Beyblade Metal Arc: The Tale of the White Tigress (Under Editing)

Chapter Fourteen: The Protectors

The first thing Sandra heard in the morning was the smashing of a tree outside. She sighed as she rolled over. Getting out of the makeshift bed Sala's father generously made for Sandra and each of her friends, she exited the house and strolled into the forest.
She rubbed her eyes. Yawning, she followed the noise of falling trees. Out of nowhere, something small darted right past her head, causing her to freeze instinctively. Turning around, she realized it was Leone.
Sandra exhaled a shaky sigh. "Good morning to you too, Kyoya."
Carelessly, the lion boy was launching his bey into the surrounding trees. He was clearly upset by his loss at the hands of Ryuga and Sandra felt disappointed as well, though she didn't think it was necessary to destroy island any further.
"Get of my way, Sandra," he demanded sharply.
"Don't you think what you're doing is a bit much?" Sandra asked, concerned.
"You're not the one who's gotten defeated by him twice," Kyoya retorted, bitter. The others finding them both, Kyoya launched his bey into a tree again. "Sinks, sinks... This sinks!"
"Kyoya's not... in the best mood," Benkei notified.
"I don't blame him," Kenta spoke up. "Fang Leone did lose after all."
"And to Ryuga of all people," Madoka added.
You all watched Leone barrel through a rock this time.
"Kyoya," spoke up Gingka. Just as Kyoya was about to launch Leone another time, Gingka grasped his wrist. "Stop it, Kyoya. What point is there in letting your anger take over? You're just wasting energy."
Kyoya roughly brushed Gingka off and grabbed onto his collar. "Back off! What's with you anyway? You should be freaking out. Ryuga kicked your bey's butt too, remember?"
"I'm not happy, okay? I hate losing," Gingka answered, and he looked down. "It does sink, but Ryuga taught me something in defeat."
"Huh?" The gathered Bladers all looked at Gingka in both confusion and curiosity.
"Galaxy Pegasus evolved into Cosmic Pegasus, and then I was called a 'Legendary Blader. Hearing that, I think I got a bit full of myself and overconfident. Even now, I haven't mastered using Pegasus yet," The red-haired boy explained, and Kyoya finally released him. "So, Kyoya, what is a Legendary Blader? Just someone who has a Bey with the power of the Star Fragment in it. Don't you think a true Legendary Blader is something more? A Blader who can completely destroy his or her Bey. You saw it too, right? He did it. Ryuga, he's listened to completely control L-Drago Destructor. He must have done so much special training to make it his own. Compared to that, what have we done so far? We were both so happy that our Beys evolved, we just battled without thinking about it further. The truth is that we couldn't have beaten him. We never had a chance. But now that I know that, I will learn how to control you, my friend. Pegasus, I will evolve as well and become a Blader worthy of your friendship."
Gingka has gotten wiser. Sandra smiled at Gingka, unaware of Kyoya's sharp gaze on her. Her eyes shifted their focus onto Kyoya, who appeared less tense.
Madoka's eyes softened. "When it comes to Beys, he sure knows what to say, doesn't he?"
"I see now, it's not enough just to be chosen by the power of the Star Fragment. Only through hard work can one become a true Legendary Blader." Yuki nodded his agreement.
Kyoya sighed. "Okay, Gingka, come with me then."
"Where?" Gingka asked.
"I was planning to leave my battle with you for the last, but I guess I won't be able to." Kyoya gave a smirk. "Special training, that's what I'm talking about, so get ready because l'm gonna smash you to pieces! Let's go!"
"Okay!" The two passionate Bladers ran off, leaving the rest of them standing there.
"Hey, wait! Don't get too carried away!" Madoka reminded.
"Just forget about me while you guys have all the fun!" Sandra shouted at them.

Sandra headed to where her friends were. Gingka and Kyoya were battling on the rocks, Madoka and Benkei were spectating. Meanwhile, by the sea, Kenta and Yuki were having a battle of their own.
Sandra guess everyone's found someone to train with, sweat-dropping. Holding Warrior Byakko in her hand, she sighed. Well, looks like she's going to do so special training on her own.
Making her way to the shoreline, she picked out an isolated area to train in. Sandra found the sand on the beach to be similar to how it was by the village's riverbanks, keeping in mind the obvious fact that it wasn't as dry. The first thing she decided to focus on was improving Byakko's strength and agility.
Sandra soon entered her most comfortable position and released her bey into the stadium in a fierce blue light. She watched as her white and blue beyblade zoomed around the stadium with a bright blue light shining behind it. Sandra smiled as she quietly watched her beyblade zoomed around in the stadium.
"Go, Byakko!" Sandra called out happily, her tone completely light and carefree. "Run as fast as you want, my friend!" Sandra was glowing from her blader's spirit and with a smile as wide as can be, her expression one of pure joy.
"Roar, Byakko!" Sandra commanded, waving an arm in front of her and has a bright smile at the sight. Her stormy-blue aura glowed brightly as she continued exercising her beyblade partner. "Let me hear you roar!"
A great white and black-striped feline beast appeared from its bey and let out a powerful roar into the sky. The sound echoed off of the surrounding forest, making the roaring sound even louder and more powerful at the same time.
"Um, excuse me." She spun around at the sound of a shy voice spoke. Pivoting, Sala was standing behind her. "Could you battle me?"
Eager, the little girl was holding her Bey in front of Sandra. Her hopeful eyes staring upwards, she could not refuse how adorable she was.
"Sure thing, I would love to battle you!" Sandra happily responded.
Her face lit up. "So cool! Thanks!"
Standing across from each other, they prepared themselves for battle.
"Let it rip!"
Their two beys contacted the sand, and she chuckled at the immediate confusion that appeared on Sala's face when Byakko had suddenly disappeared.
"Huh? Where did it go?" The young girl asked Sandra, puzzled.
"My Warrior Byakko has an Energy Ring and a Spin Track that allows it to act swiftly while disappearing and reappearing at times," Sandra revealed, pointing to Byakko. "Kind of like a tiger hunting its prey."
"Amazing! I can almost see it!" Sala clapped eagerly.
The trail in the sand her bey left helped indicate its location. Since Sala was still growing as a Blader, Sandra understood she couldn't use her full power on her.
"Go, Byakko!"
"My Earth Fireblaze is an Attack Type, so it won't sit back and do nothing!" Sala declared.
Byakko and Fireblaze clashed, and Sandra could tell Byakko was trying its best not to send her Bey flying. "Give it your all!" Fireblaze began pushing Byakko back while she continued cheering on her bey.
Sandra smiled. "Wow, Sala, I can see you've been working really hard improving your bey's power."
"I wanna see what your bey can do also!" Sala claimed.
"Um, l'm not so sure this is the best place to." Sandra admitted, glancing around uncertainly.
Sala frowned. "Aw, please?"
Unable to resist her adorable, pleading expression like a puppy who needs help, Sandra sighed softly and gave a gentle smile to the younger girl.
"Alright sweetheart." Sandra's eyes held a clever, mischievous twinkle. "Special Move: Shield of the Storm!"
At that, Byakko had jumped into the sky. The sky's clouds had started to swirl around and darkened into the color of silvery-gray. The clouds were blocking out the sun from sight. But instead of rain nor lightning, the wind made itself known. It started blowing around Byakko like a protective shield of some sort.
And, by the time Byakko had came back, it had sent Fireblaze flying into the air with its windy shield and the orange beyblade had landed on its side.
"Wow! It's amazing!" cheered Sala as she collected her beyblade.
Sandra caught her beyblade and gave her a playful, but graceful bow. "Why thank you Little Firebird." At that, Sala was sent into a giggling fit and hugged the other girl, thus surprising her and yet returning the embrace.