Chapter Four

A lump travelled down Yukio's throat as he studied the person in front of him. Standing in the mud was a female figure dressed in denim jeans and a blue jacket. Her hair was long and brown and rested on her shoulders. Her slender body was just as attractive as her face which shone brightly in the dimness of the evening. The rain ceased falling; the clouds in the sky parted slightly to show some blue sky and even the trees that lined the valley seemed to soften. The female took a few steps towards Yukio before stopping and reaching into her pocket. She pulled from it a small silver object that Yukio instantly recognised as a Beyblade.

'Ah Dizzara. I've heard a lot about you. Never thought I'd see you in the flesh.'

Dizzi laughed.

'No one's called me Dizzara in a long time,' she mused, flicking her hair. 'And I figured you would never have thought you'd see me because you're blind. Blind to the truth of that 'blade's power.'

'The Opal Beyblade?' Yukio questioned. 'What do you mean?'

Dizzi just laughed; it wasn't a sarcastic laugh but it was enough to make Yukio feel unsure of himself for the first time since he'd arrived in the nearby town with the plot to capture the best Beybladers in the area.

'You laughed at the ones that held the Opal 'Blades before you but you are just as naïve to their power. You are forgetting that I am an expert in most things Beyblade. I know their true power.'

'How do you mean?' Yukio asked, hoping his questions would lead to the answers that would fill the void in his knowledge, which he didn't even know had existed until a few moments earlier. Dizzi bit her lip for a moment, contemplating whether to tell Yukio any more than she had already. She decided it was for the best; the more that she could unsettle Yukio the easier her job would be.

'You only knew that the Opal 'Blades could trap humans into Beyblades. What you have yet to grasp is that they can trap humans in any object. And they can also release humans from their prisons.

'I was one such prisoner.'

'How do you mean?' Yukio asked, repeating the four words again but this time asking for a completely different response.

'You want to know my story? You surprise me…'

Yukio nodded.

'If you're willing to tell me, I would like to listen. It may be of use to me.'

'So you can continue your plot of domination? Possibly. But I won't let you get that far.'

'We'll see about that. Now tell me your story.'

'Very well,' Dizzi said confidently, her chest rising and falling with each breath she took. Yukio was mesmerised by both her physical beauty and the beauty of her personality that seemed to wipe his minds of any thoughts he'd been having. 'When I was eight I was a great Beyblade player. I could beat most people even twice my age. I quickly attracted the attention of some pretty ruthless players who would come and challenge me but fail. My confidence grew as I did but so did my naivety. After one battle I was jumped on as I walked home. The last thing I saw was a figure in a cowl – not unlike your dress today – pinning me to a wall and holding up an object to my throat.

'I remember thinking that they had a knife and were going to attack me – or worse. But it wasn't. It was an Opal Beyblade. They imprisoned me in a Beyblade and used me to win battles for my kidnapper. All the time I screamed to be freed but I was subdued by the power of the 'blade.

'For years I travelled with my captor, aware of nothing but the need to win. I didn't see the angst of my parents at my disappearance, the many searches that were conducted to find me, the growing discord in my town. I only became free by accident when my kidnapper got greedy and tried to capture someone else, but in the struggle the ray from the 'blade misfired and freed me. Then I ran and ran as far away as I could until I stumbled across Kenny and his laptop.

'Being chased by several of the Mystical Warriors I quickly needed a place to hide. Kenny's laptop was the best place to hide and so I became his assistant in all things Beyblade. I didn't dare return to my parents as I feared they would be just mere shadows of who I remembered. In time the laptop too ensnared me and I could not leave, but I was happy. I was with people whom I liked and whom I trusted and so I stayed in the circuits until you freed me just now.

'That is my story. That is how I ended up in the laptop. You see, you're not the only one who has been touched by the power of the Opal Beyblades.'

There was silence between the pair, stood in a relaxed stand off position with Yukio stood near to the five still blades and Dizzi only a few feet away, Beyblade in hand and a determined expression on her face. Neither made a move for many moments until a slight twitch in Dizzi's hand made Yukio move.

'I'm not gonna stand here any longer. You've got your sob story off your chest, now I have a job to do.'

Dizzi laughed.

'But I am here to stop you. If you want to continue with your insane plot then you'll have to get through me.'

Yukio sighed as if he didn't want to say what he was about to.

'If you insist. But it doesn't have to be this way. You're free now, you could go and live your life. Why challenge me and face death?'

'Because you have taken my life. My life is in each of those Beyblades. My friends are my life; without them I'm just another individual. I have to stop you.'

'That's your choice. You've made it and now you have to face the consequences.'

As the last syllable left Yukio's mouth, the five blades began to spin. The battle was about to commence…

Dizzi realised that the battle wasn't going to be a traditional one so she slipped her own Beyblade into her pocket, simultaneously darting to the left and avoiding Kai's giant Beyblade. She ran around the side of the valley, building up enough momentum to stay on the side before spinning down onto the floor, stopping in front of Yukio and making him twist out of the way. But before she had chance to tackle him he delivered a swift kick to her leg which made Dizzi recoil in pain, giving Yukio the time to pass her by and continue on his way to the edge of the valley. But Dizzi didn't give up there; she was already on his trail, running through the mud and narrowly avoiding colliding with one of the spinning Beyblades which flew past her and collided with another. Yukio was edging further away, taking advantage of his footwear which was more appropriate for running through mud. Dizzi, however, was not one to sit back; she soldiered on through the unforgiving terrain and began to catch up with Yukio. From her pocket she whipped out her Beyblade again and threw it squarely at Yukio's head, distracting him from a moment as he inquired to what had hit him. This gave Dizzi the crucial time needed to catch up and deal with the problem. At least she would have done if a giant Beyblade hadn't just then appeared and caused her to swerve out of its way meaning Yukio could once more build up a healthy lead.

Dizzi emitted a scream of annoyance as she began to accelerate once more into the run, her shoes beginning to cake with the mud and her hair flopping into her face as each strand dripped with sweat. Only determination to save her friends gave her the strength to continue and soon she was in touching distance of Yukio who was tiring of the race. With her own last ounce of effort, Dizzi thrust out her right leg and tripped him up. She spun round and watched with satisfaction as Yukio fell chest first into the mud and skidded along the ground, caking his cloak with damp mud. He cursed and flung himself up to his feet, turning to face his assailant.

'You think you're so good…' he muttered breathlessly. 'But you're not.'

He took from his pocket his Opal 'Blade and pointed it at Dizzi.

'Back to the laptop you go.'

But before Yukio had the chance to fire the ray at Dizzi she was already upon him, delivering a swift kick to the groin making Yukio drop to the floor once more, drop the 'blade and writhe in agony on the ground. Dizzi casually walked over to the Opal Beyblade, picked it up and pocketed it.

'That's mine now Yukio. It's been fun.'

'It's not over yet.'

From his vantage point on the ground Yukio had been able to see Max's Beyblade heading towards Dizzi. He smirked as he watched it get nearer but Dizzi was already onto it and threw herself to the right. She didn't have the chance to see Yukio's expression as the 'blade headed towards him instead – she was too busy catching her breath and clambering to her feet – but Dizzi did hear his curse and the blood-curdling sound of the Beyblade colliding with him. It was a sound she quickly remarked that she never wanted to hear again. She wasn't even really prepared to look but had to. Dizzi raised her hand to her mouth and took a few steps towards Yukio, who was now lying concussed on the floor. His head moved towards Dizzi as he laid there, his cloak dyed red with blood. Yukio's pupils were small and his mouth struggled to get out the words.

'OK… you win. But be careful. No matter what you or I have said, no one fully understands the power of that 'blade.'

Dizzi nodded in respect to the dying man. She took the 'blade from her pocket and inspected it before choosing to use it. Dizzi turned and, one by one, fired the ray at each of the giant Beyblades. They immediately stopped spinning in a flurry of sparks and figures were seen flying from their centre. Each landed face down in the mud: first Kenny, then Max, then Ray, then Kai and then finally Tyson. Dizzi blew the Opal Beyblade as if she were a cowboy and it was a gun before she returned it to her pocket. She walked over to the five Beybladers who were now coming too and standing up in the mud, each one with a perplexed look on their face.

'Where am I?' Kenny asked, wiping his glasses free of mud, looking round at the valley and trying to make sense of his position. It was a sentiment shared by Max, Ray and Kai. Only Tyson knew where he was but was unaware of what had happened since his capture by Yukio and Dizzi's heroic saving of the day. Tyson was first to his feet, walking over to the woman in front of him. He was still unaware of her true identity.

'I think I have you to thank for our rescue. Thanks.'

'No problem Tyson.'

'You know my name?'

Dizzi blushed.

'You obviously don't recognise me. Though you should recognise my voice…'

If Tyson had been a cartoon character his jaw would have physically dropped to the floor at this point.

'D-Dizzi?' he stuttered, his brain telling him that it could not be her. Dizzi nodded.

'The same. It seems the power of the Opal Beyblade freed me from the laptop. But I can't speak long. Yukio is dying and when he does everything he did with the 'blade will be undone.'

'Meaning?'

'I'll be back in the laptop.'

Tyson paused for a moment. He suddenly felt awkward in a way he'd never felt before. Something was stirring inside him.

'Well thanks Dizzi. You did more than I did.'

'You did your best. Against all odds your actions led to his defeat. You're a hero Tyson.'

Tyson blushed. He felt a flutter in his chest. Only now did he realise the explanation for his feelings. He was looking at Dizzi with her flowing hair and her shapely figure and realising that he actually had feelings for her. It was a difficult feeling to define; he could only describe it as an airy feeling inside that seemed to push all his negative thoughts aside. Tyson began to feel what was natural and it seemed these feelings were reciprocated. Dizzi drew nearer.

'I don't think I have much longer in this form,' she said gently, spotting that Yukio's life force was already fading. 'I'd best tell you this now… I… I like you, always have. I don't think I'll have another chance for this.'

'What?' Tyson asked, his heart fluttering and his breathing becoming heavier and faster. Dizzi moved in towards him, her hand resting on his shoulder. Their heads moved closer together and, as their eyes slowly closed, their lips touched. Tyson had never felt like this before; he felt a feeling of joy lifting all the way from his toes to the tip of his head. But just as their lips touched and the feeling sparked through each of their bodies the sensation was gone. Tyson opened his eyes to realise Dizzi was gone. Yukio had passed away and Dizzi had returned to her laptop, which Kenny had now retrieved from the mud and was attempting to clean.

'My laptop!' he exclaimed, 'Thank God it's still here.'

He opened it up.

'Dizzi?' he asked nervously, hoping she was still in there. A beep confirmed this.

'Hi Kenny.'

'Dizzi. You're alright!'

'I think I'm more than alright,' she said with a longing sigh.

Whilst this short exchange was taking place Kai had walked over to Tyson who was stood on the edge of the valley staring at his muddy shoes. Kai could sense something was the matter and tried to comfort him but it wasn't a great attempt.

'Who was that you were with?' he asked.

'Erm… no one,' Tyson said. Kai just nodded.

'Well whoever it was, it seems we have them to thank for saving us.'

'Yeah,' Tyson muttered with very little enthusiasm. Kai decided it was best to leave Tyson to his thoughts so he returned to Max, Ray and Kenny and they began to talk about the events of the past few days. Tyson sighed and thought back to his exchange with Dizzi. He'd never felt anything like that before and feared that he never would again. Still staring at his feet, Tyson's eyes wandered across the soil floor before they stumbled across something half-submerged in the mud. Tyson looked over to his friends but they were too busy talking to notice him. With that in mind Tyson bent down and picked up the object, turning it over in his hand. He smiled; it was the Opal Beyblade. When Dizzi had returned to the laptop the Opal 'Blade had obviously stayed put and not travelled with her. He quickly pocketed this and walked over to talk to his friends, happy in the knowledge he was in possession of one of the most powerful Beyblades ever to exist.

As the five friends walked through the valley in the direction of home, chatting about what had happened with Tyson filling in the gaps as best he could, little did they realise that Yukio was just the tip of the iceberg and soon they would all be facing challenges of their own.

Revenge was coming.

But Tyson, for one, wouldn't have cared if he'd known. He couldn't stop thinking about Dizzi and their brief kiss. He wanted more; he wanted to get to know Dizzi more. And now he had the power to do something about it. Tyson smiled.

To be continued…