The King of Blades
Chapter 6:
Everybody woke up without complaint on Saturday morning and had themselves prepared in time, having quickly refreshed and eaten breakfast. A man knocked on the door and was answered by Daniel.
"Good morning," said the man in a jovial and polite manner. It was the same man that drove them from the airport "I am here to take you guys to the venue so if you'll kindly follow me."
Daniel nodded and called everyone out and they were then guided downstairs and out of the hotel to the awaiting bus.
It was a fairly quiet drive and everyone's enthusiasm was fairly well suppressed until they reached their venue. They looked up in awe at the beystadium they would be competing in. It was impressive from the outside but even more so when they went inside the structure. They were ushered in through the normal entrance as today they would be spectators. They then went over to ogle at all the cool stuff on display in the small stadium shops trading souvenirs, blade parts and other paraphernalia.
The place was a mass of activity and young people continued to flood into the stadium until Daniel spoke.
"Guys we can check this stuff out later. It would be a good idea to head towards the stands so we can get good seats. It's the opening ceremony after all so it's bound to be a full house."
"He's right," Craig agreed. "This place is about to be filled to the brim with people."
They all agreed and headed to the stands. When they arrived they were meet with the sight of more people than they had ever seen in one place, and it wasn't even full yet. But the most breathtaking scene was down in the arena where the action would be. It was an enormous area for battling.
"Wow." Inga muttered completely awestruck.
"You can say that again." Drigo replied. "I didn't think it would be this large. I don't know about you guys but I personally can't believe I'll be competing in front of this many people."
"Actually, it'll be a lot more since it's going to be televised." Vic stated.
"So be ready if you don't want to humiliate yourself in front of millions." Laughed Daniel. Vic's stomach twisted.
That's not funny. His eyes darted around the Arena at all the faces. "Everyone competing is in here right now but there's no way to tell them apart from the crowd."
"Likewise, they can't see us, besides it means nothing just seeing our opponents without watching them in action so quit worrying." Answered Daniel.
"I'm not worrying, just curious." At that point his eyes caught sight of Michelle. She was on the lower level stands under theirs. Vic made his way out of his team's sight and tried to get her attention in the crowd. She eventually saw him and motioned to him that she couldn't escape the crowd. He could only struggle over to her side but he probably wouldn't make it back up here. Bah, they can do without me for now. He then jumped over the railing and down to the lower level then squeezed his way through the mass of people over to where she was.
"You're not expecting anyone are you?" Despite that possibility he had still come beyond the point of no return.
"No I came alone." She smiled. "Sit." She patted the seat next to her.
"What about your brother and team?" He asked taking a seat.
"Nah they weren't really interested in the opening ceremony so they stayed at the hotel."
"Oh I see." YES!!!
"I'm glad you're here though, I was hoping you'd manage to complete your team." She said.
"Thanks." He laughed bashfully. "What do you think of this place?" He quickly tried to cover it.
"It's big, I feel nervous about performing here. Thank goodness I'm a substitute" Mich said looking up and around.
"Get in line. But hearing that from someone else now, I guess that's how everyone here feels."
"True, but that's not what I want to think about right now. I just want to relax and enjoy the show." She said as she stretched her clasped hands forward. She looked out over the arena and started humming a tune he didn't particularly recognise. He at the same time became aware that he didn't really know much about her so he thought he'd probe a little bit more.
"So what kind of music do you like?" He asked gingerly.
"All types, but right now I'm sort of into metal?"
"Metal head huh?" He said looking like he was to burst out laughing in an obvious way. "Shame."
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" She jokingly snapped poking him hard in the ribs.
"Ouch." He cried out while laughing. She observed that he was quite ticklish. "I'm just playing. It's a gag my dad used to play on me when I told him my interests. Works like a charm I see."
"It'll work even better next time when I break your ribs." She shot. "So what do you listen to music connoisseur?" She said giggling at his pained expression.
"Me? I listen to a lot of different genres and yes that does include some metal bands, angry woman." His comment got him another poke. "Hypothesis proven." He said just loud enough for her to hear and got another even harder rib shocker. "Okay okay, just kidding." He said catching his breath. He was apparently not ready for another one so he gave up teasing her. "So which one of them is your favourite?" He continued.
"It always changes but it's Killswitch Engage at the moment." Mich replied.
"I like them too. I think Howard's really cool but I also liked Jesse before he left." Vic stated. He was starting to become a lot more comfortable around her now.
"Well, at least something's all right in that head." She teased.
"Now what's that supposed to mean?" He responded swiftly giving her a poke in the ribs of his own, but without her reacting. "What the? You're not ticklish? That's completely unfair." He protested while she laughed at him. He now openly admired her mirth.
"At least not there I'm not." She teased.
"Really, then where are you ticklish?" He demanded.
"That's none of your business." She winked. Vic almost choked on nothing.
"What's wrong?" She asked, then upon reflecting on her words and what to him may have been in their suggestive nature her cheeks burned and coloured red rapidly.
He saw her blush and was glad only that his skin tone didn't allow her to do the same as his face heated up as well. Great you idiot. Why the hell did you react like that? Now she probably thinks you're the biggest pervert on the planet.
"Ah sorry about that." He said trying to salvage the situation. "But I am a fifteen-year-old guy. Not much else goes through my brain just like you said."
She laughed. At least she seemed to appreciate his humour and they both took it in their stride to salvage their conversation. For over sixty minutes they spoke about their interests and hobbies, and he started admiring her even more for both what they did and did not have in common. The entrance that caught everyone's attention finally interrupted them.
It was an extravagant event, as Inga, Craig, Drigo and even Daniel admired the fireworks show followed by a marching band, acrobats, dancers and the like. After about forty five minutes the show came to an end and a man holding a microphone came walking to the centre of the arena as his apparent influence and authority gathered everyone's attention without even speaking. The arena was quite. He was a short, bald headed man with a thick white moustache and he wore round-lense spectacles.
"Hey that's Mr Dickenson." Inga whispered to Drigo.
"Yup, that' the chairman of the BBA alright." He agreed.
Mr Dickenson raised his microphone and addressed the people in the crowd.
"To all those in attendance and all those watching at home, I wish you a good afternoon and would like to welcome you all to this, first ever New Age Bladers sponsored tournament." There was an applause that was quickly hushed as he continued.
"I would like to first address thanks to New Age Blader Inc, who first conceived the idea, then worked in conjunction with the BBA to make all of this possible. It is my firm belief that everyone needs exposure at some time but it can be difficult going straight into competition with more experienced competitors, so what better way to feed new bladers into the mainstream than to have a tournament for these new faces." Mr Dickenson smiled as the crowd went into a roar of applause. "As I have already mentioned, this tournament is going to be for exposure, therefore in order for me to motivate you I will say this. The prize of this tournament, along with being declared the New Age Blader champions, will be an automatic invitation for each member of the winning team, to the King of Blades later this year." Some in the crowd stirred and there were mutterings of "It's my time.", "Chance to be world champion." And "Blading with the pro's."
Mr Dickenson seemed pleased. "I would like to emphasize that no matter the situation, you try your very best, as there will also be invitations for individuals that are seen as having done well. Let the games begin!" And he was walking away from the arena as applause followed him.
There were some exhibitions of battles held to entertain the crowd for the rest of the afternoon. Inga, Drigo, Craig and Daniel were leaving the arena now ready to go back to the hotel when Daniel left them.
"What the hell?" Muttered Inga looking very irritated. "Now he pulls a disappearing act too?"
"Don't worry." Craig told her. "They won't have to delay us; they can find a way back to the hotel. Let's go."
"I'm not worried about them, I just hope Vic gets our group table." They then left the beystadium together.
Victor and Michelle wandered the shops finding amusement in different things before the sun started to go down as six o'clock came. Almost went too fast. Vic thought to himself but he knew his team would be wondering where he was. He would have to apologise when he got back. Just then Michelle's team guide approached.
"Well I have to go now Vic, but thanks for today; it was better spent with someone's company than alone."
"Anytime." He replied. He then watched as she walked off and out of the stadium before heading off to the offices get a copy of the group tables.
He found the clerk and received the sheet from him.
"So this is our group. We're C. What about our opponents for Monday, I thought the draw was being done today." Vic spoke to the clerk.
"It is but no one is being told who their first opponents are. You'll find out on Monday right before your match."
"What, right before the match?" Vic was surprised.
"Yup." The clerk smiled pleasantly.
"Well okay, thanks." Vic then left the stadium and returned to the hotel where he found three of his team mates.
"Why'd you just leave without telling us where you were going?" Drigo blasted him.
"Easy now, I went to go get a drink then got stuck with the crowd and ended up sitting somewhere else, sorry guys." Vic lied. He knew it was flimsy but it had to do.
"Okay. But you could have met up with us afterwards with the guide. Where'd you go then?" Inga demanded.
He was in a tight spot but he thought quickly taking the folded paper from his pocket. "Why because I was just performing my captainly duty by going to get our group sheet." Everyone seemed to relax but just then Daniel walked in and was surprised to see three people looking like they were about to kill Vic turn to him.
"And you! Public enemy number two!" Inga shot at Daniel.
"What?" He replied. He quizzically looked over at Vic who just shrugged.
"What's your excuse for pulling a Houdini?"
"Oh that," Daniel started. "Well, while our good old captain here was off engaging in whatever activities good old captains do."
"As in getting our group sheet." Vic quickly finished visibly tensing at the seeming knowledge of his exploits behind Daniel's words.
"Yes something like that," Daniel continued while stifling a smile. He apparently enjoyed making Vic squirm. "I was off gaining valuable info." He then paused.
"Spit it then will you." Drigo snapped.
"Relax my man, revelations are always supposed to hang in the air for a second." Daniel smirked. "But like I was saying, our first opponents are drum-roll please, the Tech Heads." He finished.
"The who?" Craig began. "How can you be sure?"
"Check if they don't appear on our group sheet" Daniel replied confidently.
The team gathered around Vic who then spread the sheet on the floor so they could all see. Surely enough their teams were listed.
Group C:
Team Olympus
Tech Heads
The Dingoes
Next-Gen Rippers
Marauders
"I don't know about any of the other teams so we'll take it in our stride but I did find out a little about these techs." Daniel stated "They've won some local tournaments in their town but the strange thing is they don't have bit beasts."
"That's a relief," Craig said. "They'll be tourney fodder."
"Not really, they've actually beaten teams with bit-beasts before. Apparently they were barely legal to qualify for registration. What's special about them is that they create their own custom blades." Daniel commented.
"So what's new? Almost everyone does." Drigo stated off-handed.
"Actually not true." Vic corrected. "Most people assemble blades from parts bought, rare or ordered, which can then be made. With so many different shapes, colours and sizes, the range of blading styles and parts is so vast that nobody can seemingly assemble the same blade without knowing what they are looking to make. Do you really think anyone in this room knows how to make an engine gear from scratch?"
"Never thought of it that way." Drigo conceded while pondering.
"They also each have multiple blades per member so you can't actually prepare for their battle style because they can use a different blade in a match." Daniel added. "I say if that's so then we're better off not even trying to crack our heads over it. We'll train tomorrow to get into our grove then take them as they come."
"They must all be smarties." Inga mused. "Tee hee. Oh well."
"We'd better hit the sack guys." Vic called the team. "We've got some Sunday training to do!"
His words brought silence...............broken by:
"The hell is Sunday training?"
"Please refrain from such corny phrases."
"Who can take him seriously like that?"
"You need to hit the sack."
Author's Notes: Well that was how the opening ceremony turned out for these guys. Next chapter will be their first tournament matches. Read and Review.
