Hikaru's Beyblade Journey --- Chapter 1 - Bladers Assemble! Hikaru's First Tournament! --- "MY BEYBLADE STORY BEGINS TODAY!" shouted a young boy, his hand being held by his mother outside the stadium. "Hikaru Blaze, there's no reason to yell!" scolded his mom. "Remember, a blader needs to have manners as well." The young boy looked up with a smile. "You're right mommy, and thank you for letting me play today" he said. Daddy looked Hikaru in the eyes and said "You're welcome, but remember, this is a one-time deal. You are still only 5-years-old, but you earned this special privilege." Hikaru nodded as they got to the blader entrance. "Well, little Hika, this is where we part. Good luck honey" mommy says as she gives Hikaru a kiss. Hikaru looks embarsassed as he smiles and blushes. "Aw mommy, I love you and daddy so much. I'll do my bestest!" as the door attendant leads him inside. Hikaru's dad puts his arm around mom and says "Don't worry dear, Hika will be fine." Mom has tears, but she and dad head for the spectator area. As Hikaru ran through the hall, another young blader stepped out from an adjacent hallway. Hikaru couldn't stop in-time, and ended up crashing into this boy, knocking both to the floor, their Beys clanking on the floor. "Ouch! Watch where you're going kid!" the other blader scolded. Hikaru just said "I'm...I'm sorry!" through tears and sobs. The other blader, seeing this boy was younger than him, went from a scowl to a smile, getting up and extending a hand to Hikaru. "It's all good kiddo, you just surprised me is all." Hikaru, still sobbing a little, grabs the boy's hand and stands up. "Thank *sniffle* you" he said. The boy looks over at where their Beyblades landed. He picks them both up and hands one back to Hikaru. "So, you're a blader too, are ya?" the boy asks. "Yeah, I am" Hikaru replies. "My name is Hikaru Blaze, and my Bey is Poison Scorpio" as he holds out his Bey. The boy smiles and replies "Well, my name is Yu Tendo, and my Bey is Flame Libra" as he holds out Libra. Both boys emit an aura as they stare at each other. "Well, it's good to meet ya, Hika!" Yu says as he ruffles Hikaru's hair. Hikaru giggles as he moves Yu's hand away. "Hey, just 'cause I'm only 5 don't mean you get to do that!" as he sticks his tongue out at Yu. Yu giggles and puts his arm around Hikaru. "We are gonna be fast friends, but since I'm the oldest at 10, let me show you 'round, Hika." Hikaru smiles and nods as the two bladers head off to look around. The boys end up finding their way to one of the locker rooms, and they go in so they can prepare. "Hey Hika, I've never seen you here before. Is this your first tournament?" Yu asks. Hikaru looks at Yu, and gets a sad expression on this face. "Yes...and also my last one. My parents are completely against the idea of me blading, so..." Hikaru starts to sob "...so they only...let me enter because...*sob*...because it was local and...they wanted me to have one chance to..." and that did it. Hikaru just started bawling. Seeing his new friend so upset, Yu went over and gave Hikaru a huge hug. "Never say never. You said this was your one chance? Well, make the most of it. Show everyone why you belong as a blader!" he said with confidence. Hikaru looked up, tears in his eyes, and smiled. "You're right, I gotta give this all I got! I'll make my parents see why I love blading so much!" as he wiped the tears from his eyes. As the boys laughed, an announcement came on. "All bladers participating today, please make your way to the arena entrance. We are about to begin." Yu and Hikaru stood up. "It's time" Yu said, extending his hand. "Are ya ready, Hika?" Hikaru stands up and takes Yu's hand "Yeah, I'm ready." The boys walked out, holding hands, and joined the other bladers. Hikaru was ready to make his debut. As Hikaru stands with all the other bladers, he starts to squeeze Yu's hand tightly, his nerves going into overdrive. Yu notices this, and he leans in and whispers "Don't worry, you got this" in Hikaru's ear. As he does, Blader DJ begins announcing the bladers one-by one. Hikaru starts shaking as he is really nervous. "I...I don't know if I can do this!" he shouts. Yu smiles and says "It's okay, it's just first tournament jitters, trust me." Just then, Blader DJ is heard. "Next up is one of the strongest bladers around! He, along with Team Japan, brought home the world championship, and has been involved in countless legendary clashes...you know him, you love him...it's YUUUUUUUUU!!!" Yu smiles as he pats Hikaru once more before making his entrance. The crowd is chanting his name, and Yu is just soaking it all in, waving and smiling. He joins the other bladers in the arena. Blader DJ comes back on "And now, our final blader!" Hikaru is shaking like a leaf. "Today marks his tournament debut. He may only be 5-years-old, but his talent cannot be underestimated. Making his home right here in Canada, let's welcome...the hometown hero...the young ace...HIIIIIIIKARUUUUUUU!!!" As we wait, no one comes out. Yu sees that Hikaru is frozen in fear, looking right at him. Yu smiles and nods, motioning for Hikaru to enter. Hikaru, with his head down, slowly enters the arena. It's obvious to everyone how nervous he is. Suddenly, from the silent crowd, we hear "HI-KAR-U, HI-KAR-U!" Hikaru looks up and sees that it's his parents. As if on cue, the entire crowd starts chanting Hikaru's name in unison. Hikaru smiled and waved as the crowd cheered even harder. It was like all his fears just washed away in an instant, and were replaced with excitement and joy. He started waving with both arms, jumping up and down, and the crowd was loving it. He ran over to the other bladers, and took his place beside Yu, who smiled and gave him a thumbs-up. "Alright bladers..." Blader DJ announced "...it's now time to begin! We have 16 super strong bladers here today! The tournament will be set up into two blocks of 8 bladers each. Even if you lose a match in your block, you aren't out. Bladers who did not win their block will compete for 3rd place. The winners of the two blocks will compete in a final match to decide the champion! And what does the champion win you ask? Well..." Blader DJ points into the crowd, and where he's pointing stands Gingka Hagane, which causes everyone to give pause, as DJ continues "...the winner of the tournament will be granted a special match against the legendary blader, GINGKA!!!" Hikaru and Yu both look nervous, but really excited. "But we have a long way to go before that. Now, let's shuffle the bladers!" Blader DJ declares as the bladers are shuffled on the big screen. As all the pictures settle, we see that Hikaru is in A-Block while Yu is in B-Block. Hikaru looks relieved as Yu says "Well, we're in different blocks, imagine that. I'm glad. That means our match waits until the finals. I'll see you there" as he extends his hand to Hikaru. Hikaru grabs Yu's hand "Yeah, I'll be there" he says, and everyone heads to the back, waiting for the first match. --- Chapter 2 - Let the Games Begin! Fight Through A-Block! --- Hikaru is waiting at the entrance as his match is first up. His opponent, Django, is standing beside him, with a smug smirk. "Alright bladers and bey-fans, let's get this tournament underway!" Blader DJ declares to cheers. "In the first match, we have the blader known to many as The Bolt...it's DJANGO!!!" Django enters to cheers as he waves to the crowd, full of smugness. "His opponent, in his first official match ever...the young ace...HIKARU!!!" Hikaru enters, his nerves having returned, as the crowd cheers loudly for the young blader, as Yu looks on from the entrance. As they meet in the arena, Hikaru's head is down, and Django scoffs. "I can't believe I got paired with this runt. What a let-down. Ah well, guess it's an easy win for me" Django smugly declares. As Django laughs, Hikaru lifts his head and stares straight into Django's eyes. "I may be young, and I may be scared, but unlike you, I'll let my Bey do the talking" he says as he goes into his launch position, clearly focused. Django scoffs once more, clearly finding Hikaru's words amusing, and he gets ready to launch. "Well, it looks like the trash talking is done, so it's time for the blading! Get ready!" Blader DJ declares as the crowd joins him "3...2...1..." Hikaru and Django "LET IT RIP!!!" Hikaru's launch is strong, and his Scorpio lands cleanly. Django unleashed his trademark Lightning Launch, and it's almost too fast to track. Django's Bey makes a direct beeline for Scorpio, and Yu is holding his breath. Just as Django's Bey is about to make impact, Hikaru yells "Scorpio...SHELL SHIELD!!!" As Django makes impact Scorpio's 15-bladed wheel just swats him away, making Django stagger in shock. Regaining his composure, Django commands his Bey to strike again. However, this turned out to be a massive mistake. As Django makes impact, Hikaru yells "STING COUNTER!!!" Scorpio wheels around and nails Django's Bey with a huge counterattack, causing his Bey to fly out of the stadium. Blader DJ looks surprised, but quickly composes himself. "And the winner of the first match, the young ace, HIKARU!!!" The crowd erupts with cheers as Hikaru looks shocked, but a smile quickly forms on his face as he raises his arms. "I WON!!!" Hikaru shouts as he jumps with joy. Yu is looking on with a tear in his eye, happy that his new friend has come out of his shell. Django walks up and grabs his Bey. Clenching it in his fist, he makes his way over to Hikaru. "HEY KID!" Django roars as he towers over Hikaru. Hikaru flinches back, clearly frightened, as Yu prepares to rush in. Suddenly, Django's frown turns to a smile, and he pats Hikaru's head. "Well kid, you got me. You are way stronger than you look, and I got cocky. You're good, you're really good, and I know you can win this." Django extends his hand. "It was a great battle, Hikaru." Hikaru looks confused, but then smiles and shakes Django's hand. "Thanks, Mr Django. It was really fun to battle you. Good luck in the third place tournament!" as the two share a look. Yu settles down as Django raises Hikaru's hand, a look of pride on his face. Like Yu, Django knows that Hikaru is something special. Round by round, the battles in both blocks roar on. Over in B-Block, Yu is having absolutely no trouble, and with one last sleep out, the forgone concolusion has come to pass. Blader DJ announces "And the winner of B-Block is...YU!!!" Yu waves to the crowd as Hikaru runs out and hugs him. "YOU WON YU!!!" Yu smiles and ruffles Hikaru's hair. "That's right Hika, and now it's your turn." With that, Yu backs off from the stadium, as Hikaru and his opponent launch the finals of A-Block. The battle wasn't even close, and with one last strike, the battle was decided. "And the winner of A-Block...the young ace...HIKARU!!!" The crowd roars as Hikaru is jumping for joy with his victory. Yu runs over and embraces Hikaru as the two celebrate their victories together. "Fans, I don't think I've ever seen a stronger friendship between bladers!" Blader DJ declares "But those bonds are about to be put to the test!" The final match will be...Hikaru versus Yu! However..." DJ continues "...before that we have the tournament to decide 3rd place! Who will claim the last spot on the podium, and join our champions? Let's find out!" As Hikaru and Yu are leaving, Django steps out and starts towards the arena. As he is passing the boys, Hikaru holds up a fist. Django stops, smiles, and fist-bumps Hikaru as he makes his way up to the stadium. The battle for third place is about to begin! --- Chapter 3 - Friendship Finale! Hikaru vs Yu! --- As Hikaru and Yu are preparing in their respective locker rooms, the third place tournament has reached its final match. Hearing this, both boys rush out to the entrance to watch. As they arrive, they hear Django shout "LIGHTNING LAUNCH, GO!!!" as he lets loose one of the strongest launches he ever has. His Bey is literally a bolt of lightning, crashing into his opponent, and knocking him clear out of the stadium. Blader DJ calls it "And with that, the winner of the third place tournament, the blader known as The Bolt...DJAAAAANGOOOO!!!" As Django raises one arm in victory, Hikaru just can't hold back, and he rushes out and gives Django a huge hug, surprising him. As Yu makes his way out as well, Django smiles and ruffles Hikaru's hair again, and says "Well kiddo, I did it." Hikaru shouts "I KNEW YOU COULD, MR DJANGO!" Both Django and Yu are smiling huge as the crowd is chanting Django's name. Django raises his hand to silence the crowd. "Thank you everyone! It means a lot! But, while my match is done, there's still one more to go..." as he motions to Hikaru and Yu "...and I know it's gonna be epic! Give it all you got boys!" as Django extends his fist. Hikaru and Yu smile as they fist-bump Django. Blader DJ cuts in "Well, since you're both here, let's begin the final match! It's the world champion, Yu, versus the young ace, Hikaru! Who will win? Who will take the title of champion? LET'S FIND OUT!!!" Hikaru's parents are on the edge of their seats. With that, both Hikaru and Yu ready their launchers, and both signal to DJ that they are ready. "Alright bladers, we are ready to go! Say it with me everyone!" as the crowd joins DJ "3..2...1..." Hikaru and Yu yell "LET IT RIP!!!" as the battle begins. Hikaru and Yu let loose the strongest launches they possibly can, and their Beys tear into the stadium, Scorpio circling as Libra takes the center. The boys are completely focused on the stadium, their blood pumping and hearts racing. They are both ready for a clash like nothing they have ever experienced before, and boy, no one was prepared for this battle! Clash after clash, move after move, neither boy was giving an inch. Yu unleashed his sand trap, hoping to get Hikaru caught up, but it was no match for Scorpio, who just raced right through it. However, Yu called out "Libra...SONIC SHIELD!" as a shockwave shield appeared around Libra, completely repelling Scorpio's strike. This didn't stop Hikaru as he came back and nailed Libra with a huge strike. Libra unleashed its Sonic Wave attack, but Scorpio skillfully dodged them all. Hikaru was really showing what he was made of, and Gingka was taking notice. They continued to clash fiercely, the battle having no end in sight. Both Hikaru and Yu looked exhausted, but were both smiling, which caught Hikaru's parents off-guard. "You know Yu..." Hikaru said, breathing heavily "...this battle...is like nothing I've ever had before!" Yu, looking rather winded himself, said "I...never knew you had this in you Hika. This battle...is truly something else!" Hikaru's expression changed to total focus, as he declared "But we know this battle can't go on forever, so HERE I COME!" as Scorpio rushes in. Yu prepares himself and says "I wouldn't expect any less, so I'm gonna give it all I got! Libra...FINAL INFERNO BLAST!!!" Libra shakes violently as a huge burst of waves is unleashed. Hikaru cannot believe it as he feels his ears stinging with pain and, as he holds his ears, he sees that Scorpio is being pulled in. Yu smiles as he can tell Hikaru doesn't have much left to give. "Hikaru...it's over!" Yu declares, victory in sight. "Yu..." Hikaru says as he struggles against the waves "...this move...it's something else. Seeing it on TV is one thing, but feeling it is another. However, I...I...I REFUSE TO LOSE!!!" he yells as his Bey glows, and the image of Scorpio appears. The crowd can't believe it, and even Gingka is glued to the action, completely in awe of Hikaru's fierce determination. "Scorpio, I know you can do this!" At Hikaru's command, Scorpio speeds up, and rushes for the pillar of light. "It's time! Special move! Scorpio...STING STRIKE!!!" Yu is stunned as he gazes at Scorpio, enveloped in light, rushing forward, like it has complete faith in Hikaru. "LIBRA, HOLD ON!" Yu shouts, but it's no use. Scorpio tears through the light, and lands a massive blow to Libra, causing a huge explosion. The force is so strong that it knocks both boys back, and even shakes the whole stadium. A cloud of smoke envelops the stadium, and Hikaru, Yu, and the entire arena are completely silent, waiting for the cloud to clear. Moments later, we see that one Bey is barely spinning while the other has stopped, and everyone waits for the call. As the rest of the smoke clears, it's revealed that Scorpio is just barely spinning, but Libra has completely stopped. Still completely stunned, Blader DJ, now seeing the result, announces "It's over! After a spirit-filled clash, rivaling that of legends, the winner of this epic match...the hometown hero, the young ace...HIIIIIIIKARUUUUUUU!!!" The entire stadium erupts into cheers and applause as soon as Blader DJ calls the winner. The crowd is going wild, shouting Hikaru's name over and over. Yu stands there, breathing heavily, his expression a mix of pride and exhaustion. Hikaru is standing there in complete shock, breathing heavily. As the reality sets in, he smiles and yells "I DID IT! I WON!" before dropping to his knees, tears welling up in his eyes. Yu slowly makes his way towards Hikaru, his own eyes glistening with emotion. His exhaustion seems to wash away as he looks at the young blader on his knees, overcome with joy. Yu stops in front of Hikaru, and he kneels down. Hikaru locks eyes with Yu "That was an awesome battle!" he says as he flops down on his back, laughing. Yu smiles and lies down beside Hikaru, laughing right along with him. Hikaru's parents are cheering right along with everyone else, a sense of pride and happiness for their son. Blader DJ cuts in "But remember, it's not over yet!" Both Hikaru and Yu sit up as the crowd quiets. "As promised, we have one more match. The champion, Hikaru, has now earned the right to face the legendary Blader, Gingka Hagane!" A shiver runs through the entire arena at the mention of Gingka's name. The crowd is buzzing with anticipation, and Hikaru feels a mixture of excitement and nerves. Seeing this, Yu puts a hand on Hikaru's shoulder and says "Hika, you're ready for this. You've proven yourself to be an amazing blader. You belong." Hikaru smiles and nods at Yu. Hikaru looks into the crowd at Gingka, who has his eyes locked on him. Gingka shows Cosmic Pegasus and declares "Hikaru, your spirit is so strong, it has me fired up! Pegasus and I are ready to accept your challenge!" as the image of Pegasus appears behind Gingka. Hikaru stands up, with Yu's support, and pulls out his Scorpio. "Gingka, I've been a fan of Beyblade for as long as I can remember! Watching bladers like Yu, Kenta, yourself, and lots of others on TV...it made me want to become like all of you! You are all my heroes, but that does not mean I will hold back! Me and Scorpio are gonna give it all we got!" as an image of Scorpio appears behind Hikaru. The entire arena is in complete awe. The electricity in the air is palpable as Hikaru and Gingka stare each other down, the thunderous cheers of the crowd indicating how epic this showdown will be. "So everyone..." Blader DJ declares "...the battle will take place this afternoon! We'll give Hikaru some time to rest and prepare. We'll see you all back here soon!" The crowd erupts with chants of Hikaru's name as Yu helps Hikaru to the back to rest. Soon, Hikaru will face the greatest challenge of his young blading career! --- Chapter 4 - Rest Time! Prepare for the Battle of your Life! --- As Hikaru and Yu make it to the waiting room, Hikaru's parents burst out of the room, and his mother embraces Hikaru in her arms. "You did it!" she beams. "Little Hika, tournament champion! Are you feeling okay? You look exhausted!" Hikaru giggles and says "I'm fine mommy. I just need some rest...and some food" as his stomach growls. Hikaru's dad chuckles, and ruffles Hikaru's hair. "I'm not surprised. You gave it everything you had. We are so proud of you kiddo." he said with a prideful smile. Hikaru smiles too as Yu chuckles. The four of them sat down in the waiting room, having lunch, and laughing like one big family. After they ate, Hikaru gets up and says "Me and Yu are gonna go get cleaned up." As the boys are leaving, Hikaru's mom stops them. "Wait! Hika, take this with you" as she hands him a duffel bag. Hikaru looks confused, but mom is just smiling, as the boys head off to clean up. As the door closes, mom looks over to dad and asks "Are we doing the right thing? I'm still worried." Dad walks over and hugs mom. "I know honey, I am too. However, I believe this is the right move. He has more than proven himself today." Tears form in their eyes, but they are tears of joy, hoping they are doing right by their son. The boys arrive in the shower area, and they get themselves cleaned up. "Hika, make sure you look good. You're the champion after all" Yu teases as they get themselves washed up. "And you're a pro, so you need to look like one" Hikaru retorts as they both giggle. After they finish, they step out and Yu pulls out a fresh set of his clothes. As he dresses, he looks over at Hikaru, who has tears in his eyes, but a smile on his face. "Hika...what's wrong?" Yu asks, confused. Hikaru stutters "They...they made...they made me..." is all Hikaru can get out as he pulls clothing out of the duffel. He quickly dresses up, and the outfit looks amazing. It is a full outfit, complete with a vest and hat, both having the symbol of Scorpio on them. "They made me the blading clothes I wanted!!!" Hikaru says through sobs of joy. "Hika...that outfit looks incerdible! Now, you're a true blader, both in skills and looks" Yu said with a big smile. The boys raced out and back to the waiting area, and Hikaru just dove into the arms of his parents. "THANK YOU MOMMY! THANK YOU DADDY! I LOVE YOU BOTH SO MUCH!" he says through happy tears. "You're welcome, little Hika" mom said. "Now, get out there, and give it your all son!" dad says with a smile. Hikaru breaks the hug and stands tall. "You bet I will! Not just for me, but for everyone here! I know everyone here wanted to battle Gingka, and I will take thier spirits into battle with me!" he declared. Yu and Hikaru's parents smiled as a knock came at the door. A tournament official came in "Hikaru? It's time. We also have special seating for your friends and family." As they enter the hallway, Django is there waiting as well. "Well kiddo, this is it. Give it all you got...for all of us" Django says as he motions to the other bladers, all cheering for Hikaru. Hikaru smiles and blushes "Don't worry everyone, I will give it everything I have, for all of us!" as he raises a fist. Everyone else raises their fists as well, showing they are united with Hikaru. Django gives him one final fist-bump as they all join Yu and Hikaru's parents, heading to their seats. The attendant leads Hikaru to the entrance, and tells him to wait for the call. Inside the stadium, the crowd is in an absolute frenzy. They know they are about to witness one of the greatest battles in all of history. Through the deafening cheers, Blader DJ's voice cuts through "ALRIGHT BLADERS AND BEY-FANS! It's time for the special match to begin! I know you've all been waiting, and we arent going to make you wait any longer! HERE WE GO!" Hikaru starts to shake a little, but with excitement. He knows that the battle will be tough, but everyone is behind him, and he knows he is ready to give it his all! --- Chapter 5 - Facing the Legend! Hikaru vs Gingka! --- The atmosphere in the stadium is electric, and everyone is cheering wildly, waiting for the special match to begin. Blader DJ comes on. "Alright bladers and bey-fans...it's time for the final match of this event, a special match between the champion and a blading legend! Let's get started!" The crowd cheers as Blader DJ continues "First up, we have the guy who needs to introduction, but he's getting one anyway! He has been in countless legendary battles, and he was the captain of the world champions, Team Japan. He is the commander of Cosmic Pegasus, give it up for...G...G...G...G...GINGKA!!!" The crowd erupts into chants of "Gingka, Gingka, Gingka!" as the legendary blader emerges from backstage. Yu and Hikaru's parents can feel the energy of the whole arena changing, the anticipation in the air is electric. "And his opponent" Blader DJ continues. "Today was his tournament debut, and he started his blading career off with a bang, winning the whole thing! He may be young, but his blader spirit is equal to that of even the legendary bladers! He has shown he belongs, but can he topple the legend? Here is...commanding Poison Scorpio...the young ace...HIKARU BLAZE!!!" Hikaru enters the stadium to thunderous cheering and chants of his name. He waves to the crowd, but he seems to be much more focused this time. Everyone can tell he is feeling the pressure. As the two meet at center stage, Hikaru and Gingka stare each other down. They both smile, and then take their launch positions, ready to go. "It looks like these two need no words" Blader DJ says. "They are more than happy to let their Beys do the talking, and that's how it should be! Alright..are both bladers ready?" Hikaru and Gingka nod to each other, and then nod to Blader DJ. "Alright thenbladers, here we go!" With that Hikaru, Gingka, Blader DJ, and the crowd all count it down "3...2...1..." Hikaru and Gingka yell "LET IT RIP" as they launch fiercely. Both Pegasus and Scorpio land cleanly, and head straight for each other, clashing head to head, no holding back at all. The wills of Hikaru and Gingka are on full display, and the crowd is roaring with excitement. Blow after blow, both bladers are relentless in their attacks. Gingka delivers a powerful blow, knocking Scorpio for a loop. Hikaru smiles and says "It's not over yet!" as Scorpio takes center stage. "Scorpio...SHELL GUARDIAN!!!" Hikaru calls as Scorpio's performance tip changes to a sharp, defensive tip. Gingka can't believe it, as he presses on with his attacks, but Scorpio is deflecting them all. "You can really take a punch kiddo. Impressive. But you won't win on defense alone" as Pegasus changes into Smash Mode and charges in once more. Hikaru locks eyes with Gingka and says "I know that, but who said it's just defense?" Pegasus makes contact with Scorpio, but as it does, Scorpio wheels around as Hikaru calls "STING COUNTER!!!" as Scorpio nails Pegasus with a massive counter hit. The arena explodes with cheers as Hikaru unleashes his counter attack. Yu and the other bladers can't believe what he's seeing. Hikaru is really holding his own against Gingka. It's an incredible display of skill and power from the young blader. Back and forth the battle goes, neither blader gaining a decisive advantage. The winner is no clearer now than it was at the start of the battle, and exhaustion is starting to show on the two. It is a battle of sheer determination, and the entire arena is on their feet. That said, while Gingka just looks winded, Hikaru was heavily staggered, looking like he might be at his limit. ""Well Hikaru...you have really shown what a blader spirit is" said Gingka, breathing heavily. "However...this is where it ends. Pegasus...FINAL DRIVE MODE!!!" The entire crowd lets out a stunned gasp as Gingka unleashes all he's got, causing Pegasus to pick up massive speed. The hearts of Yu, Django, and Hikaru's parents all sink as this looks like the end. Seemingly out of energy, Hikaru stares straight into Gingka's eyes. "I...I would never...ask my Scorpio...to do something it couldn't. And...that's why..." as Hikaru clenches his fists and shouts "...WE WILL NEVER GIVE UP!!!" as a massive glowing aura surrounds Hikaru, which gives Gingka pause, not believing what he is seeing. "Alright, that's it! Pegasus...COSMIC TORNADO!!!" Gingka calls as the image of Pegasus emerges and the Bey spins liike a tornado. All the bladers know this is Gingka's most powerful technique, and they are certain this is it. However, bathed in light, Hikaru screams as the aura gets even stronger, overwhelming even Gingka. Suddenly, Scorpio's tip retracts, revealing a final layer coated in rubber. Scorpio's image appears as it picks up massive speed, charging right towards Pegasus, like Hikaru and Scorpio share complete trust in each other. "Scorpio, it's you and me! WE CAN DO THIS!!!" Hikaru yells. "NOW, ULTIMATE SPECIAL MOVE...SUPERSONIC STING STRIKE!!!" The crowd watches in awe as the Beys charge toward each other with absolutely no hesitation. Scorpio and Pegasus make contact at the center, unleashing a massive explosion of energy, and a mind-blowing shockwave that sends Hikaru flying back, landing hard on his back, and even staggering Gingka. As the energy subsides, a massive cloud of smoke has enveloped the entire stadium. As the smoke starts to clear, the entire arena is silent as it's revealed that Hikaru is down, and Gingka is on one knee. Hikaru's parents are scared that their son is hurt, but Yu, Django, and the other bladers tell them to wait. Hikaru struggles to pick himself up, but he makes it to a sitting position as the smoke continues to clear. The Beys become visible, and everyone sees one spin to a stop in the stadium while the other rests outside. Everyone waits for the official call. The smoke finally clears, and reveals that Pegasus is outside the stadium, while Scorpio remains inside. The entire arena is stunned, including Blader DJ, who finally composes himself. "I...I don't believe it. This is a historic upset! The winner, of this absolutely amazing battle, one of the most dramatic victories in recent memory, is...the young 5-year-old ace...HIIIIIIIIKAAAAAARUUUUUUUU!!!" The entire arena erupts with cheers as Blader DJ announces the result. Fans are shouting "Hikaru, Hikaru, Hikaru!" and the whole place feels like it's going to burst with excitement and disbelief. Yu and the bladers around him can hardly believe what they are seeing. They, along with Hikaru's parents, cheer louder than anyone else. Very few in the arena thought Hikaru had a chance, but the young blader has truly made history today. Hikaru gets a big smile on his face, as he collapses back onto his back, completely exhausted, but laughing. Yu, Django, and the other bladers race down to the stadium floor. Yu leans in to check on his friend as the other bladers look on. Hikaru looks up at all of them, and in a completely exhausted voice says "I did it, I won" with a huge smile on his face. The cheers from the crowd are deafening as everyone is celebrating Hikaru's big win. Gingka grabs Pegasus and Scorpio, and makes his way over to Hikaru. Seeing this, the other bladers step back, allowing Gingka to be next to Hikaru. Gingka hands Scorpio to Hikaru and says "That was an amazing battle! I could feel your spirit, and it was something else. You really deserved that win. Congrats, Hikaru" as Gingka holds out his hand. Hikaru takes Gingka's hand, and Gingka helps him up. "Thanks Gingka" Hikaru said. "I wasn't sure I could actually do it, but I just felt inside me that I shouldn't give up. I think Scorpio had a lot to do with it" as he staggers on his feet. Gingka laughes "Yeah, Scorpio was definitely a big part of it, but it was your spirit that gave it the strength to fight on." Hikaru smiles, but then starts to fall backwards. Moving quickly, Gingka catches him, as his parents rush down to the staduim, their faces filled with worry. Gingka looks at Hikaru's face, and he sees the smile, and hears soft snoring. Gingka smiles, looking at Hikaru's parents. "It's okay, he's just completely exhausted. Who can blame him. He put everything he had into that battle" he says, beaming with pride. Hikaru's parents smile and nod as they, along with Gingka and Yu, head to the back, with Gingka carrying Hikaru, to thunderous cheers from everyone. This was a huge victory for Hikaru, but who knows what will come next for the little guy. --- Chapter 6 - Aftermath! What's Next for Hikaru?! --- As Gingka, Yu, Hikaru, and his parents arrive in the rest area, Gingka lays Hikaru down on a couch. Hikaru is still smiling, snoring softly as he rests. Everyone else takes a seat, and Gingka addresses Hikaru's parents ""I understand that, before today, you didn't allow Hikaru to battle against others. Yu told me you said it was due to his age, but he showed talent well beyond his age today. Did you know about his ability?" Yu looked on as Hikaru's parents looked guilty. Finally, dad spoke up. "Yes. From the day Hikaru picked up a Beyblade, we knew that he was special. His abilities were clear from a young age...but we were scared for him. Mom chimes in, putting her arm around dad. "He was so young, and we wanted to protect him. We didn't him, or other children, to get hurt because of that ability." Gingka smiles, understanding how hard this must've been for them. "I can understand your concern, especially given today. However..." Gingka looks over at Hikaru, still sleeping "...a talent like his is rare, and without proper training, his power could run wild. Preventing him from blading won't work." Hikaru's parents look surprised, but listen intently as Gingka continued. "I have a friend, another legendary blader, named King, who was forbidden to battle because of his power. Because of that, he became obsessed with battle, and his power was overwhelming, but out of control. However, thanks to another good friend, Masamune, and other bladers at Dungeon Gym, he learned how to control himself, and he is now one of the best bladers in history." Mom and dad look at each other, seemingly reflecting on their past actions. Yu then speaks up "Hika's talent is unreal. It would be a shame to not allow him to blade. Meeting him before the tournament, getting to know him, and then getting to battle him...the passion he has for Beyblade is the real deal!" Yu stands up and looks straight at mom and dad, tears in his eyes. "You just gotta let him blade! After today...there's just...*sob*...no way..." Yu is sobbing too much to continue, but Gingka embraces him as Yu cries into Gingka's shirt. "Yu is right" Gingka said "You should allow him to blade. I know you love him a lot, and he loves you. Thanks to Yu here Hikaru's spirit was awakened." Gingka smiles at Yu, who seems to have calmed down. "Hikaru is going to take the blading world by storm, I just know it." Hikaru's parents glance at each other and nod in agreement, their faces showing signs of remorse for their earlier decisions. They face Gingka and Yu. "You're right..." mom said "...we've been far too cautious. We love our son, and we just want to protect him, but... we can see how much he loves blading. He truly has a powerful spirit, and we will support him." At that moment, Hikaru begins to stir. As his eyes open, he sees his parents, Gingka, and Yu. "Ugh...Mommy? Daddy? Is that you?" as he is still groggy. Both his parents smile warmly as they kneel beside the couch, holding Hikaru's hands. "Yes, Hika, it's us. We're here, sweetie" dad says as mom adds "You did so well out there! We're so proud of you!" Hikaru looks at all the smiling faces in the room, and he gets a smile on his face as well. "Thanks, it was a lot of fun, but I am super tired. I think I used everything I had." Yu chuckles affectionately. "You definitely gave it your all out there. You were amazing. It's no wonder you're tired." Hikaru's parents nod in agreement, their pride for their son glowing on their faces. Hikaru's parents move as Gingka kneels beside Hikaru. "Hikaru, I want to ask you something. After the battle, you said you felt something inside saying not to give up, and you mentioned Scorpio having a lot to do with it. What did you mean by that?" Hikaru seems to ponder Gingka's question for a moment, his gaze drifting back to the memory of the battle. "I'm not sure how to explain it...but during the battle, it was like I had this...connection with Scorpio. It was like...I could tell what he was thinking, feel what he was feeling. It was like I could feel him telling me...not to give up, to keep fighting, to never give in." Gingka nods, listening intently as Hikaru explains his connection with Scorpio. "It was like I could hear Scorpio in my head. It's voice...it was like nothing I had ever heard before...warm and soothing, but determined as well. I could feel its struggles, its pain, and its spirit, like we were totally connected" he said, as he pulled out Scorpio and stared at it. Hikaru's parents smile fondly as they witness their son's emotional connection to his Bey, and Gingka nods again, completely intrigued by Hikaru's description of the experience. "It sounds like Scorpio has become more than just a Bey. It's become your partner, your friend. You formed a special bond with it during the battles today, and it's something very few Bladers have the privilege of experiencing." Hikaru looks curiously at Gingka. "Is that the kind of bond you have with Pegasus? During our battle, it was like I could sense how Pegasus felt about you. It's the same feeling I get from Scorpio." Gingka smiles softly "Yes, it is. Pegasus and I have been together for a long time, and we have a deep connection, just like you and Scorpio." Hikaru smiles and sits up. "That's awesome! I can't wait to battle again!" After he says that, his face suddenly goes from happy to disappointed, as he turns to his parents. "Except...I know this was a one-time deal, so..." Hikaru says through tears. Hikaru's parents look at each other, their hearts breaking at Hikaru's disappointment and tears. They now understand how much Blading truly means to him, and how they were wrong to keep him from it. Hikaru's mother kneels down to look Hikaru in the eye. "Listen, Hika, we...we've realized that we were wrong. We thought we were protecting you, but..." as mom started to cry dad continued "...but we didn't consider you feelings. After seeing the passion you have for Beyblade, and..." the door opens and Django steps in, the other bladers listening in "...after seeing you form bonds with the other bladers, we want to support you." Hikaru starts to get tears in his eyes. "R...r...really mommy, daddy?" Mom, through sobs, looks at Hikaru "Yes, Hika, we want you to be happy, and we are so proud of you. Just promise you'll be careful." Hikaru, while still crying, smiles and jumps into his parents arms. "MOMMY...DADDY! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! I PROMISE!" Gingka, Yu, Django, and the rest of the bladers can't hold back their tears either, as they all chant Hikaru's name. Hikaru smiles and blushes, happy that he has so many wonderful friends. Gingka steps up "Listen Hikaru, I think it would be a good idea to go on a training journey with Yu and I. You have a lot of talent, but it needs to be polished. Plus there are many more powerful bladers out there" Gingka said with a smile. Hikaru looked over at this parents, who smiled and nodded, giving their approval. Hikaru smiles, looking at Gingka, and says "I'm in! I wanna get much stronger, and amek friends with those other bladers!" As things are settled, a tournament official appears. "Hikaru, Yu, Django, Gingka? It's time for the award ceremony." The boys smile as Yu and Django help Hikaru up. "ALRIGHT, LET'S GO!!!" Hikaru shouts as they make their way toward the arena, the other bladers leading the way. As all the bladers enter the stadium, they are greeted by thnderous cheering from the crowd. Hikaru, Gingka, Yu, and Django walk into the stadium, the spotlight shining brightly on them. Blader DJ stands by, smiling as Hikaru, Yu, and Django take the stage. "Alright everyone..." Blader DJ begins "..it's time for the awards ceremony! First up, the winner of the 3rd place tournament, known as the Bolt, it's...DJANGO!!!" Django smiles at Hikaru and Yu as he steps up to the 3rd place podium amid chants of his name. Despite not winning the tournament, he seems happy and satisfied. Meanwhile, Yu and Hikaru exchange smiles, feeling proud of their friend for doing so well. "In 2nd place, after one of the most epic battles we have seen in recent memory, the spunky youth...YUUUUUUU!!!" The crowd starts chanting Yu's name as he steps up to the 2nd place podium. He looks over at Django and smiles, which Django returns with a thumbs-up. "And last, but certainly not least. Not only is he the champion of his first tournament ever, but he even won against Gingka in a clash fitting of legends! he is the hometown hero...the young ace...HIIIIIIIIIIKARUUUUUUUU!!!" The entire stadium becomes a sea of cheers and and chants of his name as Hikaru is announced as the champion. His parents watch from the stands, their hearts swelling with pride. Hikaru smiles from ear to ear, his excitement and happiness radiating through his every motion. He is having some trouble getting up, his exhaustion clear to everyone. Seeing this, Django offers him a hand, helping him up to the 1st place podium. After the medals and trophy are handed out, Blader DJ says "Let's give a big cheer for our top bladers: Django, Yu, and our champion, Hikaru!" Yu and Django join Hikaru on the top podium as the cheering is deafening. Django lifts Hikaru onto his shoulders, as all three boys celebrate their accomplishments. This is something none of them will ever forget! --- Chapter 7 - A New Journey! Emergence of Lightning! --- The celebration on the stage continues for a while, but eventually, the boys are led back to the rest area. Hikaru is feeling a little more stable after taking a break, and he looks at his friends with a smile. "That was amazing! We did it, guys! I can't believe I even beat Gingka!" Hikaru's excitement is contagious, and the three boys continue talking about their accomplishment as they make their way out of the arena to meet Gingka. As they all meet up, Django speaks up. Listen guys...you know that training journey you are all taking?" the other nod. "Well...I wanna go too!" Gingka looks surprised as the old Django would've never gone for something like this. Django pulls out his Bey and holds it out. "My battle with Hikaru showed me something...that I have so much more to learn..." as he looks at Hikaru "...both about battling...and the bond with your Bey. I...no...WE WANT TO GROW STRONGER!" As Django yells this, his Bey suddenly shoots a light into the sky, and the image of a bird cloacked in lightning appears in the sky, leaving all of them awestruck. As they watch, the bird of lightning dives right into Django's Bey. As the energy dissipates, the image of the eagle constellation, Aquilla, appears on Django's face bolt. Gingka can't believe it, but smiles "Well, look at that. It looks like your Bey could sense your passion, Django." Django is shocked at first, but then smiles as he readies his launcher. "Alright, Lightning Eagle, let's do this! LET IT RIP!!!" as Django pulls with his usual Lightning Launch stance, aiming for a big rock. However, something is different this time. As he launched, an aura of lightning appeared around him. As Eagle speeds towards the rock, Django calls out "Eagle...THUNDER WING!!!" Hikaru, Yu, and Gingka watch in awe as the image of Eagle appears with its wings enveloped in lightning. Eagle puts its lightning charged wings in front of it like a spear, and charges into the rock, shattering it in a burst of lightning. The power was almost overwhelming to the others. Django jumps up with a cheer of "YES! WE DID IT!" as Eagle flies back to him, and he catches it, showing it off to Gingka, Hikaru, and Yu with a determined smile. "This...this is our power!" Gingka extends his hand to Django and says "Welcome to the group" with a smile. Django smiles and shakes Gingka's hand "Happy to be part of it." Hikaru rushes up and hugs Django "THAT WAS AWESOME MR DJANGO!" he shouted. Django laughed and ruffled Hikaru's hair. "You know it! Next time, we'll battle again" Django declares as all the boys laughed with joy. This was going to be one crazy journey, and they can't wait for it to start!