- This part is based off of Beyblade Metal Fusion: Episode 38

~

"Sagittario: Flame Claw!"

As the opponent's bey went flying out, Kenta took out his bey pointer: 50,500 points.

"I can't believe it...I finally did it! I got the 50,000 points I needed," he raised his clenched fist in the air, "now I'll be standing on the same stage as Gingka!"

In another stadium . . .

"Aries: Horn throw destruction!"

Hyoma's win also resulted him in getting a spot in Battle Bladers thanks to his 50,100 well-earned points, "Thank goodness. It was a tough road getting here, but it tuned out all right. With this, I I can get into the Battle Bladers tournament!"

Elsewhere . . .

"Aquario: Infinite Assault!"

Hikaru's hardwork and effort paid off as she was being to earn a spot in Battle Bladers for herself with those spectacular 51,500 points, "I can't believe that I actually made it to Battle Bladers," she peered up at the sky. "Oh yes, Mother."

Another instance . . .

"Dark Bull: Red horn uppercut!" and so, Benkei was able to join his friends for Battle Bladers with an impressive 50,600 points.

"Bull wins big time! Benkei has now reached 50,000 bey points. He earns the right to move on to the Battle Bladers tournament!" Blader DJ announced ever so enthusiastically.

"B-b-bull! Alright, Kyoya! I did it!!!" Benkei exclaimed.




                                                At the 8-Pit




"Whoa...that is so cool! Look at these souvenirs from all over the country!" Madoka pulled back, looking at the others. "Everyone is feeling okay?"

"Yeah, I've never felt better!" Benkei replied, holding up a snack.

"Yes, thanks for asking," Hyoma nodded in gratitude.

"Yeah, thanks," Hikaru chimed in.

"Well, you guys really are totally amazing. I mean- all of you earned 50,000 bey points in competition," Madoka smiled widely, her eyes gleaming with pride for her friends.

"Well, I wouldn't exactly say all," Osamu said, frowning.

"Yeah, we tried our best but we just couldn't earn enough points," Takashi added.

"What a bummer," Akira sighed, holding up his bey pointer (with the other two following). "Totally..."

Osamu had 8,820 points, Takashi had 4300, and Akira had 3500.

"But it's true: you guys really are amazing," Osamu agreed to Madoka's statement.

"You guys are and can't just start it out with 10,000 points!" Akira added, also smiling.

"But now the real battle is just beginning, isn't it?" Madoka spoke once more, her support hyping everyone up.

"Yeah! Battle Bladers will be a tournament filled with lots of super strong Bladers who were able to earn 50,000 points!" Benkei munched on his snack.

"We will have to focus all of our energy again," Hikaru added.

"And we'll use our energy to cheer you guys on!" Osamu declared determinedly.

"Yeah!" Takashi and Akira agreed in unison.

"I wonder where...Gingka is," Kenta wondered out loud.

"Boo,"

All heads turned towards the door, their eyes widening in excitement, "Gingka!" the group called out in unison.

"Gingka always with the big entrance," Benkei joked.

"You all made it back, huh? It's so good to see you," Gingka scanned the room, taking in the faces of his friends.

"Hey, hey! How many points have you earned anyways huh, Gingka?" Osamu inquired, curious as ever.

"Uh-"

"If Kenta and the others have 50,000 points..." Takashi began.

"You must have-" Akira followed.

"Easily a hundred thousand points," Osamu finished.

"Whoa!"

"Actually," Gingka swallowed, "the truth is..."

"HUH?! YOU HAVEN'T REACHED 50,000 POINTS YET?!" the group hollered in unison once more.

"47,000 points," Benkei read out loud.

"You need 3,000 more points!" Kenta cried.

"What do you plan on doing now, Gingka? The challenge matches are all-" Hikaru paused, "...over now."

"Don't remind me," Gingka's brows furrowed, "I know that."

"If Gingka hadn't lost that one single match..." Madoka frowned, recalling the match against Phoenix. "He would've had 50,000 points ages ago."

"I can't believe that happened to you!" Benkei exclaimed, feeling sympathetic for the Blader.

"But it's still incredible that you were able to gather 47,000 points since then," Hikaru reassured, attempting to cheer Gingka's spirits up...somehow.

"But still, the fact is that he doesn't have enough points to get into Battle Bladers," Hyoma's bitter, but true words made Gingka sulk even more.

"Oh...I'm sorry. Here we all are celebrating without thinking about you at all, Gingka!" Kenta apologized, turning towards him.

"This stinks, really stinks," Benkei scratched his head.

"Don't worry," Gingka shook his head, "I still have a little time left. I'll figure something out you can count on that!" his frown turned upside down as his eyes shined with a newfound determination.

"Okay but how are you going to catch up?" Hikaru placed a finger on her chin.

"Uh-"

"I got it!" Kenta announced, "how about you battle with us right now, Gingka?"

"With you guys?" Gingka raised a brow.

"Mhm," Kenta nodded, "sure! We'll bet points in battle. If you collect everyone's extra points, then, you're in!" he carried on, his voice becoming a little high-pitched at the grand idea.

"Kenta...thank you but- I can't do that," Gingka rejected.

"Huh? Why not?"

"Each and every point is important and you all worked hard to earn them; it wasn't easy for anyone. A battle is a serious thing, battling just to help me isn't fair, isn't fair at all!"

"But then...how will you win points?"

Gingka took a brief pause, "I don't know."

"Whoa...I've got it!" Madoka announced as she typed away on her computer. "All the challenge matches from all over the country that had to be canceled have been rescheduled for one match today. There's one final challenge match!"

"Where is this tournament being held, you guys?" Benkei tilted his head.

Numerous yellow symbols appeared on the screen, a particular one flashing red as a small tab opened next to it: Sugusawa City – 11:00 (Open), 3,000 points.

"There! Gingka, if you leave right now, then you can make it in time!" Madoka informed, her eyes reading through the match details.

"How many points do you get?" Kenta looked at the screen.

"You get..uh...3,000 points!"

"Unbelievable!"




                                        The Dark Nebula Organisation




"Hmmm..."

"I've located the base of Phoenix's operations," Merci informed as numerous red dots appeared on the map, at a distance from one another.

"Good work, Merci," Doji purred, pulling out a comb from his vest, "so?"

Just then, the door to the surveillance room opened as light rushed through the small crack; it was Zukira. She closed the door behind her, walking towards Doji's desk and bowing her head slightly. Her eyes trailed towards the large screen in front of them from behind the mask, tucking her hands behind her back.

"The red points are confirmed places Phoenix has been. When his path is traced back from these points," Merci made the points move back until they met at one place.
"Oh, Mount Hagane," Doji eyed the flashing tab with a picture of the mountainous area.

Zukira felt chills go down her spine. Mount...Hagane?

"Oui, yes, with 98.9% probability," Merci confirmed the claim.

"Mount Hagane means Koma village, the origin of Beyblade," Doji smirked, "this is a very interesting turn of events."

~

Mount Hagane reminds me of Gingka Hagane. Zukira swallowed as she clasped on the soda can in her hand, lost in thought as the little hairs of her neck stick up. Her mask was placed on the table, its surface highlighted under the white light.

The light bustle of the cafeteria faded into the background as the aroma of cooked food swarm through the air. Light bustle of Bladers filled in the silence, delving in the excitement for Battle Bladers. Thank goodness they're not groaning and complaining for once...Zukira observed the inflow.

"Hello!"

The brunette turned her head to see her now new friend, Teressa, who operated the Control Room on the day of Teru's match, "Oh! Hi, Teressa! Come, have a seat," she gestured to the empty seat beside her.

The blonde woman smiled, the clacking of her heels audible against the tiled floor. She parked herself next to Zukira, smoothing out her skirt.

"You know, I'm actually quite glad to see another girl in this place; it's like a breath of fresh air with all these guys around, you know?" Zukira chuckled, holding the soda can in one hand, her lips stretching into a tooth grin.

Teressa giggled, "I could say the same for you! I stay in that Room for so long that I didn't even know that you joined the Organisation!"

"Workaholic, eh?" Zukira elbowed her playfully.

The girls giggled, grins widened and eyes crinkled. They talked through while having fruit salad, from their life stories to their careers.

"Oh! You're American? That's so cool! My Uncle lives there," Teressa's honey eyes sparkled.

"Yeah! I lived here for a few years before moving to Japan. Just family things, you know?" Zukira explained. "It was only then I began my journey as a Blader here, and I'm quite glad with the amount of progress I've made."

Teressa nodded, pushing her glasses up her nose, "This may sound a little bit weird, but I've seen you practice quite a handful of times and I have to say: you're really good at what you do! Especially your special move, I think that's so epic! A female Blader with amass of power!"

Zukira's cheeks flushed, her lips curving to a sheepish grin, "Oh, really? Thank you! I'm so glad you think so," she replied, turning her body towards her, "and! While I do like battling with Yu and all, I still prefer to train on my own."

"Ooh, just like Master Ryuga! Not gonna lie, you guys do have some things in common," Teressa pointed out, taking a bite of the fruit salad.

Zukira paused, holding the can mid-air. That was sudden mention... She set the drink down, swallowing. For some odd reason, the brunette felt a whirlwind of emotions evoking in her. Anticipation? Intimidation? Fear? Hatred? She wasn't sure.

"And...what makes you think that?" Zukira murmured, hoping Teressa would magically change the subject.

"It's quite obvious! Both of you train alone, wield great power, prefer to be independent..." Teressa counted on her fingers, "oh! And you two are mightily feared!"

Zukira nearly choked on her drink, "What?? Seriously?" she raised a brow at the revelation. I thought Ryutaro and Tobio were the only ones?

"Seriously! Think about it: neither does anyone come up to you nor do they mess with you and most of all, even if they do try something funny, Ryuga tells them off. I've witnessed it! Two times!" the blonde girl held up two fingers.

Zukira felt an odd chill run down her spine, "He...did that..?"

That— that is so not Ryuga-like. I refuse to believe that. He doesn't even have the time to think what he wants for breakfast. He... her grasp tightened on the can in her hand, he definitely wants something. Why else would he be defending me when he bothers me just about everyday?

"Yeah! And because you're the only one who can talk to Master Ryuga without any fear, he actually feels impressed by that!"

Impressed? Me? Huh?? Did this guy hit his head or something?? The Dragon Emperor? The psycho who revels in the fear of Bladers and snatching power?

"Oh wow, that's...new..." Zukira trailed off, brows furrowed. "Strange."

Teressa stared at her for a good moment, pushing her glasses up once again, "Do you guys...happen to know each other? Like- did you guys know each other before you joined the Organisation?"

Zukira looked up, watching a fresh set of trainees enter the cafeteria, "Do we really know each other?" she met her friend's forest eyes with an intense gaze.

"We don't."