Hey all readers. I think it's obvious that the names of the Bladebreakers in this story are not mine. However, Sam Coredori and her bitbeast Drazema. Along with the team the Carnivora Catz and their bitbeasts are all mine so please don't take them without my position. Thanks bb4564
Chapter 20 – Big Trouble!
The next morning Sam got straight into the training. She got each boy to launch his blade into the course and watched him to decipher just how much work each one would need, both as a team and individually. Kai watched too, trying to seem disinterested, but Sam knew he was slightly eager to see how she would handle the training.
She got Kenny to tape and analyse each training session, and tell her what his opinion was. After an hour of examination Sam had in her mind, who needed what. Max seemed to need to most training – not that she said this aloud – both in speed and balance. Ray was going to be easy to teach, his blade already having incredible speed and balance. Tyson's had great speed, but the balance needed work. As for Kai, his blade seemed to be perfectly fine – it was the blader that needed work, which wasn't going to be easy.
With this clear in mind, Sam started her training. She got two boys at a time to train in the dish, while the other two practiced in the course. She intended to spend one-on-one training with each boy according to his needs, once they had all managed the basics. This took a while at first, none of the boys used to having her as a coach and a couple of times none knew what she was talking about and she had to give demonstrations.
After three days however, Ray and Kai had completely mastered both dish and course manoeuvres, and in a week Tyson too had mastered the tricks. Max took a little more time, but Sam had private training with him and by the end of a fortnight the entire team had completed their training. Kenny for one was impressed by the vast improvement of their team.
Three days later, as they were all practicing Kenny approached them with some news. "I just received a message from Mr. Dickenson, and apparently there may be some blading on ice."
"Ice?" Tyson exclaimed, "as in ice - ice? Freezing cold, slippery, wet stuff that you put into you drinks? As in –" He would have gone on forever if Kenny hadn't stepped in. "Yes! That ice." The team looked thoughtful for a moment, then Sam spoke.
"So what's the problem?" she demanded, "there's a frozen lake in the park. We'll just go in there and practice." The boys all nodded, and looked at Kai for his approval. He had his eyes closed and was leaning against a wall, but finally he spoke. "There is only seven weeks until the championships. That means we are going to need to spend as much time as possible training. But none of us have bladed on ice before…so then obviously we need to get practice in that." Tyson pumped his fists in the air.
"Ice or no ice, we are going to win!" he cried. Sam giggled at this and headed for the elevator. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go!"
The team followed after her and a moment later they were at the park a block over from the hotel, ready to start practicing. The park was fairly crowded and they had to shove their way through a few people before they reached the lake in the middle of the park. They stared at it for a moment. It was frozen solid, but no one was sure just how solid it was.
Sam volunteered to go first, and loading her launcher she aimed her blade at the ice and pulled back on the ripcord. Her blade flew towards the ice and hit it solidly, bouncing slightly. To Sam's great relief, the ice didn't crack. However, her blade was wobbling a bit, unused to the surface. Sam tried to control her blades movements but the ice made it practically impossible. The rest of the team had a try at it, but no one had much luck and they all returned to the hotel deflated.
The next morning, they headed towards the park, not wanting to give up yet. Kenny was unusually happy and once they reached the park he told them why. Reaching into his pocket he pulled out a box containing a lot of different pieces for a beyblade. "I spent last night working on these. There's one for each of you, and it should help your blades balance easier on the ice." He handed one to each of them as they assembled their blades with the pieces. "What do they do Chief?" Tyson asked, placing the new attack ring on his blade.
Kenny typed away at his computer, before turning it around to face them. "Well as you may have noticed, the ring I have given you is slightly heavier then the ones you have now. This is to give your blade more weight on the ice, so it will be able to give you more control. And this," he held up a small object, "is to be placed at the base of the beyblade." He showed them the diagram on his laptop, "unlike the base of your blades now, which are rounded, this base has a small point at the base which helps your blade spin better on the ice."
"Like ice skates." Sam mumbled thoughtfully. Kenny nodded. "Exactly!" Sam looked at her new blade.
"Well, it can't hurt to try."
With that she aimed her blade at the ice and launched it. It hit the ice, but didn't bounce; instead it circled the lake, and then zigzagged back towards Sam. Sam smiled as she recalled her blade. "Now that's better!" She looked at Kenny, "Good work Chief!" Kenny blushed and smiled happily.
"Oh, it wasn't anything special."
Sam launched her blade again and the rest of her team did the same. All were very satisfied with their blades performance. "Nothing can stop us now!" Tyson yelled as they headed back towards the hotel and Sam had to smile. It was great to be part of a team again and she just hoped Tyson was right and that nothing would stop her from getting to the Championships.
"Come on Sam!" Kai yelled angrily, watching her blade wobble as it hit the dish. Sam sighed angrily as Ray's blade hit hers and it flew from the dish. She knew she was battling poorly, but she was exhausted. They had been blading hard all morning and Sam hadn't slept at all the night before.
Sam picked up her blade and went to sit down. "Where are you going?" Kai demanded.
"To rest!" Sam replied tightly, "Got a problem with that?" Her eyes were flaring and she was starting to get a headache. "As a matter of fact I do," Kai replied angrily. "Well, tough! You are not my parent!"
"No I'm not," Kai replied, "but you are on my team. And you will do as I tell you. Now get back up here and blade." Sam turned around and glared at him.
"Firstly Kai, I am not part of your team. In fact, the only reason I'm here is because you need me in order to enter this little tournament. So if I were you I'd get off my back!" Kai narrowed his eyes. She was right of course, but that only made Kai more irritated.
He opened his mouth to speak but Sam turned her back on him and walked away. Kai clenched his fist and turned to his team. "Tyson and Ray, your up." The two boys didn't argue. Kai looked back towards Sam but she was already in the elevator, the door closing and shutting her off from his view. Kai shook his head and went back to watching the boys train. Girls!
The moment she got outside, she took a huge breath of the cold air and started to feel better. 'Boys!' she thought angrily to herself, 'who the hell does he think he is!?' Sam started to walk down the street but paused and thought for a moment that maybe she should get one of her team mates to come with her, but realised that if she went back in there then she would be bombard with accusations from Kai and that he probably would make her keep blading. Sam turned away from the building. She could take care of herself!
It was late afternoon and a cool breeze was blowing, drawing Sam out onto the streets. She headed for the park and as she reached it she became aware of someone watching her. Glancing around her, she couldn't see anyone but that didn't change the uneasiness she felt. She quickened her pace and reaching into her back pocket pulled out her blade. It was glowing!
Placing it quickly back into her pocket, she did the only thing she could think of. She ran and despite her headache she could clearly hear the footsteps running behind her. Suddenly her head swam and she stumbled forward straight into a pole. Falling onto the ground, she looked up in a daze as a shadow came over her. Before she could make out whom it was that was standing above her, she felt a sharp jab in the back of her neck and everything started to go hazy. She was aware of the sound of a car pulling up and then nothing at all.