Okay, i'm back with another chapter! It's a bit later than it's been the last few weeks, but that's because i actually wrote the entire chapter today. Hopefully i can update Stormflight and Aftermath, but we'll have to see, as i haven't started on their chapters yet. Anyway, this chapter concludes the battle between Galaxy Flame and Chryasor, so enjoy!

Gingka: Galaxy doesn't own MFB, only her OCs and the plotline. The other OCs belong to their respective owners as listed in the last chapter and previous ones.

Night had fallen. The majority of the group had already gone to bed, intending to get plenty of sleep before the final match tomorrow morning. Benkei and Julian were chatting casually on the back porch, each with a cup of coffee in his hand. Just around the corner of the house, Madoka was leaning on the rail of the balcony outside her room.

The brunette was deep in thought, wondering exactly why Gingka didn't want to be seen, why he was seemingly avoiding anyone and everyone. The fact that he had run from Ren, that he had been sneaking around, that nobody had seen him as far as she knew, worried her to no small extent. She knew that running and hiding wasn't like Gingka, wasn't normal for the reckless redhead that she hadn't seen in five years.

In the time since she had last seen him, had he really changed that much, so much that he would run and hide from the DNA? Sure, she had seen what they could do, that scar hidden under Arashi Hikou's long blue bangs was proof of that, but Gingka wasn't normally one to shrink away from a battle because of the potential of injury. After all, in the Nemesis Crisis, he had risked death itself to defeat an opponent that could have killed him either way, whether he won or lost. No, the fear of injury couldn't be what was keeping him away.

Ren had mentioned Zero, and something about Gingka bringing him back. Perhaps the risk of injury to the younger blader was what kept Gingka back? But no, that wasn't like him either. If he had wanted to protect Zero, he wouldn't be hiding, he would be fighting on the front lines. Plus, Zero needed to learn how to fight his own battles, and Gingka had given him Ifrit for that specific purpose. If Zero was in danger, Gingka would be more likely to train him, watch his back, and let the Ifrit wielder defend himself.

Madoka sighed and looked up at the sky, watching the stars twinkle overhead.

"Why, Gingka? What can you be thinking? Why haven't you come back yet, or, as Arashi said, why isn't it time yet? It isn't like you to hide from a battle." she asked aloud.

"I know it's not like me, but trust me, it's all part of the plan."

Madoka whirled at the unexpected reply to her questions, but saw nobody.

"Gingka? Was that you?" she asked, turquoise eyes wide in surprise.

"Up here."

Madoka looked up, and there he was, sitting casually in a window above her head and looking down at her, his long scarf waving in a slight breeze. The brunette stared for a few moments, marvelling at just how much he had changed.

"It's you… It really is you!" she exclaimed.

"Of course it's me. You weren't expecting someone else, were you?" Gingka chuckled, swinging his legs out of the window and dropping lightly onto the balcony with her.

"Well, no…" Madoka muttered, feeling heat rising into her cheeks as she looked into Gingka's familiar golden-brown eyes.

The two stood silently for a few moments, simply staring into each other's eyes. Before Madoka really realized she had run forwards, she was in Gingka's arms, with her arms wrapped around his neck and her face buried into the folds of his tattered scarf.

"I missed you." she said, her words slightly muffled.

Gingka smiled and rested his cheek on the top of Madoka's head. "I missed you too, Madoka." he replied.

Madoka pulled out of the hug, pushing Gingka away to arm's length to get a better look at him.

"Just look at you! You look great! I like the new hairstyle, it suits you somehow."

Gingka laughed awkwardly and ran a hand through his spiked hair.

"Thanks. When i saw Tsubasa's shorter hair on TV a couple of years ago after he became the WBBA director, i figured that if Tsubasa was going to change his hair, then i might as well try a new style as well. But forget about me, look at you! You look absolutely stunning, not that you didn't before, but…" Gingka blinked and broke off his sentence, blushing and laughing awkwardly at his own confusion.

Madoka blushed slightly at the compliment, smiling at the familiar awkward laugh that somehow hadn't changed a bit.

"Thanks, Gingka. But, seriously, why have you been hiding all this time? Why didn't you at least come to say hi before?" she asked.

Gingka stopped laughing as his face suddenly took on a serious expression.

"Because i didn't... Okay, i'll admit that i don't exactly have a complete explanation for why i didn't before, but this whole last month has been really confusing. I had originally come back to Metal Bey City because i heard about the World Championships selection tournament, and i wanted to come support Zero and the others, but then i heard yelling and saw Zero being attacked by the DNA bladers, so i had to intervene. After what happened that night, i decided that i couldn't risk being attacked by the DNA again, after all, they did almost kill Zero, using attacks on the blader that no blader should ever even consider." Gingka's voice gained an undertone of anger as he spoke.

"I had heard from Arashi that they were attacking bladers with their beys." Madoka said quietly.

"That's why i did it, i guess. The DNA knew that i would probably be the only one to know where Zero was, so i decided to stay away from them and defeat the DNA from the shadows if i could, coming out after the danger was past and they were defeated."

"You haven't ever been one to run from a threat like this though." Madoka said. "You were always so reckless, rushing into things… I guess i'm just not used to the idea of you not doing that."

Gingka chuckled. "Yeah, i know that i did that before, but this time, with how the DNA is attacking, rushing in isn't the best thing. They've got a team in the championships, and if they get defeated before they have to face the Wild Card, then we won't have to deal with them. However, if we end up facing them, then i want Galaxy Flame to be able to beat them. If Galaxy Flame can do it, then there is no need for me to take action. These young bladers have to be able to protect themselves, after all."

"Then why didn't you let Zero just come back right away and get on the team?" Madoka asked.

Gingka grinned. "For the dramatic entrance of bringing him back, i guess. Plus, having him on the team would have made them all a constant target, and, with how easy Lovushka sabotaged us in the first World Championships, i didn't want to risk something worse happening to Galaxy Flame. The DNA is mostly subtle about the way they strike, when they want to be, so i planned to be even more subtle, sneak up on them from the shadows, and take them by storm, so that they won't dare mess with Galaxy Flame or any of the others again."

"So that's why you haven't shown yourself to anyone yet?"

"Well, not to most people. After Ren spotted me last night, i went to Julian's office, which was where i had been trying to get in the first place, and i was actually hiding behind the curtain when Ren and Shinobu came in to ask Julian about me. I've also spoken to Wild Fang, Chris, and Aguma while we were at it, and Kenta and Yuki have been sort of helping out with some stuff to keep the DNA from suspecting something."

"Oh, i see. So, the plan is to strike when you meet the DNA team or something? Is that your plan?"

"Pretty much, but only if Galaxy Flame can't handle it."

"Okay, so one more question: How in the world are you keeping in contact with Arashi if nobody else is seeing you? I mean, are you sneaking out at night or something, and how are you staying somewhere where nobody sees you?"

"That was more than one question." Gingka laughed. "That's the complicated part that i'll leave as a surprise. With the exception of Ren and Destiny last night, nobody sees me unless i want them to."

"So, you planned to come see me then." Madoka said.

Gingka smiled. "Yeah, i did. Actually, i didn't intend to explain everything to you, but i should have guessed that you'd want to know. Just don't tell anyone what i told you. Those who need to know about it already do."

"What about Zero? Where are you hiding him?"

"He's been with me this entire time. Actually, to tell the truth, i practically never let him out of my sight. We've been training."

"I'll assume that he's sleeping right now."

"Yeah, he is. Speaking of training, Pegasus has quite a bit of damage from all the battling and stuff that we've been doing. I mostly came to ask you to fix it."

Madoka placed her hands on her hips. "So, you didn't come to see me after all these years."

Gingka blinked. "No, that's not what i meant! I mean, i wanted to see you again, but i was more focused on Pegasus's damage, because my smaller repairs weren't really cutting it with the amount of damage it's been taking, and, umm…" Gingka stopped talking, looking extremely embarrassed.

Madoka laughed at the redhead's attempt at redeeming himself.

"I was kidding. Come on, hand it over and i'll see what i can do." she said, holding out one hand.

Gingka reached into the carrier case at his side and pulled out the silver and blue bey, handing it to Madoka, who gasped.

"Man, no wonder you came to see me! Just how much battling have you been doing? This bey is covered in scratches and cracks!"

Gingka laughed awkwardly and scratched the back of his head. "Umm, a lot?"

"But not just a lot, you've been doing some pretty tough battles recently. Multiple battles alone can't cause scratches this bad."

"Well, fighting other Legendary Bladers along the way hasn't helped it much. That and it has been five years of me trying to just keep it repaired myself. I haven't had much trouble with that until recently though."

"This is going to take all night, and possibly even half the day tomorrow if i start working on it now." Madoka said.

Gingka narrowed his eyes in thought for a moment. "And i can't come out in the daytime, all of the times people have seen me have been at night."

"Then i can give it to you tomorrow night?"

"By tomorrow night, everyone should be on a plane to America, where i believe our final Wild Card match is."

"So? We can just sit together on the plane." Madoka suggested.

Gingka shook his head. "I can't do that, Madoka. I'm sorry, but i really can't show myself to anyone right now. Give it to Arashi when it's finished, he will know how to get it to me."

"Won't you be following us to America?"

"Yes, but if you see me there, it wouldn't be until after the match is over, and me and Zero have some training to do during the match, so i'll need Pegasus back as soon as possible. Just give it to Arashi tomorrow as soon as you're done." Gingka said.

"Alright." Madoka said quietly, looking down at the bey in her hands. When she looked back up, Gingka had his hands on the windowsill, and was pulling himself back up into the open window.

"Wait, Gingka!"

The redhead paused for a moment and looked down. "Yeah?"

"Will i see you again in America?"

Gingka sighed and looked up at the stars. "I don't know. it will depend on what happens there."

"What do you mean?" Madoka asked.

"I don't know, Madoka, I just don't know." Gingka sighed, swinging his legs inside the house. "Goodnight."

"Goodnight, Gingka…" Madoka whispered as the redhead disappeared inside and shut the window behind him.

"Madoka? What are you doing?" Benkei asked the next morning as he climbed into the limousine next to the brunette.

"She's repairing a bey. SHe's been at it all morning, and probably since last night." Maru said. "I couldn't get her attention whatsoever except to tell her we were leaving."

"She sure is taking a lot of care with it." Ren commented, watching Madoka as she carefully brushed dirt from the inside of a few cracks on a now only lightly-damaged Warrior Wheel.

"That's because it's an important bey." Arashi spoke up from his position in the back seat.

"Huh?" The rest of Galaxy Flame turned to look at the bluenette.

"What do you mean, 'it's an important bey'?" Shinobu asked.

"She talked with Gingka last night. That's his bey she's repairing." Arashi explained.

"Oh, so that's why she is so focused on it." Maru said.

"Wait, how did you know that?" Madoka asked suddenly, glancing up from her work.

"You weren't the only one who got visited last night, that's all." Arashi replied, turning to look out the window.

"Oh…" Madoka trailed off, returning her attention to filling in the cracks on Pegasus. "I assume he told you what he and i worked out last night then?"

"Yes, that i'm supposed to give it back to him when you're finished."

"Man, are we the only ones out of this loop?!" Ren exclaimed.

"Madoka, do you know just what Gingka is planning? Why is he hiding?" Benkei asked.

"It's complicated, and he asked me not to tell anyone." Madoka replied.

"So, he's selectively picking who he wants to know. Arashi and Madoka are the ones we know of so far." Benkei mused.

"There are a few others, but again, i promised to keep my mouth shut." Madoka said. "I just hope he makes his move soon."

"Alright bladers! Are you ready to see which team will move on to face America's Team Cosmic Starlight in the final round of the Wild Card for the Beyblade World Championships?"

The crowd cheered as Galaxy Flame and Chryasor stepped into view.

"Go win this for us, Isamu!" Ren called as Isamu walked over to the stadium.

"Yeah, count on it!" the bluenette replied.

"Don't let him defeat you or you're dead." Maristela snarled at Dennis as the chestnut-haired blader started for the stadium.

"Maristela, behave." Destiny ordered.

"You can't order me around." Maristela growled.

"Bladers, are you ready?" DJ asked as Dennis and Isamu reached the stadium.

The two raised their launchers in response, mahogany eyes drilling into emerald in determination as Isamu and Dennis stared each other down, the same thought on both minds:

"I'm going to win this. It's all or nothing, now or never. Whoever wins this moves on with their team, while the other is finished in the tournament forever."

The crowd and the two teams fell silent as DJ began the countdown.

"Three!"

"Two!"

"One!"

"Let it Rip!"

"Go, Kerbecs!"

"Cronus!"

The two beys instantly clashed in the center, grinding against each other for a few seconds before leaping away and taking up their positions, Cronus guarding the center, and Kerbecs prowling around the edge. All was silent for a few seconds as the two bladers stared each other down, muscles tense, each waiting for the other to make a move.

"Kerbecs, Triflame Strike!" Isamu called suddenly, creating a ring of flames around the stadium.

"Cronus, Axe of Time!" Dennis countered, as his bey darted out and slammed directly into the ring of flames created by Kerbecs.

"Kyahh!" Both bladers yelled as their beys made contact, causing an explosion which rippled through the air like lightning.

"Whoa! They're intense!" Benkei exclaimed as he watched.

"That's the future of Beyblade, the future legends battling it out." Madoka sighed, filling in yet another crack on Pegasus's surface.

"They're going all-out." Arashi said as he watched the dust begin to settle. "No holding back, they're going at it with all the power they've got."

"Well, good for them." Shinobu said. "The question is, who has more power?"

"It's not about power entirely, remember?" Arashi said, half-turning to look at his teammate.

"Right, the bey spirit is part of it."

"And they definitely both have a strong bey spirit." Arashi said, turning back to the battle, where a gust of wind from Cronus and Kerbecs had cleared the dust.

"Kerbecs, go now!" Isamu said, sending his bey on a direct course for Dennis's Cronus.

"Temporal Distortion!" Dennis said, as a blinding light enveloped the stadium.

"Whoa!" Isamu yelled, shielding his eyes from the light, which, from his point of view, soon faded.

"Wha- Where are we?!" The bluenette demanded as soon as he opened his eyes and looked around, only to see nothing but swirling darkness.

"We're in a time vortex. Nothing can escape my Cronus here, and only my Cronus can move freely as i wish it to." Dennis said.

"We'll see about that! Kerbecs!" Isamu called, but his bey didn't move. After a while, it moved, but not where he had told it to go.

"I told you." Dennis said, grinning. "Only Cronus, the lord of time, can move freely in a space like this."

Isamu growled in frustration. "No, that can't be! There has to be some weird trick or feature of your bey that allows it to create this as a mirage! Whatever this place is, my heated bey spirit can burn through it! Go, Kerbecs!"

"It's useless!" Dennis said. "Cronus, Axe of Time!"

As the blue, purple, and black bey headed for Kerbecs, Isamu growled, closing his eyes and concentrating.

"Kerbecs, Triflame Strike!"

Although Isamu couldn't see his bey moving, he found that he could feel its movement with his eyes closed. Grinning, he realized that this so-called time vortex was a mere mirage, somehow created by Cronus.

"What?!" The startled exclamation from his opponent soon informed Isamu that his special move had made contact, even though he couldn't see it. Rather, he could hear the clash of metal against metal as Kerbecs made contact, could feel the two beys grinding against each other, smirking in triumph as both feeling and hearing indicated that Cronus had been sent flying by his attack.

"Cronus! Hang in there!"

On the spur of the moment, Isamu remembered his brother's technique for leaping out of the stadium, and decided that he could do it too. It was risky, as it would be all-too-easy for Kerbecs to miss its target and go careening out of the stadium, but that thought never entered Isamu's mind as he sent Kerbecs barreling for the top edge of the stadium, determined to get into the air and strike before Cronus could land.

"Isamu, don't! You'll stadium out! You haven't ever tried that technique!" Maru exclaimed as she spaw Kerbecs dip down and jump for the stadium edge.

"Unbelievable." Arashi gasped as Isamu, without opening his eyes, successfully completed the jump, shocking the crowd.

"Kerbecs, go now! Blazing Star Strike!"

"Cronus!" Dennis yelled, trying frantically to regain control over his bey, which had just landed from Kerbecs's last assault.

Another large explosion rippled through the stadium, causing everyone to shield their faces. As the dust began to clear from the explosion, Isamu and Dennis became visible, both panting, one looking triumphantly at the other, who merely looked shocked as his bey fell out of the air and landed at his feet.

"Cronus, stadium out! Galaxy Flame takes the win!" DJ announced.

"You did it, Isamu!" Ren cheered.

"Yeah, baby! We're going to win this thing!" Isamu cheered as his platform lowered and he caught Kerbecs.

Dennis slowly reached down and picked up Cronus.

"Dennis!" Isamu called, racing around the stadium as his opponent's platform lowered.

"Huh?"

"That was a great battle! I totally didn't expect Cronus to be able to create another dimension like that! That was awesome!" Isamu said.

Dennis grinned. "I didn't expect you to be able to break out of that. Congratulations, Isamu Hikou. You and your team deserved this win, you worked hard for it."

"Thanks. Hey, hopefully we can battle again sometime, like, just for fun!" Isamu said.

"I'd like that." Dennis said, shaking Isamu's hand.

So, they finally won against Chryasor. It's been a wild ride, traveling the world like this, but it's been fun, even if *someone* won't let me show myself. Ren and Shinobu seem really worried about me most of the time, but they seemed to be a bit less worried once they found out that i was safe. It's kinda funny, watching them get mad at Arashi for not telling them what's going on, but he's under strict orders from Gingka to not tell anyone.

Gingka says that everything is falling into place, although i don't see what needed to fall into place in the first place. I can't wait to battle all of these bladers that we've seen. They all seem so strong, and most of them seem like really friendly people. Gingka's always commenting on the sportsmanship of them all, saying that that's one of the most important things in Beyblade, even next to things like the Blader's Spirit and stuff like that. He says that that friendliness and not getting down after a defeat is part of what makes a blader strong.

We've been training almost constantly. It's been cool, traveling with a Legendary Blader, even if i barely see anyone else. It's different than i imagined it would be though. I always thought that it would be tough, that i would be the weaker blader, which i am, but he never treats me that way, or anyone else, for that matter. He says that being the strongest is no excuse to look down on everyone else, just because they're weaker than you. Plus, he says that some of the weaker bladers are actually some of the most interesting ones, the ones with the enthusiasm to battle you and get to know you, and it's never a good idea to push them away because they can't match your skill.

Time and time again, almost every day, i have asked him when we can show ourselves. Every time, he says he doesn't know, but i get the feeling that he does, he's waiting for a certain thing to happen, and it somehow involves the last battle we have to face in the Wild Card. I often hear him muttering about the DNA when he's trying to fix his Pegasus. I get the idea that the DNA is involved somehow in our return to the spotlight.

No matter what happens, one thing is certain:

It's going to be a wild ride.

Tadaa! XD Anyway, the next chapter should bring back Cosmic Starlight, and Galaxy Flame will be battling them as well. See you guys next chapter!