Chapter 1

Disclaimer: If I owned Beyblade, (which I don't) I wouldn't be writing on fanfiction, would I?

AN: I haven't watched this show in ages, and I didn't know it was a manga until a while ago, so… please forgive me for that. This is the edited first chapter, because the first one sucked. Also, quite a bit of OOCness lies within, mainly because I couldn't make a scene work if everyone was in character. Now that you have read this insanely long authors note, (sorry about the length) on with the story!

"Three… Two… One…"

"Let it rip!"

Kai launched Dranzer into the beystadium at the same time Brooklyn launched Zeus. The blades clashed with a metallic crash, and pulled back before crashing into each other again.

"Dranzer, attack!" Kai yelled.

"Go Zeus!" Brooklyn called. The two bit-beasts rose from their blades, and Zeus instantly attacked Dranzer, who didn't seem to want to do anything to defend herself. The phoenix was forced back, despite Kai yelling at it to defend itself.

"Dranzer, flame saber!" The phoenix seemed to resist it, but eventually launched the attack. Dranzer, why are you resisting me? Kai tried to send his thoughts out to the phoenix, but he got no reply. Zeus charged Dranzer again, but Dranzer flew out of his way and seemed to be waiting for an order. Kai sensed the bit-beasts newfound determination, and knew that they were going to defeat this undefeated blader. Dranzer flew at Zeus, but Zeus raked her wing with a clawed hand. Come on Dranzer, hang in there… Kai thought.

I am doing my best. Together we can defeat them. Dranzer's voice sounded pained, but she wasn't ready to give up.

"Fire arrow!" Kai yelled, and Dranzer attacked viciously. It was over… Dranzer remained spinning, while Zeus slowly stopped.

"And Kai wins!" The announcement came through the speakers, and Kai walked over to his teammates, who congratulated him, but he ignored them. Dranzer, why did you resist me? But again, there was no answer. Dranzer!

Not Dranzer you idiot! A voice snapped inside of his head, It's me, Scarlet!

Hey, watch who you call- wait, Scarlet? But you're dead!

Yup, I'm about as dead as you are! Scarlet's voice said sarcastically. Don't you remember what happened?

No.

"Kai?" Tyson asked, "Kai, are you okay?"

Let me out. Scarlet's voice insisted, Let me introduce myself.

Later, Kai thought. "I'm fine," he said to Tyson.

"Really?" Max asked, "You looked like you were going to faint. The match is over."

"I'm fine!" Kai snapped, "Let's go."

Please Kai? Scarlet's voice pleaded sweetly.

Not now. You'll be seen. How'd you even get here?

I'm Dranzer, in a sense. I can't believe you don't remember. Or did you just not know?

I thought you were dead… for all these years.

Yes, eight today. You never seemed very… um, mournful about it.

Kai flinched visibly. "Are you sure you're okay?" Rei asked. He'd never seen the team's captain like this before.

"No." Kai replied quietly. Scarlet, you have no idea how much your death hurt me. And Tala. He locked himself in his room and didn't eat for a week.

He was acting. Scarlet thought. Boris was supposed to tell him!

He never did. Your brother thought you were dead.

Let me out. Threat and hate coursed through Scarlet's thoughts. I have to see him. I have to tell him I'm still alive. He didn't-?

He's still alive. Kai realized he was speaking more with this girl, who was supposedly dead, than he ever had spoken to anyone else. Then he almost walked into a tree. He hadn't even noticed they'd walked outside. I'll talk to you more later.

Release me! Scarlet begged. Kai sighed and shook his head.

When they were at the hotel they were staying at, the team continued pestering Kai, who continued to ignore them. And Scarlet continued to pester him to release her, until it felt like his head would explode.

Scarlet, if I release you will you stop using thoughts to communicate?

Seeing as I couldn't anyways, yes. Kai could picture her rolling her eyes.

Best news I've heard all day. How do I release you?

Are there any cameras around? She asked this right as they stepped into an elevator.

We're in an elevator. Kai thought. Draw your own conclusions.

You know what? Scarlet thought, I think you've gotten more polite.

Shut up. They stepped out of the elevator and walked to the suite they'd booked for the week, and Kai instantly walked over to one of the armchairs and pulled out Dranzer, studying it intently. How do I release you? He asked again.

"I'm right here. Just tell me I can stay." Kai jumped up and whirled around, to see a fourteen year old girl, with long black hair and silver eyes staring back at him.

"Well, you've changed," he remarked, his usual icy mask evident.

"All a part of being Dranzer," she replied, "And I haven't changed nearly as much as you have. Really, what's with the face paint?"

"I'm tempted to leave you as Dranzer," Kai growled.

"Oh ha, ha," Scarlet said, "Just tell me I can stay. You don't know how cramped a bit-chip is."

Kai blinked. He'd forgotten a lot about Scarlet, or the years as Dranzer had changed her. "Fine. You may stay."

"Great," Scarlet said, "I suppose you won't bother introducing me to these guys," she gestured to Tyson, Max, and Rei, who were standing behind her, staring, "So I might as well tell you who I am. My name is Scarlet."

I'm Rei," Rei said, "This is Tyson and Max."

"Nice to meet you," Scarlet said with a nod. "Where are we?"

"Russia," Kai said.

"Great, I'll be back tomorrow," Scarlet said.

"Where are you going?"

"Back to the abbey. I need to tell Tala I'm still alive," she glanced around her, "My brother?" She said, "Whatever. Be back in a while." She walked out of the door, leaving four shocked bladers.

"Umm, okay, what just happened?" Max asked.

Kai shrugged. "Ask her when she gets back," he turned and left. Boris will want to be notified that she is still able to communicate and appear. The experiment continues. But a voice in the back of his mind asked, Do you want it to?

As Scarlet walked out of the room, she glanced around her, looking for a sign that would point towards the stairs. She found one, and jogged down to the ground floor, then walked out of the hotel, trying to get her bearings. Dranzer, where are we?

Where ever you are standing. The phoenix responded.

Enough of the riddles. Where in Russia are we? After having Dranzer living in her consciousness for eight years, Scarlet had discovered that they could share thoughts. The phoenix bit-beast had taught her many things about her history, and had been the closest thing she had had for a friend. She could also take on the phoenix's form while retaining her own consciousness, but it was tiring.

The abbey… Why do want to take us back there? Dranzer never gave straight answers.

I have to let Tala see I'm still alive, Scarlet thought.

Scarlet… Dranzer's voice was soft. He might not recognize you.

What do you mean?

Have you seen your reflection? Dranzer thought. When we became one, you changed.

Scarlet pulled a strand of her hair in front of her eyes, as if only just noticing it was black. Which in truth, she was. Dranzer, what happened to me? She looked in a window, and saw her silver eyes. What happened?

You have taken on bits of my appearance. Dranzer answered. My dark half's hair, my eyes, maybe you have a bit of one of our personalities.

What happened to your dark half? Scarlet asked.

Look at your blade.

What? She's in my blade? Scarlet paled, and pulled a black beyblade from her pocket. It was shot through with a venomous green, and adorned with bits of scarlet. It looks like the one…

Kai abandoned us for, yes. Dranzer said. Scarlet shivered in disgust. That anyone was creating bit-beasts was an insult to her, seeing as she thought they hadn't learned from her. In truth though, they had. Human/bit-beast merges were now forbidden. She continued walking, glad to be able to stretch her legs.

Dranzer, how are we going to get there?

I can give you a different form. Dranzer suggested. I have a few forms I can give to you that aren't as bad as the phoenix.

Like? Scarlet asked.

Dranzer didn't reply, but suddenly Scarlet felt as though her body was on fire. It didn't last though, and, as was usual, Dranzer had used the burning sensation to mask the pain of the transformation. Standing in Scarlet's place was now a black wolf. Wow, Dranzer, this is cool! Scarlet thought, I don't even have to think about keeping this form.

Yes, but I do, Dranzer thought. This form can hold for maybe a few hours. I can put directions into your consciousness, if you'd like.

Yes, please. Instantly Scarlet knew where she should go. She took off like a bullet, her four paws beating a steady tattoo on the ground beneath them. She howled to the moon, overjoyed at being able to once again touch the ground.

If you love the world so much, Dranzer thought, Why did you leave it?

I don't know. Scarlet thought back, another howl ripping itself out of her throat. I don't know. They didn't hear the footsteps until it was too late.

A muttered curse caused Scarlet to skid to a halt, ears pricked. Dranzer, can you…?

No. The phoenix replied. I can't tell who, but be careful.

Danger?

Quite a bit. They're looking for you.

They?

Two of them.

Give me back my human form, Scarlet thought. Instantly she was standing upright, fists clenched, her black hair and clothing blending into the night. But her eyes gave her away. The silver irises glittered in the light, causing two silhouetted figures to turn towards her.

Careful Scarlet, Dranzer warned, They hail from the abbey, and neither of them are Tala.

How'd they even get out of the abbey? Scarlet asked. No one's ever allowed unless… It clicked. There's a spy. Someone saw me. She turned and ran. Dranzer, wolf form. She thought, Now! The burning sensation appeared again, but the black wolf ran on.

Now what? Dranzer asked as the two figures gave chase.

We run, Scarlet thought. Unless you want to be caught?

But you do, don't you? Dranzer reasoned. They would take us back to the abbey.

I don't want to go back like that, Scarlet thought. Not as a prisoner. Then she tripped. Her wolf form vanished; Dranzer had been startled by the sudden lurch. She scrambled to her feet and continued running, her feet swift. The two running figures continued after her, keeping pace almost easily. Who are they? She thought, wondering how anyone could run anywhere near as fast as she could. She could only think of a few people who could maybe run as fast and as long as she could. One was Tala, and the other three… she shuddered. Please no. Fear lent her feet wings, and she flew across the ground, cutting across a road, vaulting over a car. She heard something being hit, and glanced back in time to see that one of the silhouettes had an unusually long nose. She groaned and ran faster.

You know them? Dranzer asked.

One of them, Scarlet thought miserably. This is so pointless. They're going to catch up to us sooner or later.

You've got two choices, Dranzer said. You can keep running, or return to our blade.

Those aren't choices. I'm not letting myself be trapped anymore. Scarlet decided that she felt unusually calm, even though her heart was racing. She hadn't run this much in years, and her muscles were stiff, but they were loosening and she pushed herself onward.

Scarlet, don't force yourself. Dranzer said as Scarlet stumbled.

I'm fine, Scarlet thought. Just a bit sore… She tripped and fell, and didn't get up. The two figures caught up with her quickly.

"Hello Ian, Bryan," Scarlet muttered, sitting up and shaking her head lightly, "I'll be going now, give Boris a slap for me."

Bryan rolled his eyes. "No, I think you will be coming with us. You see, someone told us that you had reappeared, and we were told to bring you back with us. And as long as you're alive, no one really cares what kind of shape you're in, so don't act like we can't hurt you." Scarlet looked at him. He was telling the truth. Very carefully, she took her ripcord out of her pocket, and it turned into a whip.

"Yes, I can only see one problem with that. You see, I don't really care about hurting either of you, but I'm not under orders not to kill." She shrugged, swinging the whip in a circle at her side. "But, if you leave now, I won't hurt you." She smiled a wicked smile, without a shred of sympathy in it.

Scarlet, wake up! Dranzer was screaming in the back of her mind, My dark half is trying to take over! Fight!

Huh? Scarlet's thoughts sounded dazed. Wait, is that- She started swearing in Russian, and shook the dark half of her back into the very corners of her mind. She looked at Bryan and Ian like a startled deer caught in headlights, and ran. Dranzer, she thought resignedly, Take us back to our blade.

As you wish. Dranzer responded, and Scarlet disappeared in a flash of golden light, blinding the two others. As they waited for their vision to return, they both heard heavy footsteps coming from behind them.

"Well, do you have her?" Kai asked, gasping for air.

"Does it look like it?" Ian snapped.

"For all we know she's invisible," Kai snapped back. "Do you have her or not?"

"No," Bryan said.

"Get back to the abbey and watch for her there," Kai said, "She'll try to see Tala."

"Yes your majesty," Bryan said rolling his eyes.

"Just go!" Kai snapped, then turned around and left.

Kai, The voice was Dranzer's, not Scarlet's, Kai.

Dranzer? Kai asked.

Yes. Don't do this. Dranzer's presence retreated from his mind, and he pulled his blade out of his pocket. The phoenix was again held there, but he pocketed it. They needed Scarlet in her human form. He turned and walked back to the hotel.

AN: Okay, I think I did a much better job on this. I hope you think so too. Please R&R!