Author's Note: All right, it's time for chapter two. I'm sure you all have a pretty good idea of the main plot thanks to the story's title, but I'm still open to suggestions, like how I can bring Tala's sister into the story. But for now, here's the million-dollar question: Will Tala ever wake up? Long comas are not unheard of, ya know. When I was six, my grandpa was in a coma 41 days from a severe head injury, but he came out of it and made a full recovery. It was a miracle, really. Okay, here's the disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade or any of its characters. Enjoy chapter 2!

Chapter 2: Revival

Time had stopped for Eri. She couldn't remember any carefree days in her life now. She did the same thing day after day. She sat by Tala's bed from dawn until dusk, holding his hand and talking to him, trying desperately to help him find his way back to the light of consciousness. He had now been in a coma for a month, and Tyson's team was in the middle of the Justice Five Match. So far it wasn't going very well. Daichi and Rei had lost against Ming Ming and Crusher, and Max had barely kept them from elimination by tying with Mystel. Tyson was the only one left who had a Hard Metal beyblade, and he would have to face Brooklyn. Then there was Garland. Rumor had it that Tyson wanted to fight both of them, which was suicide. Eri watched the television in the hospital room as the audience in the BEGA stadium anxiously awaited the member of the G Revolution team who would face Brooklyn. Eri gasped when she saw Kai enter the stadium and take his place across from Brooklyn.

Eri gripped Tala's shoulder and lightly shook him. "You'll never believe this, Tala. Kai's going to fight Brooklyn in the fourth match." She remembered the events from two days ago that had triggered Kai's reawakening after his initial loss to Brooklyn.

Flashback…

Eri was just heading back to Tala's room after taking a walk to stretch her legs. Pyrix alerted her to another presence in the room, so she peeked cautiously through the crack in the door. Kai stood by Tala's bed, wrapped in a dirty gray sheet, staring at his friend's lifeless form. A nurse stood off to the side, trying unsuccessfully to get him to leave. "I'm sorry, sir. Visiting hours are over." Kai didn't budge or even acknowledge that he had heard. "Um…sir?"

"I'm not leaving," Kai replied weakly but firmly. His voice held no emotion or life. He had died on the inside since Brooklyn had defeated him. But then he saw a blue beyblade sitting on Tala's pillow. It was Dranzer Metal Spiral, a Hard Metal beyblade that Kenny had created after Brooklyn destroyed Dranzer Gigs Turbo. The familiar red phoenix was nestled in the bit chip and reached out to Kai, trying to rekindle his fighting spirit. As Kai stared at the beyblade, transfixed by some supernatural power, a red fire glowed in his eyes for the first time in days. He reached out with one hand and closed his fingers around the beyblade, feeling Dranzer's fire course through his body as her spirit intertwined with his.

Kai had awakened.

End flashback…

Eri smirked as she saw the familiar fire burning in Kai's eyes as he approached the massive beydish set into the floor. "It looks like Brooklyn is going to have his hands full, Tala. I wish you could see this."

For the next hour Eri sat on the edge of her seat as she watched Kai battle fiercely against Brooklyn. Kai battled using every bit of willpower, emotion, and power he possessed, but he still kept losing ground. Brooklyn's bit beast Zeus was incredibly powerful and kept coming no matter what Kai did. And to make matters worse, the battle was taking an immense toll on Kai. His arms, legs, and chest were striped with numerous cuts and gashes. Several times Eri was afraid he wouldn't get back on his feet. Pyrix was worried too. Dranzer is weakening, Pyrix said. It's only because of the strength of her bond with Kai that she can possibly keep fighting. However, if this keeps up much longer…

Pyrix didn't need to finish her sentence; Eri could tell what her bit beast was thinking. Dranzer was putting her own life at risk. But then something incredible happened. Kai's stubborn refusal to back down started to unnerve Brooklyn. No matter how much he attacked, Kai still kept coming. It scared Brooklyn. How could someone with barely the strength to stand keep fighting like this? He started to lose control of Zeus, and his attacks were wild and unfocused as he panicked.

Kai sensed a weakness in Brooklyn's defenses. Dranzer, it's now or never…he said.

I am ready, Dranzer replied confidently.

Kai sent all his remaining strength to Dranzer, feeling her spirit burn strongly next to his heart. "Dranzer, attack! SPIRAL FIREBALL!" Dranzer emerged shrouded inred, orange, andyellowflames and struck Zeus in a fiery explosion that blinded the audience. When the smoke finally cleared, Zeus lay on its side, its attack ring shattered.

Kai didn't hear the DJ proclaim his victory. As he recalled his beyblade to his hand, he could only think about one thing: he had finally defeated Brooklyn. He staggered back to his team's bench, where his friends came running up to congratulate him. Kai tried to maintain his composure, at least for their sakes, but his strength failed him momentarily. His legs buckled, and Tyson just barely managed to catch him so he wouldn't fall. As he regained his footing and started to walk out of the stadium, Kai heard Tyson challenge him to a rematch. He raised his fist in the air to show that he had heard, but deep down Kai knew that this would never be.

Kai had won his match today, but the price to be paid was a terrible one indeed.

As Kai staggered down the dark hallway leading away from the stadium, his legs finally gave out for good. He sank to his knees and sagged against the wall, breathing heavily. His beyblade fell out of his clenched fist and landed with a soft clatter on the floor. Dranzer…I'm sorry that it had to come to this. I've failed you, Kai said sorrowfully.

Do not blame yourself, Kai, Dranzer replied. I would die a thousand deaths for you and never regret any of them. Her voice was barely above a whisper as her life force slowly drained away. Perhaps fate will bring us together again…my friend.

Kai could tell that the time had come. She was saying her final farewells. Good-bye, Dranzer.

Good-bye, Kai… But her voice trailed off into oblivion as Dranzer's beyblade shattered into a million pieces, bit chip and all. Kai heard her last faint cry fade into silence, swallowed up by the darkness and the stone walls around them. As Kai felt her warmth abandon his heart to turn into ice, he silently vowed never to beyblade again. At last, he finally let unconsciousness claim his body as everything around him faded to black…

Eri gasped as a wave of ice gripped her heart like an iron fist. It was as if a living fire had been extinguished. One thought ran across her mind: Dranzer…

Do not fret, Eri, Pyrix said gently. The phoenix will always rise from the ashes…

Soon after that an EMS team rushed a barely-alive Kai into the very same hospital that housed Tala. Eri waited by Tala's bedside in anxious anticipation for any news of her friend. Two agonizing days passed, two days that felt like an eternity…

Kai's POV

I don't know how long I've been here. Everything is so dark. I can hear voices, but they sound so far away. I don't even know who is speaking or even what language they're using. Where am I? Dranzer, you said fate might bring us together again, but I don't believe in fate. I know you will come back, if you somehow manage to survive, that is. I can still hear your voice in the back of my memories.

Kai…

Okay, now I've really lost it. Now I'm hearing things.

Kai…

There it is again. It's so faint, but I would know that voice anywhere. "Dranzer, is that you?" I ask uncertainly into the void. Suddenly a small flame appears in front of me, hovering in the midst of the inky blackness. I reach out to touch it, and it suddenly grows and expands. As if that isn't strange enough, it starts to take shape. I can see two wings unfurl from the flame, which has now grown to a blazing inferno. Three tendrils of flame reach out to form a tail. Finally I see a head take form, and two familiar eyes open to meet mine. The flames dissolve into feathers, and I can finally behold my closest friend again. Two words pop into my head: "You're back."

Dranzer nods. She is so beautiful, hovering as a beacon of light in the midst of my darkness. Her body glows with an ethereal aura. It seems almost supernatural. She finally opens her mouth and speaks: "I have returned to you…my friend."

That did it. I run to her and bury my face and hands in the warm feathers on her chest. I don't know why, but rivers of tears run down my face as my shoulders shake in silent sobs. Then I feel her circle me with her wings, forming a protective tent. "I thought I had lost you. I was never going to beyblade again. I failed you, so why would you return to me?"

"You will never fail me, Kai. Fate may have brought us together originally, but I made the choice to return to you now. Our bond can never be broken," Dranzer replies. "It is time for you to wake up now. There is still so much you must do, and your friends will need your help."

"All right," I reply, nodding against her chest. "As long as you're with me, I'll do anything."

End Kai's POV

Kai's sudden awakening shocked the entire hospital. Two days ago he had been on death's door, and now he was walking out with only some bandages across his face to show for his battle against Brooklyn. But Tala still hadn't woken up yet.

Eri sighed in fatigue as she once again resumed her seat next to Tala. Bryan and Spencer had dropped by a couple of hours ago to visit, and now they were leaving to return to the hotel. She noticed that Tyson was getting ready to battle Brooklyn for the tie-breaking match. He had already defeated Garland, bringing the score to a tie. This match would decide the fate of beyblading. She took Tala's hand and laced her fingers through his. "It looks like they're about ready to begin, Tala. All we can do now is hope for the best."

Thirty minutes later…

I never should have eaten those tacos, Eri muttered bitterly as she left the bathroom. Those things are pure poison. She grimaced as another wave of nausea gripped her stomach.

Pyrix sighed. I tried to warn you, Eri.

Yeah, yeah. Don't give me the "I told you so" speech, cause I'm in no mood to hear it. She sighed as her stomach finally settled down. Let's see, when last we left the battle, Brooklyn was going completely out of control with some sort of alternate dimension that Zeus created. What else can go wrong? She gave a start when she heard someone yell Tyson's name followed by a swell of power like from a bit beast. What was that? (A/N: I assume everyone remembers that part of the last episode of GRev, right?)

Pyrix was just as shocked. It sounded like…

Eri didn't let her finish. She raced back to Tala's room and flung open the door, letting it hit the wall with a bang. "Tala, are you-" She stopped dead in her tracks at what she saw. Tala was sitting up in bed, holding his oxygen mask with one hand while using his other hand for support. He was bent over breathing heavily. "Tala?"

Tala turned his head and met Eri's gaze. "Eri? Where am I?"

Tears welled up in Eri's eyes as she hurried to his side and sat on the edge of his bed. "Don't you remember? The battle with Garland…you passed out after saving me…and you've been in a coma for weeks." A tear trickled down her cheek. "I was so worried," she managed to croak out before breaking down and crying.

Tala wrapped his arms around Eri and held her against his chest. "Sh, it's all right now. I'm okay."

He held her tightly until Eri stopped crying and could meet his gaze. "How did you wake up? I heard you shout Tyson's name, and then Pyrix and I felt a wave of power from Wolborg."

"Honestly, I'm not entirely sure," Tala admitted. "I just suddenly felt that he needed my help, and I woke up." He paused while he looked over Eri. She looked completely exhausted. "Eri, how long have you been here? In the hospital, I mean."

"Um…everyday since you came here," Eri replied. "I wanted to be here when you woke up so you wouldn't be alone."

Tala smiled warmly. "Well it helped. Thanks." He cupped her cheek with one hand and kissed her softly. Sadly, the moment was interrupted when a nurse walked in. They hurriedly pulled away from each other, trying not to blush.

"Oh my!" the nurse exclaimed. "I can't believe you're finally awake, Tala!" She turned to Eri and said, "I need to call the doctors to check on him, so could you please step out of the room?" Eri nodded and quickly complied.

As Eri walked through the halls of the hospital, Pyrix intervened in her thoughts. Tyson has managed to bring Brooklyn back to his normal self. Boris has fled now that his plans have failed, and BEGA has collapsed. It won't be long before the BBA is back in control of the beyblading world.

Eri sighed in relief. She had completely forgotten about Tyson's battle. That's good to hear. Maybe Boris is gone for good now.

She couldn't have been more wrong.

Somewhere in the United States…

Boris paced across a dark stone room restlessly. The room was completely devoid of any furnishings or windows. It was just him and the cloak of darkness. Where had his plans gone wrong? "I had Tyson right where I wanted him! He was this close to joining BEGA, and then my plans would be foolproof. I would have been unstoppable. But then he showed up. Tala just had to interfere. If he and his idiotic teammates hadn't stormed my headquarters, I would be ruling the beyblade world right now! Tyson only challenged me to get revenge for what Garland did to Tala." Now he had only one thought on his mind: revenge. A cloaked guard entered the room and whispered something in his ear. Boris smiled wickedly at what he heard. "Excellent. Let her enter." The guard bowed and exited.

Moments later another figure walked in. Her fiery red hair stood out even in the inky blackness as she approached and knelt on one knee. Her bangs concealed her eyes. "Master, what are your orders?" a feminine voice laced with ice and venom inquired.

Boris smiled. Yes, she would fulfill her role perfectly. "There is someone I would like you to…take care of, if you know what I mean. He has been quite a nuisance to me, so I am depending on you, Tammy."

The girl raised her head, revealing icy-blue eyes that contrasted sharply with her red hair. "Understood. It shall be done."

End chapter 2

Author's Note: Uh-oh, a cliffie! MWUHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Yeah, I think you can all guess who Tammy is. But now I've got a little problem with writer's block. How should I bring her into the story? Should I do it through another beyblade tournament, or do you guys have any better ideas? I have a few ideas floating around, but I am always open for suggestions. I would like to thank Ms. Controversy for contributing the idea for Tala having a sister. I would also like to thank chocolateriku, sapphire dragon, and Tala's Number 1 Lover for submitting their ideas as well. I could not have written this much without your encouragement! Sadly, this will be my last update for a long time. I am leaving early Tuesday morning to go on a rather lengthy field trip, and I won't be back until March 9th. That means no internet for me… I'm so sorry! I hope this nice long chapter makes up for it and that I didn't confuse anyone. I would also really like some ideas from you wonderful readers to help me get over my evil writer's block, as well as staff for my C2, so please review!