Chapter 8: Merci's Dangerous Trap
Hey everyone I'm back with a new chapter. I'd like to give a shoutout to Chris Ketchum for helping me get back into my love of all things Beyblade and now I'm back in action. I hope you like what I have planned. Please Review and Enjoy.
We find ourselves in a dark lab as Doji was standing in the back while multiple people were on computers showing him the battles between Ginga and Tetsuya and Roxas and Benkei.
"Hmm it appears Ginga has found a new ally." Doji said intrigued. "What is the current status of the training program?"
"We are currently running program 21." A computer lady said.
In a large room, we see Kyoya facing a hologram of Ginga.
"Ginga Hagane." Kyoya growls launching his bey.
"We are almost ready to complete the next phase of training." She said.
"10 days ahead of schedule. Kyoya Tatagame is ahead of schedule. Things are going exactly as planned. Merci! Sign in please." Doji orders.
"Bonjour master." A computerized voice with a French accent said.
"Your turn has come. I trust you are prepared?" Doji asks.
"Merci boku. Certainly master. My calculations are perfect." Merci said.
On the outskirts of the city, a figure was walking down the street.
"Rumor has it lots of battles have been happening here….my kind of place." A female voice grins.
At the B-Pit we see Benkei waiting for Madoka by the counter while Hilary, Kenta and Roxas were nearby.
"I don't like this one bit. Give it back!" Benkei orders.
"I am but you can't ignore a Beyblade in this kind of condition. Here you go. All finished." Madoka said handing Benkei back Bull.
"Bull. It's about time." Benkei said looking at it. "Wow it's so shiny and clean and all balancy…wait what I saying?"
"I believe what you should be saying is thank you." Hilary deadpans.
"And nobody fixes a bey like Madoka." Kenta smiles.
"Just bring it by every once in a while." Madoka said.
"Yeah but don't kid yourself. This doesn't mean we're friends or anything." Benkei said.
"But you did help Kenta train to beat Hikaru." Roxas said walking in. "That was pretty nice of you."
"I'm not nice. Got it? Look my goal is defeat Ginga Hagane and once I do that, I'm coming for you for that rematch." Benkei said pointing at him.
"Still?" Roxas raised an eyebrow.
"Aw. I made extra food because I thought Benkei might be hungry." Madoka said taking out a tubber ware.
Turning around Benkei sees her open it revealing a steak.
"Is that a steak?!" Benkei smiles.
"What? You don't like filet mignon?" Madoka asks.
"No I mean…It's my favorite." Benkei said about to eat it when Hilary yanks it out of the way.
"Oh well. Too bad. If you were a friend I would let you have it, but you said it yourself. You're not." Hilary said turning away.
"No please! I'm sorry! I didn't mean that! Please give it!" Benkei begs.
"Say it." Hilary glares making Benkei flinch.
"Uh thank you for fixing my bey." Benkei said nervously.
"And?" Hilary glares leaning in closer.
"And thank you for the meal." Benkei whimpers.
"AND?!" Hilary said leaning in to the point Benkei saw flames coming from her eyes.
"I'm sorry for my rude behavior and being so disrespectful! Please I'm hungry!" Benkei panics.
"Now was that so hard?" Hilary smiles returning to normal.
"Wow Hilary you sure can be scary." Kenta whimpers.
"Makes you glad she's on our side." Roxas said.
"Yummy." Benkei said about to take his meal.
"Well no use in letting it get cold." Stabbing it with a fork Ginga eats the whole steak in one bite.
"NOOO! My Steak!" Benkei sobs.
"Mmm best steak ever." Ginga sighs. "But Benkei why are you so intent on defeating me?"
"I mean sure Ginga's a great blader, but why go through all this?" Roxas asks.
"You're not even a Face Hunter anymore." Madoka said.
"Yeah they kicked you out." Hilary said hitting Benkei right in the feels.
"Don't rub it in!" Benkei snaps.
"Are you here on Kyoya's orders?" Ginga assumes.
"No I'm not. Kyoya isn't even town. He lost a battle to a weird guy and he took him away." Benkei said surprising them.
"Weird guy? Uh was he wearing a black coat by any chance?" Roxas asks.
"What? No. The guy told me that if I wanted to save Kyoya I had to defeat Ginga." Benkei explains.
'Well at least the Organization isn't back.' Roxas thought somewhat relieved.
"Weird guy?" Ginga mumbles when the door opens revealing Osamu, Takashi and Akira.
"He's here." Takeshi said.
"Oh wow is it true?" Osamu asks as they ran to the counter.
"Is what true?" Madoka asks.
"Kenta is it true you were able to use a special move?" Akira asks.
"Yep." Kenta smiles proudly.
"Rumor has it Benkei was the one who helped you. Is that true?" Takashi asks.
"It sure is. It was all thanks to Benkei." Kenta nods.
"What? No it was—" Benkei blushes embarrassed.
"Please! Please! Can you train us too?!" All three asks with sparkly eyes.
"Uh…" Benkei sweatdrops.
"Come on Benkei." Kenta said with sparkly eyes.
"Pretty please!" All four of them said.
"Ugh! Oh fine!" Benkei said caving in.
"Yes! Benkei training time!" Kenta cheers as they all headed out.
"Now this we got to see." Hilary said.
"Roxas, Hilary where are you both off to?" They were about to follow when he noticed Judy and Max walking over.
"Is everything alright?" Hilary asks.
"Don't tell me you two already forgot? You promised you would spend the day with Max." Judy reminds.
"We were gonna go to Bey Park today. Remember?" Max said.
"Oh man. We almost forgot." Roxas said.
"Sorry guys. You're on your own for this one." Hilary said.
"It's fine. Have fun." Ginga said as the two groups went in different directions.
By the river, Benkei was giving Kenta's friends training while Kenta and Madoka watched and Ginga was laying in the grass.
"That's not enough. You got to use all your fighting spirit." Benkei instructs the same way he taught Kenta.
"Yes sir." They said.
"The spirit to overpower your opponent." Benkei instructs.
"Now from the gut!" Benkei said unleashing his battle cry with the other three copying him. "YOU'RE NOT GONNA LOSE RIGHT?!"
"WE'RE NOT GONNA LOSE SIR!"
"THEN WHO'S GONNA WIN?!"
"WE'RE GONNA WIN SIR!"
"Can they really win like that?" Madoka asks unsure.
"Sure he's amazing." Kenta nods speaking from experience.
'So some guy huh? Beating Kyoya is no easy task. It took everything I had. Who could this guy be?' Ginga asks lost in his thoughts.
At Bey-Park, Hilary watching Roxas so Max how to launch a bey using Driger.
"Okay so what you want to do is have a strong grip on the launcher but keep your arms relaxed. Try and launch it." Roxas said.
"Let it rip!" Max yells pulling the ripcord and Driger lands in the arena but was spinning slowly.
"Hmm not bad." Roxas said.
"You think I'll be a blader someday Roxas?" Max asks.
"Maybe someday Max. But I thought you were my biggest fan? Don't tell me I've gotten boring." Roxas smirks.
"What no! I mean I just want to be a blader too someday." Max said nervously making Hilary giggle.
"Relax Max he's just messing with you. Besides you know Roxas. He's still hanging onto Ginga's rep. Ditch him after he learns to shine on his own." Hilary jokes.
"Oh thanks." Roxas said making both of them laugh harder.
"Let it Rip!" A female voice calls out and the sounds of clashing beys echoed through the room.
Looking to the big Bey Dish they saw a Pink and silver bey racing around the arena with amazing speed and agility.
"That thing is fast." Max gasps as it knocks into one bey after another.
Looking up Roxas saw the blader was a teenage girl with pink hair and a bow in it, a blue qipao outfit with a yellow cheetah printed jacket around her waist. This was Mariah Wong.
"Galux attack!" She yells as her bey charged in and knocked the remaining beys out of the dish.
"Whoa, girl has got game." Hilary said as she caught her bey.
"I guess the rumors of strong bladers in this town was exaggerated." Mariah said with a disappointed tone.
"Hey! You looking for a strong blader?" Max calls out getting her attention.
"Max what are you doing?" Roxas whispers.
"Where can I find one?" Mariah asks walking over.
"This guy right here. My buddy Roxas is one of the best Bladers in town." Max said.
"Is that right?" She said turning to him.
"Uh Max you really shouldn't go around bragging about stuff." Hilary said nervously.
"Well Roxas, if you're as good as he claims you are. How about a battle?" Mariah asks.
"You got a name?" Roxas asks.
"My name is Mariah Wong. And this is Galux." Mariah declares holding out her bey and Roxas saw a cat logo engraved on it.
'I've never seen a bey like that before. I wish Madoka was here right about now.' Roxas thought.
Meanwhile, in a small plane, Doji and Kyoya were flying through the air.
"We're passing point C. We'll be arriving shortly." The pilot said.
"Where are you taking me now? I told you to take to where Ginga is." Kyoya asks.
"What did you plan to do once you got there?" Doji asks.
"Defeat him of course. What did you think?" Kyoya said determined.
"Do you not understand me? You would lose. In your current state." Doji said making Kyoya look at him confused.
"What are you talking about?" Kyoya asks demanding an answer.
"Granted Kyoya you completed our training program with amazing speed and accuracy. And after completing all our tasks one might even call you perfect." Doji said.
"So then why aren't I going to battle Ginga?" Kyoya asks.
"Because even so, you can't win against Ginga Hagane. Even if you possess an overwhelming power or amazing speed, or if you use traps to try and exploit your opponent's weakness. He will overcome all of that with the power of his heart and turn a defeat into a victory." Doji declares. "The only way to defeat him to obtain the Fangs of the Heart."
"Fangs of the Heart? What's that?" Kyoya asks interested.
"We will be arriving momentarily." The pilot said.
Looking ahead Doji and Kyoya saw they were approaching a giant canyon area.
"Where are we?" Kyoya asks.
"A nature park that suits our purpose Kyoya. We call it Wolf Canyon." Doji declares as they flew over it.
"Why do you call it that?" Kyoya asks.
"Not a single living person lives in this area. The cliffs are incredibly steep. No one has ever climbed to the top." Doji explains.
"What's that got to do with me?" Kyoya asks.
"Legend has it the king of the beasts, the Lion. Would throw its cubs into a deep valley and only raise the ones that would crawl back out. A true warrior proves himself only when he's faced with a seemingly impossible challenge. We call this the Fangs of the Heart. Climb to the top of this canyon and prove you have the heart." Doji orders.
"That sounds interesting." Kyoya grins. "If it helps me defeat Ginga I'll do it." Grabbing a parachute, Kyoya opens the door and leaps out. "Just you wait Ginga!"
"Good Kyoya Tatagame." Doji said before laughing evilly.
Back at the river, Benkei was letting Osamu, Takashi and Akira take a break.
Chugging his drink down, the three boys couldn't help but stare.
"Look at him." Akira said.
"He's like a bull." Takashi said.
"Probably because he is one." Osamu said as Benkei finished his drink.
"Alright break's over. Back to training." Benkei said.
"What? We're not done?" Osamu whines.
"Fat chance. No way you can get good with just one day of training." Benkei said making them groan.
Nearby Kenta looked to see Ginga was still lost in his thoughts.
"Hey Madoka, Ginga sure seems distracted today. He's been so quiet. I wonder what's up?" Kenta asks as both looked over at him.
"You're right. I wonder if something happened." Madoka said as Ginga stood up.
"Is everything alright Ginga?" Kenta asks.
"Huh? Yeah I uh just need to go to the bathroom." Ginga said making them both chuckle.
Making his way to what seemed like a porta potty, Ginga enters.
"Hmm seems a little different. Did they redecorate?" Ginga asks.
"Based on your data. You often go to the bathroom at this time." Merci said as we zoom out to see that some construction signs obstructed Ginga's view revealing him to be in a van that drove away.
"Well one thing is for sure. I don't need to go anymore." Ginga said confused. "What's going on?"
Suddenly a hidden door opened and Ginga sees a small arena with several cameras.
"Challenge Blader!" Merci declares.
"Wha?! Challenger Blader? What the heck is going on?" Ginga asks.
"Welcome to Challenge Blader. I am your host Merci." Merci said.
"Merci?" Ginga said still processing this.
"And now for the challenger. What is your name please?" Merci asks.
"My name? It's Ginga Hagane." Ginga said.
"Bonjour Monsieur Ginga. Smile for the camera." Merci said making a camera move towards him.
"Wait am I on TV?" Ginga said surprised.
"Oui. Everyone is watching." Merci confirms.
"Oh wow cool. Hey everyone." Ginga said posing for the camera.
"Now that that's taken care of let's get ready for our first challenge." Merci said.
"First challenge? What are you talking about?" Ginga asks.
"What? You've never heard of the hit TV show challenge blader?" Merci asks as the camera sweatdrops.
"Never heard of it." Ginga shook his head.
"Really? And we had such high hopes for a second season." Merci said in a disappointed tone.
"I'm sure you'll get it." Ginga said.
"Well here are the rules. Bladers compete in various challenges to prove their Beyblade skills. And whoever wins receives a fabulous prize." Merci explains.
"What have I got to lose? I'm in." Ginga said.
"Very good. We'll begin our challenges after this commercial break." Merci said.
We see Roxas and Mariah facing off in the big dish at the Bey-Park.
"We've been getting a lot of out-of-town bladers lately." Hilary said.
"Well that's obvious. Word spreads all over about tough bladers. And as Bladers we go out into the world to find said challengers and overcome them." Mariah said loading her bey into her launcher.
"I see, you guys are drawn to challenges. When most would turn away you don't." Roxas realized.
"In the heart of every Blader is someone who is eager to push themselves to their limits and fight to become the World's Strongest." Mariah declares taking a stance.
"Heart of every blader huh…Alright Mariah get ready." Roxas said taking his stance.
3
2
1
"LET IT RIP!" Both yelled launching their beys.
Racing around the stadium, Galux and Driger clashed back to back.
As Driger pulls back Galux chases after him.
"You think you can outrun me?" Mariah growls as Galux gains on Driger.
"No but I can outmaneuver." Roxas said as Driger evades the attack and rams into Galux.
Cringing Mariah watched as Galux was forced back towards the edge of the dish.
"Come on just a little more." Max said.
"You got this Roxas." Hilary said.
"We're not going down that easily! Galux!" Mariah yells as her bey narrowly avoids going over the edge but veering right.
"Almost had her." Roxas growls.
"Almost doesn't cut it." Mariah said as Galux rammed into Driger delivering a barrage attack from all sides.
"Driger shake her off!" Roxas said as Driger jumped out of the way.
"Oh no you don't!" Mariah said as Galux chased after refusing to give Roxas even a second to recover.
Slamming into Driger sparks began to fly.
"She even fights like a wild cat." Roxas growls.
"Are you really that surprised?" Mariah asks getting his attention. "To be the best you can't hold back for even a second against anyone."
"Hold back? Driger and I fight hard in every battle we've had." Roxas said.
"Really? Everything? Because I put everything into my battles. My body, mind and heart. I leave it all out there." Mariah said.
"Mind, Body and Heart?" Max said taking this in.
"To be the best you can't ever hold back. So tell me Roxas. You're good but do you have the heart?" Mariah asks as her eyes turned yellow like a cat.
Taking a stance, a determined look appeared on his face.
"Let's find out! Driger!" Roxas yells.
In response to his drive, a small aura of light and darkness formed in his hands and around Driger in response to it almost as if he was about to summon his keyblades.
"What is that?" Hilary said softly.
"Come on Roxas get her!" Max yells.
As the mysterious energy coated the fusion wheel, Driger deflects Galux's attack knocking it to the opposite edge of the dish.
"Now this is getting interesting." Mariah grins.
Racing around the dish both beys clashed trying to overpower the other.
Knocking Driger back, Galux races up the edge to do a divebomb attack.
"Get him Galux!" Mariah said.
"I don't think so! You think that'll work?!" Roxas said as Driger raced up the opposite end and rams into Galux from the side.
"What?" Mariah gasps.
"Compared to battling Pegasus that attack was too easy." Roxas said.
"Uh oh looks like this cat fight is getting good." Hilary said.
"Come on Roxas finish her off!" Max said.
"You heard them Driger!" Roxas said as Driger races after Galux.
"Galux Counterattack!" As a small pink light shines from Galux she deflected Driger's attack.
"What was that?" Roxas said surprised.
"Sorry Roxas but this cat has claws. Sharp ones." Mariah said as Galux smashed into Driger knocking it back more and more.
"How is it moving that fast and still so powerful?" Max asks.
"It's gotta be some of the parts on it. Stinks Madoka isn't here to help explain to us." Hilary said.
"Parts are one thing but in the end everything comes down to the drive to win." Mariah said.
"Well time to see who has the stronger drive to win." Roxas said.
"Fine by me." Mariah said.
"Time to finish this! Driger Twilight Slash!" Roxas yells.
"Galux Cat Scratch!" Mariah yells as razor-sharp energy surrounded Galux's Fusion Wheel.
As both beys charged in at full speed we see Driger and Galux appear for a few seconds before both Beys smashed into each other creating a bright light.
Covering their faces everyone waited until the light died down which lead to all eyes on the dish.
Slowly, it cleared to reveal Galux had spun out while Driger was wobbling.
"Roxas did it!" Max cheers.
"He won!" Hilary said as the others went nuts.
Bending down Mariah picks up her bey. "He beat us?"
"Wow Mariah that was close." Roxas said picking up his bey. "I thought you almost had me."
"Maybe next time." Mariah said.
"Well be sure to stop by. I know quite a few bladers who would love to battle you too." Roxas smiles.
Looking at him, Mariah couldn't help but smile. "I might take you up on that offer."
"Roxas you were amazing." Max smiles as he and Hilary walk over.
"Thanks guys. Man wait until we tell the others about this." Roxas smiles looking at Driger.
'What was that from Roxas? It's like he was able to power up just like his Beyblade.' Hilary thought looking at him.
Looking at her, Max saw Hilary looking at Roxas and smirks.
'Hilary why are you staring at Roxas? Do you like him?" Max asks.
"What? Uh no where would you get an idea like that?" Hilary blushes snapping out of it making Max chuckle.
"You say a word about this you little runt and you're in for it." Hilary threatens.
"Roxas! Hilary is trying to kill me!" Max screams running behind him.
"Whoa what the?!" Roxas said as he was used as a human shield.
Seeing this Mariah couldn't help but laugh. "Well Roxas. Looks like we'll have to have that rematch again soon." She smiles walking out.
Meanwhile in Wolf Canyon, Kyoya was struggling to scale the steep canyon walls and fell quite a few times.
'Just you wait Ginga. I'll get revenge for the humiliation I felt when you beat me. If this is what it takes to defeat you I'll keep climbing no matter how many times.' Kyoya thought determined to keep climbing.
As a harsh wind blew throughout the canyon the rocks that Kyoya was holding onto broke making him fall.
Thinking quickly he threw his launcher up which lodged between two rocks and held on the rip cord making him dangle over the edge.
"I can't stop now. I'm so close." Kyoya growls.
Looking up to the top he gasps seeing what he thought was Ginga up above with a mocking look on his face.
"Ginga!" Kyoya yells finding his footing and climbing back up the canyon.
Grabbing his launcher, Kyoya pulls himself up onto a ledge to catch his breath when he noticed 3 small caves.
Getting up Kyoya thought he could rest there when he suddenly heard growling.
"What now?" Kyoya asks hating this more and more.
From the caves, 3 sets of eyes began to glow as 3 wolves stepped out to face Kyoya.
"Now I know why this place is called Wolf Canyon." Kyoya said as they walked closer and closer.
As Kyoya stepped back in fear a strong wind blew and storm clouds appeared overhead.
"Wait that's it." Getting an idea, Kyoya readied his bey. "Let it Rip! Go Leone!"
Using the wind, Leone unleashed the Lion Gale Force Wall creating a large tornado making the wolves briefly stop.
"How do you like the Lion Gale Force Wall furballs? Mangy mutts like you can't stop the King of Beasts! Now get out of my way!" Kyoya orders but the wolves wouldn't budge.
Looking into their eyes Kyoya realized that they were sizing him up. Seeing whether if he was stronger or weaker than them.
From the clouds above, rain started to pour down snapping Kyoya out of his thoughts.
When one of the wolves snarls at him Kyoya remembers Doji's words.
"A true warrior proves himself when he faces a seemingly impossible challenger. We call this The Fangs of the Heart." Doji said.
'Throw away fear. It doesn't matter who my opponents are. Wolves or Beybladers. All that matters is who is stronger?' Kyoya thought.
Snarling the wolves charged at Kyoya about to attack him.
"I will not lose! I will win!" Kyoya roars as thunder echoes behind him and Leone released a fierce lion's roar making the wolves stop in their tracks.
A green aura surrounds Kyoya as the wind grows stronger and stronger making the wolves back up in fear.
Finally, with Ginga, Merci had put him through the ringer with all the challenges.
One challenge had him take out 3 beys in less than 10 seconds.
One had him fire his bey through cones while running on a treadmill.
And the current challenge was a nightmare.
As multiple robotic hands tickled Ginga he was laughing uncontrollably.
"30 seconds remaining." Merci said as a beyblade spun in the dish nearby.
Snapping out of it, Ginga jumps back and launches Pegasus knocking the bey out of the arena.
"And now for stage 9." Merci said as a black bey shot out and landed in the middle of the dish.
"So it's a Stamina type." Ginga said recognizing its pattern.
"But that's not all." Merci states.
Under the bey, the ground under it began to rise.
"You have 60 seconds to defeat it and the longer you wait the higher it rises." Merci explains.
Little did Ginga know they were still gathering data on him and Pegasus.
"I got it! Go Pegasus!" Racing up the edge of the dish, Pegasus flips backwards and knocks the bey off the platform and out of the dish.
"Fantastique! We have now reached the final level!" Merci said as Ginga took a stance. "Ready! Begin!"
"Let it Rip!" Ginga launches Pegasus but in response Merci launched a humongous bey much to Ginga's surprise. "What in the?!"
"This attack type Bey is 30 times larger than average. Defeat it within 60 seconds." Merci said.
"This…this is a joke, right?" Ginga said in disbelief.
"I'm laughing." Merci said as the giant bey gained on Pegasus.
"Pegasus look out!" Ginga said as Pegasus ran to try and avoid but the big bey was hot on his tail.
"Uh oh you're not quitting on us now are you?" Merci asks.
"Quit? No way!" Ginga calls out. 'But how am I supposed to battle such a huge bey?'
"Only 20 seconds remain." Merci informs.
"Pegasus Jump!" Racing to the edge, Pegasus jumps up and lands atop the giant bey's facebolt. "Being bigger doesn't always mean better."
Racing to one side, Pegasus caused the giant bey to wobble.
"Because of its size. It's even harder to keep its balance. If I can throw it off." Ginga grins as Pegasus continued to race around making the giant bey lose its balance. "Now Pegasus!"
Leaping off it, Pegasus rams into the giant bey causing it to spin out.
"Trei bien Tre Bein! Excellent challenge monsieur Ginga!" Merci cheers as music went off. "Say something to our audience at home."
"Oh uh well. I did it everyone!" Ginga smiles.
"Great…well that's all the time we have folks. See you next week." Merci said activating the treadmill under Ginga.
"Hey wait what about my prize?!" Ginga calls out.
"For your prize you will receive the ultimate Blader opponent that will defeat you using the data we collected today." Merci reveals.
"My data?" Ginga said confused.
Outside Kenta and Madoka met up with Roxas, Max and Hilary when the van pulls up and Ginga is thrown out.
"Ginga?" All of them said surprised.
"What were you doing in there?" Roxas asks.
"And how badly did you have to go to the bathroom?" Kenta asks.
"It's fine. Hey do any of you know of a show called Challenge Bladers?" Ginga asks.
"No." Hilary and Max said.
"Never heard of it." Madoka said.
"Me neither." Kenta said while Roxas was just silent about the matter.
"What's going on?" Roxas asks.
"I'm not sure…but does that mean that the van was…" Ginga pauses in thought.
At Doji's officer, Merci logs in.
"I have returned Master." Merci said.
"And the data?" Doji asks.
"Stored on my hard drive. We have everything we need to defeat Ginga and Pegasus." Merci said.
"Good work my friend. Now we wait for Kyoya to be ready." Doji smiles.
"Mr. Doji we have received contact from Wolf Canyon." A woman said.
"He made it." Doji said.
At Wolf Canyon, Kyoya had made it all the way to the top. Meaning he was ready.