Hi Guys! I know its been a while. I've been uber busy with work urghhh but I've finally got round to writing another chapter. I'm actually half way through the next chapter as I have had to split Chapter 25 into 2. It was simply getting too long and had more to write to compete the events I wanted for that chapter. Thankyou to anyone who has left reviews. Guest 11! and Vlissan welcome to my Fanfic. Your reviews are just so lovely to see and really make me feel good that others are enjoying what I write. Anyways I hope you are all keeping safe and enjoy :) Ps Livn89 I haven't heard from you for a while. I hope you are doing ok lovely!
Chapter 25.
*NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW*
Hospital Tannoy - "Please can everyone remain calm and make your way to the nearest fire exit. Leave the building in an orderly fashion and wait in the designated zones outside. This is not a drill. I repeat this is not a drill."
*NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW NEEEEOWWWWW NEEEOWWWWW*
"Oh great. Now what?!" Pouted Tyson as he arched his head to the voice box above.
Hilarys' brown spiky fringe bounced as she too shot a concerned face to the speaker system. "Oh shoot! Guys this isn't good. We need to get out now! The building is on fire!" She exclaimed.
"Whoah haha look alive guys!" Screeched Daichi as he, then swiftly his blue haired companion and Hilary comically thrust their backs to the narrow corridor walls. The floor level shook and windows rattled as a human stampede burst through a set of double doors and steamrolled past the trio like a herd of frightened buffalo.
As soon as the tannoy announcement spread the news of fire, all hell broke loose as security, porters and reception staff immediately began the mammoth evacuation. The sirens sent white coats and blue-clad nurses running frantic from ward to ward. Hiwatari Enterprises staff left their posts and assisted wherever strong hands were needed, as ordered by their head, Mr Cooper. All poise and calmness went out the window as the scene turned into something that resembled an apocalypse movie. Tyson, Daichi and Hilary watched in awe as patients with casts on various body parts, the elderly and the very sick zipped past in wheelchairs like they were in go-karts. Nurses turned into air traffic controllers, using their arms to point and guide where they wanted their patients taxied. Members of visiting public rushed to their nearest exits strongly clutching the hands of their loved ones. The once quiet hospital walkways were now like casualty scenes and the air was filled with the sound of running feet, calling of nurses, droning tannoy announcements and the rubber squelch of wheelchair tyres.
Tyson wedged his way through a couple of nurses going in the opposite direction, of which tutted at his rudeness. "Oooopps Sorry Maam. Hehe. Don't be so dramatic Hilary. Look. We're just round the corner to the canteen. Let's just keep going. Kai's hardly eaten a thing since he woke up two whole days ago. I bet he's in the canteen right now, stuffing his face. I know I would be. Let's just go pick him up real quick and we'll head for the nearest exit. That sound like a plan?"
Daichi was hot on Tysons' heels as he too wiggled through the flow of the crowd. He yelled back with a nonchalant screech. "Yeah Hilary it'll be fiiiiiine! Hurry up or you're gunna get left behiiiiiinnnnnd!"
Hilary cursed her choice of friends at times as her slim frame battled against the current of the river of people. "Hmmmmmph it's not like you're giving me a choice guys. Ok, but we've gotta make it quick." She grumped.
The trio fought their way through the mass of less-than-calm people and finally made it to the canteen entrance. Tysons' heavy handedness thrust open the double doors to the canteen so hard that the doors banged on the walls behind, causing an almighty crashing sound that echoed all around the empty hall. It was almost lunch time and the usually bustling lunch room was empty, not even the cooks remained. Hot food still simmered in the buffet style trays, discarded plates with warm food turned cold on the dining tables, whilst ghostly steam arose from abandoned tea and coffee cups.
Tyson, Hilary and Daichi all came to a swift conclusion. The cap-wearer stamped his foot like a child who didn't get his own way. "Drat! He's not here."
Daichis' mouth began to water and his green eyes sparkled as he peeped under a metal hood of a nearby hot buffet tray. "Look at all the free food just waitin' for us Tyson. We could help ourselves and nobody would know heheheh!"
Hilary crossed her arms with disgust and flabbergasted. "Urhhhhh I don't think so Daichi! In case you hadn't noticed, the hospital is on FIRE and we need to evacuate. We will end up being the last ones in the building at this rate. Kai's a big boy. I'm pretty sure he's already been evacuated by his super security squad and probably outside, right now, waiting for us."
Tyson beat a clubbed fist on his chest and lunged forward at Hilary in protest. "No I'm not leaving without him Hilary. I know Kai... he wouldn't just leave the hospital without us."
Hilary thrust her pink tipped hands on her grey skirted hips. "Come on Tyson, be reasonable."
Daichi mimicked Hilarys' dismayed body language next to her. "She does have a point Tyson. Look around us. We're the only ones left, probably in the whole building by now. Mr Happy has enough cronies babysitting him. I'm sure he's juuuust fine."
Tyson dropped his head in defeat. "Okay okay, you win." Not a moment passed when he snapped his head up, slapped his hands together and begged in a desperate voice. "But I wanna check his room first. If he's not there, we go. I promise."
10 minutes later.
Tysons' energy reserves were already low, missing lunch and running in the warm and poorly ventilated corridors wasn't a great combination. However, adrenaline spurred him on now matter how heavy his legs felt. "We're not far now guys! The General Ward is literally just up ahead!" He panted, hoping dearly that Kai was nearby.
Daichi screeched in a whiney tone as he easily kept running pace with his cap wearing companion. "You said that about the last corner we turned! Are you sure you know where you're going?! We're not even supposed to be in here ya know!"
Hilary lagged behind as her sore blistered feet stung, her white plimsolls grated on the delicate skin of her heel with each bound. "Yes Tyson, this had better be the last turning. If you've got this wrong I'm leaving you in this building to burn alive, YOU HEAR ME?!"
Tyson whined a reply. "Yeahhh yeahhh yeaaahh. I know where we are. We take a left up ahead to the General Ward and Kai's room is the last door on the right."
Up ahead was a t-junction of a sort. Tyson and Co were travelling up the middle and to the left of the junction waited the General Ward and all its private rooms off separate inner corridors, all tucked behind a set of heavy double doors. To the right of the junction was another corridor leading to other tributaries of the hospital.
Tysons' feet heavily pounded the grey tile corridor floor, his lungs fought to keep the pace and his hefty arms swung to propel forward...until...
...suddenly...
...from behind the blind corner ahead...
...blocking their path...
... a towering purple-cloaked figure emerged.
The beychamps' big heart jumped into his throat, his earthy brown eyes tremored wide as his jaw dropped and his stomach twisted, his trainers squelched to an abrupt halt. As did Daichis', who mirrored Tysons' petrified stance. The pair of BBA Revoluton bladers stood frozen as a flustered and cross Hilary closed in behind.
The brunette arrived to a stop behind the boys and limply fanned herself with a flat, pink nail-painted hand. She choked with anguish. "I knew it. You are lost aren't you?! Well Mister I think it's time to call it quits and get out of here before security finds us and throws us out or ya know...we cook to death!"
Having received no reply, the short tempered Hilary stomped around to Tysons' taller and stocky front. Her pale feminine face with bouncy brunette bangs peered up at his round tanned face. "What's the matter with you now Tyson?! Are you deaf?! As well as directionally challenged?" Her angered features dropped immediately as she read the fear mirrored in his. Her tone softened as her intuition said something bad was afoot. "Urm Tyson? What's up?"
A purple drabbed shadow reflected in the dark of his eyeballs. She instantly spun round and locked sight on the trespasser ahead. Her heart instantly leapt into her petite throat as the blood drained from her face.
Tyson pointed a straight arm and trembling finger. His irises were like tiny brown dots on his eyeballs. He jittered. "Llllllooooook at his clothes Hilary. They ...they are the same as..."
Daichi jumped in before Tyson could finish and was clearly not as disturbed as his pal. "He's one of those Shadow Vale chumps ain't he!"
The figure was at least 6.5ft in height. Built like a brick house with wide square shoulders, his velvety purple cloak hung just inches off the ground and a deep hood covered his dark face. His heavily muscled arms were wrapped loosely at his front, they were tanned and tattooed with thick black rings...just like another blader Tyson and Co had encountered just days ago. His attire was much the same as Blakes' in wearing a blue tunic with black edges, a brown rope around his middle, black puffy trousers and black boots with the toes uncovered.
Tysons' whole body shuddered where he stood. His limbs vibrated as he fought with his knees to not knock together. "What's wrong with me? One sight of these Shadow Vale bladers reduces me to a shaking leaf. I can't even speak. This guy...is he looking for me? Does he want my Dragoon? I've got a bad feeling about this."
Daichi spat with a pumped attitude. "Well come on then chump! Don't just stand there. Tell us who you are and what you want and all that yudda yudda yudda. We haven't got all day ya know!"
A deep and dangerous laugh bubbled from the throat of the hooded man. "Haahaaaahaa...you foolish imp. You have no idea how much danger you are in do you?" With a thick dark skinned thumb he flicked the hood off of his head with a single motion and finally his face was revealed. His silver hair was cut short like a buzz cut and his red eyes glinted menacingly under the florescent linear light above. His broad square jaw wickedly grinned as his thick silver eyebrows furrowed and joined the rest of his malicious facial expression.
Hilary looked to the beychamp desperately for an answer. "Tyson...what are we gunna do? If he's Shadow Vale then he's probably here for your Dragoon."
Tysons' gaze dashed from the predatory ruby orbs of the Shadow Vale blader to her kind brown ones and then back again. He stuttered. "I...I...don't know Hilary."
The hulking figure turned his silver haired head to his right and announced to another body lurking around the corner. His voice was deep, masculine and smarmy. "Did you hear that brother? Take a left to the General Ward and Kai's room is the last door on the right."
Another purple cloaked figure strode out from behind the concrete corner into full view and stood side on next to his much bigger built counterpart. The newcomer flicked his hood back and darkly side-smirked.
"It...It's...you!...Blake!" Tyson growled as his' heart suddenly pumped dizzyingly fast and made him feel like he was about to throw up with the double whammy anxiety.
"Tyyyyssson...It's...it's...him. That monster that hurt Kai." Hilary, terrified, she backed away and side-stepped until she was sheltered behind Tysons' taller and thicker set body. She scruffed a handful of his yellow fabric t-shirt like a child clutching a mothers' skirt for comfort and peered from a safe spot behind Dragoons' master.
Daichi growled like a newly captured forest animal and bowed his head low, ready for a life and death fight at any moment. He fought with his legs not to lunge forward and physically bite the man, instead, he extended an angry finger. "Grrrrrrrrr Blake, I was wonderin' when you were gunna show your ugly mug around here. You'll pay for what you did to Kai. You hear me chump?!"
Blake cocked his head to the side and sneered malevolently to Tyson before calmly saying "Thankyou for telling me where your friend is. Kai's room... is the last door on the right huh."
Tyson felt the pit of his stomach give way as his thick blood ran instantly cold with dread. He murmured incoherently. "Me and my big mouth...I...I..I've...just told him where Kais' room is..."
The deep voiced figure uncrossed his arms to reach behind his back under his heavy cloak for objects. Things were about to kick off. "You had better move brother. Finish what you started. The red Phoenix spirit Dranzer is waiting for you to complete the ritual. Make our Lord and clan proud. Failure is not an option Blake. No mistakes this time."
"Hmmph, worry about your own task Brother." Retorted Blake calmly with a dirty side-smile. Without a second to spare, the thinner shorter of the two leapt into a sprint. His dark lilac cape fluttered wildly behind him in the air and in an instant, was out of sight, leaving only the sound of his running footsteps, echoing quieter and quieter down the hall towards his helpless intended victim.
Tyson cried as he snapped out of his frightened stupor and burst forward after Blake. "Nooooo wait! Leave him alone! KAIIIIII!"
Hilary's dainty hands lost their grip on Tysons' sunshine coloured t-shirt as he ripped away. "No Tyson! Stop please Tyson!" She cried as she took after him.
"Not so fast! You're not going anywhere." Bellowed the newcomer as his ruby eyes sneered dangerously. The deep voiced figure stepped forward and narrowed the gap between the corridor wall and Tysons' route to Blake, blocking the bluenette in his tracks. "I've waited a long time for this opportunity, guardian of the dragon spirit. It's time your Bitbeast had a new master... a worthy one."
The beychamp felt Dragoons' energy pulsating from a rear pocket pouch on his belt. A warning from his Bitbeast pal to get the hell back. Tyson didn't need telling twice and stepped gingerly backwards whilst glaring at the purple clad man until he returned to Daichis' side, and protectively back in front of Hilary. He decided Kai was going to have to wait as fresh alarm awoke all of his senses ten-fold. "So...so... you are here for me then. You want my Dragoon huh?!"
Purple draped bladers' gaze fell as he loaded a red and gold beyblade into a brown old style launcher with black edges. His tone was unsympathetic and cold. "Afraid so. I have been chosen to master the Great Blue Dragon of Wood in your place, as one of the true rulers of the Four Sacred Spirits. Now...let's get started shall we. Load your beyblade and get ready for the fight of your life." His beyblade clinked into the spin contraption of the launcher. His red eyes gleamed with malice as they re-met with Tysons' fearful form. "You have a choice...surrender your Bitbeast to me and I will end your life mercifully. Refuse...and I will make you suffer until you beg me to take your Dragoon."
Tysons' blood ran cold as adrenaline ripped through his system and his mind ran wild with panic. Heavy sweat drops raced down his cheeks as he sweated with the hot danger in the air. His hands were clammy and fisted tight. He thought. "Shoot! What am I gunna do? These Shadow Vale guys aren't messing around. If I battle this guy and lose, I'll I'll...end up just like Kai..."
Daichi was unperturbed and as fearless as a honey badger. "Pehhhh like that's ever gunna happen! Tysons' not gunna give Dragoon up. Ever! Now why don'tcha turn tail and run before I show ya what myyyy Bitbeast can do!"
The deep voiced blader chuckled momentarily; if only to agitate his shrimpy adversary until his tone turned malignant. "You think you are a threat to me? I can tell just by looking at you that you are no match. I'm going to give you a choice too, little man. I'm going to let you run...you can take your little lady friend there and leave. It's Dragoons' guardian I need."
Tysons' form was statuesque as his mind became flooded with the flashbacks of that day at the beystadium. His eyes were painfully wide; his hearing became muffled as every heartbeat echoed in his chest. Memories flooded back like an old style movie reel; the scenes flashed in grey scale as he replayed events of that day... Dranzer and Killertile smacking away at each other in the beydish, Dranzers' screams as the daggers penetrated his feathered breast, Kai falling to his knees covered in scarlet, Dranzer crying over Kais' bloodied lifeless body, the soul destroying moment Blake stole Dranzer away. Kais' white topless body rocking with the shocks of the defibrillator with no response. Kais' Grandmothers' screams of grief in the ICU.
Tysons' mind ran at 100 miles an hour as his body remained like stone and failed to draw breath or even blink. "What do I do? I can't run, this guy has made it pretty dam clear he's not gunna let me go. He is after Dragoon. He's gunna do to me what Blake did to Kai. I need to beat this guy in battle but I'm I know I'm not the blader I used to be. What if I lose? What if I'm not strong enough? At training its clear Kai, Ray and Max have improved a lot since the BEGA Tournament all those years ago. But what have I done? Got overweight and played video games... I...I'm not ready for this. I won't just hand over Dragoon...but I don't want to die either."
In the thick of his mind warp, Tyson heard a faint feminine shout cut through to his attention. "Tyson! Watch out!"
Hilarys' cry caused him to arouse and watch in slow motion as the Shadow Vale blader sharply pulled his rip-cord and eye a spinning blade fly bolt-straight in his direction. Like a deer in headlights, his trainers froze to the ground and his bottom jaw dropped in surprise.
In a sudden flurry of grey skirt and white floral blouse, Hilary catapulted herself into action, and leapt clean into the air with outstretched arms to Tysons' right side like a rugby player diving for a ball.
The primitive beyblade flew like a spinning red and gold ballistic... but the brunette female was in closer range.
Question is...which one was going to reach him first?
"Ohhh no you don't! Go Strata Dragoon!" Screeched Daichis' battle cry as his purple beyblade ripped through the air at lightning speed and collided with the predominately red spinning weapon. Daichis' aim was impeccable as Strata Dragoon heroically refracted its target off into another direction, just centimetres away from Tysons' nose.
Hilarys' flying mid-air tackle was short lived and came to a spectacular end as she landed square on top of her human crash pad. Her aerial rugby tackle whiplashed the beychamp backwards into the white corridor wall, smacking his head with a bump. His body slid down it, his butt crashed to the floor, rebounded upwards and in the process, bashed his chin into the back of Hilarys' head, the collision knocked his cap to the floor... and... some much needed sense into him.
"Tyson?! Tyson are you ok? What planet are you on?! Did you not see the beyblade hurtling towards your face?!" Exclaimed Hilary with a mix of care and annoyance. She lay floppy and star-fished across his belly with one eye clutched shut as she rubbed the back of her frazzled head.
Tysons' hurt gaze veered off to the left with shame. A red mark arose from under his chin as he stammered with water droplets forming in his eyes. "I... I...I know I'm not the beyblader I used to be Hilary. If Kai couldn't defeat these guys...then what chance do I have?"
Hilary ceased caressing the growing lump on the back of her messy haired head, pushed herself off of his body and folded her slim legs into a neat kneeling position at his side. She was having none of his melancholy and scolded like a strict parent. "Tyson. You just need to have faith in yourself. Just look at Daichi. He's not afraid of these Shodow Vole bladers. We can't give up hope, now get...on... your... feet Mister. Daichi needs your support!"
The ol' beychamp clambered to his feet as Hilary straightened at his side. He wiped the residue from his lower eyelids as his gaze turned to his red-haired amigo. He murmured with admiration. "Daichi..."
"Gooooo! Get him Strata Dragoon!" Screeched Daichi as a stiff finger and arm pointed at his adversary. His gyrating purple top zipped back and forth like a high powered fly, taking swipes at the red in typical Daichi fashion. His beyblade struck and then gave distance to then strike again, over and over.
The scarlet painted beyblade made no attempt to dodge Daichis' attacks, it barely moved and spun solid as a rock. The Shadow Vale blader leered down at the beyblades and muttered internally. "Pathetic."
*SMACK* *ZINNNGGG* *SMACK* *ZINNNGGG* *SMACK* *ZINNNGGG* *SMACK*
Daichi swiped a thumb under his nose, a quirk he had copied from his beychamp bestie and chortled. "So you gotta name or do we just call you loser? Heheheh."
The towering cloaked man was not amused and warned in a stern low tone. "You have no idea who you are messing with, runt. I am Harkan of the Shadow Vale Clan and I have no time for the likes of you. Now...you are in my way." He swung an arm across as if to physically swipe his annoying opponent aside.
Without words, the red beyblade mirrored its bladers' gesture by dodging Daichis' latest advance.
It then bit back with a metallic smack sending Strata Dragoon to retreat and spin at Daichis' feet.
The purple blade made a metal grinding sound as the axel stopped travelling abruptly and loitered, ready, and waiting for the next command. All the while, the red one dominated the middle ground in the centre of the walkway.
Daichi remained un-phased and smarted with a grin. "Hahaha. Oh I'm in your way am I? Well you just happen to be in mine. Don't worry I'll finish this nicccccce n' quick. STRATA DRAGOON FINISH THIS!" Cried Daichi as he leapt in the air and kicked his legs out in excitement.
The hallway ceiling was only around 9ft height but more than enough room for a shrunken sized Bitbeast to take form without crashing through the walls. Strata Dragoon was blinding as he arose from his beyblade in a golden glory, every inch a marvellous Bitbeast with a white body, golden sections of armour clustered all over his body, lilac wings, a white mane much like Kais' Dranzer and to complete his majestic image...a red jewel embedded into his forehead just above his eyes.
Hilary entered full cheerleader mode and howled naively. "Woooooooooo! Go Daichi! You go get him!"
Tyson lunged forward with a clubbed fist, seeing Daichis' fearlessness gave him a much needed mental boost. "Yeahhhhhh go get him Daichi! Don't give him an inch buddy!"
Daichi was insanely pumped and ordered with an excited tone and leapt into mid-air. "TAKE HIM OUT STRATA DRAGOON!"
Strata Dragoon screeched an ancient dragons' cry before taking wing in preparation for a dive bomb, all the while his beyblades' engine gear mechanically hummed as it kicked into overdrive and hurtled towards the solo red blade.
Harkan was running out of patience and stroked his eyebrows with one hand movement. "I don't have time for this. You really do think you're a match for me, little man..."
He dropped his eyebrow massage to leer at his tiny adversary. "Okay I'll show you what you're really up against. Go Black Ursus!"
Without a seconds hesitation another Bitbeast engulfed what little space remained in the tight hospital corridor. A giant black bear, much like Gary of the White Tigers' Galzzy but far darker haired, longer silver claws in the shape of sword blades, silver armour plating encased most of its front arms and thighs, it had purple eyes, a silver plated short stubby tail, its ears were rounded with 6 metal ear rings lining each ear and two white fangs protruded over its bottom lip like a sabre tooth cat. It seemed like any other Bitbeast until it roared a dark menacing bear cry that rattled any and all nearby window panes like an audio earthquake.
The armoured black bear lunged, tackled and pinned the golden glowing Strata Dragoon against the wall, then mercilessly chomped down on his neck causing the trusty dragon to scream and more windows to tremor.
The spinning blades reflected the same scenario. Daichis' purple beyblade was catapulted with such force that it went through a layer of drywall several inches thick and hit the brick outer wall, causing it to become imbedded in the dry wall layer. His frantic blade spun, pinned and stuck, screeching and destroying any structure material it came into contact with, grinding it to dust.
Daichis' excitement took a nose dive as he weighed up the strength his adversary wielded versus his own power. He pleaded rebelliously. "Come on Strata Dragoon! Dont' let him pin us down!"
Strata Dragoons' engine gear turbo charged with Daichis' words with a metallic "scccrreeeeeeee" sound. The attack ring tapped the brick wall further in the hole and shot itself forwards out of its dry wall prison. It took a moment to whirl off white powder from the dry wall like a dog shaking water off its coat and returned to spun loyally at Daichi's feet once again. Strata Dragoons' physical form roared in a glowing yellow defiance having broke free from the great bears bite, despite the bleeding puncture wounds on his magic white and gold neck.
The fluffy red-head with a birth mark on his forehead called out with a pumped fist and a cheeky grin. "Pehhhhhh its gunna take more than that chump!"
Tyson glowered as he adjusted his cap straight. "This guy's is pretty strong. He's clearly got beybattle experience under his belt. Daichi had better keep on his toes."
Hilary remained close to Tysons' back and lowly murmured. "Please be careful Daichi. Please be on your guard. This guy is a slippery one, I can feel it."
Harkan leered with un-amusement. He muttered under his breath as his patience ran thin. "His resistance is admirable but that was just a taste of the power I hold. This maggot will find out the hard way. No games, I have to finish this runt off quickly and take Dragoon from Tyson before those pesky Saint Shields' show up and ruin everything."
Harkan bellowed. "Okay boy...It's time we finish this. Dragoon is waiting for his new master after all." The Shadow Vale bladers' ruby eyes glinted as his lips upturned into a smirk aimed only for Tyson.
Tysons' face scrunched into a glare and pouted in reply as he took Dragoons' beyblade out of his back pocket pouch and clutched it tightly in his padded palm; ready to defend his Bitbeast by any means necessary.
The Shadow Vale Blader got straight to business and ordered with a sinisterly deep tone and extended inked arm whilst his cape flew behind. Every inch a villain. "GO BLACK URSUS!"
Daichi leapt into the air with a punching fist. "GO STRATA DRAGOOON! WE NEVER BACK DOWN!"
The black bear Bitbeast and golden dragon cried their mysterious ancient roars and formidably smashed into battle.
Only things were not going Daichis' way as the red beyblade knocked him back with every collision.
Strata Dragoon swiped at Black Ursus only to be bounced off without consequence and smash into or off a wall depending on its density. He was sent crashing into drywall or cracking through to brick as if his blade nothing more than a kids toy. More dry wall dust littered the floor like silt sand and small fractures began to appear on the purple blades' attack ring.
Daichi felt cornered and fought not to panic as sweat tricked down his temples. "This isn't gooood. I'm not used to bladin' in tight spaces. I'm at a major disadvantage here. Dammmm it. Dammmm it!"
Black Ursus sent Strata Dragoon crashing into the wall again causing an almighty "SMASH" sending small chunks of the wall and dust to blow out with the impact.
Rivers of sweat cascaded down Tysons' chubby back and blue hair covered forehead. "This doesn't look good Hilary. Daichi is at home beyblading in open terrain and Black Ursus is one of the strongest bitbeasts I have ever seen. I don't know if Daichi has the power to win. He's gotta come up with a strategy and fast!"
Hilarys' tone dripped with worry as she clutched her hands tighter around a clump of Tysons t-shirt. "I know. Harkans' blade is throwing Daichis' around like a rag doll. Daichi hasn't even made a dent on him yet."
*SMASH* *SMASH* *SMASH*
Daichi was sweating now, he panted and sported his serious face, he knew Strata Dragoon was in trouble and chose to change tact. "STRATA DRAGOON! EVADE HIM!"
Daichis' purple beyblade immediately switched into evade mode just as the red beyblade went in for another aggressive blow...and much to Daichi's relief, Black Ursus missed by a hair line. The red beyblades' attack was cleverly dodged sending Harkans' face into an angry sneer and his glaring eyes went black.
Hilary called out with a slim arm and fist in the air. "Way to go Daichi! Evade him until we can come up with a plan."
Tyson yelled in support. "Daichi! Good goin' buddy. Keep your blade away from him for now!"
He thought. "That's it. Keep your blade away from your opponents' to give us time to come up with a strategy. You aren't blading in a dish and with the fragile hallway walls; you can't properly bounce your beyblade off to counter attack. If your blade hits the windows, you'll just go straight through. Drat! I sure wish Kenny was here. He'd know what to do...Come to think of it I wonder how he's doing. I just pray he, Max and Emily found Kai before Blake does. Oh Kai. And it's not like I haven't got my own problems to worry about. If Daichi loses this match...I'm up next."
Daichi went into full monkey boy mode jumping up and down and back flipping as his purple blade zipped and bounced around the floor and walls too fast for the eye to keep up. "You can't catch me! You can't catch me!"
Harkans' voice was dripping with malice. "You are starting to piss me off little runt. Black Ursus...FINAL ATTACK!"
The giant black bear Bitbeast roared into action as his sword-like claws glowed and glinted. Without a second to react and with lightning speed Black Ursus tackled Strata Dragoon out of thin air and imbedded his claws into the dragons' soft white belly. Strata Dragoon let out a long cry of pain and wailed as he gripped the black bears' furry shoulders and tried to push away; with no success. The sword-like claws were so long and penetrating that they went through the other side of Strata Dragoons' slender serpentine body. The tips of the claws glinted in red Bitbeast blood out of the exit holes in his back. Despite Strata Dragoons expert skills of evasion, he was well and truly pinned now.
Strata Dragoon – "GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW"
"GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW"
Daichis' jaw dropped as he stammered in disbelief. He could barely take in breath as he trembled at the sight of his beloved gold and white Bitbeast in so much distress. He cried out. "Strata Dragoon! Noooooooo! You gotta fight him! Push him back buddy!"
Black Ursus was like a mountain and no matter how hard Strata Dragoon struggled and thrashed, he could not break free of his impalement.
Tyson bellowed as if it was his own Bitbeast suffering. "DAICHI! NOOOOO STRATA DRAGOOON!"
Hilary released her comfort grip of Tysons' clothing and emerged frontwards to stand at his side, she wrapped her hands together to gesture a prayer. Her voice was serious and stuttering. "Tttttyy ttyyyssson...it's like what happened to Dranzer. Daichi! No! Is this guy going to steal Strata Dragoon away too?"
Harkan took a step forward causing his purple cape to swish. "Oh goodness no. I have no want or need for this weakling of a Bitbeast. It's the Sacred Spirit Dragoon I need. This runt and his pathetic Bitbeast are simply in the way."
Strata Dragoon thrashed and cried. "GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW"
Daichi paid no attention to Harkans' words, only his heart ached and tears welled in his green eyes at the sight of his ethereal friend in so much agony. He whimpered. "Strata... Dragoon...no."
The golden dragon could take no more and fizzled away like star dust back to the safety of his spinning top resting place. Like a wounded animal he cried one last "GGGGGGRRRRRRRAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWW."
Tysons' fists were in white knuckled balls and shaking at his side. His head lowered and his eyes shadowed in the dark of his overhanging blue bangs. He whispered just loud enough for her to hear. "Hilary, I...I want you to go."
The brunette at his side was appalled at the suggestion and was instantly ticked off. "What? What did you just say? Are you out of your mind mister? I am not leaving you!"
Tyson ordered with a louder tone whilst leaving his face in the dark. "I want you to go get help. Daichi is in serious trouble and if he loses...when he loses...I will be next in line to battle this guy. I want you to go find Ozuma, anybody..."
Harkans' sharp ears pricked up with the name that he and his clan had cursed for years. His deep voice spat under his breath. "Ozuma...oh how I hate that name... and the rest of his wretched village." His anger bubbled and his nasty intentions surfaced as Daichi became the target of his newly born wrath. He extended an arm and an open hand to order another onslaught. His intentions were clearly sinister as his eyes satanically glowed. "Black Ursus." He growled with sharp teeth.
The red beyblade ceased grinding away at Strata Dragoon, moved away to circle round, then charged at and slammed with a metallic smash as more chunks of Daichi's attack ring snapped off; catapulting it into the air.
Hilary yelled at the top of her meek lungs. "WATCH OUT DAICHI!"
Tyson had broken out of his apathy just long enough to watch a scene which no beyblader should have to endure. He yelled as his feet instinctually jumped into sprint. "NOOOOOO DAICHI!"
The purple beyblade was dead in the air as it flew directly for Daichi's stunned body. The blade shot like an aimed projectile directly at the small red-heads' chest.
Like in slow motion... Tyson and Hilary ran to protect their "monkey boy" but... they were too late.
Daichis' green iris's tremored like tiny dots on his eyeballs as his beloved Strata Dragoon blade hit him with full impact just under the centre of his rib cage. The bullet-like beyblade fell from where it struck and rolled to his feet. He crippled to his knees in agony and gulped and moaned as he struggled to take breath. His diaphragm was in spasm in such a way that he couldn't physically breathe and instead, gasped in whatever air he could. He tucked his hands in protectively over his injured core as he fought not to pass out or vomit from the instant devastating pain rocking his whole chest.
Tyson and Hilarys' footwear squeaked as they stopped harshly at Daichis' side and knelt to lend caring hands and gingerly touch his back. Tyson tried to pry Daichis' shoulders up to look him in the face but the younger blader resisted with everything to guard his convulsing core. The prone position right now was unthinkable.
"Daichi? Buddy are you ok?!"Tyson exclaimed with urgency.
Hilary placed a kind slender hand on Daichis' trembling sweat laden back. She begged in distress. "Talk to us Daichi!"
Daichi could do nothing but make noises and whimper as he battled with diaphragm spasms to breathe. "*Gasp*...*Whimper* *Gasp*...Whimper… *Gasp*...*Whimper*"
Tyson shot to his feet. Infuriated, fire in his eyes... the old Tyson attitude was back with hot clubbed fists trembling at his sides. "That was one nasty trick. You'll pay for that big time, creep!"
"Oh will I?" Harkan filthily smirked and recalled his beyblade to his wicked tattooed hands. Without wasting any time, he clicked his beyblade into its launcher and readied to release once more. His beyblade had barely a scratch and within, Black Ursus was hungry for more carnage.
Tyson knew what was coming next and grasped Hilary by her shoulders, levying her to rise to her feet with Daichis' crumpled and grunting form between them. Two pairs of brunette eyes locked as Tysons' chunky tanned arms and hands gripped her petite frame.
The beychamps' face and voice was rarely this serious. "Hilary, you have to go now. This guy isn't going to let me leave and I have to battle him... to protect Dragoon and to avenge what he just did to Daichi. I'll be fine." He said with a fake confident smile. "I'll take care of Daichi, he's just winded. Now, you need to go find us some help. Go find Ozuma, Ray, Max...anybody."
Hilarys' auburn eyes glittered with fresh tears of worry and anguish. She glanced down at Daichis' crippled form, still gulping to breathe... and then back up at the guy she knows deep down she loves with all her heart. Her face was inches away from his and despite how untimely the memory, she remembered their last kiss over a year ago at a Hanami party. She wished they never had never broken up after their last petty fight and longed to be back in his arms again.
Tysons' fake confidence peaked as he smiled, placed one tanned hand to his thighs and revealed a Dragoon glowing in the other. "I'm the World Champ remember. You know I've got this."
Hilary frowned and levitated an eyebrow as if he was lying to her. "If you're so sure you're going to win, why do you need me to get back-up?"
Tyson grabbed her hands suddenly as if to pull her in to whisper a secret. "There's the teeny tiniest chance I won't win, and if that happens I can't have Dragoon in the hands of this bozo. You hear me? That's why you gotta get help. They already have Dranzer, we can't let them have Dragoon too. You understand? Remember what Ozuma told us, about Shadow Vale? We can't let them destroy the world."
Harkan impatiently tapped his open toed boot on the floor and commanded. "Come now, I haven't got all day."
Hilary needed a moment to process what Tyson was asking, to do the unthinkable as her heart raced at the very thought. She stared deep into his serious and yet so friendly autumn eyes for any sign of wavering conviction. Having found none, she stepped back, thus breaking her hands away from his tight warm grasp, all the while gazing at him without a blink.
Hilary clamped her hurt eyes shut as she finally understood what she had to do, causing twinkles of aqua to burst away from her orbs. "Okay but don't you lose Tyson. You hear me!" She ordered sternly like a gruff military Sergeant.
The female snapped herself into action. There was no time to lose and took flight without even so much as a backward glance. Even as her red raw heels fought against the rough fabric of her plimsolls and her sore soles cried for her to stop, she sprinted, swinging her arms for propulsion. Fresh tears fought their way through but her inner-fight resisted to let them fall. "I believe in you Tyson, just don't get hurt. I'll be right back with help! Just hang in there! Hilary is on the case and I won't let you down."
The bluenette sighed with relief as he watched the brave and reliant Hilary reach the end of the hallway, turn a corner and dash safely out of sight as the pitter patter echo of her running feet became silent.
The concerned cap wearer returned to a kneeling position at Daichi's side and placed a reassuring hand between the smaller bladers' sweaty shoulder blades. "Hang in there buddy, OK. Take it easy." He said in a soft tone as a series of painful hiccups jumped through Daichis' small framed chest and ripple through his fingers like aftershocks.
Poor Daichi could do nothing but buck and gasp in a ball with his knees and forehead pressed to the hard cold floor, his tanned arms wrapped protectively around his tummy and he struggled to breathe with every contraction of his stomach muscles and diaphragm. The flame haired blader fought to expel Tyson a sorrowful answer through the incessant hiccups rocking his lungs. "Gasp*I'm *Hiccup *Sorry *gasp*Tyson* gasp.* Hiccup*"
Tysons' voice turned low and solemn as his face hid in the dark of his hair. "No you did good buddy. You put up a good fight. Don't sweat a thing ok Daichi, this guy is about to get a lesson in what happens when you pick on..." He rose his face out of the dark and smiled."... a triple-time World Champion."