*apologises profusely for my skills of not updating*

*thinks of other authors who update less than I do and knows how annoying it is as a reader*

*new respect for my fellow writers*

*slides a new chapter up beside you*

*hopes you enjoy it*

*reminds you that killing me will only erase all potential future chapters*

*runs away laughing evilly*

"Are you sure about this Y/N?" Shu asked for what felt like the nth time as the two of you walked up the street. "You don't have to do this."

"I know that Shu," you sighed, easily throwing an arm around the white haired boy's despite him being five or so years your junior. "I want to."

"But–"

"I wouldn't have offered otherwise," you pressed on, speaking over him. "I said I wanted to do this, so this is what I'm damn well doing and you can't stop me."

"Y/N–"

"You know, I'm pretty sure I can remember having a similar conversation with you a few years ago." You mused, giving him a pointed look.

Shu rolled his eyes. "That was five years ago Y/N, this is different."

"How is this any different?" You huffed, lightly swatting him upside the head. "If anything this is some sort of poetic justice. I bought it for you, now I'm going to get it fixed for you."

"You don't have two hundred dollars just sifting around this time." Shu countered, and you gave him a warning look.

"It doesn't matter how much it costs, it's the fact that I want to do this for you. I'd do exactly the same for Valt or Xander or Toko or Nika."

"So why not spend your money on one of them?" He countered, beginning to look vaguely frustrated with you.

"I've gotten them all presents each for before I go," you shrugged nonchalant, before your expression softened. "Besides Shu, we made a deal remember? Family. We look out for each other."

"What'd you get everyone?" He asked curiously, and you grinned as you thought back to the carefully wrapped presents that were currently hidden in the top of your wardrobe, safe from Valt.

"You'll just have to wait and see," you told him vaguely, changing the subject before he could try and get anything else out of you. "Oh look, we're here."

Together, the two of you stepped through the automatic doors, and into the familiar shop that was the B-Pit.

"Holy hell, this place hasn't changed one bit." You remarked beneath your breath, casting your gaze over the numerous wall racks of various Beys, different parts, as well as launchers and instruction manuals.

Forcefully, you removed your eyes from all the different products on display, and made yourself focus.

'We're not here so you can do your teen girl shopping spree,' you scowled internally. 'First thing's first, Shu. Than you can go nuts and do your own version of shoe shopping.'

"Y/N, you don't have to–"

"Shut up," you told him bluntly, hitting him again across the back of his head, brightening immediately as you caught sight of woman you were looking for.

"Mrs. Hagane!" You exclaimed, dragging Shu up to the front desk, excited to see the friendly brunette who you always felt was the reason behind your success.

Flashback

"Which one do you want Y/N?" Your mother asked gently, crouching down so she was at the same level as you were.

"Don't know." You huffed, lower lip starting to quiver, your three year old self getting overwhelmed with the frustration you felt.

"I thought you wanted a Beyblade?" Your mother frowned, not understanding what had you so vexed. And that was what upset you all the more, that she didn't get what was bugging you, and that you couldn't explain what you were feeling.

"Wrong!" You exploded, tears streaming down your chubby cheeks. "All wrong wrong wrong!"

"Shh, it's okay Y/N." Chiharu Aoi cooed, desperately trying to calm down her only child. "Use your words, tell me what's wrong."

"WRONG!"

"Hey, what's going on over here?"

"I'm so sorry," she apologized profusely.

"Oh don't worry about it," the young woman shrugged off your mother's concerns. "In fact, I think I know what the problem is."

"You do?" Chiharu asked, sighing with relief.

The woman nodded and crouched down so she was at your eye level, and you shrunk back when confronted with someone you had never seen before.

"Hi there," she gave you a friendly closed eye smiled. "I'm Madoka Hagane, I run this place."

You sniffled, and looked at your mother to see if it was okay to speak with the stranger. When she nodded, you shook Madoka's outstretched hand gently.

"I'm Y/N."

"It's nice to meet you Y/N," Madoka smiled. "Do you want to tell me what's wrong?"

"All wrong," you whined, glaring at shelf of Beyblades as if it had personally offended you in some way.

"Ohhhh," Madoka grinned, as if those two words somehow made a world of sense to her. "Let me guess, they don't feel good, yeah? They make you feel all yucky in here?"

You nodded furiously when she gestured to her chest, pleased that someone finally understood how you were feeling.

"Well that's because none of them are right for you," she told you, before looking to your mother as if for permission. "May I?"

Your mother looked down to you. "Is it okay if Mrs. Hagane picks you up sweetie?"

Your eyes brightened. "Up."

Your mother nodded her approval, and the twenty three year old store owner picked you up carefully and straightened up to her full height.

"So here's what you need to do," she explained. "We're going to go for a little walk, and you're going to let me know when we pass a Beyblade that feels right to you, you follow?"

You nodded, and Madoka smiled at you. "You're a smart kid, aren't you?"

You nodded again and she laughed. "Okay, let's get going."

The process was long going. There were several stands and shelves throughout the store that housed a formidable amount of Beyblades. At some points, Madoka held you up above her head, while at other times, you both crouched down low in your search.

Twenty minutes later, and you were beginning to feel like you would never get a Beyblade, but Madoka was determined not to give up.

"We'll find you your partner, even if I have to make you one myself." She stated with conviction. "But we have one more stand to try first."

With you sifting on her shoulders, Madoka walked over to a rack that was different to the rest. It stood much higher than the others and was painted a different colour, the Beys it displayed looked different too.

Your little face scrunched up in determination, eager to find your Beyblade. And a few seconds later, there it was. Higher than the others, but the moment you felt its presence, everything clicked into place.

"That one!" You exclaimed loudly, eyes flying open as you jabbed a stubby finger in the exact direction of your Beyblade. "I want that one!"

Madoka and your mother both sweat dropped at how much higher up it was from the others.

"I don't think I can reach that," Madoka admitted.

"No, me." You frowned, that Bey was your's.

"It's too dangerous to lift you up there while standing on a ladder or a stool Y/N." Your mother cautioned, and your lip started to quiver again.

"Hey, no need for that." Madoka warned you sternly, listing you down from her shoulders, letting you cling to her back instead like a baby koala. "I gave my assistant the day off, but I know just the person who can help out."

"You do?" Your mother frowned.

"My husband of course," Madoka grinned. "He's hanging out upstairs with some of our friends at the moment, but I can call him down for you."

"Are you sure?" Chiharu asked. "We don't want to be anymore trouble."

"We do." You stated firmly.

Madoka laughed and crossed over to the staircase behind her desk.

"Ginka?" She called up for her elusive husband. "Can you come down her for a sec? I need your help with something."

A few moments later, a tall red head followed by two green haired men and a heavyset purple haired male.

"Uh Madoka?" The red haired individual who had to have been her husband asked. "Do you need me to help get that kid off you?"

Madoka rolled her eyes and you tightened your grip on her, poking your tongue out at him.

"She wants a Beyblade that none of us can reach." Madoka explained bluntly, and like a switch was flicked, Ginka's mood changed.

"Well why didn't you say so?" He grinned, looking enthused at the mere mention alone of Beyblades. "C'mere kid, let's find you your partner."

Willingly, you allowed the red head to take you away from his wife, and sit you up on his own shoulders, which was a much greater height than before.

"All this trouble for a Beyblade?" The purple haired man asked, and Madoka swatted him across the arm.

"This is her Bey Benkei," Madoka chided. "You know how special that is."

The two green haired men nodded, and the one with a fang spoke up. "We all know how important that is."

Ginka Hagane took you back over to the stand, and this time you were easily able to get ahold of the plastic wrapped Bey.

"Which one did you get kid?" The fanged man asked as Ginka set you back down on the floor, and you showed everyone your new partner.

"Ast-ra Vor-tex." You proudly sounded out, and they nodded in approval.

"You know, when we were younger, we used to be some of the best Bladers in the world?" Ginka said, and you looked up at him with wide eyes.

"Used to?"

Ginka's friends and wife laughed as he was put on the spot by a three year old toddler.

"It was two years ago, okay? I'm still the best." He grumbled, before taking something out of his pocket. "This is Samurai Pegasus, you know what to do."

You nodded and held out your own Bey, even though it was still in it's packaging, and bumped it against Pegasus. Ginka grinned proudly and ruffled your hair.

"How much?" Your mum asked, taking out her purse to pay for your Beyblade.

"It's on the house," Madoka waved her away. "You don't charge cash for a bond that pure."

Ginka nodded seriously. "Your daughter has what it takes to make it to the top."

"You think so?"

"Of course I do," Ginka grinned. "That girl of your's has all she needs, and that her Blader's Spirit."

"Now," Madoka clapped her hands together. "Your going to need a launcher."

It didn't take long, before you had all the necessary pieces to become a Blazer, while Madoka Hagane still refused payment in the form of anything else other than a tight hug.

But as your mother went to lead you from the store, there was one final surprise waiting for you. Ginka and his friends, whom you had found out were named Kenta, Kyoya and Benkei respectively, had formed a short line leading up to the door. And as you approached them, they held out their Beys. Wide eyed, you first approached Kenta.

"Flash Sagittario," he announced, and you tapped your newly unwrapped Bey against it.

Next was Benkei.

"Dark Bull," and you repeated the motion.

"Fang Leone," Kyoya grinned, and you returned his smile with one of your own, your own little fang poking out. "Make us proud kid."

Finally, it was Gingka.

"You already know us," he smiled, bit still held out his Bey.

"I'm gonna beat you." You spoke seriously, being careful to properly form and pronounce each word.

"I can't wait."

End Flashback

"Hey Y/N," Madoka smiled, stepping out from behind the counter to give you a tight hug.

"It's been ages," you observed, stepping back.

"You look great," she complimented, looking you up and down, her eyes lingering on the ever present pouch at your waist. "Is that your Bey?"

"You know it," you grinned, taking it from it's silken holder and displayimf it for your old friend to see. "Astra Vortex."

Madoka took your Bey from you and held it close to her face to inspect it.

"I can practically feel its power," she noted. "The two of you must make quite the team."

You nodded. "I'm always in a fight with a close friend of mine to see who's the best Blader in the world."

"So what can I do for you?" Madoka asked, handing you back your Bey. "For some reason I don't think this is a social call."

"Yeah, you're right." You admitted, slightly regretful. "I'm headed back to Spain soon, but there are some things I need to take care of first."

"Oh?" Madoka wondered, sounding intrigued.

"This is my brother, Shu." You said, introducing your blood brother to your friend.

"I remember you," Madoka snapped her fingers. "I sold you your Bey a few years back. Storm Spryzen."

"How do remember that specifically?" You asked her, amused.

"I remember every Bey I ever sold." Madoka boasted. "So how's it doing? Have you been taking care of it?"

When both you and Shu gave twin simultaneous flinches, Madoka immediately guessed that something was up.

"You mean you didn't see the semi-finals?" You asked her, and she frowned.

"No, why what happened?"

With a heavy sigh, you motioned for Shu to take out Spryzen, which he did without meeting her hard gaze.

"Oh my God." She gasped, upon seeing the four jagged parts of what had once made up Storm Spryzen.

"Lui Shirosagi happened." You said quietly, and a brief look of disgust flashed across her features.

"I can't stand people who treat Bey's like this," she admitted, looking at Spryzen carefully. "Beys have spirits just like you or I, they deserve to be treated with respect. Unfortunately I've met a few people who don't think the some way."

"You're the best BeyMechanic I know Madoka," you told her after a short beat. "Can you fix Spryzen? If anyone can do it, its gotta be you."

"Of course I can," she scoffed, and you and Shu looked at each other in relief. "In fact, I can do one better than that, for Spryzen and Astra."

"You can?" You blinked in disbelief.

Madoka nodded firmly. "Both your Beys are gearing up for some huge evolutions, and I think we can unlock them."

"I only brought the money for a repairal," you said, eyebrows knitting together.

"On the house," Madoka waved away your concerns, dismissively. "You know how I feel about you and Astra Vortex Y/N, besides, this happened because you were working hard to achieve something, not because you were being reckless. So I think I can make an exception this one time."

You took Astra Vortex back out and gazed down at it thoughtfully.

"An evolution, huh?" You mused, looking at your partner intently, blocking out the rest of the world while the two of you conversed. "What do you think Astra?"

It might've been the store lights, but you weren't so sure that that's all it was when Astra seemed to shine in an unusual sort of way.

"Okay then," you threw your head back laughing. "Why the hell not?"

After a brief phone call with your mother to let her know what was going on, Shu, Madoka and yourself worked all day in an effort to bring Astra Vortex and Storm Spryzen to their evolutionary forms.

Hours of frustration, hard work and determination went into the feat. Designing your new Bey alone had been difficult enough. Upon being asked what colour's he wanted his new Bey to be, Shu barely wasted a heart beat in telling Madoka, but you however, hesitated.

It wasn't exactly something you could go back and chance if you didn't like it, whatever you chose, it had to be something you would enjoy, something that not only represented your Bey, but yourself as well. Initially, you had wanted to stick with you colour palette of dark blues and silver, but as Madoka informed you, this wasn't just fresh coat of paint and a tuneup, it was an evolution, a brand new Astra. After a while, you had decided. You would keep the blue, with the addition of more silver and even a dash of white.

The actual drawing of it had come next, and once again, you faltered. Yes, change was inevitable, but you didn't want to go too over the top, or deviate too dramatically from the original design. Eventually though, you were able to find something that you were happy with.

Then came the time to actually assemble your new Bey, and in your opinion, that was quite possibly the worst part. Madoka handled the majority of the final procedure, and you absolutely hated not being able to help out or see what was going on. You were pacing in the front room of the store by the time Madoka reemerged, and the moment you caught sight of her, you were at her side.

"Woah, calm down would you?" She huffed good naturedly, holding your Bey up out of your reach high above your head. Just as you were seriously contemplating jumping up onto the counter and launching yourself at your newly evolved Bey, Shu made his way over to the two of you, in a much more calm and orderly fashion.

"Can I see Spryzen now, please?" He asked politely, and you scowled at him, said scowl darkening even further when Madoka smiled and easily handed over his Bey.

"Here you go, new, improved and stronger than ever." She said, passing him Spryzen. "You might need a new name for it though."

Shu looked down at the Bey now grasped tightly in his hand, and all your previous ire fell away at the transfixed look on his face.

"Legend Spryzen," he said quietly, and for a spilt second, something dark flashed in his eyes, and a moment later you realised it was reflecting off of Spryzen's surface. You opened your mouth to say something, but before you could speak, Madoka interjected.

"And here's your Bey, Y/N." She smiled, handing over your prized partner, causing all of your worries to flee your mind for the time being.

"What are you going to call it?" Shu needled you, after you had stared down at your best friend in pure, unadulterated awe for close to five minutes.

"Nova," you named your Bey gently, feeling something new click into place inside of what felt like your very being.

'Your Blader's Spirit, it's grown stronger since you first got Astra Vortex.' Your mind whispered, but you barely paid it any attention.

"Astra Nova."