Background info: I'm sure everyone remembers chapter 18 where Tom faced off against Ian in the final showdown to be the rank 2 team leader. What you probably didn't know is that version was not the original one created for the story. I had rewritten it after my friend and partner in crime Beywriter (also Tom's creator) asked me to. This is also another gem not touched since 2010. I hope everyone enjoy this version like they did the last.

Disclaimer: I don't own Beyblade or the series characters. And I make no profit.

Thanks: Ariao

Chapter 18: Final Test Fight

One by one kids fell until only two remained. The best from each bracket were facing each other waiting for the signal to be given. Everyone in the room was excited to see who was going to be the victor. Who ever it was, was going to be joining our team when a spot opened up. Until then he was going to be the leader of the new sub team Boris was forming.

Subconsciously I bit my lip. This was going to be a hard battle to watch.

Tom had survived until the end. I was happy for him. But it came at the high price of draining a lot of energy and he looked tired standing up there waiting.

Ian had also made it to this point. He had a big grin as he looked over at Tom. It was as if he knew he would win and pitied my friend. But he had been in just as many battles as Tom had and should also be running low on energy, or so says logic. But still he gave off this over confident aura.

Boris was standing between them acting as the referee. He was only allowing a five minute rest before starting. And when he said five minutes he meant it. He was holding up his watch arm and staring at the device as the seconds ticked by.

"Time," he called.

Tom straightened up and took a deep breath before exhaling. Whatever he was feeling right now remained hidden under his mask that not even I could read him.

Ian, on the other hand, was being as energetic as ever. His big dumb grin did nothing to hide his excitement as he bounced back and forth on his feet.

"Bladers ready," Boris's harsh voice ordered. The crowd went silent and Tom prepared his blade. Ian reached into his pocket and pulled his gear out. When they both nodded Boris started the count down.

"3...2...1..." he said before blowing his whistle.

The blades were off, flying through the air for their first clash of a best of three. Tom's landed first and looped the dish a couple of times as it waited. Ian had shot his blade high into the air and I hoped that it would just miss the dish all together.

"Wyborg, let's end this at the beginning," Ian said sounding very cocky. His purple blade shot out a bright light while it was still in mid air and his bit beast appeared again.

Gee he's going with his usual plan. What a shock there.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed someone move and then I felt a hand cover mine and a squeeze. It was Bryan silently telling me things would be alright. That thing above us would soon be gone.

I squeezed his hand back to let him know I got his message, but I could not stop the shaking from being so close to the snake.

Tom shook his head seeing the bit beast released so quickly.

Ian's style was almost completely opposite of his own. Ian liked to show off his power while Tom preferred to bide his time waiting for the right moment and avoided using Torus if the extra power wasn't needed.

Ian's blade finally landed, but it was very unstable. The burst of energy to release Wyborg had thrown it off balance. This was Tom's opening as long as he moved fast enough.

I locked my sight onto the red blade. It was looping the dish again. My teeth bit harder on my lip. I was starting to taste blood.

"Torus attack now."

I sighed watching Torus change route and dash for the wobbling blade. There was no way Ian could dodge this with that instability...at least that's what I hoped.

Ian was still smiling as Torus hit his Wyborg and flung it from the dish. There was something not right about the way he lost. It was too easy and he made such a noob mistake it wasn't funny.

Boris's whistle blew again. "First point is Tom's. Round two get ready."

Tom and Ian again loaded their blades onto their launchers and waited for the signal.

"I hope you liked that win Tommy boy, cause it will be the last one you get today" Ian said and kept his cocky attitude firmly in place.

I know Tom, and if he were not standing by the dish his temper would start boiling at that comment. But because he was there he kept himself in check.

"I don't need you to go easy for my sake. Torus and I can take whatever you have to offer and dish it right back."

"Alright then."

The banter stopped when Boris again counted them in. And once more on the whistle they released.

XxXxXx

The battle was lasting longer then the first. Ian's noob mistake was forgotten as they pushed the seven minute marker. It was taking a toll on both of them.

Tom was dripping with sweat and breathing hard. He was putting all he had into this to win. But it was clear he could not last much longer.

Ian on the other hand was fairing a bit better. He was only starting to glisten with sweat and his breathing, although rigid, was not as heavy as Tom's. And that is when I realized something.

All the fights Ian was in before were over in about a minute. He wasn't trying to show off his skills, but to reserve energy for this. He little midget had this planned from the start.

And poor Tom, he had given his opponents a fair chance at victory. At that slowly ate away his power. So even though this fight looked fair, it wasn't. It hadn't been from the start.

"Wyborg I'm bored. End this with sand bind," Ian said around a yawn.

Once more his purple blade lit up with a blinding light and when it faded Wyborg was there and ready to bounce. Its coiled body uncurled as Ian's blade increased speed making laps around Torus.

"Just remember Tom, I did say that that won would be your last today."

"I'm not out of this yet. Torus, power charge."

The centaur rose up sending shock waves that affected the room again. I was expecting to see Ian's top bounce into the air, but it seemed to remain in the dish as if nothing was happening.

"It's too late, he wont save you now. Wyborg have at it."

The giant snake worked his way around Torus's legs trapping the centaur in place. The purple blade mimicking the move by making figure eights around the red one and giving quick hard whacks that created sparks.

In a couple of minutes Torus was slowing down until he stopped and rolled to the middle of the dish.

"Excellent job Ian," Boris said as the midget gathered his blade. Tom was jumping into the dish to get his. "Hurry up boys, we have one more round to go."

"Good, I've been enjoying this. How about you Tom? Have you been having fun?"

"This isn't a game...not anymore."

"Begin," Boris called and the boys launched for the final time today.

The blades clashed in air above the dish and bounced back almost being knocked out of the rim. Ian was back to grinning and having a grand old time. Tom was showing nothing but a deadly determination in his brown eyes.

"Torus, power charge now!" he said from gritted teeth. If this attack connected it would be game.

The centaur rose up once more and sprang into action charging for Ian's blade.

Everyone was watching without blinking. Torus was moving swiftly as he targeted on Wyborg. In less then a second this was all going to be over.

Ian wasn't bothered that his blade was being charged. In fact he was closing his eyes so he wouldn't have to watch this. It was like he knew something the rest of us didn't know.

"Wyborg, move right." Ian's red eyes opened at the last possible moment and his blade dodged to the right and avoided the attack, but not the after shock waves. It was pushed to the rim where it teetered.

Torus tried to turn to follow, but there was too much speed for a hair pin turn and he ended up flying over the rim with no hope of landing back in.

There was a huge intake of air from everyone watching. If Ian's blade fell now he'd land before Tom's and loose. But if he managed to maintain enough control and keep his blade there he'd win.

I had my fingers crossed that Ian would fall. Tom was more suited for what Boris was planning then that midget.

Slowly Torus started to fall. He was spinning in the air. Wyborg continued to fight with little success.

It was coming down to this moment. Torus was now even with Wyborg and sinking fast.

In the quiet of the room we all heard a loud clank that sounded more like a gun shot. It was over.

"Congratulations Ian. You have proven to be among the best being trained here," Boris said and started his big talk on how Ian was to be first choice to fill a spot on the Demolition Boys and until then he'd be leader of the B-team with Tom in second-in-command.