Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade in any way. The only character I own is Marina as she's my OC. Any other references I make are purely coincidental.

Chapter 19: Celebration

A few days later, when Tala was fully recovered, the Bladebreakers and Blitzkrieg Bladers went back to Russia to celebrate. At the moment, Tyson, Ray and Max were preparing for a snowball fight with Ian and Spencer.

"You guys ready?" asked Tyson smiling.

"Tyson, we can beat you three on our own, we don't need Bryan." said Ian.

Near the doorway of the Russian team's base, Kenny was sitting on the hard steps and Kai was standing next to him, leaning against the doorframe. Bryan was standing outside against the wall; his arm not recovered enough to play with snowballs.

"Since Bryan can't get into the fight and Tala has gone off with Marina, why don't you get involved?" Kenny asked Kai.

"I thought you knew me better than that." answered Kai.

Kenny turned away back to the upcoming snowball fight.

"We have the advantage." whispered Max to Tyson.

"Yeah, but these guys are used to snowball fights. They have snow all day, every day." Tyson whispered back.

"Come on, Kai. I know you're bored standing around with me and I know that you wouldn't want to be around Tala and Marina at the moment." said Kenny, trying to persuade Kai to join in.

"It could be interesting." said Kai and he walked over to Spencer and Ian.

"Things will never change." said Tyson, referring to Kai joining the other team.

"Don't complain, Tyson. It's now fair." said Spencer.

Tyson half frowned as Kai smiled his usual smile at him.

"You are going to get beat." Tyson said confidently.

Both teams have an agility player and both teams have a fun, slightly dopey, player and so the game begins. Whichever team gets the most hits in thirty minutes wins.

"Go!" shouted Kenny.

"Come on, beat them!" Bryan yelled to Ian, Spencer and Kai.

Ray and Max were targeting Spencer and Ian more, so Kai got in some shots on them. Next Tyson tried and Kai bent back so the snowball went right over him.

"Nice try." he said as he stood back at full height.

Tyson got frustrated, he felt he just had to hit him with at least one snowball, but with every shot, he got more annoyed.

"You're letting your anger get to you again, Tyson." said Kai as he easily avoided one by stepping backwards.

Tyson tried another shot which went flying right past Kai, he didn't even have to try and avoid it.

"Tyson, cool down. You'll never hit anything in your temper." advised Ray.

Tyson threw a snowball at Ray for interfering and so ended up getting pummelled by snowballs from everyone.

"Get off of me!" he yelled complaining.

Kenny and Bryan laughed from the sidelines.

Not far away in a clearing of trees, with the ground covered in snow, were Marina and Tala, lying side by side.

"I'm so glad to have you back with us, Tala." Marina said looking over at him.

"I'm happy too. I missed you while my emotions were confusing me." said Tala, also looking over.

Marina sat up and so did Tala. They sat there, just looking into each others' eyes.

"You are so beautiful." he said and he moved a strand of her hair between his fingers.

She smiled and kissed him.

"You are wonderful, Tala, and it is because of you that I'm alive today." she said.

He put his arms around her and she leaned sideways with her head on his chest and his head on top of hers.

"I don't want to lose you again." she said with nervousness in her voice.

"You won't. I love you and I always will. No matter what." he said.

She stood up and walked over to a tree.

"Something wrong, Marina?" he asked.

"No, I just thought of something." she said bending down.

"What? If something is bothering you, you can tell me." he said standing up.

"I'm fine, I just wanted a chance to do this." she said and turned around throwing a snowball right at him.

It hit him and made him stumble backwards in surprise then she jumped into his arms making him fall over and they rolled around in the snow, finally stopping with Tala laid flat out and Marina on top of him.

"Cheap shot." he said smiling.

"I needed to have fun again." she said smiling.

She kissed him again and they both stood up.

Later, near evening, the teams had a little party. Tyson had got over his team's loss in the snowball fight/game. Tyson, Max, Ray, Spencer, Ian and Marina were the ones mainly dancing to the music. Tala was sitting at a table with Bryan opposite him. Kai was standing behind Tala.

"I haven't had so much fun in ages." laughed Tyson.

"Well, Tyson, we don't get the same old party treatment back home." said Max, also laughing.

Tyson tried doing a spin and nearly fell over.

"What do you call that?" asked Kai.

"Let's see you try, hotshot?" asked Tyson.

"Unlike you, I have a reputation." answered Kai and Tyson frowned.

"I actually want to get involved." said Bryan, clearly feeling strange admitting that.

"We didn't want to wait too long and your arm needs longer to fully recover." said Tala.

Bryan just put his good elbow on the table and leaned on his hand.

Ian and Spencer came over to Tala.

"Come on, Tala. You should get involved." said Ian.

"Ian, don't even think about it." said Tala, warning him.

Marina was dancing gracefully compared to Tyson and she smiled at Tala as she turned.

"Come on Tala, you know you want to." said Ian.

Tala blushed. Ian and Spencer laughed. Even Bryan chuckled.

"I'm not going out there and you can't make me." he said defiantly.

"Oh come on, have some fun." said Ian, desperately trying to get his captain to dance.

"No, I won't do it." said Tala. "I can't dance anyway." he added, making an excuse.

Kai got annoyed of Tala's constant refusal and pushed him out of his chair towards the dance floor.

"Kai!" said Tala annoyed.

Kai just smiled and Tala's annoyance disappeared when Marina came over to him.

"I will somehow get you back for this, Kai. Guarantee it." said Tala.

He took Marina's hands and danced. Even though he was pretty good, Ian couldn't help but laugh behind his hands.

"And he said he couldn't dance." said Bryan, he was on the verge of laughing too.

"Well, he would say anything to get out of it so that's why I forced him in." said Kai, he was smiling too.

Kenny, Ray, Max and Tyson left the dance floor unexpectedly, leaving Tala and Marina to dance alone. This seemed to embarrass Tala at first, but he took it into stride.

"You've danced before, haven't you?" asked Marina.

"No. Really. I must be a natural." he said smiling.

He spun her around and held her in a drop, making Tyson wolf whistle.

"Go, Captain!" yelled Ian.

After some dance moves many would have thought Tala wouldn't be able to do, they did one final spin and ended with their arms round each other in a kiss. The others cheered and Tala smiled in relief that it wasn't as embarrassing as expected. Perhaps things might be peaceful, now. Who knows?

Notes

Don't panic, loyal readers. This isn't the end of Tala and Marina's adventures. I will be writing my sequel 'Temptations of Power' soon.