blackamber- whew... I finally updated...
Sadie- (holding burning torch) GET HER!
blackamber- AHHH! What's this all about?
Sadie- (teary-eyed) You abandoned us!
blackamber- I did not! I was busy. Culminatings and all that jazz... but I'm back now... and with a vengeance!
Amy- You'd better be...
blackamber- I think she's finally forgiven me for almost killing her...
Amy- Twice...
Bryan- blackamber says she's still suffering a little from writer's block so any and all suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Sadie- ON WITH THE STORY!!
Amy- usual disclaimer
"Where are we going now?" Sadie asked as she followed Amy out of the school.
"We are going nowhere. I am meeting up with people," Amy responded, whistling for Nicol to follow.
"Who?"
"Friends of mine."
"What are their names?"
"None of your business."
"But, if I am to be your apprentice, shouldn't I get to know the people you hang out with too?"
"That wasn't part of the deal, kid." Amy continued on her path to where she knew the Blitzkrieg Boys would be training.
"Oh! I know. We're going to see your boyfriend aren't we?" Sadie asked, smiling cheekily.
"Like I said, we are going nowhere."
"Ha! But you don't deny that we're going to see Tala! You know I've only seen him once and that was when the World Tournament came to Cairo for a few days. He didn't seem like that good of a shooter there."
"He was having an off week," Amy growled, starting to regret agreeing to train the young nuisance.
"So, he is really good right? At beyblading I mean," questioned Sadie.
Amy, realizing that no matter what she said Sadie was going to follow her, sighed. "Why don't you check it out for yourself."
Sadie giggled in delight and raced off down a random street.
"Hey! Where are you going!?" Amy yelled, mentally kicking herself while doing so.
"Don't they train-
"Bolkov Abbey has been closed for years. No one lives there anymore."
"Oh." Sadie raced back to the older girl, glancing over her shoulder briefly at the abandoned Abbey. The sight of it sent shivers down her spine. "It's kinda creepy."
Amy followed her gaze and nodded. "Yeah that part never changes. It was creepy when I was younger and it's still creepy now. C'mon let's go."
"ACK!" Ian cried out as a big furry thing tackled him.
Nicol sat determinedly on the teenaged boy's chest, looking quite proud of himself.
"Hey Nic," Bryan greeted, having gotten quite fond of the young husky.
In response, the dog gave a low whuff, refusing to get off of Ian, who was begging for help from one of his team mates. The husky wagged his tail, panting happily at the boys, minus the one he was sitting on.
"Nic, get off him," Tala laughed at the dog, who seemed to sigh disappointedly as he obeyed.
"Sorry about that Ian," Amy chuckled, "I don't really understand why he likes to harass you so much."
Ian grumbled incoherently under his breath, rising to his feet.
"So… what's with the kid?" Bryan asked, pointing to Sadie who was standing directly Amy.
"Guys, this is Sadie," Amy said, motioning to said kid. "She's my-
"I'm Amy's apprentice!" Sadie exclaimed with zeal.
Bryan and Ian both snorted at the idea whilst Tala and Spencer just looked confused.
"You're her what?" Tala asked.
"Her apprentice," responded Sadie, "she's going to work with me to become a better shooter. I'm going to learn all of her tricks."
"You do know she's retired, right?" Bryan asked in between laughs.
"Retired?" Sadie echoed, cocking her head to the side in a questioning sort of manner.
"Yeah, you know… she doesn't beyblade anymore," Ian confirmed.
"That's what I've tried to tell her… but in the end she talked me into it," Amy sighed, walking towards the boys, "she played the guilt-trick."
"When did you become such a softie?" Tala chuckled wrapping a possessive arm around her waist.
"Probably after meeting you," Amy countered, smiling slyly at him.
"So… can we train now?" Sadie asked, obviously interrupting something.
Both Tala and Amy sighed before looking at the small, dark haired girl. "Shouldn't you be getting home?" Tala asked, releasing Amy.
"My home is in Egypt, and I can return to where I am staying whenever I want," Sadie stated proudly, approaching Amy. "So can we train? Please please please please pllleeeeeaaaaaassssseeeeeee!"
"YES! If you promise to never do that again I will teach you whatever you want to know!" Amy yelled in frustration. God, I hate little kids, she thought, feeling another wave of nausea wash over her, but like the one earlier that day, it passed.
"YAY!" Sadie cheered rushing to a dish and retrieving her Anubis blade. She attached it to the shooter and readied herself for launch.
"What are you doing?" Amy asked, folding her arms across her chest.
"Getting ready to learn, what else?" Sadie responded, "now let's go."
Amy laughed, "You and I both know you're not going to learn anything that way, at least, not when you're only going to be fighting me. You're not ready for that."
"Aww! What's that supposed to mean?" Sadie challenged.
"Exactly what it sounds like," Amy growled, "put your blade away."
With an annoyed sigh, Sadie obeyed, glaring daggers at Amy. "Now what?"
"You're going to come with me, that's what," Amy motioned towards exit. She paused beside Tala, sighing, "I'll see you tonight," and kissed his cheek.
"Alright," Tala sighed, a little disappointed he didn't get more than a kiss on the cheek.
Sadie rushed after her, still upset over the fact that she wasn't going to be shooting yet.
"Beyblading is 30 percent pure skill, 20 percent physical, and 50 percent mental. You cannot win a battle without this balance. Now, not every shooter is a regular Einstein, I certainly am not," Amy began, after leading Sadie into a park.
"So… how do they make up for their mental portions?" Sadie asked, sitting in the snow.
"They compensate by using a different form of mental power. They observe and learn." Amy stared down at the younger girl, near laughing at the look of pure confusion on her face. "Let me explain. My friend Kaylie is a regular Einstein, she does not need to observe her enemies to judge their fighting style and how to counter them, and she makes up a battle plan in advance to the battle using only the stats shown to all competitors. I, however, will usually watch my opponent's matches, all of them and that's how I learn their technique and counter it. I take what I see and apply it to my advantage. There are many types of shooters out there, some have similar styles others are different. A good team is usually made up of people who have different styles.
"The Silver Fangs, for example, has offensive striker- me, the defensive- Courtney, the quick shooter- Brook, the shaky-yet-strangely-lucky-shooter- Melissa, and our Einstein. Now, for an offensive shooter, like myself, I need the observation since my defence is weak, however, I have trick that helps in strange battles. I can hide my style. Every style has a tell-tale sign and only the best know how to recognize it and learn, through memorization, how to handle each. And only the best of the best know how to hide their own to trick their opponents into making stupid mistakes."
Sadie jumped to her feet, getting quite excited again. "You're going to teach me how to recognize the styles aren't you?"
"That was my plan," Amy smiled, "but first, you need to learn what to look for and patience."
Sadie's face fell. It was obvious patience was not her strong point. "But I want to learn it all now," she whined.
"Patience is a virtue, Sadie, and you will learn it or you will learn nothing at all." Amy's gaze darkened as she strode over to Sadie. "You wanted to be my apprentice? Well, now you know what it takes. I'm not going to go easy on you nor am I going to allow you to cut corners. You will work until you reach perfection, I will accept no less from my apprentice."
Sadie gazed at Amy in new admiration. She was really going to learn everything from one of the best shooters in the world. Her stomach was doing summersaults in anticipation.
"Well, if it's too much you can always back out now." Secretly, Amy hoped she wouldn't. Hearing Sadie whine made her realize how, for lack of a better word, pathetic she really was at shooting, not too mention it could teach her an important life lesson.
"No, no," Sadie said urgently, "I'm ready. I'll do everything you ask without complaint… okay with minor complaint, but I'll learn. I promise."
Amy inhaled and exhaled deeply, locking eyes with the younger girl. "I hold you to your promise, Sadie."
Sadie gave a small jump for joy.
"If there's one thing I will teach you, it is that your word is your bond. If you agree to do something, you'd damn well do it, or don't come back."
"But I thought you were teaching me patience?"
Amy smirked, "Kid, I think by the end of this, we'll both have learned to be a lot more patient and tolerant."
Amy- I really can't believe you finally updated...
blackamber- Neither can I...
Sadie- Why am I such a sucky shooter?
blackamber- 'Cause if you weren't there would be no purpose for your character
Sadie- Meanie...
blackamber- (offended) I am not! It's the truth...
Amy- The truth hurts sometimes Sadie...
Sadie- (whiney voice) But still...
Tala- R&R