XD I'm back! It feels good to update weekly again… Anyway, Gingka?
Gingka: -_-
Me: What? I didn't kill you!
Gingka: No, but it seems like you keep trying to do so.
Me: Just do the disclaimer…
Gingka: GalaxyPegasus14 does not own MFB…..
Me: Thank you.
"Gingka! Where are you?"
"Gingka-san? Are you there?"
Ryuga sighed as the two continued yelling. "Keep it down will you? Man, it seems like everyone is underestimating Hagane these days." he muttered, opening the door on his side and looking down.
"Activate grappling hook." the white-haired blader ordered.
Madoka watched, surprised as Ryuga's hook and cable, barely visible, wrapped themselves around an invisible object in midair.
"Retract" Ryuga growled, seeming very annoyed. The sound of the helicopter's blades was beginning to hurt his ears. His cable retracted, pulling the invisible object up with it all the way to his wrist. Now that it was in the helicopter, Madoka could see that it was a second cable.
"Yes, I have it, now retract!" Ryuga growled to a question unheard by the others in the helicopter. A few moments later, Ryuga's black and orange-gloved hand was grasping Gingka's black-gloved ones as the dragon pulled the Pegasus back into the helicopter.
"Man, good thing Yuki installed those grappling hooks. I thought that door was shut!" Gingka muttered, closing the door he had fallen out of and making sure it was latched. Madoka quickly enveloped the redhead in a tight hug, the redhead trying to comfort the sobbing brunette. The two sat down on the row of seats together, Ryuga leaving the back and heading to the cockpit to act as copilot.
Zero sat back down, satisfied that Gingka was safe. "So, where are we going?" he asked.
"The temporary base of the Legendary Bladers' Network." Gingka replied shortly. "Hopefully Yuki will have some new data on those robots for us to analyze, we have to stop them."
"Cool!" Zero exclaimed.
"There's another helicopter following us!" Ren exclaimed, looking out the window.
Gingka turned and looked. "That would be one of ours." he said, catching sight of the Steel Warriors logo on the doors. The redhead pressed a hidden button on his wrist and a small metal object rose out of his shirt ollar to hover just over his left eye. The others could see that it seemed to be a miniature computer screen, showing another one of the steel warriors.
"Hey Cosmicbark, I see you guys managed to catch up." Gingka said to the small blue-haired figure on his screen.
"Yup, and so did Firearrow and Lizardflight. I just received word from Jadebolt that he and Scythestrike have Tsubasa and Hikaru safe with them."
"Good, and Wildwind?"
"He and Warriorbelt are with Benkei and the few bladers that did manage to escape the DNA where they were."
"Good, at least we have some of them. I have Madoka, Maru, and the seven strongest younger bladers on our side, so we should be in good shape."
"Alright, see you in a few minutes then once we reach home base!"
"Yeah, see you." the computer screen retracted back into Gingka's shirt collar.
"Your little devices keep amazing me with the technology." Madoka muttered.
Gingka grinned. "Don't ask me how they work, Yuki is just a technological genius!"
"I noticed that much. So, who exactly are the other Steel Warriors by name and alias?"
"Well, you know pretty much all of them."
"Yeah, but these younger bladers know none of them."
"True. I guess I might as well tell you guys then, if only to pass the time." Gingka leaned back, crossed his arms behind his head, and closed his eyes. "You guys have already met Dragonfang, or Ryuga. Kyoya goes by the name Wildwind, and Chris goes by Warriorbelt. Kenta and Yuki go by Firearrow and Cosmicbark, respectively, and Titi goes by Lizardflight. Dunamis goes under the name Jadebolt, and Aguma is Scythestrike. Last, but not really least, is King, who goes by Warlord. That's really about it, I will have to point out who is who when we reach Koma."
"Speaking of Koma, we are within sight of it." Ryuga said, returning to the back of the helicopter.
"Good, hopefully Hyoma has lunch ready." Gingka replied.
Madoka chuckled. "Thinking with your stomach as usual I see."
"I don't think with my stomach!"
"Mmmhmm, yeah, you aren't fooling me Gingka."
"I'm serious!" Gingka said, just as his stomach growled.
Madoka laughed and Ryuga flashed one of his rare smiles.
"That doesn't mean I think with my stomach, it just means I'm hungry…" Gingka trailed off as the helicopter landed. "Helmet up."
"Activate helmet." Ryuga ordered as he opened the helicopter door. The two Steel Warriors stepped out first, their helmets gleaming in the sunlight. The other eight stepped off of other helicopters nearby, their helmets also up, having decided not to take them down in front of the others who did not know who they were.
"You brought a whole party of outsiders here I see." Hyoma said, walking up behind Gingka.
"We had no choice, it was bring them here or leave them in the clutches of the DNA." the masked redhead replied, then stepped forwards to address the group of approximately forty young bladers, plus Tsubasa, Benkei, Hikaru, and Blader Guider.
"Ok guys, the plan here is very simple. Until we can get the DNA out of Metal Bey City, it will not be safe to return there. So, unfortunately, you will all have to stay here. All boys, go to Cosmicbark, over there in the blue, and he will tell you what to do. Girls, go to Warriorbelt over there in the pink-"
"Hey!" Chris protested, cutting Gingka off. "It's purple!"
"Purple, whatever." Gingka continued. "Once you are done, feel free to explore the forest around us, but do not go so far that you can not see the village. Nobody is allowed up that mountain. Otherwise, just hang out and wait for further instructions."
"What am I supposed to do?" came the voices of both Yuki and Chris as the younger bladers split up and headed towards them.
"Basically, the houses behind you are empty, they can set up bedding and stuff in there, since they will all need a place to stay." Gingka replied, watching as the group split up.
There were a few mumbles around the crowd, people asking, 'why should we listen to him?' and 'who are these guys?' The crowd quickly dispersed, most of the younger bladers heading into the forest, a few staying, curious about the ten masked figures that had rescued them. Under Gingka's orders, none of the Legend Bladers had unmasked while in the helicopters, with the exception of Gingka himself and Ryuga.
-Back in Metal Bey City-
"Sir, the Legendary Bladers have retreated after a brief struggle." one of the DNA bladers reported, stepping up to Argo.
"And? Did you capture their mechanic and the seven younger bladers who are a potential threat to us?"
"No sir, they escaped, along with the Legendary Bladers, in helicopters. The director and secretary of the WBBA are also missing."
"Then send out search parties and find them." Argo ordered, turning back to look out the window at the empty streets of Metal Bey City. "We finally have control of the WBBA. Next, the world!"
-In Koma Village-
Zero and his friends were exploring, without knowing it, they were running around the very forests where Gingka had grown up and trained. They soon found the Green Hades stadium, still cracked from Gingka's Starblast Attack several years before.
A few other bladers were hanging around Koma Village, clustered together in small groups, debating among themselves whether or not to approach one of the five metal-faced figures still in the village. Finally, one group, keeping themselves in a tight group, approached the two gold-clad warriors who were chatting casually underneath a tree.
"E-excuse me." one of the young bladers said nervously.
Firearrow looked up. "Yes?"
"Who are you guys?"
"We are the Steel Warriors." Kenta replied shortly through his mask.
"Steel Warriors? What is that?" a curious-looking nine-year-old girl asked nervously.
"Well…" Kenta thought for a moment, then got down on one knee to be at the young girl's eye level. "We protect the world from threats like the DNA to keep you guys safe." he said, placing one gloved hand on the girls shoulder and smiling, even though the girl couldn't see his face.
"What are your names?" a bolder, eleven-year-old boy with brown hair asked.
"I am Firearrow, and this is Lizardflight." Kenta replied, gesturing to the other gold-clad figure behind him.
Titi waved.
"What about the guy who told us what to do earlier?"
"That guy?" Kenta pointed at the familiar blue figure standing on the roof of a house nearby.
The younger bladers all nodded.
"That is Stormflight, he is our leader."
"C-can we battle you?" one blader asked, catching sight of the gear underneath Firearrow's coat.
"I don't see why not. Lizardflight?"
"Ehh, sure Firearrow, I'm bored anyway." Titi replied, pulling out his launcher.
Gingka smiled as he saw one group, the youngest, finally gain the courage to approach the Steel Warriors.
"Hey! Up there! C-could you come down please?" a voice called up.
Gingka looked down and saw another group of about five bladers, all older than the rest. Gingka estimated them to all be around fifteen or sixteen. "Why?" he asked.
"U-um…" the young man who had called up was speechless.
"Because, we want to talk to you and we asked nicely!" a young woman said.
"Fair enough." Gingka said, jumping down off the roof and landing in front of the group. He was about a head taller than most of them, not counting their hair, and made an imposing figure to stand close to. Stormflight casually leaned against the wall of the house and crossed his arms. "Well?" he said after a few moments of silence.
"U-um, who are you anyway? Why did you save us?"
"Are you a robot?"
"What is going on here?"
"What is this place?"
Gingka held up a hand to stop the barrage of questions. "One at a time please, but I'll answer your questions so far. My name is Stormflight, I rescued you guys because it is my job. No, I am not a robot, and we are trying to take down the DNA. This place is Koma Village."
"Stormflight? That's not your real name, is it." one boy stated matter-of-factly.
"No, it isn't." Gingka replied. He could tell that this one was a potential troublemaker.
"What is your real name?" the boy challenged.
"I am not going to tell you."
"Why not?"
"This mask is to keep my true identity a secret. It would not be so if I told you who I was."
"Why keep it a secret?"
"Because, I can, and it keeps petty news reporters and other people off my back."
"But-" the boy fell silent as one of the girls in the group glared at him.
"So, if your job is to protect us, does that mean you work with Gingka-san? Because, he does the same thing, right?"
Gingka was glad for the mask as he tried to keep down a chuckle. "Yes, I work with him very closely."
"Where is he now? Can we battle him?"
"Not at the moment. His location is for me to know and you to learn later."
The group seemed a bit disappointed at this. "Ahh! Who is that!" they all suddenly huddled together as a shadow fell over them.
Gingka looked up. "Cut it out Dragonfang, you are scaring everyone." he said.
"Well, Lizardflight is bothering Wildwind again and Madoka asked me to tell you." Ryuga replied through his mask.
Gingka sighed. "Where are they?"
"Over near Bey Crossing."
"Where there is a ton of water, of course. I will see you younger bladers later, I have work to do." Gingka sighed, heading off in the direction of the said location.
"Let's follow him." one of the boys whispered.
"Yeah!" the rest of the group agreed, and they set off after the retreating blue figure.
The sensors in Gingka's helmet soon picked up the group stalking him, and the redhead smiled under his mask. "Trying to follow me and find out who I am, huh? Well, that's not going to work. Activate grappling hook!"
The group behind him let out a gasp of surprise as Stormflight disappeared. They ran to the spot where he had been standing and looked around, then up, and were surprised to see the blue-clad figure seated on a branch near the top of the tree, looking down at them.
"How did you get up there so fast?" one asked.
"I do have a grappling hook, it wasn't that hard really." Gingka replied. "Now, if you will excuse me, I have a fight to go break up." he saluted the group, then once again disappeared, a few leaves and snapped twigs falling down to the ground, as well as a portion of burned tree bark.
"Alright you two, cut it out!" Lizardflight and Wildwind froze at the command as Stormflight stepped between them. "Why do you guys have to always be fighting?"
Titi stuck his tongue out, knowing that Kyoya couldn't see it.
"He started it." the green-clad Leone wielder grumbled.
"I don't care who started it, you, go train over there, and you, go train over there!" Gingka growled, shoving the two off in opposite directions.
Zero and his friends, hiding in the bushes, snickered, then came out of hiding once the three Legendary Bladers were out of sight.
Meanwhile, the group of older teens that Gingka had met earlier were heading towards Mount Hagane, with the intention of climbing it even though the Steel Warrior had said not to. Their leader, a boy with dark brown hair, took the first steps up the mountain.
"Direct disobedience hmm? I know I told you guys to stay off that mountain, for your own good. It is too dangerous inside for anyone to go into, with all the lava. Plus, the whole mountain is unstable." Gingka muttered, hiding in the bushes nearby. "Well, looks like I will just have to scare them off of it." he emerged from the bushes and stepped out into view, but the group climbing the steps did not see him.
"We're about halfway there!" the leader said.
"But what if he catches us? He said not to climb this mountain!" the youngest of the group, a young girl with black hair and grey eyes, spoke up.
"Shut up Noriko, he won't catch us, he was too busy dealing with a fight, remember? Plus, it would make the most sense that he would return to the village." one of the older girls snapped.
The black-haired girl fell silent.
"Well then, your reasoning was way off." a familiar voice said angrily.
The group froze and looked around, started.
"Didn't I directly say not to climb this mountain?"
"So what if you did? We don't have to listen to you!" the brunette leader snapped.
"Oh really? Give me one reason why you think you don't."
"U-umm…" the group wasn't expecting the challenge.
"Exactly, there is none. On the other hand, I brought you guys here, and this happens to by my hometown, and I am more powerful than all of you guys combined. Plus the fact that I do control the other Steel Warriors. Get off the mountain now, and there will be no punishment."
"More power then all of us? We will just see about that! Where are you, anyway?" the leader shouted, raising his launcher. The rest of the group followed suit quickly, except for the black-haired girl who didn't want to be there in the first place.
"Nobody ever remembers to look up." Stormflight stated matter-of-factly, raising his own launcher.
Startled at this statement, the group finally did look up. Stormflight was perched on top of one of the unlit torches that lined the stairway. His bey, silver, blue and red in color, was pointed directly at them.
"Go down now, and nothing will happen. This incident will not be mentioned." he repeated menacingly.
The black-haired girl pushed through the group, finally gaining her resolve to go against the crowd, and started down the mountain.
"Where are you going? If you leave, you will no longer be allowed to hang out with us?" the leader called after her.
"I don't care anymore! All you guys ever do is get in trouble anyway!" she yelled back, picking her way carefully down the worn steps.
As Stormflight looked down after her, the rest of the group suddenly made a break for the top of the mountain.
"So, that's how it is, is it? Seems she was the only smart one in the group." Gingka muttered, launching Pegasus.
"Ahh!" the group stopped and took a few steps back as the silver and blue bey bounced between the two pillars just in front of them, then landed, blocking the path up the mountain.
"I warned you, head down now. That girl with the black hair is the only smart one in the group, it seems."
"Noriko is just a crybaby, she never had any backbone anyway." the leader hissed as Stormflight flipped over their heads and landed behind his bey.
"She is smarter than the rest of you, head down now, before Dragonfang gets here." Gingka growled, narrowing the glowing blue eyes on his mask to look more menacing as he took up a battle stance.
The name had an almost magical effect on the group, who paled as the Dragon Emperor landed behind the Pegasus wielder. The glare of the golden-eyed blader could almost be felt, even through his silvery, dragon head-designed mask. When the red-orange figure raised his own launcher, his black-and-red bey attached, the group finally fled down the mountain.
"We need to find a way to keep them off the mountain, they will return, most likely tonight even." Gingka said, grabbing his bey off the ground.
"Either a barricade or a guard. A barricade would probably be better for training's sake, but a guard would be infinitely more effective." Ryuga replied.
"Yeah, a blader with enough strength could easily break through a barrier, unless it were metal, but even then, me, Kyoya, Kenta and Benkei did break through the thick iron doors of the Dark Nebula headquarters before any of us were even well-known at all."
"Yuki could probably set up a barricade with an alarm or something that would go off inside our helmets if the barrier were broken." Ryuga suggested.
"That could work! I'll go get him, you are honestly more menacing, with or without your mask." Gingka said, taking off.
Ryuga smirked at this, then walked down to the bottom of the steps to guard there, figuring it would be easier to keep people off the mountain than to get them off of it. The Dragon Emperor gazed up at the sky, which was colored in bright reds and oranges due to the sun setting, casting a warm orange glow over everything and reflecting off of Ryuga's outfit, making it even brighter in appearance.
Gingka: That was the best chapter ever!
Me: Why? You guys are just hanging around Koma Village and there's not much action!
Gingka: Yeah, but you didn't try to kill me in this chapter!
Me: Better get used to it, because I have a whole lot more planned. -Evil grin-
Gingka: I'm doomed.
Me: Oh, and the pictures of Dragonfang, Wildwind, and Jadebolt are now up on my website! Go check them out!