how to control your Bit Beast!"

When they had recently faced each other, Johnny was so aggressive, there was barely time for Enrique to summon Amphilyon, but everyone in the scene had heard the rumours about his substandard battle with Tyson.

"That was two years ago!" The Italian boy was surprised by his friend's personal attack. "You want to try me again, little man?"
"Bring it on, you fucking amateur!"

Enrique enjoyed trash-talking as much as the next Beyblader, but there was a limit - especially when Johnny had effectively insulted him and every single tough competitor he had beaten.

"Amateur?! Johnny, what the hell?"
"No! I'm not having you leeching off my success!"
"But it's okay for you to leech off Robert's?"

The Scot was not listening. "I obliterated you at the Euro Cup, and I'll do it again this time!"
"Will you just cool it for a second?" The argument was getting far too serious - and personal - for Enrique's tastes. "You need a partner. If Robert and Oliver aren't entering - and unless someone can actually beat either of us - that partner is going to be me."
He was right. Johnny folded his arms and pouted.

"Gustav!" Their captain was waiting for his team to take a breath so he could call for his butler. "Ready the helicopter. We are going to Paris."

Oliver's smile was wide and welcoming when he received his unannounced guests. They usually all assembled at Robert's castle, and whilst he had become familiar with the kitchen there, he still did his best cooking in his own home. He was excited for an excuse to show them what he was truly capable of!

There was no mistaking the purpose of their visit, especially when Johnny slapped their partially completed registration form on the table. All it needed was two more signatures.

Ignoring their pleas to talk, Oliver insisted that difficult discussions were a lot easier over delicious food, and he would not partake in any serious conversation until he had prepared something for them all.

Johnny and Enrique had argued for the entire trip. Enrique looked like he just wanted to go to sleep, but Johnny was far from finished.

"I'm grateful for your company." Oliver said as he sat a tray down in the middle of the table, not even looking at the registration form. "But I'm not going to do it."

Robert was still their captain for the time being, and he knew he would have to use all his influence to put a stop to his teammate's troubling plans.
"Oliver, I wish you would reconsider"

"My last two battles were disasters!" The green-haired boy lamented. "I couldn't bear to be humiliated a third time."

"So, you're going to quit without a fight? Coward." Johnny spat. "You'll be Ray's bitch forever."

Oliver shrugged. "I can think of worse things to be."
"Put it back in your pants, Oliver." Enrique laughed. "He has a girlfriend."
"Like you're an expert on fidelity?"

Robert cleared his throat, loudly. If the two boys got off-topic - especially in the direction it was heading, he would have a difficult time bringing their conversation back to its original subject.

"I would hate to see you give up your French title." He tried guilt, and when that didn't work, he tried jealousy. "Do we even know who is ranked second at the moment?"
"I think his name is Claude? But don't worry about him." The delicate boy waved him off, like he wasn't worth mentioning. "There only needs to be two on the team. Any others are purely fanservice."

"Well, two is all we've got, since Robert's not entering either." Johnny grumbled.

"Oh? Then, what is all this?" Oliver made a sweeping gesture toward his three teammates. "Suddenly, you're concerned about my title, when you don't even care about your own?"

"You are being unreasonable." Robert countered with deadpan seriousness.
"How am I being unreasonable for doing the same thing as you?"

This was new; Oliver was arguing with Robert. Even Johnny stopped slouching to sit up straight and watch. Maybe he could pick up a few tips, if his little teammate actually won?

"You think I do not want to enter?" Robert did not wait for an answer. "Of course I want to avenge my loss! We should all want to."

"Not without you." Oliver reached over, and put a friendly hand on his captain's arm. "If I'm going to embarrass myself again, I want you there to lead me."

"Just do it, Robert!" Johnny cut in. "Who cares what the All Starz think? If Parker's the best they've got, I doubt they'll even qualify."

Enrique elbowed the Scot. "Are we doing this thing, or what?"

"Oh, we are definitely doing this thing." Oliver answered, never breaking his stare with his captain, pushing the registration form toward him.
"No, we are not." Robert argued.

"Three against one." The redhead folded his arms in front of his chest, tilting his head to the side in an invitation for further argument. Even if his opponent didn't feel like it, he was more than happy to yell all night if it got his point across. "We're all entering that tournament."

"You all feel this way?" Robert asked sadly.

The trio nodded in unison.

"Teamwork might have worked against us last time, but this tag team format is made for us!" Enrique added pressure to the argument, "It's only a question of who's going to be standing with you at the end, Robert."

It had been shameful losing like they had. Feigning humility only went so far when their individual records had been so badly stained by a single group failure. Standing atop the world stage would be the perfect redemption.

"It's going to be me!" Johnny didn't care how much he offended his teammates.

Their captain's hand trembled as he picked up the pen and signed his name alongside the two awaiting signatures. Oliver's would complete the set.

It was just like any other business transaction when a conflict of interest occurred. The Majestics were ready to battle, without mercy, and without complications.

Their separation wouldn't be forever; only for the length of the tournament. It had to be done. If he was going to protect Michael, he was going to have to hurt him. Surely, he would understand.

To be Continued...