Everyone was sat at the helicopter again, having a casual chat about the recent events. The winds were getting pretty strong.
"So, what made you think we came across Robert and his Majestics again?" Hilary asked to no one in particular.
"I don't know, but it sure as hell was no coincidence," Ray answered her as he looked out the window.
"Ah, who cares? I can't wait to fight him in the tournament," Tyson said.
"That's our Tyson. Always looking on the bright side!" Max exclaimed, making the champion chuckle.
"Speaking of the tournament, is that where we're heading now?" Kenny asked to Mr. Dickenson.
"No. We're going to America to pay a quick visit to Max's mother to get more information on the whereabouts of Hiro," replied Mr. Dickenson.
"Great! I can see my mom again. She must have been worried about me," Max said.
"I'm pretty sure she's okay. Saying that, I'd expect a big hug if I were you, Max," Tyson said to his blonde friend.
"Yeah. But we were all away for about half a day. This helicopter gets around fast," Max said.
"Well, Max, it looks as though we're almost there now. Which is a good thing, the fuel's getting low," Mr. Dickenson said. Soon they landed at a nearby helipad, and got off. They were greeted by a ginger haired girl who wore glasses and tennis clothes. It was Emily, a member of the All Starz, later known as the PPB All Starz.
"Emily. Good to see you again," Kenny said as he got off the helicopter.
"Hey there, Kenny!" Emily said, and she ran over and gave the young genius a big hug.
"Um, where's Judy?" Kenny asked.
"She's waiting at her facility along with the other All Starz. I trust Mr. Dickenson has told you why he brought you here?" Emily suggested.
"Yeah. We're here to get more info on who got taken," Tyson said.
"Good. So, now you're up to speed, follow me," Emily said, and they did as she told them. She led them to a long, white limousine.
"Wow. What's with the limo?" Tyson asked.
"It's good enough to get us all to the facility at ground level. Plus, taking a helicopter the rest of the way there isn't a good thing. The winds around here would probably knock it down, and we can't have that, now can we?" Emily asked. They all got into the limo, surprised by the size of it.
"It's a lot bigger on the inside than it is outside, I guess," Max said jokingly.
"Yeah. So, Max, what have you been up to?" Emily asked as they all sat down.
"Just the same old stuff. Working with my dad, making beyblade parts, the usual," Max replied.
"Have you still been practicing your beyblading?" Emily asked.
"Yeah. We all have," Max said.
"Good. I can't wait!" Emily said excitedly.
"Can't wait for what?" Tyson asked.
"You'll know when we get there," Emily answered. Max looked at her with a completely baffled look on his face. Within no time, they reached the facility. It was just like Max remembered it, and it gave him a smile to know nothing much had changed.
"Feels like I'm home again," Max said. Then the familiar sound of beyblades colliding and kids laughing struck his ears. He looked around and saw a huge glass window. He ran over to it and peered through to see a bunch of kids battling each other. It made him smile.
"Looks like somebody's happy," Tyson said jokingly. Max replied with a simple chuckle and a smile. He really was happy to be back home.
"I know you miss it Max, but don't you miss me even more?" a voice asked. Max turned around and saw his mother, Judy, walking up to him and the rest of the group. Despite being in his early twenties, Max dashed up to his mother and wrapped his arms around her waste in a hug, which she returned in kind.
"I missed you, mom," Max said.
"I missed you too, Max," Judy replied.
"So, why did you need us all here?" Ray asked Judy as she and her son released their hug.
"It is to do with who else Boris has kidnapped," Judy answered the White Tiger.
"We're willing to help however we can, Judy," Tyson said.
"Thank you. All of you," Judy said, she then turned to Max, "Mariam got kidnapped."
The blonde haired Bladebreaker just stood there with his eyes wide open as his mother put her hands on his shoulders in an attempt to calm him down. He looked down at the ground, clenching his fists.
"Max, this is your call," Kai said. Max hadn't expected that from Tyson, let alone Kai. Max simply gave Kai a thumbs up, and then turned to his mother, asking "What else do we need to know?"
"I'm glad you asked. Everybody, follow me," Judy said. They followed Judy to a room which had lots of computers, cameras, monitors, and anything else you could think of that was even remotely technological or electrical, and there were holographic keyboards in front of the monitors and computers. In the center of the room was a huge table with holographic images being projected onto it. Judy led them to the cameras, where a lot of footage showing Boris was playing.
"We have been watching Boris since he resurfaced after the BEGA incident. As far as we know for people who got kidnapped, there is Mariam, Hiro, DJ Jazzman, and the whole Saint Shields team," Judy told them.
"How did they find all the Saint Shields?" Tyson asked.
"They had some help," Judy replied. She then typed into a holographic keyboard which appeared in front of one of the monitors. An image showed of a familiar looking female doctor, who had black hair and light purple eyes.
"That's Doctor K!" Tyson exclaimed.
"Yes. She's been helping Boris out recently with the kidnappings," Judy replied.
"Max, we'll find them. We'll save them," Ray said to his blonde haired friend.
"I know. Mom, do you have any idea where we should start looking next?" Max asked his mother.
"I think China would be the best idea. Maybe somebody there knows more. I wish I could have helped more," Judy said. Max simply hugged her and thanked her.
"It's okay, mom. You did your best. Now all that's left to do is go find them and bring them home," Max said as he let go of the hug.
"Max, good to see you," said a voice. He looked around until he saw the source of the voice, which was at the door that led into the room that Max and his friends were in. It was Rick, who was the last addition to the All Starz. He stood there along with his fellow teammates; Eddy, Michael, and Steve.
"Rick? What are you doing here?" Max asked.
"I've been helping around a little bit. How's your dad?" Rick asked.
"He's okay," Max replied.
"Good. Now come with me," Rick said.
"What for?" Max asked.
"We're gonna battle. I've been waiting for you to come back so we could fight," Rick said. Max gave Rick a smirk. He knew that when Rick had his mind set to it, he wouldn't back down. Rick led Max and everyone else down to one of the bey-dishes that the kids were playing at. Both Rick and Max prepared to launch as everybody else counted backwards from 3. Soon, Rick and Max yelled "LET IT RIP!" and both launched their beyblades.
"Give me everything you've got, Max!" Rick said. Max allowed his Draciel beyblade to take the center of the dish and assumse it's defensive position. Rick's beyblade, Rock Bison, kept going for Draciel again and again only to be blocked and pushed away.
"Are you seriously still on that "defense is the best offense" thing? We both know it's bullcrap!" Rick yelled. Max simply showed the All Star a smile, and it was for three reasons; the first was that Max was happy to be fighting again, and he didn't care who it was against. The second reason is the fact that despite Rick's trash talking, Max was glad to see him back to his old self. And third and finally, Max loved nothing more than to prove Rick wrong. He did it before, and he knew he would do it again.
"That's always been your problem, Rick," Max said to his former All Starz teammate.
"What problem would that be?" Rick asked.
"You were always too pigheaded and brash when we fought. Although I have to admit, I like that nothing's changed. Shame it's gotta end now," Max answered.
"The only person who this is going to end for is you. Rock Bison, Drop Rock attack!"
And with that, Rick's beyblade launched into the air and gathered small bits of the bey dish and any other ground around him. Soon enough, the small bits of rock had surrounded Rock Bison, and after it completely covered Rock Bison in a rock-like shell, it plummeted downwards onto Draciel with the force of a meteor. Draciel moved away at the last second, and Rick's beyblade was stuck in place.
"What the... I can't move!" Rick said, agitated. He was a bit happy that his beyblade was still spinning, but he was still angry because his beyblade was obviously low on energy.
"Draciel, use Heavy Viper Wall, now!" Max yelled. His beyblade became surrounded by water, and soon the bey-dish was covered in water too. Max's Draciel beyblade rode around on it like it was a tidal wave, and soon the water drowned Rock Bison, causing it to slow.
"That's the way, Max!" Tyson yelled. Max simply gave his best friend a thumbs up before turning his attention back to the battle.
"Draciel, let's finish this fight! Gravity Control!" Max shouted. Soon, his Draciel bit-beast spawned from it's beyblade, giving a loud roar. Max's beyblade spun in the opposite direction, gaining speed as it did. The water that surrounded Rick's beyblade soon closed up around it, sapping it of what little remained of it's energy.
"Come on, Rock Bison! Fight your way out of this!" Rick yelled. But it was no use. After the water had died down, Rick's beyblade was motionless and was turned on it's side.
"Looks like I win," Max said. Rick picked his beyblade back up. He then looked at Max, and gave him a thumbs up and a big smile. Max returned the gesture.
"Looks as though we're ready to move on to the next stage," Ray said.
"What do you mean?" Kenny asked the former White Tiger as Max came back over to his teammates.
"Well, now we've all battled at least once, we've been able to prove we don't have any dish rust, so to speak. We have all trained ourselves really for the least eight years; body, mind, soul, and heart. We're ready for whatever's next," Ray said. Everyone simply agreed with him. He was right. They were as ready as they'd ever be. But would it be enough for what lies ahead?
The next chapter will be up very soon. Thanks for tuning in. I can't believe the response this story has gotten so far. You guys rock.