Thanks to Moonblossoms for the reviews!
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Chapter Fourteen: Let the Games Commence
The opening ceremony to the grand battle was hosted at Suncorp Stadium. The venue had a capacity of fifty-five thousand people, and every single seat was filled. It was amazing how global the sport had become. There were posters throughout the city streets, advertising the grand opening of the event. Movie stars, musicians, and athletes from other sports had come down just to witness it.
Tyson could hardly contain his excitement. Like someone who had taken one too many energy drinks, he ran down through the hallway and flung the door open to their private room. The stadium had undergone recent renovations to provide extra rooms for the blading stars. They were basic, but it had all the essentials – beds, a fridge, and a microwave. Bathroom facilities were in a separate area.
"This is going to be great," Max said, putting his suitcase on the bottom bunk on the left side of the room. "They've really gone to great lengths to make this like home."
Rei claimed the top bunk above Max's one. "Good to know we put our funds to good use. So, the qualifying rounds are held here. Where do we go next?"
Kenny put down his laptop and opened it. He brought up a new screen which outlined the tournament scheduling. "The tournament is spread over a single week. Qualifying rounds are spread over two days and they take place here in Brisbane. We then travel down to Sydney and Melbourne for the quarters. We'll be in Sydney for ours. We don't have to go down to Melbourne, so we'll have a two break before we depart for New Zealand for the semis and finals. It's a lot of travelling in a short space of time, but I think we can manage."
"Awesome!" Tyson cheered. He ran over to the bunk beds on the opposite side and claimed the one on the top, throwing his suitcase up as if to claim his territory. "This tournament is going to be sweet."
"We'll be required to attend the opening ceremony," Kai said. "We're supposed to collect our welcome packages from the main entrance as soon as we've settled in." He took the middle bunk bed.
"An actual welcome package. That is new," Rei commented. "They really do want to make us feel at home. At least we'll know what's happening." Previous tournaments had Mr. Dickinson handling all their transportation and accommodation needs. At least this time the BBA had decided to make it easier for everyone and provide accommodation sites.
"Well, what are we waiting for then? Let's get our welcome package!" Tyson said sprinting towards the exit before anyone else had a chance to speak up. To think it had been a year since the last tournament. How time had flown by so quickly. Tyson was already at the main hall when the others caught up with.
He recognized some of the teams from the first tournament lining up for their packages. The Charming Princes, the Spin Shepherds and Spintensity. He also spotted the White Tigers in the corner. Filled with excitement, Tyson rushed over to greet them. "White Tigers! It's good to see you again!"
Lee glanced in his direction and smiled though it didn't meet his eyes. "It's nice to see you too, Tyson."
"What's the matter?" Tyson said. Mariah was sitting in the corner with her arms folded across her chest, and the other two boys, Gary and Kevin, were nowhere to be seen. Trouble in paradise? "Sibling fight?"
"Nothing to be concerned about. You just worry about the tournament and defending your title because we're not going to make it easy on you. You and I are well overdue for a fight," Lee said.
Right. Lee and Rei had battled to settle who was truly worthy of the White Tiger. "I look forward to blading you in the stadium, but I'm not going to make it easy on you."
Lee offered a smile. This one was genuine. "We'll see about that, Tyson. Hey, is Rei around? I'd like to have a word with him."
"Yeah, sure. They're on their way." He looked over his shoulder and spotted his teammates. "There they are." Tyson clapped a hand on Lee's shoulder, and added, "Well, see you soon." He walked over to join the queue. The excitement of being at the tournament again had made him temporarily forget his previous worries. How could anyone not be excited? It was the world Championships!
"Don't wear yourself out too early," Max said, joining him in the queue. "We need you, Tyson."
"I'm just so… thrilled to be here, that's all. To see all our friends again. We don't really catch up with the other teams in between tournaments." Most of his days were spent with Kenny and Hilary, and occasionally Max and Rei. Kai sometimes joined him, but as always, he liked to keep his distance, as if he feared he'd enjoy their company if he hung around too much.
"I hear you, Tyson. Just take it easy, yeah?"
Tyson nodded. The queue was moving quickly, and before he knew it, they were at the counter. A woman with long blonde curls smiled at him. "Welcome to the world championships, Tyson. Here's your welcome package for you and your team." She reached down below the counter and pulled out a plastic folder. "Inside you will find the flight schedule, the details of the opening ceremony, the day to day itinerary, the stadium dishes and a map of the city. I wish you and your friends the best of luck, Tyson. I hope you can defend your title again."
He said his thanks and walked back over to his team with Max. Tyson handed over the folder to Hilary for safe-keeping. A few journalists walked by and snapped a quick photo. To no surprise of his, DJ Jazzman was there and walking around interviewing people while journalists quickly scribbled down notes.
Kai jerked his head to the exit. "Come on. Let's move before they get to us. I'd rather not waste time answering silly questions. We're supposed to head down to the briefing room for a quick talk." He started leading them down a hallway to the right. They passed by the Demolition Boys on the way there who said nothing at all. They didn't even look in their direction.
"What did you do to annoy them, Kai?" Max said.
Kai snorted. "Long story, Max. Just don't ask questions about them, all right?"
"So, the old sourpuss has returned…" Rei said, smiling. "Feels like old times already."
Even Kai spared a grin at that comment.
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It had taken longer than it should've to convince someone to drive them towards the crash site. Taxi drivers had obviously learned of the disaster and wanted nothing to do with it. It had taken a few extra notes to hire a driver to transport them to the destination. The driver dropped them off a mile from the crash site and left immediately.
After hurling a mouthful of abuse at the retreating taxi driver, Johnny turned his attention to the road ahead. Mariam was still at his side – the girl refused to leave. Though he would never admit it out aloud he was glad for the company. She was the sort of girl his parents would fawn over. Strong, proud, and clearly capable of looking after herself unlike the girls Enrique had introduced him to. Not to mention, she was hot. A very attractive girl.
"There's a van up ahead," Mariam said, lifting a hand, pointing towards the north.
He looked in the direction she was pointing at. The van had been knocked off the road and had fallen into a creek. "Shit," he murmured. Without wasting another second, he sprinted towards the crash site. He didn't even bother to check if Mariam was next to him – all that mattered now was rescuing his teammates.
"Robert? Enrique? Oliver?" Johnny called out as he neared the van. As he ran towards it, a surge of hot fire coursed through his body. Questions raced through his mind – who had done this? Why would they attack the Majestics? Had this been intentional? He was going to find the culprits behind this, and he was going to make them suffer. He was going to make them regret ever crossing with-
"Johnny, I hear voices," Mariam said, breaking his train of thought.
He strained his hearing. She was right. He could hear the voices too. Muffled, but they were there. Alive. He glanced at the van again, wondering how to best remove it. He thought about using his blade but that could potentially be disastrous, especially if his teammates were trapped beneath it. But how else to remove it? He couldn't just wait around for help to come.
"...Jonathan… Is that you?"
Robert. He was the only person who called him by his full first name. He hated being called that, but right now he was just relieved to hear it. He moved forward, closing the gap between himself and the van. That was when he saw it. The dent in the side of the van. Someone had rammed into the side with the clear intent of knocking it over.
Clearly, not accident either or the offending party would be present and trying to help to relieve their guilt. That only made him feel angrier. What sort of asshole would flee from a crash site? "Who the fuck did this?" Johnny blurted out, unable to stop himself. Then he added, "I'll use my blade to remove the van."
"No," said Robert. There was a few seconds delay before he spoke again. "You can't risk it. Oliver's legs are trapped. Call for help – we'll need professional help to get us out of this mess in one piece."
"But-"
"Jonathan, leave it. There's nothing you can do for us here. Using your blade will only make matters worse. You can aid us by making a few calls."
Robert was right. He was always right, but that didn't mean he had to like it. Still, he knew better than to argue. His teammates were trapped beneath the van, and from the sounds of it, Oliver was in a bad way. He dropped to the ground. Curling his fingers into a fist, Johnny punched the ground, hot fire consuming him from within. "Fuck!" he swore. "You fucking idiots! Why didn't you just do it online? Why the fuck did you have to drive out and register in person? This is your fault Robert!"
Silence. Robert didn't reply, and the silence only added to his growing fury. If his teammates had stayed in town then none of this would've happened. You should be beneath that van too, a voice said in his mind. You should be trapped as well if you had stayed with them. A wave of guilt poured through him. He too should be trapped, but here he was on the outside in peak health, acting like a child and casting the blame when he should be helping them.
"I know," said Robert. "I know it's my fault."
"Just shut up!" he bellowed, his head starting to hurt. His teammates pinned beneath a van and he was the one who was unharmed, and it was all because he turned his back on them. He should've been there with them. What if they had died in the crash? His last words would've been 'I hate you.' "We're going to get you out of here."
"We?"
Right. They didn't know about Mariam. "I met up with Mariam from the Saint Shields team. She's with me now." The van was wedged in the bank, and it wasn't going to budge without extra aid from a rescue team. His bitbeast could lift it, but that would require using his blade. From his current position, he couldn't tell just how badly injured his friends were. To think he only started to see the value in his teammates when they were on the brink of death. Maybe he was an asshole. "We're going to get you out."
"How do you propose we do that?" Mariam said, glancing at him. "The van has been flipped over and it's stuck in the creek. I'd say your friends are trapped beneath the chairs… otherwise they could easily climb out through the top."
A good observation. She was right. They'd have to pry off the sides of the van to have any hopes of getting them out and they lacked the tools for that. They would need superhuman strength to achieve the impossible. "I'm going to find the bastard who did this, and I will make them suffer. I will show them the true wrath of the McGregor clan."
"Jonathon, you will do no such thing," Robert said in between pained gasps. "Finding the culprit will not change what happened here." He heard movement in the van below followed by a grunt. Never had he felt so helpless as he did now. Finding the culprit would at least give him some peace of mind. "If they return, we need someone to protect us whilst we wait. Are you able to do that?"
Johnny ran a hand through his hair. "Yes," he snapped. He noticed Mariam entering a few numbers into her phone. She was doing what he was supposed to be doing – calling for immediate aid.
"What can you see?"
He looked around. There wasn't much to look at aside from the mountains in the distance. The road was clear both ways. Only bits of damaged van parts could be seen on the road… and a spinning blade? He squinted. "I see a blade." He arched his neck back and glanced up at the top of the cliff. Nothing but a few trees hanging over the side.
"A blade?"
Johnny didn't respond. He gestured for Mariam to stay behind as he walked over to investigate. The blade remained in place. Odd. The blade was here, but where was the blader? He turned around again, searching left and right, hoping to catch some glimpse of the offender. But there was nothing.
"Johnny, I saw something move," he heard Mariam call out. She was pointing towards a few tall bushes at the far end of the creek. He hadn't noticed anything suspicious himself, but he decided to investigate the matter further, ignoring Robert's order of remaining in place. If the culprit was here, then he wasn't going to blow an opportunity and let them escape.
Ignoring Mariam's protests, Johnny sprinted over to the bushes. He poked his head over the side, but only saw a couple of rabbits nibbling on some grass. Releasing a frustrated sigh, he turned back to face Mariam. "Just a couple of rabbits," he called back. He pulled away from the bushes and started heading back when he was tackled to the ground.
"I've been waiting for this moment for such a long time," a voice said.
He recognized that voice. A familiar foe he hadn't seen in a few good years. Lupenix of the Dark Bladers had returned. He narrowed his eyes. "Lupenix… So, you finally found your way back out of the kennel," Johnny drawled. "I take it you were behind this mess? Where's the rest of the freak show?"
A blade flew towards him. He threw himself out of harm's way, narrowly avoiding the wolf's blade. Uttering a growl, Johnny climbed to his feet and spun around. He reached for his blade only to realize it had been knocked out of his pocket when he had dropped. Before he could bend over to pick it up, his opponent lunged, his massive bulk knocking him back onto the ground again.
Johnny spat in his face then brought his head up, slamming his forehead into his opponent's nose. Lupenix drew back, distracted, and Johnny used that moment to throw a punch while his guard was down. Lupenix wasn't so easily taken advantage and raised both arms up just in time to deflect the attack.
The wolf kicked a leg out, successfully striking him in the left shin. "So, you can fight… I'm impressed," he said. "But this isn't a beystadium, and in a street fight, it's all fair play. There are no rules and I'm free to do what I please. I've been waiting for this day for a long time." He cracked his knuckles. Lupenix drew back a fist then brought it forward, his knuckles slamming him in the right cheek bone.
Johnny grunted, staggered back then tripped over onto his backside. Johnny was a blader first and a street thug second. Although he knew a few basics in melee combat from his back-alley brawling days, no amount of experience would help him here, especially not against a werewolf who clearly had a strength advantage in a physical fight. He needed his blade.
"You know, I have to say, I was little disappointed when I couldn't detect you on that van. You were the one I was hoping would suffer the most." Lupenix grabbed him by the scruff of the neck then shoved his face into the dirt. "But here you are now. Perfect timing for a beating wouldn't you say? The Bladebreakers aren't here to protect you now. You're all mine, and I'm going to make sure you feel the sting of my punches for a long time."
He could see his blade laying in the grass just a few metres away. If only he could get to it… With a grunt, he forced himself up from the ground. He managed to take a few steps when Lupenix knocked him back over. Groaning, Johnny rolled over onto his back. Lupenix hovered over him, a smirk crossing his features. The wolf's fingers were now clasped around his beyblade. Great. Just what he wanted to see.
"I think I will be keeping this," he said, putting the blade into his pocket. "You won't be needing it."
"What do you want?"
"I'd like my humanity back, but you took that away from me and now it's gone forever." Lupenix grabbed him by a tuft of hair and yanked him up to his knees.
Johnny managed a smirk. "Well, you can't have everything."
He immediately regretted those words when Lupenix punched him in the right cheek bone.
"The great Johnny McGregor on his knees like a simpering coward. You're nothing without your precious beyblade," the werewolf spat.
Johnny spat at the ground then glared up at Lupenix. "Funny that you talk about weakness when you're one of the weakest bladers I've ever crossed paths with. My one regret? Not ending your miserable existence."
That earned him a hard punch to the gut. He lurched forward and grimaced.
"I'd love to hurt you. Really hurt you, but the boss says I can't."
Boss? That meant Sanguinex and the rest of the freak show were here too hiding somewhere. "So, you horror movie rejects are around hiding like cowards. Can't say I'm really surprised."
He placed a hand on the ground to support himself upright. Before he could open his mouth to speak again, Lupenix grabbed a handful of his hair and pulled him up to his knees. The wolf looked down on him, a sinister smirk spreading across his face. "Now you're the one on your knees. How does it feel, McGregor?"
He was reminded of the beybattle he had against Lupenix all those years ago. The beybattle that had earned him the title of champion of the United Kingdom. Now he was on his knees kneeling before the blader he had defeated. How things had changed since then. "You'll live to regret this," Johnny hissed.
"We can never truly die thanks to this curse," he said. "Only by stopping the darkness can we meet a true end - the Leviathan."
The Leviathan? The name was familiar. He had come across the name in the family history books about some great evil creature, but he didn't read often nor cared too. It was just some foolish story. That's all it was – just some stupid myth parents had come up with to scare their children, but Lupenix seemed awfully serious about it. "That's just a myth."
The wolf shook his head. "No, it's not."
"So, you're not just a freak, but an idiot too." Sometimes he wished his mind would shut up.
Lupenix growled. "No, the Leviathan is real. The curse that made us what we are… We're connected. You and your teammates are going to put an end to it."
Once more, Johnny climbed to his knees. Fortunately, Lupenix didn't try to knock out his teeth again. Some breathing time. How kind. He checked to make sure his teeth were in still in place then peered up at the burly man. "My teammates aren't in fighting condition thanks to your little trick. You can fuck off with your Leviathan bullshit – we're not helping you with anything."
"You don't have a choice. Your ancestors were the ones who discovered its origins."
Johnny frowned. "So that's why you attacked? To put us out of the tournament so we could help you? You think trying to knock my teeth out will win me over?" He wanted nothing more than to use his blade against this freak, but current circumstances wouldn't allow it
Lupenix towered over him. "You can't be distracted. You and your fellow nobles need to make things right. You stop the Leviathan, and the curse will be lifted. We can finally be free."
Despite the power role reversed, Johnny refused to keep his mouth shut. "You can't win a beybattle so you resort to cheap and dirty tactics! We defeated you years ago and still you want your revenge? Is this it then? Is this the revenge you've been waiting for? Attacking a van of innocents?"
"You dare call yourselves innocent?" Lupenix bellowed, pulling back his hood. The man hadn't aged a day since the last Johnny had laid eyes on him though he did look a little worn out. His clothes were torn, his hair was a mess, and the wolf had even grown a beard. "You ruined us, and you have the nerve to say you're innocent?!"
Before Johnny could react, he felt a knee ram into him beneath the belt. He instinctively lurched forward, feeling a surge of fiery pain from below. Squeezing his eyes shut, he tightened his jaw and waited for the pain to pass, desperately willing for tears not to spill. He would not give this man the satisfaction of watching him show weakness.
Through clenched teeth, Johnny said, "You were the ones who chose to fight us."
"And look how that ended. You cursed us to the darkness and received a crown."
Nausea overcame him. He kept his eyes shut hoping it would subside. If only… But he couldn't move. Lupenix had made sure of that. All he could do was lie on the ground helplessly and hope he didn't faint from the wolf's assaults. "We did what was right," Johnny croaked out. He heard a rustling from the bushes and footsteps emerging.
"You call us monsters, but it was you, and your teammates, that bring new meaning to the word 'monster'," Zomb said.
The fiery pain dimmed, now replacing by a dull ache. Johnny grimaced. The humiliation. "I didn't cause a car crash. That seems like the actions of a monster."
Cenotaph spoke next. "You removed us of our humanity. You pulled us from our families and friends. You threw us into a world of never-ending darkness of which there is no escape. For centuries, your families have raided and plundered, murdered, and pillaged, and you call us monsters?"
A muscle jerked in his jaw. The true history of the Majestics was kept hidden from the rest of the world. The books only remembered them for their noble deeds and the victories won, but never recorded the darker days of their history. The Dark Bladers had seen a glimpse of it – it was for that reason they had to be defeated so the public would never learn the truth.
"You can't hold us accountable for the sins of our ancestors," Johnny replied, forcing himself to sit upright on his knees.
"We wanted to help!" Lupenix roared. "We were warned a great evil would be unleashed upon this world, but you chose not to listen. For centuries we tried to warn you, but your noble families thought us to be liars. We were tortured and slaughtered like helpless animals for our beliefs. We are all that remains of our people, and we're not truly alive."
Mariam looked thoughtful. Right. The girl was still around, and she had watched him getting his ass kicked by a werewolf. Great. "The Leviathan."
"Don't listen to them, Mariam. They're liars. Thieves. What they have become reflects the darkness that has always been in their hearts," Johnny spat. "They're the masters of deception. They'll pretend to be your friend and then they'll stab you in the back and rob you of your belongings. I'd take you all on right here and end your pitiful existence, but I will not endanger the lives of my friends just to see you fall."
Mariam didn't budge. She was looking at the Dark Bladers with a newfound expression. "What do you know of the Leviathan?"
"Everything," Sanguinex said. "The beast has been unleashed from his prison and now we're all in danger. We can feel it – we, as creatures of the dark, can feel his power. Nothing can stand against it. Even now we can feel the beast's power."
Johnny snorted. "This is ridiculous! Nothing more than a tale spun to scare children at night!"
"You've heard of the name, haven't you?" Sanguinex said, directing his question at Mariam. "You're one of the Saint Shields members. I can smell it in your blood. You're searching for answers to your questions." He turned to his teammates and nodded. "Rescue the others. They need to hear what we have to say then perhaps we can finally be laid to rest and be free of this curse."
Lupenix, Zomb and Cenotaph started moving towards the van. Despite his blade still being in the possession of Lupenix, Johnny was determined to not let them walk away without a fight. He climbed to his feet, ignoring the dull ache below, and pointed a finger. "Stop! Don't take another step or I will fight you and it will not end well for you! You almost killed my teammates and now you think I'm going to let you come near them?"
"Johnny, let them talk," Mariam said, putting her blade back in her pocket.
"You want to listen to a bunch of sideshow freaks?!"
"They have the right to speak their peace. Besides, you can barely walk."
Did the Saint Shields clan know about the Leviathan? Was that why she had battled him to get closer?
"Enough with the threats, Johnny. Without your blade, you're powerless," Lupenix said.
Cenotaph sighed. "Humans. Always so… easily unsettled. That's one thing I don't miss."
Sanguinex ignored them both. He took a few step forwards. "You'll never know what awaits you in the beystadium because your team will not make it that far," Sanguinex said. "The Leviathan is no common bitbeast. He was the first to be created, and he was the first to fall. A grand serpent with multiple heads. He has been freed from his cage, and the world will know true fear."
"You want us to defeat the Leviathan? Do you know where it is?" Mariam said.
Sanguinex nodded. "He hides in four blades. He hides in his minions. His knights."
"Knights? What is that supposed to mean?" Johnny intervened.
"There is a book that explains the origins of the Leviathan."
"The Jurgen family," Mariam said softly, as if she was voicing her inner thoughts aloud. "Ozuma said something about it. Robert has the book now. His ancestors must've figured it out and they kept notes throughout the generations… Or took it from someone who did. They know how to stop it."
So, Mariam knew more about the Majestics than he thought. Had she been using him this entire time to get close enough to get the book? He wanted to question her, accuse her of things, but he couldn't bring himself to say it. Rather, he was going to play the same game. What else did she and her teammates know about the Majestics?
"Are you willing to hear us out?" the vampire said.
Johnny wanted to say no – why listen to what they had to say? They were probably just weaving a poorly structured lie, but he was slightly curious. Lupenix had just pushed the van off his teammates with his superhuman strength. If they had wanted them dead, they would've just finished the job.
"Fine… but my teammates come first. You don't speak until the medical team have arrived."
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A crowd of at least fifty thousand people were sitting the stadium seats clapping and cheering. Loud music was blaring from the speakers and there was a bunch of kids beyblading on the sports field. It was amazing just how global the sport had become over the past couple of years. Back when he was a child, there hadn't been such a thing known as a beyblading tournament. Even so, his stomach was full of butterflies. Rei was no stranger to standing before massive crowds, but expectations were great. How would Stanley's death affect the tournament?
"Here we are again," Tyson said, stepping out onto the open field. The kids had just finished their exhibition matches to make way for the team announcements. The other teams were already in their places though there were a few notable absences. No Majestics and the Saint Shields were absent too. Perhaps they were running a little bit late? "Guess not all the teams have arrived yet. You think the planes are running off schedule?"
Kenny shrugged. "It's hard to tell, but they won't be disqualified. All that matters is showing up for the matches."
"Knowing the Majestics, they're probably staying at some posh hotel," Max said. "I can just imagine it – five-star rooms with all the luxuries money can buy."
"But that's okay – money can't save them in the dish and that's where it matters most," Tyson added as Kai led them out onto the field. There were banners with their team names and logos on them so the bladers would know where to stand. They were in Block A with the Demolition Boys, PBB All-Starz and the Majestics. A handful of other teams were also present in their block.
The Demolition Boys ignored them, but the PBB All-Starz waved out. Tyson noticed Emily was absent from the group – had she left or was she busy elsewhere? He noted Judy wasn't present either. Odd. She was always around her team. "That must be the Bai Hu Clan over there…" Rei said, glancing over at the opposite side where the White Tigers were. There was a lone female standing with her arms folded over her chest looking rather bored.
"Ever heard of them before, Rei?" Max said.
Rei shook his head. "No. Tao never mentioned them before. I wonder where the rest of the team is?"
"No Horsemen either…. Or Saint Shields," Hilary said. "Maybe it's still too early in the day for them."
"Or they just don't want to be here for the ceremony," Kai added. "If I had a choice, I'd be at the practice dish and not listening to lame opening speeches." He gazed upwards. There was writing in the sky which read, 'Opening Ceremony – World Beyblade Tournament 2016'. He rolled his eyes. "I hear there's even going to be fireworks tonight down at the river at South Bank. Ridiculous."
"Oh, I think it's pretty cool," Max exclaimed, smiling. "We haven't experienced an opening ceremony before. We were kinda just thrown into it. I like it. It has a real festival feel to it, you know?"
Kai sighed. "This is just a complete waste of time."
Tyson tapped him on the shoulder then pointed to the right at a cameraman. "Smile, Kai! You're on stage!" Tyson flashed the cameraman a big toothy grin. His fellow teammates joined in the smiling and waving except for Kai but that was to be expected. Kai just did his usual expression – straight face. Tyson wondered if Kai was even capable of making another expression. Maybe he was afraid his face would stop functioning.
"Can I get a team photo?" the cameraman said. "It's just for marketing purposes."
"Sure thing," Rei said.
The cameraman pointed to the outside photo booth. There was a single bench. "Okay, Kenny, Hilary and Tyson, you'll be in the front row sitting down. Tyson needs to be in the middle. Kai, Rei and Max, you'll be standing on the bench. Kai in the middle. Yeah, that's it, that's perfect! Give me a champion's smile! That's the spirit! You too, Kai. That's good enough." He took several photos then gave them the thumbs up. "It'll be uploaded onto the site in a few hours. Be sure to check it out! You'll get a free copy when the tournament is over." He then called upon the All-Starz for their photo.
"Aw yeah, a team photo," Tyson cheered. "They're really taking care of this year."
"Next thing you know they'll be asking for individual photos…" Kai muttered.
"Of course," Hilary answered. "Social media pages love it. You know we're the most followed sporting team in history on Facebook? Over twenty million likes. Fans just love interacting with our page and liking all the photos."
Kai raised an eyebrow. "Are you our page manager?"
She gave him a lopsided grin. "Of course! I even run our YouTube, TikTok and Instagram accounts. Someone has to be there to capture all those epic battles."
"…I don't even want to know what else is on there…" Kai murmured.
"Don't worry, I haven't posted anything embarrassing. We have Tyson for that," she said, winking in his direction.
Tyson glowered. "Ha ha, very funny."
"Let's not get distracted by social media," Kai said, stepping down off the seat. He led the team back to their designated square on the field. "We're here to win and that's all that matters. Revel in the fame and glory after we've won the trophy. I don't care about how many 'likes' we have on social media – that's not going to help us win. As soon as this is done, we're heading to the training dish."
"I think you're about to get your wish," Max said, gesturing towards the stage. There was a man with a moustache standing in the middle behind the lectern. "He must be the new chairperson. Anyone know what his name is?"
"That's Ethan Wiley, one of the longest serving board members of the BBA. Also, the first person to abandon ship when the Bega movement started. But I guess he's back now," Kenny quipped. "He was the treasurer. It's odd that he's stepped into the head position, but I suppose he's been there for the longest now. Anyway, let's be quiet. He's about to speak."
Tyson looked away from his teammates, turning his attention to the front. The televisions in the stadium were on and were currently focused on the new chairperson so everyone in the stadium could see properly. The man cleared his throat then turned the microphone on and began his speech.
"Welcome ladies and gentlemen to the World Beyblade Tournament of 2016. My name is Ethan Wiley and I have stepped in as the acting chairperson. As many of you would know, Stanley Dickinson, the former chairperson of the BBA, was shot dead earlier in the year. The tournament was going to be cancelled, but we knew deep down, Stanley would want us to continue his dream of making beyblading the number one global sport. Please, bow your heads for a minute of silence as we remember what this remarkable man did for our sport."
Tyson bowed his head and closed his eyes. They had never gotten around to hosting a private memorial service for him, but now they had a chance to pay their respects. Once the minute was up, Tyson lifted his head again and reopened his eyes. In the corner of his left eye, he spotted several of his fellow bladers wiping tears from their eyes. The man had touched the hearts of many.
"The tournament rules have changed slightly – earlier on we mentioned each blader must battle twice but the structure of the event will be tougher on teams with more bladers. Each registered blader must battle at least once – if a registered blader needs to drop out they must advise us today by nightfall," the man continued.
Rei nodded. "I suspect there are going to be a few line-up changes tomorrow," he said, looking towards the square with the Majestics banner. "I wonder what happened to them…"
"As for the tournament itself, we want to ensure spectators and bladers get the most out of it. We want this to be the best tournament ever, and that's why we've developed an app for smart phones. There'll be competitions held daily and you'll be able to win prizes. Some prizes include meet and greets with a selected team, backstage pass, a session with the pros after the tournament is over, and platinum seating tickets. Be sure to check out our Facebook page as well for day-to-day announcements, blader statistics, videos and photos."
Again, Tyson heard Kai sigh. "They're really milking it this time. This social media and app stuff has taken over the world. Next thing you know they'll be developing video games for blading." He then made a derisive snort. "How are people ever going to learn anything?"
Max chuckled. "It's funny hearing you say that. You're not exactly Mr. Social."
"At least I step outside my room to blade."
"Fair point," Max replied, still chuckling. "I can't wait to meet the fans!"
"We've already had a few questions about the tournament dishes. Some of you expressed your disappointment with the bland dishes of the previous tournaments. We can safely say that the new dishes will exceed your expectations and will prove to be a real challenge for our competitors. Competing bladers will know what dishes will be used in their welcome packages."
"You think they're going back to the dishes we had back in the first tournament?" Rei pondered, rubbing his chin. "I remember them being pretty memorable. Even the early rounds had some fascinating dish designs."
That was true. There was the city dish in the American tournament, the blizzard bowl in the Russian Tournament, the island with a beach… The only real stadiums that stood out in last year's tournament were the Bega ones. "They want us to be strategic this year. We're not going to be able to rely on pure power to win. We'll need to study the dishes and make the most of them."
Kai nodded. "Impressive insight there, Tyson. Glad you're thinking ahead. I've already seen some of the designs and we're in for some tough rounds. We all need to be on the top of our game because as Tyson just mentioned, we'll need more than brawn to win. This tournament isn't going to be a walk in the park."
"And now, I would like to formally announce the teams competing in this year's tournament. Not every team could make it unfortunately, but they will still compete. In Block A we have the Charming Princes, Spintensity, the Majestics, the Avengers, The Demolition Boys, the All Stars, the Blade Sharks, and the Spin Shephards. In Block B, we have the White Tigers, the Savage Slammers, the Tall Boys, the Saint Shields, the Bai Hu Clan, the Horsemen, the Renegades and Down Under. If you have downloaded the app, you'll be able to view the matches and their times. If not, you can access it on the website, or you can purchase a timetable for two dollars."
"So, we're in Block A with the Demolition Boys, All-Starz and Majestics… We're going to have to meet one of them in the quarters and semis," Rei noted. "That's a tough round. I kinda feel like its set up so that we meet one of those new teams from Block B."
"We'll have to see their matches. It will be interesting to see what their teams are all about," Max said. "And to know what we're up against."
"We better start training then," Kai said. "Rei, you're battling against me. Max, you'll battle Tyson. Kenny and Hilary can take notes."
Tyson flashed a smile in Max's direction. "Think you can take me on, Max?"
"Bring it, Tyson."
"At least they're enthusiastic," Hilary noted.
"First match begins tomorrow. Do you think we have enough time to get back into shape?" Kenny said, concerned.
"That's why we're starting now," Kai answered. "No time to waste. Now quit yapping. Let your blades do the talking," he added, as he led his teammates to their own private blading dish.
"Aye aye, Captain Kai!" Tyson and Max chorused.
