No Sacrifice, No Victory
Prologue
The stadium lights were blinding when she stepped out onto the stadium floor amidst the cheers and excited shouts of the crowd.
She looked down at her right hand. Her midnight blue HMS beyblade sparkled, showing off the brand new attack ring Kenny had installed in the locker rooms only minutes earlier. He had promised her it would be good enough to stand up to Carlos. She desperately hoped he was right. In the centre of the beyblade, the emblem of the dragon shone brightly.
Vaguely, she heard the referee's announcement, calling the competitors to the dish. She took a breath, and then she stepped forward as the crowd around her erupted into cheers of excitement and anticipation.
This is it, the anxious voice inside her head told her. It was time to prove to the world what she could do.
Her teammates were already assembled and waiting for her. It had been Kai's decision to change the line up at the last minute - with a draw and a loss behind them, her captain knew they were backed into a corner. Now her teammates were counting on her to keep them in the game.
As she approached the bench, Max and Tyson each patted her on the back and shared words of encouragement. Ray gave her arm a gently squeeze as Becky pressed her launcher and ripcord into her hands. "You can do this," she said, her voice full of determination and confidence in her cousin's abilities.
She glanced in Kai's direction and her captain nodded wordlessly before her coach pulled her aside. Hiro placed his hands on her shoulders. "Remember," he told her. "Your beyblade is like an extension of yourself. Believe that it's good enough to defeat Carlos. Believe that you are good enough to beat him." He squeezed her shoulders gently. "You won't lose."
She nodded her head. "Okay, coach."
She didn't look to the stands as she approached the dish - she knew he would be there watching her. Slowly, she ascended the steps to the area, her anticipation building as she climbed higher, higher until she could see across the field to her opponent. The announcer's voice echoed through the stadium.
And the hopes of the entire team rest on the shoulders of their Vice Captain. If they don't win this round, the Bladebreakers will lose the match and their chance at the Championship title.
She clipped Seraphina securely into her launcher, the rip cord held tight in her hands. Across from her, Carlos stood ready, his beyblade held over the dish, a menacing look on his face.
"You really are a glutton for punishment, aren't you?" he told her snidely.
Once, Steph might have been intimidated by the Bladesharks' brazenness - these days, she was tougher than that. And she refused to let her teammates down.
"It's about time somebody stood up to you Carlos," she said, and there was a steely edge to her voice.
"Beybladers at the ready," Jazzman told them.
Steph took a deep breath and closed her eyes. She felt the spirit of the bitbeast inside her beyblade gently brush against her consciousness, reassuring her that she was not in this fight alone and when she opened her eyes again, she could no longer the sounds of the crowd or the jeers from the Bladesharks' bench. This was her moment. She took her stance, beyblade and launcher poised over the stadium and waited for Jazzman's count.
Three. Two. One … Let it Rip!
Author Notes:
This is a rework of an older story I am determined to finish. Special thanks to AquilaTempestas for her assistance with this work so far.