The next morning, Ange made pancakes, eggs, bacon, hash browns, and other breakfast items in a long buffet.

Most bladers had breakfast together talking with their friends while others were nowhere to be seen like Lui.

But once all the excitement was over things began to get serious.

The tournament had officially started and everyone was pumped up. People ran around BC Sol packing, training or preparing.

Everyone except for Valt Aoi, Valt of course was still sleeping in as usual.

Slowly rising out of bed he looked over at his alarm, the happiness drained from his face.

It was almost nine thirty, he had less than thirty minutes to be ready to leave.

Leaping out of his bed Valt sprinted around his room grabbing and throwing items into his suitcase.

Meanwhile on the other side of the building stood Shu Kurenai. Beside him were his bags all ready to go, in fact he had been ready to go for quite some time now.

Valt on the other hand was rushing around shoveling breakfast or trying to get dressed. He darted around frantically up and down the stairs going between his dorm and the hallway.

A pile of bags was stacked by the front doors for loading up the bus. Bladers dropped off their luggage and suitcases. Meanwhile Shu had been helping load the bus up with the luggage.

Everytime he would come back inside for the next set of luggage he would manage to catch a glimpse at Valt and would chuckle to himself.

It reminded him of when Valt used to rush around right before school, half the time he wondered how Valt even managed to make it to school on time. Let alone tournaments like these.

Most of the bladers were already gathered outside talking with their friends but Valt was nowhere to be seen.

Just as Shu was about to walk upstairs Valt came racing downstairs with his arms full of luggage, clothes and a pillow.

Tripping on the stairs Valt dropped Valtryek and a couple of other items. Shu immediately came over grabbing his bey and helping him clean up.

"Slept in again?"

"Yeah but I had this weird dream and for once it wasn't about Theodore. Instead there was like this prison made out of energy."

"A prison?"

"Yeah, it was like a swirling tornado of energy constantly in motion but inside of it was this bit beast."

"Vahagn."

"How'd you know?"

"Theodore was talking about it one time, an inescapable prison made out of resonance. It was meant to keep out bit beasts in our world. Ones that were two dangerous like Phoenix."

"Wow! but..... how? Why would someone create something like that?"

"Who knows maybe bladers before us have had this problem before."

That silenced Valt, while the wheels were turning in Shu's head.

An inescapable prison made out of resonance? There were so many questions. Would bathing in resonance for so long make the bit beast powerful? Could bladers potentially rap into that power? Was this what Theodore and Phi meant by tapping into a new power?

So many questions and yet so little answers.

Walking outside along with Valt everyone was just about ready to go.

Most bladers were standing outside talking with their friends while some were on the bus.

But it seemed quieter, almost like something or someone was missing.

But despite all the chaos, pain and despair Phi and Theodore has caused some were actually making the most of it. It made Valt smile seeing that as bad as the situation was it had managed to bring them together as a team. Bladers Valt would never think of were actually talking together like Wakiya and Joshua or Drum and Clio.

Looking around Valt spotted Rantaro away from everyone else. He looked sad and Valt could tell he had been up crying.

"What's wrong Honcho?"

"I shouldn't come."

The tone of his voice had changed to serious. Usually Rantaro was a pretty fun and sometimes goofy friend but right now he seemed detached.

"Why, you deserve to be here as much as any of us! You helped train BC Sol!"

"No I don't! You guys were the ones who made us qualify for the tournament."

"Yes but you helped us train and make it to the tournament!"

That silenced Rantaro while he sucked on his lollipop.

Valt gave him one last sad smile and walked off.

Kris as usual was nowhere to be seen, but considering what she had going through Valt wasn't surprised. She was trying to be strong for her team but she couldn't be strong in front of them.

Taking one last glance at the group Valt made his way back upstairs. In the hallway were old pictures of kids at BC Sol before him. Every couple of pictures the owner and bey trainer changed until the most recent one hung.

It was after the world league and Kris insisted on having lots of pictures taken. Everyone else's parents had taken some too but she always had the first dibs.

Smiling at the picture Valt nervously stepped into her office.

*****

Outside Shu helped pack the last of the luggage into the underneath compartments. It was a tough job but someone had to do it.

After closing the truck Shu looked around for Valt. He had watched him go inside but he still hadn't come back.

"Rantaro? Where did Valt go?"

He shrugged his shoulders but didn't say a word.

"Before you decide to stay just remember that before the Bulls I wasn't really a team player. You're not doing yourself any good by staying here. Valt and everyone else need you even if you're on the sidelines supporting them."

Shu was about to go inside when Valt and surprisingly Kris stood at the entrance. Everyone quieted down looking over at the pair.

Kris lowered her head and managed to say:

"I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

Kris looked up to see Valt with a big smile.

Kris smiled.

"Free would've loved this..."

"We're going to get him back, we're going to get them all back."

Kris smiled and hugged Valt.

Tears streamed down her face onto Valt's shoulder.

After a moment of silence everyone cheered, startling Kris and Valt.

Wiping the tears away the two broke away from their hug.

After saying their goodbyes everyone started getting onto the bus.

But right as Valt was about to get on Rantaro came out with his luggage last minute.

Shu smilied as the two excitedly chatted for the road trip.

After loading in Rantaro's stuff Valt was about to get on the bus when Kris pulled him aside.

"Thank you. I've missed this."

Valt nodded his head smiling.

"You managed to have hope in the face of doubt and your actions when I couldn't. When you came here to BC Sol I always knew there was something about you. There was this spark in your eyes...I knew when we won the world league I had made the right decision. And I'm glad you're here now still fighting."

This made Valt smile even more.

"Here I know it's late but when you see Free again I need you to give him this."

Kris held out a small box to Valt.

Valt shook it a little, hearing whatever what was inside the rattle.

"Careful it's fragile."

"What is it?" Valt asked.

"It's not what it is, it's what it represents."

Valt started at the box with wonder.

"Oh I've got to go! Bye Kris I'll give this to Free when I see him again!"

She nodded her head as Valt ran off towards the bus.

As soon as he sat down the bus started moving out of BC Sol.

Kris waved as the bus neared the gates.

Smiling she whispered to herself:

"Thank you Valt."