A/N: XD I now have a title for the story mentioned in the last chapter! Domo Arigatou (many thanks) to SkylarkOfTheMoon for suggesting the name "Together We Stand", I added Stormflight's name to the mix, so be on the lookout for "Stormflight: Together We Stand" coming soon! Also, check out my profile for a list of upcoming stories and the bio's of my OCs! (including Anashi herself) and now for the disclaimer!

Gingka: GalaxyPegasus14 does not own Metal Fight Beyblade. If she did, I would have defeated Ryuga countless times, Ryuga would have joined the Legend Bladers from the beginning, and there would probably be no real plotline for it, just randomness. Also, I would be in Metal Bey City in Zero-G right now…

Ryuga: -reading ahead in the story- O.O you brought back HIM? WHY?

Anashi: the only thing GalaxyPegasus14 owns is me, her OC, and the LBA, as well as the plotline. Also, Ryuga seems to have missed Gingka's comment about purple pancakes.

Ryuga: what purple pancakes?

Gingka: she got you again Ryuga… ooh, I get to bust the bad guy's bubble in the next few chapters again!

Anashi: and just so you guys know, assuming that FanFiction doesn't mess up the italics and bold on this chapter like it has previously…

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"conversation"

Thoughts or bey speaking

-inside Mount Hagani-

The dark form of Lightning L-Drago filled the cave. No light filtered in from the outside, only the red glow of the magma below. He really hated magma, it was what had caused the switch of him with the female Meteo L-Drago, who had taken his place as the Dragon Emperor, or rather, Empress, alongside Ryuga himself. His three heads scanned the cave, a fiery gaze sweeping over the old stadium where he had first battled Storm Pegasus after his release, the fragments of purple crystal still lying where Ryuga had dropped them, the previously barricaded escape that Gingka himself had taken, along with Storm Pegasus, leaving his father behind on that platform. Inside the secret cavity he had smashed open, his new blader was standing, making calculations. Lightning preferred not to have a blader, as he had more freedom that way, but the old guy had had a point: who was going to launch him and strategize? As had previously been proved, once Lightning tried gaining control himself, he couldn't see where his opponent was as well, and therefore had less chance of winning. Lightning flew back into the cavity, his dark purple light reflecting off the silver and gold hair of his new blader.

Lightning growled, low and menacing. The silver-haired blader turned impatiently, light from the magma below reflecting off of his glasses as he looked at the bey.

"nothing out there? Good, keep scanning. We are too close to Koma village to risk someone finding out about our plans and presence here." he turned back to the map of the world he was examining.

As Lightning reentered the cavity in the rocks, a figure dressed in dark blue entered the cave. The light emitted from the magma below made his uniform look black as he cautiously made his way towards the hole in the rocks. Suddenly, he ducked, rolling into the shadows as Lightning flew back out to continue boredly watching the caves. He hid, barely daring to move, until he was sure that all three heads were facing away from him, then cautiously entered the cavity. He quickly prepared the small grappling hook that Yuki had recently developed, then waited, looking for a shadow deep enough to hide him. Seeing none around the walls, he looked up, using the night vision function in his helmet to scan the ceiling. He glanced behind him as Lightning sent out a deafening roar, then fired and leapt, using the grappling hook to retract up into the shadows. His heart was pounding.

That was close! he thought, glancing down as he silently clipped the device onto his belt. This thing had better hold, I'm heavier than Yuki. At least I know that it can withstand an attack from a bey.

Lightning had once again entered the cave. Gingka froze as it swept its gaze over the ceiling, having forgotten how terrifying it really was to have a hostile dragon staring at you with its red eyes.

No offense to L-Drago herself, but her fierceness is a different kind. This thing, it holds a different type of fierceness. L-Drago Destroy's kind has a sort of beauty to it, but Lightning, his has a cruelty underlying it. I had forgotten how terrifying it really was to have its gaze fastened on me directly. I hope he cant see me, I should be far enough into these shadows up here.

Once Lightning looked away, Gingka quickly reached for his wrist, activating a recording device in his helmet. Cautiously, he lowered himself to the edges of the shadows, trying to get a better look at the older man below him. He took several snapshots of the map the man was looking at, then zoomed in on his face.

No way, just how many times is he going to fool us with this?

I don't know, how many times are you going to let him?

Do you have to butt into my thoughts right now? I'm busy!

Fine, fine, but I want out. It's getting hot here in your carrying case.

Just put up with it, I cant take you out now!

Why? I want out NOW.

If I let you out now, it might give away my position! Just hold on a second and get out of my mind!

Fine, fine, ill be quiet…

Ughh, sometimes Pegasi can be so annoying…

I heard that!

And I told you to cut it out and be quiet! Now get out of my brain!

Fine then! I just wont talk to you for the rest of the day!

Gingka rolled his eyes as the image of Pegasus faded from his mind.

Now I just have to figure out how to get out of here, I have the proof and pictures of what they are doing, now I just need to get out safely.

Gingka quickly scanned through his mind for various possibilities of escape. The possibility of using Pegasus entered his mind, but he quickly pushed it out, as that would definitely give him away. It was better that they never found where he was, or knew he had been there. He started leaning from side to side, attempting to swing over to grab an outcropping of rock. Once he had done so, he carefully hung his full weight from the rock above the opening in the rock, then released his hook. He glanced down below him to make sure no one was looking, then dropped, quickly making his way out the crack and hiding as Lightning whirled at the sound of his boots making contact with the rocky surface. Gingka tensed, barely daring to breathe as the dragon came out and peered left and right. Once it's back was turned, he bolted for the exit, barely making it out before the tri-headed dragon saw him.

-meanwhile, a couple of miles off the coast of America-

"see anything?" King asked Zeo, who was peering through a window.

"Damian's inside! And there are a ton of people with him!" Zeo exclaimed.

"Toby? Masamune? Are you there?" King said, trying to contact the two at the dungeon gym. His questions were replied to by only static.

"we're out of range! We would have to get back out of here to get anything through!" Zeo exclaimed.

"and that would be too dangerous to try and get back in afterwards"

You could send me or Foxe up to the surface with a message

"there's an idea. But what if we need you guys?" King replied to his bey.

"wha?" Zeo said, confused.

"Ares just suggested that we send either him or Foxe up to the surface with a message"

"oh. That could work, but do we really need to get a message through right now?"

I'm hungry, when do we leave? Its wet and my fur is soggy. Plus, there is a three-headed dog around and that door looks kinda like a- ooh, fish!

"that's Foxe, always thinking with its stomach."

Ooh, its even purple!

Zeo sweat dropped at this. "really Foxe? The color of the stupid fish matters to you?"

For your information Zeo, beys can taste color. White tastes very bland, and black is very bitter. My favorite color-flavor is blue, because it tastes like my fur after I -ooh there's another one!

"really? I wonder what one of Jack's paintings would taste like." Zeo replied sarcastically.

Are they on fish?

"no. no they're not on fish. Must you always be hungry?"

Aww man! Well, if you lead me to one, I can tell you what it tastes like

"Jack! Foxe you are a genius! Follow me!"

"I really don't see where you are going with this, and I don't know what Foxe was saying, but im right behind you buddy!" King said, signaling to Ares, who was still looking through the window. How Damian had managed to get it airtight and pump the water out was a mystery.

Where are we going?

"to Jack's Arrangement Room!" Zeo replied

"Jack's what?" King exclaimed, stopping in his tracks.

"Arrangement room, there has got to be a clue in there. Damian's is too close to the top and Kerbecs"

We're already too close to Kerbecs Ares's voice sounded in King's mind.

Don't be so ridiculous, it didn't even see us coming in!

Then what is that following us?

King turned. "Z-zeo! Freeze and don't move!"

"isn't that kinda redundant?" Zeo said, turning.

Foxe, swim up to the surface and alert Toby and Masamune, quickly! Take the exit that Kerbecs was guarding!

Does that mean I get to get out of this cold water?

YES! Just go already! Go all the way back to the Dungeon Gym, take this, and DON'T LOSE IT!

Zeo handed Foxe a small chip, which the bey took carefully, clamping his jaws around it.

But-

Just GO! Or else we wont get out of here! Toby will know what that means. Take it to him. Now go!

He gave Foxe a shove.

"we only have five hours of oxygen left! And we need to allow at least two to get back up to the surface!" King was panicking.

Can I attack now already?

No! we have to give time for Foxe to- you know what, go ahead! But be very careful!

Aww yeah, bey spirit to bey spirit! Let's do this Kerbecs!

The other bey growled. King and Zeo got the idea that he was not pleased to find them there.

Ares drew his sword and raised his shield.

Can I eat this fish I just found on the seafloor?

Foxe!

Ok, ok, I'm on it. Sheesh, cant a bey have a break already?

You have been swimming for five minutes Foxe, now get the job done and I will reward you with a full-on fish buffet

Really?

YES! NOW GO TO TOBY!

I'm going! I'm going! Yay! Mackerel and haddock and carp and tuna!

Zeo rolled his eyes.

Ares and Kerbecs were clashing fiercely, chains vs. sword and shield. However, Ares soon found himself pinned, his sword hand tied under his shield. Kerbecs used the remainder of his chains to grab King and Zeo, then dragged them down into what had apparently been turned into an airlock. After all the water drained out, King and Zeo suddenly felt the full effect of Kerbecs's chains as their weight caused him to have to grip tighter to avoid losing them.

"who are these two intruders? Are these the ones you told me about?" Damian sneered at a blader with red and white hair, who was wearing a diving suit.

"yes, but there was a blue dog with them as well"

"it's a fox, smart guy" Zeo growled.

King looked at him in surprise, wondering how he had gotten his helmet speakers on.

"wait a second, I know that disrespectful tone" Damian said.

Kerbecs looked confused.

"take your Killerken and go back to the outside, Gen. Kerbecs! Lock these three up in a cell, I will deal with them later. Our informants at Koma Village should be contacting us any time now."

"informants in Koma Village? Isn't that where Gingka was born?" King exclaimed

"I think it is" Zeo replied, having turned off his helmet speakers.

"why so quiet?" Damian sneered as Kerbecs began dragging the two towards the exit.

don't worry master, I will get you out of there eventually! I just have to strategize! Ares's voice sounded in King's mind.